by Pat Asling
What a week! or, "What's a day without rain!" Too much cloud to even see the Strawberry Moon! Of course, the greenery is loving it, especially the stuff you don't particularly want, things like grass in your flowerbeds and vegetable garden. Even the shrubs and other things, like hostas have grown beyond their boundaries and need trimming (not the hostas of course) but oh, for a few dry days when it isn't 95C in the shade!
I got used to that living in the tropics but I have been out of it now for as long as I was in. The village I lived in in Jamaica was in the foothills of the Blue Mountains and plenty of people lived higher up. I used to laugh when they would come down at night for meetings or choir practice wearing winter jackets and say " what's the matter? It's 70 degrees, it's warm. I soon changed my tune after a few months!
A week with mostly good things happening! Congratulations to Bryan and Andrea Smith and their 17th anniversary. They are doing well with their three kids and jobs. Happy birthday also to Don Wilson, eldest son of Fred and Helen, who for many years farmed the home farm just down the 7th until he and his lovely competent nurse wife decided to retire to the family cottage. After his wife passed away Fred decided to move there with them since it was his place to begin with. I know he is getting the best of care! Best wishes also to my friend, sorority sister and "cousin" Doreen Whitney Johnson. Doreen wasn't born in Uxbridge but grew up there, married Joe Johnson and moved around from there, now in Brooklin, enjoying her children and grandchildren! Double birthday wishes go out to Leaskdale where both Yvonne and Garry Harrison celebrated in the last few days. They keep busy with their little business of supplying edge wood and Yvonne is just patiently waiting until she can get back to climbing mountains again! More birthday greeting go out to Ann Gage, who is known for her musical endeavours around town. It's amazing how many musical groups there have been over the years, and how many there still are, for all age groups! Greetings also to another young cousin, Cindy Barnett who celebrated this week. The family took part in the walk last week to raise funds for a cure for ALS, a very serious disease the caused the death of her father Jack.A very special birthday happened this past Tuesday when Rev. Dr. William Fritz enjoyed his 90th birthday. Bill is still so involved in so many things. He still takes many services at various churches in the area and we were blessed several times. He started and still manages the HandiCapable group that meets each week. He visits shut-in and those hospitalized, something it hard to get people half his age to do. He lives and cares for his lovely wife Joan and keeps in touch with their 6 children, scattered around. He is an inspiration to all of us and we wish him many more years of activity and good health!Of course, there are many young people graduating from one level of education to another. On such is Chandler Ball, who lives just over on the 6th, younger son of David and LeeAnn Ball. He graduated from Durham College, community Integration through Cooperative Education, and now has College English and Math and has been accepted at Fleming College in Peterborough in the Government Business Enterprise Programme! Wow, biggest congratulations Chandler! Congratulations to all those other who moved on up, whether from Jr. kindergarten, high school or university! Never give up!Erin Blackstock is one who never gives up either, in her musical career. Her next tour called "Out of my Area Code" and started in NS., to Belleville, Ottawa, hosted in various breweries, I suppose something along the line of SecondWedge! It was a busy weekend at the Foster with Scott Benson and Susan Sheard playing and singing at the"Friday Night at the Foster" event . This coming Friday the entertainer is David Owen. Suggested donation of $10 at the door. A great big Thank You goes out to Brian O'Sullivan who has organized the entertainers for May and June. Also many thanks to Bob Orav who has manned the door for us during this time! Of course, Saturday saw the presentation of the " Opera on the Solstice" a wonderful mix of the voices of our own Leslie Higgins, Christina Campsall, Ben Done and Suzy Smith at piano. The production was put together by Conrad Boyce and was just one of this man's many accomplishments. All in all over 100 attended the performances and experienced the fantastic sound of beautiful voices (no mikes or any of that) radiating under the dome of the Foster. All proceeds go to Friends of the Foster for upkeep. Sadly, by the time you read this, Conrad and his beautiful accomplished wife Lisa will be settling in at their new home in Wasaga Beach. We will miss them seriously!On Tuesday evening the Horseshoe club met at the Uxbridge Scott Museum. There were 19 present and one new member. The man who started all this celebrated his birthday on Sunday. He was 89! My apologies for not advertising or reporting on the Uxbridge Horticultural Group meeting on Wednesday, the 12th! The Uxbridge Genealogy Group met, in person and zoom, on Thursday night. Members sent in stories they had researched about various ancestors who were not always exemplary citizens. Quite a number of these were enjoyed by the audience. On Tuesday 25th the North Durham Nature Group will meet at the Seniors Centre for their final meeting before September. The topic is about farming from a new perspective. Meeting at 7pm, all welcome, $5 if you are a non-member.
Church Sunday at Zephyr was led by Pastor Gord Shreeve. He had a busy day as he was leading the Missionary Church at 11am and the Sandford Cemetery Decoration service at 2pm. Fortunately it had been decided ahead of time to not hold the service at the cemetery. Zephyr Zion Cemetery decoration is coming up, July 7! Weather will decide where. Next week the service is again at Zephyr with Rev. Wayne Reed leading the service. The following Sunday, July 7 is the inaugural service for our new full time minister (for 6 months), Rev Li Armstrong. Please plan to join with us and welcome her to the congregation. A welcome lunch will be served following the service!