Archive for April, 2010
FRIDAY, April 30/10
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AYLMER TODAY:
-(Sat. = Springfield Lions Hall Final Event Dinner, 7 pm)
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OBITS:
-Violet Stanat; of Tillsonburg; aged 78 years; on April 29; Survivors include: daughter Susan Garner (Rudy) of Straffordville; son Alex (Diana) Stanat of St.Thomas; Visitation at Ostranders, Tillsonburg Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 pm; Funeral Monday at 11 am at St Marys Catholic Church, Tillsonburg.
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EESS SOCCER THURSDAY:
BOYS = At StJoes; EESS O , StJoes O
GIRLS – At St Joes; EESS 4 StJoes O
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“SPRINGFIELD LIONS HALL FINAL EVENT ‘ALL SOLD OUT’”
(Information provided by Kelly Pearson, a co-organizer)
“Since we first found out that the Hall would be torn down and replaced, the Lioness wanted give the community a chance to say goodbye to the hall, and have been tossing around ideas on different celebrations. As well, the Lion, Lioness & Leos wanted a chance to say THANKS to our community for their support over the past 50 years. This Saturday’s event “The Last Community Night in the Springfield Lions Community Hall” came from a former resident of Springfield who put the idea into our heads to try one more Community Night like the Lions used to hold annually. We only found out a little over a month ago that the end of April was the deadline, so this has been a very hurried organizational endeavour!! I am pleased to say we are sold out – 225 tickets! We have also received tremendous support from area businesses that have donated door prizes. The evening will start out (7 pm) with a roast beef dinner – served country style like they used to do, and the dessert is pies – just like the old days! (and no, the Lions & Lioness are not cooking – we had to hire a caterer – sorry we can’t do it all). A slide show will run continually throughout the evening – there are over 400 pictures of events and happenings (it takes about 50 minutes to watch the entire show!). We are still looking for pictures of events at the hall. (I am really hoping to find pictures from the way the hall was back in the ‘60’s). Also, we have asked a few past Citizen of the Year recipients to speak briefly about the hall and the community. If time allows we want to open it up for the audience to reminisce.”
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“PINECROFT TO HOST MUSIC SERIES”
Aylmer – Pinecroft Pottery will soon host their first Summer Music Series. Entertainers include: Denise Pelley on the afternoon on June 26, Terry Sumsion Trio on the afternoon of July 25th, and the Dixie Flyers on the afternoon of August 14, As well a local group, The Jammin in the Cabin Gang, will perform at all three shows. The events are being held outside on a stage built last year. Information can be found at www.pinecroft.ca . As well a fundraiser for the ‘ Children of the Sudan’ will be held on May 22nd at 2pm at the Jammin in the Cabin Stage. Entertainers will be various members of the Cabin Gang and special guest Denise Pelley will also perform.
According to Paul Smith, Pinecroft owner, the core members of the Jammin in the Cabin Gang are Mark Minor, Tom Kalman, Doug Summers, Jayson Youcke, and Paul Smith. They will usually add 4 or 5 other members from the cabin when they do a show. These members will vary
depending on the show and schedules. They have 45 musicians on their email list that all live within a 50 mile radius of Aylmer, and will get 12 to 14 out on Saturday and Sunday at their Jams. Any of the series shows producing a profit allow them to enhance the music program at Pinecroft. They just purchased most of the required sound equipment to run their stage from proceeds of last years performances. (The Jammin Band is actually booked for several performances at the International Plowing Match in Elgin in September)”
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THURSDAY, April 29/10
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AYLMER TODAY:
-(Sat. – Springfield Lions Hall – Final Evening)
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OBITS:
-Leslie Toth; of R.2 Aylmer; on April 28; in his 89th year; husband of Isabel; Visitation at Kebbel Funeral Home Friday 2-4 and 7-9 pm; Funeral Saturday at Kebbels at 11 am.
