St Marys Ontario

481 Water Street South, St Marys, Ontario

2008-05-06T19:03:00.000-04:00

The Town of St Marys, Ontario gave notice 30 April 2008 that 481 Water Street South will be designated an Ontario Heritage Property unless an objection is made within 30 days.

St Marys stonemason Alexander McDonald constructed the limestone house just south of Centennial Park in the early 1850s. In 1858, with his partner Francis Anderson he erected the St Marys Junction Railway Station. They were also builders of the Victoria Bridge in 1864-5. Their quarry, now part of the swimming pool, supplied stone for the London railway viaduct begun in 1857.

The house is a simple but well-proportioned structure. It has many features that are recurring marks of McDonald's trade and of his style, including the projecting architrave and base course of the front wall.

The property is also associated with the Hutchings family; some members of this family were stonemasons during the early years of St Marys.

Dana Canada Layoffs

2008-04-03T20:10:00.001-04:00

The London Free Press is reporting that 350 of the 410 workers at the Dana Canada plant in St Marys have been given layoff notices. Layoffs will begin in June and continue into July.

The plant on James Street makes frames for Ford's F series pickup trucks. Dana has lost the Ford contract so it is possible the layoffs are permanent and the plant will close. If a new contract for another model or with another company were secured it could take up to a year to get up and running with the new product.

Dana is St Marys, Ontario's largest employer and eliminated the third shift, laying off 108, in August 2006.

Flooding

2008-04-02T19:47:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, warm temperatures that melted snow creating 125 mm of water as well as 25 mm of rain and caused flooding in St Marys. This morning, the Thames River and Trout Creek were 70 mm lower but the Flats and Kinpark, shown above, were still under water.

704 cubic metres of water per second was flowing through the town yesterday afternoon. St Marys hasn't seen that much water since the spring melt in 1977.

Stratford's Swan Parade Cancelled

2008-03-28T14:04:00.003-04:00

Sunday's release of Stratford, Ontario's swans to the Avon River has been cancelled as the area where the swans are released is still frozen over. The swans will be returned to the river when the ice clears.

The first mute swans were brought to Stratford from Battle Creek, Michigan in 1918. Several of the swans on the river today are descendants of Queen Elizabeth II’s royal herd. In 1967, six pairs of Mute swans were a centenary gift and sent to Ottawa. Subsequently, one of the pairs was then given to Stratford.

From November to March the river is frozen and the swans are kept in Winter Quarters located behind the William Allman Arena.

UPDATE: Without fanfare on Monday, April 7, Stratford released 32 white swans, two black swans, one Muscovy duck, three Canadian geese, one bar-headed goose and two Chinese geese onto the Avon and other reservoirs.

322 Emily Street, St Marys, Ontario

2008-03-11T19:42:00.001-04:00

The Town of St Marys, Ontario gave notice 7 Mar 2008 that 322 Emily Street will be designated an Ontario Heritage Property unless an objection is made within 30 days.

The house sits on spacious grounds north of the Grand Trunk Trail on the west side of Emily St. with a spectacular view of the Thames River valley. One of the earliest grand houses in St Marys, the Italianate villa was built in 1860 for John Robinson, a civil engineer responsible for the Sarnia Bridge on the Grand Trunk Railway line. Three years later he sold it to Milner Harrison, a St Marys pioneer merchant and early reeve, who lived there until his death in 1887. Harrison's son was David Howard Harrison who practiced medicine in St Marys. David Howard Harrison moved to Manitoba in 1882 and was briefly premier of the province.

Andrews Jeweller Designated Heritage Property

2008-01-17T13:25:00.000-05:00

The Town of St Marys, Ontario gave notice 9 Jan 2008 that 135 Queen St E (Anstett Jewellers) will be designated an Ontario Heritage Property unless an objection is made within 30 days.

The stone and brick commercial building was constructed in 1884 for William Andrews, Jeweller, in the Second Empire style. It is an outstanding example of the work of local architect William Williams, and a showcase for the skills of local and area tradesmen. Unique original interior features are still in place. Its imposing storefront surmounted by the ornate clock and tower makes the building a focal point in the downtown core.

