Hometown Strathroy Jan-Feb 2022

Hometown Strathroy Jan-Feb 2022

Jan/Feb 2022 Issue 20 Hometown Strathroy - Caradoc

Back in the Day

Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc Issue #20 Jan/Feb 2022 www.villagerpublications.com Publisher and Editor Barb Botten Villager Publications P.O. Box 134, Lambeth Station Ontario N6P 1P9 [email protected] 519-282-7262 Graphic Artist – Jon Botten Content Manager – Jeff Reed Advertising Gloria Rae [email protected] 519-495-4564 Debbie Mindorff [email protected] 519-870-3203

Aerial photo of Mount Brydges looking north, January 2022. Photo taken by local resident.

Strathroy Homecoming Parade Aug 1976 LFP files

Welcome to the Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc magazine! We support local arts, entrepreneurs, business, organizations and more by bringing historical and current neighbourhood people and passion to print. You are invited to share stories, photos, event information and to advertise. The 100% locally owned and operated Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc magazine is published ten times a year with thousands delivered free to the area residents and is an ideal way to reach your local market. NEVER MISS ANOTHER ISSUE! You can read your local community magazine along with all the other publications online at www.villagerpublications.com

Strathroy-Caradoc Area Events

Please note: Due to current and potential closings and restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and associated government and healthcare rulings and recommendations, please confirm events before attending. COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR Saturday, February 26 Raising funds for 37 Frank Youth Centre in Strathroy to assist youth with homelessness and poverty, and raising awareness of homelessness and poverty in our community 2 km, 5 km – virtual or at event

Tri-Township Arena, and museums and galleries, including Museum Strathroy-Caradoc, will be closed for at least 21 days. Pre-Registration Required at https://app.bookking.ca/ strathroycaradocpub/ Family Skating

Sundays 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. until April 3, 2022 Blackout Dates: December 26, January 16, January 30, February 20 Adults & Seniors Skating Tuesday & Thursdays 11:00 a.m. – 12 noon until March 31, 2022 Blackout Dates: November 11, December 28 & 30, March 15 & 17 Parents & Tots Skating Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:00 a.m. – 11 a.m. until March 31, 2022 Blackout Dates: November 11, December 28 & 30, March 15 & 17

Hosted by 37 Frank Street Youth Centre 226-926-9369 or [email protected] PUBLIC SKATING AT WEST MIDDLESEX MEMORIAL CENTRE

From Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc via Twitter: Effective January 5, 2022, indoor sport/recreation facilities, including Gemini Sportsplex, West Middlesex Memorial Centre, and

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Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Glenda Fenlon I’ve been sketching most of my life, it seems. But life is about colour, so I am learning through different mediums to achieve what I envision. These ideas come from my books of memories of me and my children growing up – images I have taken or collected over the years. Usually there are several attempts until I get it just right. During my own childhood, I was always the kid with paper and

pencil in hand, situated in a quiet corner and concentrating on my artwork. In fact, that concentration deafened all distractions. However, that was a long time ago, and thus I had to learn to find time in my increasingly busy life to draw and to listen to the world around me. I always have a ‘to-go’ bag with me, because you never know when you might need something to fill the moment. My creative gene was formed while growing up, and it was also inherited from my family, so I am fortunate in that way. And today, I hope to always look forward to the next idea and see how to achieve it in an original way. After all, creating and making are the elements of a busy happiness.

Strathroy-Caradoc Area Events

ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION CARADOC BRANCH 251, MT. BRYDGES Jan. 22 Wings (final orders Jan. 19) – takeout/drive-thru only Jan. 29 Meat Draw (if permitted) Feb. 2 Community Cards 12 noon – 4 p.m. Feb. 4 Marilyn's Roast Beef Dinner - 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. pickup, final orders Jan. 28 Feb. 5 Meat Draw Feb. 9 Evening Community Cards 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Feb. 12 Meat Draw Feb. 12 (if permitted) Valentine’s Day Party, with Kracker Jax Feb. 13 Wings (final orders Feb. 11) – takeout/drive-thru only Feb. 16 Community Cards 12 noon – 4 p.m. Feb. 19 Meat Draw

Feb. 23 Evening Community Cards 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Feb. 26 Meat Draw Feb. 27 Wings (final orders Feb. 25) – takeout/drive-thru only If permitted: Friday night darts starting Jan. 28 Visit https://www.facebook.com/RCL251/ for more details, updates & contact info