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EESS BOYS SOCCER TUESDAY:
EESS 5 Glencoe 0 (Austin Hepburn had 3 goals and Craig Irvine 2. Branden Aspden and Stefan Cornelissen shared the shutout)
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EESS BOYS RUGBY WEDNESDAY:
WCI 33 EESS 5
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“’ELGIN’S GOT TALENT’ COMPETITION””
(Information submitted by Katherine Thompson, Elgin County Economic Dev.)
On September 21st-25th Elgin County will be hosting the 2010 International Plowing Match! This five day event will draw more than 100,000 visitors! As part of this historic event Elgin will be showcasing our community talents on our “Creative Community” stage, located within the County Exhibit. On the final day of the event the County of Elgin will be hosting the first ever Elgin’s Got Talent competition!
Submit your videos for a chance to win! Video Submission is from April 1st – May 21st. Voting is from June 1st- July 30th 2010 The top three in voting will perform at the International Plowing Match for a chance to win $1 000, and the Elgin’s Got Talent trophy! For complete competition rules and regulations please call (519) 631-1460 ex. 168 or find us on Facebook – Elgin’s Got Talent
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“AYLMER COMMUNITY THEATRE PRESENTS ‘ MURDERED TO DEATH’ ”
Dates are: Thurs-Sat May 6-8 8:00pm, Sun May 9 Matinee 2:00pm, Thurs-Sat May 13-15 8:00pm.
At the Aylmer Old Town Hall Theatre. Tickets $15 adult $10 students. Tickets available from The Prime Ingredient, Campbells Book Supplies, Aylmer Video, or tickets@aylmertheatre.ca (Info: (519) 773-3372).
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WEDNESDAY, April 28/10
(polls)
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AYLMER TODAY:
-EESS hosts WCI in Boys Rugby
-Bayham Council Budget Meeting, 7 pm
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OBITS:
-Vera Mayers; of Tillsonburg; on April 27; aged 76 years; Survivors include: sister Dorothy Marlatt of Aylmer. A graveside service will be held Friday at 1 pm at Springfield Cemetery. Arrangements are through Ostranders Funeral Home, Tillsonburg.
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“EESS GRAD IS A NEW DOCTOR IN TILLSONBURG”
(Dr. Tammy Hainer began her medical practice at the Tillsonburg Medical Centre at the Town Centre Mall in Tillsonburg on April 5. Dr. Hainer is a native of Pt. Burwell and a 2001 graduate of EESS. She provided this information for TheAylmerNews.)
“I just finished my Family Medicine Residency through the Northern Ontario School of Medicine at the North Bay site on April 4th. I graduated in Medicine from McMaster University in Hamilton in 2007 and with a Bachelor of Health Sciences from The University of Western Ontario in 2004. I went to Port Burwell Public School grades JK to 6, then Straffordville Public for grades 7 and 8. My parents are Tom and Gloria Wilson of Port Burwell, and I have a grandmother, Lois Krug, who lives in Aylmer. I am married to Murray Hainer, and we have a very active toddler named Marcus who will be 2 in July. We recently moved back to the Aylmer area from North Bay.
I am practicing Family Medicine, and I am also working at the ER in Tillsonburg and will be caring for my own patients should they be admitted to the Tillsonburg hospital. I am accepting patients, people just need to call the Tillsonburg Medical Centre and set up an appointment”
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“AYLMER AUTHOR NOMINATED FOR CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE”
(Source: CBC News) – ‘The Awakening’, a supernatural thriller by Kelley Armstrong, of Aylmer, was one of five books nominated yesterday for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards. There are two annual awards, each with a $6,000 first prize, for picture books and for young adult novels. The nominees in both categories were announced by the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Foundation and the Ruth Schwartz Foundation. The winners will be chosen by two juries of young readers from Huttonville Public School in Brampton, Ont., and announced on May 26.
The Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards are funded by the Ruth Schwartz Foundation. The Ruth Schwartz Children’s Book Awards were established by Sylvia Schwartz to honour the memory of her sister, Ruth, a prominent bookseller in Toronto. In 2004, their family renamed the awards to honour both sisters. Two awards are presented annually, one for picture books and one for young adult/middle readers.
