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Southpoint Sun - March 18, 2026

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It’s maple time in Essex County

Sap flowing from tapped maple trees, the sweet smell of emerging syrup from boiling pots and families dressed in distinctive shirt patterns of red and black could all be found at the first weekend of this year’s maple syrup festival at John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area.

“This festival is about tradition, but we are always looking at adding new elements.”

— Kris Ives

Local vendors and a special exhibit exploring Indigenous ways of making maple products could be found inside the homestead’s conservation centre, while lumberjack games, a costume competition, and a beard and moustache competition were all held on the outdoor grounds along the shore of Lake Erie.

Homestead curator Kris Ives shared her thoughts about this year’s festival.

“This festival is about tradition, but we are always looking at adding new elements,” she said. “This year we have some new lumberjack games for the kids, such as drop in the bucket and our log roll. We have new vendors in our market and people attending can try the new maple taffy cones.”

The festival is once again sponsored by St. Clair College and the St. Clair College Alumni Association and will feature a tasters’ weekend on March 21 and 22 with crowns being handed out for best maple tart and best backyard maple maker.

The Most Boastworthy Beard and Moustache: Best Full Beard competition was featured on the first weekend of the Maple Syrup Festival at John R. Park Homestead. Looking for “un je ne sais quoi”, the judges decided that Gerry Demers best exemplified that quality. Pictured are, from the left, judge Carmen Danner-Wharram, contest sponsor/judge Justin Mailloux of Essex’s Watson and Slade Barbershop, contest winner Gerry Demers and judge Jeff Hagan. Missing from the photo was the fourth judge, a gentleman with a great moustache himself, Leamington councillor Bill Dunn. Contest photo provided by Kris Ives
Costumed interpreter Kim Morrison (middle) provided a demonstration of how sap was put through an evaporation process while working towards a treasured bit of maple syrup. Enjoying the information session was the Djurdjevic family, from left, Alex, Megan, George, Angela and Sinisa. Paul Forman photo
Kids were having a great time all over the grounds of the homestead on the first weekend of the Maple Syrup Festival. Two-year old twins, Noelle with dad Wesley Shuttleworth and Anna with mom Sarah, are pictured as they carefully balance themselves on a pair of stilts from long ago. Paul Forman photo

TURK AND BEAUP SHOW CELEBRATES ST. PADDY’S IN WHEATLEY

The annual Turk ’n Beaup Show took place at the Wheatley Legion’s meat draw and St. Patrick’s celebration on Saturday, March 14 at Joe’s Bar. Roberta Dibbley (left) and Sandra Beaupre Wolf were on hand to run the annual event in honour of their late fathers, Turk Dibbley and Mark Beaupre. Turk and Beaup started the tradition over 20 years ago when they celebrated St. Patrick’s Day at the Legion, dressing up as leprechauns, serving up green beer, and embracing the spirit of the day. The festivities always featured bagpipers, homemade Irish stew, and plenty of shamrocks and Irish-themed giveaways. Year after year, Turk and Beaup became the St. Patrick’s Day favourites everyone looked forward to. Their daughters now carry on the tradition. Included in the festivities was Wheatley’s new pipes and drums band — Erie Scottish — featuring, from

Brew on the 42 coming to Leamington waterfront

The Municipality of Leamington is launching Brew on the 42, a municipally operated pilot project designed to bring new energy and activity to

Leamington’s waterfront while helping shape the future of the Waterfront Market Plaza.

Operating from a purpose-built shipping con-

tainer along the waterfront, Brew on the 42 will offer coffee along with a limited selection of light food items in a welcoming outdoor setting that encourages residents and visitors to gather and enjoy Leamington’s shoreline.

Brew on the 42 will serve as the operational anchor of the Waterfront

Market Plaza (WMP), a newly developed municipally owned seasonal destination intended to activate the waterfront through curated food and beverage vendors, public seating and municipal programming.

The Waterfront Market Plaza will host a range of community-focused programming through-

out the season, including musical performances, small markets and other public programming designed to create a welcoming gathering place at the waterfront.

“Brew on the 42 is about creating consistent activity at the waterfront and demonstrating what is possible for this space,” said Mayor Hilda MacDonald. “By taking the lead and investing in this pilot project, the municipality is helping set the standard for what the future of our waterfront can become. When you create great places for people to gather, it encourages others to be part of that vision.”

The pilot is intended to demonstrate the

waterfront’s potential and create opportunities for future private-sector participation. As the Waterfront Market Plaza evolves, the municipality will explore partnerships and additional vendor opportunities that build on the success of the space while supporting local entrepreneurs and tourism growth.

The initiative is part of the municipality’s broader Waterfront Destination Master Plan, which aims to strengthen Leamington’s waterfront as a vibrant community space and tourism destination.

Brew on the 42 will operate as a two-year pilot program. The pilot will allow the municipality to evaluate operational performance, gather community feedback and explore future opportunities for the Waterfront Market Plaza, including potential partnerships and alternative delivery models for food, beverage and waterfront programming.

In early 2026, the municipality secured a provincial grant of approximately $50,000 toward start-up costs associated with Brew on the 42. Public references to the grant program name and funding source remain subject to provincial communications requirements.

left, Mike Hicks, Tom Brown and Brian Gamble.
SUN photos by Mark Ribble

All About Maple event at Heritage Village

A crisp, but sunny March 14th made for a beautiful

at

the Canadian Transportation Museum & Heritage Village in Kingsville. The historical grounds welcomed

many local vendors and provided demonstrations in both printmaking and candle making.

The youngsters had an opportunity to be engaged at educational stations, could make kids’ crafts or have their face painted.

Bringing everything together had to be the sweet tastes of maple where one could sample some freshly made maple syrup, savour a maple shortbread cookie or indulge in a slice of fry bread topped with maple sugar.

The

The

-Susan S.

-Elaine H. I

-Dan V.

-Phyllis H.

Not quite two years old yet, Mila Teliszewsky, right, could be found enjoying some sweet maple syrup on the steps of the Ross Cabin at this year’s All About Maple event.
In the photo below, Addi Carson ended her day at one of the kids’ crafting stations at CTMHV. Addi is pictured here with her mom Dana.
SUN photos by Paul Forman
All About Maple event

Seniors pack Grovedale for 5th annual expo

Despite a steady allday rain, the 5th annual Kingsville Community Centre Seniors Expo packed the Grovedale Arts and Culture Centre on Wednesday, March 11.

Some 45 vendors and exhibitors shared their expertise with seniors who came out for information on products, services and organizations.

Community Centre

Executive Director Kimberly DeYong said the expo gets bigger and stronger each year. The first two years were held at the Community Centre on Division Road, but the last three have been at the Grovedale. People were lined up outside for the 9 am opening.

“I’m thrilled with the turnout despite the weather,” said DeYong.

“Numbers have been

where we hope and had expected.”

DeYong says there are a lot of seniors involved in the local community and they are all quite active in everything they do.

“This really showcases what our region has to offer,” she said.

In addition to the vendors and exhibitors, the Community Centre ran brief demonstrations of low impact exercise, tai chi and martial arts upstairs in the venue, and also offered guest speaker sessions on healthcare, drivers licenses and technology. All speaker session attendees enjoyed a light lunch as well.

The free expo is always well attended and local seniors wait in anticipation each year to see what might be new at the event

two were dressed in period costumes to help promote their organizations. Bob Suszek, left, was dressed in a War of 1812 military kit, helping to promote the Kingsville Military Museum, while his sidekick, Ann Ducharme, was dressed for the Vintage Garden Tour and Tea coming up this summer on behalf of the Kingsville Horticultural Society.

BOARD MEMBERS

Provide

Kristin Swayze -
Nadia Didomenico, left, and Savannah Kungel were on hand representing Venvi Retirement Living at the 5th annual Seniors Expo on Wednesday, March 11.
A martial arts demonstration upstairs at the Grovedale during last week’s Seniors Expo SUN photos by Mark Ribble
The Our Farm Organics table was a popular one as attendees stopped in to chat with Lesley Labbe, who owns the farm on County Road 34 along with her husband Tom. Our Farm Organics features homegrown organic vegetables, meat and eggs.
These

SWANS HELP LEGION BUILDING FUND WITH DONATION

The Wheatley Swans have made a $3,000 donation to the Wheatley Legion building fund from their work at Chances Gaming Lounge.

From left are Swans Beth McCready, Geri Vary, Pauline Sample, Judy Malott, Daria Matheson, Katie Richmond, Legion 1st Vice President Tom Brown, Legion President Dick Whittle, Swans Marjorie Jackson, Lorna Bell, Legion Treasurer Cathy Bell and Swan Dianne Lenarduzzi. Photo submitted

Spring piano festival

The first annual Spring Piano Festival is being held in Leamington on Saturday, March 28.

Students of artistic director Olga Nesterenko will showcase the skills they’ve learned on the piano over the past several months. Over 30 piano students will play two selections each, according to their level of learning. Gregory and Emily Duff will serve as the jury for the competition.

The mission of the event is to inspire pianists to strive for artistic excellence, develop musical individuality and gain meaningful stage experience.

Nesterenko is a classically trained pianist who graduated from the Conservatory in Ukraine. She is currently the accompanist with the County Classic Chorale.