2500 Veterans Dr, Mount Brydges 519-264-1580 Facebook: Royal Canadian Legion Caradoc Branch 251

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throughout Huron, Oxford, Perth and Middlesex Counties had either spent a night or two at schools or, in some cases, were billeted by local residents. In, Tales of Our Town: Strathroy and Area Stories (2013), Libby McLachlan wrote as part of Tale 30 entitled, The Blizzard of ’71: “Dorothy Doan, Strathroy Hospital administrator, accommodated 60 extra people overnight. Strathroy Legion hall was home to

Blizzard of 71 As a New Year begins and the harshest of winter months rest ahead, it’s a good time to look back at the Blizzard of January 26, 1971 which left Strathroy- Caradoc and the entire Southwestern Ontario region at the mercy of Mother Nature. During that infamous day, winds reached 161 km/h, visibility was reduced to just 2.4 metres and the temperature dropped to a bone-chilling minus 30° C. It was, indeed, the perfect storm for winter mayhem.

The London Free Press published a booklet called "Blizzard '71: in London and Southwestern Ontario" that was full of pictures taken by Free Press reporters on the days of the storm. ... "There were an estimated 7,000 students stranded in their rural schools for nearly three days because of snow-blocked bus routes."

another 25 persons. Staff at some town factories spent the night at their workplaces. A letter in the February 4 Strathroy Age Dispatch, written on behalf of the approximately 75 to 100 people who were stranded at the 4 Corners Restaurant and Hotel (Highways 81 and 22, north of town) thanked owners Roy and Betty Gill for keeping everyone fed and looked after during the blizzard. The entire student body at Adelaide Central and Valleyview in Coldstream spent Tuesday night in their schools. About 150 rural Strathroy District Collegiate Institute students were unable to get home; many were billeted by town residents, others remained in the school.” There were other avenues for returning students and workers to their homes. In nearby London, army tanks rolled the streets alongside snowmobiles: it was a once-in-a-lifetime site, one that local residents who experienced the Blizzard of ’71 hope to never see again.

Oddly enough, the day started off as meek as a lamb with clear skies during morning commutes and school bus trips. By noon hour, though, wind and snow blew in like a roaring lion from the American Midwest. Highway 401, as well as regional highways and municipal streets were closed as snowplow drivers were ordered off roads during this time of emergency. For days afterwards, transport trucks and automobiles would be abandoned until rescue crews and bulldozers would dig them out from snow drifts as tall as bungalow homes. Workers and students took refuge in cafeterias and gymnasiums when it was impossible – or at least, dangerous – to make the trek home. Strathroy-Caradoc residents were glued to their transistor radios while they listened for the latest news on the severest of snow storms. In all, the storm lasted six days. Crews uncovered thousands of vehicles in Southwestern Ontario that were either damaged in auto accidents and/or simply abandoned in snowdrifts. It was estimated that 12,000 students in Strathroy-Caradoc and

Blizzard of January 26, 1971 — Transport trucks and other vehicles were abandoned for several days in one area north of Strathroy near Cuddy Farms on Highway 81. (Photo: Museum Strathroy-Caradoc, Age Dispatch negative collection)

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Mt. Brydges Bobsledder Bujnowski Goes For Gold As she continued her run at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games hosted by Beijing, China, Mt. Brydges bobsledder Kristen Bujnowski and her partner Christine de Bruin of Stony Plain, Alta. extended their podium streak after winning their third bronze medal in as many races on the World Cup bobsleigh season in early December. They followed up on that run with a fourth-place finish as the World Cup traveled to Winterberg, Germany later in December. “This (third bronze medal win) was redemption for Christine and I’m so proud of her. I know it wasn’t easy for her to come back here after (poor) results at World Championships last season,” said the 29-year-old Bujnowski, who was sidelined with an injury during the entire 2020-21 season. But she has been the force behind de Bruin’s sled each week this World Cup season on the journey to Beijing. Said Bujnowski, “(Christine) really wanted to prove to herself that she is good here and I thought she did amazing.” Earlier, the COVID-19 pandemic had drastically changed Bujnowski’s training schedule. During spring 2020, she was forced to train in a barn at her parents’ Mt. Brydges farm – this was before athletes were allowed to return to the Ice House and Canadian Sport Institute in Calgary, Bujnowski’s training centre and her home away from home. Instead of training with high-tech exercise apparatus and a team of coaches, trainers and psychologists, the brakewoman worked out in an old- school fashion. “Instead of pulling a sled, I pulled a tire. Instead of pushing a Prowler sled, I pushed a three-wheeler. Instead of indoor hill sprints, I ran on a hill in Delaware,” said Bujnowski. Her parents, Jerry and Rose Bujnowski, and her brother, Mark, work on the Mt. Brydges farm. Mark, throwing shot put and discus for the University of Guelph, has starred with the London Western Track and Field team and with Team Canada.

