Grand Bend, Ontario community newspaper and entertainment events guide. Also serves Zurich, Dashwood, Port Franks, Exeter, Parkhill. Casey Lessard photos.
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The Pirates of Penzance Written by W. S. Gilbert Composed by Arthur Sullivan Directed by Susan Ferley Grand Theatre High School Project Grand Theatre, London September 23 to October 4, 2008 Live! On Stage! Review by Mary Alderson Gilbert & Sullivan were masters of the comic operetta in 1870’s England. So popular were their shows, [...]
View from the Strip By Casey Lessard It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but – like it or not – Grand Bend area residents will soon be tying into a municipal sewage system. Many people aren’t aware of the impending costs that are associated with the process, but with figures in the tens of thousands [...]
Remember what each level of government does To the Editor, With a federal election campaign now underway, it is an ideal time to draw attention to what each of our three levels of government is supposed to be responsible for, so candidates and leaders will not discuss with voters those things that are not federal [...]
Alternative View By Gloria Martin In the Sept. 10 Strip, Casey Lessard made comment that he feared a majority government in the federal election, and that, although he couldn’t quite put your finger on it, he “just doesn’t trust him (Prime Minister Stephen Harper).” I have to admit that I resonate with that fear, but [...]
The Dashwood resident isn’t eager to tie into Grand Bend’s sewage line. Are you? Story and photo by Casey Lessard Sewage collection system information session Tuesday, September 30 7 to 9 p.m. – Grand Bend Public School Standing in front of a lagoon that currently services the sewage waste of 1100 residents, John Mason wonders [...]
Devon Weeden Principal, North Middlesex DHS Raised: Kingston Lives: London Experience: Napanee, Strathroy, Glencoe, Saunders (VP), Arthur Voaden (VP). This is first principal position. Coming to North Middlesex It is a big change. I’m looking forward to working with the community and the kids. I’m working on the school improvement plan with the staff. There [...]
Advice from Mom By Rita Lessard The word fall has so many meanings. As the season turns, we can look forward to the changing of colours and the cooler weather. In its other form, the term is not as pretty as the season. My little friend Garrett Steffler had a fall last Thursday and the [...]
What to do when you have to go Keeping the Peace By Tom Lessard At Protective Plastics Limited in Huron Park, we built fiberglass reinforced plywood panels, roofs, and doors for the trucking industry. You didn’t need to be on dope to work there because after a day in the plant you were pretty well [...]
Living in Balance By Jenipher Appleton It is commonplace for us to refer to certain groups of animals by their correct term: herds of cattle, schools of fish, pods of whales, swarms of bees, litter of puppies, etc. In the avian family, the names for species groups are indeed quite unique, if not intriguing. Three [...]
Music is a big boost for a child’s learning and self-confidence, and that’s why Ken Dinel hopes his new Grand Bend music school, The Band in You, will take off locally. Confident it will based on similar schools he has seen as a recording industry professional, Dinel is putting the finishing touches on a home [...]
Community/Charity Every Tuesday 7 p.m. – Grand Bend Legion Bingo Wednesdays to October 29 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Port Franks Community Centre Beginner and Intermediate Bridge. Cost is $45.00. Call 519-238-1239 for details. Every Friday 5 to 7 p.m. – Grand Bend Legion Meat Draw Friday, September 26 5 to 11 p.m. – [...]
Romeo and Juliet By William Shakespeare Performed by Gareth Potter and Nikki M. James Directed by Des McAnuff Stratford Shakespeare Festival Production Festival Theatre, Stratford To November 8, 2008 Live! On Stage! Review by Mary Alderson Thank goodness for Stratford veterans Lucy Peacock and Peter Donaldson. Without them, Romeo and Juliet now playing on the [...]
Memories of the Summer of Love Created by Chris McHarge and Colin Stewart Performed by Natalie Howard, Derek Marshall, Penny Skolski, and Paul Wilson Directed by Chris McHarge, Musical direction by Colin Stewart Lighthouse Festival Production Victoria Playhouse, Petrolia September 9 – 20, 2008 Live! On Stage! Review by Mary Alderson For their final offering [...]
View from the Strip By Casey Lessard And they’re off. While there are several stories about racing and riding in this week’s edition of the Strip, the real story for the month is the fact that we’re faced with another federal election after Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s visit to Rideau Hall this weekend. I heard [...]
To the Editor: Your recent interviews with the Kovar family and with Grand Bend’s CAO on the tragic anniversary of the drowning of Jule Kovar is much appreciated, although such an event is never celebrated but remembered with sympathy and serious regret. Jule’s drowning, and this summer’s death of Ryan Albrecht under similar circumstances, remains an indelible blemish on the [...]
Reader: Why aren’t police ticketing violators? To the Editor: All the kids are back in school and most of the visitors of Grand Bend have gone. The little town is almost empty. As I made my way to the bank I was a bit early so as I waited outside for 10 minutes and not [...]
Scale model drivers hit the track at Grand Bend Speedway Story and photos by Casey Lessard Grand Bend Speedway’s existence is only half a secret, with many people seeing the sign south of the Motorplex but never really knowing what goes on at the oval half-scale track. Built in 1996 and expanded last year, each [...]
Story and Photos by Casey Lessard It was a leap of faith, but a former Hollywood actor, a New York musician and a London (Ontario) camerawoman converged on an Ipperwash trailer park this summer in hopes of creating a music video that will also showcase the park to the nation and the world. Stephen Shellenberger, [...]
Soap Box Derby Saturday, September 20 10 a.m. – Registration 10 to 11:30 a.m. – Inspection and Practice 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. – Judging (non-racing) 12:15 to 1 p.m. – Lunch 1 to 4 p.m. – Racing For a man who refuses to grow up, the soap box derby is the perfect activity to [...]
Kevin Mills, principal South Huron District High School Experience: 21st year in education; Mitchell (teacher), St. Mary’s (teacher) Seaforth (vice principal), St. Mary’s (principal for last seven years) Home: St. Mary’s Family: Three daughters Personal tidbits: “When I was transferred to South Huron, my oldest girl was ecstatic because she was heading into high school [...]
At least one Grand Bend resident is hoping for a hit of iconic proportions. Pedro Quintana, inspired by a student who did the same thing, wrote and entered an anthem into the CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada theme contest. “I wanted to write a cantata for church for Thanksgiving,” Quintana says, “so I thought why [...]
The Dashwood-based Bluewater men’s tug of war team, representing Canada at the world championships in Stenungsbaden, Sweden, repeated their 2006 11th place finish in a pull-off against Italy, which they won handily. Switzerland took the tournament with a win over England. A total of 18 teams competed in the 640kg men’s senior class. See previous [...]
Advice from Mom By Rita Lessard Even though summer doesn’t officially end until September 21, it ends for most of us when the kids go back to school. Personally, I think I’ll take it easy for the two weeks we have left, and hopefully we’ll have some sunny days so I can relax in the [...]
Oh where, or where, did our little vacuums go? Keeping the Peace By Tom Lessard A lot of strange and wonderfully humourous goings-on occurred in Huron Park in the 70s and 80s. One time I was employed in the stock room at Hughes Columbia Yachts and was asked by my boss to come in on [...]