The first pianists begin playing at 10 am at the Faith Mennonite Church on Sherk Street in Leamington. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted.

opinion ~ expression ~ and other musings

Another week of random ramblings

Kudos to the Leamington Flyers for their first-round vanquishing of those pesky Buffalo Jr. Sabres. The Sabres gave the Flyers all they could handle all season long and then took game one of the playoffs to set the local squad back on their heels, but the good guys prevailed in the end. I heard a comment on the weekend that this is not a local team

because there aren’t any Leamington players on the roster. Currently, both Jak Thiessen and Ethan Tatomir list Leamington as their hometown, with Matthew Thomas from Wheatley, Gannon Hunter from Kingsville and Bryce Belleau from Cottam. Of the rest, another 10 are from within Essex or Kent Counties and a few more from further places like

London and Richmond Hill. Several of their affiliated players are also local. In Junior hockey, that’s a pretty good complement of local kids on your team.

Looks like we dodged a bullet Sunday night into Monday, and while the wind was terrible on Monday, we can be thankful we weren’t in the path of that massive snow storm that

A battle of “Number Ones”

“He’s So Fine” by The Chiffons ruled the charts for four weeks in March of 1963. Many number one songs have been the subject of lawsuits, but none have been as well publicized as “He’s So Fine” versus “My Sweet Lord”.

The winner: the estate of Ronnie Mack, the young composer who died shortly after “He’s So Fine” went to number one. The loser: former Beatle George Harrison, who was told by a judge in 1976 that his number one song, “My Sweet Lord”, had been subconsciously copied from “He’s So Fine”.

The Chiffons were four female friends from Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. Judy Craig, Barbara Lee, Patricia Bennett and Sylvia Peterson sang in the lunchroom at school, so when songwriter Ronnie Mack asked them to record some of his tunes as demos, they gladly spent an hour at a midtown Manhattan studio where they recorded as many of Mack’s songs as they could in the allotted time.

As the girls were busy with high school graduations and finding jobs, they forgot their sessions with Mack, but he was visiting every New York record company he could to secure a contract. One day he was in the Mutual of Omaha building at Broadway and 54th, when he walked into the office of Phil Margo, Mitch Margo, Hank Medress and Jay Siegal. Better known as The Tokens (“The Lion Sleeps Tonight”), the four young men had signed a production deal with Capital Records. He walked in right off the street, played three or four songs and said, we must sign a production deal with Capital Records.

FLASHBACK RADIO with Chuck Reynolds

and should come at the beginning of the song.

Laurie Records were so taken with “He’s So Fine”, they signed a deal on the spot. Shortly after the song went to number one, Mack collapsed on the street and was taken to Roosevelt Hospital. He had been ill with Hodgkin’s Disease but had not told anyone. The Tokens presented him with a gold record in his hospital room, and soon after the talented young songwriter died.

Their production budget exhausted, they used their publishing money to finance a recording session for the girls, who named themselves The Chiffons. While recording “He’s So Fine”, the engineer suggested that the background singers’ chant of “doo-lang, doolang, doo-lang” was cute

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The Chiffons’ next hit was “One Fine Day” written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The Tokens heard the demo and like it so much, they wiped the vocal off and recorded the Chiffons over it. Their only other top 10 single was “Sweet Talkin’ Guy” in 1966.

After the Harrison trial, The Chiffons recorded “My Sweet Lord” but the novelty was not enough to get airplay.

No. 09204. Published every Wednesday 194 Talbot St. E. Unit #1, Leamington ON N8H 1M2 519-398-9098 • sun@southpointsun.ca

hit northern Ontario. One of my favourite places in the world — Whitefish Falls, Ontario — received over 80 cm of snow Sunday into Monday, leaving the area crippled. When I read online that the Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire and Beer Store in nearby Espanola were all closed on Monday, I knew it had to be bad. Those northerners are hardy beings. Can’t imagine how bad it had to be to close those three iconic Canadian locations.

It dawned on me as I was writing this that I took over as editor at the Southpoint Sun exactly six years ago. Former editor Sheila McBrayne handed me the reins on March 13, 2020 and the first paper I produced as editor was the March 18, 2020 edition. By that time, pretty much everything had closed down and three of us were chosen to produce a newspaper from the comfort (or discomfort) of our own homes. It went on that way for a couple of months and as we know, the world was pretty much at a standstill for several months after that. I’m glad that’s behind us.

Saturday we had to watch the Leafs lose to

Buffalo in a shootout in their first game without Auston Matthews, who’s been shut down for the season. And wouldn’t you know it, the team looks to be playing better without him. While some fans are hoping the team tanks in their final 14 games to set up a better draft, others hope they go on a tear in their final 14 games and make a last ditch run for the playoffs. Mathematically possible but highly improbable.

RIB’S RAMBLINGS

Speaking of sports, I recently turned 65 and boy can my body feel it. I’m not the spring chicken that I used to profess to be. It wasn’t that long ago, I was patrolling the blueline for the Wheatley Oldtimers and flashing the glove at first base for the Car Barn slo-pitch team. My hockey career ended with the pandemic in the spring of 2020, but my softball career carried on until 2023 before I called it quits. All things must end.

——

You may have read that I’m making my directing debut at The Bank Theatre in May. That’s not a typo. I got involved totally by accident in 2024 when Corey Robertson asked

me to fill a spot as Chief Bromden in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and I enjoyed myself so much that I returned in Corey’s production of Dracula later that year. I had never acted before in my life, but decided to take a leap of faith and try it out. I took last year off due to other commitments and then last fall, I proposed a play I had found called Farce of Nature. Well, it got approved for this spring and we are currently in rehearsals to bring this hilarious farcical comedy to life. It opens May 1 and runs for two weekends. I truly believe that this world can use some more laughter right now. I’m happy to be working alongside a dozen other people whose job is to make me look good, and I have faith they will. You might even see me as a Chicago-style gangster. Come and experience the beautiful stateof-the-art Bank Theatre and enjoy a locally-produced comedy. You’ll still be laughing when you leave the theatre.

Gasoline older than cars

No one wanted gasoline when the first oil well began gushing in Pennsylvania in 1859. Kerosene is what the oil refiners wanted, and gasoline was a dangerous and explosive by-product that had to

be thrown away. Then around 1892, the first gasoline-powered horseless carriages began chugging along the streets of America. Suddenly the waste product could be put

THE

OLD CAR DETECTIVE

to good use, and eight years later, in 1900, with 8,000 registered automobiles in the United States, the oil refiners now sold 260-million gallons of gas in that one year alone – the same stuff they had been throwing away for over 30 years. Will the world run out of gasoline? No one knows, but Jack Stockton of WIND radio in Chicago remembers what happened at a Chicago gas station during the 1979 gasoline shortage. A big GASOLINE sign over the station lost the letter O in a windstorm as the shortage began, and the sign now read GAS LINE, the perfect description for the long lineups at the pumps. Always looking for stories. Email billtsherk@ sympatico.ca

Kingsville Friendly Club reports on weekly card games

There were 37 members who played cards at the Kingsville Friendly Club on March 3.

Bridge: Bert Patrick 2680, Carolyn Brown 2530, Mac Stanley 2400. Euchre: Audrey Peterson 104, Ray Nobbs 93, Debbie Everaert and Dave Snider 84. Most lone hands: John Gerhardt and Dave Patterson 5. Cribbage: Marie Geeves 944, Stuart Wheelton 939, Nancy Cassels 870. Pepper: Carrie Schultz 236, Rick Wynants 231, Ken Salter and Ted Gaffan 213. Most peppers: Bill Fielding and Carrie Schultz 6. On March 6 there were 48 members present.

There were 37 players present March 10.

Bridge: Alta VanVliet 3570, Mac Stanely 3040,

Bridge: Jean Kuipers 3890, Gillian Pickney 3720, Bert Patrick 2360. Euchre: Michael Nantais 89, Dave Patterson 87, Stuart Wheelton 82. Most lone hands: Dave Patterson 6. Pepper: Rhoda Earl and Bill Fielding 292, Mary Jo LaForet 280, Telma Pedrosa 251. Most peppers: Rhoda Earl 7.

Gillian Pickney 2970. Euchre: Willie Fittler and John Gerhardt 97, Ken Martinuik 91, Brenda Hamments 90. Most lone hands: Willie Fittler 6.

Cribbage: Nancy Cassels 1187, Marie Geeves 1175, Kenny Bachmier 1097. Pepper: Bill Fielding 295, Carrie Schultz 238, Winnie Moore 225. Most peppers: Bill Fielding 7.

Forty-three members played cards on March 13.

Happy 90th Birthday

Mary Binder

Bridge: Mary DeGoey 3410, Corrine Ingals 3150, Mac Stanley 3080. Euchre: Gail Burns 99, Audrey Petterson 91, Ken Martinuik 85. Most lone hands: Gail Burns and Ken Martinuik 5. Pepper: Gordon Earl 284, Rick Wynants 250, Mandy Hric 247. Most peppers: Gordon Earl 6. The Kingsville Friendly Club meets every Tuesday and Friday at the Lions Hall, 21

Mill Street West. Doors open at noon and play starts at 12:45 sharp, followed by social time at 3:15.

ERCA responds to news that it will join others as part of new, larger constervation authority

Last week, the Province of Ontario announced its revised framework for the consolidation of Conservation Authorities. Under this proposed update, Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities will be merged into nine.

The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) will merge with the Upper Thames River, Lower Thames Valley and St. Clair Region Conservation Authorities to form the new Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority.

The province has identified that in the coming weeks, it will amend the Conservation Authorities Act to confirm the regional CAs, establish governance and initiate the transition, which will be coordinated through the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency. The consoli-

dation is expected to take place by early 2027.

