FRIDAY, Dec. 11/09

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AYLMER TOMOROW:

-Straffordville Christmas Parade 10:30 am

-Grassroots-Sponsored Rally at St.Thomas City Hall at Noon

-Christmas Children’s Play at Old Town Hall Theatre, 2 pm

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“THURSDAY: EESS GIRLS’ HOCKEY =   EESS 8, Parkside 1″

-Goals= Marceau 2, Scherer, Haines, Vansevenant, Sprague, Nooren, Stevenson.

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“THURSDAY: EESS BOYS BASKETBALL – Senior =  EESS 45, Parkside 27″

-Morse 12, Cornelissen 10, Barton 8 (EESS 2-0)

“THURSDAY: EESS BOYS BASKETBALL – Junior = EESS 48, Parkside 24

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“STRAFFORDVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE SATURDAY 10:30″

-Always the second Saturday in December

-Begins at the public school;  ends at community centre; bags of goodies to children from Santa; hot chocolate for all

-Ingersoll Pipe Band will be in the parade

-Bayham Fire Dept. will be collecting canned goods

-Organized by Straffordville Lions Club, Lioness, Optimists, Fire Dept, SERVE committee  etc. (contact Shirley Biro)

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“CHRISTMAS FOOD HAMPER Registration Is At Corner Cupboard Food Bank, MCC Resource Centre, or Call 3-5162;  DELIVERY DATE is Dec. 23; CORNER CUPBOARD Reports “Demand is still up 30% over last year.” “

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THURS., Dec. 10/09

-”AYLMER FLU CLINIC TURNOUT TUESDAY WAS 491″ – No further clincs scheduled.

-”AYLMER UNITED WAY AT 70%  OF THEIR GOAL REPORTS CHAIR MEGAN SIMMONDS ‘ - Campaign ends January 20.

“BONES FOUND IN COPENHAGEN  BELIEVED FROM UNUSED CEMETERY!”

(Information supplied by Elgin OPP)

Copenhagen – Elgin OPP were dispatched to a property on Half Moon Rd. Malahide Twp on Tuesday at approximately 12:31pm after an excavator operator that was backfilling a trench dug for a geothermal system unearthed what appeared to be human skeletal remains.  The scene was secured and OPP Criminal Investigations Unit and Forensic Identification Unit were brought in for the  investigation .  The investigation, historical records and area residents indicated that this was a former cemetery site possibly dating back to the 1800’s.  A anthropologist was brought in from the Coroners Office in Toronto.  The anthropologist confirmed that the skeletal remains were of a historical nature.  No further investigation was required.  An archeologist is being brought in to assist with the excavation of the remain for re-internment.

(According to the Elgin Genealogical Society, a burial  site close by was called Barnum’s Cemetery. There are Barnums located in the vicinity by the 1876 ElginAtlas.  The AylmerNews learned that the digging was at a residence just west of the Half-Moon road – away from the site believed to be the cemetery. Some stones remain from the cemetery but are illegible. )

“AYLMER COUNCIL NOT READY TO COLLAR PROPOSED DOG PARK…YET!”

Aylmer – An Ad Hoc committee set up by Council in the summer to investigate the possibility of an “off leash dog park” presented its report to the town Monday – but Council asked – eventually -  for more information before providing any endorsement.

The committee, composed of Councillor Gerry Richer, town Director of Operations Rod Tapp and citizens John Forsdike and Don Gunstone,  suggested in its report that the best site was an area east of No-Frills Grocery, at Aylmer’s northern limits. The park would be about 5-7 acres, be accessible from Glencolin Line and Progress Drive, and would not share space with other users. But the preliminary costs of this would be $50,000, as proposed by Cyril Demeyre Consulting Engineers, including $15,000 for clearing the area, $13,000 for fencing, $6000 for gating and $5000 for parking.

The committee asked Council to endorse the concept and to support a new committee to raise funds (as well as a request to dissolve their committee) but Council -after much discussion- voted all of these suggestions down and asked the delegation to return with more information, especially on funding.

