Archive for October, 2009
SAT., OCT. 31/09
EESS FOOTBALL THURSDAY RESULTS:
JUNIOR – EESS 34, St Marys 14
Record: EESS 6-0, first place, end of league play; Host Playoff Nov. 6
TODAY:
-Turn Clocks Back!
-”Cemetery Club” play at Old Town Hall (see yesterday’s details)
-Spitfires Hockey, Host Norwich, 7:30 pm
‘COATS FOR KIDS’ COLLECTION TONITE
Aylmer – (submitted) There is a group of local youth/young adults that are planning a coat drive on Halloween night (this Saturday). We are collecting used coats and jackets for the United Way Coats for Kids campaign, and we are hoping to cover as much of the town as possible. We have a facebook event with more info: Coats for Kids Drive
FRIDAY SPITS HOCKEY: Aylmer 5 Grimsby 2
| - SOG = Aylmer 38-37; Aylmer Record= 3-7-1
Period 1 |
| Aylmer – Mark Pfohl (powerplay) (Travis Schruder, Adam Vandepoele) 0:42 Aylmer – Mark Pfohl (powerplay) (Adam Vandepoele, Travis Schruder) 19:14 |
| Period 2 |
| Aylmer – Sean Mullin (Scott Mugford, Brandon Harbour) 1:45 Aylmer – Mark Pfohl (Travis Schruder, Adam Brisson) 12:41 |
| Period 3 |
| Grimsby – David Mastrandrea (Drew Whalen) 0:59 Aylmer – Cassidy North (Travis Schruder, Mark Pfohl) 5:21 Grimsby – Ryan Roberts (powerplay) (Connor Rilett, Branden Kerr) 14:50
“NEWS VIEWS:“ Perhaps it would be helpful for those anticipating a long wait for the H1N1 shots next Thursday, Friday at the Complex in Aylmer if a local organization could either: 1. Set up chairs (from the Complex?) in the parking lot (or if inclement weather, inside) 2. Set up tables with colouring, activity books for the young children or 3- Provided coffee, cookies.
|
FRIDAY, Oct. 30/09
EESS FOOTBALL RESULTS THURSDAY:
Woodstock – SENIOR: EESS 20 StMarys 14
Touchdowns – Mitch Roloson 2; Field Goals – Brandon Aspden 2; Converts- Aspden 2 Interception – Bud Laur
Record: EESS W 5 L 1, 2nd place to St Joes, (End of league play)
Next Game – Playoff: Host Parkside, Nov. 6
TRAFFIC SIGNS COMING TO AYLMER AMISH COMMUNITY
Aylmer – Malahide Township Council will soon respond to recent concerns about safety on the two main roads going through the Amish community east of town. Due to the shared use of mostly Glencolin and College lines by vehicles and carriages, the township will be installing signs at the major intersections there in order to advise drivers who are entering onto the roads from other areas of the presence of the horse drawn vehicles. As well, according to Rob Johnson, Director of Physical Services for Malahide, due to the fact that a considerable number of children travel to and from Amish schools on or adjacent to the roadway on those roads, Malahide will be installing “pedestrians ahead” signs. They hope to have the signs installed in the next several weeks.
TODAY:
-“Opening Night” for ‘Cemetery Club’ at Old Town Hall Theatre, 8 pm, by Aylmer Community Theatre; $15 for Adults, Phone 773-3372. (Also, on Saturday 8 pm and on Sunday 2 pm )
***”MY BROTHER IS STILL OUT THERE DELIVERING FLYERS FOR ‘AYLMER NEWS’ AND HE GOT A SCARE WHEN HE SPOTTED A SPIDER ON A MAILBOX. YES IT WAS FAKE, BUT IF IT HAD BEEN REAL AND HAD FOLLOWED HIM HOME, IMAGINE THE CALAMITY OF HAVING ‘TWO’ NEW ‘web’ SITES IN TOWN!!… SO PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO YOUR FRIENDS SO I CAN KEEP MY BROTHER OFF THE STREET. WE… ESPECIALLY MY BROTHER… WOULD APPRECIATE IT!!!
ABSENTEEISM INCREASING IN AYLMER SCHOOLS?
ASSUMPTION (Principal Laurie Intven) 1. We appear to be “on the mend” and our numbers are actually improving this week.
2. Every classroom has a hand sanitizer installed for supervised use.
There is a battery powered hand sanitizer as you enter the school for all
visitors. There is a sign on the front door to make people aware of the
sanitizer. Students are provided opportunities to wash hands with soap
and water. There are several boxes of kleenex in each classroom. Items
that are shared ie, musical instruments are sterilized between use, etc.