“While details of the transition remain to be answered, the province has emphasized that local programs and services will continue, that front-line staffing levels will not be affected, and conservation areas and assets will remain owned and managed by conservation authorities,” said Molly Allaire, ERCA Chair.

The province has also stated that local expertise and well-established relationships with municipalities, developers, and builders will be retained within the new structure.

Throughout this transition process, ERCA will continue to provide its programs and services without disruption, including conservation areas and trails, drink-

ing water source protection, watershed management services, stewardship programs, agricultural extension services, and education programs.

“Above all, ERCA remains committed to protecting the watersheds and the residents of the Windsor-Essex County-Pelee Island region,” said Tim Byrne, ERCA CAO.

The Essex Region Conservation Authority is a public sector organization established by the Province of Ontario in 1973 and governed by local municipalities. For more than 50 years, it has delivered local programs and services to further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources in watersheds in the Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island region.

Leamington backs gymnastics club’s bid for provincials

At their March 10 regular meeting, Leamington Council narrowly voted to support a bid by the Rose City Gymnastics Club to host the 2027 provincial championships at the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre April 7-11, 2027.

The club came forward with a proposal to rent the complex and Highbury Canco Arena for the annual competition, which would attract about 1,200 athletes from across the province, their coaches, parents and other spectators.

A stipulation included in the motion called for the ice in the Highbury Canco Arena to undergo removal beginning March 24, 2027.

That was the sticking point in discussions as councillors weighed in on the benefits of hosting the event against the backdrop of the Leamington Flyers’ annual playoff run.

Officials from the Rose City club indicated that

they needed to secure a venue before they could submit a bid to host the event — one that has been held in Windsor and Amherstburg on previous occasions.

Leamington’s administration reported that the ice would normally come out on May 1 and the early removal would eliminate about $30,000 in pre-booked rental revenue. The gymnastics event is expected to bring in about $15,000 in facility revenue, plus a large economic spinoff to local businesses. They expect about 3,500 spectators over the five-day event.

It was stated that the municipality would help the user groups — including the Flyers — find alternative ice time for those two weeks.

A move to the Unico rink for the Flyers for a playoff series would limit spectators and require them to play on a smaller rink than they are used to, while Southpoint Minor Hockey and the figure skating club would

need to utilize other rinks in the area.

Councillor Tim Wilkinson asked if administration had reached out to the main user groups to “get their blessing”, to which the answer was no.

“I’m not comfortable

come that number of people into our community when we’ve been spending so much time and effort trying to beautify our town.”

Latam also felt that it opens up opportunity for volunteers, particularly how the community can get involved, especially students.

“I do like the idea of this, but I’m also understanding of the 800 fans that go to the (Flyers) games.” — Bill Dunn

with that without them knowing,” he said. “I’d like to have the blessing of the main user groups before we go any further. The impact to the game, their gate and their fans — that’s a big blow for them.”

Councillor Heather Latam disagreed.

“I think this is fantastic,” she said. “It will open the door to events other than hockey to wel-

Councillor Anthony Abraham asked if the weekend could be switched, but the club replied that the dates are governed by Gymnastics Ontario.

The recently unsigned Memorandum of Understanding was brought up in discussion as well. The Flyers have yet to agree to the terms based on insurance issues and council voted on February 24 to set a deadline of June 15 of this year to get the agreement signed.

“Regardless of the MOU or not with the Fly-

ers, they are an agency that’s been here for a long time and it’s not just the Flyers,” Abraham said. “I kind of have a hard time asking the user groups to amend their schedules as full-time users for just a once-in-a-20-year event. I’d love to support the event, but I’d like additional conversation to be had.”

Councillor Paul Tiessen spoke in favour of the proposal and he said the presentation by the club swayed his opinion.

“The benefit to businesses in the municipality is great,” he said. “The timing is off, but I think there are options and we have a full year to look at those options.”

Tiessen said that he has to base his decision on what’s best for the municipality.

“There’s just too much benefit to say no,” he added.

Mayor Hilda MacDonald thanked the group for considering Leamington for their event, citing that Windsor groups often don’t come out this far to

inquire about events.

“I don’t feel as obligated to the user groups,” she said. “They (Flyers) have no MOU signed and have had multiple opportunities. I’m not willing to miss this opportunity.” The mayor said that the gymnastics event reaches a demographic that they’ve not really reached before.

“I will support this,” she said. “I like what you’re doing.”

Councillor Bill Dunn said he liked the idea but could not support it.

“I do like the idea of this, but I’m also understanding of the 800 fans that go to the (Flyers) games,” he said. “I’m not going to support this.”

Once discussion wrapped up, the vote finished 4-3 in favour of accepting the proposal so that the gymnastic club could proceed with their bid which, if unsuccessful, will not require the ice removal.

Councillors Abraham, Dunn and Wilkinson voted against it.

In Loving Memory of Carolyn Garant (nee Blokker)

March 17, 2016

A decade may have gone by Carolyn, but the ache of your absence remains. Though you may be gone you’ll never be forgotten. We think of you every day and always will miss you. Forever in our hearts.

Dad & Mom and Family ����

Calling all young artists in Chatham-Kent & Leamington! Show off your creativity in our Easter-themed colouring contest for kids 4 to 12!

Easter Colouring Contest

Child’s Name:

Parent’s Contact Phone:

Parent’s Email:

Child’s Age:

Contest open to children ages 4-12. Colour the drawing provided. Be sure to include your full name and age when submitting your artwork. Submit your completed artwork to trevor.jones@pc.ola.org or drop off in our mailbox at our local office: 115 Erie St. N. Unit B, Leamington • 519-326-3367.All entries must be received by Friday, March 27th, 2026 at 10:00 pm. Three winners from each age category will be selected and will each receive a special prize! Winners will be notified via phone call or email by Tuesday, March 31st.

MPP Trevor Jones Chatham-Kent - Leamington

National Farm Safety Week March 14-20

The late-winter sun hangs low over a machine shed in rural Canada. Inside, a farmer in his 70s climbs into a tractor he has operated for more than four decades. The machine still runs reliably but its lack of modern safety features tell a quieter story, one that’s shared by farms across the country. As farmers work later into life and equipment remains in service longer than ever, the risks associated with this trend are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

National Farm Safety Week is March 14-20 and the Canada Safety

Council is raising awareness on the intersection of aging operators and aging machinery, a combination that significantly increases the likelihood of serious injury.

By the numbers… Machinery remains the leading cause of agricultural fatalities in Canada. According to the Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting (CAIR) program, 2,814 agriculture-related fatalities were recorded between 1990 and 2020, representing an average of 91 deaths per year over the full period and 70 per year between 2006 and 2020.

Machinery, especially the tractor, continues to account for the largest share of fatalities, with rollovers, runovers and entanglements representing the most common circumstances.

Canada’s farm population, meanwhile, is aging. Statistics Canada’s Census of Agriculture continues to identify a rising proportion of farm operators aged 55 and older. In 2021, the most recent year for which information is available, that demographic accounted for 60.5 per cent of Canada’s 262,045 farm population.

“As farmers age and

Stephen Warner Sales

September 19, 1942 – February 21, 2026

With deep love, we announce the peaceful passing of Stephen Warner Sales on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

Steve lived a life marked by service, intellect, and devotion to family. A proud Naval Officer, he married the love of his life, Pamela Arlene Milburn, on December 18, 1965, at the Stadacona Naval Base Chapel –the beginning of a 60-year partnership built on loyalty and unwavering support.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Windsor and his degree in Pharmacy from the University of Toronto, practicing as a pharmacist for 50 years. He approached his profession with precision, integrity, and genuine care for those he served.

While living in Orillia, Steve fulfilled a lifelong dream by earning his pilot’s license, finding joy and freedom in flight.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Pamela; his daughters, Holly McClellan (Martin) and Heidi Driscoll (Brandon); and his cherished grandson, Ewan, who brought him immeasurable pride and happiness.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Erie Shores Hospice for their exceptional palliative care, and to the Canadian Legion for their steadfast support and dignity shown to both Steve and our family during his final days.

Steve’s steady presence, quiet strength, and enduring love will remain with us always.

Cremation has taken place as per Steve’s wishes. All are welcome to join the family on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 188, 145 Division Street South, Kingsville, Ontario, from 1:00 p.m. until time of Memorial Military Service to honour Steve’s life at 2:00 p.m.

If so desired, memorial donations may be made to the Erie Shores Hospice or to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 188 Poppy Fund (e-transfer: kingsvillelegion188@cogeco. net or via cheque mailed to PO Box 266, Kingsville, ON N9Y 2E9).

Arrangements entrusted to Cremation First (Leamington), 519-398-9188.

Online condolences and cherished memories may be shared with the family at www.cremationfirst.ca

equipment ages with them, the risks change,” said Gareth Jones, President and CEO of the Canada Safety Council. “Older machinery may lack rollover protection or reliable braking systems. And at the same time, older operators may be facing natural changes in mobility, reaction time and visibility. Recognizing these realities helps protect the people who built the farms and ensures they can continue working safely.”

Tips and Tricks

• Evaluate older equipment for safety. Look for worn tires, degraded

brakes, poor lighting and unguarded power takeoffs (PTOs).

• Schedule preventative maintenance. Build regular inspections and servicing into the farm calendar to catch mechanical issues early and keep aging machinery operating safely.

