The Paris Independent for Saturday April 15, 2023

YOU MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE!

Blake Hodgkinson, of Paris, lived out the childhood dream of any hockey fan! He met his favourite players, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner at Tuesday night’s NHL game in Tampa Bay. His homemade sign went viral and led to the once-in-alifetime experience that he won’t forget anytime soon. See his story and more photos on pages 18 & 19

Photo courtesy of Richard Hodgkinson

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY

Emergency: 9-1-1

Police Department: 519-442-2242

Fire Department: 519-442-4500

Willet Hospital:

519-442-2251

County of Brant Office: 519-442-6324

Paris Public Library: 519-442-2433

Paris Public Schools:

Paris High:

North Ward:

519-442-4477

519-442-2311

Paris Central: 519-442-4163

Cobblestone: 519-442-2500

Paris Catholic Schools:

Holy Family: 519-442-5333

Sacred Heart: 519-442-4443

Paris Councillors & Mayor:

Mayor - David Bailey

Ward 2 - Steve Howes

Ward 2 - Lukas Oakley

Ward 3 - John Bell

Ward 3 - John Peirce

Paris Customer Service Office 66 Grand River St. N. 519-442-7268

Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Main Services include:

- Accounts Receivable invoice payments

- Blue Boxes and Composters (pre-arrange pick up of composter)

- Brant Transit punch cards purchase and pick up

- Building Permits may be submitted and Building staff consulted

- Calendar pick up (free)

- Commissioner of Oath is by appointment only

- Dog license and tag

- Dog Park membership and key

- Parking ticket payment

- Property Tax payments and inquiries

- Public Works permits may be submitted

- Use the computer to meet with a virtual Planner to ask questions.

- Water testing sample bottles may be picked up. Drop off water testing samples on the last Wednesday of the month before 2 pm at the Burford Customer Service Office

Brant Sports Complex & Other Facility Booking

519-442-1944

226-387-2490

519-442-4955

226-216-3037

519-209-2277

519-442-7134

Administration & Bylaw: 519-442-7268

Articles,

Open Monday - Sunday, 8:30 am - 8:00 pm.

Main services include:

- Dog Park membership and key

- Dog license and tag

- Tennis Court membership and key

- Camp registration and recreation program registration

email to:

Publisher Managing Editor

Advertising Sales Photographer

News Reporter

News Reporter

Paid

Chris Whelan

Casandra Turnbull

Chris Whelan

Michelle Malvaso

Carolina Saenz

Bailey Zimmer

to:

STATEMENT

We are an independently owned organization made up of like minded volunteers from within our community with the main purpose of providing Paris and area with a trustworthy and reliable source of local news. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of everything we publish, we regret any errors that may occur. We limit our liability to that of printing a retraction upon notification of such errors in the next available publication. Our mail and Email addresses are listed below:

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

LIBRARY LIBATATIONS –Thursday, April 20th at 7 pm at the Paris Beer Co inside the Wincey Mills It's Game Night with the Library! Compete against other tables as library staff lead you and your friends through rounds of interactive games! Book a table, grab your friends, and order a round for a night of games and good company. Register at ow.ly/Olb050NxSEI or connect with staff to sign up. Reserve your table in advance; space is limited

EARTH DAY TREE PLANTING

- If you’re looking for ways to get involved in this year’s Earth Week activities, plan to be a volunteer at the Community Tree Planting event Saturday, April 22 from 10 am to 1 pm. What to bring? Shovels, gloves, closed toed footwear and rainwear. No need to register. Just drop-in! Special thanks to the Burford Lions Club, the Grand River Conservation Authority and Brant Tree Coalition for their time and efforts!

SPRINGTIME IN CANADA –Featuring Canadian themed music presented by St. George Pro Musica, directed by Nora Fueten & the Wellington Square United Church Bell Choir, directed by Sandra Jean Bedford Monday, August 17th at 7 pm at the St. George United Church Sanctuary at 9 Beverley Street E. in St. George

See story in next week’s edition!

PARIS MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY –Annual General Meeting, Saturday, April 22 from 2 pm to 4 pm, upstairs at the Syl Apps Community Centre.

INDOOR GARAGE SALE– Join us at Sojourn Church on Saturday, April 22 starting at 9 am If you want to sell, rent a booth, sell your items (and keep your cash sales), booths are $10 each, bring your own table. Everyone welcome.

SENIOR VIRTUAL REALITY SESSIONS ARE BACK! – The first and third Wednesday at 1 pm from April until June at the County of Brant Library, Paris branch. Register for VR sessions at brantlibraryca/VR or connect with your local #BrantLibrary branch to sign up.

PARIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY MEETING - May 3rd at the fairgrounds; social time starts at 7 pm. Meeting at 7:30 PM. Our guest speaker is Anna Leggatt from York, her topic is ‘Shade Gardens’. Anna writes for several magazines on topics which include her travels abroad, and subjects that reflect her vast interest and passion for gardening Anna is a past chair of the Ontario Rock Garden Society, former editor of the ORGS newsletter, past Director of North American Rock Garden Society and much, much more Come out for a very informative evening!

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

BRANT PEDALERS AND PADDLERS OPEN HOUSE - The Brant Pedalers and Paddlers invite you to join us for our Spring Open House and Membership event on Wednesday May 10, 7pm to 8:30pm at the Brant Sports Complex, 944 Powerline Rd. Come and connect with like minded active older adults who enjoy year round activities hiking, paddling and cycling on local trails, waterways and cycle paths. Annual membership is $30 single/$45 per couple. Hope to see you there!

PARIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ANNUAL PLANT SALE - Saturday, May 13th, 8 am – 11 am at Syl Apps Community Centre, 51 William Street, Paris, Ont. N3L 1L2. Selection of perennial favourites from members’ gardens, vegetables, herbs, annuals, and native plants. Master Gardener on site. Junior Gardener’s Corner for children. Coffee and Muffin available $2. Cash Only! Plant Auction to follow. Call Carol 519-442-3918 or Nancy 519-7528702 details

SUBMIT YOUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR ITEM!

Want help promoting your event, fundraiser or meeting? Email us at stories@ theparisindepe ndent.com

May 6th, from 10 am to 12 pm at the Burford Community Centre

Lights, Camera, ACTION in Paris, Ontario!

CBC GEM series “Paris Paris” takes over downtown

Zazie Films transformed downtown Paris into….well, Paris! The production crew was in town on Tuesday, April 11th to film season 2 of Paris Paris, which airs on CBC GEM. Pictured front and centre is Maxim Roy, who plays Jenny on the show To the left is CoProducer, Director and Screenwriter Dominic Desjardins.

