Hometown St.Thomas August 2020

Hometown St.Thomas August 2020

Hometown St. Thomas August 2020 Issue 22

Only you can prevent dryer fires By Kim Destun, Fire Prevention Officer, St. Thomas Fire Department

If you’re anything like me, you spend a lot of time telling your kids to clean the lint trap when they dry their clothes, and there’s good reason for that! The leading cause of fires in home clothes dryers is failure to keep them free of lint and well maintained. Tips to keeping your home safe from dryer fires! Clothes dryer do’s: • Read and follow manufacturer’s care manuals on how to maintain your dryer. • Clean the lint filter before every load of laundry. • Be sure to clean around the dryer including the back where lint can build up. Keep the area around the dryer free of items that can burn. • Every three months, clean the lint and debris out of the vent pipe and exterior exhaust, and inspect the venting system behind the dryer to ensure it is not damaged or restricted. • Ensure there is nothing blocking the outside vent. (This includes nests, insects, or snow in the wintertime.) Clothes dryer don’ts: • Never use the dryer without the lint filter, and never use one that is damaged. • Don’t overload the dryer. • Don’t dry anything containing foam, rubber or plastic, or any items that have come into contact with flammable liquids such as alcohol, cooking oils, or gasoline. • Don’t leave your clothes dryer running when you leave home or go to bed. MIKES GARAGE BUY • SELL • TRADE CLEAN CERTIFIED USED CARS Repairs to all makes and models including: Fast and Affordable Oil Changes, Brakes, Suspension, Windshield Repairs and more! 519-207-3477 mikesgarageandautosales.com WE HAVE MOVED Our new home is 240 EDWARD STREET

Warning signs: If you find any of the issues below, it’s time to clean your dryer. These are all indicators that it is clogged with lint and very close to causing a fire! If you have cleaned out your dryer and the vent, and these issues persist, it’s time to call in the professionals and have your dryer serviced. • Finding excess lint on your clothing even after a full drying cycle. • Clothing that is abnormally hot to the touch after drying. • The top of the dryer is hot to the touch while it is running. • Increased drying time, taking longer than 35-40 minutes to dry a load. • No lint found on the lint screen after a load. • A dryer that repeatedly shuts off during the drying cycle. (Many have protection to shut off the dryer if it begins to overheat.) Ignoring any of these important warning signs and not properly maintaining your clothes dryer can have serious consequences. Keeping your home and family safe from fire is a top priority! AC NOT COOLING LIKE IT USED TO? Call today to book your annual AC Maintenance and keep cool this summer!

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Page 2 Hometown St. Thomas • August 2020

Where your pets would want to shop!

Whether your family pet has fur, fins or feathers, your locally owned Global Pet Foods has you and your pets covered. Opened in 2014, the St. Thomas Global Pet Foods is owned by Erica Dixon and John Eason who have years of experience in looking after the best interests of your pets. “We moved down to St Thomas in 2008 for an opportunity to purchase an existing Global Pet Foods franchise in London. Once we had settled in, we realized that our hometown of St. Thomas could benefit from a local store,” John said. And when John was looking to open the new St. Thomas location, he partnered with Erica who had spent several years working with him in his London store. Global Pet Foods was established in 1976, and what sets them apart from other pet supply retailers is that they have access to many different types of foods and accessories that aren’t available at their local competitors including a good selection of both locally produced and Canadian products. Global Pet Foods sources product from over a dozen distributors ensuring that they have access to new foods and accessories as they become available. This is why Global Pet Foods store is currently the largest Canadian-owned pet specialty retailer. But pet lovers do not just shop at Global Pet Foods because of their large selection of pet foods and toys. Their customers can rely on

John and Erica’s staff to be well-trained pet care specialists, who are knowledgeable and passionate about making sure your pets have the best life possible. “We work side-by-side with our staff to ensure that you and your pets, whether dog, cat, bird, small animal, or fish, are properly looked after,” says Erica. St. Thomas Global Pet Foods also offers a frequent-buyer program on the majority of their dry and raw food brands for dogs and cats, and even on some brands for small animals. Senior shoppers are rewarded further with discounts on the last Tuesday of each month. John and Erica are committed to our community, working with animal rescues and shelters to host adoption and fundraiser special events throughout the year. “Our annual Show Us Your Heart campaign supports local rescues in St Thomas. And across Canada, Global Pet Foods has raised almost $1,250,000 to date, helping in excess of 120 pet rescues and animal shelters across Canada,” shares John. So the next time you need to get food, or a special toy for your pet, remember to stop into Global Pet Foods St. Thomas for their local, friendly, knowledgeable service, and the variety of products coming from Canada’s largest Canadian-owned pet specialty retailer! And remember, pets are welcome to shop too!

