The Paris Independent for Saturday January 7th, 2023

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

MILE HILL PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION – January

11, 4-6pm at the Brant Sports Complex. Join the County for a public information session to discuss Mile Hill Road in Paris. Mile Hill Road in Paris is being proposed for conversion to a one-way southbound road Tentative start is set for spring of 2023. Construction will take place between May 2023 and June 2023, weather permitting. To provide your comments and ask questions, please submit to https://engagebrant ca/milehillroad

VIRTUAL REALITY FOR SENIORS –

Starting Wednesday, January 18th 1pm to 3pm, adults 55+ are invited to experience virtual reality in a friendly and safe environment! Learn how to use an Oculus device and discover the benefits of virtual reality as you age. VR sessions occur every Wednesday at 1pm at various County of Brant Public Library branches. Visit brantlibraryca/calendar to register for introductory and Armchair Travel sessions!

WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN MEETING

– Thursday, January 12 at 7pm at the Paris Fairgrounds. The January meeting of Women Inspiring Women will feature guest speaker Lynn Leach who will teach us how to create a therapeutic garden in our own backyard What are you hoping to grow this summer? Monetary donations will go to Crossing all Bridges. Everyone welcome.

Community Grant application process now open

By Casandra Turnbull

The

2023

Community Grant Applications are now open

Non-profit and charity organizations who wish to apply must complete a check list of items and give a full description of what the funding is for, as well as provide financial information to be considered. Applicants are filtered through an application process divided into five categories: Operating and Event Grants, Capital Grants, Emergency Funding Grants, Travel Grants and On-going Pre-Approved Grants. Once all eligible applications are received, county staff use a scoring sheet to rate the technical aspect of the application to ensure it’s completed entirely and meets certain criteria The scored applications are then brought to the committee, composed of the Mayor and Councillors, to debate.

Last year, the committee approved $305,770.21 in

grants, and left $54,229.80 open to applicants who missed the deadline because they were not aware of the newer County process Mayor David Bailey and Councillors from the previous term also noted that both Agricultural Societies, Paris and Burford, automatically be included as a line item in the 2023 budget, each receiving equal funding, rather than making them apply through the grant program.

“(Ag Society) Grants should be on par as they have been for the last 70 years,” said Councillor Robert Chambers during last year’s Grant Committee discussion, noting both societies have an important impact on the County.

The 2023 Community Grant Applications are open until Tuesday, February 28, 2023 You can learn more and apply online here.

Brave souls take the plunge into the Grand River January 1st

A group of 20 residents had a chilly start to 2023 as they took a polar plunge into the Grand River at Bean Park. It’s an annual tradition for the group. You may recognize one dipper as Paris Independent contributing columnist Tiffany Martin, alongside her husband Bernie Martin (top photo). Tiffany said “I always love the way I feel after the cold water and that's what I remember going in each year. Cleanse and hope 2023 is a little bit better than last year.”

Brant Library selects its 2023 ‘One Book One Brant’ novel – on shelves starting January 17

By Carolina Saenz

A new year means that we can again look forward to our favourite yearly events such as the acclaimed One Book, One Brant (OBOB) program.

The County of Brant Public Library runs this yearly celebration of great Canadian literature that encourages the community to read a featured book together, discuss it in book clubs, and ends with a guest lecture by the chosen author. For the 18th year of OBOB, the pick is “Ridgerunner” by Gil Adamson, a 2020 Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize Winner and also shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize.

Part literary Western, part historical mystery, “Ridgerunner” is described by the publisher as follows:

November 1917. William Moreland is in mid-flight. After nearly twenty years, the notorious thief, known as the Ridgerunner, has returned. Moving through the Rocky Mountains and across the border to Montana, the solitary drifter, impoverished in means and aged beyond his years, is also a widower and a father And he is determined to steal enough money to secure his son’s future.

Twelve-year-old Jack Boulton has been left in the care of Sister Beatrice, a formidable nun who keeps him in cloistered seclusion in her grand old house. Though he knows his father is coming for him, the boy longs to return to his family’s cabin, deep in the woods When Jack finally breaks free, he takes with him something the nun is determined to get back at any cost.

Set against the backdrop of a distant war raging in Europe and a rapidly changing landscape in the West, Gil Adamson’s followup to her award-winning debut, The Outlander, is a vivid historical novel that draws from

the epic tradition and a literary Western brimming with a cast of unforgettable characters touched with humour and loss, and steeped in the wild of the natural world

Gary Jermy, Outreach and Community Impact Coordinator at The County of Brant Public Library, shares his thoughts on how this year’s book was chosen. As a well known and respected author in the Canadian literary community, Gil Adamson is a wonderful choice for this year’s OBOB.