All photos by Chris Whelan

Maxim Roy is a multi-award nominated actress who has most recently starred in the English version of the moldbreaking police drama 19-2, leading to a Canadian Screen Award nomination for her role She has garnered four Lead Actress Gemini nominations for the hugely popular series O' In addition to shooting the third season of 19-2 in 2015, she became Jocelyn Fray on the highly anticipated ABC Family series SHADOWHUNTERS based on The Mortal Instruments novels.

Maxim has over 100 film and television credits to her name, REGENESIS, HEARTLAND, DEFYING GRAVITY just to name a few In 2009, Maxim was nominated for a Jutra (Quebec Oscars) for best supporting actress in the indie-film, ADAM'S WALL. The Montreal beauty has also been named one of "Canada's 25 Most Beautiful Stars" by Star! Magazine and "The Sexiest and Most Beautiful Popular Actress" by ICI Montreal. Aside from her passion for acting, Maxim is an activist who actively devotes herself to several organizations such as Greenpeace and is the spokesperson for ANEB (a non-profit organization to help those affected by eating disorders) and Ecosphere(environmental event with more than 190 exhibitors and 40 conferences)

Zazie Films Inc. is a French-language production company founded by producer, director and screenwriter Dominic Desjardins and producer Rayne Zukerman. The company produced the first Franco-Ontarian feature film, Le Divan du Monde in 2009 The film was released theatrically in Quebec, and thanks to an alternative distribution strategy in partnership with Telefilm Canada, the film was screened in all four corners of the Francophonie. Zazie Films produced the program La Tournée des Cafés in Ontario broadcast on TFO and the documentary Hymne Migratoire for RadioCanada. She produces virtual reality and digital media projects. More recently, Zazie Films produced the drama series Paris Paris, an original creation by Dominic and Rayne, for UnisTV now also available on CBC GEM.

Paris Paris - Philippe lives in Paris He dreams of literature, theatre and culture The problem is that he does not live in Paris, France, but in Paris, Ontario, a quiet little town far from everything, where the only culture is agri-culture. After losing his job as a French teacher, he starts to question his accomplishments. His wife Jenny, his in-laws, and even his 10-year-old son Tom are concerned he’s depressed. Philippe takes a lifetime of pent up frustration out of his old furnace, where he finds a hidden tunnel The tunnel leads him to a trapdoor, which opens onto a theatre stage Only, he’s no longer in Ontario, but in France He starts to lead a double life in both cities, until what happens on one end of the tunnel starts to impact the other.

1,500 pancakes and 60+ litres of maple syrup later….

Library was shining strong, letting everyone know about the many things they have coming up in the program.

Saturday April 8th was a pictureperfect day in Paris and no one was happier than the Paris Lions Club and perhaps nearby pancake lovers!

The Paris Lions Club has been running their community fundraiser, The Maple Syrup Festival, since 2012 and it has been growing and evolving since then This year welcoming thousands of visitors, serving 1500+ pancakes, and drizzling 60+ litres of golden goodness - with all the raised monies going towards local charities and/or local project improvements. It was chilly when we arrived early in the morning but with the sun beaming, not a cloud in the sky and the promise of warm eats and entertainment, there was already a chipper crowd congregated and a big line up for the Lions Club secret recipe pancakes. There were people of all ages, lots of delighted dogs, various vendors ranging from beard care to baked good to pickle on a stick; it was a very

charming sight to behold This year’s Maple Syrup Festival was on Grand River Street North, in the downtown core, between William and Mechanic Streets and was a good little stretch with lots of space for all the vendors and visitors. For those who aren’t into pancakes, there were several other food stalls available and lots of shopping possible for dessert. My favourite stalls were the community based ones: downtown staple Paris Bakery had a table in front of their shop, the Terry Fox Run team was doing their thing (this year’s run is September 17th, so you still have time to sign up and start training!), the Walk for Dog Guides people and pooches were there (fundraising walk happening Sunday June 4th) and the Paris Public

There were a number of locals performing and keeping the energy going all day. The morning saw Joan Minnery’s Sing It! students giving it their all, taking turns singing and showing off their passion for song. Bravo to: Hilary, Iris, Emma, Lilly, Yvie, Morgan, Ryleigh, Delilah and Steve.

Doug The Great (Hunt), the sensational stilt walker, was there in the afternoon, in brilliant bunny regalia, bringing lots of smiles and taking lots of photos with visitors of all ages.

Around midday there was the Brant County Line Dance Challenge, a group that were attempting to “go for the record for the largest outdoor line dancing class in Southern Ontario and set the record for the largest outdoor dance class in Canada performing the line dance ” I’m not gunna lie, I don’t know if they achieved that record breaker BUT I do know that many people who joined in the Brantford Line Dance Network challenge, loved the dancing and had a fantastic time, so mission accomplished! Overall, it was a lovely gathering, a great opportunity for local and visiting peoples to support the Paris community and to leave with happy bellies and hearts in return. More photos on the next page

Photo credit Emily Kew, Stay Focused Photography

Who’s over 10 feet tall and makes guests appearances at most Paris festivals? If you answered Doug the Great, you are GREAT! He’s pictured at the Maple Syrup Festival in a fun photo captured by Stay Focused Photography by Emily Kew. Pickles and Maple Syrup don’t generally go hand in hand but that didn’t stop festival goers from trying to fetch their own pickles last Saturday morning!

There were a well over a dozen Paris Lions Club volunteers, working in shifts last weekend to ensure the success of the festival. Paris Councillor John Bell was just one of many local residents who welcomed the return of the popular street fest. Far left photo by Casandra Turnbull

Photo by Rubyyy Jones

Long-time Lions Club volunteer recognized for more than 40 years of community service

Mounties Report

By Casandra Turnbull

If you’ve attended an event hosted by the Paris Lions Club, odds are you’ve run into Lorne Reid.

He’s spent more than 40 years serving the community and doing whatever he can to make Paris a better place to live. Those efforts have not gone unnoticed as last weekend he was given the Paul Harris Fellow Recognition award, presented by the Rotary Satellite Club of Paris

This award recognizes individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, to the Rotary Foundation. It was established in 1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions back to the community.

Reid’s involvement with the Paris Lions Club, whose motto is “we serve” dates back to the summer of 1981. He’d just moved to Paris and was looking for a way to give back to the community

“It was a great way of meeting people in the area,” Reid recalls. And more than 40 years later he’s just as active as the day he started. While he most certainly appreciates the recognition, he prefers to shy away from the limelight.