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Service that is a cut above Pete Charlton’s Quality Meats has been a St. Thomas staple since owner Pete Charlton opened it back in 1993. The store is slightly off the beaten path, but Pete Charlton says he loves being on Ross St. “I have been doing this so long, we are a destination location! Plus, there is always lots of parking.” It is unusual these days to find a dedicated butcher shop, but that is what makes Pete Charlton’s Quality Meats so special. When asked the secret to Pete’s success he said, “I have good clientele who are very loyal. We have properly aged meats that we trim ourselves. And we buy all- Canadian, with as much from Ontario as possible.” Pete started in the meat industry when he was just 14, when he ventured into a grocery store looking for a summer job and was placed in the meat department. Forty-eight years later, he and his long-time helper Jason continue to deliver quality cuts of meat with old fashioned customer service. “We can special order products. We also will cut your meat to order – some of our customers like their meat thicker some thinner.” While offering a wide variety of meat from beef to chicken to pork, Charlton’s also produces some of their own products like their 5- or 7-oz. burger patties that have bacon ground right into them, a variety of sausages that are all gluten-free, steak, chicken or salmon shish kebobs that are marinated and ready for the BBQ, and their own custom London broils. Several times daily, Charlton’s grinds their own beef in small batches. “Ground beef is best the day it was ground,” offers Pete. Pete Charlton’s Quality Meats also offers some great pairings for their meat including lobster, shrimp, king crab, salmon, oysters during the holiday season, local cheese and more. During these past few months, with many businesses closed, Pete is proud to say that they never missed a day. “We wanted to be here for our customers.” He attributes their ability to do this to the great relationships he has built with his supplies over the years, and to his returning and new customers who were able to buy their meat without having to wait in long lines outside the store (while still being able to social distance themselves inside the store). And for you steak lovers, Pete recommends the ribeye. "It's my favourite bar none!”

Pete showing off an amazing Porterhouse with his assistant Jason

Come see what 48 years of experience, and passion for quality can mean for your dinner tonight. Pete Charlton’s Quality Meats is open Tuesday-Saturday 9:00AM – 6:00PM at 273 Ross St.

175 Sunset Drive St. Thomas’ local florist since 1995

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Page 4 Hometown St. Thomas • August 2020

Honey Mustard Potato Salad

Perfect for any BBQor reunitingwith family! Ingredients • 3 lbs baby red potatoes, unpeeled • 1 cup finely diced celery • 1/2 cup diced red onion • 1 medium carrot, grated Dressing • ¼ cup red wine vinegar • 2 tbsp. honey • 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard • 2 tsp. fresh thyme, finely chopped • 1 tsp. sea salt • ½ tsp. coarsely ground pepper • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil Directions • Combine potatoes and salt in a pot; add water to cover. Bring • ½ tsp. sea salt • 2 green onions to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, until tender, 10-12 minutes. Drain and cool.

• Mince white portions of green onions; slice green portions and reserve. Combine minced onions with celery, red onion and carrot. • For dressing, whisk together vinegar, honey, mustard, thyme, sea salt and coarsely ground pepper. Gradually whisk in oil until blended.