LIBRARY NEWS

“For this year, we wanted to go with a fiction book since we went with non-fiction for the past two years and we generally first look at recent award winners as part of our criteria Ridgerunner fit the bill and I think it flew a bit under the radar when it won the Writer’s Trust prize in 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic,” explains Jermy.

He adds that “Ridgerunner” is not a direct sequel to Adamson’s 2007 novel “The Outlander”, which was shortlisted for Canada Reads. Rather, the book is more of a follow-up novel written as a standalone. “It’s character-driven and descriptions of the historical context and local geography show Adamson did her research. Historical fiction titles are popular checkouts at our branches and I think readers will enjoy our 2023 selection,” he concludes

Starting on January 9, you place a hold on your copy of “Ridgerunner”, by calling your closest public library branch or visiting

https://www.brantlibrary.ca/en/services/one-bookone-brant.aspx#Ridgerunner-Book-Club-Paris-Branch Reserve copies will be on shelves and available starting on January 17th

For those looking to discuss the book with likeminded people, register now for the book club available both in person at the Paris Public Library branch on March 21st at 2pm and virtually on March 23rd at 7pm.

And for the first time since Covid times, the author event will be held in person. Listen to acclaimed author, Gil Adamson, speak about her work on March 26th at 1:30pm at the Gaukel Memorial Community Centre in St George, ON Register early to save your spot!

A yearly program not to be missed, the 2023 OBOB is here for all to enjoy!

The 2023 Winter Reading Challenge is here all you have to do is register at brantlibrary.ca/readingchallenges and read!

Take part in this family-friendly reading challenge that encourages reading books by Canadian authors and completing fun family activities to help pass the long winter months!

Log your reading and activities to earn online tickets. Use your tickets to enter to win one of two Family Prize Packs! There is a userfriendly tutorial online to show you how to use ‘Beanstack’ to track your family’s progress

This special reading challenge runs from January 1 to February 28, 2023. Happy reading, Friends!

Local business owner makes television debut on HGTV’s Farmhouse Facelift

By Casandra Turnbull

Life can be full of surprises and pleasant twists – just ask Brandon Hagey who recently experienced the surprise of a lifetime that’s made him a true believer that sometimes life can lead you in unbelievable directions!

Hagey is the owner of Hagey Hardwood Flooring & Staircase, a family-owned and operated company with over 20 years of quality and friendly service. They specialize in the refinishing of oak, maple, pine and some exotic wood flooring One day this fall, Hagey’s day started like any other. He was called out to do an estimate at a rural farmhouse in this area Like he’s done a thousand times before, he met with the General Contractor, Tej and discussed the job. A week later Hagey is delivering a sample of the stained plank and that’s when he noticed something seemed unusual. “I started driving down the laneway to the farmhouse and I noticed a whole bunch of black SUVs up by the house,” Hagey explained. “I thought to myself, ‘maybe something crazy is going on here? Should I continue?’”

As he approached the home, Tej broke the news to him that this wouldn’t be an ordinary day of work. In fact, the job wasn’t random at all, and he was hand selected to be a part of HGTV’s Farmhouse Facelift “I was shocked and surprised, but very excited,” said Hagey, who has watched the show for many years with his wife

Brandon Hagey of Hagey Hardwood Flooring & Staircase takes a break from sanding the Pine flooring to pose for a picture with HGTV’s Farmhouse Facelift co-host Billy Pearson. Brandon’s episode will air later this spring.

Photos supplied by Brandon Hagey

The cast and crew of HGTV Farmhouse Facelift work to install shelving around a newly constructed fireplace (far left) and check out the shine on that restored pine flooring (left), courtesy of Hagey Hardwood Flooring & Staircase.

As it turns out, Hagey Hardwood Flooring & Staircases was contracted by the show’s directors to refinish and plank the pine flooring in the farmhouse because his name and reputable business came by referral from a similar job he completed for a client this past summer. “You just never know where life is going to lead you sometimes,” he said.

HGTV’s Farmhouse Facelift features siblings Billy Pearson and Carolyn Wilbrink, a professional renovation team who grew up on their own family’s farm. The pair learned firsthand how to restore and reclaim the charm of heritage homes Carolyn brings stunning designs into the home while Billy offers his custom craftsmanship to tackle the toughest farmhouse renovations The show takes a seemingly old, outdated home and breathes some fresh life into it for future generations of homeowners to build lasting memories.

Hagey said he was more than honoured and quite stoked to be a part of the process. This episode took three weeks to produce with three heavy days of

filming and other lighter days of filming using go pro cameras Hagey worked firsthand with Billy Pearson, the show’s co-star, to sand the existing plank pine flooring with his drum sander, while having a whole lot of fun with Billy and the crew “They were great people throughout the whole process, top notch,” Hagey recalls of the November experience. The location of the farmhouse is under wraps until the show airs, which should be later this spring. The exact date is to be determined.

