It has for years been our family tradition to order a spiced beef for Christmas. A glorious (expensive) treat, the beef is steeped for weeks in a herb and salt mix, turned frequently and then steamed to eating perfection. As I’m writing this, I realize it doesn’t sound that good. You’ll have to take my…
This is a season of lessons. The lesson of the gift of the magi. The lesson of eternal love. The lesson of 57 words that lead to peace. The lesson of simplicity. The lesson of purity. A most poignant lesson awaits us this season and it’s centred in the Izumi Restaurant at 29 Anne St…
Picture this! Inside a greenhouse bubble, with piles of pine, spruce, white pine, blue spruce, cedar, hemlock, and dogwood boughs in piles around you. Christmas carols waft along the air from a tape deck in the corner. Sandwiches, fruit, Christmas cookies, hot mulled cider on a sideboard at the end. And a long table with…
Jo-Ann Lemieux loves order. She revels in taking a pile of clutter, paring ito essentials, stacking, sorting, piling, filing. Control of clutter. When she started her own business, Strategically Organized, earlier this year, she realized she’d found her true mission in life. And now, with the season of giving and Christmas upon us, Jo-Ann has…
Barb Arnold was a high school student, bopping from classes to student activities when her French teacher, Nancy Smith, nailed her. “Barb, you need an activity that would round out your studies. I’m completing my training to be a Girl Guide leader. Why don’t you come and help out?” Barb has been ‘helping out’ for…
Ed Stephens is 87 years old. A widower, he retired some years ago from the CNR where he toiled for years as an engineer, first in steam, then in diesel. Ed lives in Allandale, as he always has, with his son who suffers from epilepsy. Twice a week, Ed opens the door to a friendly…
Frances Davie is gone. This pleasant, loving, charming, talented woman who has taught literally thousands of students both piano and voice, died last week at Barrie Manor. She was 86. The last surviving member of the at one time famous Davies of Canada, Frances left the family home of over half a century to an…
You just never know. It was the last evening of a year’s worth of training, networking, bonding and support for 30 new business owners. I’d been involved for a year with these folks, looking at business plans, giving advice, and ultimately working with them to develop their ideas, launch their businesses, adding yet again to…
I’m writing this, my 263rd column, the night before Hallowe’en. Actually, truth be known, it’s actually now Hallowe’en Day. Though you’ll read this after all the tiny witches, goblins, and whatever the newest television superheroes are these days, have been to your door. But I’m thinking back, since this is the first Hallowe’en since 1978…
It was one of those uncomfortable moments that Mom never taught me how to deal with. As editor of the Barrie Banner (forerunner to this newspaper you’re holding now) I got to cover just about everything. I particularly enjoyed Saturday morning hockey when Shayne Corson was five years old, scoring hat-tricks every single game. The…