Southpoint Sun - August 20, 2025

Billy Raffoul headlines four-act night for Music Onthe42

By Paul Forman

It was all about the recent talent that has come out of Leamington that drove a four-act bill on August 15 at Seacliff Park.

Presented by the Municipality of Leamington and The Bank Theatre, the Friday show was part of the Music Onthe42 Summer Concert Series and featured Billy Raffoul, The Brandy Alexanders, The Indiana Drones and Peter Raffoul.

Four acts on the same night was a first for this series and Michelle Fortier of The Bank Theatre was asked about its motivation.

“We are testing some new waters,” said Fortier. “We’ve been thinking of doing an all-day or all-weekend festival in the future if all goes well.”

Peter Raffoul, who is now based out of Nashville, led the night off with an intimate solo set that included some of his original songs that have yet to be released.

Raffoul said, “I’m so excited to be here tonight. Anytime you can come home to play it amplifies the excitement. This is our original crowd and I can’t wait to play for them.”

Raffoul performed on both an acoustic guitar and the keyboards, and paid special tribute to his dad Jody by performing two songs from Jody’s album Simple Life.

Next up was The Indiana Drones, led by Leamington’s Justin Zuccato. The Drones showed their range by giving off a melancholic vibe at times, while bringing a jump-up attitude for some of their other songs. Zuccato’s feel and sound give off shades of Green Day’s leadman Billie Joe Armstrong.

Third to hit the stage was Windsor’s Brandy Alexanders, who also have a Leamington connection in that band founders Alex and Daniel Dick really got things going while attending high school locally. Labelling their music as neo-psychedelic, the unique pitch of lead singer Alex Dick’s voice brought a real alt-pop energy to their set on the amphitheatre stage.

“Leamington put me on the map.” — Billy Raffoul

Headlining the evening and last to appear was Billy Raffoul, joined by his brother Peter on keyboards, Justin Zuccato on drums, local talent Derek Impens on multiple instruments and “Mr. Chill” Kelly Hoppe on the sax.

Like his brother, Billy was asked about his thoughts on being on stage for the hometown crowd.

“I’m very proud. It might just be an excuse to hang out with all of my family being here,” he said. “Leamington put me on the map, and it’s cool to perform some songs from the new album that I made with Justin and just released today.”

Raffoul’s 10-track album was made here in Leamington and is a collaboration between he and Zuccato that has pondered about for many years.

Titled When I Cross The River, Raffoul opened his set with the title track, while a song from his self-titled Album called Canadian really showed his rock chops. Billy continues his tour this fall as he makes his way across the USA before finding his way back into Ontario.

Lebanese Club celebrates Feast of the Assumption

By Mark Ribble

The annual Feast of the Assumption Festival was hosted by the Leamington Lebanese Club over this past weekend with people from all over North America making their way to the club and to the Our Lady of Lebanon Shrine.

With crowd expectations in the thousands, the festival began Thursday, August 14 and ran through until Sunday, August 17. The actual Feast of the Assumption of Mother Mary was ob-

served on Friday, August 15.

“It’s a festival. A religious event,” said Lebanese Club President Maurice Raffoul. “We get people from all over the states, all over Ontario and even Quebec.”

Raffoul said they are there for one purpose: to say their prayers, hold Masses and to have a good time.

“We have people who picnic, we have campers come and set up behind the club,” he said. “We have busloads of people

who get dropped off. This is an event for everybody, not just Lebanese people.”

On the Lebanese Club grounds and further onto the grounds of the Shrine — which is under the direction of St. Anthony’s Maronite Parish — there were many booths, vendors and activities set up.

The smell of fresh Za’atar, Shawarma, Shishkabob and other Lebanese favourites filled the air.

Live music got everyone on their feet and of course thousands visited the

shrine to say their prayers to Mother Mary.

“The crowds have been incredible,” said Raffoul Saturday afternoon. “We had the biggest crowd

we’ve ever had on the Friday, so we expect Saturday and Sunday to be incredible.”

Raffoul said the spinoff for the town is an added

bonus as the motels and hotels have filled up and local restaurants also feel the increase in business.

CONTINUED ON Page 3

LEBANESE CLUB - From

Among the unique vendors present were gourmet coffee vendor Shaghf Café, olive oil vendor

Bonifacio Global Foods

and even Leamington’s own iScreams, churning out some cool treats to fight the heat.

Raffoul says that the

Thousands made the pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Lebanon Shrine over the course of the weekend. The shrine was dedicated in 1977 and is under the stewardship of St. Anthony’s Maronite Parish.

SUN photos by Mark Ribble

Page 2

festival is 100 per cent volunteer based and he’s thrilled with the amount of people — from teens to seniors — who step up

In the photo to the left, several gourmet coffee drinks and smoothies were available from the Shaghf Café, a vendor at the Feast of the Assumption Festival at the Leamington Lebanese Club on Saturday. Here, Shaghf employee Jawad is preparing a pistachio latte.

each year to help out.

“Nobody gets paid,” he said. “I’ll have well over 50 volunteers helping me here at the club. It’s incredible. We put the call out and they just show up. Every year we

know they are just going to show up.”

With the festival now in the rearview mirror, Raffoul says the club will continue with their popular lunch and dinner buffets, karaoke and trivia nights and special events as they arise.

“The Lebanese Club is doing great,” he said. “We have our buffets and people are really enjoying what’s happening,” he said.

Walk across Canada for PTSD making a stop in Kingsville Sept. 3

By Mark Ribble

The eastern portion of a walk across Canada to raise awareness for mental health and how those in public safety, military and veteran communities deal with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) will reach its conclusion early next month, but before it does, Chad Kennedy will be stopping at Kingsville Legion Branch 188 for an evening of storytelling, resiliency and healing.

On Wednesday, September 3, Kennedy will bring his Sea To Sea for PTSD campaign into Kingsville as the last leg of his walk across Eastern Canada. The evening is presented in partnership with the Helping Our Heroes Fund. Kennedy, an armed forces veteran, has a story to tell about the stress that first responders and the military are under on a daily basis.

His walk started in

food, toys, my prized chews. If another dog or person gets too close while I’m enjoying them, I might give a warning growl to say “this is mine right now, please and thank you.” But the good news? I’m super food motivated and eager to learn with someone who’s patient and consistent. I’m still young, full of potential, and ready to put in the work if you are. I’m looking for a home that’s not just active and fun, but also understandingsomeone who will celebrate my

Newfoundland and is making its way across the eastern portion of Canada right now. This portion of his journey will end on Pelee Island.

Chad’s mission is not only to define himself and find his purpose, but also to inspire others to speak openly about mental health and how PTSD / OSIs (Operational Stress Injury) impact those in the public safety, military and veteran communities.

In 2018, Chad was diagnosed with PTSD. With insufficient help, Chad would go through the motions and continue to work as a member of the Alberta Sheriff Highway Patrol.

On July 18, 2020, Chad was one of the first on scene at the Columbia Ice Fields bus crash.

Two weeks later, the vision to walk Canada to share his story of injury, healing and resiliency came to light moments before Chad was to follow through with his plan to die by suicide on August 2, 2020.

The spiral that began with the bus crash came to a head in February 2021, when he hit the wall and was afraid to work.

Like most in the military and public safety profes-

sions, Chad kept his traumas to himself, worried about being judged, considered weak, and believing there was no help.

Through aggressive therapy with numerous clinicians, Chad got far enough in his healing to follow through with walking across Canada.

Locally, the Helping Our Heroes Fund (HOH) goes back to about 2016 with their flagship event, the annual Treanor Memorial Dart Tournament held Kingsville Legion Branch 188.

Although just newly registered as a charity, HOH has been working since then to bring awareness to PTSD and raising money for service dogs for those affected by it.

“Since registering, we’ve built a small but mighty board of directors who are passionate about veterans and making sure they get the help they deserve, all without administrative costs,” says Sydney Serre, Officer of Marketing and Communications for Helping Our Heroes. “We also work with Ontario K9, a local trainer, who provides top training to our service dogs. We are due to give our first service dog, nicknamed Red

One, to our first veteran this fall.”

Members of the Helping Our Heroes Fund include the Kingsville Legion’s Veterans Services Officer, a Windsor Police officer who is also a veteran of the Windsor Regiment and a registered psychotherapist who has experience with active military members.

Serre says that matching a veteran with a fully trained service dog costs $25,000 and takes 12-18 months to be fully trained and ready to be paired with a veteran.