The most stunning aspect of seeing how these types of shows are produced behind the scenes, says Hagey, is the amount of work that goes into production from the cameras and lighting to the crews who oversee every detail of filming “It was amazing to be a part of the process. Billy and the crew were upbeat and funny people that made me feel very comfortable.” Asked if he would consider future episodes, if approached, Hagey replied, most definitely!

This isn’t the first time HGTV’s Farmhouse Facelift has travelled to this neck of the woods to produce an episode. In 2019, Billy & Carolyn were spotted in Paris filming an antique shopping segment at Paris Road Antiques. In March 2021, they also kicked off a big day on the farm with a big breakfast at Scott’s Family Restaurant Farmhouse Facelift airs on Tuesdays at 9pm. You can stream HGTV online with Stack TV, Global or Discovery+. Stay tuned for a future follow up story when Hagey’s episode will air To learn more about Hagey Hardwood Flooring & Staircases visit https://www.hageyhardwoodflooring.com/

To the Left – click on the video to watch Billy & Carolyn film at Scott’s Family Restaurant in Paris in 2021.

Above, Billy Pearson and Carolyn Wilbrink of HGTV’s Farmhouse Facelift during a 2019 visit to Paris Road Antiques where they filmed an antique shopping segment.

Photo credit: Paris Road Antiques

Arepa Love creating new vibe downtown Paris

By Bailey Zimmer

New restaurant Arepa Love is capturing the hearts of Paris residents one bite at a time On November 17, 2022, Arepa Love had a soft opening of their new restaurant location at 11 Grand River Street N A grand opening will take place later in the month of January to officially celebrate the new hot spot in Paris. Owners P.J and Ruth Hernández Perisic put their heart and souls into the food they serve, a fusion of Venezuelan and Serbian cuisine. “We’re trying to just show people that Paris can be different Change is good Paris is changing whether people want to accept it or not and I think we’re just here to kind of ease that and give people a chance to see what some different food is and how culturally, things can be different but still very palatable,” said P.J.

The duo originally started their business in The Wincey Mills building on Mechanic Street two years ago with five sandwiches on their menu Within these two years of developing and adapting, the menu has grown to nine different types of sandwiches, as well as appetizers, entrees, deserts, and drinks “We really are going through this new revolution of how we’re going to do stuff and I think it’s all for the better,” said P.J.

The alcohol licence for the restaurant was granted on December 28, meaning P.J. is currently creating a more expansive drink menu for all to enjoy, including a mixture of spicy, sweet and fruity alcoholic drinks, as well as soft beverages.

Arepa Love is in the heart of Downtown Paris and is a great place to stop for a bite to eat. The combination of the atmosphere and food

Arepa Love owner P.J. Hernández Perisic, along with Ruth Hernández Perisic (not pictured) are pleased to introduce Paris’ first Venezuelan and Serbian cuisine restaurant. They are located in the heart of downtown Paris and look forward to creating a new, delicious vibe in town!

is enough to stir some talk Ruth and PJ hope for residents of Paris and surrounding areas to love their food and look forward to the newness it will bring to the town’s core.

“This is one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in my life and I just want to see it grow,” said P.J.

Photos by Bailey Zimmer

The inside of the building is modern with bright yellow and dark black paint as a contrast, and many plants and neon lights hung for décor. A lounge couch hangs in the back corner by the bar with a view of the Grand River just behind. The old windows in the newly renovated building surrounded by modern décor show the fusion between the history of Paris and all that is to come, led by Arepa

Love. Currently, Arepa Love has a crew of about four people and are looking to have a staff of five to six in the summer as business picks up. The summer will bring more locals and tourists into the business which will create even more of a fun and energetic atmosphere P.J. and Ruth are striving for.

While about 50 people can sit comfortably in the restaurant right now, the couple’s next goal is to have an open patio for the summer season so even more people can sit down and enjoy the vibes, food and culture within With another diverse restaurant in town that stands apart from the crowd, Arepa Love gives new and old residents of Paris alike a chance to try something new that they are unfamiliar with or a place to eat comfort foods they’ve been craving. “We’re shaking up the block a little,” said P.J. Chris Bodegraven and Kathy Galajda were the first customers of Arepa Love on their opening day. Bodegraven is happy to see the restaurant in its own location and give to the community all it has to offer. “It’s been a long time coming and it’s great to see it finally open,” said Bodegraven. “It’s nice to have another restaurant doing something different.” Galajda praises the couple’s hospitality and service she has experienced in the past.

“They’re exceptionally friendly … great customer service, always amazing,” said Galajda.

PJ gives much of the credit of the success and action of Arepa Love to his wife, Ruth. P.J. commends Ruth for pushing the idea of opening a restaurant and striving to be something different and great that can be enjoyed by many.