T H E M U N I C I P A L I T Y O F STRATHROY-CARADOC S E R V I C E U P D AT E S Overnight Winter Parking Restrictions are in effect until March 31. Vehicles parked on municipal roads between 2 am and 7 ammay be ticketed. March Break Day Camps Registration is now open for March Break Day Camps. Extended care and program subsidy assistance is available. Learn more at www. strathroy-caradoc.ca/daycamps. Winter Hours at Transfer Stations 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Strathroy Site - 27786 Pike Rd • January 8 (Free Christmas Tree chipping available on this date) • February 12 Mount Brydges Site - 22416 Mill Rd Flex registration is available for seniors’ programs like bridge, euchre, pickleball, and skating. Register for all sessions or any one week you wish to play. Call 519-245-1070 for more information or to register. School Crossing Guards Needed The Municipality is recruiting full- time and spare crossing guards for Strathroy and Mount Brydges locations. Learn more at www.strathroy-caradoc.ca/ careers or call 519-245-1070. Upcoming Council Meetings • Monday, January 17 @ 6 pm • Monday, February 7 @ 6 pm • Tuesday, February 22 @ 6 pm Watch live or archived meetings at www.strathroy-caradoc.ca/ meetings. • January 22 • February 26 Seniors’ Programs

Your virtual City Hall is open 24/7 at www.strathroy-caradoc.ca

COVID-19 restrictions pending, Kristen's mother, Rose, plans to gather with family and friends at the Mt. Brydges Legion on Feb. 18 and 19 at 7 a.m. when they'll cheer for Kristen as she competes at the Olympic Games.

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The Yukern Dance by John Caverhill I know the following statement can be classified as a typical: “When I was young” lament in which old folks are supposed to excel, but I am going to make it anyway. People had more fun during years gone by, at least in part because they had more time to have more fun! There was much more socializing and community interaction before people started to sit in front of the television set. Also, during my childhood, which began during the Great Depression and spanned the war years, there was neither the money nor the means available for “bought” forms of entertainment, so we created our own pastimes. I must emphasize that I never felt deprived, nor, as I recall, did those around me. Living on a general farm which grew a little of everything, we always had an abundance of good – if not fancy – food, and the same could be said of our clothes. At the beginning of November as the farm work slowed down, the social season started to pick up. There would come a day when dad would come home from Ilderton and announce there was going to be a “Yukern Dance” at the community hall on Saturday night. When I was small, I would hear mom and dad talking about these “Yukern Dances.” I had no idea what they were, but they seemed very popular and most of the local people attended at least a couple of them each season. They were monthly affairs lasting from November through April at the old Community Hall in Ilderton. It was when I started to play card games myself that I realized that the “Yukern Dance” was the Euchre and Dance that was so popular. A typical start to one of these evenings would have the euchre games beginning well before the advertised 7:30 p.m. because many fanatics couldn’t wait that long. Several couples would be ‘warming up’ before the actual competition began. The old Crump Recipe Optimiists Events

wooden frame town hall stood on the Ilderton main street close to the centre of the village, near where the Canadian Bank of Commerce now stands. Up to a couple of dozen card tables would be set up, each with a deck of cards and a couple of ashtrays. By 7:30 p.m. every table would be in action. The only time there was not a full house was because of snow-blocked roads. The usual set-up was two men and two ladies at each table, most often but not always husband and wife teams. There were some otherwise compatible couples who simply would not partner each other in a card game – there was too much friction. Business, family and other personal matters could be solved by united efforts, but a decision by one partner to go it alone without both right and left bowers was a horse of a different colour. The whole hall would become dim with a blue haze of tobacco smoke. Rural women of that day didn’t smoke but the majority of (2015.0011-V.76-018) Ilderton Jr. Farmers Provincial Square Dancing Champions Ron McRae, Carol Gregory, Len and Connie Duynisveld, Launie Fletcher, Sandra Dixon, Don and Patricia Moir R Middlesex Centre Archives (MCA) Fundraising Online Auction www.filsonauction.com Date and Details Coming Soon Donations accepted until January 21, 2022 Email [email protected] or call Carol Small 519-666-1488 • Bev Hughes 519-666-0452 Mary Vanderwal 519-666-0815 Your support is greatly appreciated 13236 Ilderton Road, P.O. Box 168 Ilderton floraltemptations.com • (519) 666-2032 Order now for February 14. Valentine’s Roses, Bouquets, Cards, Chocolates

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Page 6 Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc Page 4 Ilderton and Area Villager • Jan-Feb 2022 14 Ilderton and Area Villager • Jan-Feb 022

men did. Dad might have been classified as a social smoker. At social gatherings and some family gatherings, he would smoke a couple of cigarettes or a cigar. Otherwise, he rarely indulged. At 9 p.m. the scores would be totalled and the winners of the various categories, including lowest score, would be announced. The last category winner would receive the loudest cheers of the night. Card tables were folded and put away, and the chairs were set around the perimeter of the dance floor. While this was going on, the dance orchestra would be setting up on the stage at the end of the hall. A typical orchestra would have a piano, drums, fiddle, trumpet, saxophone or clarinet, and perhaps a string bass. By 9:30 p.m. dancing would be in full swing. While some of the card players went home after the euchre concluded, the dance hall would still be crowded asmany young people would come just for the dance. Dad and mom always came home at the conclusion of the euchre. Dad was not a dancer and he didn’t seem very impressed by those who were, judging by this observation which I overheard after they returned home from one of these events: “The men always seem to stick out their rumps when they’re dancing,” he mumbled when asked by Mother about his negative reaction. In later years when I started attending dances, I noticed the same thing, particularly amongst the older men. We youngsters had learned our dancing at high school proms and snuggled up to our partners as we moved around the floor. The older generation was much more inhibited, and I think this was the reason for the “sticking out rumps” posture of the men. Space between partners was the edict of the older generation and this caused the rather awkward posture of the men. While Saturday night dances continued to be popular, the regular euchre and dance combination had faded out of the social picture by the end of the 1940s. That combination was a product of lean times during the Great Depression and war years when people had to make their own entertainment. PURELY 1/8 GAME OVER BABY

But by the beginning of the 1950s, many different forms of entertainment were readily available – even to people in rural areas. The consolidation of many small schools into the large high schools which are usually based on the edge of population centres such as London led to the rural young people heading into the city for their Saturday night entertainment. For a foot-stomping good time with your neighbours when you temporarily put aside the cares andworries of theGreat Depression and war years, the “Yukern Dance” deserves to be remembered. Left: (2015.0011-V.30-009) Chapter 9 Page 218 Ilderton Cardinals Orchestra – George Caverhill, Walter Douglas, Albert Caverhill, Ray Zavitz and Nellie Telfer. Right: (2015.0011-V.44-006) Band David Squires on Clarinet, Harry Shipley on violin, Clarence Squires on violin, Beatrice Drysdale on piano.

AME OVER BABY

John Caverhill is the younger son of the late Ernest Caverhill and Susie Boyd of Lobo Township. John’s writings often reflect his experiences and observations of growing up on the family farm, attending the one room school, S. S. No. 7 Lobo (Bear Creek School), and Vanneck United Church. John’s sense of humour and story-telling skills are legendary. His keen observation skills have augmented his repertoire.

Strathroy

PURELY 1/8

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Issue 20 - Jan/Feb 2022 Page 7 Jan-Feb 2022 • Page 5 To advertise here, please contact Geoff@villagerpublica Ilderton and Area Villager

everyday social effects. People who combat their hearing loss with hearing aids find they have better conversations and connections with others. Your hearing loss can also be frustrating for the person you’re conversing with because they may have to repeat themselves or disrupt the natural flow of their conversation with you. Positive Emotional Effects Positive emotional effects are attributed to being able to hear better in conversations and feel more involved in social gatherings. As a result, self-esteem and confidence are also higher. Overall, tackling your hearing loss can greatly increase your quality of life. Being fitted with hearing aids can also benefit those around you. Your local Hearing Care Professional at Connect Hearing is there to help you find a hearing solution that works for your lifestyle and budget needs.

Whether as an all-star pro hockey player or as a busy grandfather, Darryl Sittler believes that to get the most out of life, you need to look after yourself. Get your hearing checked by a licensed hearing care professional at your local Connect Hearing clinic. Don’t miss out on the sounds that you love. Check your hearing. HowHearing Aids Can Improve Your Quality Of Life The decision to do something about your hearing usually comes after years of avoiding any signs of hearing loss, until the point where it can’t be ignored any longer. But it doesn’t have to be like that. On the contrary, doing something about your hearing loss before it’s gotten out of hand can have a positive effect on your quality of life. Here are some ways hearing aids can quickly improve your quality of life if you suffer from hearing loss. Improve Interpersonal Relationships It has been found that hearing aid wearers experience significantly greater interpersonal warmth in their relationships than people who don’t wear hearing aids and suffer from hearing loss. Hearing aid wearers experience an increase in positive communications both at home and in the workplace after they are fitted with hearing aids Increase Activity Levels Activity levels are also shown to increase if you’ve been fitted with hearing aids. You’re more likely to engage in activities involving other people and participate in organized social activities when you have a hearing solution. This is largely due to your confidence in a social setting because you can hear properly. Positive Social Effects Outside of being more active and having more connected relationships, combatting your hearing loss has positive

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in the process of additional analysis and strategic planning, and we look forward to further system enhancements in 2022 with the goal of helping more Canadian players reach the LPGA and PGA TOUR.” University of Alabama women’s golf squad head coach Mic Potter said, “Taylor is one of, if not the best, junior golfer coming out of Canada this year. Taylor has five wins on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tour, and is a member of the Canadian National Team, so she will impact our lineup immediately in the fall of 2022. The first time that we saw Taylor play we felt she was a must-have prospect. We couldn’t be more excited to have her finally sign on to join our Alabama Golf family!” The Strathroy District Collegiate Institute student has captured five AJGA tournaments, and was named an AJGA Rolex Junior All-America Honorable Mention in 2020. and future projects will always be on tap as the club’s philanthropy will stand the test of time. With a current roster of 46 members, the Mount Brydges Lions Club lives by its motto: We Serve. Cheeseburger Pie 1 – 1.5 pounds ground beef 1.5 cups chopped onion ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup milk ½ cup Bisquick 2 eggs Directions 1. Heat oven to 400° 2. Lightly grease 9-in. pie plate 3. Cook and stir beef and onion until brown. Drain and stir in salt and pepper. Spread beef in pie plate and sprinkle with cheese. 4. Beat remaining ingredients for about 1 minute, pour into pie plate. 5. Bake until golden brown and knife inserted into centre comes out clean, about 30 minutes. 6. Let stand 5 minutes and serve. Makes 5-6 servings. www.mtbrydgeslions.ca

Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc Recipe At the heart of every small community is

volunteerism and service, and that certainly holds true with the Mount Brydges Lions Club, who this month offer their recipe for a comfort food favourite: Cheeseburger pie. As part of the world’s largest service club group boasting more than 1.4 million members, the

Mount Brydges club was established in 1948 with 23 charter members and with sponsorship from the Strathroy Lions Club. Meetings were held at the Reason Hall at the town’s Anglican Hall until about 1969, and then moved to the Mount Brydges Town Hall. Early Mount Brydges Lions Club projects included reflective taping of children’s bicycles, and the offering of Saturday afternoon movies for the kids. The club’s first major fundraising project involved a carnival at the Town Hall, and its second fundraising effort took the form of a Town Hall interior redecoration. Playground equipment would be purchased for the Uptown Park. In 1973, the club purchased 35 acres from a fellow Mount Brydges Lions Club member for the establishment of a new arena and Lions Park, and members donated 10 acres to Caradoc Township for the arena which was constructed and opened in 1975. Since then, many fundraisers benefiting the town have come and gone,

Kehoe Signs With Alabama, Makes National Squad

This fall has been a season of accomplishments for Strathroy golfer Taylor Kehoe. Not only was she named for a second straight year to the Golf Canada National Amateur Squad, but also the West Haven Golf & Country Club member recently signed to play as a student athlete with the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Kehoe, who turns 18 on December 23, is one of 46 junior and amateur athletes selected as part of the Team Canada

player development program for 2022. Professional players who will be part of Team Canada in 2022 will be determined and announced in January. Team Canada’s 2022 National Amateur Squad consists of 21 athletes, including eight women and 13 men. The Junior Squad totals 25 athletes including 12 female and 13 male U19 athletes ages 14-18. “This is an exciting period for Canadian golf, and we are intensifying the National Team Player Development Program,” said Kevin Blue, Chief Sport Officer with Golf Canada. “We are

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Reed’s Sports Corner January 2022 Make 2022The Year Of Giving

With a new year upon us, many businesses and groups of all sizes plan their philanthropic efforts. LondonOntar ioSports. com is proud to announce it has recently surpassed $100,000 in charitable giving to not- for-profits and athletes in Southwestern Ontario. During the past 18 years, LondonOntar ioSports. com (est. 2015) and partner website LondonOntarioGolf.com (est. 2004) have made gift giving their top priority. The web publications

To advertise here please contact [email protected] Award-winning journalist and author Jeffrey Reed of Strathroy has covered sports in Southwestern Ontario since 1980. He is publisher and editor of LondonOntarioSports.com. Make-A-Wish Southwestern Ontario wrote, “Jeffrey, we wish to extend our heartfelt thanks for your kind donation which will assist us in granting wishes to our very special wish kids. Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. When a wish is granted, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope. A wish gives children renewed energy and strength, brings families closer together and unites communities. Thanks for helping us transform lives, one wish at a time!” And Heart & Stroke Foundation wrote, “On behalf of the Heart & Stroke Foundation, I would like to thank you, Jeffrey, for your hard work and time committed to the London Ontario Golf Heart Award, and your efforts in raising awareness for Heart & Stroke. Heart disease and stroke take 1 in 3 Canadians before their time, and is the No. 1 killer of women. Thank you again for your generous gift to the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Together, we’re working to give Canadians more years of life – and more life in those years.” What are you doing to support your community this year? As the saying goes, every little bit helps. like me who have inspired others with their courage on and off the playing field must nominate themselves with a 1,000-word essay. Nominations for the 8th annual Jeffrey Reed Courage Award are now open – click the link at the LondonOntarioSports.com home page. Nominations close January 31. Inaddition,LondonOntarioSports.comandLondonOntarioGolf. com also recognize outstanding members of the local golf community with two awards programs: the London Ontario Golf Heart Award (est. 2011) presented annually to a member of the Southwestern Ontario golf community who has unselfishly given back to golf while growing the game; and this year, the 10th annual Best of London Golf Awards which allow the readers of LondonOntarioGolf.com and LondonOntarioSports.com to vote for their favourites amongst the Southwestern Ontario golf industry.

have supported area charities, as well as local athletes, through a variety of charitable donations including: charity golf tournaments; fundraisers; public speaking engagements; and the annual London Ontario Sports awards banquet. It’s impossible to enjoy one’s own success without giving back. Just as I found it to be my responsibility to publish online sports news and information with the intention of offering fare but hard-hitting sports journalism, I also felt that it was important to share my good fortune with my own community. And today, that includes my home of Strathroy-Caradoc.

In addition to offering thousands of gifts in kind and cash donations to hundreds of local not-for-profits, my wife, Beth, and I established the Jeffrey Reed Courage Award in 2016. I’m a disabled athlete living with numerous skeletal deformities, but they didn’t stop me from pitching and coaching third base with the London Majors of the s em i - p r o f e s s i ona l Intercounty Baseball League, nor from being a golf ambassador with Wilson Golf as a Staff Advisory Member for 14 years.

(L-R) 2017 Heart Award winner Mike Silver, Jeffrey Reed, 2017 Courage Award winner Ali Vlasman.

Page 10 Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc Each year, the Jeffrey Reed Courage Award, presented by LondonOntarioSports.com, presents a Southwestern Ontario Athlete – amateur or professional – with $1,000, a commemorative plaque and an awards ceremony. Athletes

PREVENTING SHINGLES Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against shingles and it is recommended for everyone, aged 50 years and older. There are two shingle vaccines available in Canada. One is a live vaccine with a weakened version of the virus and requires one injection. It is suitable for healthy patients 50 and older, although it may be used in patients aged 50 and older. The second is a non-living vaccine made of a dead virus component and requires a second injection two to six months later. Your health care provider will discuss with you the pros and cons of each vaccine and recommend the vaccine best suited to your needs and health conditions. Check with your pharmacist can administer shingles vaccine. It may also be paid for by your private drug insurance plan.

Your Pharmacists can help with Medication Questions Michael Gleiser Owner/Pharmacist Bosson’s Pharmacy & Home Health Care

RECOGNIZING AND PREVENTING SHINGLES If you’ve had chickenpox, you could be among the 130,000 Canadians who contract shingles, also known as herpes zoster, every year. The virus that causes chickenpox stays in your body and can reactivate at any time during your life. The risk of the virus reactivating increases with factors including age, especially being older than 60, and in the presence of diseases that weaken the immune system such as HIV and cancer. About 15% of people who had chickenpox develop shingles. RECOGNIZING THE SYMPTOMS OF SHINGLES Shingles cause a painful rash with blisters filled with fluid along a nerve tract on one side of the body, usually on the chest, but also on other places like the arm or face. The rash lasts a few weeks. However, the pain sometimes persists for months or even years. Some people experience itching, tingling or pain before the rash appears. If you think you have shingles, especially if you develop a rash around one eye, consult a doctor immediately. Your doctor can prescribe antiviral medication to fight the infection. Rapid treatment, especially within the first three days of getting the rash, can reduce the duration and severity of the illness. Ask your pharmacist about pain relieving medication. If the pain persists despite taking pain medication, it is important to see your doctor again to reassess the treatment. New Year – New Business! Get your business information ‘in the door’ of thousands of homes in Strathroy-Caradoc! Book your ad in Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc by

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Issue 20 - Jan/Feb 2022 Page 11

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From the Vault is available from local from From the Vault: A Photo-History of London 1950-1975. Photo and caption compliments Jennifer Grainger “We are so grateful to all of our guests for supporting the Magic of Lights, which gives back to the United Way Elgin Middlesex. UWEM invests in critical programs and services that support poverty reduction and homelessness, improve housing stability and tackle addiction and mental health. All money donated by the Magic of Lights to United Way Elgin Middlesex will be invested locally, right here in our community,” says Kyla. Kyla says Magic of Lights will definitely be back starting in late November 2022. “We were thrilled to spread some holiday cheer, make some special holiday memories, donate to United Way Elgin Middlesex for the betterment of our community, and to introduce Longwoods Road Conservation Area to so many first-time visitors. Please come back anytime to enjoy the hiking trails, wetland wildlife, beautiful birds and history lessons available at Longwoods Road Conservation Area and Ska-Nah-Doht Village. See you again next year.” bookstores including Attic Books (240 Dundas St., London) and online from Chapters Indigo, Biblioasis, Amazon and Attic Books (www.atticbooks.ca) Social media testimonials were glowing. Amber wrote, “Went last night - was amazing and it was the perfect break from the every day. We had a car full of smiles. Thank you so much for a great time and all the hard work in putting together this magical light show,” while Rebecca wrote, “We went last night. We got there early to avoid the crowds and didn’t have to wait long. The display was magical and the Christmas music accompanying it was a nice touch. I would certainly recommend it to put you in the Christmas spirit!”

FROM THE VAULT Inaugural Magic of Lights was a smashing success by Rick Young

After attending the drive-thru Magic of Lights in Ottawa with her family last year, London entrepreneur Kyla Woodcock knew she had to bring the COVID safe, family activity to the London area for the holidays. “We were inspired by the wonderment in our daughter’s eyes, and the joy that it brought for our family. We knew then that we wanted to bring the Magic of Lights to our own community,” says Kyla. She began working towards that goal in February 2021. “Longwoods Road ConservationArea was the perfect location for Magic of Lights because it is dark at night and beautifully treed, which provides a stunning backdrop for the lights, especially when it is snowy,” says Kyla. “Longwoods also has a wonderfully, winding road through the trees, so the light show slowly reveals itself to our guests as they round every curve. The Longwoods team were wonderful to work with. They have been real partners in the success of the event.” This year’s Magic of Lights, which ran nightly from November 19, 2021 to January 2, 2022, was presented by Woodlo Productions Inc., presenting sponsor Auburn Developments, and FunGuys Inc., the creator of the light displays for the Longwoods show, and many others around North America. Over a million LED lights were on display. “After that, we stopped counting,” says Kyla. “We chose the installations to suit our community and our venue here. When Magic of Lights returns next year we will have the fan-favourite displays back, as well as new ones that we think our community will love.” Kyla says community response was amazing. “Our team loved seeing guests and cars decorated with Christmas lights, sipping hot chocolates, poking out of sunroofs and hanging out the car windows, singing along with the songs on our radio station, and shouting thank you and holiday greetings to us, as we did to them. The event truly did help us spread some holiday cheer.”

A row of new houses on the eastern outskirts of Lambeth, May 1950. Ranging from $8,000 or $10,000, the homes were intended for owners who worked in London but wanted to live in the “country”. In 1950, Lambeth boasted 700 residents.

Marion Buccella Photography

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Page 12 Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc Page 4 Lambeth Villager • March 2021

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Learn All About the History of Strathroy and Area

Daily specials on Facebook • Visit Website for Online Delivery

Visit our new website www.royscoffeeshop.com (HOURS DURING LOCKDOWN) MONDAY CLOSED TUES-THURS 8-2pm | Friday 8-7pm | SAT-SUN 8-2PM Catering Available (Small & Large) Come in and try our new items on our menu! Look on our website for Valentines day specials Visit our new website www.royscoffeeshop.com

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Issue 20 - Jan/Feb 2022 Page 13

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Licensed since 1968 Looking for a New Shed this Winter?

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Page 34 Hometown St. Thomas • December 2021

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Nicole Alexandra Photography

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Page 14 Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc

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centre, and it’s even offering added-bonus entertainment options including Netflix movies, video games and virtual reality games using our big screen bookings.

Albatross Loft Tees Up Global Golf In Strathroy If golf is your game, then world-class courses like Scotland’s St Andrews Links and Pebble Beach Golf Links in California are now just a short drive away, right here in Strathroy. Albatross Loft, Strathroy’s first stand-alone indoor golf facility, at 75 Caradoc Street South, Unit D, opened in July and has quickly become a local hot spot for area golfers.

“Trackman and the Golf In systems are some of the best and are providing world-class golf from around the globe to our area golfers,” added Twyford, who said he hopes Albatross Loft eventually scores an ace by assisting the local economy in the future. He explained, “I grew up in this area, and as our town grows, I want to support it as much as I can. If my business can add jobs eventually, then it’s a win-win.” The latest addition to the Albatross Loft family is PGA of Canada Class A professional Mike Minarsky, who is now booking lessons – a welcomed addition to the Strathroy golf community.

Albatross Loft Indoor Golf & Recreation 75 Caradoc Street South, Unit D, Strathroy 519/868-5638 [email protected] albatrossloft.com

“This area is one of the beating hearts of golf in Canada,” said Albatross Golf owner Daryl Twyford, a Strathroy resident who grew up near Melbourne, played minor hockey in Mt. Brydges and has golfed since age 12. “Response to Albatross Golf has been incredible, and we already envision growth in the future, with the addition of simulators for more play.” Currently, Albatross Loft offers the Trackman computerized golf system within a Golf In hitting bay where locals will recognize names like Glen Abbey Golf Club, Royal Ottawa Golf Club and Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club – all available for play at $35 per hour. With response so strong in just a five-month period, Twyford is currently planning league play for men, women and mixed teams. There are monthly, semi-annual and annual memberships available, too, plus an easy-to-use online tee time booking system at the Albatross Loft website. Indeed, Strathroy rests in the heart of golf country in Southwestern Ontario, where there are more than 100 golf clubs serving avid enthusiasts. And with Strathroy-Caradoc growing at an unprecedented rate – while still maintaining its small-town charm – Albatross Loft is meeting the demand of both casual and avid golfers. The golf simulator industry has grown, too, during the COVID-19 pandemic when many snowbirds have abandoned Florida and Arizona stays and are instead staying home where they can still golf year-round, thanks to venues like Albatross Loft. “We are still able to accommodate two or three foursomes at one time with physical distancing standards,” said Twyford. “We’ve been enormously successful to-date and are already planning the addition of simulator bays and expanded space. Our current location is perfect the launch of our indoor golf

SERVINGALLYOUR INSURANCE and REALESTATENEEDS! QUOTES AVAILABLE

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Issue 20 - Jan/Feb 2022 Page 15

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Cafe

Speciality Coffees Lattes, Cappuccinos, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Espresso, Varieties of Tea Toppings - Many Syrups Peppermint Drizzles, Chocolate, Candy Cane

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65 Maitland Terrace, Strathroy 519-245-3001