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Hometown St. Thomas • August 2020 • Page 5

Job loss and COVID-19 By Mark Durbridge, Job Development with Employment Services Elgin While job losses happen everyday on a small scale, and sometimes we see larger impacts (remember the plant closures in St. Thomas?), unemployment at anytime is never ideal. Every single industry has seen job loss since COVID-19 started. Canada lost nearly two million jobs in April – some temporary and some unfortunately permanent as small businesses try to cope without income or by opening at a fraction of their capacity – and regained nearly a million jobs in June. Pivoting, a relatively new term, refers to a way to shift previous business practices to a new way of reaching customers and consumers while keeping employees working and business moving. Online shopping, curbside pickup and delivery were required to attempt to keep doors open. Virtual meetings (e.g., Zoom) and working remotely may be the new normal as everyone tries to navigate through this. Only time will tell. As of late June, more restrictions were being lifted as wemoved into Stage 2. Patios can open, beaches and tourism can slowly restart. What does all of this mean to employees who may not be able to return to work? What if your employer could not pivot or may have been forced to close down as social distancing or emergency orders will not allow them to return? Most will return in due time, as their layoffs have been temporary, and will return to a different atmosphere (sanitizing, masks and modified workspaces).

Some might have to “pivot” themselves into a new career path or might need to adjust when they go back to work. If you are one of these people, you are not alone. Take the time to work on the skills that will make you a better candidate for employers or for a new position. Work on the elevator pitch that will best promote yourself and your skills. Work on your Zoom and technology skills or practice talking clearly through a mask! Employment Services Elgin is here to assist. We may be working remotely but that won’t stop us from helping you achieve your goals. Our dedicated staff are ready to work with you on resume support, interview skills and possible career changes. If you are an employer and need to hire we can place job ads and provide potential placement supports. Training grants may also be available to assist employees and employers. All of our services as always are free. We have new jobs being posted everyday. Please contact [email protected] or call 519-631-547

Hometown St. Thomas Cover Photo Photo by Geoff Rae Renee Yvette poses in front of "Wings" mural by Kelsey Montague. The murial can be found at 403 Talbot St (Canada Post office).

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Page 6 Hometown St. Thomas • August 2020

Chalk it up to COVID More and more St. Thomas is becoming known for its art, artists and culture. Look around and you will see many examples of this in our gallery, in our stores and murals downtown! Over the past few months, if you look down, you will see another example of this artistic passion. St. Thomas’ sidewalks have become a blank canvas for a mystery chalk artist. Lyndsay Collard, who moved to St. Thomas eight years ago wanted to give people a reason to smile during the COVID pandemic. “This is home, these are my people now, and everyone needs a reason to smile.” Lyndsay said. Lyndsay co-owns a local business called CoField Inc. which works with children with Autism and other special needs. Lyndsay’s passion for chalking all started with one of her clients who loved to chalk with her after their sessions, years ago. And then the COVID pandemic struck, and she was looking for a way to spread a little happiness within her community. First it was creating chalk art at her own home, then for the kids in her neighbourhood. Once she ran out of space she started chalking outside the hospital and nursing homes. People started seeing social media posts about the chalk art and requests started to come to Lyndsay for art for a child’s birthday, for people who were feeling down, and then some local businesses started asking.

Now that COVID restrictions have lifted a little, Lyndsay is back to her business. But she plans to continue while the weather is good. “I love it, it has been fun! There are so many amazing local businesses here that I love to support. Plus, when it rains you get to start over!” Thank you, Lyndsay for making St. Thomas a little brighter and helping bring people’s spirits up!

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With no formal training, but a passion for art and chalking Lyndsay wanted frontline workers to know that their community was behind them. Starting out anonymously Lyndsay chalked every entrance of the hospital over the course of a weekend and then continued to spread her colourful message throughout the city. She managed to keep her identity a secret until she was finally discovered chalking by some EMS workers. Lyndsay’s art was diverse and included pictures of doctors and nurses in masks, Harry Potter, and she even had a request for Plants vs. Zombies (a video game Lyndsay had to learn about). Lyndsay’s talents were also recently requested for the Black Lives Matters protest held in London. She chalked positive messages for the protest. THE TURKEY SHOPPE It’s BBQ Season... Get Grilling! Turkey Burgers and Sausages Turkey Wieners

