“It’s who you know that makes the difference around here.” “Yeah, if you’re not part of the old boys’ network, you’re not going anywhere.” “Old boys. They’re a cozy compact of powerful people who shut everybody else out.” Interesting phrases to describe a group of people who exist in probably every community. Old Boys. Who…

When Joyce Franz was three months old, her head lolled to one side. By the time she was six months old, her development was stunted on one side. In 1962 at 15 months, the cheery, sunny baby was doomed by doctors who proclaimed to her parents: this child will never walk or talk. Well, spend…

In a few weeks, white boxes with coin slots and poppies will show up all over Barrie. Most of us will slip a loonie or a twonie into the coin slot and pin on a poppy, left hand side please, just over your heart. In fact, most of us will buy several of these. Something…

Seven years ago, at the generosity of a breeder of black and yellow English labradors, a four year old entered our home. Completely unlike our dog who had passed away half a year before (see alpha dog on my website), this black lab with the perked up ears, the tilted head and the coal black…

Seven months after Mike Moran found that his body was full of cancer, heturned to his wife, Cheri Doman, and said, “I’m dying.” “Not tonight you’re not,” answered his friend, business partner, lifepartner, soul connection. “Not tonight.” This intimate moment occurred the evening Mike entered the palliative wingat Royal Victoria Hospital; it was the culmination…

“Hello. I wonder if you can tell me what the salary rate for a live-in care giver would be for the Belleville area?” The voice on the other end gives a website: www.labourmarketinformation.ca Magdalen discovers the hourly rate for a livein caregiver is $9 per hour. Salaries have risen since the minimum wage was pegged…

Every year, this newspaper puts out nominations for its Readers Choice awards. And its readers respond with enthusiasm. And the paper presents plaques to the winners and those plaques hang proudly in the reception areas of the winning businesses. I’ve often thought it might be interesting to ask Advance readers about their neighbourhoods. Who lives…

It’s harder to go ‘first.’ Many people think that if you’re ‘first’ to do something, you reap most of the financial benefits. Might be true in the odd case, but mostly ice-breakers need fortitude, vision… and patience. This month, five women are celebrating the fact that five years ago they broke the mould and started…

Respite is a wonderful thing! Even if you love your work, as I do, having the talented Elaine Murray take over this space gave me a truly restorative holiday. Thank you, Elaine. What does one do on holiday? Well, for me, it takes a week for the buzzing to stop… you know, the multi-tasking checking…

Last summer Doug Moody and Wendy Bette had a garage sale. They divested themselves of all the extra stuff sitting in their basement and their garage. Especially the cross country skis. Along with the glassware and ‘treasures’ went tools, camping equipment, extra hoses, some plumbing stuff… you know, all the stuff that we accumulate just…