Posts by Rob Perry
Three badly burned in Springfield fire
Thick black smoke churned out of two houses on fire on Ron McNeil Line in Springfield on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 19. One was a three-unit apartment building and the other a single-family home. Both were heavily damaged, and a father and two very young children were badly burned and remain in hospital. Malahide Fire chief…
Read MoreElementary harriers race through Steen Park
Elementary schools from the region competed at a cross-country meet at Steen Park in Aylmer on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Left picture, Paisley Bakker, Gr. 7, of Immanuel Christian School led the way up a steep slope in the girls Senior 2.5-kilometre cross-country race. She took the gold medal in that event. The school’s other medalist…
Read MoreNew mural unveiled
East Elgin Secondary School art students Capri Thiessen, left, Sky Mitton, Emma Monster, Joey Yaw, Gracie Huisman and Kristen Peters recently unveiled the mural they painted, with the help of others, to cover a utility box in Balmoral Park in Aylmer. Absent were Avery Heynen, Angela Kloosterman, Miranda Hew, Adriel Kuepfer, Keana Zacharias and Kris…
Read MoreStraffordville PS runs for Terry Fox
The 220 pupils at Straffordville Public School participated in a Terry Fox Run recently to salute the memory of the young Canadian who undertook to run across Canada, despite having an artificial leg, covering the 42-kilometre distance of a marathon every day. Among those having fun along the way were Susie Martens, Gr. 5, left,…
Read MoreTapping the keg…isn’t supposed to go this way
Beer gushed out of a ceremonial keg as Malahide Stellvertretender Bürgermeister (Deputy Mayor) Mark Widner, armed with a hammer, left, and Aylmer Bürgermeister (Mayor) Jack Couckuyt, holding a spigot, tried to tap it on Saturday night, Oct. 5 at Saxonia Hall Oktoberfest celebrations. Featured performer was Walter Ostanek and his band, and German food and…
Read MoreMayor scolds unnamed councillor, Desrosiers says it’s her
Aylmer Mayor Jack Couckuyt at the end of a town council meeting Wednesday, Oct. 2, sharply criticized an unnamed council member for what he asserted was support for a defamatory online remark. (Councillor Kathryn Desrosiers later in the week posted on Facebook that the mayor’s criticism was aimed at her.) “I thought a long time…
Read MoreBill Gheysen saluted for over 55 years of volunteerism
Bill Gheysen of Vienna has been recognized by the Ontario government for over 55 years as a community volunteer through his activities in the Vienna Lions Club. He celebrated his 92nd birthday on Saturday, Sept. 28, as he recovered from a heart attack suffered three weeks before he was interviewed for this story. He considers…
Read MoreDon’t resort to vigilantism, Aylmer Police warn
Aylmer Police want residents to report suspicious activity when they see it, but not to go beyond that and engage in what amounted to “online hate” against individuals. That is what allegedly led to a “violent assault” against an individual on Aug. 31 that is now under investigation. Police found no evidence to substantiate online…
Read MoreFree public skate for diversity
Jaydon Ball, 17, a Grade 12 student at East Elgin Secondary School, is hosting a free public skate at East Elgin Community Complex on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and he wants everyone to come. Someone without skates doesn’t have to worry—skate rentals will also be free that night. The event…
Read MoreExpress Thanksgiving Food Drive kicks off
The annual Aylmer Express Thanksgiving Food Drive kicked off this week, with donation bags included in the newspaper. Donations will go to East Eglin Community Assistance Program’s Corner Cupboard food bank in Aylmer or the St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank in St. Thomas (pictured here with Operations Manager Sarah Coleman, left, and Administration Manager Karen…
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