APRIL HOURS
Specializing in
THURSDAY-FRIDAY
•Custom •Pediatric •Fracture
11:30am-6pm
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
10am-6pm
OPEN SUNDAYS IN APRIL
COVERED WITH BENEFITS
MON-WED
433 Sandwich St. S. Next to Armando’s • 519-736-0972
Closed
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Town moving ahead in heritage designation process for GAHS site By Ron Giofu
Brantley Essery-Ouellette was excited to visit the farm. Wismer Clydes held an open house last Sunday afternoon.
Public enjoys visiting Clydesdales By Fred Groves In 1979, Gerald Wismer and his wife Barbara brought their first Clydesdale horse to their Amherstburg farm Cedar Lane Farm. Through a lot of hard work, his love of the gentle giants was passed down to two generations and now the Wismer Clydesdales are world renowned and the legacy and tradition continues. “It was his passion, he loved horses,” said Barbara, outside of the barns on Sunday afternoon. For the first time since Gerald’s passing last year, Cedar Lane Farms welcomed the public to come in, stroll through the barns and realize just how special these horses are. “When we open up the farm, people get very excited to see them. We are a breeding farm, we have babies here,” said Gerald’s son Ronald. Clydesdales are one of the largest draft horse breed and the Wismers are proud to have yearlings,
CPAP SUPPLIES & MACHINES
two-and-three-year-olds and mature ones that are showcased throughout shows in North America. Many know of the famous Budweiser Beer Clydesdales, and the Wismers have a very good working relationship with that farm. One of the mares at Cedar Lane, comes from the Budweiser stables. Asked why people are so fascinated with the big breed, Ronald Wismer said, “they are rare in Essex County. There aren’t too many people who have Clydesdales. We call them our big brother. Everybody associates them through Budweiser.” The horses at the local farm can weight up to 2,000 pounds and keeping them fed, happy, trained and well-groomed is a large undertaking that requires many hands doing multiple tasks. Ronald Wismer’s son Nicholas said as part of the third generation, he is very proud to carry on his grandfather’s legacy.
Town council has voted to go down the heritage designation route for the former General Amherst High School. The building, located at 130 Sandwich St. S., is proposed to be transformed by the Valente Development Corporation into a residential and commercial site, including eight and 11-storey towers. Despite a vow from owner Peter Valente to recreate the southern facade of the 1922 building when the company develops the site, town council voted 4-3 to proceed with a notice of intent to designate the property. Council members, particularly those in favour of the motion, as well as administration were quick to state this doesn’t mean the building will be designated, but that discussions will be held with Valente and his team to save certain elements of the structure, such as the facade and the majority of the murals along Laird Ave. The vote to proceed with a notice to intent passed 4-3 with Mayor Michael Prue, Councillor Don McArthur, Councillor Diane Pouget and Councillor Molly Allaire in favour. Opposed were Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb, Councillor Peter Courtney and Councillor Linden Crain. A previous motion to not go down the designation road failed 4-3, with the elected officials voting in similar fashion. The vote came after extensive debate, which included strong opposition by Valente. “Let’s stop pretending this is a neutral or symbolic decision. It is not. This is a decision that will directly determine if this property becomes a productive, tax-generating community enhancing asset or a restricted, stagnant taxpayer burden. Council needs to be honest about that,” said Valente. “What we’re really debating is not about history. We’re debating whether this town is serious about growth. We’re in the middle of a housing crisis, we need investment, we need development. We need to attract capital, not scaring it away.”
Continued on Page 2
Continued on Page 13 THE
LOFTS AT ST. ANTHONY - CIRCA 1911
Now Available!
DRIVE-THRU SPECIALTY COMPOUNDING BLISTER PACKS
*Covered Under Your
519-736-0972
433 Sandwich St S., Amherstburg
SERVING WINDSOR & ESSEX COUNTY FOR OVER 50 YEARS Residential & Commercial Licenced under O.B.C. and M.O.E
Preferred Realty Ltd., Brokerage Independently Owned and Operated
JOHN D’ALIMONTE
TRANSFER IN TODAY - WE DO THE WORK!
519-796-8073
433 Sandwich St S.
Sales Representative
519-736-2223 • apcw.ca
1325 Gore Rd. W., P.0. Box 871, HARROW
www.hernandezsanitation.ca
519-738-3309