News Headlines

About 140 participants in the annual Christmas Tour of Homes organized by Aylmer Malahide Museum and Archives volunteers tucked into a turkey dinner with all the trimmings at Aylmer Baptist Church, Friday night, Nov. 17. Afterward, they and others toured four specially decorated area homes from 7 to 10 p.m., with the tour open again…

A big crowd turned out, despite chilly weather and snow on the ground, for an annual Remembrance Day ceremony in Belmont’s Community Park on Saturday morning, Nov. 11. Similar services were held in Aylmer, Springfield and Port Stanley.

Deputy Mayor Sally Martyn, left, and Mayor David Marr, with help from an Air Cadet, laid a wreath on behalf of Central Elgin at this area’s first Remembrance Day service, held at the Last Post Branch 410, Royal Canadian Legion, in Port Stanley on Sunday morning, Nov. 5. The service was held indoors due to…

Maryann Enns, left, and music department head Trevor Hiepleh, right, backed Zach Taylor as he played 1966 jazz standard”Footprints” during a Coffee House at East Elgin Secondary School on Thursday night, Oct. 26. Four such talent fundraisers will be held this year to benefit the school’s Performing Arts Council.

Canada’s Polka King Walter Ostanek and his band helped fill the Aylmer German Canadian Club’s Saxonia Hall on Saturday evening, Sept. 30 for a third straight year as the featured attraction of Oktoberfest. Those who chose to attend the entire dinner and dance were treated to a full Bavarian-style sit-down meal with craft beer pairings…

Riana Loewen, 14, left, (her face covered in chocolate pudding from a previous game) tried to pass a Lifesaver to Golden Angels teammate Bradley Tupper, 13, using only toothpicks held in their mouths during the annual Eagle Olympics at Optimist Park in Aylmer on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 28. Grade 9 newcomers to East Elgin Secondary…

A ceremony was held at Sparta South Cemetery in Central Elgin on Saturday, Sept. 23, to salute two veterans of the War of 1812, John C. Ryckman and James Pickard. They were both privates in that war. A stone was added to Private Ryckman’s grade to salute his service to Canada, but unfortunately the grave…

Volunteers at McGregor Public School in Aylmer handed out slices of free pizza during a teacher open house and Terry Fox Family Walk that traditionally opens the new school year there, Wednesday night, Sept. 13. Similar events were being held this week at public, Catholic and private schools across the area.

Thames Valley District School Board trustees put paid to any idea they might change their minds about closing Springfield, Sparta and New Sarum public schools at a special meeting on Tuesday night, Aug. 29 in London. They voted unanimously to approve a priority list for capital projects proposed for Ontario Ministry of Education funding that…

Bayham Mayor Paul Ens sent a seed flying through the air as he and other local dignitaries helped open the 10th annual Watermelon Fest in Straffordville on Saturday morning, Aug. 26. Bayham Wayne Casier was the winner of the seed spitting contest with a 26-foot effort. Events continue through the afternoon and evening.