Arepa Love may not expand to other locations, but it will stay special to the heart of Paris and be a restaurant worth travelling for “I don’t know if we’d make another Arepa Love,” said P.J. He gestures to Ruth, the heart and soul of the restaurant “I think this is a thing that should stay as unique as she is.”

LOCAL HISTORY

For ¾ of a century this was the most famous dining room in Paris

Once upon a time on the outskirts of Paris along Governors Road stood the White Horse Inn & Tavern (now an empty lot on Dundas St. East between Mike Yarek Dodge Chrysler Ltd. & John’s Automotive) Our Story begins in 1934 when the going was tough for almost everyone Fletcher Wilson decided to open a restaurant near where Highways #2 and #5 intersect. With more nerve than dollars Fletcher was counting on travellers needing a place to stop and seek nourishment. At least he had no payroll to meet in the beginning His staff totaled three: his wife, his mother, and himself. It was probably the worst time to start a restaurant, right in the middle of the great depression, but they got by. Just how well they got by would become clear. For the White Horse became known to thousands of tourists from far-off points in the United States as well as Canadians in general It was hard sledding at the start, but the Wilsons were able to make some good progress in the first few years of operation Then came the war. The tourist trade dried to a trickle then erased altogether. The former diners-out in uniform or out of it had other things to do “You could look up and down the road"

The White Horse restaurant, which was located on Dundas Street just East of Paris, was operated by Fletcher Wilson from 1934 to 1970 The restaurant got its name from a white carousel horse, visible here over the entrance, which Wilson brought from Port Dover after a fierce 1929 storm had destroyed the merry-go-round Both photos on this page were postcards and the one below shows the restaurant after the 1956 expansion & renovation.

Mr. Wilson recalled "without seeing a single car" Things perked up in the early postwar years however and by 1948 the White Horse had hit its stride. A larger staff was kept busy meeting the growing demand for the superb food for which the restaurant had become well known

There was seating capacity for only 50 guests

Mr. Wilson realized that many more could be served if facilities were expanded. In the succeeding years he kept notes on every new development in catering techniques and equipment both here and in the United States. In 1956 the White Horse completely expanded and renovated and could now seat 200

LOCAL HISTORY

They continued to offer basically the same menu as what patrons enjoyed in 1934, the finest in food But the setting was now a pleasing blend of modern exterior with oldtime interior décor. On entering, the visitor’s eye focuses immediately on a large framed artist’s reproduction of the original White Horse from which the restaurant got its name. This noble equestrian was Duchess, for years an honored guest of the Royal Stables at Copenhagen, Denmark. A good many years ago Duncan Hines world-renowned gastronomic guide bestowed on the White Horse his well-merited

accolade for the excellence of its cuisine. Mr. Wilson dates the start of better business for his establishment from 1939 when Greyhound buses made their first stops there to give passengers a lunch break This cross-country clientele, absent during the war years, resumed their patronage in the early postwar era and continued to factor in the success and notoriety of the restaurant. Commercial travellers, were also attracted to the White Horse in growing numbers and many of them arranged their trips so as to stop there at meal-times About half of their summer guests were

tourists from the United States, some hailed from remote points in Canada and there was many a “regular” from Brantford and the vicinity. An interesting touch of antiquity was also noted in the construction of a quaintly delightful Country Store stocked with items which were genuinely reminiscent of bygone days in Canada. The store’s wooden beams and floorboards left in their natural state came from the Sunday School of the Farringdon Independent Church just a short distance from Brantford which was then about 130 years old

Kentucky Fried Chicken began at the White Horse in 1961

One of the many travellers to stop at the White Horse was the now famous Colonel Harland Sanders of KFC fame. In the early days of KFC the Colonel started his franchise by selling his secret recipe to restaurants for a nickel royalty on each bird sold. The White Horse was not only one of his earliest franchises, eventually opening a stand-alone take-out restaurant beside the White Horse, Fletcher Wilson and his partner Ian Oliver would go on to own and operate a total of ten KFC take out restaurants as well as the salad commissary which they opened across the street. The stores were located in Brantford, Paris, London, St. Thomas, Delhi, and Simcoe. In 1970 the White Horse

Limited sold its ten KFC franchises along with the commissary to Scotts Restaurants for $1.25 million Converted to today’s money is about 1 million dollars per store. The White Horse Inn at Paris was purchased by Mr Oliver for an undisclosed amount. In addition, Mr. Oliver would continue as general manager of the fried chicken outlets acquired by Scotts in this area. A subsidiary of the White Horse Restaurants Limited “Tally Ho Beef Drive-in Restaurant” in Hamilton remained under Mr Wilson's control. The White Horse operated until about 1974 and then it became the The Hungry Lion and was closed in 1976.