As the hosting organi-

zation, Helping Our Heroes is looking forward to welcoming anyone interested in Chad Kennedy’s presentation to attend at Kingsville Legion, 145 Division Street South. The doors open at 5:30 pm and the presentation gets underway at 6 pm. Admission is free.

All profits from the funds raised along Kennedy’s journey will benefit mental health initiatives that revolve around public safety personnel and at military communities, including the northern territories.

2023 financial audit shows Leamington in good financial shape

Leamington’s 2023 financial audit is complete and indications are that Leamington is in fine financial shape.

The municipality’s Manager of Revenue and Financial Planning Katie McLean presented the 2023 audited financial statement to council at its August 12 meeting. She was joined by Lindsay Iatonna from Hicks, MacPherson, Iatonna and Driedger LLP to present the statement.

“These 2023 financial reports have been a real team effort,” said McLean. “They’ve taken months to complete and we expect to be able to present the 2024 statement in the near future.”

McLean said that auditors have given Leamington an A+ grade on their financial report card.

She indicated that the 2023 fiscal year ended in a $419 million accumulated net surplus position, due to four major changes.

An increase in the municipality’s cash position, mostly due to timing of expenditures. The municipality has also seen an increase in capital investment, an increase in deferred revenue and collection of development charges.

“The $419 million surplus is truly the difference in what the municipality holds in cash, what is owed to the municipality and what the municipality owes to suppliers, contractors, staff and external financing agencies,” she said.

It also includes what the municipality owns in infrastructure.

A motion to accept the

financial statement so it could be published on the municipality’s website was made and voted on unanimously by council.

Another item on the agenda was the 2023 year-end variance analysis, which showed a cash-based surplus of $7.2 million. This process compares the approved budget for that year and the actual results.

“Conservative budgeting by council demonstrating prudent financial planning strategies contributed to the surplus,” said McLean.

This amount is added to the reserves held by the municipality and brought the reserves total to $127 million.

Investment, penalties and interest income make up a large amount of the surplus, according to Mc-

Correction - women’s self defence

The article that appeared in last week’s Southpoint Sun on the Women’s Self Defence class contained some errors.

The instructor’s name was Marcelo Konig Sarkis and the class was held on Saturday, August 9. All of the fees col-

lected for the class will be donated to the Essex County Homeless Hub by Impact Fitness and Blue Wave Taekwondo. Master Sarkis is also matching the funds donation through his company (Prima IP). The cheque will be presented at a later date to the Homeless Hub.

Lean.

There were surpluses of $722,000 in property tax revenue, $5.3 million related to interest and penalties, and another $489,000 surplus revenue from the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre.

Another $398,000 was realized through staff sav-

ings.

McLean recommended splitting the surplus into four different streams within the reserve accounts, with $2.7 million to the contingency reserve, $2.4 million to the waterfront development reserve, $1 million to the engineering reserve and

$1 million to the parks reserve.

Council agreed and voted unanimously to accept the report and send the surplus to the aforementioned reserve accounts.

Check out the website at leamington.ca in the coming weeks for the detailed information.

opinion ~ expression ~ and other musings

They don’t make ’em like they used to

Does anyone remember our old science projects from way back in the day?

Kids these days have such projects as working volcanoes and drainage schemes, and experimenting how solar and wind energy work. We didn’t have that sort of

thing.

Well, maybe the fake volcano, but most of it dealt with nature of some sort when we were young.

I recall collecting leaves, drying and flattening them out, putting them in plastic sleeves and researching each tree

they were taken from. We’d also find the nuts from certain trees and research those.

We did the same thing with insects, putting pins through them and sticking them on a corkboard or Styrofoam.

Growing up inside Point Pelee, we were

Brand new 1949 Monarch sedan THE

Seventy-six years ago in Leamington, Manley Watson and his son Jim posed with pride alongside their new 1949 Monarch sedan with wide whitewalls and a two-tone finish. This car was bought new at Gord Eaton’s Ford-Monarch dealership on Talbot Street East just a short walk from Watson’s Shoe Store near the Four Corners.

Manley Watson opened his shoe store

in 1932 and when his son Jim was old enough, he helped his dad sell shoes. How many shoes had to be sold to pay for this new car is not known, but business must have been good.

OLD CAR DETECTIVE

Bill Sherk

The first Monarch was brought out by Ford of Canada in 1946 to give Ford dealers a car to sell in the medium-price range. The name was chosen as an expression of patrio-

tism for the Royal Family following the end of World War Two. Under the hood was a flathead V8 engine with 255 cubic inches and 100 horsepower. Some of these cars were later restored by members of antique car clubs. Maybe this car still exists!

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sometimes exposed to insects that weren’t as plentiful to the kids outside the park.

I remember having a walking stick in my collection one year. Scientifically known as the Phasmatodea, the walking stick — or stick bug if you will — is a strange looking creature.

I categorize it along with other anomalies we see in these parts only once in awhile, like the katydid, the cicada and the bug known as the cicada killer.

My mother was deathly afraid of walking sticks, which would inevitably fall from a tree and land on her arm if we were out walking the trails.

When I was a kid, we’d see three or four a summer, but I’m sure they were much more prevalent than those numbers indicate.

Of course, we can’t forget the five-lined skink, and while not an insect,

the little reptile moves as quickly as one.

Skinks were quite abundant when I lived at the Point and occasionally these days, I’ll catch a quick glimpse of one down along the DeLaurier Trail, and even sometimes on the west beach boardwalks.

RIB’S RAMBLINGS

Mark Ribble

They love old wood, so anywhere there’s an old wood pile, log or manmade wooden structure, keep your eyes open. Their blue tail will usually give the younger ones away. And as with many lizards, the tail detaches if the skink feels threatened.

Point Pelee’s population is among just a few in the province, with other small pockets on Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron.

Other than another small population of them along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, you

won’t find skinks anywhere else in Ontario. They are listed as a species at risk.

So, now that I feel like a science teacher, I’ll make a nod to the few science teachers I had as a kid for keeping me interested in such things. Hats off to Mr. Zdonek, Dr. Nanda, Mr. Vorkapich, Mr. Braun and Mr. Garnham. There were other great science teachers, but I only had these ones, so they get the nod.

And of course, the science teachers of my elementary days at Gore Hill, who were really all six of my grade school teachers, all well-rounded and taught a little of everything. Many are gone, but those still with us, know who they are.

Written on the subway walls...

“Hello Darkness, My Old Friend.” Yes, one of my favourite groups from the 1960s and ’70s was truly Simon and Garfunkel, and their engineer and producer was Roy Halee.

They truly became one of the most successful groups during that time with angelic vocals from Garfunkel and wonderfully written lyrics from Simon that were second to none.

Roy Halee was really much more than just the engineer for them. He was essentially the “third wheel” to Simon and Garfunkel. With Roy, they stopped being a duet and became a trio. He completed them. He was part of their beautiful sound they created.

The part of the story that few even knew about was Artie’s best friend Sanford D. Greenburg. That’s where the song “The Sounds of Silence” came into the picture. “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend” is actually titled “The Sounds of Silence”. That meant so much to Garfunkel. His good friend Sandy

Greenberg was blind.

Art remembers Sanford well from over 61 years ago, when he first met him at his freshman humanities class at Columbia. Or as he put it, Sanford “Sandy” Greenberg was best friend material.

FLASHBACK RADIO

with Chuck Reynolds

In Greenberg’s new memoir “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend”, which is the iconic line of Simon and Garfunkel’s first hit “The Sounds of Silence”, Greenberg, who is now 79 years old, tells the incredible story of how, at the age of 20, he suddenly went blind in his junior year of college, after having emergency surgery for long-misdiagnosed glaucoma.

As he despaired in complete darkness at his parents’ home in Buffalo, New York, he was convinced he would never make it through Columbia without sight. However, Garfunkel flew in, turned me around and said, “I will help you. It was, for me, the beginning of the end of grey

hopelessness,” writes Greenberg. Back then, Garfunkel, who was an aspiring architect at the time, was extremely meticulous about keeping their room arranged precisely as Greenberg has memorized it.

Garfunkel read his friend’s courses to him aloud. He walked Greenberg to class and repaired his tape recorder and bandaged his bloody cuts when he bumped into things.

To this day, Greenberg does not use a cane or a guide dog. He wears glasses to fool people and looks like somebody who has working eyes.