Hand washing posters and information about H1N1 are posted around the school and information has been sent home to families.
SCHOOLS AND ABSENTEEISM UPDATE:
EESS (Brendon White, Principal)
1.Certainly we have had some staff and students away due to flu like symptoms. Absences are monitored centrally and general information about our absenteeism rate is shared with the local Board of Health. All classes and extra-curricular activities are running as normal.
2.We have taken a number of measures to prevent the spread of the flu. Probably the best resource to look at what we have done within the Board / schools can be found on our website at: http://www.tvdsb.ca/ Just click the H1N1 link on the left. I would suggest viewing our Director’s H1N1 Update video.
ASSUMPTION -ADD:
“Something else we are doing at Assumption (and the LDCSB) is that the
custodians are now putting priority on the “touch points”. Tops of desks,
chairs, telephones, keyboards, door handles and push panels, etc. are a
high priority for cleaning.” – L. Intven
THURS., Oct. 29/09
TODAY:
Aylmer Old Town Hall Library has a Teen Writer’s Workshop with Local Author Kelley Armstrong,” How to get published” from 7-8:30p.m. (Please Register. Submit your story ideas to the on-line writing group www.kelleyarmstrong.com)
SPORTS:
-EESS Girls Basketball: Host CECI
-EESS Football: Travel to St Marys, Woodstock,
READER’S COMMENT: (in response to “Tuesday Diabetes Clinic Opening…” posted October 28/09)
“It is great to see that the diabetes clinic is open. The people that have set this up should be congratulated. It is unfortunate that the people responsible for the flu clinics are not as smart.
I have never seen such an unorganized situation in this country. What happened to the brains of the ones in control of this and do they not see the dire importance of this issue. We could lose a major portion of the population of the world over this pandemic. Why are there not more clinics set up? Why are the clinics not manned 24 hours a day? Why do not all MD’s have the antivirus? The unpreparedness in this issue leaves our government and the minister of health in a shameful position. They knew this was coming months ago. Why is there not a call centre set up large enough to handle all the calls? A half hour wait is too long. Why have they not hired hundreds of people to handle this situation? They should be ashamed. I wonder if the health minister had to wait 2 hours in a line? Every small town and village should have a place, like a town hall, to go to to get a flu shot. Why was this not set up? They say the delay is not getting the needle but getting information down on a computer data network. Get more computers and people to man them. Does this make sense to anyone? We will not have to worry about world hunger in a couple of years because there will be only 2/3 of the people left to feed. (JF Davidson)
QUESTION: “How are Aylmerites adjusting to the Ban on Smoking in Vehicles?”
Editor – The law restricting smoking by drivers and passengers in vehicles with those younger than 16 present took effect in January. Police Deputy-Chief Andre Reymer responded to these questions:)
-Have you issued tickets/ or many warnings yet?
“WE FOLLOWED THE PROVINCIAL MANDATE OF DISCRETIONARY ENFORCEMENT. WE ONLY RAN INTO A SINGLE INCIDENT WITH VISITORS FROM MANITOBA AND POOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS. A WARNING WAS ISSUED AT THAT TIME.
-What is the penalty/Are people being cooperative?
“THE FINE IS $155 FOR SMOKING IN A CAR WITH PERSONS UNDER 16. AS STATED ONLY ONE REPORTED INCIDENT/COMPLAINT ON FILE.”
-What about smoking laws in general-Have you had to be concerned with
laying any charges/warnings with smoking in public places?
“THE PUBLIC PRESSURE TO STOP SMOKING AND THE VIEW OF IT AS A HEALTH & SOCIAL STIGMA HAS REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SMOKING. OFFICERS USUALLY HAVE DISCRETIONARY POWERS AND ENFORCEMENT DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN CHARGES. POLICE INTERACTION & WARNINGS ARE OFTEN AS EFFECTIVE.”
-What about laws involving underage youth and smoking?
“THE LAW PROHIBITS BUYING & SELLING BUT NOT POSSESSING/SMOKING UNDERAGE. ONCE THE KIDS HAVE THEM THEY SMOKE THEM (PROUDLY). THAT ACT OF DEFIANCE IS OFTEN TEMPERED WITH THE ODD CHARGE FOR SMOKING IN PROHIBITED AREAS. THE ELGIN TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT UNIT OFTEN COMES BY EESS AND LOCAL SHOPS TO DO STINGS.”