“I don’t think we sustained an lot of damage last week. Dick was up for a few hours and sprayed all the blooming peach and plum trees with water to protect the blossom from the frost. The only damage there may be some russeting on the plums. Time will tell.”
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EESS GIRLS SOCCER TUESDAY:
EESS 2, Glencoe 1 (Goals: Holly Scherer, Averi Nooren)
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“FIREARMS SEIZED IN BAYHAM” (From the Elgin OPP)
“Elgin County OPP along with the OPP’s Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau – Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant at a Henry St. address in Corinth, Bayham Township on the 27th of April. As a result police seized the following weapons:
- Ruger Model 10 Bolt action rifle.
- Two (2) Remington 870 12 gauge shotguns.
- Enfield 1861 muzzle loader shotgun
- J Manton and Co Multi Barrel Rifle.
- During the search the police also located and seized a quantity of ammunitition.
Arrested and charged is a 17 year old male youth. The youth is charged with;
- Two counts of Trafficking in a firearm, Weapon, Device or ammunition contrary to section 99 of the Criminal Code.
- One count of Possession of Firearm, Weapon, Device or Ammunition for the Purpose of Trafficking contrary to section 100 of the Criminal Code.
- One count of Unsafe Storage contrary to section 86(2) of the Criminal Code.
The youth is currently being held in custody pending a show cause (bail) hearing scheduled for Friday the 30th of April, 2010.”
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“LOCAL COUNCILS BRIEFS:”
Bayham Township has a new treasurer; Dennis Duguay has replaced Suzanna Mantel who has taken a position in Southwold.
TUESDAY, April 27/10
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AYLMER TODAY:
-EESS hosts Glencoe in Boys Soccer (Saxonia) and Girls Soccer (EESS)
-Elgin County Council, 9 am
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“THE PHARMACY GENERIC DRUG CUTS ISSUE IN AYLMER”
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(This information was provided by John Bajc, pharmacist at Hills Pharmacy, relating to Ontario’s recent decision to ban payouts of professional allowances from generic drug makers and replace it with a fund to pay directly to pharmacies.)
1-How will this change affect your type of pharmacy?
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“The loss of nearly $200,000 from every drug store annually due to the banning of professional allowances from generic companies cannot go unnoticed – services will be cut – delivery charges – wait times increased – higher dispensing fees, possible staff cuts or potentially store closures,
charging for phone renewals of prescriptions, shortened hours of operation. Hills Pharmacy’s business is health and prescription based something we pride ourselves in doing – we dontt have the front shop to subsidize our back end (perfumes, groceries etc) – independants have more to lose than big box and chains do. The Ontario government set up these allowances and we reported them bi-annually to them – fully transparent. To take that amount of money out of the system will impact the most vulnerable – seniors and those with chronic med requirements.”
2-Ontario stats show there’s a big price difference between what we pay and what is paid for generic drugs elsewhere – your response?
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“Generic drugs do cost more in Canada than in other parts of the world – we do agree on that – but to slash the price of these drugs to 25% of brand and remove the professional allowances as well leaves a serious underfunding to a community pharmacy. It is interesting that name brand pharmaceuticals ( which make up 62% of drugsales) are not impacted at all by this legislation. Name brand drugs are way more expensive in the USA than Canada as well. Pharmacies have used professional allowances and markups on generic drugs to help offset the shortfall in the dispensing fee paid by the provincial drug plan – the difference is about $7 per prescription. The higher prices and allowances permitted on the private payer side have also subsidized that system.”
3-Isn’t this new fund of direct payment a good idea?
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“How is this related to payment for professional services? What pharmacy owners are telling us is that with the changes the government is implementing, there may not be time for pharmacists to provide those services, especially new services that will entail more one-on-one patient/pharmacist interaction. We have advocated for direct payment on current services that are not funded – phone consultations, working with home care providers to ensure medications are properly managed, refusal to fill, delivery to shut-ins, running clinics, training patients to use devices such as asthma inhalers and blood pressure machines, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals to name a few.”
4-What is the solution?