• Plan tasks with physical changes in mind. Avoid high-risk terrain and allow extra time for mounting, dismounting and rest.

• Ensure lighting is adequate for early-morning or late-evening work.

Establish check-ins with family members to allow for quick response in case of emergency. Aging farmers and aging equipment are both realities of modern Canadian agriculture. But neither needs to become a source of preventable tragedy. Take the time to understand how these factors interact. Take practical steps to address them. This way, farm families can protect their most valuable assets: their people and their livelihood.

Ruby Lindsay (nee Siddall), 82 years, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Erie Shores Hospice.

M. George Stasko

Proof of obituary to run

March 18, 2026 Southpoint Sun

George Stasko left us on Tuesday, March 19, 2026 at the impressive age of 95 years, after a short illness. He was born in Harrow, Ontario, to Mike (d. 1984) and Elizabeth (d. 1980) (nee Tomko).

$200 plus $26 HST = $226

Any changes please email sun@southpointsun.ca

Thank you.

George is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary (nee Frimer), and his four children Linda Keele-Giesbrecht (Larry), Ken (Tammy), George (Lorie), and Brian (Lisa), all of Leamington.

He is survived by his grandchildren Kierian Keele (Waterloo), Lauren Keele (Calgary), Craig Keele (Kitchener), Chris (Andrea), Steven (Chrissy Kelton), Amanda, Shawn (Nikki), Ashley Ehrman (Jimmy) (Kitchener) and Lily (Guelph). He is also Dzedo to eight great-grandchildren.

George is also predeceased by Mary’s parents, Andrew and Mary Frimer, and her siblings Steve, Andy, John, Danny and Helen Ryan. Surviving are sisters-in-law Lyn and Gisele. Many nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and greatnephews from the Frimer and Ryan families also survive.

He is also predeceased by two infant sisters born in Czechoslovakia prior to his parents’ immigration to Canada in 1929. Being raised as an only child, George was very proud that his family had grown to 30 members.

George was introduced to farming by his parents and continued to be involved in the family farm long after his “retirement.” From his hospital bed earlier last week, he insisted on knowing the current weather and how it may impact the coming summer’s crops. He truly encompassed “Once a farmer, always a farmer.”

George was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 4501 for more than 50 years, and also a past Grand Knight and member of the 4th Degree.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Erie Shores HealthCare, and Doctors D. Bayley and P. Tremblay for their kindness, compassion, and support during this challenging time.

Visitation was held at Reid’s Funeral Home in Leamington on Sunday, March 15 from 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.

Funeral Mass was scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2026 at 11:00 am at St. Michael’s Church in Leamington.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Erie Shores HealthCare.

Proof of obituary to run March 18, 2026 Southpoint Sun

$200 plus $26 HST = $226

Beloved wife of the late Jim (2012) for 49 years. Loving mother of Tim Lindsay and Debbie Morden and husband Blake. Adored grandmother of Duncan and Matthew. Dear sister of Elsie Smith (late John), late Harold Siddall (late Marjorie), Irene Wilkinson (late Glen), late Ross Siddall (Judy) and late Ken Siddall (Janet). Special aunt to many nieces and nephews. Memorial visiting at Reid Funeral Home & Cremation Centre, 14 Russell Street, Leamington (519-326-2631) on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 from 9:30 a.m. until time of Celebration of Life at 11:30 a.m. with Rev Paul Rodey officiating.

Any changes please email sun@southpointsun.ca

As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations to Erie Shores Hospice would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Joaquim “Jack” Santos

November 28, 1953 – March 12, 2026

Joaquim “Jack” Santos, 72 years, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at Erie Shores Hospice on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

Loving husband to Maria of 49 years. Dear father to Billy Santos (Jennifer), Patrick Santos (2006) and Jessica Burger (Ryan). Beloved Avo to Vida, Quinten, Mitchell and Wyatt. Brother to late Manuel, late Jose, Antonio and Maria. He will be missed by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He built his life around a strong family first philosophy by providing a lifetime of dedication – working tirelessly from the farm to the construction site, and always leading by example with quiet strength and unwavering commitment to getting the job done right. He loved spending time keeping busy on the Quinta during retirement.

Visiting was at Reid Funeral Home, 14 Russell Street, Leamington (519-326-2631) on Friday from 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., and on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at St. Michael’s Church, 29 Elliott Street, Leamington from 9 a.m. until time of Mass of the Resurrection at 10 a.m. Burial followed at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Erie Shores Hospice would be appreciated. Words of comfort can be shared at www.reidfuneralhome.ca

Ruby Lindsay

Tug of War participants

Registration is now open for the Wheatley Fish Fest Tug of War. This popular annual event is just part of the festivities at the harbour during Fish Fest weekend, June 26-28.

A minimum of six teams are needed, with eight people per team. Gather your friends, family, coworkers or fishing buddies! Who will be crowned the champion? The Tug of War takes place across Wheatley Harbour on Sunday, June 28 at 1 p.m. Registration deadline is March 30. Email wheatleyfishfestcommittee@gmail.com or send a direct message via Facebook to the Wheatley Fish Fest page to register.

Monday’s winds along the Lake Erie Shoreline made for a reminder of just how powerful the Great Lakes can be. Here, a portion of the dock in Kingsville took a pounding from waves generated by gale force wind gusts on the first day of March break. SUN photo by Paul Forman

Mystic Highway returns to Leamington

at 6 pm.

Renowned as the ultimate tribute band, Mystic Highway brings to life the iconic music of Creedence Clearwater Revival and the distinctive sound of John Fogerty.

Led by the talented Gil Giadola, whose powerful vocals and masterful guitar work capture the essence of Fogerty, the band promises an unforgettable evening of classic rock.

Fans can expect to hear timeless hits like “Bad Moon Rising”, “Fortunate Son” and “Proud Mary”, transporting them back to the golden era of rock ’n’ roll.

The concert will be a

tribute on March 21

full sensory experience with vintage instruments, authentic attire, and a captivating stage production that recreates the atmosphere of the ’60s and ’70s. Mystic Highway’s dedication to authenticity ensures a performance that not only sounds like CCR but feels like a step back in time.

“We were really fortunate to get this band for Leamington 150 celebrations in 2024,” said John Moran, President & Music Programming Chair of The Bank Theatre. “The audience loved them and we’re pretty excited that we can get them here on The Bank Theatre stage for a rocking good night!”

As the leading CCR Tribute band, Mystic Highway captures the nostalgic sound that defined an era. Gil Gaidola and the band deliver a performance that’s both authentic and electrifying.

The Bank Theatre is located at 10 Erie St. S. in Leamington. Programming at The Bank Theatre is sponsored by the Municipality of Leamington and Chances Gaming Lounge. Tickets are $35+HST and available at the Box Office Thursday-Saturday from 11 am-1 pm, by phone during box office hours 519-326-8805, or online at banktheatre.com

Gleaners to hold annual banquet on April 18

The Southwestern Ontario (SWO) Gleaners will host their annual Fundraising Banquet at the Roma Club of Leamington, 19 Seacliff Drive East.

This special evening plays a crucial role in supporting the SWO Gleaners’ mission to combat food insecurity, both locally and globally. The event takes place

Saturday, April 18. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the family-style dinner is at 6:00.

There will be a cash bar, as well as silent and live auctions.

The annual banquet is vital, as it accounts for a significant portion of SWO Gleaners’ yearly operating budget. The funds raised enable the group to continue providing nutritious dehydrated vegetable mixes and fruit snacks to those facing food insecurity. This work is made possible by its dedicated staff, volunteers and the generosity of the produce supporters.

Tickets are $100 per person. To purchase tickets: visit the website at swogleaners.ca and click on the “Buy Tickets” link; call 519-326-7687 to arrange your tickets; or email swogleaners@gmail. com

Gil Gaidola of Mystic Highway thrilled concertgoers with his spot-on Fogerty vocals and guitar shreds at the Sunset Amphitheatre in August, 2024.

Gala for the Kids raises $159,000

On March 7, the Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation of Chatham-Kent (CTC Foundation) hosted its fourth annual Gala for the Kids at the Chatham Armoury, raising $159,000 in support of children and youth with physical, developmental and communication challenges across Chatham-Kent.

This year’s theme, Gala for the Kids – Disco Inferno, transformed the historic venue into a dazzling celebration of music, dance, and generosity. Guests embraced the spirit of the era in bold colours, sequins and platform shoes as the Armoury came alive with vibrant lighting, high-energy entertainment and a dance floor that kept the party going all night long.

A major highlight of the evening was the highly anticipated live and silent auctions, where attendees bid generously on exclusive experiences, unique items and sought-after packages. The excitement in the room reflected the deep commitment this community has to supporting local children and families.

“Our community continues to show up in the most incredible way for our kids,” says Mike Genge, President of the CTC Foundation. “The energy in the room was unforgettable, but what truly matters is the lasting impact these funds will have on children and youth who rely on our services every day.”

Funds raised through Gala for the Kids support essential programs not covered by government funding, including Social Work, Therapeutic Recreation and Music Therapy, critical services that enhance confidence, connection and overall well-being for children and families served by the Children’s Treatment Centre.

Each year, one in five children in Chatham-Kent accesses services through the centre. Thanks to the continued generosity of sponsors, donors, volunteerss and guests, more children will receive the care and support they need to thrive.

To learn more about the Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation of Chatham-Kent and how to get involved, visit ctcf-ck.com.

