It was March, 1973 and as editor of The Banner I was “laying out” the news. In those days offset press was revolutionizing newspaper production and instead of setting rows of lead type into steel forms, we were putting wax on the back of paper columns of print and “sticking” them down to heavier which…
So… your two-year-old has just left a full set of teethprints in the arm of your neighbour’s baby. So… your four-year-old has accused you with child abuse for disciplining her. So… your 12 year old is smoking in the washroom at school… and at home! So… your 14 year old refuses to utter a single…
It’s Wednesday night. The Lions’ Hall is set, round tables for six, linen and china and scrumptious roast beef buffet. Lights on the stage are subdued. Men in purple vests are selling bar tickets. Women in purple vests are running the coat check. People are arriving in the full blush of expectation, handing in their…
January 2001. Five hundred people out of work. Plant bankrupt. Receivers in place. Gates locked. Lifetimes stopped. Rumours sifted through Volkswagen for years. And then the plant was bought by Alloy Wheels International and rumours still sifted. Those on the line would pick up tidbits of information. Human Resources personnel would give no employment references,…
The verdict is in! It’s perfectly safe to buy a prom dress in Barrie. And here’s the rest of the story… Kid Two and I persisted in her search for the perfect gown for High School Prom. Not totally satisfied with any of the magnificent gowns that presented themselves in Toronto’s fashion district, we came…
Part of the joy of being in the Girl Guides movement is sleeping under the stars. Learning how to build a campfire from scratch. Planning menus that will last in a bag hanging from a tree branch. Lying in a sleeping bag and giggling til all hours. Learning to Scout’s Pace. Learning how to live…
If you think Barrie’s not a small town, just go looking for a prom dress. With a “live-locally, shop locally” philosophy, Kid Two and I headed out to look for that magical wonderment, that series of filaments that is the highlight of high school, the prom dress. For any mother who remembers fondly her own…
Val Lougheed is one amazing woman. Standing quietly in the background on Wednesday afternoon, she watched with a smile on her face as one of her staff, Vicki Hannan, ushered a new service into the world. Vicki was one of six community partners cutting the ribbon that launched a new employment service into Barrie’s south…
When my firstborn was just a mite, I remember one spring acquiring a couple of spiggots and buckets and tapping the 50 year old maple trees in our front yard. I thought it would be an “interesting” experience for Mom and kid to learn about the making of maple syrup, Canada’s national sweetener. It’s unbelievable…
Laura Moore is a hockey Mom. She’s very involved in every Barrie Minor Hockey game her son plays. She’s also on the fundraising committee at his school, and treasurer of the school council. Laura Moore is also a very busy entrepreneur. Last July she opened her spectacular flower and gift shop, Flower Garden and Gifts,…