LOCAL HISTORY

In 1976 The Hungry Lion is transformed into PIZZA CHIEF

Paris used to have one restaurant that truly appealed to adults, children, and teen-agers alike. The Pizza Chief Restaurant was relocated from downtown Paris to its new 200 seat location at 115 Dundas Street after the Hungry Lion closed in the once famous White Horse Restaurant location. Owner Brian Booth established the first Pizza Chief in Paris in 1969. It proved so popular that he built a larger restaurant in Brantford in 1971 Business was brisk from the start and he expanded the facilities in 1976 Shortly after this he purchased the defunct restaurant The Hungry Lion and turned it into another Pizza Chief like the one in Brantford with its Tiffany lamps and checkered tablecloths. At the Pizza Chief mom, dad and the kids could drop in for a full meal or just

a snack, watch old-time silent movies, laugh at the funny old posters and antique machines on display all without going bankrupt. Foods offered in the late 1970s ranged from four-slice plain pizzas for $2 to a full order of lasagna for $4.15. The pizzas could be ordered with all kinds of exotic toppings in sizes up to a 12- slice extravaganza. The Chicken parmesan was tender pieces of chicken breaded with cheese served with sauce and spaghetti Spaghetti of course was a real favourite for children and one night a week it was always on Special Submarines those incredibly sized sandwiches crammed full of cheese and meat were also very popular. Any of these main courses could be teamed with a tasty salad from Pizza Chief's salad bar. After your meal, if

you were still hungry, delicious desserts awaited. There was chocolate cake, pies and a great children’s favourite, tin roof sundaes! The pies and cakes were baked at Pizza Chief’s commissary in Paris. There was root beer, chocolate milk, and Coca-Cola served in frosty mugs for the youngsters and cocktails, beer and wine for mom and dad, A whole bottle of Mateus would cost only $6.05. The Pizza Chief was open seven days a week and could host large or small parties Eventually the Pizza Chief moved to a brand new location on Hwy #2 (where the Full Plate is now) and the old location was re-opened as the famous White Horse Restaurant once again and continued to be the favourite dining room in Paris until about 2008.

MORE GOLD FOR THE WOLFPACK

U11 Select Team goes undefeated at Hespeler Olympics Hockey Tournament

The U11 select team was on fire last week during the 56th Annual Hespeler Olympics Hockey Tournament held December 27-30th . Facing competition from much larger centres, including Guelph, Orangeville, Whitby and Halton Hills, Paris stood tall, outscoring their opponents 402 over the course of five games. The Wolfpack had a relentless forecheck, stifling defence and outstanding goaltending courtesy of William Balkwill who posted four shutouts during the tournament.

Leading the way on the scoresheet were Bailey Peirce, Jack Corbett, Bentley Viera, and Gursehaj Gill. The relentless forechecking of Mason Field, Carter Gilchrist, Quentin Askin, and Beau Daiken made it tough for Paris’opponents to get the puck out of their end and undoubtedly contributed to a couple double digit victories.

Defensively, the opponents hit a wall every time they tried to mount an attack as Josh Connor, Tessa Scheidel, Taylor Plant and Colton Boakes held the

fort and limited the shots against to under two in three of the five games.

“This team truly made Paris proud and has come together in a short amount of time to dominate the competition,” said Coach Brad Boakes, referencing the team’s singular practice together before heading off to this tournament. Brad, alongside coaches Kevin, Rob and Dan are proud of the team’s cohesiveness so early into the year. “It is a privilege to coach the select team and have enjoyed working with the kids each and every game I love their intensity and their willingness to listen. I also find it amazing how much they have come together in a short period of time, you can already see lasting friendships being built.”

The team is hoping for a repeat performance at the Stouffville Year Ender Bender held at the end of March

Congratulations team!

Afternoon Ladies’ League busy crowning Curling Champions

The Paris Curling Club Ladies’ Afternoon league recently crowned the winning team in its very first doubles league. Brenda Baker and Isabel Rombough (absent from the photo) are the winning duo. Pictured from left to right are Brenda Baker; Joan Sims and Ginny Moor (team spares), and Barb Stewart who kindly sponsored the draw.

JOHN M. HALL DRAW

Team Cunningham was named the winners of the Paris Ladies Afternoon curling John Hall Draw. Pictured from left to right are Kathy Dreyer, second; Susan Cunningham, skip; Karen Allen, vice and Jackie Delong, lead. Thanks to the John M Hall store for sponsoring this draw.