The following details were provided by Ad Hoc Chairman John Forsdike in reply to AylmerNews inquiries:

“All dogs are pack animals and are naturally social creatures.  This is a necessity for them to become happy and well adjusted.  An Off-Leash Dog Park will provide an exercise area and a social gathering place for our pets.  It will also give us exercise and communication with other dog owners. ..Now we must move forward as a citizen-based group to develop and finance an Off-Leash Dog Park .  Town Council suggested that we come back to them once sufficient funds have been raised to proceed.  The project will be done with no taxpayer monies. If you are interested in forming a citizen based committee, please contact John Forsdike at  519  773  9058…We have about 12 people signed up so far.  I’m thinking of placing signs up at the groomers around Town.  I have placed sign-ups at the vet clinics with only limited response.
St Thomas, Tillsonburg, London and St Mary’s all have plans to build or have built dog parks.  Tillsonburg had 2 meetings and had 200 sign-up as being interested….The costs will vary a great deal depending on the location.  For the Town property in the north end; trails have to be built, fences installed,  trees have to be removed.  At other locations,  there may be no trees or trails needed.  However, fencing is necessary.  The cost may be $1,000 to 5,000  to start a simple Dog Park in Town.The Town insurance carrier said there would be no additional liability costs for the accidents that might occur at the Park.   New dogs to the area would have to be watched at entry and a lead dragged along behind for quick control.”

WED., Dec. 9/09

AYLMER TODAY:

-EESS Girls Hockey Host Parkside, 3:15 pm

“EESS BOYS HOCKEY TUESDAY =  CECI  2  EESS  O    “

OBITUARY:

-Wall, Helen D.,  Tuesday,  of Springfield,  in her 60th year;  Visitation today at Kebbel Funeral Home 2-4 , 7-9;  Funeral Thursday 2 pm at Reinland Fellowship Church.

“IMMANUEL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL – ‘Christmas Events’” (Submitted)

-”This Friday evening, Dec. 11, the staff and students are presenting a “Journey to Bethlehem” (often called a “Bethlehem Walk”).  Our journeying visitors will be guided to various stations and meet shepherds, angels, wisemen, people at a market place, guests at an inn and, of course, the stable.  At each stop, students will be filling the roles of people you might have met around Bethlehem so long ago.  Tours leave from the front of the school (75 Caverly Road) every 10 minutes from 6:30 to 8:30.  Admission is free, and everyone is welcome!! We are hoping for good weather, so we can hold it outside, but we’ll adjust to indoors if necessary.

-Another exciting project is that our students are raising money to purchase “Gifts that Keep Giving” through an organization (CRWRC) that provides resources for people in other countries.  The idea is to provide something a family can use that can then be used to support or take care of other families.  Our JK-S/K and Grade 1/2 classes have so far purchased 4 fish farms.  Grade 3/4 is starting on a second calf, and Grade 5/6 has almost purchased 2 goats.  The Grade 7/8 class has purchased a water filter and is now collecting money for a fresh water container.  Students are bringing in family donations as well as money from their allowance or from doing jobs.  It has been exciting to watch the donation thermometers outside of their classrooms go up as they make gifts that can be life-changing for people in other parts of the world.”

“TERRACE LODGE STAFF WIN PROVINCIAL AWARD”

Aylmer – A mentoring program for new staff at Terrace Lodge – the Terrace Lodge Coaches program – won this year’s Peoples Choice award at the Innovations in Health Care Expo in Toronto recently. Under the supervision of Rhonda Roberts, TL Director of Seniors services,  a team has been mentoring  new staff in the past year in various tasks – safety, patient rights, conflict resolution etc.  The award came with a $10,000 grant which will be used for more training for the team and to fund demonstrations by the team of the program at other Elgin County Homes. Team members include Lois Ashton-Diniz, Yvonne Gavey, Susan Giesbrecht, Rhonda Vanderwerff, Grace Hertner, Pauline Hoogheim, AnnMarie Robertson, Anete Nowak, Donna McEwen, Kathy James and Jill Ker.

“OVER 100 YEARS AGO: AYLMER BRONCOS HOCKEY TEAM!”

(This photo was submitted by reader Jake Peters; it came into his possession recently.  ‘Aylmer News’ researched the following from The Aylmer Express.)

The Aylmer ‘Broncos’ (Express spelling) were one of two town hockey teams in 1908-9, This was the senior team, the junior team was called Shramrocks. They played at the Aylmer Ice Palace (present Post Office location). Manager AA Leslie charged 15 cents for games (and free skating afterwards), 25 cents for better competition .Both teams seemed to win their share of games – opposition came from Port Burwell, Springfield, Sparta, London, Woodstock, Simcoe etc. They took a train to away games. The Express especially liked to comment on the officiating – usually high praise – and it was rare that players were “sent to the fence”. However, one report said: “The referee tried to be fair but paid too much attention to the talk of the spectators and let many offsides go resulting in some goals.”