As Garfunkel devoted himself to being his eyes, he sometimes called himself “Darkness”. Greenberg says when they’re together, Arthur would walk in and say, “Sanford, Darkness is going to read you The Iliad.”

Grease was the word at Seacliff Park Saturday night

By Mark Ribble

The Music Onthe42 Summer Concert Series is winding down for this year, but the past weekend featured a stroll back in time as the Jersey Nights headlined a Saturday, August 16 evening on the Sunset amphitheatre stage. The evening began with the upbeat sounds of Leamington’s barefoot troubadour Justin Latam, whose set included some of his older work mixed with new songs, keeping

the crowd entertained for the first hour of the night.

As Latam wrapped up his set, people settled in for a night of nostalgia and dancing as Canadian old time ‘rock and soul’ group The Jersey Nights took the stage.

As expected, they started their set with a run of familiar Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tunes like Walk Like a Man, Sherry and Big Girls Don’t Cry before switching over to a Motown medley that had the crowd on their feet.

The female member of the group, Chelsea Johnson, was highlighted with a medley of songs by female singers of the era. She had the crowd going with songs like It’s My Party, Please Mr. Postman and My Boyfriend’s Back. A return to Frankie Val-

li classics like December 1963 and My Eyes Adored You, were rounded out with the title track from Grease to make the night complete.

The Music Onthe42 Summer Concert Series is hosted by The Bank Theatre in partnership with the Municipality of Leamington.

The free series wraps up this weekend with a rock night on Saturday, August 23 with Seacliff Rock, starting at 5 pm.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28TH

9:00 am – Judging of all hall exhibits: Needle Arts, Baking, Grains, Seeds, Vegetables, Flowers, Fruits, Poultry, Arts & Crafts, Photography

1:00 pm – GATES OPEN to the Public

1:00 pm – ACE midway opens

Buildings open to the Public immediately following the judging and displaying of entries. (Buildings may not open until after 4 pm due to the volume of entries).

4:00 pm - 4-H Sheep/Rabbit Club, Achievement Day, Show Ring Open Sheep Show to follow.

5:30 pm - Harrow Fair Official Opening, Stage

6:00 pm - Pie Auction, Stage

7:30 pm - 4-H Poultry Club, Achievement Day, Show Ring

8:00 pm - Carson Janik, Stage

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29TH

9:00 am – 10:00 pm – Buildings Open

10:00 am - Horse Exposition, Horse Ring

10:30 am - Teddy Bear Parade, Arena

10:30 am - 4-H Beef Club, Achievement Day, Show Ring

Noon - Craig Douglas, Children’s Entertainment, Arena

1:00 pm - Judging Beef Cattle, Show Ring

1:00 pm - ACE midway opens

1:30 pm - Mom or Dad Calling Contest, Arena

3:00 pm - 4-H Swine, Beef, Sheep and Poultry Auction, Show Ring

8:00 pm - Buck Twenty, Stage

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30TH

9:00 am - 10:00 pm - Buildings Open

10:00 am - 4-H Dairy Club, Achievement Day, Show Ring

11:00 am - ACE midway opens

11:30 am - Parade - To see the parade route, check out the MAP

2:00 pm - Lawn Tractor Races, Horse Ring (Western Ontario Outlaws)

2:00 pm - (immediately following Parade) Rooster Crowing Contest (birds), Poultry Barn

2:30 pm - (immediately following Parade) Rooster Crowing Contest (people), Poultry Barn

6:00 pm - Bossy Bingo - 4-H Dairy Club, Show Ring

8:00 pm - Gord Bamford, Stage

SUNDAY, AUGUST

Country Night takes over Kingsville Block Party

The third Kingsville Block Party is in the books as the Country Night came to Chestnut and King Streets on Saturday, August 16.

Attendees came in their best western attire to take part in mechanical bull riding, line dancing and live music courtesy of Stompbox Whiskey and

BB Anne.

The Travelling Dance Floor had dozens of dancers up and stepping as they took them through their routines.

The Kingsville Pro Rodeo mechanical bull was also set up nearby for anyone brave enough to ride. Over 30 vendors lined the streets and were

kept busy most of the evening.

As darkness settled in, the live music began and brought a great downhome feeling.

The fourth installment of the Kingsville Block Party, with a Glow Night theme, will take place on September 20.

BIG SHINY TOONS AT TWO CREEKS

A diverse mix of hits from the ’90s combined with some zany antics made for a fun August 17th evening as Big Shiny Toons entertained at Two Creeks Conservation Area in Wheatley. All four band members took turns singing lead on songs by Alanis Morissette, Shania Twain, U2, The Proclaimers and Lenny Kravitz, just to name a few. Above, Big Shiny Toons performed a special country boogie tune for the crowd and they obliged with some line dancing in front of the stage. SUN photo by Paul Forman

SAINTS DOWN PERFORM AT LIVE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE

It was a homecoming of sorts for Kingsville’s Ben Doncom as he and a few members of his band Saints Down played for an appreciative crowd on August 14 as part of the Town of Kingsville’s Live at the Lighthouse series at Mettawas Park. Their pop set featured some beautiful harmonies between Doncom and vocalist/keyboard player Sam Bourque, and included a heartfelt rendition of their original I’m Alright. Justin Dow displayed his musical prowess on his accompanying guitars and was a familiar face, having played recently at Live at the Lighthouse with the duo Petals of Gold. For those that would like to check out Saints Down in person, they will be performing at Caesars’ Cosmos Lounge on September 4 and at Windsor’s Phog Lounge for an all originals show on September 26. Pictured at Mettawas Park from Saints Down are Sam Bourque on the keyboard, Ben Doncom on vocals and Justin Dow on guitar.

Seacliff will rock to close out Music Onthe42 series

The Municipality of Leamington, in partnership with the Windsor Federation of Musicians Local 566 and produced by The Bank Theatre, will present the Seacliff ROCKs Concert at the Sunset Amphitheatre in Leamington’s Seacliff Park on Saturday, August 23.

This free outdoor concert will serve as the

grand finale of the 2025 Music Onthe42 Summer Concert Series, featuring a full evening of live performances and headlined by Rick LaBonte and the Band of Brothers.

The night’s lineup includes Rose City Rockers (5 pm), The 519 Band (6 pm), J# Major (7 pm), headliner Rick LaBonte and the Band of Brothers (8 p.m.) and an encore

featuring various musicians (9:15 pm).

“Our summer concert series is about bringing people together and enhancing the quality of life in Leamington,” said Mayor Hilda MacDonald. “It’s a chance for residents and visitors to enjoy live music in one of the most beautiful settings in Ontario. We’re excited to wrap up the

Rose City Rockers will play Two Creeks Sunday

The Rose City Rockers are coming to the Two Creeks stage on Sunday, August 24 at 6 pm.

This Canadian blues rock band blends soaring guitars, solid bass lines and great drumming with dual harmony vocals, reminiscent of the great music in the 1970s.

Admission is free but the hat is passed to help offset costs. Food and drink available from the Scouts. Two Creeks is on Kent Road 1, a kilometre north of Wheatley.

season with a celebration of local talent.”

Concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy the show comfortably. Food and beverage options will be available on-site, and LT-Go Transit will be running extended evening service until 11 pm to make the concert accessible for everyone.

Missing you is the hardest part as days go by. To hear your voice, To see your smile, To hear your laughter. Cherished memories never fade.

Sadly missed, never forgotten, forever in our hearts.

Reception held for Artists of Pelee Island exhibit in Kingsville

Creative people from Canada’s deep south made their way to the Carnegie Arts & Visitor Centre for a reception on Sunday, August 17 to celebrate the Artists of Pelee Island exhibit.

Organized and sponsored by Melissa Wiper of One of a Kind Pelee, the exhibit showcased the work of 18 island-based artists and artisans who interpreted life on the island with their paintings, drawings, photos, and handcrafted pieces.

As to her motivation to put this exhibit together, Wiper said, “It’s important for the mainlanders to see the talent that exists on the island. We even have five new artisans in this show that have never exhibited before.”

Jacobus “Jack” Warmenhoven

A resident of Leamington, Jack Warmenhoven passed away at the Sun Parlor Home on Saturday, August 16, 2025. He was born in Holland and was the son of the late John and Gerarda Warmenhoven.

Loving brother to John F. (Barbara), Hans (Irene), late Gerard, Franz, Anne Moore and Debbie Allsop (Chris). Also remembered by several nieces and nephews.