WED., Oct. 28/09
SUNDAY AYLMER SPITFIRES HOCKEY RESULTS:
-At Chippawa – Chippawa 6 Aylmer 5 (OT); SOG = Aylmer 48 Chip. 31
-Aylmer Scoring: Pfohl (Schruder, Roloson); Mugford (Bornais, Schruder); Mugford (Roloson, Pfohl); Roloson (McTagggart, Bornais); Schruder (Mugford, Vandepoele).
-Next Home Game = Sat., vs. Norwich
TUESDAY DIABETES CLINIC OPENING IN AYLMER
Aylmer - About 35-40 people attended the official opening of the East Elgin Diabetes Centre, located above the Shoppers Drug Mart store yesterday. The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care saw a need for further education opportunities in Elgin County for Diabetes Education in August 2007 and set up two teams, one in West Elgin. Tuesday’s opening was at a more permanent site for the East Elgin team. The programs offered here focus on various aspects of diabetes: Type 1, type 2, gestational and prediabetes. They offer sessions on counseling, in nutrition for diabetes management, diabetes medications, and lifestyle support and classes in carb counting and label reading. They have partnered with VON and their SMART exercise classes to promote activity. Any questions : (office hours are 8 -4) call: 519- 765- 4797.
TUES, Oct. 27/09
BAYHAM BUSINESS EXPO REPORT - by Doug Lester, OVCofC President
Straffordville -The weather smiled on the inaugural Bayham-Elgin Business Expo held in Straffordville on Saturday, October 24. Thirty-Seven exhibitors from Bayham and area displayed their wares and sold products and services to the public. Visitors were delighted to discover a wide range of products and services including recreational activities, truck and farm implements, alpaca clothing, food, spices, beverages, health products, and services from cranes to business support and professional coaching. The exhibitors came together to promote local business and promote entrepreneurial activity in Elgin County. Sponsored by the Elgin Business Resource Centre, the County of Elgin, the Municipality of Bayham, and organized by the Otter Valley Chamber of Commerce this is part of a strategy to raise the profile of local business and to increase networking opportunities between local businesses. There was a steady stream of visitors throughout the afternoon. Visitors were impressed with the quality and variety of the offerings. Although there were over 100 visitors the organizers hope to see more people from the general public next year. Organizers are confident that those who came will share the positive experience with others. For the Otter Valley Chamber of Commerce that has grown to 70 members from a start up in April 2008 this was one more step to providing opportunities for local businesses to connect with each other and to assist them in growing their businesses.
AYLMER POLICE REPORT: “Two Vehicle Accidents Last Week”
Aylmer – On Oct. 20 there was a 3 vehicle accident at ll:30 am on John St. North close to the ValuMart store. A female driver from Vienna was charged with careless driving after her 2000 Pontiac van going north rear-ended a 2002 Dodge pickup driven by James Du-Maresq of Aylmer who then struck a 1993 GMC pickup operated by a St.Thomas woman. The van was demolished and the pickup trucks sustained only minor damage. There were no injuries.
Aylmer – On Oct. 25 at 12:30 pm at the corner of Queen and Sydenham a Central Elgin man driving a 2007 Hyundai was charged with failing to yield after his vehicle going south entered the intersection and struck a Pontiac Sunfire driven by Kimberley Millward of Aylmer. Damage was moderate and there were no injuries.
POLICE/HALLOWE’EN:
-Aylmer Police will be aided by off-duty and auxilliary personnel this weekend in keeping an eye on Hallowe’en activities, which have been relatively quiet in town recently. Police advise they will be charging, rather than warning, those who engage in criminal behaviour.
MON, Oct. 26/09
SATURDAY AYLMER SPITFIRES HOCKEY:
At Aylmer = Dundas 3, Aylmer 1 (Dundas led 2-0 after two periods, Aylmer outshot Dundas 36-34)
Aylmer Goal = Vandepoele (Schruder, Maracle); There were 21 penalties in the third period.
