Zephyr & Sandford News

by Pat Asling

Well, this is a very short week since Monday was the Thanksgiving holiday, and this is being written on Thursday evening! I hope everyone has recovered from all the Thanksgiving eating! There are beautiful colours in the trees just now, but a lot of trees have not started losing many of their leaves yet, so looking at a large bush is very satisfying with the various colours. We know it is autumn, though. Even when the sun shines brightly during the day, the cold moves in as soon as the sun sets, and I hate cold weather! I find it difficult to work if cold, but that’s maybe just another excuse!

Rev. Li took the church service on Sunday, and Adele Boy will lead on the 19th. As I mentioned last week, we will be holding a belated Anniversary service for the combined congregation on November 23rd. It’s a month later than we have been celebrating our histories, but we hope it is meaningful and invite all our friends, former members, and attendees to join with us. The service will be at 11 a.m. for this day only, with food and fellowship to follow.

Our sympathies to Cathy Ellig on the passing of her brother-in-law, husband of her sister Anne. They live at a distance, so Cathy spent some nights with her sister. Brother Bill and Barb were only able to be there for the funeral. Happy 38th anniversary to Suzi (Hilts) and husband Mark Stanley. Suzi and her brothers grew up on the family farm just outside of Sandford! Happy 14th anniversary to Andrea and Kevin Ariel. You may know Andrea from when she was a travel agent in town, and her parents, Cheryl and Irwin Hinzel.

The Zephyr Community Association has been able to raise enough money to be able to purchase a movie projector, by which they hope to have movie nights during the winter! Congrats on that effort! Things on the east half of Brock Street will soon be changing, but one of the first was that Circle K was closed, and the Golan family has opened for business in the bottom section of what was the old Chances Are building. It looks bright and cheery inside! Best wishes for success!

There was a bigger-than-usual in-person attendance at the 25th Anniversary party of the Uxbridge Genealogy Group. Following cake and coffee, the meeting proceeded! It was a lovely evening of remembrances for most. John McCain and Linda Boyd managed the agenda. Linda showed a number of photos from the past activities. Several members had brought family heirlooms to show, and there was a great variety of items from loomed bed covers from the 1860s, a top hat owned by one of the early Goulds, ladies' pocket watches, photos of early ancestors, and much more. Since this was the first time in quite a while I had attended in person, it was great to see many of them again! One of those was Gordon Dick! Unfortunately, another special meeting was taking place at the same time, that of the Kinsmen induction service at the Senior Centre. Those inducted included Allan McGillivray, of whom special mention was made at the Genealogy meeting, as he had been quite involved over the years and often gave talks about various historical aspects of the area! Also inducted was Ray Newton, a figure of importance at Uxbridge High School and other sporting activities in town. Norm Clement was also mentioned for his racing activities, but more particularly for his founding of the Jennifer Ashley Foundation (I think there is a slightly different name now). Also mentioned was the 1967 Uxbridge High School Curling Rink Champs and Brad May, also included for his athletics contribution.

On Wednesday, October 22nd, at the Uxbridge-Scott Museum, Walter Campbell will be giving a talk. Walter is a well-known painter, especially of older style beautiful houses, and a local musician. While searching for houses to paint, he acquired a lot of interesting historical information. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the meeting at 7 p.m. Other coming events are the Community Care lunch at Douglas Crossing on October 28th, and that same evening, North Durham Nature will meet, 7 p.m. at the Senior Centre, with the topic being a very different one than usual. Last month there was a very large attendance, and it is hoped the same will happen this month! The Lucy Maud Montgomery Conference will be October 25th and 26th at the historic Leaskdale church, which is presently undergoing a number of reconstruction projects! Soon there will be a much bigger parking lot too, a much-needed addition! Jazz at Leaskdale is back on Friday, November 7th, 7:30 p.m. with Tom Baker, James Warburton, and Doug Ferris. Lots to keep you busy and even more.