William Andrews operated his first jewellery store for 15 years before building 135 Queen St E. His father was a stone mason who emigrated from Torquay, Devon to Canada in 1855 and came to St Marys 2 years later.

William Williams was not only an architect but also the town clerk, private banker and the Anglican Church's choirmaster.

Stone work on the building was done by John Grant who had previously been in charge of the masonry for St Marys Presbyterian Church. Plastering was done by Fred Patterson and painting and glazing was done by John Williard who 8 years later were contractors on the town hall.

Richardson Foods Fined $70,000

2007-12-05T13:39:00.000-05:00

Richardson Foods, a division of H.J. Heinz, produces among other products Renee's salad dressings and sauces.

December 5, 2007, the Ontario Ministry of Labour issued the following News Release:

ST. MARY'S COMPANY FINED $70,000 AFTER WORKER CRITICALLY INJURED

STRATFORD, Ont. - A St. Mary's, Ont., food processing and packaging company pleaded guilty on November 19, 2007, and was fined $70,000 on November 28, 2007, in the Ontario Court of Justice in connection with critical injuries suffered by a worker in 2006.

Judge K. McKerlie heard that, on May 31, 2006, a worker at Richardson Foods Limited, 25 South Service Rd., St. Mary's, was operating a machine – a Double Lane packing machine – used to package condiment sauces into cups which are then sealed and put into boxes. While the machine was in use to package hotcake syrup, it began to stick and have running problems. The worker, in trying to clear part of the machine, became trapped in the machinery by the head and suffered critical injuries.
Richardson Foods Limited pleaded guilty as an employer to failing to ensure that the machine was equipped with, or guarded by, a guard or other device that would have prevented access to a pinch point. This measure was required by section 25 of Ontario Regulation 851/90 and the employer's failure was contrary to section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge on the total, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

Central and Arthur Meighen Schools Closing

2007-11-29T13:57:00.000-05:00

The Arthur Meighen and Central Public Schools are to be replaced by a new school to be built in 2009. The Ontario government will provide $4.8 million towards the cost of building the new facility.

The Avon-Maitland District School Board's application for the provincial grant was made in the spring. In the application, the Board suggested that a new facility on the high school grounds would be the most cost-effective, it would likely be two storeys, and students would use high school's small gym for physical education.

In 2005 elementary enrollment at St Marys Central was 193, Arthur Meighen 335 and South Perth Centennial 250. 318 students attended Holy Name of Mary Separate School. By 2015 enrolment is projected to decline at St. Marys Central by 4%, Arthur Meighen by 13%, South Perth by 39%.

South Perth Centennial will remain open. The board projects that over the next ten years $1.9 million will need to be spent on the South Perth building and $417,569 at the site.

St Marys Fair Ends

2007-11-13T13:55:00.000-05:00

The November 10 meeting of the St. Marys Agricultural Society decided to end the St Marys Fair after 160 years. In recent years, the fair has lost money although the most recent edition broke even. There has been a continuing decline in attendance with last July's four-day event attracting about 3,000 people and the Ag Society has had difficulty in finding volunteers to help run the event.

St Marys Fair began as a one day fair in 1847. In 1971, the fair became a three-day event and moved from the Queen St. West Fairgrounds to the Flats. In 1987, the St. Marys Fair was moved to the St. Marys Community Centre.

The Kinsmen Club's beer tent is a money-maker and there is one year left on the contract for the midway rides so there is a possibility of a modified event taking place next year.

Remembrance Day

2007-11-02T10:01:00.000-04:00

The annual St Marys Remembrance Day church service and parade will take place this Sunday, November 4.

This year the host church of the ecumenical service will be the Living Rock Church, a Pentecostal Assembly Church, and its pastor is Jim Williams. The service will be at 11:00am at the Arthur Meighen Public School, 151 Water St North.

Following the service at 12:15pm there will be a parade from the Royal Canadian Legion at Church and Station St. to the cenotaph. The cenotaph service will begin at 12:30pm.

John Wilkinson Appointed Minister

2007-10-30T21:59:00.000-04:00

Today it was announced that local MPP John Wilkinson will become Minister of Research and Innovation in an expanded 28-member Ontario cabinet. Wilkinson performed essentially the same function in the last government as parliamentary assistant to the premier in research and innovation. His salary will rise to $161,000.