Aylmer Record = W 2 L 7 OL 1; Next Games = Friday at Grimsby; Sat. host Norwich at 7:30
DIABETES CLINIC OFFICIAL OPENING IN AYLMER TUESDAY
West Elgin Community Health Care Centre announces the official opening of the East Elgin Diabetes Centre in Aylmer on October 27, 2009 from 3 to 6 pm. The East Elgin Diabetes Centre is one of two diabetes teams working from the West Elgin Community Health Care Centre. The diabetes team which is made up of a nurse and dietitian was placed in the Aylmer Baptist Church starting in the month of January 2008. With an expanding client base they moved in November 2008 to their current location above Shoppers Drug Mart at 5 John Street South Suite 201. (A Ribbon Cutting ceremony will be held at 4:30 pm. Any questions call 765-4797)
EESS SPORTS REPORT – by Erin McCorkle
Last week the Varsity Girls Field Hockey team ended their season with a TVRAA victory. The team traveled to TD Waterhouse stadium in London where they took on Strathroy. In sudden death overtime Holly Scherer scored a beautiful goal earning the Eagles a 2-0 third place win. Tuesday, the Jr. and Sr. Girls Basketball teams played Central Elgin from St. Thomas, the juniors beat the team 36-18 and the senior girls won 59-35. In a great week of basketball both teams went on to play Parkside. In two strong wins, with a score of 51-32 for the seniors and 54-41 for the juniors, the girls finished off their regular season play and begin playoffs this week. The Junior Boy’s Volleyball team took on West Elgin last week. The boy’s played extremely well against this tough team and took home a 3-0 victory. Last week wrapped up regular season play for Eagles Football. On Tuesday, the junior and senior boy’s teams played College Ave. from Woodstock. The juniors won 55-14 and the seniors defeated the team 44-8. Friday was the last home game under the lights for both football teams. Both Jr. and Sr. teams took on Huron Park. In a blowout victory the Jr. Boy’s defeated Huron Park 34-6. In an exciting game the senior boys ended their season with a 35-4 win. This week the Fall sports teams will begin playoffs. Good luck to all teams!
AYLMER FIRE REPORT: (“Hey, thats a long way to ride on the back of the truck”)
The only fire call last week was Monday evening, a false alarm about a smoke alarm going off, as the Monitoring Agency accidentally notified Aylmer, Ontario instead of Aylmer, Quebec!’
SAT., Oct. 24/09
EESS FRIDAY FOOTBALL RESULTS:
SENIOR: EESS 35 Huron Park 4
EESS touchdowns were by Mitch Roloson with 2, Ian Barrie 2, and Steve
Barton with 1.
Brandon Aspden had 5 points with the conversions.
Defensively Brett Haines recovered a fumble, Scott Walker and Ian Barrie
had one interception each and Ryan Van Liere had several excellent tackles.
Record: East Elgin W-4 L-1 (1st place)
JUNIOR: EESS 34 HuronPark 6 (Record: W -5 L-0)
NEXT GAMES = Oct 29 at St. Marys , Woodstock
READER’s COMMENT:
“Aylmer has no more or no less of a driving while using a cell phone problem than anywhere else. The national average is just that. What some do not realize is that being caught using a device while driving is not difficult to prove if one decides to go to court on the issue. Every cell call is electronically recorded by the service provider. Your phone also holds this information until you erase it from the device. It will be difficult to deny the use of the phone at the time alleged by the police because they can subpoena the usage record from the provider or just seize your phone as evidence and present it in court. Think about this, and why spend money on a denial of guilt if you are caught. Drive carefully.” (J F Davidson)
TODAY:
-Annual fall competition of Elgin Poultry and Pet Stock Association at Aylmer Fairgrounds, 9 am to 3 pm
-Bayham-Elgin Business Expo at Straffordville Community Centre, 1-5 pm, Free admission.
EESS GIRLS BASKETBALL THURSDAY
-JUNIOR = EESS 54 – PCI 41 (Kira Cornelison 21) 6-1 league record
NEXT GAMES: Tuesday at St Joes
TODAY: Hockey, Spits host Dundas, 7:30
FRIDAY, Oct. 23/09
“PATTERN EMERGING FROM ELGIN PIECEMAKER’S WORK!”
Aylmer - Enjoyment and sharing appear to be common themes when the Elgin Piecemakers hold meetings. The group, founded nearly 8 years ago and with a membership of 18 from across Elgin, are holding their first Quilt Show today and tomorrow at Trinity Anglican Church in Aylmer. The Piecemakers, meeting in members’ homes, are dedicated to “the art of quilting and sharing and enjoying our work” said member Denise White. ( She said the group does not constitute a “guild” as they do not have officers or fees.) They are also dedicated to sharing with others – donating funds from the sale of their quilts to various charities, especially breast cancer research. This weekend’s show, 2pm to 8 pm Friday and 10 am to 4 pm Sat., has a $5 admission charge and 113 items on display, with all monies being donated back to the church.
TODAY: Home football games at EESS, 6 pm Jr, 8 pm Sr, vs. Huron Park.