Correction on Children’s Centre article

In an article on page 16 of last week’s Southpoint Sun, it was reported that the Chatham-Kent Children’s Treatment Centre’s (CTC-CK) contractor had been approved and that building was about to get underway for the 58,000 square foot facility. That information was published in error and was pulled from an article that ran in the summer of 2024. In fact, the CTC-CK is now half-complete. The article above reflects the progress being made on

Raise the Roof hoedown coming to

The Canadian Transportation Museum & Heritage Village will be hosting Raise the Roof, a country hoedown pasta dinner fundraiser where all proceeds will go toward installing a new roof at the transportation museum.

The event is Saturday, March 28 from 4-10 pm and features live music, buffet from 5-7 pm, open mic from 6-7 pm and line dancing class from 7-8 pm, as well as a silent auction and 50/50 raffle to be drawn at 9:30. Tickets are $25 per person and available by visiting ctmhv.com/events.

Leamington Bridge Club scores

The following are the top-scoring teams in recent Bridge games at the Leamington Half Century Centre. Bridge lessons are available. If interested,

HAPPY

call 519-738-4939.

March 9: 1st Dave Derbyshire and Dale Smith, 2nd Al Morrison and Henry Hildebrandt, 3rd Bob Bell and Sally Bell.

the fundraising side of the project.

The Southpoint Sun regrets the error and apologizes for any confusion created by the misplaced article.

March 13: 1st Derek Parry and Henry Hildebrant, 2nd Margaret Foster and Moira Escott, 3rd Shirley Morel and Case Mulder.

Youth sailing camp on the horizon this summer Wheatley Legion News

With the ice breaking up on Lake Erie, it’ll soon be sailing season and the Cedar Island Yacht Club is once again preparing for their annual Youth Sailing Day Camp for kids ages 8-14+.

The week-long camp will run Monday through Friday throughout the months of July and August, run by certified Ontario Sailing Instructors.

According to Ally Girard-Lippmann of the club’s Youth Sailing Committee, the youngsters will learn more than just sailing skills.

“It’s about promoting teamwork, self-confidence, leadership and the love of sailing,” she says. “The young sailors will receive hands on training tailored to their skills, whether they are complete beginners or looking to better their skills. Safety is prioritized with the

provided life jackets and appropriate training.”

The young sailors will be involved in a mix of on-the-water training activities, on shore games, classroom sessions and a lot of fun.

For more information on the CIYC Youth Sailing Camp go to cedarisland yachtclub.ca/new-youth-sailing-page.

Congratulations to Donna Corlett, Linda Niehus, Sandy Simpson and Carol Lotsberg! The ladies travelled to London on Saturday, March 14 to participate in the District A Ladies Auxiliary Cribbage Tournament where they took fourth place and secured a spot at Provincial Championships which will be held in June in Sudbury. Way to go, ladies!

The 10th annual Treanor Mixed Doubles Dart Tournament in memory of Bud and Jean Treanor is Sunday, April 12 at Kingsville Legion Br. 188. Singles are welcome and will be partnered by luck of the draw. Cash prizes. Limited spots available. For more information call Kingsville Legion at 519-733-5162.

Sandra Beaupre Wolf

Location: 1010 Mersea Rd 4, Leamington, Ont, N8H3V6 Preview: Mar 20 & 21, 2026 10AM-3PM Bidding opens Mar 12, 2026 at 8AM, Bidding starts to close Mar 26, 2026 at 6PM Pickup and Payment: Mar 27, 2026 between 9AM-4PM & Mar 28, 2026, 8AM-1PM unless alternative pickup arrangements are made with Marty. All items are sold AS-IS and where is as per our auction terms and conditions. Full line of equipment , Very clean and well cared for. Farms are rented, NO Reserves (10% Buyers Premium added per lot up to $1000.00)

Tractors: Int 856 Tractor, Farmall 656 Gas Tractor, JD 2755 Tractor, Case IH 7220 Tractor Farm Equipment: JD 4000 Combine (1993), JD922 Grain head on Cart, JD 643 Corn head, JD 750 no till drill, JD 7000 12 Row Planter, Double Disc Ditcher, Misc Gravity wagons, Kongskilde 6 furrow Overrum plow, Kongskilde 5 furrow Overrum plow, Int 475 Cultivator, Case IH 37 Disc 12', RJ Equipment 26' Sprocket Packer, Easy-vey 1031 Seed auger, Brillion 25' Crowfoot Packer, Flat wagon 12'L x 6'W, Hardi 550 Sprayer 66' Boom, 2200 Gal Water tank, Kongskilde Folding 8 Row crop cultivator, Kongskilde SBC 25' Cultivator high clearance, Case IH 490 24' Disc & more!

Misc Items: Misc tools, 20 ton Bottle Jack, 48" Jackall Jack, Dole 400 Moisture tester, HD chains misc sizes, Case IH EZ Guide 250 GPS, Campbell Hausfeld 4.0HP

and Roberta Dibbley did a great job running the Turk ’n Beaup St. Patrick’s Meat Draw on Saturday. The annual event always draws a crowd, and Saturday was no exception. By all reports, a good time was had by all.

Meat draw winners were Cathy Cabral, Wes Siddall, Steve Bradley (3), Sherry Chambers, Ed Nevills, Lynn Collard, Cathy Cabral, Hilary Hodgson and Pam Prudence, who also won the Ladies Auxiliary 50-50 draw.

The L.A. St. Patrick’s gift basket was won by Terry Stevenson.

In addition to the meat draws, there were almost 30 extra prize draws for St. Patrick’s related items, courtesy of the Dibbley and Beaupre families.

The Meat Draws con-

tinue every Saturday at Joe’s Bar. Tickets go on sale at 3 p.m. and the draws begin at 3:30. Everyone welcome.

The new home of Wheatley Legion is getting closer to completion and is gratefully accepting donations to the Building Fund to help offset some of the cost overruns. Every donation – large or small – brings Branch 324 one step closer to reopening its doors.

Those who would like to make a donation can send an e-transfer to legion05-324@outlook. com. Include “Donation for Branch 324 Building Fund” in the memo. Cheques can be sent to Royal Canadian Legion Br. 324, PO Box 729, Wheatley, ON, N0P 2P0. Please include Branch 324 Building Fund in the memo line.

Community Calendar

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

WILSON SAUNDERS DART TOURNAMENT at Kingsville Legion Br. 188. Registration 11:00 - 11:45 am, play starts 12 pm sharp. Luck of the draw for partners, men's & women's doubles, mixed teams. $5/person/event, $1 bull shoot. 145 Division Rd. South.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

ONTARIO PURPLE MARTIN ASSOC. MEETING

9:00 a.m. at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, 1550 Rd. 3 East, Ruthven. Topic: Effects of Great Lakes water quality on surrounding environment. Lots of info available to help attract purple martins to your area. The public is welcome. For more info call Paul at 519-738-3476.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

SEEDY SATURDAY hosted by Kingsville Horticultural Society, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Lions Hall, 21 Mill St. West, Kingsville, featuring a Master Gardener, Kids Zone, Vendors, Bake Sale & Refreshments. Seed sale and exchange. Cash only. Free admission.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

CREATIVITY CLUB - 10:30 am - 1:30 pm at Wheatley Library, 35 Talbot Rd. West. Stop by and create some Warhol-inspired art!

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

GOODS & SERVICES AUCTION – Unitarian Universalist Church of Olinda, 2953 Olinda Side Road, Ruthven. Paintings, artwork, baked goods, small appliances. Preview at 1:00 pm, auction at 1:30.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25

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 April 8 & 22, May 6 & 20, June 3 & 17. More info: email ErieShoresTM@yahoo.com, Facebook Erie Shores Toastmasters or go to ErieShores.toastmastersclubs.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 28

CHILDCAN’S POLAR

BEAR DIP - Make a splash and change lives for children facing childhood cancer! Check in at 10:00 am at Kingsville Legion. Transportation will be provided to Cedar Island Beach. Dip starts 11:00 am. Return to the Legion for lunch, awards, and live music from British Beat 66! Register now at childcan.com/dip.

ONGOING

WHEATLEY & DISTRICT FRIENDSHIP CLUB ACTIVITIES - 171 Erie St. N. Wheatley. Lots of activities for the 50 or older crowd. Membership is only $10 per year. Quilting Mondays and Thursdays, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. Cards Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1:00 pm. Bingo 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month, 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Use of Exercise Equipment and Pool Table 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Monday to Thursday. Heritage Society 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month 1:00 - 3:00 pm. For more information or to become a member call 519-825-4870.

GRIEFSHARE: ARE YOU GRIEVING THE LOSS of someone close to you? Find comfort & support at 13 weekly group sessions every Wednesday from now until April 8, 1:00-2:30 pm, at LakePoint Family Church, 285 Talbot Street East, Leamington, 519-322-2316. www. griefshare.org

CELEBRATE RECOVERY is a safe, confidential & non-judgemental space to find healing & support to overcome our hurts, hang ups & habits. We meet Tuesday nights at 7:00 pm at South Point Community Church, 475 Bevel Line in Leamington. For further information contact tracy@southpointcc.ca or call 226347-0033.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF OLINDA Service Sunday, at 10:30 am with Rev. Paul Langston-Daley. Topic: The Journey of a Thousand Miles. 2953 Olinda Side Road, Ruthven, 548-324-4352. All are welcome.

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 COUNCILADULT 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.

