Zephyr & Sandford News

by Pat Asling

We wanted summer, we got summer, with a vengeance! No time to acclimatize. A couple of rains which evaporated immediately with wind and sun, and dust blowing as if it never happened.

It is good to hear northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan residents are allowed to return to their homes. No word about how much damage there might have been, but one can assume most homes and businesses were saved. After a month away there will be much to do and kids will probably have missed that schooling.

We don't know much because we have been spared these tragedies. There have been fires in northern Ontario as well, but obviously, not as serious. But this is only the first days of summer, so much can still happen.

Gardeners may already be looking for water sources as the rains barely penetrated. The iris, peonies, and various flowering shrubs are all in gorgeous bloom, but the grass gets longer by the day, trying to hide its beauty. It takes a lot of energy, which I don't seem to have these days, to maintain. After the lawn grass grew so lushly with the early rains, there was very little growth when I cut this week but lots of dust.

Many events happened last weekend, including the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society (LMMS) Garden Tour, Zephyr yard sale and barbecue, Leaskdale Loop, Spring Music Fest, etc. Still, I have no reports on successes, which I am sure they all were. Leaskdale Loop days are every second Saturday of the month until October. Most events should have been completed by the time the rain came. Lucy Maud Squad will again host their teas and learning sessions in July. The Zephyr Scott Lions Club and the Community Association will hold a Family Fun Day on August 23rd, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before that, on July 11th, the Lions will host another spaghetti dinner. On June 28th, at Blue Heron Books, there will be a talk about a new book, the hero being a 10-year-old from Uxbridge with a disability who went by dogsled to Sick Children's Hospital on his own. Sponsored by the Uxbridge Scott Historical Society, from 1 to 3 p.m. The book is called "Let's Go, Darby!" Watch for the next lecture at the Quaker School house coming in July.

On Tuesday the seniors went for another bountiful lunch and ended the day with a game of Trivia. There will be no more until October, although there will be an Open House for sign-up, and you can buy your ticket for the October meal. On Thursday evening, the Genealogy group met in person and via Zoom. The speaker talked about how to interpret your DNA results. He was obviously well versed in this skill, and a young man, but most went well over my head. You would have to spend much time deciphering your letters and numbers and be deeply involved. This was the last session for the summer. At the Foster Friday night, the place was filled with a sound I had never heard there before and for which it was uniquely designed. The musicians were 17 singers under the direction of the Jonathan Liebich Choir, associated with New Song Church in Port Perry. This was their first time with us, and I had never heard of them before, but I, and the many others there (almost full house), will not forget. It was like listening to one of those British cathedral choirs, magnificent! I can't wait until they come again and I think even they were amazed at what the building did to their wonderful harmonies. Next week, Erwin Schack will be back with us. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the concert starting at 7:30 p.m.

There are a few ladies with birthdays this week, including my friend and sorority sister, Doreen Whitney Johnson, who lived in Uxbridge many years ago but now resides in Brooklin. Her husband was a distant cousin. Nora Cavers also celebrated and surely John took a picture or two of his lovely wife. The travelling wonder Yvonne Harrison returned from her latest trip in time to celebrate with family at home in Leaskdale. One other birthday, male this time, was for Bob Kirvan on his 90th, held at the Legion on Sunday afternoon. The man has done marvellous things in his life. He continues to contribute in a big way to many community activities. Best wishes to all, and keep on keeping on. One bigger birthday coming up is for Corinne King who I have known since I was five or six. Corinne King married Ted Croxall and moved into the Bethesda Community. Corinne will be 100! It's not often that both spouses live to be over 100 and we are so fortunate to have this lady still with us. Happy anniversary wishes go out to John and Wilma Bakelaar who lived and ran a shoe store in town with her family for several years. Best wishes to Dale and Lorene (Hill) Ashton, who have been married for 45 years. Dale was raised in Uxbridge and is actually a distant cousin. They now live in Keswick, and he works for Miller Waste Systems. Also celebrating an anniversary are Bruce and Shelly Dick, married 40 years. Many years ago, when Bruce's parents lived in Sandford, I was fortunate to have his mother help me with housework.

Church today went to the dogs! What a fun morning. We sang hymns, read scripture about nature in its many forms and learned about the Guide Dog program. We had four doggies to observe and pet. We had a mother dog whose job is to produce more beautiful smart pups and three puppies, all well under a year old. We learned about how they are fostered by volunteers to a certain age and then given over for training. We also learned it is not only blind people who now benefit from these lovely animals but also people with illnesses such as diabetes and those needing a therapy animal. A big thanks to Nicky Slovitt of Uxbridge, who organized the morning for us, and her friends who came from further afield to be with us. Our final song was "All God's Creatures Have a Place in the Choir." Look it up with Celtic Fire (I think that's right); you will enjoy it! Next week we expect Rev Li back with a service celebrating 100 years of the United Church of Canada. The service starts at 10 a.m., and all are welcome. I have been informed this week at a council meeting Rev. William Fritz will be given the Citizens of the Year Award. At over 90 he still is going strong and deserves every accolade he gets. He is still taking services regularly, started and continues the Friends Group and many other activities. Carry on, Bill!