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A passion for pizza

Is there any more perfect food then pizza? It can be eaten hot or cold, virtually every meal of the day. It can be customized to suit every preference, and only requires your hand (and maybe a napkin). Mike Ryder has a passion for pizza and has been serving up slices to St. Thomas for 33 years. Just under a year ago Mike and his wife Ashley Miller opened Mikey’s Pizzeria on Elm St. (in the former M&M Meats location). Mikey’s Pizzeria specializes in a perfect thin crust pizza, covered in their signature sauce, lots of cheese and a wide array of toppings (including REAL Bacon). Mike spent over 20 years working at Capri pizza, and then opened his own store called A Slice Above before retiring from the pizza business. However, after five years, his passion called him back, and with the help of his family, he is back serving his hand-crafted pizzas. “We are a family-run business. This venture has been made possible with lots of family support,” says Mike. Mikey’s also some great compliments to your pizza dinner including panzerottis, and some amazing garlic strips. Plus, they have recently added chicken wings which are a must-try according to Mike. “Our wings are made fresh with our own homemade batter and sauces” which include mild, medium, hot, honey garlic and fire & ice. Coming soon to the menu are nachos.

So, if you and your family are looking for a slice of the perfect food, give Mikey’s Pizzeria a call tonight at 519-207-9001. Mikey’s offers pick-up or delivery everyday after 4PM. Note: Mikey’s Pizzeria will be closed for holidays from July 28 to August 4. But they will be marking their return with a special from August 5 – 7: buy one, get one half-off. Mikey's Pizzeria is located at 100 Wilson Ave.

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Page 8 Hometown St. Thomas • August 2020

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From the city, to your closet By Malichi Male, Saint T Fashion & Hair Design The definition of urban is “from the city.” It's a term used to describe something fresh, new, and creative. Since 2018, rap music has surpassed rock music as the most consumed musical genre in the world, because it has the youngest demographic of listeners, making it the most influential, since the youth are usually the trendsetters of every generation. Rap has become a culture onto itself by injecting its influence in almost every industry you can imagine, including sports, advertising and especially fashion. According to Billboard magazine, it was estimated that Toronto rapper, Drake was responsible for five percent of the city's nine-billion-dollar tourism revenue in 2018. Urban fashion has always been a trendsetter, largely due to its close ties to hip hop music and its younger demographic of consumers, so clothing designers have typically looked towards the inner city to get a heads-up on what's going to be the hottest trend that season. In the early 80s, this all started when a young man and his girlfriend entered a Harlem clothing store in New York City, owned by now Gucci designer Dapper Dan. The young man's girlfriend had a small Louis Vuitton fanny pack that had everyone in the store speechless. Dapper Dan was surprised by everyone's fascination with such a small bag and couldn’t understand what was so special about until he realised that it was not the bag that had people mesmerized – it was the LV logo on it, because that logo meant that you had money, taste, and status. Dan thought to himself that if people were going crazy over this LV logo on a small bag, imagine if someone had an entire outfit with LV all over it! At the time Louis

Vuitton had not ventured into the clothing world; they only made luggage and small accessories. When LV refused to sell their product wholesale to Dapper Dan, he walked into a nearby LV store, purchased a large suitcase, then cut it up and made custom clothing out of it which he then sold for top dollar to up and coming rappers like LL Cool J, Salt-N-Pepa and Erick B & Rakeem. Because of the popularity of LL Cool J, and this new rap genre, a chain reaction amongst fellow rappers ensued, and every new fresh rapper wanted an outfit from Dapper Dan. Even top athletes like former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson jumped on board and embraced Dapper Dan’s designs. This trend exploded and because Dan reinvented a new way of attaching luxury brands to young and popular urban musicians, it inspired Louis Vuitton to venture into the clothing world.

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Page 10 Hometown St. Thomas • August 2020

Other high-end clothing brands soon adapted using rap music to popularize their brands or keep their brands relevant. Adidas teamed up with rap duo Run DMC to relaunch the shell-top sneakers. Sprite partnered up with rapper Grand Puba to rebrand the soft drink and came up with the “obey your thirst” slogan. Although Tommy Hilfiger’s brand had been around for some time, it didn’t hit mainstream until hip hop popularized it. The urban community didn’t take to the Ralph Lauren line until it was urbanized by Tyson Beckford, and Timberland was a hiking boot company until rappers started wearing them; now they are a staple in urban fashion This new movement fused urban music to urban fashion and they haven’t been separated since. Today, they are used to introduce new products, songs, and clothing to the masses, and in Drake’s case, this put Toronto on the map as a cool place for tourists to visit. Urban culture stands as the testing ground for success. If the inner city, hip hop and urban fashion embrace your product then the world will as well. It was in the inner city where Michael Jackson first saw kids doing the moonwalk, so he emulated the moves and made it a world-wide phenomenon. Other trends that originated from the inner city, then taken over by mainstream society, include

hair styles, clothing trends and popular slang. To make a long story short, urban fashion is what society looks at to know “who got next?”