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“We have been the leading advocate in the province for the passage of Bill 179 andthe introduction of new services like chronic disease management, extending and adapting prescriptions, ordering lab tests, immunization, and initiating specific prescriptions; however, we have always underscored the need for transition time and a sustainable business model to ensure success. We know the development and definition of protocols and systems changes will take time. The government has not indicated how they will reimburse pharmacists for these new roles. To take so much money from the pharmacies without a new reimbursement model in place at the same time is disastrous to the health care system.”
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“MAN ASSAULTS POLICE ……….FROM JAIL CELL!”
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Aylmer – Police were called to the Central Hotel at 1:45 Sunday morning to deal with a 29-year old Aylmer male causing a disturbance. Police then charged him with three counts of breach of recognizance and one count of failing to comply with a court order – he was to have abstained from being at a place serving alcohol and was on house curfew other than being at work -resulting from an earlier impaired driving conviction. Once in custody he kicked at the doors of the cruiser and after being placed in a cell he called a police officer over and spat in his face. He was then charged with assault.
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AYLMER POLICE NEWS:
-Police were called to EESS Thursday after school after a 16-year old Aylmer male student was accosted on his bike by a 17-year old Aylmer male as he left school property. The victim was thrown off his bike and punched several times in the head and had his backpack ripped and then the assailant fled. Police later charged the suspect at his South St. East residence with assault and mischief.
-In court, a 17-year old Aylmer youth was found guilty of marijuana possession resulting from a March 29 vehicle search and he received probation and 50 hours community service.
-A bicycle was stolen from a South St. East driveway last Monday after supper but Police caught and charged the thief – a 14-year old male on Melanie Drive.
-A 50-year old Aylmer female on John St. reported her unlocked car has been entered and some change taken last Monday morning.
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“INCREASED SPAM THROUGH AMTELECOM?”
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(EDITOR: I, and some others, had noticed an increase in ‘spam’ in Amtelecom email since early February. This is a response from Lindsay Bartlett, Amtelecom Marketing Coordinator.)
“Spam email is a nuisance for all email users. At Amtelecom we monitor all incoming messages to reduce the amount of spam reaching our customers inboxes. Unfortunately, as you are aware, it isn’t possible to stop all unwanted messages from reaching the recipient. While our software blocks the vast majority of spam messages from being sent some unwanted messages still get through as malicious spammers are constantly looking for ways to bypass spam filtering techniques. The challenge with anti-spam software is how to effectively block unwanted messages in a way that will not affect clean email. We chose the software currently used based on its effectiveness and low false positive rate. No spam filtering system can guarantee a 100% success rate without false positives and with that, some spam messages will get through the system, but it also decreases the occurrence of a legitimate email being blocked which would be a larger inconvenience for many customers. In response to your concern over the amount of spam being received recently increasing, we have made some adjustments over the past week to the rules governing the blocking of spam in our system which we expect will reduce the amount reaching your inbox. Additionally, in the coming months new software is anticipated to launch which will further enhance our efforts.
In order to help us reduce the number of spam messages reaching our customers in boxes we encourage customers to forward spam received to spam@amtelecom.net. This helps our software identify spam messages and block them in the future. At Amtelecom we would like to remind customers that we, along with many other businesses, will not request personal information including identification, passwords or account information through email. We suggest that you do not respond to any requests for personal information made by email and if in doubt contact the business directly. Additionally, while Amtelecom does provide mail filtering, customers should also be performing mail scans on their workstations. Most anti-virus software, free or paid for, will have built in tools for protection against malicious emails that make their way through, further protecting your computer and personal information.”
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“EESS SPORTS REPORT……….by allie walker”
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“This past Thursday the varsity girls soccer team played three games in the local Aylmer tournament. The first game they won 2-1 against Medway. The second game they played against Oakridge. They lost 2-1. The third and final game they won against Woodstock Collegiate, 3-0. Their first league game will be this Tuesday against Glencoe. On Friday the varsity boys soccer team played in the local tournament as well. The first game they played was against Petrolia. The boys won 2-0. Next they played against Oakridge. The boys won again, 1-0. The third game they played was against Chatham. The score was 2-0, giving them another win. The final game was against UCC. They tied 0-0, therefore winning the entire tournament.”