Photos courtesy of The Paris Curling Club

Players awarded for skills and sportsmanship on the ice

Jarome Burke (far left) was awarded Player of the Game during the U9 team’s December 17th game against Twin Centre. Despite the tough 8-1 loss, Jarome played a solid defensive game making many blocks and clearing the puck from Paris’ zone, saving many goal opportunities. Jarome also played a very strong positional game and really put his stickhandling skills on display! A few days later against Buford, Nash Goodman was selected as Player of the Game for his solid positional game play and his efforts to help out defensively. His hockey IQ and great leadership helped close the gap in a 11-5 loss to Burford. In a previous match up Paris beat Burford 196 so the next time the teams meet, they will play hard in the rubber match!

Factory Basketball Academy returns for second session!

It’s all fun and games, literally, for the youngsters learning to play basketball with the Factory Basketball Academy in Paris! The first session wrapped up early December (participants pictured to the left) and the second session started just before the holidays. The program is aimed at players ages 8-14 and as the academy grows, more programs will be offered, say FBA organizers. The idea for the academy developed in 2019 but the plans were shelved when the pandemic hit. The Factory Basketball Academy was officially founded in June of 2022, according to a spokesperson, in an email with the Paris Independent. This week, the club was excited to announce the launch of its new website basketballfactoryparis.com where you will be able to register for future programs, check out house league standings and so much more! Check it out!

Rotary Club’s inaugural fundraiser takes place this month

Donate your time to a charity of choice and you can take home a priceless piece of art designed by a local

By Carolina Saenz

The Rotary Satellite Club of Paris is proud to host their first fundraising event this month. The Inaugural Priceless Art Auction will be held on January 27th, 2023, at the Wincey Mills from 6:30 pm to 9 pm

One of the club’s founding members, Dale Hall, shares some details about the event and as well as information about the Rotary Satellite Club, which was just founded in Paris last year. The members are kicking off the new year with some excitement and are putting a twist on the traditional silent auction format, asking invitees and attendees to bid with the time rather than money. So instead of bidding in dollars, attendees will choose a non-profit or charitable organization to volunteer at and bid for each art piece with the time they’re willing to donate to acquire it. Successful bidders will be the ones who are willing to donate the most amount of volunteer hours to a cause of their choice. Once the hours have been completed, the bidder will receive their art

“The desire to host a priceless art auction came from the need for

artist

volunteers for all non-profit and charitable organizations, and for those households who would love to purchase an original piece for their house, but cannot allocate the funds to do so at this time,” shares Hall.

The fundraiser is being supported by the Taren White Gallery and will feature eight to 10 pieces donated by local artists including

Taren White, Francine Tausney, and Kim Clarke. Most of the pieces are larger sized canvas and are painted in acrylic, oil and mixed media There will be abstract art, landscapes and still life, and with a variety of local talent represented, this event is truly a fabulous opportunity to collect a new piece of local art.

Continued on page 20

One of these masterpieces could be yours if you’re willing to donate your time to a charitable organization.

Get your tickets now to participate in the Priceless Art Auction visit https://www.facebook.c om/RotaryParis

“We are excited to be a part of the Paris Rotary Satellite Club's first event It's been fun working with the club as well as with the artists to provide beautiful pieces of original art for auction,” writes White. "The club members are looking forward to our first fundraising event and we're excited to host something that will not only see funds raised for the community, but it will also provide support to some of our local charities in the volunteer hours created,” added Hall. Those interested in joining the club, are encouraged to reach out via social media (Facebook or Instagram) The Satellite Club currently holds two events a month, including meetings, socials and projects. Currently made up of 11 members, event locations vary to support all small businesses. You can purchase Priceless Art Auction tickets on eventbrite. To learn more about local volunteering opportunities, visit the BRAVA website

Meet the new 2023 Paris Horticultural Society Executive and Directors

The Paris Horticultural Society (PHS)

Executive Board

new board January 4th, 2023. PHS is looking forward to an action filled year with lots of plans for community involvement. Pictured above from left to right are Dorothy Lanyi (Treasurer), Susan MacMillan (Associate Director District Six), Pattie Gladding (Co-President for PHS), Carol Reansbury ( Co-President for the PHS), Dave Collins (Secretary) and Edith Stone (Past President).

Submitted photo

held its annual meeting for the swearing in of the new

and Directors for 2023. Susan MacMillan installed the

New Year’s Resolution: Find the Beer Lover in You!

Happy New Year Paris and in a timely fashion, I'd like to bring you 5 New Year’s Goals, Tips, or dare I say Resolutions for the Beer Lover in YOU!

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind " C S Lewis

Often when looking at new goals/resolutions we tend to cut back on the things we really like. So instead of cutting back let me suggest a few new ways to enjoy your beer this year!