“I was certainly taken back and it’s kind of hard to put in words (how it felt) as I was totally surprised and thrilled to receive a Paul Harris Fellow,” said Reid

The recognition was presented by the Rotary Satellite Club of Paris, nominated by Rotarians Andrea Clendening and Brian Stolp. Clendening is also a long-time Paris Lions Club member and volunteers alongside Reid on a regular basis

“Lorne and I have run the Maple Syrup Festival together for at least 10 years,” explained Clendening. “He is great to work with, easygoing and very funny,” she shared

Lorne Reid was the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow recognition award, presented by the Rotary Satellite Club of Paris during last weekend’s Maple Syrup Festival Rotary members pictured with Lorne Reid, left to right, are Andrea

Over the years, Reid has held many positions with the Lions Club and spearheaded several community projects. He currently serves as the secretary but is always willing to lend a helping hand where required.

This past weekend, for example, you might have noticed him running around with jugs of water to help make those delicious pancakes – a last minute job that came up the morning of the festival when organizers realized the water pipes froze! But that’s who Reid is – someone who is willing to pitch in and lend a helping hand.

So why does he continue to volunteer year after year? “The satisfaction of knowing my

efforts go to helping people in need, locally and worldwide,” he said, referring to many Lions Club initiatives that extend beyond the community and benefit people worldwide, like the Guide Dog Program or the eyeglasses recycling program Taking a walk down memory lane and recalling many Lions Club projects, Reid said his favourite continues to be the ongoing development of Lions Park

“Just to see the faces of kids light up when having a great time on some of the equipment there,” makes it worthwhile, he said. Reid’s list of accomplishments through volunteerism is long, but he doesn’t seem to see an end in sight anytime soon.

Clendening, Lorne Reid, Chris Haesler, Madieline Neziol and Taylor Hall. Photo credit Dale Hall

Multi-year reconstruction project for Grand River Street North to start in 2023

By CasandraTurnbull

The Administration and Operations Committee received some more details during a meeting this past week outlining the planned work to reconstruction Paris’ busiest roadway.

County of Brant Staff are working with two different consultants to complete the design for the reconstruction of Grand River Street North that will be finished in stages over the next few years

The first phase of the project, which is slated to begin this year, is the construction of a gravity trunk sanitary sewer from the existing Grand River Street North Sewage Pumping Station on GRSN, south of Trillium Way north to Hartley Avenue. According to documents provided by staff at this week’s Administration meeting, as a part of this project the existing watermain will be replaced and upsized (as recommended by the Paris Master Servicing Plan) from Bradbury Crescent to Woodslee Avenue. The watermain replacement between Scott Avenue and Bradbury Crescent will need to be completed first to make room to install the trunk sanitary sewer. Site works will begin with watermain replacement to make space for the installation of the sewer to follow It is anticipated that work will begin in late May or early June, pending utility locates.

Road and boulevard surfaces will be restored to their pre-existing condition

The Scott Avenue roundabout project will be tendered in 2024 for construction to commence in the summer and finish in the fall This work is necessary to have the

Scott Street roundabout in operation prior to the new north fire station going into operation in late 2024 or early 2025 Roundabouts are also planned at Watts Pond Road, Scott Avenue and Trillium Way While the construction work is ongoing, staff and a consultant will be working on securing property along the corridor from Watts Pond Road to Silver Street to widen the right of way to allow for utility relocation and the ultimate surface redesign as per the approved GRSN Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA). Timelines for

unknown, but the goal is to have as much completed by the end of 2023. The focus will be to secure what is needed around the Scott Avenue intersection as quickly as possible

The most disruptive part of the Grand River Street North project will come in 2025 when the downtown corridor is under construction. Part of this includes plans to reconstruct GRSN between William Street and the Nith River Bridge in downtown Paris. Timing and finances for this section of the work will be determined in the 2024 Capital Budget

this are

This map is for illustrative purposes only and the County of Brant takes no responsibility for, nor guarantees the accuracy of the information on the map, according to a disclaimer printed on the map. It gives a loose illustration of how the work will be completed.

More changes coming for Paris’ busy downtown intersection, aimed at improving flow of traffic

By Casandra Turnbull

Paris’downtown intersection was once again the topic of discussion, this time at the Administration and Operations Committee meeting held on Tuesday, April 11th.

Committee members received a report, prepared by Roads Technologist Rick Knap, which outlines the results of a recent traffic study conducted at the main intersection of Grand River Street North and William Street. The study happened on November 22, 2022, after the new left turn lane was installed for vehicles turning left onto Grand River Street North from William Street.

On this particular Tuesday, it showed that the peak traffic hours are between 8:15 am and 9:15 am with 1,439 vehicles travelling through that downtown intersection and again between 3:15 pm and 4:15 pm with 1,749 vehicles entering the intersection The Barnes Farm Dance crosswalk was also monitored with a total of 688 people utilizing it that day and only 29 people were not compliant, meaning they did not wait for the pedestrian walk signal before crossing. The busiest time for pedestrian crossing was between 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm with 191 people crossing the busy intersection.

According to the report, quite frequently vehicles waiting in the left turn lane ended up proceeding straight thru the intersection when it turned green and not turning at all, which generates unnecessary cycling of the turn phase. Given the left turn lane is relatively new and people are not yet used to it or aware, the study suggests that if the situation persists, County staff should install overhead regulatory lane designation signs. It was also noted that if only one car is waiting to turn left, it’s often not enough to trigger the advance green signal.

As a result, the committee agreed to improve the intersection by installing an Al-based vehicular system that will enhance the safety and mobility of movement within this intersection.

By utilizing a combination of AI technologies, this integrated system will offer real-time traffic optimization, deployment flexibility, built-in performance measurement, and multi-modal detection capabilities.

In short, it will monitor each signal cycle and will adapt to the minimum and maximum time periods for each phase, which will further improve the traffic movement during the varying peak period volumes. The technology can detect heavy flows of traffic and adjust the signals accordingly, effectively moving traffic especially during busier times of year when there special activities that draw people to Paris

This, however, is the last measure the County can implement to improve traffic at this intersection, without undertaking major improvements that are not in the county’s budget.

The supply and installation of this equipment, not only at Paris’ downtown intersection, but also at the Colborne Street West and King Street Intersection at Bishopsgate Road, is estimated to cost $50,000 plus tax

Residents have long stated the need for improvements at this intersection, especially with the recent growth over the last five years. According to data in this report, approximately 20,000 vehicles use Grand River Street North a day and approximately 10,000 vehicles travel on William Street a day. The staff report and recommendation will go to council for final approval.