EPWORTH UNITED CHURCH Service with Rev. Joshua Kang. Live stream at 10:20 am, service begins at 10:30. Old Fashion Hymn Sing at 4:00 pm. Bible Study Wednesday from 10:00-11:30 am. 56 Division St. S., Kingsville. www.epworthkingsville.com

THE VILLAGE RESOURCE CENTRE WEEKLY EVENTS - 108 Talbot Road East, Wheatley. Monday @ 7:00 pm – Women’s Fitness Class - $15. Monday @ 7:00 pm - "Light The Way" Nar-Anon Family Group. Wednesday @ 6:00 am – Women’s Fitness Class - $15. Wednesday @ 10:00 am - Chair Yoga - $10. Thursday @ 7:30 pm - "Wheatley Warriors" Narcotics Anonymous Group. Saturday @ 8:00 am – Starts Mar 7 – Women’s Fitness Class - $15. For more information call 226484-1004 or visit www.villageresourcecentre. ca. Wheelchair accessible.

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.

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

KINGSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE: STEP-ITUP INDOOR POWER WALKING, Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. No fee. Registration required. kingsvillecentre.com

THE WHEATLEY HERITAGE SOCIETY invites you to visit their rooms at the Friendship Club, 171 Erie St. North, Wheatley, to browse the collections of stories & artifacts or share your remarkable journey of family. Open the first and third Thursday of each month, from 1:00 - 3:00 pm or contact Dianne Lenarduzzi 905-921-1332 for more information.

COMMUNITY MEALS AVAILABLE AT: (Takeout only) every Monday, 4:00 - 5:00 pm at Leamington United Church, 9 John St., 519326-9461. Every Wednesday, 4:00 - 5:00 pm at St. John's Anglican Church, 60 Erie St. N. Leamington 519-326-3111.

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.

KINGSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE: GENTLE EXERCISE at 10:00 am, Wednesdays and Fridays, at Ruthven United Church, 1907 Queen Blvd. By Donation. Registration required. kingsvillecentre.com

or call in your classified ad by Friday at 12:00

Ph: 519-398-9098 Email: sun@southpointsun.ca

Requires permanent full-time greenhouse workers.

• $17.60/hr. Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 5:00 for 40 hours/week.

• Work Site: 311 Mersea Road 6, Leamington, Ontario N8H 3V8.

• Planting, Harvesting, Crop Maintenance and other duties as required.

• Must be able to lift a minimum of 40lbs on a repetitive basis.

• Health and Dental benefits included.

• No experience or education required. Please apply via email: hello@kusafarms.co

DRIVERS

PINNACLE ACRES REQUIRES Full time greenhouse general labourers. $17.60/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

PACKERS - VEGETABLE GREENHOUSE

Full-time Monday to Saturday • $17.60 per hour No experience necessary - will train.

We are seeking dedicated and detail-oriented Packers to join our team. The ideal candidates will be responsible for efficiently packing and preparing products for shipment, ensuring quality standards are met. This role is vital in maintaining smooth operations within our production process and delivering excellent service to our customers. Prior experience is a plus, we welcome applicants eager to learn new skills. This position offers an engaging work environment where teamwork and attention to detail are highly valued.

Responsibilities:

• Pack products accurately according to specifications and quality standards.

• Inspect produce before packing.

• Capable of lifting up to 25 lbs.

• Maintain a clean and organized packing area.

• Assist with inventory management and restocking supplies as needed.

• Follow safety protocols related to packing area. Apply: Kingsone Farms Inc. 838 Road 3 East, Kingsville, ON

PLUMBING SERVICESRepairs, installations, drain cleaning, sump pumps. Call Ed Higginbottom 519-3291779. ja14-tf

NEEDING ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS? Licensed Electrician. Call 519-818-1735. ja28-mr25

IRWIN PLUMBINGResidential rough-ins and repairs - 519-324-2202. A text is preferred if capable. Call if not. ja7-tf

LAUNDRY SERVICESWash, dry & fold laundry. Pay by the pound with a 7-pound minimum. Pick up & delivery free in Leamington. Perfumefree detergent & dryer sheets extra. Not for oily or industrial uniforms. Call Susan at 519564-0526. Text preferred but will take calls. mr18-ap8

INCOME TAX

CONFIDENTIAL PREPARATION of personal, senior and farm income tax returns. Regular or E-filing. Pickup and delivery as well as contact-free service available. Over 35 years’ experience. Call Tim Mousseau 519-975-2414 or toll free 1-855-975-2414. fe4-ap22

NOTICE

Effective May 1, 2026, all taxicabs operating in the Municipality of Leamington will be required to use a taxicab meter. This change replaces the current flat rate system and follows the adoption of By-law 30-26.

New Taxicab Rates

• Drop Rate: $4.25

• Meter Rate: $1.58 per kilometre

• Waiting Time: $0.50 per minute (or fraction thereof)

For trips that travel more than 5 kilometres beyond the municipal boundary, the fare will be determined by the taxicab driver and must be agreed upon by the passenger before the trip begins.

Residents are reminded that the following four taxicab companies are currently licensed to operate within the Municipality of Leamington:

• Amigo Taxi

• Nader’s Taxi

• Primo Taxi

• Turbo Taxi

For more information and to read the by-law, visit leamington.ca/Taxi

Municipality of Chatham-Kent Election Compliance Audit Committee

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is seeking volunteers to sit on the Election Compliance Audit Committee.

The Committee must be established before the 2026 municipal election voting day of October 26, 2026.

As the Committee will operate as a quasi-judicial committee, prior experience on a committee, task force or tribunal would be an asset.

Ideally, the Committee’s composition would include individuals with knowledge of the campaign financing rules of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

Applicants must complete a Volunteer Application Form and may include a brief bio and/or resume highlighting relevant experience and qualifications. The application form is available on the Committees of Council section of the Chatham-Kent website https://www.chatham-kent.ca/localgovernment/council/ Pages/Committees-of-Council.aspx or at any Chatham-Kent Municipal Centre.

Volunteer Application Form must be received by 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at any Municipal Centre or email: ckclerk@ chatham-kent.ca or by mail to the Judy Shantz, Clerk, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, 315 King Street West, P.O. Box 640, Chatham ON, N7M 5K8.

The disappearing farmland of Ontario

Our farmers have always been innovative. They have to be. Changing world conditions and rapid advances in technology keeps them finding more efficient and effective ways to manage and expand their farming businesses.

Our farmers are great at managing their own operations, but there are a number of areas which are out of their control.

One is the weather, and every year, farmers are subject to conditions which can have a huge impact on the crops they grow.

Another factor is the price. For many commodities, such as soybeans, corn, wheat and others, crop prices are affected by so many outside influences.

One other factor that worries farmers, and

should worry each one of us, is the rapid loss of farmland due to urban expansion.

There is an ever-increasing demand for land to construct or expand industrial areas, homes, apartments and infrastructure all across Ontario.

There is only so much land we have. Farmers can grow many different crops, but they cannot grow more land.

How much farmland are we losing? Latest estimates from government census numbers show Ontario is losing around 319 acres of farmland every single day.

This is roughly 58 city blocks, or 797 hockey rinks, or nine family farms lost every day in our province.

Over the last 50 years, Ontario has lost 20% of its farmland. This loss is

unsustainable and could mean all Ontario farmland could be gone within 100 years if this trend continues.

We don’t know how many acres we are losing every day in Chatham-Kent and Windsor-Essex, but we are losing too much valuable farmland.

Let’s break this down so we can see what we are really losing.

One acre of land is 43,560 square feet, which is just over the size of 2½ Canadian hockey rinks.

Let’s take one acre of various food crops and products made from those

specific crops. I have determined the average crop yield, per acre for each crop, according to government and commodity statistics.

The figure beside each crop shows us just how much food and food products are also disappearing for every one acre of farmland we lose: tomato and tomato products2,000 pounds; potato and potato products - 20,000 pounds; cucumbers40,000 pounds; corn and corn products - 11,000 pounds; wheat and wheat products - 7,800 pounds; soybeans and soybean products - 3,600 pounds;

carrots - 37,000 pounds; green peas - 2,500 pounds; onions - 38,000 pounds; apples - 15,000 pounds; peaches - 18,000 pounds; strawberries10,000 pounds; pumpkins - 23,000 pounds; Brussels sprouts - 14,000 pounds; asparagus - 7,000 pounds; field peppers - 30,000 pounds; sugar beets70,000 pounds.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

does not make it to our retail stores. This is how much food does not make it to Ontario homes.

For every acre of land we lose, this is also how much food is not harvested.

This is how much food does not get processed.

This is how much food

This loss of productive farmland should greatly concern each one of us. Just some food for thought.

Kim Cooper has been involved in the agribusiness sector for over 45 years. You can reach him at kim.e.cooper@gmail.com

March is Epilespy Awareness Month

There are approximately 300,000 Canadians living with epilepsy, a neurological condition that affects people of all ages. Many people in the region have epilepsy and live full and satisfying lives. Sometimes, however, they need help in terms of support, understanding and education.

Epilepsy Southwestern Ontario (ESWO) strives to provide a network of services that educate, support and build community awareness. They also support the families whose loved ones may have been lost to Sudden

Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).

ESWO is the only non-profit in the area that provides such services to both people living with epilepsy and their families.

Every March, epilepsy community agencies promote Epilepsy Awareness Month through events held in workplaces, schools and community institutions, all celebrating the signature colour of purple.

While Purple Day is March 26, awareness events take place throughout the entire month including the Purple Lights cam-

paign where people illuminate their buildings, windows, etc., with purple to show support.

