Zephyr & Sandford News

by Pat Asling

August! Is it possible? Half of 2025 is gone already. There has been a great diversity of weather over the last few mornings, with some feeling distinctly like autumn, and then super hot days before that. The smoke from forest fires hundreds of miles away is turning our blue skies gray. We are fortunate, of course, that those fires are not near us, but we feel for those hundreds of people evacuated, who could lose their homes and businesses, even their lives in some instances.

There are several celebrations this week. Congratulations to Emily MacDonald, daughter of Tish and Mike, who married Jamie Elder at the family cottage on July 26th. Happy birthday wishes went out to Dr. Vince Winder, one of our long-time professionals. I remember going to him as a teenager! Best wishes also to my friend Dianne Bennett of Zephyr. Like me, Dianne loves cats and flowers. She served as long-time treasurer at Zephyr United Church before its closure. All best wishes to Walter Campbell, who paints those beautiful pictures of old-style homes. I love the calendars he used to produce. He has recently taken up music and will be one of the performers at “Art in the Park” again.

As you probably heard, new tennis and pickleball courts have been established at the Fields of Uxbridge. My friend Anne Irvine has been elected president of the Pickleball Club of Uxbridge. Congratulations! Birthday wishes also to Betty Cogdale-Wessel. Betty is a niece of our beloved Harry Stemp and, as such, is somewhat of a cousin to me. A special birthday greeting goes out to our own Norma Scott, who is 90! Norma is more agile than all the rest of us, younger than her, and aside from a bug that got her a few months ago, is always on the go. With a daughter and four sons, she led an active life and has always been active in Sandford United Church activities, in some capacity. We wish her, and all the others, many more good and healthy years.

Zephyr Scott Lions will be having a spaghetti supper on August 16th for Members of the Uxbridge Lions, their artists, and volunteers for Art in the Park. The cost is $10 rather than the usual $15. Contact them to reserve a ticket. They also collect pop tabs, hearing aids, milk bags, and eyeglasses.

This Thursday night at the Uxbridge Scott Museum, a Herb Harvest will take place at 6 p.m. There will be a talk about the use, preservation, and growing of various herbs, followed by a time when you can cut some from the garden for your own use. On Saturday, the 9th, there will be another Leaskdale Loop. Check the Website for places and times to visit. On August 13th, at the Historic Church in Leaskdale, Dr. Vi Tu Bahn will discuss his book, which recounts his family's journey to Canada. Call for tickets for tea and talk!