Posts by Rob Perry
St. Thomas traveller embarks on risky African tour
If everything goes as planned, St. Thomas world traveller Syed Hasan will be in Nigeria now, beginning a six-country solo tour of the African continent, on his way to increasing his lifetime total for independent nations visited to 193. Mr. Hasan is on a quest to visit all the countries in the world – 195…
Read More“Old School” Cerna scoffs at employee incentives
Malahide Councillor Rick Cerna, apologizing along the way to what he considered an excellent township staff, still couldn’t contain himself when he learned of new incentives being proposed to help with the recruitment and retention of municipal employees there. But Deputy Mayor Mark Widner, at that council meeting Thursday, April 2, supported the changes, observing…
Read MoreA Teddy Bear nap at dance recital
Jacie Weber, 3, settled in for a nap with her teddy bear after she and other ballet/jazz dance students, two-and-a-half to four years old, performed to Oh Bear and then Teddy Bear Picnic during the 43rd annual season-ended recital for Tammy’s Dance Studio at Immanuel Christian School on Saturday, March 28. More pictures in the…
Read MorePlanning furor in Southwold
Over 200 Shedden and area residents attended a special Southwold council session on Monday, March 30, to protest a rezoning to allow development of up to 161 residential units on a 10-acre property at 9210 Union Road …but as Mayor Grant Jones admitted candidly, it was too late. Residents, some of whom threatened to toss…
Read MorePlayoff time for AMHA’s U11 White team
Jed Parry of Aylmer Minor Hockey’s Under 11 White team hustled the puck down the ice during a playoff game against Lambton Shores at East Elgin Community Complex on Sunday, March 22. Coach Abe Redecop said the best-of-three series has been a challenge for the Aylmer squad. “They have been a tough opponent for us.…
Read MoreElderly fraud victims tell their story
After losing about $85,000 to identity theft in 2025, pensioners Joe and Sadie Smith, of St. Thomas, are nearly broke and struggling to keep their home. “I am so embarrassed,” said Mr. Smith, his voice cracking with emotion as he described the dreadful experience at a fraud prevention session hosted by Elgin-St. Thomas-London South MP Andrew…
Read MoreRepair of railway bridge near completion
Post Stanley Terminal Rail hopes to be back in business in May. The popular tourist attraction cancelled all operations effective Dec. 12, 2025 after the discovery of “serious erosion” under the south abutment of the historic railway bridge across Kettle Creek in Port Stanley. With about 25,000 riders a year now, PSTR has operated as…
Read MoreCouckuyt blasts social media
Aylmer Mayor Jack Couckuyt lashed out this week at social media users who sparked what Aylmer Police Chief Kyle Johnstone calls a “wild fire” of frightening online innuendo about gun violence. The community leaders were referring to social media chatter about a fake threat of gun violence at East Elgin Secondary School on March 2.…
Read MoreNight Market at Summers Corners Public School
Grade 7 and 8 pupils at Summers Corners Public School, in an annual entrepreneurial showcase, started their own businesses, with products offered for sale to staff and fellow pupils during the day on Wednesday, March, 11, and, pictured here, at night for family members and the general public. The event recorded almost $14,000 in sales.…
Read MoreTaking a ride along the Tillsonburg to Port Burwell rail line
Local train enthusiast David Harding took a crowd at the Vienna, Edison and Area Museum along on a 1980 expedition he filmed travelling by pumper car on the former Tillsonburg to Port Burwell railway line, now torn up and a utility corridor, recently. He noted that he was a founding member of the Port Stanley…
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