Wilkinson's constituency office is at 55 Lorne Ave E, Stratford Ontario N5A 6S4, tel: 519-272-0660, email: jwilkinson.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Doors Open Ontario

2007-09-25T20:18:00.001-04:00

Next Saturday, Sep 29 various buildings in Stratford, St Marys and Perth County will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm as part of the Doors Open Ontario program.

In St Marys, taking part will be the Wonders of St Marys - St. Marys Town Hall, Public Library, Museum, VIA station and Baseball Hall Of Fame, as well as the Westover Inn, 300 Thomas St.

In Stratford, open part will be Anything Grows (the former Perth Brewery) 235 St. Patrick Street; the former furniture factory at 163 King Street; Stratford Festival's Costume Warehouse at 350 Douro Street with free, guided tours offered on the half hour from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Gallery Stratford, 54 Romeo Street; Knox Presbyterian Church, 142 Ontario Street; Perth County Courthouse, 1 Huron Street; McDonald-Creasy House, 77 Brunswick Street.

In Perth County, open will be the Presbyterian Church and Fryfogel Tavern in Shakespeare; Hoffmeyer’s Planing Mill, 189 Huron Street, Sebringville; Fullarton Forge, 3186 Perth Road 163, Fullarton; Avonton Presbyterian Church, 3401 Perth Road 130; St. Patrick’s Church, Kinkora.

Bishop Howe in St Marys

2007-09-18T19:57:00.001-04:00

The Rt. Rev. Bruce Howe will be coming to St Marys this Sunday, Sep 23 to celebrate the service of confirmation at St James' Anglican Church, 65 Church St. South at 10 am. All are welcome.

Bishop Howe has been Bishop of Huron since 2000. Earlier this year, he was one of 4 nominees for the position of Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. Eventually elected was Bishop Fred Hiltz of the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

The Diocese of Huron is currently celebrating its 150th anniversary year, which will culminate with a worship service at the John Labatt Centre, London, Ontario on October 28th. It is expected 10,000 will attend.

Once Upon a Thames

2007-09-05T07:19:00.000-04:00

The 4th annual St. Marys Storytelling Festival will take place this weekend on the Flats, Water St N. Admission is by donation with 23 storytellers and musicians performing.

Friday night’s festivities begin with a family concert of stories and music suitable for adults and children aged four and up at the Family tent at 7 p.m.

On Saturday at 11 a.m., Adwoa Badoe, author/storyteller/dancer from Ghana, will tell stories in the children’s tent. Beginning at 1 p.m., storytellers will continue the Canada in Story and Song programming in the Family tent, with engaging storytellers in the Adult and Children’s tents until 5 p.m. At 8 p.m., a concert of Ghost Stories and other tales, suitable for ages eight and up, will take place.

Sunday begins with a free story swap from 10:30 a.m.-noon, and the festival concludes at 2 p.m. with a special concert honouring grandparents and elders on Grandparent’s Day.

Mark Bell Classic

2007-08-16T07:17:00.000-04:00

The second annual Mark Bell Classic hockey game will take place at the St Marys, Ontario Arena today. As well as Mark Bell, originally from St Paul, Doug Gilmour, Boyd Deveraux, Aaron Downey and others will play a 2-period game. Local retired players Terry Crisp and Walter Tkaczuk will be among the coaches. An autograph session takes place at 6:30 with the game starting at 7:30. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for 16 years and under.

Sportsnet.ca has reported that on Tuesday Mark Bell pleaded no contest to drunk driving causing injury and hit and run in San Jose, California. He is expected to be sentenced in October to 6 months in county jail to be served after the 2007-08 hockey season.

Last September 4 Bell rear-ended a pickup stopped at a stop sign then fled on foot. Police found him a km away and breathalized him. He had blood-alcohol level of 0.20 per cent. In California, as well as here, the legal limit is 0.08 per cent.

