The end of February; can it be already? And liturgically, we entered the Easter Season this past Sunday. It seems like we were just observing Christmas! Can Spring be far behind? Many people (me) are getting eager to start planting seeds. However, sanity says it is still way too early for that.
Happy birthday to Harry Paisley. The Paisley family used to live north on the 6th, and father George, among other things, sold skidoos and that kind of equipment. The boys decided to raise a large herd of goats, even transporting milk to Peterborough for a time for processing and sale. Now Harry is following in his father's footsteps selling Kubota in Sunderland.
Happy birthday also to Janet Clark, sister to Brad and wife to Steve Smith and best friend to Louise Weir Oris. Happy birthday also to Joannie Sine of Zephyr. Joanie retired several years ago but is always busy, especially babysitting her grandchildren, which she enjoys tremendously. Happy birthday, ladies!
Birthday greeting also to my friend and sorority sister Laurie Bond. Laurie is well known in town from the years she worked with Shirley Baster. Laurie also enjoys growing plants and spent several seasons helping out at Richters.
Best wishes also to Kevin Smalley, son of Stan and Amy, destined for great things as always.
Special birthday greetings go to Henry (Hank) Webster. I think Hank actually grew up in Reach (Scugog) Township but gravitated to Uxbridge, just over the border. It isn't that long ago it seems that he actually retired from Williamson after eons of service. He is married to Donna and has reached the age of 92 and still going strong.
Our deepest sympathies got out to the Wilson family just down the road in the passing of wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Helen nee Ball. Sons Don (wife nurse Heather) Murray, daughter Rose (Neil Evans), Cathy (Jim Phoenix) and Lori (Richard Robinson) and all their children and grandchildren. Fred and Helen lived on the farm until Don married, then built a house closer to the road where they lived along with Murray and his family. Fairly recently, they had moved to Westshore in Port Perry. They have been my neighbour for almost 60 years, and I think I probably knew Fred at least before that.
Although I never really knew her, Joanne Pinquet was a name well known for her work with the hospital and Chances Are etc. She passed away very recently and will undoubtedly be missed in all those spaces she filled so well. Another well-known lady who passed away was Norma O'Connor. Norma and her husband Bill lived on First Avenue, not far from Trinity United Church, for many years and raised their family there. Bill worked at St. John's School, and Norma was a frequent hostess for staff get-togethers, a lovely lady indeed. According to the obituary, she would have been 103; if so, a miraculous age!
Best wishes also to Doris Armstrong of Epsom, who has entered into Hospice care. Doris has lived probably 80 years in Epsom, but the Gourlie family originated around Uxbridge before she met my cousin Roland Armstrong, whose mother Minnie was my grandmother's sister. Her son Tom tells me she is getting excellent care in Oak Ridges Hospice of Durham, located in Port Perry.
The Udora Leaskdale Lions have once more donated a significant sum of money, this time to the Uxbridge Loaves and Fishes, in the amount of $1000. It will be greatly appreciated as they report the number of people using the Food Bank has doubled this past year.
Last Tuesday, the Seniors' group once more met for a delicious lunch prepared by Mary's Country Kitchen at the Uxbridge Seniors Centre. The speaker for the afternoon was The Mad Accountant (our friend Eve-lyn Swan works for him), and he highlighted some of the exemptions seniors could claim on the income tax form. Looking spry and well after his own big day was Ted Croxall, who got a free meal ticket for his 100th birthday!
We attended the Pancake Supper at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church that same evening. There seemed to be a good crowd and people enjoying themselves to start Lent. Strangely enough, it was an evening when I was introduced to a new relative, one who has been in Uxbridge for many years, too, but I never knew. Quite the evening!
Church this week was at Sandford United Church with Rev. Dr. Bill Fritz leading in Communion. Ruth Baker, accompanied by granddaughter Alyna on her violin, supplied the lovely music. It has been a while since we saw Alyna, and she has only gotten better. Next week we move again to Zephyr United Church for the month, with Rev. Wayne Reed leading the service. Please join with us at 10 a.m. A new Church Directory will soon be distributed.
Our thoughts are turning to events happening in spring. Many ads are showing up for activities for kids during the winter break. Such a great variety of events to keep them happy. It was finally settled that the Farmer's Market would be held at Second Wedge even though their building would not likely be completed by that time. Tindall's Farm Market will, of course, be open within a couple of months. The Leaskdale Loop will likely be soon underway as well.
The Friday at the Foster series will begin in May this year, but in April, plans are underway for a special presentation coordinated by Conrad Boyce. This was intended for last year, but things got in the way. And don't forget this Friday, March 3rd, the last of the series, Jazz at the Leaskdale Heritage Church, will take place at 7:30 p.m.
And for animal lovers, please note that a low-cost Spay and Neuter Program is being set up with the office in Port Perry, and funds are being raised to get things going. It will be called SNIP!