by Faye Ashton The month of August has crept up on us as we were looking backward. We have experienced some very warm July days, but with the beauty of the rain which fell, our lawns and garden have survived very well. Don’t talk to me about the Japanese beetles, which are here by the thousands, and I pick twice a day. I sure hope you’re not plagued with them. I am wishing Birthday, Anniversary and any celebration you’re having this month the best of times shared with the one

BRANDON CLARK The Standard SCUGOG: Due to current weather conditions and an increased risk of fire, the Township of Scugog has implemented a municipal-wide burn ban, effective immediately. The burn ban will remain in effect until conditions improve. Residents will be notified when the ban is lifted. There is zero tolerance for open-air burning, during a burn ban. Under Part 4 – Enforcement and Penalties of the Township's Open-Air Burning By-law 32-18, anyone found burning, d

by Faye Ashton Summer has lived up to its name, hot and even hotter this week, as predicted. We will take it in stride because before long, the cold and snow will change our complaints. Our family had a lovely visit with our brother Jerry’s daughter, Jill Asling and Danny Monk from Lethbridge on Thursday. Although they have many relatives in this area, Danny has a good job to go back to there. Our community is excited to wish a very special Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmot

by Faye Ashton June left us very hot! Our July first celebrations were disrupted in the late afternoon by very strong winds and a downpour. Our hydro stayed on, but many surrounding areas were left without hydro for some time until trees and large branches were removed. Well, this heat really did make things grow, and the weeds in my garden took advantage of the ideal weather too. Again, Gremlins got the dates wrong in last week's news. It should have been Tuesday the 30th an

by Faye Ashton The June full moon (flower) on Tuesday the 29th will light up the evening sky, adding greater brightness to our Canada Day fireworks celebration on July 1st. This week is predicted to be quite warm, giving the corn an extra jump to be all knee-high by the first of July. As I think of Epsom Church celebrating 155 years, we know the public school also has 1876 as its birth year. So many young lives have been challenged to go out into the world, become excellent w

by Faye Ashton It’s Sunday, June 21st, the longest day of the year. It was beautiful, minus the strong winds we have experienced lately, sunshine and no prediction of rain even. The farmers went full tilt with three clear days without rain. Hope it holds a bit longer. There are many graduation ceremonies as students of all ages move on to the next class or higher education. Nothing can top little 4-year-olds moving from pre-school to junior kindergarten, so small, so excited

by Faye Ashton I hope your gardens received some much-needed rain, which fell first on Thursday and again on Sunday. This farm was working into the night on Saturday to get the cut hay baled and wrapped, and the haylage into the silo before the predicted rain on Sunday. So is the life of all farm families because the weather plays such an important role in our livelihood. As we look back 50 years on June 13th, we think of the tremendous help we received when lightning hit our

by Faye Ashton What a beautiful first week of June with a bit of rain on Friday evening to help the plants from gaging. It was hard to believe our lawn started to look dry even after all the Spring rains. I must apologize, the next blue moon is not December 2026 but December 31st, 2028. A very beautiful and delicious bridal luncheon in honour of Brooklyn Kerry’s September marriage was held at Aunt Donna Kerry Ireland’s home, on Washburn Island, with Brooklyn’s sister Hayden h

by Faye Ashton I hope you didn’t miss the second full moon this month, called the “blue moon” Saturday/Sunday night. We will not experience this phenomenal event again until December 2026. So many songs were created because of a blue moon. Remember the decoration service at the Breadalbane Presbyterian Church, in Utica, on Sunday, June 7th, at 2:30 p.m., with Rev. Rob Kennedy, minister and Beth Willis as pianist. The decoration service for the Kendall and Hillman Cemeteries a

by Faye Ashton Last week it was the extreme heat. This weekend, we tried to survive the gale-force winds and rain, which brought down many new leaves, branches, and even whole trees, before it slowly crept away, leaving a soggy Sunday with highs of only 14-15 degrees. The Bethesda-Reach Women’s Institute are inviting you to an evening with author Barbara Dickson with her book entitled Bomb Girls: Trading Aprons for Ammo, which explores women’s roles in World War 2. It takes p

