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Congratulations Gardens abuzz for youth project Doris! Young gardeners invited to join Pollinator Pals planting sessions Caledonia centenarian celebrates high school graduation

CALEDONIA—In an unexpected outcome from her Haldimand Press feature, Doris Young can now officially say she’s a high school graduate at age 100. See the full story on Page 10. —Haldimand Press photo by Tamara Botting.

By Tamara Botting The Haldimand Press TOWNSEND/DUNNVILLE—Aspiring gardeners are being invited to give their green thumbs a workout as Haldimand-Norfolk REACH is once again expanding its pollinator gardens. “We’re trying to connect kids with nature, as nature is a really great way to help kids to self-regulate,” said Nancy Schuur, Group Services and Prevention Worker, who is spearheading the Pollinator Pals initiative. This is the second year for this targeted prevention program within the agency. “Gardening is such a great tool to keep the mind busy … with focusing on the flowers, they’re not thinking about their worries or anything else,” Schuur said. Last year, two pollinator-friendly gardens were installed: one at HN REACH’s 101 Nanticoke Creek Parkway, Townsend location, in partnership with Grand River Home Hardware in Caledonia and the Haldimand Horticultural Society; and the other at 110 Ramsey Drive, Dunnville, in partnership with GrandErie Home Hardware and Dunnville Horticultural Society. “Every year, we’ll be adding to these gardens,” Schuur said. There are two planting days scheduled, on June 5 in Townsend and June 19 in Dunnville. Both sessions will run from 4-5 p.m. and are open to any youths ages 7-11 years old. “Every child that joins will help us plant some flowers; they’ll also help us create some water vessels for insects and birds,” Schuur said. She added that pollinator gardens are import-

Hagersville Library & Active Living Centre to break ground this summer By Mike Renzella The Haldimand Press HAGERSVILLE—The long-in-development Hagersville Library and Active Living Centre got a big update last week, revealing July as the scheduled start date for construction on the multi-use facility originally spearheaded by former Ward 4 Councillor Tony Dalimonte. Mike Evers, Haldimand’s General Manager of Community and Development Services, gave a comprehensive overview of where the project currently stands, and a timeline of what residents of the area can expect next: “(It’s) nearing the finish line from the desktop, design, and planning end of things. We’re very close to being at that point where we enter into the ground-breaking and construction phase of the project.” He said that staff have been busy over the past year and a half. “That includes completing all of the architectural building plans, that was a milestone achieved in early May. The site plan process and the civil engineering plan have been completed. The site plan has been approved. That was also in early May,” said Evers. “As a team we’ve done a few facility visits to start to generate ideas and figure out some opportunities as it relates to

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programming for the active living centre in particular. Those visits will continue over the next few months.” Evers noted that the building permit application has been submitted, calling it a significant milestone in the process. “We’re hoping to get the tender out in the next one to two weeks. That really wraps up the design stage of the project,” he continued. “Once the tender is awarded, which we’re hoping to do in July, that’s when the real fun starts to happen.” Once the ground is broken and construction is underway, residents can expect that process to last through to roughly October 2025. “That gives you a good sense of the construction timeline. It’s lengthy, but it’s a big project with lots of complexities to the site and the inner workings of the facility,” Evers concluded. A staff report provided further information on the many wheels spinning behind the scenes to bring the project to fruition, noting that the community fundraising campaign has accumulated $1.7 million in raised/committed funds. It also notes that occupancy of the site is anticipated to be, at earliest, late summer 2025. Program development usage schedules for the facility, which will also host private events in addition to offering community services, will be factored into the 2025 operating budget. Stay tuned for more updates as they develop.

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This teaches the kids to not only be conscious of themselves, but also the environment around them. Nancy Schuur, group services and prevention worker

ant because “right now, we are having a crisis with our bee population. And actually, southern Ontario is in the migrant pathway for the monarch butterflies, which also need a lot of help. These gardens can act as landing spots for the monarch butterflies in their migration, but they also create pollinator places for bees where they are safe and they can pollinate and hopefully flourish.” By teaching participants about the ecological role pollinators fulfill alongside a lesson about the importance of self-care, Schuur said, “This teaches the kids to not only be conscious of themselves, but also the environment around them; to be sustainable in their mental health is to be sustainable within the environment.” Schuur said the hope with Pollinator Pals is to get participants to come out each year, while also adding new gardeners to the group. This year, as a special gift, participants at the planting sessions will receive a crocheted bee, made by Sam Overholt from HN REACH’s Youth Mental Health Alliance. Continued on Page 10

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Hoovers Marina & Wharfside Restaurant June Entertainment Line Up! Karaoke from 7-11 June 7, 14, 28 with Jamie and June 21st with Penny Saturday band lineups are from 7-11 June 1st. Route 6 June 8. Coming of Age June 15. Eric Brousseau and Company June 22. Albatross June 29. Brad Soucie and Company Sunday afternoons 4-7 June 2. James Bernard June 9. Brad James June 16. Brad James June 23. James Bernard June 30. James Bernard

Fathers Day Special! Meat lasagna with Caesar salad and garlic toast for $18.95 served from 11- close Please make reservations and state whether you are here to be close to the entertainment or if you are wanting a quieter area to enjoy your meal.