ZEPHYR & SANDFORD by Pat Asling

This Sunday is the second in Advent, the week of Peace. As usual, Carol O’Neil had a couple of apt quotes as the prelude to her message. We have been seeing first hand what the love of power can do to a country. The world could certainly use a lot more love in this stressful, leading up to the season whose very reason for being is love. Talking peace rather than war would go a long way to allowing that love to happen. “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” Jimi Hendrix.

“Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than how you think it should be.” Wayne Dyer.

All the services I listened to on Sunday used the passage about John the Baptist as the one paving the way for Jesus’s arrival, the Advent. It seems many people are getting in the Christmas mode very early this year, trying to brighten up our circumstances in many ways.

Campbell Drive residents have taken to floating Santas who not only change the look of the street but bring money into the coffers of Loaves and Fishes.

Fantasy of Lights opened Saturday night with what I can only think would have been a record crowd, as cars were lined up from the entrance on Elgin Park drive up to and onto Brock Street. Many probably gave up and decided to come another night. It’s on until January 2nd, so there is lots of time to see the wonders.

One longstanding tradition is the lighting at the McKnight Farm. This has been happening for many, many, years. Roger, Margaret and their family invite anyone to drive up their lane and turn in the yard and out again, all the time enjoying the wonderful light set up. They live at 11299 Concession 6, north of Sandford Road. Lights are on from 5 to 12 p.m. every night.

There is another activity, a sort of competition to everyone to dress up their home, tell the organizers about it and they will list it for a everyone to see and plan a route of light-seeing. Go to facebook or any of the local newspapers.

Leslie Barr Joosten came to Uxbridge with her mother many years ago and made a name for herself with her vocation and her flute playing. She married here and had four children. After spending a number of years in the Netherlands, she remarried this past week, to fellow musician Campbell Forbes, in a quiet ceremony, at their home a little further north. Congratulations Les and Camp!

Tim Henshaw has been a well known figure on all the farms around, as a reproduction veterinarian for 20 years. I often read about these visits but never met him. This past week he announced his retirement, something he told me he never realized would be so hard! The many positive comments from his clientele were testimony to how well he was liked in the area.

Happy birthday to another special lady on December 3rd, Audrey Kester! Audrey now lives in a senior’s residence in Newmarket. For many years she and husband Ron lived in Zephyr and farmed, while Ron also served as treasurer for the town. A special greeting goes out to her from longtime friend Shirley Hewlett and granddaughter Katie, and from all her Sandford Zephyr friends.

Also celebrating was Caroline McGillivray, who no doubt is missing her grandchildren. But I liked what she said one day about going outside and seeing “a fiddler on the roof” in the person of her daughter!

Jenny Blackstock, one of the three Blackstock sisters, also was wished a happy birthday. The three often sang together with grandmother Mary at the piano. However, only Erin makes a living at it now. She is also making some lovely string art these days, if you would like a special gift.

Like so many things this year, the Salvation Army Kettle had to be cancelled. Bev had made all the COVID safe arrangements, but it was deemed better to forgo it this year. This does not mean the need is less, in fact it is even greater, so please make a donation to our local Salvation Army.

Friends of Leo Doodchenko will be saddened to learn of his passing. He lived with wife Joan, well-known in her own right, at Douglas Crossing since June 2019, when Joan took ill. Left to mourn his passing is wife Joan, their daughter Kathy Cheung, son Stephen and daughter in-law Sherry. He is predeased by his son Michael. Leo and Sherry lived in Sandford. Leo was a knowledgeable mechanic and involved in many Uxbridge organizations.

I recently read some good news for our North. The community of Pikangikum was set up with high speed internet. Something that will hopefully transform, this community in a good way. All this the result of one mans determination! School, medicine, courts etc are all now available without having to travel hundreds of miles!

#zephyrnews