By Emily Stonehouse My husband is an engineer. I remember asking him once what his dream job would be. “I’m doing it,” he replied, with confidence. He works hard and enjoys the challenges and wins…
Aluminium houses
By Vivian Collings Housing, housing, housing How many times is that word in today’s paper? Short-term rentals, transitional housing, affordable housing, a lack thereof. Council’s approval to allow additional dwelling units on some developed lots…
Share your light
By Lynda Shadbolt It was a cool Saturday. I pulled on my Long Johns, my work pants, wool socks, a couple of layers of tops and a sweater, an old coat, mitts and a hat.…
Words to live by
By Steve Galea The other day, I was perusing through the 1960 issue of Sportsman’s Guide, a defunct magazine once mailed out by the people who also produced Sportsman Cigarettes. OK, I’m a little behind…
Farm life
By Steve Galea Like a lot of people, Jenn and I recently agreed to make an effort to lead a more simple life and to get back to the land in 2024. Her exact words…
A slice of my life
By Steve Galea In my short career as an old man, I have pretty well mastered the standard repertoire of old man skills. I can drive for miles with my right hand turn signal on.…
Restaurante Gazcilda
By Lynda Shadbolt We all love times when we feel looked after. That we matter and belong. When we are welcomed with open arms. I often contemplate how I can go into my day with…
The ones who made it home
By Vivian Collings Remembrance Day is a time for us to honour those who served in the armed forces and lost their lives in the line of duty. Physically, we wear a poppy and attend…
A farewell to Haliburton County
By Chris Stephenson At the recent September library Board meeting, I announced my resignation from Haliburton County Public Library (HCPL.) This was a tough day for me, and I had spent the weekend before calling…
Thoughts on Thanksgiving
By Steve Galea I think most people know that Thanksgiving isn’t for everyone. It is very unlikely that turkeys, for instance, are big fans of the holiday. In truth, I have never put a lot of…
Colour the world
By Sharon Lynch The world had turned grey. Monika and Jim were in the city for Jim’s medical appointment and Monika, good friend and neighbour that she was, had offered to drive him to the…
Every Child Matters
By Vivian Collings National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was on Saturday. It’s also known as Orange Shirt Day, a time to wear the vibrant colour to honour Indigenous children who never came home safe…
Monkeys in the middle
By Vivian Collings Timing is really incredible sometimes. Or should I say ironic? If Head Lake Park actually had a head with a thinking brain, I wonder if it would be reeling like mine after…
Henry
By Lynda Shadbolt Jim and I were in Orillia on the weekend for his brother’s wedding. It was such a happy occasion. Rob has had a lot of tragedy in his life, and we were…
Oh yes, we have no bananas
By Steve Galea I’m not entirely certain we have entered the end times yet, but I do know almost all the signs are there. For instance, I went to the grocery store the other day…
Let’s hear it for the boys in blue
I was never a hockey fan. I started the CanSkate program at age 4 or 5 in Minden. Efforts to convince me to play hockey bounced right off my pink helmet. I had my heart…
The paper bag gift
By Lynda Shadbolt Jim and I have been married for 33 years, and for 33 years we’ve been visiting our local LCBO. We do love a delicious glass of wine with our friends on a…
Finding my way
By Steve Galea I am reading a book that describes the way Indigenous people all over the world navigated without the assistance of map, compass, and their wives. And frankly, it has been a real…
‘August slipped away into a moment in time’
By Vivian Collings Taylor Swift’s lyrics capture the season all too well. Just like a favourite movie over too soon, the summer madness has reached its finale. Much faster than it came, it’s gone. Big…
Best friends
By Sharon Lynch All that was missing was an elbow hanging out the open window. It was a warm fall day, and the truck was parked in the grocery store’s lot, windows down. A pleasant…
Man’s inhumanity to man
By Steve Galea A lot has been written about man’s inhumanity to man, but frankly I think all those writers and philosophers have missed out on the one cruelty that makes all others pale in comparison.…