Epilepsy Awareness Month and is an excellent opportunity to have a discussion about epilepsy, educate the public, and break down the stigma of epilepsy. So, when you see buildings and houses in your community lit with purple lights this March, please give a thought to those who are living with epilepsy. To learn more, contact Epilepsy Southwestern Ontario, your local epilepsy information source.

Looking back ...

The Leamington Post March 17, 1949

Leamington officials expressed disappointment that federal works department estimates did not provide funds for construction of a breakwater to protect the harbour here.

Leamington Little Theatre members have started to develop a workshop in the basement of the former IOOF Temple on Erie Street North.

Work is progressing swiftly on the interior of the new Leamington District Memorial Hospital. The general public has been invited to visit the project this weekend when hospital board members will conduct guided tours of the building.

Tom Baird was elected president of the Leamington Chamber of Commerce at the annual meeting. He succeeds Morgan Brown in the position.

The Leamington Police Commission approved an operating budget of $13,000 for the coming year. Town council approval is expected.

Lewis Wilkinson, first captain of the Point Pelee life saving station, died Saturday at the age of 73. He was credited with saving the lives of many sailors when ships piled up on the shifting sandbars at the tip of the Point.

Clayton Maxwell proposed that a tomato festival be held in Leamington sometime during the summer. The project is being considered by the Chamber of Commerce and town council.

Members of the St. John’s Church Men’s Club will hold a carpetball tournament at their next regular meeting.

Mrs. Tom Dobson was elected president of the Leamington Nurses Association at the annual meeting Friday night.

Grace Kenna scored 16 points as the Leamington high school senior girls basketball team defeated St. Thomas 20-10 to earn the right to enter the WOSSA finals.

The Kingsville Reporter March 15, 1951

A New York advertising agency has just completed arrangements to devote a one-hour program to the memory of the late Jack Miner during National Wild Life Week. The program is being recorded in New York City but will be broadcast from Hamilton, Ontario, over a network of 84 radio stations across Canada.

Brownie Pack No. 1 held a Flying Up Ceremony at the home of Mrs. Ken McCreery on Wednesday evening preceded by a dinner. The following girls

flew from Brownies into Guides: Joan Stewart, Sandra Whiting, Shirley Holbeck and Linda Lee Ellis.

Tom Scott received word that his nephew, Lyle Webb, 25 years, had been wounded in Korea. He enlisted in Vermillion, Alberta, and went overseas with the Princess Pat Regiment.

Kingsville High senior boys basketball team won their way into the first WOSSA tournament on Saturday night when they defeated Riverside High School in a decisive fashion 54-36. Led by their star athlete Doug McCallum who scored 32 of his team’s points, the Kingsville boys played with a vengeance. Building up a commanding 37-13 lead by half-time, the locals were never in serious trouble from then on.

Approximately 850 people attended the minstrel show “Louisianna Hayride” at Memorial Hall on Thursday and Friday evening, put on by the Young Married Couples Club of the Church, under the direction of Miss Marjorie Allen. Gross receipts amounted to $400.

The Wheatley Journal March 1941

The report on the town’s water service, recently commissioned by council, has shown several disturbing aspects. Since the system was installed, several additions have been made without approval. As well, many customer installations have been installed without reporting to council. A metering system was discussed.

A public meeting to discuss plans for conducting a salvage campaign within the village has been called for next week. All types of salvage material that can be turned into material useful to our war effort will be welcomed.

Measles are quite prevalent in the village. A number of school children are confined to their homes with the disease.

A new orchestra under the direction of Lefty Burton will be playing at the Hilltop House every Friday night from now on.

Beverages for every taste are the features at the M&P store this week. Dixie Club coffee is on sale for 36¢, Fry’s pure cocoa sells for 31¢ a pound, and Mother Parker’s orange pekoe tea is offered at 37¢ for a half-pound package.

Mersea council agreed to meet with Leamington council to discuss the continuation of Robson Road from its present end westward to the junction with the town’s road system. The extension will be financed under the Local Improvements Act.

Cedar Beach Drug Store, owned by Red Morris, offered drugs, toiletries, china and souvenirs for sale as well as providing a luncheon menu. Speed boat rides were available from the Cedar Beach Drug Store for 50 cents a ride for summer visitors renting a cabin or for cottagers not owning a boat.

kingsvillearchives@gmail.com

April 1973: Buckingham Real Estate edged Gulliver Insurance 2-1 to win the Midget hockey trophy. At left is captain Ken Dick who scored both goals with coach Randy Critchlow.

March 21, 1989 - Spotters are an important part of any cheering squad stunt and here member Cindy Gayer (back row) handled the job nicely. Other members of this formation were Melissa Robinson, Dilena Inaccio, Angela Mastronardi, Andrea Bastaio, Lisa Poisson, (top) Laurie Gignac and Brenda Micallef.

March 1986 - The combined efforts of the fishing tugs Francesca Madre and the Cindy Lou were not enough to break through the heavy pack ice and into the open water out from the Wheatley harbour on Tuesday morning, but the two tugs make a valiant effort. By nightfall the tugs had made just over a kilometre of that distance. When the fog and strong east winds began to roll in, the Francesca Madre returned to port, but the Cindy Lou’s crew spent that night and the rest of the week aboard the tug, locked in the ice. There is good money to be made this time of year as the demand for fresh fish is greatest during the Lenten season, but the oldtimers claim that a warm rain and a north wind is the ideal thing to free the harbour of ice to allow another fishing season to begin.

Submarine cycling - Ditches rose foot after foot following the Thursday evening rainfall and these young lads wasted no time inventing a new game, “submarine cycling”. If nothing else, it’s a quick way to wash a ten-speed bicycle!

Clippings from the Wheatley Journal, May 1989
A Look at Leamington’s Past courtesy of C. Scott Holland
The boats could be taken through the placid canal or out into the rougher waters of Lake Erie. This photograph of an unidentified family, standing outside the Cedar Beach Drug Store, was taken in the late 1940s or early 1950s.
Clippings from the Wheatley Journal
Photo courtesy of the Kingsville Archives
Leamington’s Past courtesy of the C. Scott Holland Collection
Photo showing SS#16, Gosfield North, Cottam Public School in 1887.

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

Sometime this week you may discover a hidden talent you didn’t know you have, Aries. Embrace this new aspect of your identity and put it to good use.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

This is a time when you might feel grounded and secure, Taurus. Your inner strength will allow you to take a calculated risk that will pay off, either with your finances or relationships.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

You might find that this week a mental fog will lift, leaving you with a crystal-clear vision for the future, Gemini. Start moving toward your goals as soon as possible.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

Your emotional intelligence is your greatest asset right now, Cancer. You help a friend navigate a tricky situation with ease midweek, and by the weekend you’re still going strong.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

Right now your confidence is unshakable, Leo. Use all of your energy to advocate for something you fully believe in. Chances are you will evoke some change as a result.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

Virgo, order brings you joy, which means you may want to tackle transforming your work space into a more detailed operation. This will boost your mood and your performance.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

Romance is a priority right now, Libra. Whether you are single or in a relationship, expect a moment this week when the spark is ignited once more.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

A small change in your routine may lead to a big increase in energy, Scorpio. Try rearranging your schedule to see what works best for you, and then make it a habit.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21

Sagittarius, a dream you had is more attainable than you might think. Take the first step and quickly the path will open up for you. Enlist friends to push you even further along.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Leadership comes naturally to you now, Capricorn. People will be looking to you for guidance this week. Try to deliver it with kindness and no sense of ego.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

Your “Eureka!” moment might come sooner than you would imagine, Aquarius. Pay attention to the details this week and tune your way of thinking toward innovation.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

Nature walks or creative hobbies may nourish your soul this week, Pisces. You might find yourself deeply attuned to the world around you and the beauty you discover.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

MARCH 15 Kellan Lutz, Actor (41)

MARCH 16 - Lauren Graham, Actress (59)

MARCH 17 - Rob Lowe, Actor (62)

MARCH 18 - Adam Levine, Singer (47)

MARCH 19 - Glenn Close, Actress (79)

MARCH 20 - Holly Hunter, Actress (68)

MARCH 21 - TINI, Singer (29)

390 Talbot St. N. Essex 519-776-6447 chrisbabkirk@kenknappford.com

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Flyers take round one, advance to face Collingwood

Despite dropping the first game of their opening round series to the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, the Leamington Flyers ran off four straight wins to eliminate the pesky Sabres four games to one, capping it off with a 5-1 victory Sunday, March 15 at home.

With the series tied 1-1, the Flyers hosted the Sabres for game three of their best-of-seven first round series on Tuesday, March 10. It was a game that didn’t disappoint for its intensity and action which was end-to-end throughout. The same was true for last Thursday’s game five in Buffalo.

Leamington won both games 4-2.

Altiman and teammate Matthew Thomas were acknowledged as west conference players of the month for February prior to the puck drop on Tuesday night, where the Sabres jumped out to quick 1-0 lead just 22 seconds in.

Redemption came at the 11-minute mark when Brendan Cooke tied it up when on a screen shot.

Buffalo regained the lead on a powerplay early in the second and once again the Flyers knotted the contest with Cooke once again bulging the twine.

Joshua Cleary connected with Ethan Walker, whose right lane blast appeared to deflect past Alessi and put the Flyers ahead 3-2 at 5:45.