The Broncos began the season with a roster that included Eiger, White, Taylor, Dunning, Miller, Robins and Wright but Manager Frank Burgess gradually changed his lineup. It eventually included those seen in the photo –the only originals were J. White and L. Miller,  R Thompson, J Walker,  T Sherry, M Paupst, and C Paupst, The teams played with seven aside, including a rover – there were no substitutes.

TUESDAY, Dec. 8/09

“AYLMER POLICE STATE, THIS MORNING -” No further leads on Hills Pharmacy Attempted Robbery Suspect from Yesterday”

AYLMER TODAY:

-H1N1 Flu Clinic at East Elgin Community Arena, 1-7 pm

-EESS Boys’ Hockey – host CECI at 3:15 pm

EESS SPORTS REPORT – by Erin McCorkle

East Elgin’s winter sports season has begun.  This sports season includes; the Jr. and Sr. boys basketball teams, the Jr. and Sr. girl’s volleyball teams, girls and boys varsity hockey teams, the curling and swim teams as well as the all new wrestling team.  This season is sure to be an exciting one and our Sr. boy’s basketball team kicked it off nicely as they took on the strong Arthur Voaden team from St. Thomas.  In a very close game, with the Eagles trailing by one point, Steve Barton stepped in and took the win for East Elgin.  The final score of the game was 42-41.  This week the boys will continue in regular season play.  All other teams will begin regular season games this week.  Best of luck Eagles!

“ELGIN OPP REPORT DEER COLLISIONS UP IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER”

Elgin County OPP continues to encourage the motoring public to take care when driving at night and watch for deer as we’ve seen an increase in collisions over the last three months.  Driving the speed limit, using your high beams and watching for movement along the shoulders and ditches can help in preventing a collision.  Signs have been posted on county roads throughout Elgin County in key locations where deer commonly cross, so please stay alert.

AYLMER POLICE REPORT:

-A RIDE program was held Friday night in town; on Talbot and John Streets; 300 vehicles were stopped; one driver was charged for possession of a controlled substance, 5 were given headlight warnings, and 20 passengers/minors were ‘warned’ about liquor consumption.

“SOUTH DORCHESTER OPTIMISTS SPONSORING STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST!”

(Info contributed by SDO member Ron Ellsworth. The essay topic is:  “The Internet – Today’s Evolution or Tomorrow’s Menace”;  Length 4-500 wd;  Deadline – Feb. 12/10)

The Essay contest is an international competition – Canada and USA. Each club can submit one essay to a District competition. Our district is South Western Ontario covering the area from Highway 73 west to Dorchester to Lambeth to Sarnia to Windsor.  Our club is offering prizes of $100, $75,  $50 and $25. The district prize is $650.  Two years ago 12 of 67 clubs submitted essays to the District.  One winning essay from the District goes to the International competition (30 districts).  Winners receive prizes of $6000, $3750 and $2250. Topics are chosen by an Optimist International committee.   Last year’s topic was excellent “The Power of Youth”. Last year the South Dorchester Optimist Club winner was Kyle Difazio from Aylmer.  He wrote on the Outdoor Environmental Leadership program offered at East Elgin Secondary School and the impact on the students and community, now and into the future.

"Aylmer received its first dusting of snow of the season Monday - enough to breathe life into this small 'snowman' in Kinsmen Park."

MONDAY, Dec. 7/09

“KNIFE IN HAND, ROBBER THWARTED AT HILLS PHARMACY TODAY!”

Aylmer- Police report that an attempted robbery occurred at downtown Hills Pharmacy  around 10 am today. A Hills employee responded to a buzzer at the back entrance and through a peephole viewed a thinnish, young male in a black hoodie standing there holding a knife. The man fled, actually two males were seen running east through the alleyway, when the door was not opened. Police are looking for the suspects. (Aylmer Police still have no leads on the young woman, knife in hand, who robbed Shoppers of a quantity of Oxycontin ten days ago.)

SPITS WEEKEND HOCKEY:  “Lose Twice – to Norwich and to Paris”

Saturday, At Aylmer – Norwich 4, Aylmer 3 (shootout)

-First place Norwich (18-5-0) outshot Aylmer (7-10-3) by 55-21 but had to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the third period.