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Hometown St. Thomas • May 2020 • Page 11

Travelling this Summer by Sue Warden If therewas ever a time to look to theoutdoors for a summer vacation, this year would certainly qualify. With the apprehension of taking a trip via air or any other means of transportation other than the car, planning a road trip is pretty appealing.

Vacation in an RV For those of you who already own an RV, you are in good shape. Travelling in an RV allows you to stay within safe guidelines and enjoy your “house on your back” as I like to describe it. You have access to all your own “stuff” with the added pleasure of never having to unpack or concern yourself with using communal campground washrooms. If you are a seasoned RVer, you will know that you have to find a campground site in advance and get it booked, especially given the popularity of Another good choice is to find a rental property in a location you might like to explore. Again, there are many companies online that offer everything from cabins to cottages and beach houses. This is truly a family-friendly type of holiday, and companies are required to follow guidelines with respect to cleaning protocol to address COVID-19 prevention, including a 24-hour period between bookings – be sure to ask about this when booking. Yes, it’s a bit more work when you get to a rental. Be sure to disinfect all high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, countertops and wipe down furniture as well as wash all dishes before you use them. Washrooms are especially important. Vacation Under the Stars How about a camping trip? This is a great option for families, and many people have decided to take their first camping holiday this year. You will need to use a communal washroom at camping sites, so you will need to consider your comfort level with this and bring cleaning supplies along with lots of hand sanitizer. There are many great campgrounds around, and our country is host to incredible scenery along with amazing national parks. Just be sure to social distance as always. Vacation at Spacious Resorts this type of vacation at this time. Vacation at a Rental Property Many vacation hotels are open this summer and are offering great deals as well as enhanced cleaning policies. Before

you book, be sure to check out websites to ensure these safety measures are in place. You can also consider asking for a room that has been vacant for 24 hours or more. Something to look for – enhanced cleaning in all public areas, including elevators and all staff being required to wear face masks. Some resorts will not have restaurants or room service at this point in time, so again, be sure to ask before you book. Vacation Packing It’s definitely different and a little more work trying to get a vacation in this summer, but certainly not impossible. Just be sure to stock up on cleaning supplies before you head out to enable you to disinfect anywhere you go before your family unpacks. Include paper towel, and don’t forget the face masks for every member

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Page 12 Hometown St. Thomas • August 2020

of the family over two. Include gloves for pumping gas and pack some food so you don’t have to rely on making a lot of stops. If we all follow the guidelines set out for us, we can do this! We can spend time with our family while enjoying all nature has to offer! Safe travels.

Sue Warden is the host of HGTV’s “Sue Warden CraftScapes”, a published author of three bestselling books, an interior decorator and currently works as an event planner and fundraiser for the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH) Foundation.

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Hometown St. Thomas • August 2020 • Page 13

Real-time solutions where cabinetry & technology meet by Ron DeWeger, President GCW Custom Kitchens & Cabinetry Inc. Imagine your home with all touchless and voice-activated technologies. This is the reality in 2020 and the reality of cabinetry today. Not only does Smart Cabinetry offer some amazing innovative options, it may also give our aging family members or loved ones with disabilities an opportunity to stay home longer. The COVID-19 pandemic causes one to reflect on what matters most in life. When it comes right down to it, it’s all about relationships. Relationships with family are likely at the core for most of us. This is the perfect time to evaluate our homes and how they can be modified to enable us to live in them for as many years as possible. As the Baby- Boomer contemplates what this looks like, concepts like “stay at home” and “accessibility” come to mind. Given the challenges in our nursing homes today, these concepts are more important than ever. So, what does it look like living in our homes as long as we can? In the age of “Smart Technology”, the cabinetry industry has had to develop and engineer innovative ideas to make that possible, easy and affordable. Imagine … being able to access your cabinetry with the wave of a hand, or a spoken word. Imagine … living in a condo or apartment and uttering the word, “Bedtime”, and your automated bed comes out of the wall, lights automatically dim, all televisions and music automatically shut down for the night. Imagine … saying, “Dinner time”, and your automated cabinetry drops down to a countertop Sugarr Say goodbye to the razor and hello to the ancient art of sugaring, natural hair removal 633 Talbot Street, St. Thomas (inside Purely Wicked) 519 200 5649

