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.…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

By Vivian Collings Last Tuesday, after work, I threw on a bright pink sweater and made my way to Highlands Cinemas with a friend. To see Oppenheimer, of course. When we got there, we were…

By Steve Galea Last week, I went on a magazine assignment that required me to fly fish for a day on the Ottawa River from a drift boat – yes, I live a tough life. …

By Lynda Shadbolt I have always believed that change comes from the bottom up. That every single person that shares this planet has a responsibility to take care of it. To make choices that benefit all…

By Steve Galea This week, I put money down on a new boat and trailer, which I’m told should arrive before the end of summer. I’m excited, but the problem with buying a new boat…

By Jerelyn Craden As it so happens, ol’ Maybelle was talking to Renda Ploops, a great gal, full of vim and vinegar, with a mind that flits around the earth and back in the course…

By Steve Galea This weekend Jenn and I were having a conversation about how the mind works (I think she was, once again, trying to figure out how mine does). Somewhere in the conversation, she…

By Sharon Lynch Lucy had just picked up the soap with her wet hands when it hit her. That smell. She was using Sunlight bar soap to clean some brushes in the basement. Suddenly she…