Jack was a longtime teacher at Leamington District Secondary School.

In keeping with Jack’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no services will be held. Arrangements entrusted to Reid Funeral Home & Reception Centre, 14 Russell Street, Leamington 519-326-2631. Memorial donations to honour Jack’s life can be made to the charity of your choice and would be appreciated by the family.

Memories and condolences can be shared at www.reidfuneralhome.ca

Paul “Gus” Brown

Paul “Gus” Brown, 84 years, passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025 at Erie Shores Hospice.

Beloved husband of Nancy. Dear father of late Jeff Brown (1996), late Maureen Brown (1992) and Derek Brown. Dear brother-in-law of Bob Langsdon.

Family came first to Paul. He was a member at Talbot Trail Golf Club, 1st Commodore at Leamington Yacht Club, a longtime member of BIA, a member of Shoe Retailers Association. He was employed at Reid Funeral Home after his retirement.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made by cheque to Erie Shores Hospice or Parkinson Foundation.

Friends may share memories at www.reidfuneralhome.ca

said, “The piece pays homage to a lighthouse that guided people to the island.” SUN photos by Paul Forman

Proof of obituary to run

August 20, 2025 Southpoint Sun

$200 plus $26 HST = $226

John L. “Bud” Jackson

John L. “Bud” Jackson passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, August 16, 2025.

Any changes please email sun@southpointsun.ca

Thank you.

Beloved husband of the late Hope Marilyn Jackson (nee Warner) (February 2025) for 70 years. Loving father of Victoria Beaulieu (Romeo), Judi Rung (Mike), Joan Slade (Mike) and Mary Lynn Janzen (late Mike). He also leaves behind his precious grandchildren Johnathan (Kristine), Matthew, Derek, Chad (Jen), (John Michael, deceased), Jesse, Shawn (Lisa), Chad (Rebecca), Mickey (Ashley), Marty (Mindy) and Michelle (Rob), and great grandchildren, (Lily, deceased), Zhane, Vance, Dax, Benjamin, Nathan, Andrew, Emerson, Eloise, Mason, Veanna, Liam, Sophia, (Sloan, deceased), Noah, Ethan, Jack, Archie, Greyson, Hunter, Katie and Claire. Dearest brother of Audrey Ebbinghaus (late Don) and sister-in-law Janet Jackson (late Bill), and sister-in-law Susan Warner. Predeceased by his parents Earl and Lena Jackson, and his in-laws Thomas and Phyllis Warner. Also leaving behind many nieces and nephews.

Proof of obituary to run

August 20, 2025 Southpoint Sun

Bud was a lifetime farmer but always said his greatest accomplishment was raising his four daughters. He opened a retail dress shop called The Petite Shoppe, something he did for his girls.

$200 plus $26 HST = $226

He enjoyed his time as Past Master Leamington Masonic Lodge #290. Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada, Province of Ontario. Member of Windsor Valley Scottish Rite (past T.P.G.M). Member of Royal Arch Masons, (Past First Principle). Member of St. John Conclave #11. Past President & Member of Mocha Temple & Sun Parlour Shrine Club. He was the recipient of the Grand Masters Meritorious Award as well as for the York Rite Gold Cross Honour Service Award.

Any changes please email sun@southpointsun.ca

Thank you.

Cremation has taken place.

Visiting is at Reid Funeral Home & Reception Centre, 14 Russell Street, Leamington (519-326-2631) on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 from 7-9 p.m. Masonic Service at 7:30 p.m.

Memorial Service to celebrate Bud’s life will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 11 a.m.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations made to Leamington Masonic Lodge #290 or a charity of your choice would be appreciated. Family and friends are invited to share their words of comfort at www.reidfuneralhome.ca

For those wanting to get a glimpse of life on Pelee, Artists of Pelee Island runs until September 7 at the Carnegie Arts & Visitor Centre in Kingsville on Division Street South.

Northeast Trunk project to get underway

$41 million grant comes at perfect time

By Mark Ribble

Proof of obituary to run

A report to council on the Northeast Trunk Survey Request for Proposal came at a perfect time for the Municipality of Leamington.

August 20, 2025 Southpoint Sun

At the August 12 council meeting, Leamington’s Director of Infrastructure Services Rob Sharon brought forth a report on the RFP process for the Northeast Trunk Sanitary Sewer project.

$200 plus $26 HST = $226

That came a day after the government of Ontario announced a $41 million grant to Leamington through their Housing-Enabling Water System Fund.

Any changes please email sun@southpointsun.ca

The $41 million announced Monday will not only benefit the greenhouse sector, but also residential growth on the eastern portion of Leamington.

Thank you.

“We are very excited about this because it’s not just one aspect of the community, but the whole thing,” said Mayor Hilda MacDonald. “I’m so happy about this. This is life altering for our community.”

The mayor stressed that the Northeast Trunk project has been a long time in the making.

“This has been a project that has been on the go for nine years,” she said. “It started with the former mayor and council and all of that hard work has paid off.”

MacDonald credited MPP and current Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Trevor Jones with helping the grant come to fruition.

“The fact that we have our own MPP as the Minister took this through the gate,” she said.

Sharon stated that the project will start with surveying and that Tham Surveying out of Vaughn had been chosen through the RFP process at a cost of $63,000. He said additional costs would be incurred for locates and other incidentals. Sharon asked that $100,000 from the budget for the project be used for this first step.

He also indicated that the $41 million grant from the government must be used for this project and this project only.

“The money must be used for this and nothing else. Funding is based off a very detailed and specific grant process,” he said. “Every dollar must be spent on this project alone.”

Leamington CAO Peter Neufeld said the Northeast Trunk Project will open up lands for additional residential development in the municipality.

“This will service Leamington in many different ways,” he said.

In the end, Sharon’s report was adopted by council with approval to spend the $100,000 on surveying and other costs to get the ball rolling.

Tips for stress-free (ish) school mornings

School mornings can often feel like a chaotic race against the clock—missing socks, half-eaten breakfasts, and forgotten homework. But with a little planning and a few smart strategies, those early hours can run a whole lot smoother.

Here are five tried-and-true ways to take the stress out of school mornings—for both kids and parents

Prep the Night Before

One of the simplest ways to ease morning tension is to get as much done the night before if possible. Laying out clothes, packing lunches, and making sure backpacks are ready by the door can save precious time and avoid last-minute scrambles.

Stick to a Routine

Consistency is key. Try to keep wakeup, breakfast, and out-the-door times the same each day. Kids thrive on routine, and a predictable schedule can help them feel more calm and in control.

Create a Visual Checklist

For younger children (and even forgetful teens), a visual morning checklist can be a

game changer. Include steps like brushing teeth, eating breakfast, and grabbing their backpack. It encourages independence and cuts down on repetitive reminders.

Keep Breakfast Simple

You don’t need to whip up a gourmet meal. Having a few go-to options like overnight oats, yogurt with fruit, or whole-grain toast ready can make breakfast quick, healthy, and stress-free.

Wake Up Earlier (Even Just 10 Minutes)

It may sound counterintuitive, but giving yourself and your kids just a little extra time can create a buffer that makes the whole morning feel less rushed. Even 10 extra minutes can make a big difference in the mood of the day.

With these small adjustments, families can reclaim their mornings, setting a calmer tone for the school day ahead. After all, how the day begins often shapes how the rest of it unfolds.

Apps to set your kids up for success this school year

Whether it’s improving their sleep, mental health, or just staying organized, these apps are designed to help better the lives of busy kids.

Calm App (ages 5 – adulthood) – Calm is the #1 app for sleep, meditation and relaxation. This app offers guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, mindful movement and stretching exercises. It aims to improve sleep quality, reduce stress and anxiety and improve focus.

Positive Penguins (elementary-school aged) – This app is designed to teach kids – especially in the 9 – 11 year range – how to identify and manage their emotions. The positive penguins Evi, Ollie, Happ and Buddy help users identify their feelings, challenge negative thoughts and offer tools for managing them through various games and situations.

My Study Life – Designed to help teens and tweens manage their school schedules, assignments and exams, this free app is a game-changer for students who have a hard time staying organized. It helps with time management, assignment tracking, exam scheduling and grade tracking. It works with computers, tablets and phones, so there’s no excuse for not updating it regularly!

Remember the Milk – Life is busy enough between school, sports and homelife. This free app takes the pressure out of having to remember every single detail of your life. It helps organize your to-do list (example, get more pens, bring textbook home today, hockey practice tonight, etc.) and lets you share your lists, sync them with your calendar or attach files to your tasks.