"One thing that always touches me – when we were in the hospital and Brahm’s Lullaby would play signifying that a birth had just taken place – Peter always loved that, as it seemed the circle of life was in play yet again.We have always been proud to support the dedicated medical staff who consistently provide exceptional care to our family and friends, and a hospital that moves progressively into the future. 'It’s OUR Hospital' reflects the affection we have for STEGH …… the heart of our community."

Eleanor Robson St. Thomas Donor

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Page 14 Hometown St. Thomas • August 2020

height for accessibility, cabinet lights turn on automatically, and the 6’oclock news starts up on your smart tv. Imagine … getting up in the middle of the night and having motion lighting light up underneath your bed and wall lighting direct you to the bathroom. Imagine … touchless taps, toilets, all at your fingertips. Innovation, custom-designed to suit everyday needs! Whether in a newly built home, a new or existing condo, or an apartment, technology is here to stay. These technologies are not only for the tech-savvy consumer, butmore importantly to enhance the independence and quality of life experienced by individuals with physical limitations or disabilities. No, this is not the Jetsons folks, these are real-time solutions in the world where cabinetry and technology meet.

"One thing that always touches me – when we were in the hospital and Brahm’s Lullaby would play signifying that a birth had just taken place – Peter always loved that, as it seemed the circle of life was in play yet again.We have always been proud to support the dedicated medical staff who consistently provide exceptional care to our family and friends, and a hospital that moves progressively into the future. 'It’s OUR Hospital' reflects the affection we have for STEGH …… the

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Hometown St. Thomas • August 2020 • Page 15

Girl who ran like a deer died young, from one perspective by Terry Carroll When I was young, if I hadheard that somebody’s grandmother had passed away, I might have felt sad, but I also would have thought, “She lived a good, long life” and moved on to more pressing

money a man needed to “have money”, but everybody seemed to know who did and who didn’t. It was a local version of the caste system, and I knew my place. I was never going to ask her out. But if I had, I wouldn’t have known what to say to her dad because he was a bit of an odd duck, if not a weirdo, in one way. He took time away from the dealership to watch his daughter compete. Ordinary people did not do that. The prevailing attitude was: “If you’ve got that much energy to waste, I know some things you could do around the farm.”

Hometown St. Thomas Geoffrey Rae, Manager/Sales [email protected] • 519-495-7177 Staci Rae, Editor [email protected] Special thanks to Terry Carroll for all of his assistance with this issue. Publisher – Barb Botten [email protected] Graphic Artist – Cathy Wood Photos, community events and article suggestions welcome. Please email [email protected] Then there was her father. He owned the GM dealership in Rodney and was assumed to “have money”. It was never very clear how much The problem Kathy and other girls had when they competed against Cindy was that she may have run with the slightly gangly, graceful gait of a deer, but she was a speed demon. In the 1966 yearbook, she is listed as setting three records in a single year, for the junior running broad jump (an event tailor-made for high school humour), 100-yard dash and 220-yard dash. Cindy and I were high school classmates, and we hung around some of the same track meets, but I am dead certain that I never even considered competing for her attention, romantically. One reason was all that hanging around track meets. West Elgin District High School female athletes came attired in loose-fitting purple onesies that looked like they had been designed by nuns to repel pimply-faced teenaged boys with ideas. concerns like acne raising its ugly red head again, or how to call a girl from a rotary phone in the middle of the house without the entire farm family listening in. Funny how time changes your perspective. Three years after her death, I came across tributes to Cindy (Fordham) Lyons, who had died at what now seems like the relatively young age of 66. “Posted by Fred Waucaush (childhood friend) “Went to school with Cindy in Rodney and West Lorne. Tons of memories of Cindy during childhood years. I will also remember her for her athletic abilities and accomplishments. My sympathies to Fordham and Lyons families. R.I.P Cindy.” “Posted by Kathy Snider (Szusz) (childhood classmate) “Childhood memories sweep over me; our school times at Rodney Public School andWest ElginDistrict H.S., track and field in particular. We were friends and competitors ... my very deepest thoughts of condolence to all of you, her family.”