1: Start Drinking More Beer Styles

This includes trying something that you think you don't like! So, whether you’re a craft beer connoisseur or just started to explore the world of craft beer, there’s always room to try more beer styles. Not only will this help you recognize the nuances between the beer styles themselves, but you also will

not miss out on a great brewery just because you "don't like" a specific style they may cater to. Also, our tastes and preferences change for everything throughout life, including beer. Deciding you don't like a style is a great way to shut yourself off from potentially delicious drinking experiences, especially when travelling. So, to all of you, that think you don't like IPAs: If we gave one human who "hates" IPAs a sip of a well-balanced IPA and didn't tell them it was an IPA, they might have a difficult time even recognizing what they're drinking and more likely than not they will like it.

2: Take a Trip!

Travel is my first love. Travel takes us out of our comfort zones and inspires us to see, taste and experience new things, like beer! There are tons of destination breweries across Ontario and the world, giving you the perfect excuse to channel your inner Clark Griswold and pay a visit to a new destination and of course the breweries enroute to and at your final destination. Some breweries truly have gone beyond just brewing beer and may have some fun things on site like a hop yard, an air bnb or hotel, a concert venue or a variety of other on-site experiences to enjoy.

Travelling Pint with Tiffany Martin

Maybe 2023 will be the year you embrace the beer lover in you! Explore the craft beer industry and see if you can recognize the nuances between beer styles and remember pairing beer with food is hard to get wrong!

Photo credit: Tiffany Martin

Remember to get a hotel to enjoy your stops without worry and always try to sit at the bar to chat with the locals that always have the best suggestions for food, exploring and of course more beer! Oh and if you go to Japan, please put me in your suitcase… Is camping or RVing more your thing? Check out Harvest Hosts! It's an RV camping membership that has free overnight stays at locations such as farms, breweries, wineries, museums and more. The network has over 4000 locations and is expanding daily into Canada as well Check it out here!

3: Get Involved

An awesome way to become more versed in the craft beer realm is to get involved! Take part in local brewery events, sign up for an offflavour course or other beer education in your city. Give homebrewing a shot, volunteer at a local festival and support organizations surrounding craft beer that are making a difference like The Craft Beer Safety Network.

Decide what lines up with your beer goals, all are great options, and start small or jump all the way in but whatever you do make sure to welcome EVERYONE to be involved in the conversation, education and fun that beer has to offer

4: Learn The Lingo.

There’s no better way to announce “I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT” than if you mispronounce or use the wrong beer terminology in a confident tone. I mean it's no big deal, but knowing a little more lingo and terminology will also make your experience better. Reading the labels on your brews as you drink them is a great way to commit the basics, ABV’s, IBU’s, Hop Varieties etc., but the best way is to do some reading about brew styles and brewing as there are so many great books out there from simple reading to intense in your face, science geek to the max. Of course, the “learn by drinking”, I mean, “doing” method is a great route so don't be shy and strike up a conversation next time you're at the brewery with the beer tender, staff or brewer. No question is a dumb question and you'll now know the answer!

5: Learn some Beer & Food Pairings!

Welcome to where I truly fell in love with the flavour of beer and I am not alone in saying that beer is an exceedingly better choice to pair with food than wine. Anywhere you can use wine, you can use beer, often to better effect with beer's bread-like base flavour (hello malt) and its carbonation to cut through fatty foods and bold flavours Let

us not forget the wide variety of flavours beer comes in.

While pairing beer with food is hard to get wrong, you can make beer taste better by pairing it with the right food just as you can elevate your meal by pairing it with beer. So why not elevate the taste of both the food and beer and make it an experience! There are some great books out there on this topic or online courses such as Canadian Master Cicerone, Mirella Amato's online course, Mastering Beer & Food Pairing brought to you by Beerology. I have also been known to host some great beer & food pairings around town with cheese, wings and even cupcakes in the past so maybe a new year calls for a return to this.

In conclusion, there are constantly so many new beers being produced across the world and I urge you to take a moment to rediscover why you fell in love with beer, to begin with, and revisit your first love. Find that first beer that really knocked your socks off and gave you the interest to discover more! One of mine was Two Hearted Ale from Bell's Brewery out of Michigan and another was a chili pepper stout that to this day has me loving when spice is added to my beer!

Happy New Year and follow along with Travelling Pint to discover where to travel next!

County of Brant Firefighters stand in support of fallen OPP Constable Grzegorz Pierzchala

Members of the County of Brant Fire Department, Paris Station, attended OPP Constable Grzegorz Pierzchala’s funeral on January 4, 2023 In a social media post this week, the Paris Firefighter’s Club stated they attended the funeral “to honour the life and sacrifice of fallen OPP Constable Grzegorz Pierzchala. A fitting tribute for an Officer taken far too soon. We stand in support of his family, friends and colleagues. Rest in Peace Constable Pierzchala.” The station is also lit up in blue in solidarity of all OPP officers who are mourning the loss of one of their own

OPP: West Region Festive Ride numbers released

The 2022 Festive "Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere" (RIDE) campaign has wrapped up for another year, with a significant number of drivers in West Region now facing criminal charges. Here's a snapshot of this year's campaign results, with last year's numbers in parentheses:

•Impaired driving charges: 278 (280)

•Warn-range suspensions: 49 (55)

•Number of RIDE checkpoints:

1904 (1243)

•OPP detachments with the most impaired charges: Middlesex-43, Oxford-43, Essex-29

•OPP detachments with the fewest impaired charges: South Bruce-4, Huron-7.