Forest – One of the biggest distracts for teens and tweens is often the very thing that helps them stay organized – their phone. Forest helps curb the endless scrolling and texting when you’re trying to focus by forcing users to keep their phones away for the set timeframe. While in the app, a virtual tree will grow and dies if you exit the app before the timer is up. The best part? You can earn credits for every tree you let fully grow, which the company uses to partner with real tree-planting organizations to plant trees.

Tips for winding down after the first day of school

The first day of school can be a fun day filled with new friends, new teachers and new routines. For some, the day can be filled with lots of emotions and might end feeling overwhelmed. Here are some tips for bringing the calm back into your kid’s day.

Get Moving Outside

A bit of fresh air and light movement—like a walk around the block, biking, or playing in the yard—can help release built-up energy and ease the transition from school mode to home mode. It’s a natural stress reliever for both body and mind.

Talk It Out

Take a few minutes to chat about the day—what was fun, what felt weird, or anything exciting. Sharing helps kids process their experiences and feel supported.

Do Something Low-Key

Skip the packed schedule and let kids relax with a favorite book, movie, or a cozy activity like drawing or building with blocks. Calm, screen-free time can be especially grounding.

Stick to a Soothing Routine

A warm bath, comfy pajamas, and a consistent bedtime help signal that it’s time to wind down. Predictability brings comfort after a busy, possibly overwhelming day.

Giving kids time to relax helps them process everything they experienced, from the excitement of seeing friends to the stress of navigating new classrooms or teachers. Without a chance to decompress, kids may carry that tension into the next day.

A calm, supportive evening—with quiet activities, open conversation, and an early bedtime—sets the stage for a smoother, more confident start to the rest of the school year.

Why routine is important for kids

For children, routines offer more than just structure—they create a sense of safety, confidence, and stability.

Knowing what to expect each day helps kids feel secure, especially during times of transition like starting school or adjusting to a new schedule. Regular routines, like consistent bedtimes, meal times, and homework periods, support healthy habits and emotional regulation.

When kids can predict what’s coming next, it reduces anxiety and gives them space to focus, learn, and grow.

In a world that can sometimes feel unpredictable, a solid routine is a simple but powerful tool that helps children thrive.

By Chani Weins, local educator and parent of a 13-year-old and a 10-year-old

Somewhere in late August, it hits: the back-to-school shift. It’s not just the store flyers or the smell of new pencils - it’s the quiet sense that something new is coming. For many parents, this season brings a mix of emotions: hope, worry, pride, maybe a bit of fear. We want our kids to feel confident, connected, and ready… but we also know the world they’re walking into isn’t always easy.

As someone who works with high schoolers every day - and parents too - I’ve learned that the best back-to-school prep has less to do with binders and more to do with what’s going on inside.

Kids this age are asking silent questions: “Will I belong? Will anyone know me? Will I be okay if I mess up?” Their backpacks might be filled with new supplies, but what really makes a difference is helping them feel known and safe - at home and at school.

In the weeks before school starts, one of the most powerful things you can do is create space to talk. Go for a walk, drive somewhere together, let the silence sit a little longer than usual. Ask how they’re really feeling about school. Not just, “Are you excited?” but “What are you nervous about?” or “What do you hope this year feels like?”

And then - listen.

Don’t rush to fix it. Just affirm what’s true: growing up is hard, and they’re not alone. Let them know you see how much they’re changing. That you’re proud of how they’re handling things. That even when it’s awkward or messy or quiet, you’re there.

However your child is feeling about the return to school, your presence matters more than perfect answers. A quiet breakfast. A handwritten note in their lunch. A night walk with no phones. These are the things they’ll remember - even if they pretend not to.

The school year will bring highs and lows, late-night chats and early-morning scrambles. But through it all, your presence - calm, steady, and curious - makes the difference. You don’t need perfect wordsjust keep showing up.

Back-to-School Conversation Starters for Tweens & Teens

Not magic words—just a starting place.

• “What are you hoping this year feels like?”

• “What’s something you’re nervous about?”

• “Is there anyone you’re hoping to reconnect with?”

• “What would make school feel more like ‘your place’?”

• “What can I do to support you without getting in your way?”

School Bus Safety Zone

Parents, be sure to review these important bus safety tips with young riders and drivers to keep kids safe this school year.

SAFETY TIPS FOR CHILDREN (and Parents!)

Through our programs like First Ride and Bus Evacuation we help students to understand what they need to do to be safe around school buses.  There are a few simple rules that children should follow when riding a bus.

• Stay seated at all times when on a bus. Do not move around the bus once you have boarded. Find a seat and stay there.

• Do not eat or drink on the bus because of choking hazards and the risk that other students are anaphylactic (allergic). Children need to follow a “hands off” policy with other students on the bus.

• Children should not engage in bullying and should report it to the bus patrol or driver if they witness it.

• Please be at your bus stop no less than 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.

• Listen to the bus driver and follow their directions.

MOTORIST RESPONSIBILITIES

Help keep our area children safe from unsafe drivers. Motorists must stop when the stop arms/red lights are activated. If you witness a driver who doesn’t stop for a school bus, safely pull over and record everything you can remember about the incident:

• Do not attempt to board the bus until it has come to a complete stop.

• Wait for the driver to signal you to cross before you cross the road. The driver is making certain all traffic is stopping for the bus.

• Remember to stay out of the danger zones around the bus.

• Remember to never go back for something that you have dropped.

KNOW THE DANGER ZONES

• Every child must know the DANGER ZONES around the school bus.

• Children should never enter the DANGER ZONE unless the driver has given them permission.

• If a child can touch the bus, he or she is too close.

• If a child must cross the street, know all the rules to cross safely.

Location, date and time

• Make, model, colour and license plate

• Confirm that the bus was yellow with “school bus” written on both ends

• Size of the bus (small or large)

Status of the bus (stopped or moving)

• Red flashing lights (on or off)

• Children boarding or exiting the bus

• Driver passed from the front or from behind the bus

Immediately contact police by phone or in person and provide as much information as you can, including the names of any witnesses or photographs.  Remember, the penalty for not stopping for a school bus is a fine of up to $2,000 and 6 demerit points.

Safety tips to teach your kids before school starts

As students gear up to head back to classrooms, parents and caregivers are reminded that safety should be a top priority. Ensuring a secure environment helps children focus on learning and enjoy a positive school experience. Here are five vital safety tips for a successful transition back to school.

Teach Traffic Safety

Remind children to always look both ways before crossing the street. Use designated crosswalks and sidewalks, and encourage walking in groups whenever possible. Parents should review traffic safety rules with their children and consider practicing the route to school together.

Highlight Cyber Safety Practices

Remind students to be cautious online. Teach them about the power of their words and that if they are having a problem with

bullies online, to talk to a teacher or parent. Encourage responsible internet use and set boundaries for device usage.

Create a Safe Drop-Off and Pick-Up Routine

Establish clear procedures for dropping off and picking up children. Use designated areas and ensure children know to stay within marked zones. Always supervise young children until they are safely with their designated adult.

By following these simple safety tips, parents and students can ensure a confident and secure start to the new school year. Remember, safety is a shared responsibility — working together makes the entire community safer for everyone.

School starts on September 2nd

And we’re looking forward to welcoming our students back for another year of faith-filled learning and fun!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21 LIVE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE WITH RICK STEPHENSON – His Sinatra, 7:00 pm at Mettawas Park, 103 Park St., Kingsville.

SAT. & SUN. AUGUST 23 & 24

TAKE WHAT YOU NEED - Sat. Aug. 23 from 10am-2pm and Sun. Aug. 24 from 1pm-4pm. Clothing available for women, men and children at St. John the Evangelist Church, 60 Erie St. N., Leamington. Hosted by St. John's Community Clothing Angel Cupboard. 519-326-3111..