The icing on the cake was David Lyons. Older, a bit of a bad boy, he was all dark-haired boyfriend to her blondeness. Some mountains are just too high. But I agree with Fred about the tons of memories. Cindy may have been several pegs above most of us on the track and in the local caste system; she may have dated and then married a local heart-throb; but she was kind to everyone. Her parents had done something right. There didn’t seem to be a conceited bone in that body that dashed like a deer. It was a little shocking to read that she had died at 66, but no surprise that so many people had posted warm tributes. Cindy Fordham in Grade 13 in the 1969 yearbook. The key? 1. Name. 2. Nickname. 3. Ambition. 4. Probable Fate. 5. Pet Peeve. 6. Favorite Saying.

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Page 16 Hometown St. Thomas • August 2020

You can make it into a game where the child must swallow the candy without allowing the colour from the candy to transfer to the tongue. This “time limit” can be helpful as some medications have a protective coating. Once this coating is dissolved in the mouth, the medication can become bitter or more difficult to swallow. If the child cannot, or will not, swallow a solid dosage form, some medications may be put in a soft substance such as applesauce, pudding or ice cream. Swallowing it along with a soft food that is familiar to the child helps to eliminate the psychological barrier. (Mary Poppins said it best: A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!) It is always important to confirm with your pharmacist before doing this, especially if you are crushing a tablet or opening a capsule. If all else fails, don’t be discouraged; speak to a pharmacist about other dosage forms that may help, such as liquid or gummies. As always, take care of yourselves, your kids, and each other.

As a compounding pharmacist, I spend time making medications into forms such as liquids, gummies and even lollipops. For those who are unable to swallow tablets and capsules, it offers an option to take medicines. Many ATough Pill to Swallow By Steve Bond

drugs, however, cannot be made into these forms and so learning to swallow pills is a valuable skill that we often take for granted. Like any skill, some people have it naturally and others must practice until they learn it. This can be especially challenging for children. While there is no specific age for a child to be able to swallow pills, please make sure the child is old enough to be cooperative and motivated to learn a new task. As with any learned skill, it’s important to start small and work your way up. (No one starts a running program by attempting a marathon on day one.) Start small with an something such as an ice cream or cake sprinkle. Have the child: • Sit up straight. • Tilt their head back only a bit. • Take a few sips of water to “practice” swallowing. • Put the pill on their tongue and then drink the water again. (Sometimes having kids drink through straws can help.) It’s important to be encouraging and not get too stressed as this may take some time to master. As each skill is mastered, increase the size of the “pill” to a mini M&M and then to a larger candy such as a skittle or regular M&M.

Covid Compliant Dealership

ÐRepresentative nance offer based on a new 2019 Qashqai S FWD. Selling price is $25,475 nanced at 0% APR equals 60 monthly payments of $425 monthly for a 60 month term. $0 down payment required. Cost of borrowing is $0 for a total obligation of $25,475. ^Representativemonthly lease offer based on a new 2019 Kicks S at 0% lease APR for 60 months equals monthly payments of $259 with $0 down payment, and $0 security deposit. Lease based on a maximum of 20,000 km/year with excess charged at $0.10/km. Total lease obligation is $15,553. *Up to $1,000 payment waiver available on the lease/ nance of a new and previously unregistered 2019 Qashqai/KICKSmodel, on approved credit, from an authorized Nissan dealer in Canada between January 3 -31 2020. Up to the rst 3 monthly lease/ nance payments (exclusive of taxes) will be waived UP TO $1000. After waived leased/ nance payments, customer will be required to make all remaining scheduled lease/ nance payments over the remaining term of the contract. If the total of 3 monthly lease/ nance payments exceeds $1000, then customer will be responsible for paying any difference. If the total of the 3 monthly lease/ nance payments is less than$1000, then customer will not be credited with the difference. The value of a customer’s lease/ nance payments will be impacted by the length of the term and the down payment, if any, as selected by the consumer. ÐModels shown $33,398/$20,240 selling price for a new 2019 Qashqai SL AWD/2019 KICKS S. All Pricing includes Freight and PDE charges ($1,950/$1,815), air-conditioning levy ($100), applicable fees, tire charge, manufacturer’s rebate and dealer participation where applicable. License, registration, insurance and applicable taxes are extra. Offers are available on approved credit through Nissan Canada Finance for a limited time, may change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers except stackable trading dollars. Vehicles and accessories are for illustration purposes only. Offers are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Taxes extra. See your participating Nissan dealer or visit Choosenissan.ca for details. Certain conditions apply. ©2019 Nissan Canada Inc.