UPDATE: As a result of the jail sentence, at the end of August, Mark Bell was placed in Stage 2 of the NHL/NHLPA substance abuse and behavioral health program, which also meant he was suspended without pay. On Sept. 12, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman suspended Bell for the first 15 games of the season for conduct 'dishonourable, prejudicial to or against the welfare of the league or the game of hockey.' Bell should be eligible to play Nov. 4 for the Maple Leafs against Ottawa, assuming a positive report from the substance abuse program.

Wonders of St Marys

2007-07-04T10:14:00.000-04:00

At the Canada Day party at Cadzow Park, Mayor Hahn announced the Wonders of St Marys. There are divided into 2 groups, the first lists sites that attracts visitors, while the second lists sites that are important to the residents.

The tourists sites were: Arthur Meighen memorials; Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame; Community walkways; Opera House; Quarries ; St. Marys Museum; Town Hall.

The resident's sites were: St. Marys Memorial Hospital; St. Marys Public Library; Thames River; United Church Carillon/Organ ; Via Station; Water Street Bridge; Water Tower.

Arthur Meighen Statue

2007-06-29T07:39:00.000-04:00

The Arthur Meighen Statue in Lind Park, Church St. was spray-painted with graffiti for the second time this past week.

Arthur Meighen was the 9th Prime Minister of Canada and attended St Marys Collegiate Institute when it was located at the Arthur Meighen P.S.

In 1968 Montreal sculptor Marcel Braitstein was commissioned to produce the statue to be erected in Ottawa. It remained in a warehouse for almost 20 years until it was brought to St Marys in 1987.

The paint has now been removed and to discourage further spray-painting the surrounding trees, the most attractive feature of the statue, will be cut back.

Morris Dancing

2007-06-08T09:55:00.000-04:00

Morris dance teams from the United States and Canada, including the local St Marys Quarry Girls, will be performing this Sunday, June 10 from 10 am to noon on Water Street outside of Damen's Restaurant. Each team will be dance individually and there will also be a massed dance.

From 1:30 pm until 4 pm the dancers will be performing at in downtown Stratford. The final dance exhibition by the teams will be outside the Stratford Festival Theatre doors from 4:30pm to 5pm.

For photos from 2005 see St Marys Ontario Morris Dancing

St Marys Garden Fair

2007-06-01T10:45:00.000-04:00

26 vendors will be at the free St Marys Garden Fair to be held tomorrow at the Flats from 8:30am until 1:00pm. It is the 10th year the St Marys Horticultural Society is holding the fair. 15 per cent of sales will go to the Society which plants and maintains 12 flower beds around town.

McGinty Slush Fund

2007-05-15T19:59:00.000-04:00

Last summer's $500,000 grant by the McGinty government to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St Marys is being used as an example of Ontario Liberal corruption.

The Liberals are being accused of having a slush fund they use to fund projects in ridings that they need to win in next November's provincial election. St Marys is in the Perth-Middlesex riding with Liberal John Wilkinson as MPP. Perth-Middlesex is considered a swing riding because the Liberals took the seat from the Progressive Conservatives last election and because a Conservative currently holds the equivalent federal riding, Perth-Wellington.

Also part of the allegation against the Liberals is that by making election of their candidates a prime factor in choosing projects they are wasting taxpayer money. What makes the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame funding dubious is that the $500,000 was given to make a proposed 64-room hotel wheelchair accessible. Instead of directing money earmarked towards making old buildings accessible, Liberals are directing the money be used on a brand new building that would be wheelchair accessible even without any type of provincial funding.

Report Card on St Marys DCVI

2007-04-26T07:30:00.000-04:00

Earlier this month the Fraser Institute issued a report that ranked 719 of Ontario’s high schools according to standardized tests given to grade 9 students. The tests are to determine if students meet the provincial standards in academic math, applied math and literacy.

The ranking of schools in the Avon Maitland Area is:
45 Stratford Central
57 St Anne’s, Clinton
115 F E Madill, Wingham
154 St Marys DCVI
224 (tied) Stratford Northwestern S.S.
224 (tied) Listowel District S.S.
249 St Michael, Stratford
321 Mitchell District S.S.
382 (tied) South Huron, Exeter
382 (tied) Central Huron District H.S., Clinton
413 Goderich District C.I.

At St Marys DCVI 128 students took the tests.
In the literacy test, which is pass or fail, 82% passed.