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28

LIVE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE WITH ACOUSTICS UNLIMITED 7:00 pm at Mettawas Park, 103 Park St., Kingsville.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30

MEET THE NEW OFFICER BBQ at Salvation Army Leamington. BBQ is free and runs from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Stop by and meet the new officer, Major Kathryn Ritson. 88 Setterington Street, Leamington.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

COMMUNITY BIKE RIDE with Bike Kingsville & Bike Windsor Essex, Carnegie Arts & Visitor Centre, at 10:00 am - 28 Division St. S., Kingsville.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

KINGSVILLE BLOCK PARTY - 5:00 - 10:00 pm - Glow Party with DJ V’Amour and aerial performance by 519 Aerial, King St. & Chestnut St.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

ORANGE SHIRT WALK, 12:00 pm at Kingsville Recreation Complex, baseball diamond five, 1741 Jasperson Dr. ONGOING

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT SOMEONE’S DRINKING? Al-Anon Family Groups meeting information: 519-790-7739 or www. alanonwindsoressex.com

IF YOU WANT TO DRINK, THAT’S YOUR BUSINESS If you want to stop, we can help. Call Alcoholics Anonymous: 519-999-1234.

SOUTH ESSEX COMMUNITY COUNCIL - ADULT DAY PROGRAM - Join us

at Faith Mennonite for a day service providing social, recreational and personal support to clients and respite. For more information or to register, call SECC at 519-326-8629 or visit our website at secc. on.ca.

GENTLE EXERCISE at 10:00 am, Wednesdays and Fridays, at Ruthven United Church, 1907 Queen Blvd. No Fee. Registration Required. kingsvillecentre.com.

THE VILLAGE RESOURCE CENTRE WEEKLY EVENTS - 108 Talbot Road East, Wheatley. "Light The Way" Nar-Anon Family Group Mondays at 7:30 p.m. Chair Yoga Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. $10. "Wheatley Warriors" Narcotics Anonymous Group Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. For more information call 226-484-1004 or visit www. villageresourcecentre.ca. Wheelchair accessible.

ERIE SHORES TOASTMASTERS MEETING at 6:30 pm every other Wednesday at Leamington Library, 1 John St. Free to attend. Develop Communication and Leadership Skills in a positive, friendly environment. Next meeting dates are Aug. 27, Sept. 10 & 24. More info: email ErieShoresTM@yahoo.com, Facebook Erie Shores Toastmasters or go to ErieShores.toastmastersclubs.org.

STEP-IT-UP INDOOR POWER WALKING - Mondays and Fridays at 9:15 am, at Grovedale, 103 Park St., Kingsville. No Fee. Registration required. kingsvillecentre.com.

KINGSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE TAI CHI - Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Various locations, no fee, registration required. kingsvillecentre.com.

FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE at Leamington United Mennonite Church, 78 Oak St. East, for those who enjoy morning coffee/tea and conversation, the first Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in church auditorium. All welcome, no RSVP required.

INDIVIDUALS WHO REQUIRE ASSESSMENTS TO ENTER TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR ADDICTIONS can contact Ian MacNeil, Social Worker with Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare, located at 33 Princess St. (1st floor) in Leamington, on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. You can leave a message 24/7 at 519-984-2531. Contact Ian at this number for more information.

STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH? Reach out to Hope 4 Me Peer to Peer Support Group. Virtual and in-person meetings available. Contact Tracy, Sue or Nancy at hope4mepeer@gmail.com for information about the group.

KINGSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE: STEP-IT-UP INDOOR POWER WALKING, Mondays at 9:15 am, at Grovedale, 103 Park St., Kingsville. No Fee. Registration required. kingsvillecentre.com

COMMUNITY TAKEOUT IS AVAILABLE at Leamington United Church, 4:00 - 5:00 pm every Monday. St. John’s Anglican Church also has takeout meals available every Wednesday from 4:00 - 5:00 pm. Food is available from St. Vincent De Paul at St. Michael’s Parish 226-340-7233, Salvation Army Food Bank 9:15 - 11:45 am. The warming Cross at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Food Cupboard at St. John’s Anglican church, The Bridge (ages 14-24), Food Pantry at Parkdale Variety, neighbourhood pantry at Erie South and Marlborough and the Angel Pantry at St. John’s Anglican Church. All are free. All are welcome.

KINGSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE: TAI CHI, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays. Various locations, no fee, registration required. kingsvillecentre.com

KINGSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE: MARTIAL ARTS, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 1860 DivisionRd. N., registration required. kingsvillecentre.com

COMMUNITY ANGEL CLOTHING CUPBOARD OPEN WEDNESDAYSappointments preferred, walk-ins are welcome 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. Call 519-326-3111 to book your appointment. All are welcome! Free! St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 60 Erie St. N., Leamington. Donated gently used clothing for men, women and children of all ages.

HURON FARMWORKERS MINISTRY takes place Thursday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 60 Erie St. N., Leamington. Workers can access a simple meal, clothing, food items, spiritual care and employment/immigration information. The program is in need of used or new bicycles to assist workers with transportation. Contact Deacon Deborah Wilson-Safa at 519326-3111.

KINGSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE: GENTLE EXERCISE at 10:00 am, Wednesdays and Fridays, at Ruthven United Church, 1907 Queen Blvd. No Fee. Registration Required. kingsvillecentre.com

PROSPERUS COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK ADVOCACY WORKING GROUPS ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE (age 15+) who want to use their voice to make change in Leamington. Unlocking PotentialCradle to Career. Discuss community issues, raise awareness, host community events, hear guest speakers, write advocacy letters, attend council meetings. For meeting dates & location or more information, contact Karlene at 519-259-6148 or email knielsen@ weareunited.com.

WHEATLEY BAPTIST CHURCH - 47 Talbot St. E. Everyone is welcome to come worship with us. Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Bible study Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. Adult fellowship Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. For more info call 519-825-7433.

MELO CLINIC & PREGNANCY CENTRE, 75 Erie Street South, Unit 103, Leamington, offers free and confidential services provided by registered nurses. Pregnancy tests, STI testing & treatment. Call 24/7 for confidential support 519-326-0612. Business calls 519-3263821. www.pregnancycentre.net.

VOLUNTEER TUTORS NEEDED - the United Way’s On Track to Success program is looking for individuals to help tutor high school students in Leamington in English, Math and/or Science. The program is offered at both LDSS & Cardinal Carter. Volunteer shifts available Monday to Thursday from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. If interested, contact Maia Williamson at mwilliamson@weareunited.com

THE KINGSVILLE FRIENDLY CLUB meets every Tuesday to play Cribbage, Euchre & Bridge at 12:45 in the Unico Community Centre at 37 Beech St. in Kingsville, and every Friday to play Bridge, Euchre & Pepper at 12:45. Come early if you want to play a particular game and have your choice of a seat.

COOKING WITH CHARTWELL - Kingsville Community Centre, 1860 Division Rd.; 3rd Thursday of every month. Step by step cooking class with Chef Henry. Samples served. Spots are limited. Register kim@kingsvillecentre.com.

Public Notice of Pesticide Use

The Municipality of Leamington intends to control weeds on curbs, trails and rural bridges beginning on May 26, 2025, weather permitting, and ending October 31, 2025. The application of pesticide will be completed for public health and safety per section 7.1(2) of the Pesticides Act.

Curbs and trails will be treated with AXXE Broad Spectrum Herbicide which contains the active ingredient Ammonium Salt of Fatty Acid 36% (Registration #32719) registered under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada).

Rural bridges will be treated with Roundup Ultra2 Liquid Herbicide, containing the active ingredient glyphosate, present as potassium salt (Registration #28486) or Sicario 540 Herbicide containing the active ingredient glyphosate, present as potassium salt (Registration #34686) under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada).

Questions or concerns? Please contact:

Ken Brown, Manager of Public Works Municipality of Leamington 519-326-5761

(Collect calls will be accepted)

•Erie Shores HealthCare ER, 194 Talbot St. W., Leamington (up to 18 years of age)

• Windsor Regional Hospital ER, 1995 Lens Ave. (up to 15 years of age)

•Windsor Regional Hospital ER,1030 Ouellette Ave. (16+ years of age)

•Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare

24 hour Community Crisis Telephone Line 519-973-4435

•Mental Health First Response Team, (16+ years of age with a serious mental illness) 240 Grand Ave. W., Suite 100, Chatham 519-436-6100 Toll Free1-866-299-7447

•Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre 24 Hour Crisis Counselling 20 Sandys St., Chatham 519-351-9145

•Chatham-Kent Victim Services 24 Third St., Chatham 519-436-6630

•Chatham-Kent Sexual Assault Crisis CentreSexual Assault Crisis Intervention 405 Riverview Dr., Suite 101, Chatham 519-354-8908

•Sexual Assault Crisis Line 519-253-9667

•Trans Lifeline 1-877-330-6366

•LGBT Youthline 1-800-268-9688

•Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868

TAX NOTICES

2025 Final Property Tax Bills were mailed July 18, 2025

If you own property in the Town of Kingsville you should have received your 2025 final tax bill. The tax due dates are as follows: August 29, 2025 November 28, 2025

Please refer to the brochure included with your tax notice for a listing of the payment options available. Avoid long lines by paying your taxes early or online through your bank.