Local elementary students take a Bite of Brant

By Casandra Turnbull

Hundreds of area students got a first-hand lesson in agriculture this week learning right from the source how their food makes it from the field to their table Bite of Brant program volunteers welcomed over a thousand Grade 4 and 5 students from across Brantford, Brant County and Six Nations to the Burford Fairgrounds April 12&13th for the annual program that highlights the agri-food industry. Over 125 volunteers, representing a variety of sectors –dairy, beef, corn, wheat and soybeans plus much more – taught lessons in agricultural awareness. Some volunteers are third generation volunteers, including five people who have been with the program since its inception in 1996.

Prior to the introduction of Bite of Brant in 1996, there was a program called Dairy Days Using six workstations, Dairy Days educated kids on dairy farming. After the 1990 International Plowing Match was hosted in Paris, plans began to involve other commodities, which resulted in the development of the Bite of Brant program as it is today, with some modifications over the years. Initially there were 27 different agriculture related stations with classes divided into three groups, taking turns to visit each station. During the early years, preparation workshops were held for teachers to enhance their experience and for the volunteers to give them confidence, recalls Jean Emmott Bite of Brant Committee Chair. Today, the format is similar but on a much larger scale

“It’s important for students to gain an appreciation for the high quality of Ontario food and to have some knowledge of how it produces, since they are already consumers AND they are our future decision makers,” said Emmott. “Teachers are challenged to have students share their experiences when they return to the classroom,” she added.

Grade 4 Teacher Anne Parkhill from Paris’ Holy Family School has accepted that challenge.

Continued on page 13

Who doesn’t love pizza? Students in Mrs. McCarthy’s Grade 5 class at Holy Family School get a lesson in how pizza dough is made (above). They visited several workstations which introduced the local agri-food industry and farming practices.

AGRICULTURAL NEWS

“We will be having class discussions after the trip as we explore the resources available in different provinces for Social Studies and the importance of diversity of living things in Science, as well as making connections with embryo development in different living things,” said Parkhill referring to what the students will build on from their experience.

“Our lessons will include some report writing to convey the knowledge that they have learned, using some of the information to create real-world math problems and how agriculture fits into primary, secondary and tertiary resources for our Social Studies unit ”

Paige McCarthy, a Grade 5 teacher also at Holy Family School in Paris, is glad this experience will give her students a better idea of what the ‘Made in Ontario’label really means.

“Exposing students to “real world situations” (workstations) where they can read about local farmers or interact with them, is most effective in teaching them about agriculture,” said McCarthy.

“Encouraging students to be mindful of where the food they eat each day comes from is also important. We can teach them to keep an eye out for labelling on their food that says Made in Ontario ” And sometimes the lessons are not just for the students but the educators as well.

“I really loved meeting various farmers that provide for the local community. It serviced as a reminder to buy local and support farmers,” said McCarthy, who enjoyed the interactive features of the trip and seeing how excited it made the students She was also impressed with the wide variety of workstations that taught the students everything from the best soils to use for growing or (new this year) how Maple Syrup lands on your pancakes!

Parkhill was equally impressed by the program’s ability to correlate what you eat with the folks who harvest that food, but also the natural resources required to continue to produce that food.

Continued on page 14

A Grade 4 student in Mrs. Parkhill’s class at Holy Family School checks out the piglets resting at the Burford Fairgrounds this week.

“People are drifting farther and father away from the land and how it provides for us, and this gives them a chance to make a reconnection to the land and their food. Hopefully this will help them to develop better stewardship of the land than we currently have,” said Parkhill.

Bite of Brant has garnered a lot of recognition in the

last decade. More recently it was recognized with the Ontario Agri-Food Award of Excellence, the Farm and Food Care Ontario Advocate Award and the June Callwood Outstanding Volunteerism Award. It’s financially supported, in part, by the City of Brantford, County of Brant, District 6 Grain Farmers and various Optimist and Lions Clubs in the area.

Students from Holy Family School were amongst hundreds of Grades 4/5 students from across Brantford and Brant County to participate in the annual Bite of Brant program that increases agri-food industry awareness.

So, what did the students learn? Let’s find out!

Thank-you to Mrs. McCarthy’s Grade 5 class and Mrs. Parkhill’s Grade 4 class at Holy Family School for participating. What did the students learn during their most recent trip?

-Pigs must be separated from their babies so they do not lay on them since they cannot feel the babies – Brianna C -You can tell what colour of egg a chicken will lay based on their ear lobe. If the ear lobe is white, the egg will be white. If it is brown, the egg will be brown – Preston P

-My favourite part of the trip was goats! Some people keep them as pets Baby goats can stand 25 minutes after being born! Joshua G

-They lady at the bee stand gave me a high-five because Queen B is in charge! – Etney

-One cool thing I learned is that before milking a cow you use iodine to wash out the bacteria on the cow’s udder –Gedi M

-One thing I learned at Bite of Brant is that the queen bee lays 1500 eggs a day – Jax M

-One thing I learned at Bite of Brant is that the rings on these is one yea – Liam V

-The best thing I learned at Bite of Brant is that full grown cows weigh about 3,000 pounds – Ben G

-One of my favourite parts of Bite of Brant is that when you milk a cow you have to be careful or it will kick you –Elise B

-I learned that some medicine is made out of corn – Zeke P

-One cool thing that I learned at Bite of Brant is that cows chew the same food over and over –Jack C

-Something I learned is that when chickens have babies they grow in a similar way as baby people – Morgan G

-I learned that corn is used in a lot of stuff like corn syrup, cereal and medicine – Nolan R

-I learned that the bees honey after they make it is really heavy – Brody C

-One thing I learned is that the cab of the tractor protects the driver from the dust and storms – Florence S

Brining some local farm to your table…

This week we feature Barrie’s Asparagus Farm and the Van Laeken Family Farm

By Carolina Saenz

Warm weather is finally here, meaning it is time to get excited about local farms and all the delicious treats they bring to your table.

Two local favourites, Barrie’s Asparagus Farm and Van Laeken Family Farm, share a bit of their history as well as what we can look forward to this year!

Tim Barrie is a 4th generation farmer at Barrie’s Asparagus Farm Very proud of his family history, he shares a bit about what they do, and the wonderful variety of products found at the farm

“Our family has been providing food for our community since 1892 and we take great pride in continuing while at the same time increasing our product offerings. We feel our founders would be proud,” writes Barrie.

At Barrie’s Asparagus Farm you’ll find a wide variety of local products including chips, salsas, crackers, and preserves. They are open daily, year-round, and are located at 1236 Kings Road in North Dumfries

In the months of May and June, asparagus is harvested daily and available for purchase 9 am to 6 pm. Asparagus are snapped above the white woody bottoms meaning less waste, and they are never sprayed so you can eat them raw and fresh from the field!