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COMMENT ON MONDAY’s ‘AYLMER MUSE’ ON LINE-UP AT SERVICE ONTARIO IN AYLMER:
“I have not been to the new Service Ontario office at the MNR building, but I have had 3 people in the past week come into the Community Living Elgin/Ontario Early Years Centre space… thinking that they are at the new Licensing office!” (Carolyn)
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MONDAY, April 26/10
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"REALLY BIG APPLE FOR SALE!" (see Friday's story)
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AYLMER TODAY:
-(Tuesday: EESS Soccer Home Openers = Both boys and girls teams host Glendale.)
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“BAYHAM GRASS FIRE”
- “On Wednesday April 21, 7:14pm ,Station #2 was dispatched and responded to Ottergate Line for a reported grass fire. Station #2 responded with a Pumper, Tanker and 16 Personnel. The fire was originally a controlled burn, however it was left unattended and was soon out of control. Bayham Station #2 firefighters remained on the scene until 8:30pm. The Bayham Fire Department would like to remind everyone that all fires must be supervised at all times and that persons wishing to have an open air burn must obtain a valid burn permit issued by the Municipality of Bayham.”
“As well on April 19, 2010 firefighters from Station #1 participated in a live-fire training scenario. Officers and firefighters responded to a ‘training’ structure fire with simulated exposures including a large propane tank. The purpose of the training scenario was to provide firefighters with hands on training and practice core firefighting skills and procedures.”
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MALAHIDE FIRE CALLS LAST WEEK:
- 3:09 p.m. – April 20, 2010 – Station # 4 – 6413 Pigram Line, Medical Assist
– 3:18 p.m. – April 21, 2010 – Station # 1 – 50081 Calton Line, Medical Assist
– 8:30 a.m. – April 23, 2010 – Station # 2 – 49920 Dingle Street, Hydro Transformer
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“The Aylmer Muse”
“…..Friday afternoon I went to the new Service Ontario outlet in the Ministry of Natural Resources building, and even though the attendant was very apologetic and efficient, there was only one employee on duty and I waited, with 13 others at times, for 45 minutes before I could purchase a Used Car Sales kit!…..” (Any similar experiences there?)
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“AYLMER POLICE ISSUE WARRANT FOR DOMESTIC DISPUTE ASSAILANT”
-Aylmer Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of 31-year old male from the Nova Scotia line in Malahide township after an assault on a woman early Saturday morning at a South St. East residence in Aylmer. After an argument in which the 28-year old victim, from the Plank Road in Bayham, tried to leave, the accused grabbed her and threw her down, tried to choke her, and banged her head on the floor – causing considerable bruising. The male is being charged with assault and a breach of probation.
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OBITS:
-Alice Mary (Bradford) Brown; of Aylmer; on April 26; wife of Robert; in her 70th year; Visitation at Kebbel Funeral Home Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 pm; Funeral Thursday at Kebbels at 1 pm.
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SATURDAY, April 24/10
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EESS hosted a 24-team pre-season Boys’ Soccer Tourney Friday at the 3 local soccer fields. This is action from Norwich (sorry, I promised!) vs. Stratford
This is an interview with one of the organizers of the Aylmer and East Elgin Home and Garden Show which began yesterday
AYLMER TODAY:
-Friday-Sunday =Aylmer and East Elgin Home and Garden Show, Fairgrounds; Sat= 11am-9pm; Sun: 12-6 pm
-Elgin-St.Thomas Business Expo at St. Annes Centre, St.Thomas = 11 am-5 pm
-Tim Hortons Trout Derby begins at Springwater
-Steak BBQ at Aylmer Legion; 6 pm; $10
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THE SURVEY SAYS: This week’s question showed 41 have signed organ donor cards; 30 haven’t.
