Zephyr & Sandford News

by Pat Asling

For many folk, the news of the week was the weather, which affected much of North America! Of course, along with other things Canada got the blame for, that came out of the Arctic, a location much in the news lately for other political reasons. Thankfully, we are more used to this cold than many of the parts of the US to our south. The only thing hot there is the politics, which leaves me colder! I must apologize for no news last week due to a computer glitch. I wrote it, I thought I sent it, but it never arrived. By the time I found it, the issue had gone to print. However, you may find much of it on the paper's internet channel!

A few weeks ago, I contacted Ryan Locke to ask for some personal information, as he had just completed a beautiful, large chainsaw carving of swans that now stand in front of Uxbridge Town Hall! The swans, of course, are now the sweethearts of our town, so it was a wonderful choice of subject. Ryan was born and raised in Zephyr 29 years ago, where his parents still live, and his grandparents once owned Zephyr Peat. He has two older brothers and is married. His father and a brother had both dabbled in chainsaw carving, but it wasn’t until his wife gave him one for his birthday in 2021 that he took it seriously. His first carving was a bear, which still stands outside his garage and reminds him how far he has come in honing his craft.

He has had several other commissions around town, one a seven-foot-tall heron which resides at Barton Farms. The one I like is at the Our Uxbridge Scott Historical Museum, where a tree in front of the schoolhouse was dangerously leaning and had to be removed. However, about a six-foot section remained, and on it Ryan carved a stack of books. The day of its unveiling was quite moving. There is also an earlier piece, which stands to the south of the yard. Stop and take a look next time you go by.

He has completed many on-site projects in Durham Region and Kawartha Lakes. A couple of years ago, Whitby Town commissioned him to craft a massive bee carving in front of the Whitby Courthouse Theatre. The time required to complete a project varies considerably with the size and complexity of the subject. I can hardly imagine carving feathers, facial features, book pages, and wielding a chainsaw. Other subjects are standard wildlife carvings. When not working on a commission, like many artists, especially those working in wood, Ryan says, he looks at a log and studies it, and after a bit, it will tell him what it wants to be! My dad was a carver too, but never with a chainsaw; that was for winter firewood. Ryan has reached a level of proficiency enviable and admired. But there is always that bear in front of his garage keeping him in line. Best wishes for continued success.

Congratulations this week go to Pastor/Councillor Gord Shreeve on his birthday. With a wife who cooks and bakes as she does, I am sure he had a great party. Congratulations also to the Leppard family. John and Jackie are proud first-time grandparents to grandson Cory, born January 24th, weighing 7 lb, 7 oz., son of Coalton and Natholie.