In addition to all these products, Barrie’s Asparagus Farm now roasts coffee beans from Colombia offering both mild and dark varieties, as well as coffee infused chocolate

In 2023 the farm will focus not only on their trademark asparagus but also in promoting this

Believe it or not, Barrie’s Asparagus Farm produces more than asparagus! But you shouldn’t be surprised to know the key ingredient in a lot of their salsas and preserves is asparagus! Check out this local business at their booth at Paris Wincey Mills (some products are available at local grocers too)

new, exciting addition.

“We expect to continue to focus on increasing our coffee distribution and keep our same hours so that customers can purchase direct from our roaster,” explains Barrie. A definite must if you’ve never been, Barrie’s Asparagus

Farm is a gem in our community where pride and a love for what they do is evident in everything they offer Another well-loved local farm is the Van Laeken Family Farm, located on the outskirts of Paris in Falkland. Michelle and Vince Van Laeken run a 14-acre farm where they follow regenerative and sustainable growing practices. Naturally enhancing soil health by using cover cropping, minimal tilling, crop rotations, reducing artificial fertilizers and increasing natural fertilizers like compost, food grows healthier, say the Van Laekens.

Continued on page 16

“We both grew up living and working on our family’s farms and both always wanted to get back to our roots and have our own farm. When we first moved to the farm, we just planned to have a large garden and sell some of our extra veggies at the road side, and the next year we started going to a farmers market, and then the next year, four farmers markets and now we are open year round in the Paris Wincey Mills,” explains Michelle. The Van Laeken Family Farm market stand is open year-round Wednesdays thru Sundays at the Paris Wincey Mills, and offers a wide variety of produce as well as fresh-made hummus, salad dressings, salads, and fresh-cut fruits and veggies.

“We wanted to make some grab and go options that celebrate the delicious flavours of our fresh produce,” writes Michelle.

The Van Laeken Family Farm only practices regenerative and sustainable growing on their farm. They harvest a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs.

stories@theparisindependent.com

In the summer months, most of their produce comes directly from their farm and a few other local farms. Even in the winter months, many local fruits and vegetables are also available. This year, new additions to the farm will bring different produce to the market.

“Last summer we transplanted many rhubarb plants and raspberry canes and are very excited for this growing season to be able harvest our own rhubarb and raspberries. We are also growing flat head cabbage for the first time this year. We recently discovered how beautiful these are for making cabbage rolls, which we love making in our family,” shares Michelle.

In addition to that, the Van Laekens expanded their garlic patch and honeynut squash patch to keep up with the demand and hopefully not sell out as quickly this year. And of

course, they will continue growing cabbage, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, eggplant, carrots, beets, radish, onions, brussel sprouts, broccoli, rhubarb, raspberries and a variety of fresh herbs. All while also trialing a few new things like swiss chard and bok choy. In short, they have all your produce needs covered!

So drop by the Paris Wincey Mills, support local, and you’ll be surprised to find that not only is there quality and variety available but the Van Laeken’s prices are extremely competitive. While you’re there, don’t forget to try some of their most popular items including their apple and green onion salad dressing, coconut curry squash hummus, and once in season their locally grown tomatoes and sweet potatoes.

Stayed tuned for another farm to table feature next week!

We want to feature your farm! If you are in the agri-food industry, we want to show people in the community where their food comes from and why it’s important to support local! EMAIL

County urges you to get involved in Earth Day activities

MEDIA RELEASE - The County of Brant is thrilled to host activities in honour of Earth Week. There are many ways to get involved and keep our beautiful community clean. Join us and celebrate! Earth Week activities include: Tree Planting

Help us plant 600 trees in the park!

• Date: Saturday, April 22, 10:00 am -1:00 pm

• Location: Burford Lions Art Cadman Park, 76 Maple Ave. N , Burford

• Please bring gloves, rain wear (if required), closed toe footwear, a shovel, and a reusable water bottle. Thank you to the Lions Club of Burford for providing a BBQ lunch and refreshments at the event

Community Clean Up

Form a group, big or small, and clean up a public area. Supplies such as garbage bags and gloves will be provided. To coordinate a cleanup, contact Trent Meyers, Forestry Technician, at Trent Meyers@brant ca or 1.855.44BRANT (1.855.442.7268). Thank you for keeping the County of Brant beautiful!

Adopt-A-Road

The Adopt-A-Road program is for volunteers to assist with beautification activities along

SEND US YOUR PICS!

We want to celebrate your Earth Day efforts. Please share your photos to stories@theparisindependent. We will publish a photo page in next week’s issue!

our roads. Choose a section of road and commit to three (3) clean ups per year between April 15 and November 15 The County of Brant will provide necessary materials and equipment for your safety. For more information, visit www.brant.ca/AdoptARoad

Win a free Composter or Rain Barrel Visit www.EngageBrant.ca/EarthWeekCo ntest and share how you are celebrating earth week Participants will be entered to win a free composter or rain barrel. The contest is open to County of Brant residents Activities at the County of Brant Public Library offered for free with a Library Card!

• A special Earth Week-themed Thursday Crafternoon Newsletter

will connect you with links to nature-based art workshops. Sign up for the newsletter at brantlibraryca/subscribe

• Check out the Seed Library at brantlibrary.ca/SeedLibrary. Donations welcome!

• Enjoy nature with our adventure backpacks for birdwatching, hiking and gardening

• Get outdoors and active! Free Fitbits, pickleball and disc golf kits are available to borrow

• Learn with our books and DVDs about upcycling clothing and furniture, gardening, sustainability and more

• Visit www.brantlibrary.ca for full program details

For more information, visit www.brant.ca/EarthDay.

Young hockey fan meets Auston Matthews & Mitch Marner

By Casandra Turnbull

While his teammates were accepting year-end awards at the Paris Minor Hockey banquet, Blake Hodgkinson was a little busy watching his favourite NHL team, live in action, which ended with an impromptu visit with his two favourite players!

The eight-year-old Paris boy received the thrill of a lifetime on Tuesday night while at the Lightning versus Maple Leafs game in Tampa Bay. What started out as a simple sign to get their attention, ended up in a face-to-face meeting with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

Back the story up a bit, Blake was on vacation with his family, visiting his grandparents in Florida. When the local family realized the Leafs would be in town at the same time for a game, they figured they would surprise Blake with tickets to the game since his birthday was justApril 9th .