By Faye Ashton My wish is that all Mothers had an extra special Mother's Day this past weekend. Time brings our families to all places around the world, and what a treasure to talk to children, grandchildren and nieces who don’t just live next door but bring them to us by email, messenger and phone. So special. Our thoughts are with a former neighbour, Marie Wilson, who fell recently and broke her hip and is now in Uxbridge Cottage Hospital for rehab and to Dorothy Munro, who

by Faye Ashton I hope you didn’t miss the full moon (flower) these last few evenings, but if you did, May 31st, a blue moon will be back to shine even brighter. With this full moon, we had to endure minus temperatures and even snowflakes so large on Saturday morning it took us back a few months. There's always a blessing with these cooler temperatures as we watch the spring flowers last so much longer. The daffodils with their bright yellow colours are an array of lasting bea

by Faye Ashton April fools day has come and gone before I realized it was the April full moon (pink) on that very day. Most days have been cloudy, windy, and wet, except for the most beautiful and warm Good Friday. As most friends who attended the Good Friday Breakfast know, it was warmer on the steps than in the church. Thank you to everyone who didn’t complain about the situation we found ourselves in and came to support the Canadian Foodgrains Bank Breakfast and fellowship

by Faye Ashton It feels like Spring just to see the snowdrops blooming. We may have to make believe for a while, but this winter, which seemed like it wasn’t going to end, will soon be over. The ground needs to warm up slowly. Our community was saddened to hear that Clifford Boyington passed away recently. Clifford attended Epsom Public School and Uxbridge Secondary School. Many of his classmates will remember him and his family when they lived on the 8th concession. Please j

By Faye Ashton The end of March is approaching, and Spring temperatures are still eluding us. It will take a while for the snow piles in our area to melt. At this time in 2012, Rob’s records show he had the fields worked. What a difference a few years make. Please plan to attend the potluck breakfast to support the Canadian Foodgrains Bank Project at Epsom United Church on Good Friday. Come for a visitation at 9 a.m., with breakfast at 9:30 a.m. This year is Epsom United Chur

by Faye Ashton It’s hard to prepare oneself for what to wear the next day with the quick ups and downs this weather system takes. Certainly not conducive to the sap run. Having lost most of the snow this past week, except for what has been piled, we are back to a good amount of snow again. Doesn’t everything look nice and clean again? Come and enjoy a potluck breakfast in support of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank Project at Epsom Church on Good Friday. April 3rd, 9 a.m. for vis

by Faye Ashton First I must apologize. I don’t know whose calendar I was checking, but the proper date for the Breakfast in support of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank Project at Epsom Church, Good Friday, is April 3rd at 9:30 a.m. Please keep this date on your calendar and plan to attend. We have been made aware of the desperate need for aid in areas around the world. Sending all March birthdays and anniversaries warm congratulations for a year full of blessings and lasting memo

by Faye Ashton The bright sunshine on the first day of meteorological Spring (March 1st) helped defray the -11 daytime temperature, and it sank to -21 in the evening. I don't seem to recall the temperature with such wide swings as we’ve seen this year. We have not seen the height of the snowbanks along our road in many years, quite something. Watch on Facebook, Otter Greenhouse is rolling out their new baby plants to hang from the rafters. What a delight. The Ontario County H

by Faye Ashton Did you extend your winter vocation just to have a bit more warmth? We are really experiencing a “real old fashioned”winter. With this weeks continuing snowfall and very cold over night weather, looks like the last week of February will gives us more of the same. It’s hard to believe that on March 3 rd it’s full moon (Worm) time again". With the passing of Pancake Tuesday and Ash Wednesday last week we know it will soon be Easter (April 1) and possibly warmer

by Faye Ashton The brightness of this February 1st full moon, named the Snowy moon or Hungry moon by the native people, illuminates the very white, snow-covered earth. This makes Groundhog Day on the 2nd very hard for Mr. Groundhog to avoid seeing his shadow if he were up in the early hours of the morning. Of course, that means six more weeks of winter weather, but we’ve managed so far. Just a piece of cake. I do think of the many road-weary travellers as I watch the traffic