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“MAN DIES FROM ACCIDENT INJURIES ON CULLODEN ROAD”
(From Oxford OPP) An Elgin County man who was involved in a two vehicle collision on the Culloden Line in South-West Oxford Township on April 15th 2010 has passed away. Philip EATOCK age: 56 died at the London Health Sciences Centre in London as a result of his injuries. At 3:45 pm, Thursday, a northbound 2005 Pontiac van and a southbound 1997 Stake Truck collided head-on, north of the Hamlet of Verschoyle (Mt Elgin Road). After the collision, both vehicles ended up in the east ditch. The SWOT Fire Department, Mt Elgin Station, attended and had to extricate the 56 year old van driver, Philip EATOCK of Elgin County. The driver of the stake truck, Grajales LPEZ age: 31 of London has non-life threatening injuries.
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“TREE REMOVAL/SEWER PROJECT ON FOURTH AVE.”
(This info was provided by Rod Tapp, Director of Operations for Aylmer)
“23 trees were slated for removal and have been removed….. if the property owner wanted the wood, they were to make arrangements with the contractor, Zap’s Tree Service; otherwise the contractor makes provisions for all removals etc. ….. all trees will be replaced 1 for 1 as per Town’s Tree Replacement Policy. The tree planting will take place during the construction period or may be postponed until the fall, depending upon the weather etc. ….. the project began on Wednesday with the removal of the trees, the utility companies, Erie Thames and Amtelecom are to follow next week with the relocation of their services immediately followed by the main contractor, Haggerty Construction coming in and starting the works…… all construction works are scheduled to be completed by the end of July. ”
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"History of Aylmer to 1900" ($5, Used) On sale at Aylmer Library/ Campbells.
FRIDAY, April 23/10
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Aylmer Library held a Drop-In Social Thursday afternoon -refreshments, brief speeches - to say thanks to numerous volunteers who have assisted library functions.
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AYLMER TODAY:
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-Friday-Sunday =Aylmer and East Elgin Home and Garden Show, Fairgrounds; Friday 3 pm-9 pm
-P.D. Day for public/separate schools
-(Sat: – Elgin-St.Thomas Business Expo at St. Annes Centre, St.Thomas = 11 am-5 pm)
-(Sat: Tim Hortons Trout Derby begins at Springwater)
-(Sat: Steak BBQ at Aylmer Legion; 6 pm; $10)
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“ROKEBYS SELLING APPLE ORCHARDS”
Aylmer - Mike and Linda Rokeby are selling their Apple Orchard north of town after 53 years at that location. Linda said: “It’s time, we just want to retire, spend more time with our family and travel a little.” Mike and his father purchased the orchard to expand their Tillsonburg farm in 1957 from the Hamilton family. At that time the property also included a 55-acre orchard across the sideroad which was eventually sold. Mike built the present house on the site. They originally had 40 acres of apples at this orchard but now only 19 acres are used for apples. They have no fulltime employees but usually have peaked with around 10 part-time, mostly local employees in the late summer. Linda said coincidentally one of Mike’s first customers, a woman from London who came regularly but who only wanted a certain variety of apple, recently passed away.
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THURSDAY, April 22/10
Work began on cutting down trees on Fourth Ave. yesterday in preparation for the sewer project on that street.
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AYLMER TODAY:
-EARTH DAY! – Aylmer BIA Sponsoring Pop Can/Newspaper DropOff at Bandshell Park
-(Friday= P.A. Day for Public/Separate Schools)
-(Friday-Sunday: Aylmer and East Elgin Home and Garden Show at Fairgrounds
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“NEW TIRE SHOP ON JOHN ST. NORTH”
Arrowtire is a new business on John St. North in the former NorthEnd Auto building.
(INFO PROVIDED BY MARK WILSON, SHOP OWNER ):
“Arrow Tire is a full service automotive shop, 2 licensed technicians, Goodyear/Dunlop/Kelly tire dealer, vehicle detailing, etc. Aylmer has a void in the auto service market that is available mainly in the larger centres. Not necessarily in technical ability but as a franchise feel that caters to clients with an attentiveness and ‘urgency’ to service their needs. We are excited to establish ourselves as a well priced tire/mechanical
boutique which caters to our clients. Arrow Tire has a retro franchise look to its logo as well as the showroom/waiting room.