Everyone in the family is a huge hockey fan, so the idea was a no brainer. Blake, his uncle, grandpa and his dad, Richard Hodgkinson, made it a boys’ night out, and boy was it one to remember!

In preparation for the game, Blake spent some time deciding just what he wanted to put on his poster Once it was decided, he wrote on one side: “I came from Toronto to see my heroes 34 16” and on the flip side: “Hey Auston, can I please have a stick it’s my birthday! 34.”

Matthews and Marner are his favourite players because “they are the best players on the Leafs and the Leafs are my favourite team,” said Blake “They score a lot of goals,” shared the insightful young fan.

“Before they left for the game that night, I took a picture of Blake holding the sign and posted it on my Instagram story,” said Trish Benne, Blake’s mother. “While I was out for dinner, I

got a couple of messages from old/random friends who sent me screenshots of the tweet from Gord Miller,” said Trish. Long-time TSN hockey commentator Gord Miller shared the photo on his Twitter, which of course went viral rather quickly and sent the Leafs’ organization on the hunt for this young kid from Paris, Ontario.

Trish texted Rich to tell him about the viral tweet and to make the group at the game aware of all the commotion behind the scenes of what they figured was just an ordinary game.

“On intermission, Richard had Blake walked through the concourse with the sign held up. Continued on page 19

Blake Hodgkinson shows off his Toronto Maple Leafs swag, signed by Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner at Tuesday’s game in Tampa Bay.

Soon after they came into the concourse, an employee from the Leafs’organization (Steve Keogh) spotted them and introduced himself,” explained Trish Keogh brought gifts too An autographed hat and puck for Blake, but they had an even bigger surprise. Would he be interested in meeting his favourite players after the game?

Blake, normally a shy kid, got to do what every eightyear-old hockey loving fan wishes to do – meet his favourite players, shake their hands, and get a picture!

“It was so cool to see how comfortable they made him,” said Trish. Blake ended up with signatures on his homemade poster, a hockey stick, puck, hat and a signed Marner t-shirt. It’s a memory of a lifetime, but in case it fades, he’ll have videos to remind him. The Leafs’ organization filmed the interaction, which is also a viral hit now as well. Several of those hits come from Blake who can’t help but rewatch the encounter, repeatedly, said Trish.

“They Face time’d me right after and my eyes filled with tears to see Blake so happy. He was vibrating with excitement,” Trish recalls.

As for Blake, he commented, “I’m so happy. Happy that I got to meet Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Marner is not as tall as I thought he would be,” the Paris boy observed

And no, the excitement hasn’t worn off in the days since the game. His parents report he holds the stick constantly, in amazement at how big it is Now when he mimics Marner and Matthews, as he often does when he plays, he’ll have an authentic piece of equipment to make it feel more real.

“It was a surreal experience for sure and the Leafs’ organization was incredible,” noted Richard.

“Especially Steve Keogh who tracked Blake down in the concourse between the second and third period A world class organization for sure! We are just so grateful that Blake got this once in a lifetime opportunity”

It might have been hard to focus on the outcome of the game but lost in all the excitement was a 4-3 Maple Leafs win. Once the family returns to Paris, they will settle in to watch the playoffs like millions of other Toronto fans, but they’ll have this special memory to add to the excitement of playoff hockey.

Click on the video to the left to watch Blake as he meets his hockey heroes at Tuesday’s Maple Leafs versus Tampa Lightning game. The Leafs won but the real excitement was the eight-year-old’s behind the scenes meet and greet with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. The excitement all started with a homemade sign!

Photos by Richard Hodgkinson

Paris Minor Hockey wraps up season with Award Night

By Casandra Turnbull

Paris Minor Hockey capped off another successful season with its annual Awards Night held at the Paris Fairgrounds on April 11th Players from U8 – U18 teams gathered to celebrate their on-ice successes, commend one another for their achievements and recognize the hard work the volunteers, coaches and executive put forth to ensure everyone had fun playing the sport they love.

With a passion of hockey running through the veins of everyone in the room that night, it came as no surprise that MC Matt Grahlam provided the crowd with regular updates on The Maple Leafs versus Tampa game that was happening during the banquet (yes, the Leafs won 4-3, and yes that was the game where Blake met his hockey heroes).

In total this season, PMHA teams took home 12 tournament title wins and more than 10 teams finished in second place at tournaments, said PMHA President Mike Sinclair. Members of the U8 teams (three in total) received metals for their success season. Specialty awards were presented to players in the U9 to U18 divisions.

The Most Improved Player award went to the person who should the most improvement throughout the season every time they stepped on the ice.

Continued on page 21

The Division MVP Awards were presented as follows: U9, Arthur Dixon, U11, Jack Corbett, U13, Carter Durrer, U15, Nathan Wylie, U18, Caiden Potter. Also pictured is PMHA President Mike Sinclair.

Photos by Casandra Turnbull

Overall Heart Award in memory of Cathy Hoogstraten was presented to Ethan Sickle (left) and the Goalie of the Year went to Callum Dailey.

Paris Minor Hockey Association presents volunteer awards annually. This year’s Student Volunteer of the Year Award went to Paige Morton and Logan Sinclair. The Adult Volunteer of the Year Award went to Tim Andrews, who designed the organization’s new logo.

The Most Sportsmanlike award recognized the person who displayed positive conduct and attitude on and off the ice The Most Dedicated Award went to the player who showed spirit, sportsmanship and tireless effort whether they were winning or losing.

The Division MVP Awards were presented as follows: U9, Arthur Dixon, U11, Jack Corbett, U13, Carter Durrer, U15, Nathan Wylie, U18, Caiden Potter. The Heart Award, created in memory of Cathy Hoogstraten, a former PMHA member who lost her battle with breast cancer in 1998, is awarded the person who embodies the sum of all the awards and is an outstanding person outside of hockey

The Overall Heart Award went to Ethan Sickle who played for as many as three teams this season, assisted many teams in tournaments stealing games to have teams play in finals along the way. He always came to the rink prepared to play with an excellent attitude no matter the outcome.

Goalie of the Year went to Callum Dailey who excelled this season filling in as the backup goalie for the U15 Rep team and also his main role on the U15-1 LL Team He was passionate about working hard and staying focused during games. He led his U15-1 team to the “A” finals this season.

The Student Volunteer Award went to both Paige Morton and Logan Sinclair. Paige spent her early Saturday mornings and Monday nights assisting with the U5 players. Logan could be found most nights at the rink assisting with some tasks he was given. Most of his volunteer time was spent with U7 Calgary Red Francis Fitzgerald and Brandon Hall were awarded Local League Coaches of the Year while Chris Cobb took home Rep Coach of the Year and Suzanne Oakes received Trainer of the Year. The Adult Volunteer of the Year was presented to Tim Andrews, the man behind the new PMHA logo. He spent countless hours designing and mocking up everything from merchandise to banners for the association and team!

