Sports Headlines

Leah Hearns, left, on a rocking horse handmade by Mark Minor of Aylmer and fellow volunteers Nancy Silverthorn, Linda Stewart, Lauren Silverthorn and Alice Schram sorted through donated toys, games and other Christmas gifts given to the Aylmer Optimist Club Toy Drive. They are to be distributed to 486 children in need in Aylmer, Malahide…

Rainbow Connections is a year-old organization based in St. Thomas dedicated to providing a safe and accepting space for 2SLGBTQIA+ youths in Southwestern Ontario. It celebrated the opening of its first physical space, a Drop-in Hub at 15 Catharine St., Unit 305 (third floor) on Wednesday night, Dec. 3. Among those participating were, from left,…

The Knox Presbyterian Church’s Advent Organ Series wraps up on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10, at 55 Hincks St., in St. Thomas, offering a festive exploration of the virtues of an instrument that made its Elgin County debut in the 1880s. “You don’t have to be looking for a religious experience to come to the…

Van Gorp Drainage and Excavating, of Springfield, has been excavating and installing agricultural drainage and septic systems in and around Elgin County for over 50 years, but on Nov.  22, Van Gorp’s vintage Case tractor rode in the 81st annual Aylmer Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade . Their float, palled by a vintage truck driven by John Van…

Santa Claus listened attentively to Willow Bartsch, 4, as she described wanting a toy dog for Christmas during the ceremonial holiday lighting of Memorial Park in Vienna on Saturday night, Nov. 15. She promised she’d been good all year. (AE/Rob Perry)

East Elgin Secondary School defender Zander Freisen  took down an Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute rusher as teammate Erick Centeno closed in during the championship game for Thames Valley Regional’s Walzak Division at 1Password Park in St. Thomas on a damp Friday afternoon, Nov. 7. EESS led the game 9-0 at the half, and widened that…

A trio of East Elgin Secondary defenders brought down a Strathroy Collegiate Institute rusher during a Thames Valley Junior football semifinal at 1Password Park in St. Thomas on a raining Thursday morning, Oct. 30. The first half ended in no scoring for either team, but EESS, in a dramatic second half, just outscored its opponent…

Nearly two centuries of free-spirited faith and community were celebrated during worship services at Plains Baptist Church on Oct. 19. Known affectionately by its congregation as “The Plains,” the small rural church at 6071 Fairview Road, serving people from St. Thomas south to Lake Erie, was founded in 1830, even before the Dominion of Canada…

Bentley Milmine of host East Elgin Secondary School dug an Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute serve during a Junior boys volleyball game on Tuesday, Oct. 21. EESS was victorious in the match, winning three games to one. (AE/Rob Perry)

Performer M. John Kennedy chatted with spectators of all ages, asking them for their favourite Robert Munsch children’s stories, as he prepared for “Classic Munsch Mania” put on by Aylmer Kids & Company at Old Town Hall on Saturday, Oct. 18. Some audience members came from as far away as Toronto for the show, which…