-Aylmer Goals = Bean (Roloson, Farquhar); Farquhar (Haines, Bean); Maracle.

Sunday, In Paris -  Paris 4, Aylmer 1

-Last place Paris (6-12-2) outshot Aylmer 36-30;  2 players from each side were ejected for fighting in the final minute; Aylmer Goal – Pfohl (Harbour, Maracle)

-Next Games – Saturday, host New Hamburg; Sunday at Simcoe

OBITUARY:

-Cooper, ‘Bill;  New Sarum;  in 79th year;  On Dec. 6;  Visitation on Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9 at Kebbel Funeral Home, Aylmer;  Funeral – Wednesday 1 pm

“NORTH END AUTO TO RELOCATE IN JANUARY”

Aylmer- North End Auto, owned by brothers Jeff, Andy and Tony Haayema,  is moving – farther north!  It is leaving the present building and relocating in the former Putnams Garage, just outside of town, in early January. The owners plan to expand their operations to include fleet and commercial vehicles. The recycling depot will continue at the back of Putnams.

“MORE THAN JUST SOUP; WEBSITE OPENS UP A WHOLE CAN OF ‘AYLMERS’!”

“Aylmer” -  (Peter Aylmer  of London, England has a website on ‘Aylmers’ ; he has info on  families with the surname, places -not just our Aylmer or Aylmer Quebec- and famous Aylmers in history,  including our town’s historical canning plant. Following is his response to AylmerNews inquiries about his site.)

“I began the site because I have always been interested in the Aylmer name. It’s a very distinctive surname, one rarely if ever encounters other Aylmers in the normal course of life, and it’s clearly of interesting derivation. Many other English surnames relate to trade (‘Butcher’), or physical appearance (‘Redhead’), or placename (‘Chester’); there’s no obvious source root for Aylmer, unless one goes back into the early history of England with its ‘Aethelreds’ and so on.  My site isn’t though primarily a genealogy site; rather, it explores the connections of the Aylmer name.

Aylmer placenames, especially in Canada, were named for Matthew, the 5th Baron Aylmer, Governor General of British North America, 1831 to 1835. He was not seen as a success in Canada, striving without success to find a formula to reconcile the French speakers of ‘Lower Canada’ with the English speakers elsewhere.  Clearly he did enough to impress the early settlers of the various Aylmer communities, including a lake and a town in Quebec, to honour him by taking his name. It’s striking how the Aylmer places in Canada are spread out across the nation, from your own town and Quebec to NWT and Alberta, and how varied they are, from busy suburb to remote mountain peak.

From time to time world-wide Aylmers, or descendants of, contact me through the website, and almost all of them add some content to it. However your contact is, I think, the first from Canada.  I do answer all enquiries. The frequency of Aylmers in England is… around 400. There is fewer than one Aylmer per million in Canada, equating to around 24 in the whole country.  There are most, proportionately, in Ireland, a reflection of the long-standing baronial Aylmers, though it’s a moot point whether these were of original Irish stock or simply reflect the colonisation of Ireland by wealthy English in mediaeval times. The 1841 UK census shows that English Aylmers were then mostly living in either the south-east or the county of Norfolk, in East Anglia. … Norwich, the county town of Norfolk, remains top of the ‘city’ list however.”

SATURDAY, Dec. 5/09

AYLMER TODAY:

-Springfield Santa Parade – 1pm

-Port Burwell Santa Parade – 6 pm

-(Sunday – Belmont Santa Parade – 6 pm)

-Spits Hockey – host Norwich 7:30 pm

-Rescheduled – Kevin Abell signing his book “The Edge of His Cloak”   at Words of Life bookstore, Talbot St. W, from 1-5 pm

- Breakfast with Santa – 9am – Noon – Aylmer Optimist Hall, Queen St.,  – $5 – sponsored by Aylmer Fair Board

-Springwater Spirit Walk – 6-8 pm – Adults $5

-(Sunday – Aylmer Community Choir/Band Concert – 3 pm – Old Town Hall Theatre; Adults – $8)

THURSDAY EESS BOYS’ BASKETBALL:

Senior – EESS 42, AVSS 41 (Cornelissen 11, Carson Morse 9)

**THE SATURDAY (S)CEREAL !!!**   “THE BAYHAM LAMBS- Part II”

(The ‘Lambs’  terrorized the Straffordville area for about a decade – between jail terms – in the l870s and l880s. Part I appeared on Wednesday)

After a five year lull in criminal activity in Bayham – the time Frank Cairns was in jail for offences in the late l870s – the ‘ Bayham Lambs’  apparently reorganized with their leader out and 1886 witnessed a rash of burglaries.  Coats and horse harnesses were targetted once more. However in November, the St.Thomas Journal reported: “Bayham Lambs Penned”.