Here are the remaining awards presented to each division:

U9 Local League – MVP- Bryce Poland, Most Dedicated- Matthew Fenn, Most Improved – Max Turner, Most Sportsmanlike- Tayden Hamilton and HeartAward- Ollie Deakin.

Continued on page 22

Photos by Casandra Turnbull

U9 MD – MVP- Arthur Dixon, Most DedicatedHunter Grover, Most Improved- Connor Brittain, Most Sportsmanlike- Nash Goodman and Heart Award

Lincoln Cobb.

U11 Team 1- MVP- Jack Corbett, Most DedicatedQuentin Askin, Most Improved- Joshua Connor, Most Sportsmanlike- Tessa Schiedel and Heart AwardGursehaj Gill

U11 Team 2- MVP- Bailey Pierce, Most DedicatedCarter Gilchrist, Most Improved- Tavis McAllister, Most Sportsmanlike- Nolan Steward and Heart Award- Colton Boakes

U11 Rep- MVP- Jakobe Barrett, Most DedicatedLandon Speagle, Most Improved- Brodi Farrington, Most Sportsmanlike- Reid Cawell and Heart AwardMarshall Lerno.

U13 Team 1- MVP- Eldred Martin, Most DedicatedJacob Oakes, Most Improved- Sawyer Robinson, Most Sportsmanlike- Charlie Gannon and Heart AwardHudson Gal

U13 Team 2- MVP- Carter Durrer, Most DedicatedHenry Moffit, Most Improved-Degan Hamilton, Most Sportsmanlike- Michael Szarka and Heart Award Ethan Sickle.

U15 Team 1 – MVP-Callum Dailey, Most DedicatedDawson Atkinson, Most Improved, Caleb Parker, Most Sportsmanlike- Brayden Miller, Heart AwardJared Biro.

U15 Team 2- MVP- Elliott Schiedel, Most DedicatedEthan Lange, Most Improved- Jack Lovelock, Most Sportsmanlike- Mason Munro and Heart AwardLogan Harrison

U15 Team 3 – MVP- Canaan Sherbino, Most Dedicated Jack Amos, Most Improved- Isaac Graham, Most Sportsmanlike- Sienna Visocchi and Heart Award- Harley Shuart

U15 Rep- MVP- Nathan Wylie, Most DedicatedJerry Skoyles, Most Improved Jackson Birley, Most Sportsmanlike- Camden Cadwell and Heart AwardLukas Greenwood.

U18 Team 2- MVP- Caiden Potter, Most DedicatedEaston De Belleval and Luke Bolognone, Most Sportsmanlike- Ben Cadwell and Heart Award- Carter Hussey.

U18 Team 3- MVP- Adam Floto, Most DedicatedAustin Perry, Most Improved Cohen Vander Hoek, Most Sportsmanlike- Tate Mancini and Heart AwardSpencer Cain.

Paris FC U16 Boys’ team is Hamilton Indoor Soccer Champions!

Well it didn’t take long for a Paris FC soccer team to claim a gold medal in 2023! First cheers of 2023 goes out to the U16 Boys’ Team - champions of Hamilton Indoor Soccer League! The outdoor season will be underway next month at Green Lane Sports Complex.

Local artist brings whimsical style to Paris

IN THE STUDIO

With Taren White

Rachelle Lauren is a name that evokes feelings of warmth and creativity. She is an artist who puts her heart and soul into everything she creates, and it shows in every stroke of her brush. Rachelle is a lover of all forms of art, but her true passion lies in painting. Her favourite subject matter is animals and nature, which she brings to life on canvas with a skillful blend of colour and texture. Meeting Rachelle is like being enveloped in a warm hug she has a way of making everyone feel welcome and appreciated. Her infectious enthusiasm for life is mirrored in her artwork, making it impossible not to feel inspired by her.

Rachelle’s earliest memories of creativity are from the young age of two years old. She still has the picture she drew of her dad, in crayon, and you can clearly see a round head with hair, eyes, a nose and a mouth. It looks like a drawing of a much older child.

Rachelle finds her inspiration in animals and nature. She sees beauty all around her and enjoys

recreating it in her own way. Her paintings include beautiful landscapes, animals and portraits of people.

As a small child, Rachelle’s parents encouraged her artistic talent, which resulted in her growing in her creativity from a young age. As she grew older, she was inspired by artists Micky Wilde and Tony Burt. They both have a beautiful, whimsical style that she loves. She has even participated in a couple of tutorials taught by them, and you can see their influence in some of her pieces.

Continued on page 24

Rachelle Lauren is a local artist who loves a variety of art forms but her true passion lies in painting. She’s pictured above at her downtown store, Under the Oak Tree.

Photos by Taren White

ARTS & CULTURE

Rachelle’s chosen medium is acrylic because it's so forgiving and she can achieve so many different looks with it It works with all the different styles she has tried her hand at, including her mixed media work.

“My work is whimsical. Whether I'm doing something for a child's room or if I'm attempting something more realistic, it always has a feel of whimsy. And that is exactly how I want it. If I want true realism, then I have my camera for that.”

Rachelle has a shop in The Gem, in downtown Paris. She loves having her shop/studio here because of the supportive arts community She has found that there are many sources of inspiration in Paris. “Everywhere you look, there is some form of art So many artists who have their paintings on display, photos, objects. I feel right at home here.”

Rachelle has been challenged by people in her life who told her she couldn't make a living as an artist since art is a great hobby, but not a way to earn a living. She is definitely proving them wrong!

Rachelle is currently working on illustrating a children's book and is looking into having some of her illustrations licensed. She has a goal to have her work in more than just one store in Paris, and quite possibly in other small towns. I don’t doubt that will become a reality very soon!

To view Rachelle’s work in person you can visit her at The Gem in downtown Paris You can visit Rachelle online at undertheoaktree.ca

If you know of a local artist that would like to be featured, please reach out to Taren at: Taren White Gallery, 13 Grand River St. N., Paris, ON www.tarenwhitegallery.com

https://www.instagram.com/tarenwhitegallery/

Do you like Rachelle’s style? Drop by her downtown store/studio to view more of her masterpieces and see what she has going on!