“YOU CAN LEAD A DOWSER TO WATER…AND SOMETIMES EVEN GRAVE SITES!”
PORT BURWELL- This community’s cemetery controversy became the latest project for Otterville dowser Mae Leonard as she visited the village on October 13. Ms. Leonard, a longtime south Oxford resident and former elementary schoolteacher, said she had actually been ‘dowsing’ for water since she was a child – she had learned the skill from her father. She has been involved in “8-10″ dowsings yearly for some time, mostly for friends who couldn’t remember where their septic tanks were located or for those looking to dig wells. She became involved, “by accident”, in ‘grave dowsing’ just a few years ago when the South Norwich Historical Society was looking for graves of African-Americans who had settled near Otterville in the l800s. Believing she can “sense the energies” of both water and human remains, she was successful in her search. Her only other grave search was in Simcoe where she was also successful. (She said she knows only of a few other dowsers in southern Ontario.) At Port Burwell’s site, located just north along the Plank Road to Vienna, there has been a recent dispute about the possible finding of human remains on property which has come into private hands and now has a building on it. The location, which housed an l800s church and the small hamlet of Estherville, has a cairn with many gravestones . Ms. Leonard dowsed the existing cemetery property in March and declared there were 250-300 bodies buried. Bayham Council asked her to dowse again 2 weeks ago to see if she could detect remains betweeen the cairn and the highway to the east, on the private property, but she found nothing. She has submitted a report to Bayham Council for study.
THURS., Oct. 22/09
NEXT UNITED WAY EVENT:
On Monday, Oct 26, UW is partnering with Durkee’s and having a fashion Show and Dinner at Ruby’s. Durkee’s and Styles on Broadway are providing the fashions and Ruby’s is hosting a dinner. Ticket’s can be purchased at Durkees and many of the financial institutions in town.
DOES AYLMER HAVE CELL PHONE/DRIVING PROBLEMS?
(Note- Starting Monday, Ontario will ban the use of handheld wireless devices while driving. Deputy Police Chief Andre Reymer provided the following info)
DCell phones are an issue in all communities. The legislation is labelled
“Distracted Driving” with a focus on electronic handheld devices. People do
a number of distracted actions like eating, shaving,& reading. Accidents in
the past where people admit driving while or were caught on the phone were charged with careless driving. The new distracted driving law can be enforced using a summons
compelling the accused to court. The only reason it’s not being “enforced”
with a standard ticket is that the set fine structure has not been
established yet ($105 is the usual). The province “requests” we stop &
educate. In serious offences we will look at charging with either the new
law or resort back to careless driving ($300 & 6 points).
“IT WOULD SAVE MY BROTHER WALKING AROUND TOWN A SECOND TIME DELIVERING FLYERS (AND WITH MEAGRE PAY!) IF YOU WOULD SEND THIS WEBSITE TO SOME FRIENDS……..WE, esp. my brother,WOULD APPRECIATE IT!”
WED. Oct. 21/09
OF INTEREST:
-St.Thomas – City Council recently passed a bylaw that restricts smoking within 30 m. of playgrounds, splashpads and players’ benches. (T-J)
-Strathroy – Strathroy-Caradoc recently decided to make dog tags free as the municipality assumes the full costs of animal control. (LFPress)
-London – Despite this fall’s H1N1 concern. Thames Valley Public School Board will not place dispensers with alcohol-based sanitizers in classrooms, as the Catholic Board has done, but instead will make 2 dispensers available in every school. (LFPress)
READER’S COMMENT:
“We have a summer place on the Bruce and there is a bulk and regular disposal centre at Sauble Beach that is open to everyone. It is a user pay system and works wonderfully well. What is the matter with paying extra to dispose of extra things. Why should anyone expect to pay for the disposal of items that are unusual or hazardous. We recently disposed of a utility trailer full of just about anything one could imagine and it cost only $27.00. Come on people, pay up and help out your community.” (J.F. Davidson)
TUESDAY EESS FOOTBALL RESULTS: (submitted by Gus Lagrandeur)
(At College Ave, Woodstock)
SR. = EESS 44 CASS 8
-EESS 30 – 0 at halftime.
-Touchdowns scored by Bryce Meertens, Ian Barrie (2), Mitch Roloson, Trent
Lagrandeur, and Anthony Solis. Kicker Brandon Aspden converted all six tds.
-Next Game: Friday October 23rd- Jr. at 6 pm, Sr. at 8 pm at EESS vs. Huron Park
JR= EESS 55 CASS 14
EESS TUESDAY GIRLS’ BASKETBALL RESULTS:
