Port Stanley Villager Jan:Feb 2022

Port Stanley Villager Jan:Feb 2022

Port Stanley Villager Jan-Feb 2022 • Issue 36

Letter from the Editor I still think 1992 was just a few years ago; it is hard to wrap my head around the fact it was actually 30 years ago. Once again, as the new year is upon us, we begin to think about new opportunities, for our families, for our businesses and our health. That is why in this issue, we have included a few articles with your health in mind. The important part

hall who have big plans to make this Port Stanley landmark a shopping hub within our town! While we endure still more temporary covid restrictions, remember that this is an opportunity to explore this amazing area. Put on your winter boots, get the dog and your spouse and go out and get some of that fresh air, chat with neighbours, friends or strangers (from an appropriate – for you – distance). While you are out, pick up something from one of our local restaurants or coffee shops who are still open for take-out! While the shut down is not ideal, there are some silver linings in there, you just have to look for them. Myself, I am looking forward to another great year of bringing you The Port Stanley Villager , featuring fun and local stories about Port Stanley and area. As always, if you have a story that you think needs to be shared, reach out to me at geoff@ villagerpublications.com and I would be happy to learn about it. Let’s make 2022 the year we strive to spend even more locally! Happy New Year to you!

Discover The World’s Best Walk-In Tub Fully Installed Fully Installed ll I talled Fully Installed This issue, we also introduce you to two new groups of business owners here in Port Stanley; first, Margeaux Levesque and Michael Phillips, the new owners of th Harbour Merchant Coffee Co. and second, Lorraine and Gerry McElroy, and Dale and Angela Homewood, the proud new owners of the fire is to remember that every day is an opportunity to make your life just a little bit healthier, to think to yourself, ‘what can I do today to improve?’ We sat down and chatted with Jonny Harris of Still Standing about his thoughts of his time in Port Stanley, back in October 2020. While the Port Stanley episode of the show was aired on the 12th, I thought it was a great interview and wanted to share it with you.

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Page 2 Port Stanley Villager • January-February 2022

Meet Your NewHarbour Merchants Back in September, it was announced that Brenda and Gary Creeden were looking to retire from their business, The Harbour Merchant Coffee Company and just over a month later, new owners were announced. Taking over the bean business are Margeaux Levesque and Michael Phillips who couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Port Stanley community. Margeaux and Michael were living in London, and after the birth of their son, Rowan Phillips-Levesque, who celebrated his birthday in the middle of pandemic, they decided they wanted to make a change in their lives. “I do have a little bit of an entrepreneurial background,” says Margeaux, who is known as the Bean Boss. “When this opportunity came up, our realtor asked us if it was something we’d be interested in pursuing.” They decided to sell their newly built London home and move back to Port Stanley to pursue their passion. When originally listed, the building and equipment were for sale, but the business itself was not, but Margeaux and Michael were able to convince Brenda and Gary that their business was in good hands; the deal was done and The Harbour Merchant Coffee Company was open once more. Ironically, the Bean Boss herself doesn’t actually drink coffee and Michael, who is in charge of roasting the beans, had never done so in his life. “The roasting part was something that Gary had to pass on to me,” he explains. “It was an interesting process, learning how to do it. There are quite a few proprietary blends that they had built and established; learning those and how they’re put together and why was important.” To Margeaux and Michael, the important thing they would like to let everyone know is that the Harbour Merchant Coffee Company that you know and love is here to stay and that everyone is welcome! They will be carrying on the welcoming and friendly tradition that Brenda and Gary started. While they do plan some small changes down the road to some of their branding and inventory systems, they will be doing so with respect to those who made the business what it is today. So, next time you are looking for a warm drink or a fresh bite to eat, stop in and sit awhile and get to know the next generation of the Harbour Merchant Coffee Company. The Harbour Merchant Coffee Company is located at 288 Bridge St., Port Stanley.

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Port Stanley Villager • January-February 2022 • Page 3

A Painting with that Cleaning? If you have stopped in to see Dr. Nehal for a check up at Port Stanley Dentistry, you might have noticed something different about the waiting room. Port Stanley’s newest dental office has now also become a gallery for the Association of Port Stanley Artists (APSA). The waiting room at Port Stanley Dentistry is filled with approximately sixteen pieces of art which are on display, and for sale. “When I saw that the new dentistry was going to be in that great building on Bridge Street, I realized that the waiting room would likely be in front by the large windows. People inside could see the walls, and people outside could see in,” says Marcia Pensa, President of the APSA, who then reached out to Dr. Nehal to see if she would be open to the idea. “I jumped at the opportunity,” says Dr. Nehal. “I am a big fan of visual arts; I have followed the work of the local APSA on social media and was thrilled when they reached out to inquire about displaying their artists’ work at the office. It is essential to support local talent in order to encourage younger talent and the future generation to stay local and enrich our community. As a dentist, I have great respect for shapes, hues, shades and shadows. I have to apply the fundamentals of design in everything I do, be it a small back tooth filling or a big esthetic case of full-mouth crowns and veneers.”

Port Stanley Villager Jan-Feb 2022 Cover The DOC building on a Misty Morning by Frank Pelsoczi If you would like to submit your photo or painting for consideration for a future issue of the Port Stanley Villager please email them to geoff@ villagerpublications.com.

Prior to this, the APSA did not have a dedicated gallery,” says Marcia. “In the past, they have been able to show their work on the second floor of the Festival Theatre, which has been closed to the public since the pandemic. This opportunity grants great exposure to local artists. It means everything. We are a local art group; we all live in Port Stanley. We love our village, and we create in it.”

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Page 4 Port Stanley Villager • January-February 2022

To advertise here, please contact [email protected] If you are looking for a dental check up, or a piece of local art to feature on your walls, make sure you stop into Port Stanley Dentistry at 286 Bridge St, Port Stanley. One way or another, you are coming home with a smile! “It is essential to support local talent in order to encourage younger talent and the future generation to stay local and enrich our community.” Dr. Nehal, Port Stanley Dentistry “Most, if not all of the work is for sale,” says Marcia. “The tags for each piece indicate artist, medium and price. APSA is trying to create as little disturbance for Dr. Nehal and her staff as possible. Our business cards are on the windowsill and prospective buyers are asked to contact us via our website. By doing this, they can browse other works by all the artists of APSA. I have also included my own phone number by the cards, in case a buyer wants a quicker response.” If you are keeping your bi-annual appointment, you will have the opportunity to see new works each visit as the APSA plan on rotating the art regularly. “Right now, I am trying to feature a work from each artist in the group, and change it every 8 weeks, optimistically even sooner if a work sells! We have a great variety of styles and media -- encaustic, watercolour, oils, acrylics, photography, and an amazing fibre artist.”

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One Step Closer to Getting Fit, Without Having to Step Out of Port Stanley Wanting a change of pace, 20 years ago, Larry Macdonald decided to leave the retail business and go into business for himself and so when the opportunity arrived, he took it – he opened the Port Stanley Fitness Centre. “I decided to open my own gym,” he explains, when he noticed there were no facilities like it in Port Stanley. While not trying to compete with some of the larger facilities in London or St. Thomas, Larry wanted to offer an alternative for those looking to stay in Port for their workouts. “Instead of having to drive half an hour into St. Thomas and half an hour back, you can just pop down here, do your exercise in 45 minutes, and be done with it.” “Obviously,” saysLarry, “I don’t haveapool and I don’t have saunas. However, I do offer the opportunity to use the equipment here. Port Stanley Fitness Centre offers cardio machines, weight machines, and a free weight room. While there are no personal trainers on- site, Larry does offer access if you have your own personal trainer. “There are also Pilates classes that Vera Needham teaches on Wednesdays and Thursdays.” Larry also points out that his rates haven’t changed in 20 years, so the Port Stanley Fitness Centre is an affordable way to get in your exercise.

One thing the Port Stan- ley Fitness Centre offers that the London or St. Thomas gyms can’t is an amazing view over the port. As you are walking on your treadmill or riding an exercise bike you are taking in a panoramic view of the harbour! Plus, as a smaller facility, you’re not just a number; you have an opportunity to get to know your fellow gym- mates. “Probably 10% of them have been coming here for 20 years,” says Larry, smiling. If you are interested in learning more, check out Port Stanley Fitness Centre at 206 Main St., #5 in Port Stanley.

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Page 6 Port Stanley Villager • January-February 2022

Improving Your Health during a Pandemic: Easy Steps by Adam Morse, RN The overarching idea across media platforms these days is to reduce stress and take time for yourself. This may include a new diet, exercising at home, or having some time away from computer screens. It can very challenging to stay committed to a new diet, an extreme exercise routine or personal transformation. The idea of failure is always difficult, making the motivation to get started challenging – considering that we have been surviving almost two years now in the pandemic, you might wonder if the effort is worth the risk of failure? Most people want something simple to show results, so here are a few suggestions to help get that healthier change started with minimal effort. • REDUCE vs. CUT-OUT: We need coping mechanisms to help us through challenging times. There are a variety of coping mea-sures that people use, and reducing stress is not always possible or easily accomplished, but we can change how we cope. Many people use fatty foods, smoking, or alcohol as coping mechanisms. Although these are not always healthy options, they work for many people and the challenge is how to quit. Don’t feel that this needs to be an ‘all or nothing’ goal; choosing to have one less drink in the evening, one less bag of chips; substituting one apple instead of a chocolate bar, or saying no every other day to a midnight snack will add up over time, reducing your body’s intake of unneeded calories and unhealthy sugars. These small changes will slowly get you on the path of a healthier lifestyle. Small steps are how we begin to empower ourselves. • TAKE A VITAMIN: Often, our diet fluctuates throughout the week and staying on a new, extreme diet can be challenging – and depressing if you fail. Taking a multivitamin each day in the morning or before bed requires very little effort but will help increase your body’s intake of many essential nutrients that you may be lacking. • WALK: Do you remember as a kid being excited and running down the hall and someone says walk, don’t run? This is because walking reduces your chance of falling. When they get excited, people don’t want to fall or fail, so they run headstrong into a new routine; instead, walk yourself into it. Walking around in your house, on the stairs or on a treadmill, or walking outside in your neighbourhood will help increase blood flow, burn calories and help build your motivation towards bigger steps. Something as simple as walking instead of driving to the mailbox, or walking on a treadmill

while watching tv is a good way to avoid the boredom of exercise, while starting better habits with minimal effort. • STRETCH EVERY DAY: Passive stretching each morning or evening will increase flexibility, blood flow, and overall health. Don’t feel like you need train to be an Olympic gymnast or purchase fancy machines to accomplish this. It can be something as simple as trying to touch your toes every morning and night, as simple as bending over and counting to 10. See how far down your leg your fingers go; as your flexibility increases each day, you will see progress as you come closer and closer to shaking hands with your feet. • BECOME ACCOUNTABLE: Being accountable has shown to increase success at keeping with a new routine. There are many ways to increase accountability, like setting daily goals and using a step counter on a watch or phone to see if you are meeting your steps goal each day. I suggest 7,500 steps to start. You don’t have to join a fitness group or a social media team and feel bad every time you fail. Tell a friend, neighbour, family, or someone you see very day, like the person who serves you coffee. They don’t have to be invested in your success, but sharing your accomplishments helps to build your confidence and achieve your goals more frequently. • CHECK YOURSELF OUT! You may not always get positive reinforcement from other people, especially during a pandemic. It’s time to give yourself the positive reinforcement you deserve. Look in a mirror and tell yourself how well you’re doing and give yourself compliments. Some people find this form of motivation challenging and may hide themselves by wearing bulky clothes or avoiding mirrors. No one likes to be judged, so stop being your worst critic and become your biggest fan. If you really want to build your confidence, compliment yourself while standing in front of a mirror naked. Remind yourself there is no one else there, just you, and give yourself compliments. During a pandemic there is no reason why you can’t hear positive reinforcement every day. We are all beautiful. • FAILING IS OKAY: Don’t feel bad at the end of the day if you’ve failed to meet that day’s goal. Each day is a new day, so use your mistakes as motivation to do better the next day – and the day after that, and the day after that. Getting healthier is not a one-time occurrence but a journey that begins with creating good habits. There’s always a reason not to start now but if you do, you’ll soon be looking back and feeling grateful that you chose today to make a difference instead of tomorrow.

Port Stanley Villager • January-February 2022 • Page 7 226-210-9508

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Store Vitality for 2022 by Barb Booth, Owner of The Storehouse It’s that time of year once more. With all we’ve been through in 2020 and then ever more in 2021, my thoughts came to one word that we must all be needing in our lives this year, and that word is VITALITY. I do consider myself a bit of a wordsmith so, as my family well knows, I am always challenging

Who doesn’t want more of that? Signs of poor vitality include constant tiredness, sleepiness, headache, dizziness, sore and/or aching muscles, muscular weakness, slowed reflexes, irritability and moodiness, loss of appetite, blurry vision, short term memory problems, reduced concentration and focus, and finally, low motivation and indifference. Although there are many reasons for weakened vitality, I think it is safe to say that this pandemic has taken a toll on all of us. So how do we increase our overall vitality then? In simple terms, we need to remember to breathe, eat fruit and veggies, make sure to drink lots of water, get adequate sleep, exercise, and make time for rest and for play. Complimentary therapies to healthy living include supplemen- tation with vitamins and minerals, herbals, and homeopathic medicines. The supplementation for vitality in the vitamin and mineral world would include Vitamin B12, Iron, Melatonin, and CoQ10. Supplementing with the ancient medicinal herb, Ashwaganda may be an easy and effective way to improve your vitality and your quality of life. If you are a lover of homeopathic medicines, as I am, the remedy Phosphoricum Acid will do a beautiful job in bringing your physical energy around. If you are looking to improve your overall vitality in 2022, just reach out! I do not believe in a ‘one size fits all approach’ and always seek to make suggestions based on each individual customer’s needs. Let’s recover our love for life with improved vitality for whatever 2022 has in store for us.

people to look up definitions; even if you think you know what a word means, you can be assured that you will learn something, a nuance of the word you didn’t realize existed before. When I was asked to write an article on a simple mindset to go into 2022 with, one that would get people on a better path to health and wellness, the world vitality came to me. The word vitality comes from the Latin word vitals. We know that we all have vital signs of life. In medicine, our vitals – body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, height and weight, point our doctor to an overall picture of what is going on within. Vitals gauge our overall health and wellness. As a noun, vitality is defined simply as: the state of being strong and active; energy or power giving continuance of life, present in all living things. Similar words include: liveliness, life, energy.

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Page 8 Port Stanley Villager • January-February 2022

Exciting Plans for the Old Fire Hall While the Central Elgin Fire Department is looking forward to moving into their new, state of the art fire station, their current home has been sold to a local group who have exciting plans for the iconic building. New owners, Lorraine and Gerry McElroy, and Dale and Angela Homewood are excited to take possession of the building and to get to work transforming it into the Port Stanley’s Fire Hall Market. “We want people to know our intentions,” says Gerry. “We want to keep it as a community space that people can enjoy. It will be a local market in the heart of the village. It will be great to be able to get fresh meat from a butcher, fresh cheese, fresh fish, fresh-cut flowers; things like that, in a destination to walk to. We really want to keep the feeling of the fire hall. We want to put nostalgic pictures of the old fire hall and put up antique pictures.” While still in the early stages, the plan is to have 16 stalls within the market and a luxury apartment on the second floor. Within the market, the team is looking to fill some needs within the community while trying not to step on the toes of local vendors. “We just want to have one of each type of vendor who is really good and local,” says Lorraine. “We’re really trying to find local vendors who are putting out either gluten-free, organic, or just really good quality foods or preserves, cheeses and breads, and all the good things all of us like to eat.” Each member of this group of friends brings a different skill set to the project and they complement each other so well. However, they all share a common vision for this space. “To see those fire doors and know they’re going to stay there was huge,” says Dale. “This is an opportunity to offer the people in Port Stanley a walkable destination to get to know a butcher or to get to know a cheese maker. I said to Angela, ‘It’s like a Hallmark movie’.”

Until the new fire station is complete, the group continues to plan, but are very excited and eager to open. “If everything goes right, we plan on opening for the May long weekend,” says Angela. “I have just created a Facebook account called “Port Stanley’s Fire Hall Market” and have asked that anyone interested in being a vendor or inquiring for information, can send a message to this account, and I will get back to them”. Proud new owners of the old firehall are (L-R) Lorraine and Gerry McElroy, Angela and Dale Homewood

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Port Stanley Villager • January-February 2022 • Page 9

Looking Back at Jonny’s Visit Recently, I got to speak with Jonny Harris, the star of CBC’s Still Standing, about his time in Port Stanley back in 2020 while they were filming the episode that aired on January 12th. Throughout the interview, you could tell that Jonny really enjoyed his time here in Port, and as he says, he is looking forward to being back! The filming of the episode was Jonny’s first visit to Port Stanley. “My first impression was that it seemed quite industrious. Some of the towns we go to are in various states of economic decline or recovery, or whatnot. Port Stanley was kind of nice, because it had rebounded. There obviously was still the tourism issue with the bridge being stuck up and, you know, COVID obviously impacted a town that is banking on tourism; that’s kind of rough. The amount of businesses that there were, that were accessible if you only had a few dollars, or if you wanted to spend a bit more and have a nice dinner. Then the old sort of tried-and-true tourist draws, like the beach and Mackie’s secret orange drink and secret fry sauce. It seemed quite humming. While we were there, the weather was quite nice; it was cold enough that the beaches weren’t filled with people but there were people out and about. It was a bit bigger, sort of a bit more polished maybe, than some of the towns that we go to.” I asked Jonny if Port Stanley reminded him of his hometown in Pouch Cove, Newfoundland. “Yes. There was, I think, a joke there about how it’s got an almost weird dichotomy between an East Coast fishing town and a bit of a Caribbean beach party vibe. There’s something a little bit like Newfoundland and a bit like Jamaica, but that’s a great combination. That’s what gave us screech.” Jonny enjoyedhow thepeopleof Port Stanleywere sowelcoming: “It was great. I feel like we got a pretty good cross section of the town: Marna [Berry], she’d been from a fishing family and sort of explained how, you know, with the [federal] quotas put

in place and whatnot, there weren’t as many fishing families. While there are still the tugs you see go out every morning, that sort of tradition had died somewhat in the town of these family-run fishing enterprises. But the town sort of leaned into tourism. A lot of progress has been made to generate tourism, so hopefully, when and if this pandemic ever goes away, Port Stanley is going to get a lot more of that.” “I didn’t fall in, thank God,” says Jonny about his time with the local paddle boarders. “I was pretty cautious, but that was a lot of fun, getting down on the beach. You know, it was nice just to

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take in the town, to tell you the truth. It was it was lovely. A couple of my favourite moments were after we had finished shooting and I would go walk my dog in the evening and just sort of take in the town a little bit. There was one night I brought her down onto these fairgrounds [The Berm] and it was it was at sunset and there was a thunder and lightning storm. If you looked out to the east, you could just see the light in the sky and the sun was setting over the town and you could see the silhouettes of seagulls flying around. Then I looked out to the west and it was dark and it had these dark

purple clouds with these flashes of lightning and waves were, like, crashing up onto the shore at little beach. There’s a certain sort of natural beauty about the place that just caught me by surprise.” Jonny is excited to come back (perhaps this summer); he wants to stay in the same room, as he and his dog loved being in the heart of town. If you missed the Port Stanley episode of Still Standing when it aired on January 12th, you can find it on CBC on demand.

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Port Stanley Villager • January-February 2022 • Page 11

Port Stanley Villager By 2017, the membership had grown to 211. Central Elgin had put the rent up and the hall was getting too small so we started looking for a new venue and found the Masonic Centre Hall. The space was bigger and on the ground level, much better for our members. It was also more central to the membership. In 2018, the membership was capped as we were running out of room again. Our membership at this time was just under 200 but we still are not accepting new members as capacity is now restricted by the COVID Virus. Geoffrey Rae Managing Editor /Sales [email protected] 519-495-7177 Copy Editor – Peter Bloch-Hansen Publisher – Barb Botten [email protected] Graphic Artist – Cathy Wood Please email [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you. Port Stanley and Community 55 Plus Club – Dedicated to the Social Active Senior in our Community By Marie Geerts, President, Port Stanley & Community 55 Plus Club In 1992, The Port Stanley Senior group at Legion Branch 410 wanted to separate from the Legion and so needed a new venue and name. Sylvia Hofhuis, Reeve at the time, got approval for the new club to meet at the Arena Hall every Monday. The name The Port Stanley & Community 55 Plus Club was chosen and there has been no looking back. The new club had a membership of 63. They played euchre one Monday and bingo the next Monday, with residents from Extendicare in Port Stanley coming over to play bingo. They had to drop bingo and just play euchre on Mondays when bingos started at the Bingo Hall. From 1992 – 1994, the group were sponsors at Bingo Bingo. When business slowed down, they were dropped from the sponsor group, but they picked up Bingo Country in the spring of 1994. The Bingo Hall is now Jackpot City and we are still working the bingos.

Volunteering at the Bingo Hall has allowed the club to make many donations through the years. This year we donated $8000 to 4 local groups along with the STEGH Foundation and the Elgin Hospice, though this year our donations were down from other years. The food drive at our Christmas dinner brought in over $1000 and a SUV of food, split between the St. Thomas and Port Stanley food banks. We have 12 bingo volunteers at this time, who take turns working at the bingo hall. The club arranged bus trips, theatre outings, casino trips, catered dinners and special fun nights, to name a few events. This has all stopped for the present time but we are hopeful that as things open up, we will return to somewhat normal. There is a yearly membership fee and admission to the card games. We are a social group and just want to provide our seniors with some quality time with good friendships and hopefully, we will be back to playing cards in the New Year. Front Row: Marie Geerts, President, John Brenders, Treasurer. Back Row: STEGH Foundation staff, Sandra Crossett, Bingo Chairperson, Jacqueline Bloom, STEGH Foundation CEO.

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KITCHEN • BATH • LAUNDRY • CLOSET • CUSTOM

We Offer

Kitchen Cabinetry • Bathroom Vanities Refacing Cabinetry • Refinishing Cabinetry Closet Organizers • Laundry Room Storage Countertops • Hardware & Accessories European & Traditional Design

We help create the kitchen, bathroom or laundry room of your dreams: From floor to ceiling with a small town friendly feeling.

519-317-8746 www.daveyanddaveycabinetry.ca

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Page 12 Port Stanley Villager • January-February 2022

Oooh Mexico by Marna Berry

Early in December, I was able to take a vacation I had been postponing for two years. I had almost forgotten how truly wonderful it is to go on a tropical getaway!!! I was happy to see so many others at Pearson International Airport enjoying the opportunity to travel afforded by the recently lifted Travel Advisory.

Riviera Maya in Mexico didn’t disappoint and a week of fun in the sun was just what the doctor ordered, after opting to lay low to protect myself, my family and community during the pandemic. Being in the industry, I realised scientifically the threat of contracting thevirusduring travel toMexico& theCaribbeanwasasmanageable as it is here. All the tourism providers are double vaccinated and following the strictest of COVID protocols. “Air travel is the most tested and protected consumer activity in Canada”, said Harry Taylor, WestJet President and CEO in the statement, “The risk of transmission of COVID-19 from contact with a traveller is extremely low (0.7%), according to the government’s own epidemiological >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16

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