"The OPP encourages drivers to make the smart, safe choice: if you plan to drink or take drugs ALWAYS take a taxi, contact a rideshare service or use a designated driver Impaired driving

poses a major safety risk to all drivers." - A/Inspector Ross StuartWest Region Traffic and Marine Manager

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) remains committed to ensuring Ontario roads are safe from drug-impaired and alcoholimpaired drivers.

If you suspect an impaired driver, make that lifesaving call and dial 9-1-1.

ASTROLOGY

Aries: March 21 - April 19 (Fire) -

You are a magnet of attention. Many people will be interested in you this week If you are looking for a true love connection then opportunity is here for you Do not let your fear hold you back from having all you desire

Taurus: April 20 - May 20 (Earth)You want to build a good reputation for yourself and because of this, your career is coming into super focus You are a trusting and loyal person Make sure everyone around you is the same. Be careful who you trust during this week, keep your secrets to yourself.

Gemini: May 21 - June 20 (Air) -

Your love life is heating up. What do you need? Tell your partner clearly so you can finally get all you want The inner child in you wants to come out and play It is time to make some plans to go out and socialize so you can do something different and exciting

Cancer: July 23 - August 22 (Fire) -

You feel vulnerable right now This is because you are starting to transition from the life you have to the life you really want You face some of the mistakes you have made lately and you will wonder if this is fixable. You will not get the answers you need until you put yourself out there and ask some important questions

Leo: June 21 - July 22 (Water) -

You have very unique individuals coming into your life this week This brings very interesting opportunities for you Take the time to think about all your options Then take another day before you decide your next path Success is guaranteed for you this month in love and career

Virgo: August 23 - September 22 (Earth) - Do you feel like you're surrounded by takers lately? Well you are. Can you spot those who want to help you to be a better person? Do some serious soul searching this week. Then you need to cut the people out of your life that are holding you back This pertains to love and career

Libra: September 23 - October 22 (Air)- Love is coming for you If you choose to veer away from a partner connection, then you will be falling in love with yourself. You definitely need to look at all your great qualities and see all the things about yourself that are worth loving If you are being held back in your career, it is time to look for something new

Scorpio: October 23 - November 21 (Water) - Time to stop faking it. You have been hiding a lot of who you are lately The thing is you are pretty great Talk to a family member about your confusions You can not avoid what feels wrong in your life anymore There are great things planned for you this week, so just get this stress out of the way early

Sagittarius: November 22 - December 21 (Fire) - You will be day dreaming all week You have a great fantasy going on in your head You are able to make these things come true if you really want to. You just have to step up and tell someone how you feel about them. Then take that courage and face all issues you've been having at work

Capricorn: December 22 - January 19 (Earth) - You will be sensitive this week. You will feel emotional and tired. You need to communicate what is bothering you in work and in love. Things are shifting in every area of your life, so this emotion is warranted Go through it and you will come out with all you deserve

Aquarius: January 20 – February 18 (Air) - Everything is finally aligning for you You will pick health this week This means you have to change some bad habits you have brought over from last year You will feel a bit psychic this week You will be making predictions and seeing things for what they really aretrust your instincts completely

Pisces: February 19 - March 20 (Water) - You want to heal all the people around you. Your focus will land on your partner. You have the gift to help all those around you Be careful you do not stretch yourself too thin. If you do, you will begin to feel resentful and exhausted by the end of this week

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

Showtimes for Galaxy Cinemas Brantford For Saturday, January 7, 2023

Avatar: The Way of Water Standard 11:40a.m. 3:50p.m. 8:00p.m. 3D 12:30p.m. 4:45p.m. 9:00p.m.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Standard 11:30a.m. 2:10p.m. 4:50p.m. 3D 7:25p.m. 10:00p.m.

M3GAN

Standard 12:00p.m. 4:10p.m. 7:00p.m. 9:45p.m.

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody Standard 11:35a.m. 3:00p.m. 6:20p.m. 9:40p.m.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Standard 12:20p.m. 2:35p.m. 6:15p.m. 9:30p.m.

Violent Night Standard 1:20p.m. 4:20p.m. 7:10p.m. 10:00p.m.

Strange World Standard 1:20p.m. 4:00p.m.

The Menu Standard 6:40p.m. 9:50p.m.