OFFER ENDS AUGUST 31, 2020

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JEFF YUREK, MPP Elgin-Middlesex-London Here to help you with any of the following provincial matters Monday through Friday, 10:00 - 4:30: Ontario Disability Support Program OHIP Cards • Driver’s Licences Ontario Works • Birth Certi f icates P: 519-631-0666 • T: 1-800-265-7638 750 Talbot St, Unit 201 St. T h omas, ON N5P 1E2 Email: [email protected] JEFF YUREK, MPP Elgin-Middlesex-London Here to help you with any of the following provincial matters Monday through Friday, 10:00 - 4:30: Ontario Disability Support Program OHIP Cards • Driver’s Licences Ontario Works • Birth Certi f icates P: 519-631-0666 • T: 1-800-265-7638 750 Talbot St, Unit 201 St. T h omas, ON N5P 1E2 Email: [email protected] P: 519-631-0666 • T: 1-800-265-7638 750 Talbot St, Unit 201, St. Thomas ON N5P 1E2 Email: [email protected]

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Page 18 Hometown St. Thomas • August 2020

Elgin Central Intake By Sherri Wilson, VON

Elgin Central Intake was established in 2017 to offer seniors, adults with disabilities, and their loved ones, access to various community support services across Elgin County. The focus is on promoting independent living through prevention, early intervention, self-management, and health and well-being services. Clients and/or caregivers only need to call one number to access services, making it easy for family and clients to receive the necessary referrals to agencies participating in the Community Support Network Elgin. When a client or loved one calls the Central Intake line, an intake worker will ask a series of questions designed to best assist in finding the right services. Elgin Central Intake offers information about existing services, access to new services, and changing or cancelling current services. Programs and services may include: • Meals and Nutrition: Community dining, Meals On Wheels (hot and/or frozen). • Education and Support (Adult day program): individual and group supports, caregiver supports, education, information and system navigation. • Safety and Reassurance: Visiting and telephone reassurance, education and behavioural supports, support on hospital discharge, and personal emergency response system. • Health and Wellness: Social programs, group fitness, self- management, bathing, health education, fall prevention, medication management supports, counselling and social work supports. • Support in the Home: Personal supports, housekeeping, in-home meal preparation, in-home exercise, respite, and caregiver relief. • Transportation: Rides to medical appointments, social activities, errands, and shopping. • Intensive Support Programs: Assisted living, adult day programs, overnight and day respite, and supportive housing. • Specialized Services: Supports for people with memory loss\ dementia, acquired brain injury, adults with developmental disability. Participating agencies include: • Alzheimer Society of Elgin-St. Thomas • Bobier Villa (Adult Day Program) • Cheshire Independent Living Services • Dale Brain Injury Services • Terrace Lodge (Adult Day Program) • Tillsonburg and District Multi-service Centre • Valleyview Home Long-Term Care (Adult Day Program) • West Elgin Community Health Centre • Victorian Order of Nurses – Middlesex-Elgin – Elgin-St. Thomas Office – Community Support Services. For further information or any questions you may have, please call Central Intake Elgin at 1-888-866-7527 Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:00pm.

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Hometown St. Thomas • August 2020 • Page 19

Hospital to Home

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