All photos by Taren White

Three new parks to open in Paris this summer

By Casandra Turnbull

More parks will be springing up around town this spring and summer

The Woodslee Linear Park is a rectangular stretch of land that will connect pedestrians and cyclists from Hartley Ave to Woodslee Ave. The passive space gives area residents a safe place to walk, explore and enjoy the outdoors.

It will feature a 3m wide asphalt park pathway the meanders from one entrance to the other, shaded by coniferous and deciduous trees, flower beds and existing vegetation. The county plans to plant approximately 50 new trees - some Spruce trees, some ornamental trees, and some shade trees (Native to North America), confirmed Kathy Ballantyne, Director of Parks and Facilities for the County of Brant

There will be five separate pod areas spread out throughout the park: the entry pergola, the Zen Garden (which includes bench seating), an all-ages bench swing, play area with seating and the entry plaza/gathering space.

An additional space on the northeast side of the park is reserved for future park expansion plans if residential development to the east is approved The total budget for the project is $200,000 and is paid for by development fees. Although the project was delayed, originally slated for 2022, the contract was signed last year, there should be no budget implications for extras, said Ballantyne.

Some playground equipment was installed this past week, a two-piece rock climber with a smaller ground level climber in a pod, said Ballantyne The swinging bench, also part of the original plans, is on

backorder with new delivery timeline as of yet “The planting of the gardens will be done in May with some minor restoration work,” said Ballantyne.

A block away, on Watts Pond Road, a Greenspace transformation is underway The plans for this space were unveiled in 2021, but developers went back to the drawing board when area residents presented issues with the space during a public consultation period on the EngageBrant website.

Continued on page 26

Play pods (above) were installed at the Woodslee Linear Park which is under construction now. It connects Woodslee Ave to Hartley Ave (for pedestrians and cyclists only)

The conceptual drawing for the Watts Pond Greenspace.

Taking into account noise and privacy concerns, the county is now moving forward with a revised plan that includes the removal of proposed lighting, the removal of the pavilion, portions of the pathways have been relocated so they are further from the back of the lot lines, and there will be more trees in the open grass area “The park will just be a greenspace with grass and trees No play equipment will be installed and there will be no connection to the sidewalk. All of those were elements we originally proposed, but this concept was not supported during consultation,” said Ballantyne

The park, which would be accessible off Watts Pond Road or Robbins Ridge Road, was approved with a $100,000 budget and is expected to be completed under budget, according to Ballantyne Since new park construction is supported through development charges, there will be no direct costs borne by the municipality. County staff just posted the quote for the work and expect it to be done in May or June of this year.

“The pollinator garden installed last fall by the garden club should thrive in this environment It will be different in the sense it is just passive greenspace that really is just protection of land and

Last fall, 14 members of the Paris Horticultural Society planted 500 native plants and shrubs on a green area just off Watts Pond Road as part of the Native Plant Pollinator Garden. Paris Horticultural Society Photo

generally inaccessible with minimal maintenance,” she added.

Finally, on the other side of town, off Rest Acres Road, is the Mile Hill Meadows Park. Work will commence again on this park in the next week or two. Contractors will work on the paced pathways, parking lot improvements and the installation of benches The irrigation system was installed last fall for the junior soccer field. Further reseeding will be done this spring as it did not all germinate late last fall.

“Although the soccer field may not be ready for play this season, the park space should be useable later this summer Some playground equipment will be installed in this park, but we have not received proposals for that yet, so it likely will not go in until late this year or next spring,” said Ballantyne

Aries: March 21 - April 19 (Fire) –You start your week off with some great ideas Ideas on how to fix all kinds of small issues that have been swirling around you lately You will not have time to address them all, so pick the two most important ones and leave the rest till next week

Taurus: April 20 - May 20 (Earth) –You have high positive energy surrounding you this week. People will be loving you and want to be around you You feel confident and this will spur grand gestures in your love life Spread the love you feel around and you will feel very accomplished.

Gemini: May 21 - June 20 (Air) –Possibilities pop up all around you Your work offers you new and exciting opportunities You will be given some grand news in love and your love life begins to flourish By the weekend you start to become moody, so make plans to get out of the house

Cancer: June 21 – July 22 22 (Water) – Stop flip flopping Your mood goes from I want to go out and be social to leave me alone and hermit Try balancing this mood by doing both Go out during the day and stay in at night till your funk changes Make the weekend relaxing by doing something you love.

Leo: July 23 - August 22 (Fire) –Make time for friends and family this week You have been neglecting them a lot They hold some encouragement and opportunities that you are missing by shutting them out of your life. Your career needs to be balanced also, sit down with the people in your job that can help you get the most out of everything you are doing

Virgo: August 23 - September 22 (Earth) – You have career goals that have been pushed aside lately as you deal with emotional crap You need to start this week off focusing on how to get back on track with work Once you have done this everything else that is bothering you starts to fall into place.

Libra: September 23 - October 22 (Air) - Love is in the air for you. If you are single there is a definite opportunity for you to meet a quality person and to create a deep connection. If you are in a relationship, you will plan a big next step or trip together You feel romantic and want to share it all week.

Scorpio: October 23 - November 21 (Water) – Harmony is hard to find, but you are determined to have it this week Love has been the hardest place to find harmony lately so work on that first Then next your family and friends and then to your career. This requires honest talks and time spent with people you have been disconnected from lately Make the effort to do this, it's worth it

Sagittarius: November 22 - December 21 (Fire) – You feel the love Everyone around you is showing you how much they care Talk to whoever wants to start a conversation with you this week, this leads to a new friendship and even if this is not a love interest it brings you a lot of peace and joy

Capricorn: December 22 - January 19 (Earth) – Magic has come into your life Your love life starts to heat up and brings you great satisfaction. Your career is finally showing some financial gain You are open to starting new relationships in your life that can benefit some future ideas you have Strike while iron is hot and make these connections..

Aquarius: January 20 – February 18 (Air) – You will be craving intellectual connections this week. You need to have deep philosophical conversations with like minded people. You will be a sponge just wanting to learn all you can about many different subjects. Focus some of this energy towards your career, it could really help to get the raise you've been wanting.

Pisces: February 19 - March 20 (Water) – After some hard reality checks the past couple weeks you are ready for some security Look for the solid people in your life so they can help balance out your energy Once you find balance by the weekend you will start to have great success in all you do.

Horoscopes with Tina Graziano Energy Reader

Tina Graziano was born an energy reader. She uses her gifts to heal and guide others as a life coach. If you need support and insight in life, contact Tina for an energy reading directly online at https://www.facebook.com/ Tina.Graziano.Energy.Reader /?ref=page_internal

Showtimes for Galaxy Cinemas Brantford

For Saturday, April 15, 2023