The first caught was a Peter Wright, 30, also wanted in Michigan for robbery, who was cornered in Walter Cairns’ house. Local constables arrived with a posse at Walter Cairns, father of Frank, near Straffordville after a masked robbery.  Walter Cairns, who had served time for acting as a receiver of stolen goods for his son’s earlier crime spree, was charged again as a quantity  of harnesses and robes were found here. Apparently Wright and Frank had arrived in the night with their merchandise. But Frank fled and outran a constable as the posse arrived.   When the Aylmer constable returned for a further  search the next day and put up a ladder to the attic he was met by Wright who pointed a gun and threatened his life(while wearing one of the  stolen coats!)  The Constable’s posse of  8 men drew their guns but nothing further developed. The Constable then sent a couple men to St Thomas for direction on how to deal with Wright but authorities there couldn’t make up their minds quickly so the men returned with curious locals in tow – there were 30 rigs tied up in the yard. And strangely Wright now had 3 friends up there with him (?). So the Constable gave him 15 minutes to come down or he would set the house on fire so down he came. In December , Wright was found guilty of 9 thefts and he received 5 years in the penitentiary .

In March 1887, Frank Cairns was captured in a shack in a swamp in Houghton and other arrests followed. Verman Vanderberg, Joseph Leach and Walter Smuck and William Smuck were all picked up as part of the Lambs gang. In June  the trials began. Vanderberg, who got 2 years,  and Walter Smuck, 6 months, were found guilty but his brother and Leach were acquitted. A Thomas Dennis, who went by the alias of ‘St Pauls Epistle to the Thessalonians’ was found  guilty for trying to blame Water Cairns for a robbery and he got 2 years. Frank was on trial for 9 offences he committed with Wright and he received a 5 year term – the same that he had previously. The Judge decided to be lenient even though it was his second crime run saying he wanted to give Frank another chance of reclaiming himself, also saying “his dad not a good example early in his life  as he was brought up amongst bad and low company and he hoped  he would learn a trade.”  And so the exploits of the Lambs ended after a return engagement with leader Frank Cairns in jail a second time.

RESULTS OF LAST SPRING’S OPP TRAFFIC STUDY IN BELMONT AREA

(Contributed by Leigh Mauer, Belmont)

BELMONT ROAD TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE 30 MARCH 2009 – 24 APRIL 2009

Total # of Provincial Offences Charges (Elgin Detachment and Highway Safety Division) = 161
Total # of Warnings = 20
Highway Safety Division Charges = 40
Elgin Detachment = 121
Charges by Zone
Zone 1 (South of Mapleton to Hwy #3) = 16 (10%)
Zone 2 (Mapleton 60km/hr) = 61 (38%)
Zone 3 (North of Mapleton) = 84 (52%)
Summary of Charges
Community Safety Zone Charges (Zone 1 South of Mapleton) = 7
Drive Motor Vehicle – No licence = 1
Disobey Stop Sign – Fail to Stop = 1
Driver Fail to wear Seatbelt = 2
Drive with Seatbelt Removed = 2
Commercial Motor Vehicles = 3
Fail to surrender Insurance Card = 3
Drive with Expired Permit = 2
Fail to Surrender Plate = 1
Speeding = 139
Summary of Charges by Time of Day and Date
30 Mar 09 – 03 Apr 09 7am-9am = 34 – (21%)
04 Apr 09 – 05 Apr 09 7am-9am = 9 – (5%)
06 Apr 09 – 10 Apr 09 3pm-5pm = 68 – (42%)
11 Apr 09 – 12 Apr 09 3pm-5pm = 14 – (6%)
13 Apr 09 – 17 Apr 09 7am-9am = 20 – (12.4%)
18 Apr 09 – 19 Apr 09 3pm-5pm = 7 – (4%)
20 Apr 09 – 24 Apr 09 3pm-5pm = 9 – (5%)
7am-9am = 63 – (39%)
3pm-5pm = 98 -  (61%)
Summary of Speed by Speed Limit
80km/hr Zone Highest Speed = 128km/h
80km/hr Zone Average Speed = 105.6km/h
60km/hr Zone Highest Speed = 97km/h
60km/hr Zone Average Speed = 82.9 km/h
50km/hr Zone Highest Speed = 79km/h
50km/hr Zone Average Speed = 73.3km/h

