You might say that Joan New is a Type A personality. Give her a list and the finish line was about all she saw. When Joan New, from Stroud, married Dennis Decarie from “Vatican Hill” [nickname for the residential area around St Mary’s Church] in Barrie, her first lesson was that the list was going…
Ron Hardy was a Barrie boy, just turned 20. It was 1934. June 26. He had gone into the town clerk’s office to see Mr. Smith about getting a waterlot down on the shore of Kempenfelt Bay. In those days a rough trail ran where Kempenfelt Dr. now runs. Huge trees hung their limbs over…
It was 1983 and the wonder of the personal computer was rounding the corner. While I was spending the better part of a year researching computers to buy as the family Christmas gift that year, a fledgling organization was taking shape in Barrie so people could learn how to make the greatest use of this…
Ellen Soloy is a lucky woman. Why? Because she grew up with parents who never limited her horizons, who listened to her dreams and said ‘when?’ So, when she moved to Barrie last year to accommodate her husband’s work, it felt like the right time to put her life long dream into action. Funny thing…
Win! Win! Win! For 16 weeks now Barrie residents have been able to buy all of their fresh fruits and vegetables and organic meat from farmers who till their fields and feed their animals within miles of Barrie. We’ve been able to do this for years at the Saturday Barrie Farmers’ Market. But 16 weeks…
A few years ago I attended the funeral of a doctor that I cared for very much. The funeral was at Central United Church. My overwhelming memory from that funeral is the final song… Charlie Carswell at the organ; Ruth Carswell at the grand piano. They were simultaneously playing different songs, blending musical phrases and…
At least 50 times a year we drive up or down Highway 93 (Penetanguishene Rd) from Barrie through Craighurst or return. Each time we drive past a derelict house and shop a bit north of the Garretts location and on the opposite side of the road. Number 951. It makes me sad. For years these…
When Peggy Raymer started her business, she decided to honour two mothers… hers, the source of so much inspiration, and Mother Earth, whose future we hold in our hands. The fact that Peggy’s organic body care products, Madre Bello [beautiful mother] will be tucked into the gift bags of every Emmy award nominee is a…
Tack this up on the fridge! (longer than 3 weeks and not normal for you)bloating abdomenpelvis discomfort/heavinessback or abdominal painfatiguegas / nausea / indigestionchange in bowel habits / frequent bladderunexplained weight loss / gain ……… The stats are scary… • 2400 Canadian women will be diagnosed• half will die• vague symptoms often overlooked because women…
You might call this the ripple effect. One set of knitting needles, wool, a hip grandmother with a cause, and … a teddy bear. Symbol of comfort in our society, the teddy bear has long been the ‘bearer’ of joy, mystery, excitement, travel. A number of women in our community, using their single pebble, their…