With 24 seconds left in the game and Alessi pulled for an extra attacker during the final 90 seconds, Brendan Cooke cruised down the right lane with the puck and as he attempted a shot on the vacated Sabres’ net but was hauled down by

a Sabres player. The refs gathered and awarded Cooke an empty-net goal to complete his hattrick.

“I don’t think it was our best game of the three so far,” said head coach Dale Mitchell. “However, we pulled one out and kept home ice advantage. We need to have the energy and pace like we did in game one at home.”

Thursday night at Buffalo, after a scoreless first, the Flyers grabbed a 2-0 second period lead which vanished in the third before some timely shooting propelled the Flyers to a win and a 3-1 series lead.

The Flyers goals were from Spencer Vandenberg, Landon Pickersgill, Reid Hayes and Landon Bernard.

Sunday’s game five at Leamington was a critical one for both squads. Buffalo needed a win to stay alive and the Flyers wanted one to move on to the next series. The Flyers got their wish by posting a 5-1 victory in front of 931 enthusiastic fans.

The Flyers took a convincing 2-0 first period lead and doubled it in the middle frame before the Jr. Sabres broke the shutout bid early in the third.

Leading the way for Leamington was Brayden Degelas who slotted two goals, while Ethan Walker, Joshua Cleary and Adrian Bosev cranked out one apiece.

In the penalty-filled contest, Buffalo took 62 minutes while the Flyers had 52.

Tre Altiman halted 20 of 21 shots, while Buffalo starter Owen Scott saved 37 of 42.

The Flyers now advance to the second round and will face the Collingwood Blues. Dates are undetermined at press time.

LDSS Sports Report on curling

The LDSS Lions curling team wrapped up their season last week after competing in the SWOSSAA curling tournament on Monday, March 9 at Sun Parlour Curling Club. Although the team ultimately fell to Sarnia St. Patrick’s in the competition, the tournament marked the end of what was an impressive and successful season for the Lions.

Throughout the season, the team demonstrated strong skill, determination and teamwork on the ice. Their efforts paid off during the regular season, where the Lions finished first in the league standings with an outstanding 5–1 record. This achievement reflects the determination of the team, making them one of the strongest competitors in the league.

In addition to their regular season success, the Lions also performed exceptionally well at the WECSSAA championships, where they battled hard against Erie Migration and secured second place.

While the SWOSSAA tournament did not end the way the Lions had hoped, the experience provided another opportunity for the team to compete at a high level and represent their school with pride. Facing tough opponents at the regional level requires focus, resilience, and strong teamwork. The Lions consistently displayed these qualities throughout the season. Congratulations to the two graduating seniors who have been important contributors to the team: Carter Thornton and Henry Heaton. Over their time with the team, both athletes have demonstrated leadership, skill and dedication, helping guide the Lions to many memorable moments.

Finishing first in league standings, earning a second-place finish at WECSSAA, and competing at SWOSSAA are all significant achievements. With such a strong season behind them, the Lions have set a high standard for future teams to follow. Great season Lions!

Leamington captain Adrian Bosev (71) turns away after a save by Buffalo goalie Owen Scott as his teammates Vincent Gasquez (2) and Reid Hayes (19) react during the second period of Sunday’s series-clinching game won by the Flyers 5-1.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble

Leamington curler going to his fourth nationals

By Mark Ribble Leamington curler

Dylan Stockton is once again going to the National Curling Championships.

He and his team recently captured the Ontario U20 Men’s title in Kitchener-Waterloo and will represent the province at the upcoming Canadian Under-20 Championships in Sudbury.

Dylan is attending his fourth National tournament and the first one with this particular team.

He is the third for Team MacDougall out of Fergus, alongside skip Evan McDougall, lead Carson Kay and second Evan Medore.

The second-year Human Kinetics student attends the University of Guelph and is looking forward to returning to the national championships in April.

“None of us were there last year, so this will be a good opportunity to represent our province,” he says.

Happy 80 th Birthday Rick Thompson

Dear Friends, you are cordially invited to join us in celebrating Rick Thompson’s 80th birthday. We’re looking forward to seeing you on SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2026 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM @ JOE’S BAR, 6 Talbot St. E., Wheatley Cash Only Bar•Light Lunch

In lieu of gifts, we’d like to suggest you consider a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society at cancer.ca or Heart & Stroke at heartandstroke.ca

Golden Years Mini golf report

There were 72 golfers who played 36 holes of mini golf at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens on Thursday, March12. They recorded an outstanding 123 holes in one.

POSEY

Hello, my name is Posey. I’m a mature, independent lady who loves a calm, quiet home. I enjoy my peace and tranquility, so I’d do best in a home without other pets or rambunctious young children (I love the children, I just need a more calm environment), where I can be your one and only, and get all the love and attention I deserve. I have a little weakness for Temptations treats - give me one, and I might even show off a trick or two! I’m loyal, affectionate on my terms, and love to curl up with the people I trust. If you’re looking for a serene, charming companion to bring calm and joy to your life, I’d be the perfect match.

Leading the way with 6 aces were Tom Hyatt, followed by Andy Orsini and Randy Nash with five; Bill Ward, Jack Bostin and Linda Lavender 4; Larry Hillman, Kathy Bechard, Anne Bonyai, Carol Hylton, David Tonks, Nancy Springthorpe, Keith Hopper, Mary Binder, Greg Broome, Laurie Hylton, Beulah Whines, Bob Tanner and Michelle Koop 3; Richard Metz, Tony Hudvagner, Gisele Lapointe, AnneMarie Wszol, Moe Sweet, Penny McMurphy, Lloyd Symons, Linda Taylor, Debbie Clinton, Linda Chiasson, Theresa Decaluwe, Nick Penzari, Donna Bileti, Ron Fick, Ray Foster, Erle Nash, Jennie Brown, Jamie Arquette

and Gail Turk 2; and Zena Raymond, Joanne Law, Bruce Cooper, Mary Metz, Joel Bostin, Monique Benfield, Grant Raymond, Georgia Skeates, Al Wass, Patty Hopper, Armand Decaluwe, Lois Hudvagner, Jim James, Julia Kos, Bill Mayville, Jackie Cooper, Shran Collins and Bryon Walker 1.

Top score over 18 holes was 34 by Bill Ward, Tom Hyatt and Greg Broome, followed by Debbie Clinton with 35; Tom Hyatt and Randy Nash 36; Jack Bostin, Kathy Bechard, Andy Orsini, Keith Hopper, Randy Nash and Shran Collins 37; Bill Ward, Jack Bostin, Barb Fick, MaryAnn Sherman, Andy Orsini, Julia Kos, Laurie Hylton and Jamie Arquette 38; and Georgia Skeates, Debbie Clinton, Theresa Decaluwe, Laurie Hylton, Erle Nash, Jennie Brown, Jamie Arquette, Bryon Walker and Bob Tanner (2) 39.

Leading the way over 36 holes with 70 was Tom Hyatt, Bill Ward 72, Randy Nash 73, Debbie Clinton 74, Jack Bostin and Andy Orsini 75, Greg Broome 76, Keith Hopper, Laurie Hylton and Jamie Arquette 77, and Bob Tanner 78.

First place was Team 12 (Tom Hyatt, Mary Binder, Theresa Decaluwe, Keith Hopper) with 310. In second place was Team 1 (Bill Ward, Mike Binder, Larry Hillman, Jack Bostin) with 319. Third place went to Team 17 (Bryon Walker, Steve Bonyai, Bob Tanner, Jamie Arquette) with 324. Most Honest Golfers was Team 3 (Mary Metz, Richard Metz, Steve Acott, Bruce Cooper).

Just a reminder that there is no golf March 19. Fun, laughs and also golf will continue on Thursday, March 26 at 10:30 a.m.

Team McDougall will represent Ontario at the upcoming U-20 Canadian National Curling Championship held in Sudbury next month. From left are coach Jordan Thin, skip Evan McDougall, third Dylan Stockton, second Evan Medore and lead Carson Kay.
Photo courtesy of Dylan Stockton

U18 STARS RAMPING UP FOR PROVINCIALS NEXT MONTH

held in the GTA April 10-12. They are among five

TEAM PHOTOS

11-5-5

regular season in 2025-26 and are looking forward to bringing home

• Submit team photos any time during the season

• Be sure to include team name and names of players/coaches

• Jpegs are preferred

• Cell phone photos are fine, please send as large as possible (high resolution)

Send your sports team submissions to

WRITE-UPS

• Send in your game or tournament write-ups by Mondays at 8am

• Please limit your submissions to 150 words

• We recommend having one person responsible for write-ups throughout the season (i.e. team manager or parent)

The U18 Southpoint Stars A team is getting prepped for the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association Provincial finals being
Southpoint Stars teams heading to the provincials. The U18 Stars carried a
record on the
the gold in April. Back row, from left, are Coach Lee Walton, Maelle Dufour, Marina Veselinovic, Stella Barreto, Emmerson Fischer, Mackenna Krushelniski, Aria Pare, Julia Lucic, Avery Allsop, Charlotte Wright, Head Coach Diane Peters. Front row, from left, are Marla Amaral, Ella Chan, Lilah St. Denis, Gracie Copia with Kao Peters, Ryann Walton, Taylor Della Vall , Sierra Johnson, Payton Insley. Photo submitted

Our plan to protect Ontario is speeding up approvals for mines

As Canada stares down economic uncertainty, we’re ready with a plan to protect Ontario. We’re building mines to unlock the critical minerals the world needs.

That’s how we protect Ontario.

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