Failure to receive a tax notice does not relieve you from payment of taxes or penalties. Penalties are assessed the day following the due date at 1.25% and each month thereafter until paid. It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to ensure the Town has the correct mailing address.

If you have not received your tax notice please call 519-733-2305 or visit the Municipal Office at 2021 Division Road North.

www.kingsville.ca

PUBLIC NOTICE OF PESTICIDE USE

The Town of Kingsville intends to control Phragmites along all rural roads in the Municipality. Commencing August 28, 2025, weather permitting to September 29, 2025.

We are controlling Phragmites under the Public Works and Safety exemption to the Cosmetic Pesticide Ban in subsection 7.1(2) of the Pesticides Act. for the promotion of public health or safety and to remove this invasive plant.

The following pesticides registered under the Pest Control Act (Canada) will be used:

Arsenal Powerline Herbicide (Reg# 30203), containing the active ingredient Imazapyr, present as the isopropylamine salt.

VisionMax Silviculture Herbicide (Reg#27736), containing the active ingredients Glyphosate, present as potassium salt.

MSO Spray Adjuvant (Reg#33193), containing the active ingredients surfactant blend 100%.

For further information, please contact:

Steve Ford

Green Stream Lawn and Vegetation Management Inc.

200 North Service Road West, Suite 476 Oakville, ON L6M 2Y1

1-888-553-5588

*Collect calls will be accepted

Drainage Superintendent 2021 Division Road North Kingsville, ON N9Y 2Y9 519-733-2305

FOR SALE

2007 30FT. PUMA HOUSE TRAILER. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, large slide out, dual axel. Everything works as should. $10,000 OBO. 20 Foster Ave, Leamington. 519-322-9297. au13-au20

HELP WANTED

PINNACLE ACRES REQUIRES Full time greenhouse general labourers. $17.20/hr 50+ hours, 7 days/wk. Must be available Saturday & Sunday. Work site: 333 County Rd 18, Leamington ON, rural setting, must have own transportation. Crop maintenance and harvesting, other duties as required. Must be able to lift a minimum of 40lbs on a repetitive basis, fast paced environment, strong work ethic, punctual, reliable. No experience or education required. Please apply via email: careers@ pinnacle-acres.com

NEEDING ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE & REPAIR? Call 519-818-1735. jl30-au27

IRWIN PLUMBINGResidential rough-ins and repairs - 519-324-2202. A text is preferred if capable. Call if not. ja6-tf

ZEN PETS GROOMINGCPPS Certified Groomer in Leamington. 16 years experience. For all your pet grooming needs, please call or text 519-564-9620 or message me on Facebook. mr1-tfn

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

WORD SCRAMBLE

Rearrange the letters to spell something pertaining to farmer’s markets.

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

This week you are unstoppable, Aries. Your confidence will be shining brightly for all to see, and the right people are bound to take notice. Expect to tackle some projects.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, small comforts will bring big happiness to you this week. Plus, your natural charm will draw others in. A surprise in your home life will make your heart soar. Enjoy the moments.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

Gemini, your words will be magical this week whether you’re pitching ideas or chatting with friends. There’s not much you can’t say that people will not hear and take to heart.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

Cancer, this week you may be building something meaningful, whether it is in love or work. All of the steps you are currently taking will help establish security and happiness in your life.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

Your creativity is on fire right now, Leo. People are drawn to your warmth and charisma. This is a great time to start something new or share a talent with others.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

Something that felt out of place begins to align perfectly right now, Virgo. You might be tapping into your inner wisdom, and it’s guiding you toward some much-needed success.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

Libra, new connections will be coming your way, meaning that you may have different avenues for social connections. Get out and meet people as much as you can.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Your drive is unmatched right now, Scorpio. Whatever goals you have established you are pushing through faster than would seem possible. Stay focused, but celebrate your progress.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21

Adventure is calling, Sagittarius. You might be planning a trip or diving into a new study subject. This week a fire will be lit and your optimism is contagious.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, a breakthrough in your life may be brewing. You are increasingly making smart choices that can offer long-term dividends. Stay open and trust the process.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

Connections with others are a primary focus for you this week, Aquarius. Whether you are exploring love, friendship or new business opportunities, fresh energy comes into play

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

You are in your element this week, Pisces. A creative idea or unexpected kindness makes the week extra special. Focus on some self-care and keep giving off positive vibes.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

AUGUST 17 - Austin Butler, Actor (34)

AUGUST 18 - Andy Samberg, Actor (47)

AUGUST 19 - John Stamos, Actor (62)

AUGUST 20 Demi Lovato, Singer (33)

AUGUST 21 - Hayden Panettiere, Actress (36)

AUGUST 22 - Dua Lipa, Singer (30)

AUGUST 23 - Shelley Long, Actress (76)

Leamington Half Century Centre held a comedy show and lunch on Saturday, August 16 at

Hosted and organized by the centre’s summer student Amanda Bergen, members of the

volunteered to

Local Hogs Raffle winner

Tim Tiessen was the lucky winner of $415,150 in the Hogs for Hospice 50-50 raffle last week. His ticket was drawn on Friday, August 15. The Hogs com-

with their talents. The full house en-

Above, Patricia Macher has her

Photo submitted

mittee will present a cheque to Tim this week, which will be documented in next week’s paper.

Kingsville Friendly Club report

Kingsville Friendly Club welcomed 48 out to play cards at the Lions Hall on Friday, August 8,

welcoming Ruth.

Bridge: Carolyn Brown 4060, Bob Bell 4090, Mary DeGoey 3060. Euchre:

Tasha Slater

Lois Charrette 92, Sally Bell 88, Terry Botting 85. Most lone hands: Dave Patterson and Terry Botting with 5 each. Pepper: Ted Gaffan 282, Gordon Earl 271, Mandy Hric 259. Most peppers: Ted Gaffan 9. There were 39 out to play cards on Tuesday, August 12, welcoming back Helen Todman and Kim Hamm. Bridge: Case Mulder 3830, Helen Todman 3590, Bob Bell 2820. Euchre: Willy Fittler 98, David Patterson 92, Tom Dewhurst 79. Most lone hands: Dave Patterson 7. Pepper: Winnie Moore 284, Carrie Schultz 266, Nancy Taylor 264. Most peppers: Winnie Moore, Carrie Schultz and Rita Sleiman with 5 each. Cribbage: Stuart Wheelton 928, Nancy Cassels 919, Sue Girardin 883.

Forty-nine card players were out on Friday, August 15, welcoming new member Carol Gravel and welcoming back Elsie Ring and Betty Meharry. Bridge: Alta Van Vliet 2780, Jean Kuipers 2380, Ida Smith 2330. Euchre: Willy Fittler 96, Betty Meharry 95, Dave Patterson 93. Most lone hands: Willy Fittler, Dave Patterson, Betty Meharry and Stuart Wheelton all had 5 each. Pepper: Rose Foldesi 297, Moe Hansen 291, Kathy Hedge 281. Most peppers: Rose Foldesi and Winnie Moore with five each.

Leamington’s U11 Whitecaps ride streak into provincial semi-final before being edged in one-run loss

The Leamington Whitecaps U11 wrapped up a strong season by advancing to the semi-finals of the Provincial Regional U11 Grand Championship tournament in Windsor over the August 15-17 weekend.

The local girls came to play by kicking off the tournament with a 20-1 win over Corunna in their opening game on Friday morning, August 15.

The Whitecaps followed that up Friday evening with an exciting 8-7 win over a strong Enniskillen Express team.

Saturday morning saw the girls beat Enniskillen once again in walk-off fashion by an 8-4 score, which propelled them into the semi-finals against the Chatham Golden Eagles Saturday evening.

The semi-final game featured a complete team effort as the girls battled all the way, but lost a heartbreaker 10-9 to the Eagles.

That relegated them to the bronze medal game Sunday morning, facing a strong LaSalle Gold Athletics team to determine third and fourth place. It was a pitcher’s duel from start to finish, with the Athletics pushing across a single run in the bottom of the sixth for the 1-0 victory.