FRIDAY, Dec. 4/09

TODAY:

- Elementary Schools P.A. Day

-Booksigning – Kevin Abell is signing his book -”The Edge of His Cloak” at the Words of Life bookstore on Talbot St. W from 1-5 pm

-APAC performance “Christmas With Arcady” – 7:30 pm- at Old Town Hall Theatre

“EESS ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB GETTING ‘GREEN’ REWARDS FOR PROJECTS!”

(Info supplied by Staff Adviser Stacey Suffel in response to AylmerNews inquiries)

We have received several grants…(1) Green Apple Grant and Metro Grocery Stores (2) East Elgin Alumni Foundation (3) Health School.  With the money from these grants we were able to purchase 2 new water fountains.  One of the fountains is by the cafeteria and the other is on the second floor of the school.  The Environment Club was hoping these new water fountains that provide cold water and have a spout to fill up water bottles would promote staff and student to bring in reusable drink containers (and prevent the purchase of plastic recycled water bottles).

We applied for the Earth Day and Sobey’s grant in the summer of 2009.  We are in the process of planting several threatened Carolinian tree species, a butterfly garden (to promote habitat awareness), an erosion control garden, and several solar panels for lights around the school.  The Green Industries class, that has Sean Beilhartz as a teacher, will be doing all of the garden work (with the exception of installing the landstone rocks).  There will be information plaques at each station.  We decided on this project because it would create awareness around the school as well as be sustainable.

There are about 30 students in the Environment Club. We have been on several field trips (winterizing a nursery and running education centres for elementary students for the Carolinian Festival).  We try and have 1 environmental awareness week per year. Last year we sold stainless steel drink containers as a fundraiser with EESS on them.  We have a ‘lights off’ campaign where club member check rooms in the school and lunch and after school to remind staff to turn off their lights when they leave the room.

THURS., Dec. 3/09

“AYLMER’S  NORTHSIDE  TOWING  COLLECTING  ‘Coats For Kids’”

Northside Towing is still collecting ‘Coats For Kids’ after a successful promotion during Saturday’s Aylmer Santa Parade.  OwnerJacob Quiring, who also has Upfront Sales and Service on Talbot St. East, said he discovered he had 6 extra coats in his basement recently when cleaning and donated them to the Salvation Army in St.Thomas. He then decided to see if others had extras as well so he advertised that his truck in the parade would take coats and he collected 60, including some new ones! He will still accept donations at his business at the east end of town.

“SPRINGFIELD  SANTA  PARADE  SATURDAY AT  1 pm”

(Contributed by Kelly Pearson))

Our theme is always “CHRISTMAS”. It starts at Catherine Street at the east end of Ron McNeil Line and continues down Ron McNeil to Omemee Street at the west end of Springfield,
then down Broadway Street where it disbands. We have 2 bands again this year – Ingersoll Pipe Band and the Mocha Temple Trumpet Band. We expect over 35 entries and will accept anyone up until the time Santa leaves! After the parade Santa will be at the Fire Hall handing out candy and talking to the kids (picture taking welcome). The Rebekahs are having a bake sale inside Scotty’s Pizzeria, where Scotty’s is offering free hot chocolate and coffee to parade spectators.
The Fire Department is collecting non perishables for the area food bank. The parade is organized by Springfield Santa Claus Parade Committee with outstanding support from local businesses and organizations.On another note,  the Lioness have organized – for the second year – Holiday decorations in our Memorial Park (where the cenotaph is) on Ron
McNeil Line.  The lights are now on and Cravings Restaurant will be having “Carolling in the Park” on Friday, Dec 18th.

AYLMER TODAY:

-EESS Boys Basketball hosts AVSS – 3:30pm  Sr. and 5pm – Jr.

-(Friday) – APAC presents: “Christmas with Arcady” (Musical Performance) at 7:30 pm at Old Town Hall Theatre. Tickets = $25 are still available; Phone 765-3039

-(Friday) – Elementary School PD Day

Pandemic Update for December 2, 2009 (From Elgin Health Unit)

Over 15,100 people have been immunized with H1N1 flu vaccine at community clinics in St.Thomas, Aylmer and Rodney as of December 1, 2009. Another 10,000 doses of vaccine have been distributed to physicians, nurse practitioners, hospitals, long term care facilities and the Ontario Police College. It is not too late to be vaccinated, We have now opened our community flu shot clinics to providing both the H1N1 and the seasonal flu vaccines.  Those attending may choose to have:

1. H1N1 flu vaccine only
2. Seasonal flu vaccine only
3. Both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccine given in opposite arms.