Over the last 20+ years, I have gone from franchise Goodyear owner to industry consultant with clients including Goodyear, BMW, Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, to name a few. I have had contractual services with many groups and am currently with Mister Transmission, AAMCO Transmission, Active Green and Ross, and looking to finalize some others by the end of April.”
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Aylmer BIA has this trailer available at the Bandshell today for pop can and newspaper dropoffs as part of Earth Day participation. (Click)
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WEDNESDAY, April 21/10
(polls)
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AYLMER TODAY:
-(Aylmer and East Elgin Home and Garden Show; April 23-25; Aylmer Fairgrounds)
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“BAYHAM COUNCIL LAYS EGG ON COMMITTEE PROPOSAL FOR BACKYARD CHICKENS!”
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(Matt Redsell of Pt Burwell, representing the Bayham Natural garden and Animal control Committee made a presentation to Bayham Council last Thursdsay outlining the committee’s promotion to keep backyard chickens in the township. Council later opposed the suggestion.)
Mr. Redsell’s Partial Report:
“On the animal control bylaw the committee decided to concentrate on the chickens since backyard chickens has been growing in popularity in
Canada and the United states with many cities now allowing backyard chickens including those close to home such as Niagara Falls and
Tillsonburg. We simply could not find any good reason to not allow backyard chickens. Backyard chickens coupled with gardens can assure us of food security which is becoming more of an issue for all of us as job losses continue and much healthier food is possible if we grow it ourselves. We also found that there is no substance to the myth that chickens attract rats anymore than feeding birds do. Any research quickly reveals
that for backyard chickens this is not the case although mice and rats will appear when much large flocks are not cared for properly. Another concern was property values which could not be considered as dogs, cats, squirrels and birds do not have any affect of property values and property values certainly took a back seat to food security. After a discussion the committee decided to recommend allowing 10 chickens although there was some who strongly preferred 20 since there are many large families in the Bayham municipality and again food security was of utmost importance as many of our citizens are without work and rely on government assistance. It was also noted that Niagara Falls allows 10 chickens so we settled on that number as it had proven manageable. Kyle (Kruger, Bayham Administrator) started the meeting off with a few words about the recommendations -his only concern was the enforcement but felt that staff could identify those areas and make changes. Of concern was that agricultural landwhich in this proposed bylaw was exempt and could keep exotic animals. Even the issue of multiple charges was questionable for enforcement. Kyle did explain that the bylaw was aligned with the successful Niagara Falls bylaw.”
Mayor Lynn Acre added:
“The Chicken issue, I think, is based on personal feelings, that agricultural animals don’t belong within villages, plus my Deputy Mayor was concerned that chicken coops in backyards may detract from our tourism efforts.”
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“WINGATE EXPANSION AT PT. BRUCE?”
-At Thursday’s Council meeting, Malahide referred plans for an expansion of Wingate Lodge, on the west side of Pt. Bruce, for further staff study. Gord Bryant, Wingate spokesperson, provided further information to TheAylmerNews:
“Wingate has been in existence 60 years…..Most owners are from the London and St.Thomas area…..There are 25 cottages…..It is run by a corporation, residents own their own cottages and lease the land back from the association…..There are six cottages presently at risk at falling over the cliff in the distant future…..We bought the land east of the flatland some 15 years ago…..We are asking for an official plan amendment to declare this property ‘seasonal residential’…..But we don’t see building on this site in the immediate future.”
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COUNCIL BRIEFS:
-Elgin County Council recently approved a 4.5% increase for this year’s budget; an average of $52 extra on a property assessed at $200,000, citing the loss of $1 million in Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund grants as a key factor.
-Aylmer Council rejected a suggestion by citizen Bill Murch that a reserve fund be established presently for future library expansion.
-Town Clerk Nancie Irving reported that no one from the public made a presentation during Monday’s Public Input meeting on the Aylmer Budget.
TUESDAY, April 20/10
(polls)
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About 950 EESS students gathered at 11 am today on the athletic field for pictures from above - from a plane and a fire truck bucket - as part of a 'green campaign' to promote organ donation.