Though it wasn’t the ending they hoped for, the Whitecaps showed incredible fight, grit and teamwork all weekend, earning their place in the bronze medal game and proving they can hang with the best.

The team enjoyed a largely successful season, finishing the year with a record 26-16-2.

Three local OBA tournaments this weekend bring lots of baseball to area

If you are looking for exciting baseball to watch this weekend, the area is hosting three Ontario Baseball Association (OBA) championships on local diamonds.

Leamington will host the Ontario 8U “B” tournament with last year’s defending champs, the Leamington Lakers,

stepping up to accept the challenge of 12 other teams.

The 13-team double-knockout format required some scheduling acrobatics, but the schedule has been set and Leamington will kick off their games with a game against Georgina on Thursday, August 21

at 5:30 pm on Diamond 2. The Kingsville Knights have drawn the bye in that first round.

Other teams include Welland, Tecumseh, Chatham, St. Thomas, Lakeshore, Stratford, Grimsby, Woodstock, Essex and Orangeville.

Tournament finals will be 4 pm on Sunday, Au-

gust 24.

Over in Kingsville, the 9U “C” championship is taking place with the Kingsville Knights hosting Essex Thursday morning at 11 am in a 13team double knockout set-up.

Other teams include Listowel, LaSalle, Wyoming, Tillsonburg, Grims-

by, Mitchell, St. Thomas, Tecumseh, Welland, Wallaceburg and Woodstock.

Finals will take place Sunday at 3:30 pm.

And if you’re into watching the big boys play, the Leamington Senior Barons will host the OBA Sr. B championship this weekend as well.

The 10-team affair gets

underway Friday at 11 am as Leamington hosts Port Dover on Diamond 7.

Other teams involved include Woodstock, Mitchell, Windsor, Fort Erie, Owen Sound, Lisle, Corunna and Merriton. Finals will be held Sunday at 4 pm on Diamond 7.

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Course with great course conditions. However, the

ertheless, everyone enjoyed the 19th hole with food, prizes and a

Erie Shores Men’s league scores

The Erie Shores Senior Men’s League faced hot and humid temperatures during their golf games on August 11 and produced the following results.

The draw winners Heinz Kosempel and Dave Binder.

Closest to the hole on #3 was Joe Verhoeven and on #16 Tom Miehl.

The longest putt on #9

was by Joe Verhoeven and on #18 Matt Dick.

The three low net winners were Dino Venerus 60, Dan Musuronchan 68, and Dick Segedin 68.

The first place winners at 142 were Tom Miehl, Doug Brown, Joe Verhoeven and Dan Musuronchan.

In second at 143 were Bryce Phillips, Joe Youssef, Fred Klassen and Jim Dueckman.

In third at 146 was the team of Matt Dick, John Campbell, Brent Metz and Jamie Arquette.

In fourth place at 146 by retrogression were Dick Segedin, Cecil Mendel, Peter Harb and Dino Venerus.

The two low rounds for the day went to Jerry Mallard 77 and Ken Cobby 79.

Matt Dick and Cam Perrault birdied the first hole, Bill Ruiter #1 and #6, Doug Brown #1 and #11, Bryce Phillips and John Mills #2, Joe Verhoeven and John Rutgers #3, Guy McIntyre #5, Joe Youssef #8 and #11, John Campbell and Claudio Sabelli #11, and Wray Pollock rounded off the birds with his on #15.

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Marina completed 40 years ago

By C. Scott Holland

The Leamington Marina has become known throughout the Great Lakes as one of the premier spots for sail and power boaters.

It was the brainchild of Mayor Sterling Welch and his 1975 council members. In July of that year, they considered a marina for the dock area.

By June 1982, a BILD Program would supply about one-fourth of the estimated costs. The town’s share was $150,000 over two years, while the federal government added a minimum of $1.2 million and developer Lee Sunshine would sink $1.25 million into it. Overall cost was slated to be in the neighbourhood of $6 million.

After BILD rejected the plan, the federal government offered $1.3 million for the marina project in May 1983 and awarded a contract to build the marina’s eastern breakwall to Alnor Construction of Oshawa. Its cost was pegged at $870,000. Work began on phase 1 of the project, a 600-metre section, while dredging began in the basin.

In April 1984, while moving dirt at the marina site, the remains of the N.J. Nessen — a wooden ship that plied the waters of western Lake Erie between Detroit and Cleveland and sunk in Pegeon Bay on October 1929 — were found. The ship’s bell was discovered in July.

At that time, an earlier agreement between Ottawa and developer Lee Sunshine collapsed due to financing problems. On August 22, 1984, town officially signed a lease agreement for the marina with Ottawa, subject to approval from the Ontario Municipal Board

By November 1984, a possible layout of the marina docks was presented, and as the project neared completion in the summer of 1985, the town dipped into its industrial development fund for $15,000 to upgrade the hydro service at the marina.

On Sunday, August 11, 1985, the Leamington Marina was opened.

After its first full season (1986), it was announced that the Leamington Marina generated $500,000 in revenue and in 1988, 48 new berths were added, bringing the overall total to 254. The pavilion was added in 1988 in addition to other upgrades. That same year, waterfront plans were unveiled for a promenade, boardwalk and benches stretching from the marina to Leamington dock, followed by development of the park.

A report in 1998 showed that the Leamington Marina had its best year in its history with 3,600 transient boaters using the 344 berths, which included some yachts that were 70 to 80 feet in length. Due to increased fuel costs, the exchange rate and post-9/11 effects, the marina had sustained some hefty losses by 2005.

Just as recovery began, a June 2010 tornado left a wide swath of damage which included the marina.

Since that time, the marina has undergone many upgrades and remains a popular boating venue. It has expanded its accessibility and currently the facility is in the midst of more changes, including an improved play area for children, a waterfront market, multi-use stage, vendor market, food plaza, food truck area and parking area.

Dunn top Talbot Trail senior golfer

By Bob McClean

On a very hot, sticky August 12, 46 Talbot Trail senior men’s league players tested their golfing skills.

Dunner shot a masterful 36 to nip Ken Kreuger’s excellent 37. Both Dutchy and Joe Drummond fired terrific results of 38 and 39 respectively.

Pearcie and Fred Michano produced terrific results

of 40 and 41 respectively.

Both Ray Foster and John Liddell earned superb 44s. Solid results of 45 were achieved by Al Matthews, Paul Carioli, Bob Redel and super senior Ken Womack. Other very commendable results less than 50 were scored by these players: 46s by Richard Humber, Gary Hillier, Neil Adamson, BW and

Nasher; 47s by Chopper, Rick Thompson, and Wiz; 48s by Al Zanuttini and Francis Garant; 49s scored by Dave Chambers, Dave Clark, Fuzzy and Joe Vrtel. David Tonks, Doug Langlois, OV and Carl Robinson produced nifty 50 results.

LP winner David Tonks drained an outstanding 20-foot putt. Al Mat-

thew’s CP scintillating shot on #9 ended up three feet from the pin.

In the SS silver division, Ken Womack led the way with an inspiring 45. Joe Vrtel had a noteworthy 49.

In the gold division, both Carl Robinson and Gerry Becigneul scored superb results of 50 and 51 respectively.

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR HOUSE IS

your dollars in Canada

Jr. Golf Tour wraps up season

The Unico Primo Junior Golf Tour wrapped up its 2025 season at Kingsville Golf and Country Club last week.

In the Junior Boys division, hometown favorite Andrew Baker (Kingsville) drained a 60-foot birdie putt on the 18th green to shoot 70 and edge Bennett Brazier (Beach Grove/Essex) by a single stroke. Brazier fired a 71 along with Jackson Pracey (Kingsville).

The Junior Girls division was once again topped by 16-year-old Madelaine Beck (Beach Grove), who fired 80 to secure her dominance in the standings. She edged Ella Harris (Essex/University of Windsor commit), who posted 81, while Frankie Fields claimed third with 82.

In the Collegiate Men’s division, Kevin Teichroeb (Kingsville) showcased his reigning club champion form with a brilliant 68, outpacing Nathan White (St. Clair, 73) and Brandon Allen (Pfieffer, 74).

The Collegiate Women’s division went to Kennedy Fremlin (Essex/University of Windsor), who shot a smooth 77. She edged teammate Vanessa Ardovini (Roseland/University of Windsor) by one, though Ardovini’s round was highlighted by a hole-in-one. Justine Gorham (St. Clair) was third with 79.