Pandemic H1N1 and Influenza Like Illness Surveillance Report

For the week of Nov 23 to Nov 29, 2009

KEY FINDINGS: For the fourth consecutive week, Elgin St. Thomas saw a decrease in Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and pandemic H1N1 activity.  This is still above the rate expected at this time of year.

Measure	Compared to Previous Week	Explanation
Hospital emergency room visits (with Febrile Respiratory Illness).	Similar	Both the number and percentage of total visits to the ER with febrile respiratory illness remained the same as last week. The proportion of people visiting the ER with fever or new or worsening cough remained at 16%.
Absence reports from schools	Similar	The average daily proportions of students away from elementary schools and secondary schools due to ILI were 3%, similar to 2% in the previous week.
Telehealth Respiratory Syndrome Calls	Similar	Elgin St. Thomas is not included in any ILI clusters reported by Telehealth.  This has been consistent for the past several weeks.
Lab-confirmed cases	Lower	For this reporting period there were no new cases of pandemic H1N1 or Influenza A not yet sub-typed. It is assumed that Influenza A cases are the pandemic H1N1 subtype.
Long Term Care Home Outbreaks	Similar	There are no respiratory outbreaks in Long Term Care Homes at this time.
Hospitalizations	Lower	There were no newly hospitalized lab-confirmed cases of pandemic H1N1 compared to 3 in the previous period.
Deaths	Similar	There have been no deaths.
OVERALL	Lower	KEY FINDINGS: Overall Elgin St. Thomas saw a decrease in Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and pandemic H1N1 activity compared to the previous week.  However as we are still experiencing cases, it is still above the rate expected at this time of year.

WED., DEC. 2/09

“SANTA PARADES IN PT. BURWELL, BELMONT  THIS WEEKEND!”

SATURDAY IN PORT BURWELL – The parade will organize at 6 pm at the Legion on Wellington St. It will follow down Wellington to Robinson and conclude in front of the Lighthouse for the annual lighting of the Lighthouse Ceremony. There will be speeches, Santa’s welcome and  handing out of  candies,  followed by Hot Cider and Cocoa  and cookies in the adjoining Keeper’s building.

SUNDAY IN BELMONT – The Belmont parade is at 6pm, beginning at the Belmont Farm Supply at the south end of town, it travels north to Manning Drive. It is the village’s seventh night parade. They have approximately 40 entries including , The Mocha Oriental Band, the  Ingersoll Pipe Band,Thamesford Majorettes, Viper Cheerleaders ,  with Elgin County International Plowing Match 2010  putting in 2 floats this year,  and the horses are back! The firemen will collect non-perishables for an area food bank. Free hot chocolate is available at Scotiabank and Farrow Financial. The parade is organized by the Belmont Santa Claus Parade Committee with major sponsors being Bill Blaney Insurance, Westminster Mutual,  Belmont Lions and Belmont Lioness Clubs.

*THE SATURDAY (S)CEREAL  (LATE!)* = “THE BAYHAM LAMBS”

(The ‘Lambs’, the source for their name unknown -they were not sheep rustlers , ‘terrorized’ the Straffordville area with small crimes for about a decade – between jail terms – in the l870s and l880s. Information on their escapades is from “Hugh Sims: History of Elgin County”  and  research in StThomas/Tillsonburg newspapers of the time. This is Part I.)

The Tillsonburg Observer in January, l880 in reporting on the activities of the ‘Bayham Lambs’ described it as “one of most remarkable chapters of criminal history in this locality.”  In September, l876 brothers Charles and Marcinas Hubbard and Frank Cairns were arrested for the burglary and shooting of Warren and Seth Caswell – Warren was wounded as he attempted to stop the late night intruders. Cairns blamed Charles, his nephew, and was not convicted. But in October, l878 a house was burglarized near Straffordville and the only one of three  suspects  apprehended  was Cairns. He was sentenced to 5 years in the Kingston Penitentiary. But within a week of his trial he had scaled the walls in the St. Thomas jail with another inmate and escaped. Apparently he hopped on a  freight train west of Shedden and at Dresden he got off and eventually managed to get into the U.S.