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AYLMER TODAY:
-Spring Yardwaste Pickup all week (see town website)`
-EESS Organ Donor Picture, 11 am
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AYLMER POLICE REPORT:
-A cellphone was reported stolen by a 19-year old female student at EESS last week.
-A 40 year old Aylmer woman was charged by Police last week under the Dog Owners Liability Act as a result of the dog biting incident in Lions Park last month.
-In court, a 38 year old Malahide male was found guilty of public mischief and fined $400 and given 12 months probation and 30 hours community work after he drove another friend’s vehicle in December and sideswiped a light standard in town and then lied to police, saying he had been struck by another car.
-In court, a St.Thomas woman was given 90 days in jail (and credit for 9 days served pre-trial) concurrently for two counts of theft under $5000, four counts of failing to comply with a probation order and driving under suspension – all charges stemming from an attempted theft from the Aylmer LCBO last month.
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“BAYHAM PILGRIMS SPEAK AT COUNCIL AGAIN LAST THURSDAY”
Honor Wassing, a representative for the Bayham Pilgrims concerned about the Estherville cemetery, spoke briefly at the beginning of last Thursday’s Bayham Council meeting. Their new concern:
“We know there are stones from Estherville on the Glen Erie Line and our notes tell us that council was going to talk to the county to make sure they are retrieved and returned to Estherville when bank stabilization begins on the creek this Spring.”
Bayham Mayor Lynn Acre had this response for ‘TheAylmerNews’:
“There appear to be 3 stone bases ( not the actual gravestone, but the base that fits beneath it with the surname printed on it.) but there could be many more. We’ve heard stories from former residents who said they remembers seeing “hundreds” along the slope. Don’t know how many for sure. We researched the cost of retrieving the the 3 visible ones, but the cost was prohibitive, since we have to be careful of the unstable slope conditions, get permissions and insurance to go onto private property, avoid hydro wires on the edge of slope etc. Therefore we decided that we
would wait until the County of Elgin began their scheduled “slope stabilization” works, and do the retrievals then. The County currently has the RFP out for contractors to bid on. That will determine when they can begin.”
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THE LATE! SATURDAY S(C)EREAL – ” INTERVIEW: MONA HILL OF AYLMER”
Mona Hill, currently a resident at Brookside Manor, has been a resident of Aylmer since 1924.
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Mona Hill was born near Owen Sound in 1921 but moved to Aylmer when she was 3 years old and has lived here since. She lived with her husband Godfrey and three children in a home they built in 1950 on Elm Street (before the Elm St. bridge was constructed) – nearly 60 years in the same residence.
1-Early Years – Her family, the Farrells, (she had one sister), moved to Aylmer so her father could become the town’s first Superintendent of Rural Hydro. They lived on Talbot St. East, across the street from Dr. McNiece (whose son Dave was interviewed a few weeks ago). When the new Aylmer High School was being built in 1938 students had to attend school in a Hat Factory on Myrtle Street – she said she didn’t enjoy those accomodations at all. She was the class Valedictorian when she graduated. She had worked in the summers and Saturdays while in high school at Pettits 5 and 10 Cents store (present Shoppers Drug Mart)
2-Later Years – She attended the University of Western Ontario in Secretarial Science. She then returned to Aylmer and worked fulltime at Pettits store. She met Godfrey at Trinity Anglican Church in Aylmer – his family lived in Tillsonburg – where she taught Sunday School for many years and he was later Sunday School Superintendent. Godfrey and his brother John moved to Aylmer to buy the present pharmacy eventually.
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“PT. BURWELL FIRE LAST TUESDAY NIGHT”
(Info provided by FireChief Gord Roesch)
“-Bayham Station #1 – Port Burwell had a trailer fire on Lakeshore Line Tuesday April 13th. A 911 call was received @ 22:31 and Station #1 and Station #2 were dispatched. Station #1 responded with three apparatus and 15 firefighters. Station #2 assisted with two apparatus and 16 firefighters. Elgin County OPP were on scene and assisted the fire department. The cause of the fire is unknown, however it is suspicious in nature. ”
