by Pat Asling
Autumn is definitely in the air, with morning temperatures dipping into low single digits. That’s ok as long as no frost is involved, as my dahlias are in full bloom and loaded with buds, as are my begonias, many of which I hope to eventually bring into the house. But not yet, Please! Many maple trees are changing colour, seems to be mostly red so far. Surprising how beautiful they look against a storm darkened sky and a little sun! Not much yellow or orange yet but leaves are falling.
The geese are practicing their flying techniques and the redwings are flocking up around the pond. And the juncos are back. These little black and white birds are not colourful but cheerful, and I love to see them arrive!
This past weekend was supposed to be one in which to get a good view of northern lights but once again the night sky has been overcast and I have not seen any photos. Hopefully, by the week of the 17th, it will be clear for the Hunter moon, the fourth and final and biggest super moon of the year!
There were not many celebrations I knew about this week, but there were two I missed last week. They are Ruth Baker, our present church pianist, who declares she isn’t very talented but every week she demonstrates that she is, and Jean Scott Sopel. Jean is another of the kids I saw grow up. She has worked for many years at the Court in Newmarket and for many years has been our church Treasurer, along with other things she is always on hand to help with! Congratulations also to Heather Missent Wilson, supernurse, retired. Heather and Don lived down the road until a couple of years ago but now live in their former cottage and have time to take wonderful holidays! A huge belated birthday wishes to Jim Campbell who celebrated his 90th birthday. Although no longer going to the office that bears his name he keeps his hand in many of the community organizations he has been involved in over the years!
Congratulations go out to Geoff Carpentier and Kim Lendvay on their anniversary. Geoff writes a fantastic newsletter for North Durham Nature with a wealth of information. Of course, he travels a lot too, being the super tour guide he is and Kim gets to go sometimes! Happy first anniversary to Gerritt Herrema and his wife Sarah who are busy helping running the family farm and raising a future farmer, we hope.
Congratulations to Lee Ann Ball who has recently retired after 31 years as a nurse at Humber River Health Hospital. I would say, after all the happened in the last several years, that is a remarkable record of persistence. Enjoy your new found freedom!A big congratulations, and thanks too, to Tindalls Family Market! This week, they were presented with the Harvest Hero Award from the Daily Bread Foodbank for donating 320,000 lbs. of food for a total of 1.2 million meals served to date! How wonderful is that!
Congratulations also to the Celebrity Classics Hockey Game, which raised $500k for building our local hospital. Congrats also to our local firefighters and the Historical Society/Museum on the unveiling of the statue Saturday at the fire hall. There was a parade of bands and various organizations, new and old fire fighting equipment, a lot of speeches, and hopefully, more awareness of how our firefighters serve the Township!
A number of people from the area attended the ploughing match at Lindsay Fair Grounds. I did wonder how they could plough there but Bruce Smith informed that people were transported several miles away for the actual ploughing. Bruce and Tanis were there, along with the Green Tractors display. I was pleased to see that a young cousin of mine by marriage, Camille Black Ryall, was one of the judges of Queen of the Furrow. There were quite a number of ladies participating. The winner came from Bruce County! Camille was once one of those.
This past week, the Uxbridge Scott Historical Society met after a hiatus of a couple of years. There were about 25 in attendance. A “new” executive was chosen, with Lisha Van again as president, Gloria Eng as Treasurer, and three to four new directors. It was decided to stagger terms to allow newcomers to become more familiar with the group and its aims etc. Hopefully, new activities will be forthcoming. Events lately have been the result of museum staff. I have already been told the speaker program will be resumed in May. As a reminder, horseshoe pitching games continue at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays as long as the weather is good!
On Wednesday, October 9th, the Uxbridge Horticultural Group will meet at the Seniors Centre as usual. The speaker for the evening will be our own Carol Ditomaso, speaking on a subject in which she is well versed. Carol has a beautiful garden of her own and was/is responsible for the garden at the Leaskdale Historical Church. Memberships are available for $20. The Uxbridge Genealogy Group will meet at the library at 7 p.m. on October 17th. The topic of the speaker concerns “Dating and Caring first Old Photos”! Membership is $25. A zoom meeting will be available to view this meeting if you are already a member. North Durham Nature Group will meet this month at the Uxbridge Seniors Centre at 7 p.m., October 22nd. The speaker is Michaela Cooper, an Ontario Parks biologist who will be telling us about the Queen Elizabeth 2 Wildlands Provincial Park ( did you even know it existed?) Come out and learn about this “new” park. Some sad news from North Durham Nature (NDN) is that the nest boxes at La Farge pit are being removed. Some of them have been there for many years, providing nest sites for tree swallows, bluebirds and other small nesters. This is a result of bear destruction ( I have had this happen in my yard, too), where several poles are knocked over, nests shattered, and young or eggs destroyed. I new site is being sought. A good wild animal story comes from Sandford village, where many citizens have enjoyed watching a beautiful white fix hunting and frolicking in various places from the schoolyard to the west in an exciting sight!
Last week was the Bethesda -Reach WI Dessert and Fashion Show. I am wondering how many know where these names come from, especially our newcomers! Bethesda was/is a small community on Marsh Hill Road, north of Epsom. A farming community, it had both a church and a school. Reach was the name of the Township, now incorporated into Scugog, as Scott was incorporated into Uxbridge. I think it is important to keep these historic names alive. Today, I attended the “Pioneer” Church at Pine Grove. Once a thriving farming and, surprisingly, tourist destination for Toronto folks, the church was forced to close several years ago but holds services a couple of times a year, mostly due to the efforts of Helen and George Johnson, and is open for weddings. There is also a cemetery which can be visited anytime. The service leader today was Barb Warren, who I had never seen or heard before but said she was related to the Pegg family. I mentioned Edge and Betty, Don and Pat, and, of course, their daughter Susan, now wife to Mike Risebrough, were friends of mine!
Talking about the Foster, last week, I mentioned about the Christmas program but we have since been informed that due to various problems, gate destruction, ramp repair etc, Ladies of the Foster will not be performing this year. If you miss Friday Night music check the Lucy Maud Montgomery Website for their Jazz and Chamber Music nights. There are four left.
Sunday, church was at Sandford, and communion was served on World Communion Sunday. Next week is Thanksgiving, and the 20th is Sandford Special Anniversary, 10 a.m., while on the 27th, Zephyr will hold its final anniversary service at 11 a.m. All are cordially invited to attend these special worship services!
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