Within a year he came back and was spotted and arrested  in Walsingham.  But with their leader back in Canada (even though in jail),  the Lambs’  crime spree was renewed.  The ‘Observer’ stated in January, l88O that “the authorities were powerless to cope with the evil of the past few months. ” There was a six month trail of  horse stealing and home burglaries.  But the police caught a break after one  home was robbed in early January, l880 in Straffordville (while the family was absent thieves carried off a feather bed and a quantity of pork.)  Tracks at the scene led to Walter Cairn’s house, Frank’s father,  and they  discovered many stolen items. Further tracks behind this house led to a swamp and two constables and a posse of farmers and villagers followed. The suspects threw off their coats and shoes and dropped their knifes  and ‘conveying by vines’ got a lead.  They  picked up clothes and shoes from an unsuspecting farmer and escaped after a  2 mile pursuit. The elder Cairns, 60-70 years old,  got four years in jail, 3 years for acting as a ‘fence’ from the stolen items and 1year for forcing his wife to be an accessory! Oh, and like his son,  he tried to escape using a homemade saw but was caught. (…To Be Continued)

PHOTOS OF THE DAY...

"About 40 persons attended a viewing of the documentary "Food Inc." at the Aylmer Town Hall theatre last night - sponsored by the National Farmers Union of Elgin and the local Grassroots environmental group."

"Major B M Wellwood, daughter of Mike and MaryAnne Wellwood of Aylmer, is pictured in Kandahar, Afghanistan with 33 'care' boxes which were assembled here in November and shipped to the troops there through the Aylmer Legion. Other shipments are planned; if you wish to assist, especially with toileteries and small games or cash, the Legion is accepting donations."

TUES., DEC. 1/09

 

“BAYHAM CITIZEN OF YEAR IS DOUG LESTER”

Vienna – Doug Lester,  President of Otter Valley Chamber of Commerce, was named Bayham’s 2009 Citizen of the Year at a Community Volunteer Recognition night Thursday at Vienna Community Centre. Mr. Lester, a native of Tillsonburg who moved to Bayham a few years ago, provided this information to AylmerNews about his business and his Chamber activities:

“Our business is Eagle Tree Perspectives. We help leaders and not for profit organizations build personal and collective capacity and effectiveness through increased awareness and skill in interpersonal and group dynamics. We have been in operation since 1998. We are located in Port Burwell.

The Otter Valley Chamber began in April 2008 and has grown from 30 members to 70. I became President in January 2009. During my term we have expanded our membership and hosted the first ever Bayham-Elgin Business Expo with 34 exhibitors. Outside the Chamber I was a part of the Harbour Committee that raised funds and succeeded in getting the first dredging done in ten years.”

 

TODAY:

-Elgin National Farmers Union showing documentary – “Food, Inc.”  at Town Hall Theatre, 7:30 pm = Free

BAYHAM ACCIDENT UPDATE:

Regarding Friday’s two-vehicle collision in Bayham, Elgin OPP report that as of Sunday the 19-year old female is still in critical condition at Victoria Hospital, London and the 50-year old woman’s status has been downgraded to ‘observation’.

“AYLMER POLICE (like Santa) ALSO KNOW WHO’S  ‘NAUGHTY AND NICE’”

The lure of Santa (or loads of tossed candy) proved unlucky for a 19-year old St.Thomas man who was apprehended on an outstanding warrant Saturday while watching the Santa Claus parade at the  King and Talbot St. corner. Police spotted the suspect, believed involved in a theft in Aylmer in October, as they followed behind the parade.

SHOPPERS’ ROBBERY UPDATE:

Aylmer Police are still looking for a young female wearing a bright yellow fleece coat who robbed the Shoppers’ Drug Mart of some oxycontin pills Friday just after 7 pm.

AYLMER POLICE REPORT:

-An object was thrown through a portable sign at the Columbus Club on Beech St. Friday night.

-A RIDE program Friday evening stopped 375 vehicles – no complications reported.

-A cellphone was taken from an unlocked vehicle on Fath Ave.  Thursday

-Last Monday night,  lightbulbs were smashed on a residential street but a 14-year old ’suspect’ volunteered to clean up the damage.

POLICE REMINDER: No overnight parking, 3 am to 6 am, on Aylmer Streets in effect as of Nov. 30 (until April 15).