In the math test students are ranked according to 4 levels. Levels 1 and 2 suggest that the student has not yet met the provincial standard. Level 3 is considered the provincial standard and Level 4 represents achievement well above the expected level. The average level for St Marys’ students was 2.9 for academic math and 2.8 for applied math.

The results for St Marys are worse than last year, but the Fraser Institute says the trend over the last 5 years is not statistically significant.

High Winds

2007-04-17T10:22:00.000-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, high winds were blamed for the power outage in the west end of St Marys affecting about 1900 people. The winds also caused about 50,000 to lose power in Chatham-Kent, Lambton County, Strathroy in the morning and 6,000 in London in the afternoon.

In Stratford the winds brought down the 62-foot cross outside the Parkview United Church. The cross had been erected at the same time as the church had been built in 1961.

Maundy Thursday

2007-04-05T13:21:00.000-04:00

Shown is a stained glass window representing Christ as the Good Shepherd, in the sanctuary of St James Anglican Church. It was was donated in 1905 in memory of C.S. Rumsey, who died the previous year, by his widow.

Charles Stockman Rumsey was the manager of the Federal Bank located at Queen and Wellington in the building now occupied by Descardins Credit Union. He and his wife lived above the bank and shortly before his death purchased the first automobile in St Marys, a Cadillac.

Be Active & Win

2007-03-24T10:36:00.000-04:00

Perth District Health Unit is giving away a 9” foldable Try It! Frisbee flyer with its own storage pouch to children and youth who email them telling about a new activity they have tried or ways that they are physically active. The email should be sent to tryit@pdhu.on.ca and include name, phone number and address.

It is part of a campaign to encourage St Marys children and youth to be physically active at least 90 minutes a day.

St Marys Population 6,617

2007-03-15T07:31:00.000-04:00

Statistics Canada released figures this week that show that St Marys population has grown from 6,293 in 2001 to 6,617 in 2006, an increase of 5.1%. Surrounding Perth South had their population decrease from 4,299 to 4,132 and Stratford's population increased by 2.3% to 30,461.

During the same period Ontario's population grew by 6.6%.

The census also showed St Marys has 2,733 private dwellings.

Deborah Ellis

2007-03-13T19:41:00.000-04:00

Next Tuesday, March 20 at 6:30 author Deborah Ellis will be speaking at a fundraising raising dinner at the St Marys Community Centre. Proceeds from the dinner will go to Women Breaking Bread for Women who will use it to support teachers in Afganistan.

Deborah Ellis volunteered at an Afghani refugee camp in Pakistan in 1999 which inspired her to write The Breadwinner that tells the story a young woman who cuts off her hair and poses as a boy so that she can support her family in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Ms Ellis is also the author of Looking For X which won the 2000 Governor-General's Award for Children's Literature.

Tickets are available for $25 each at the St Marys Library which is also selling her books with proceeds going to the event.

Via Rail Service Resumes

2007-03-07T10:55:00.000-05:00

Via has resumed its rail service to St Marys. On Monday, due to bad weather, a Goderich-Exeter Railway freight train was stuck outside of St Marys blocking the track between Kitchener and London. At the same time the 401 was closed at Woodstock so VIA was unable to provide an alternate bus service for its passengers. On Tuesday buses were available when the roads were reopened and today with the clearance of track rail service is back to normal.

Goderich-Exeter Railway, based in Kitchener, is a short line freight railway that operates 169 miles of track in Southwestern Ontario.

World Day of Prayer

2007-02-28T07:07:00.000-05:00

The annual World Day of Prayer service will take place on March 2 at 2:00 pm. The location of the service rotates among St Marys churches and this year will take place at St James Anglican Church.

Each year on the first Friday of March ecumenical services with a common theme are organized in 170 countries around the world. This years theme is 'United Under God’s Tent' with a service that was prepared by the World Day of Prayer committee of Paraguay.

Budget 2007 Community Input

2007-02-21T07:07:00.000-05:00

Mayor Jamie Hahn, St Marys Councillors and senior staff are holding a public 'coffee scrum' this Saturday, February 24 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Town Hall Council Chambers. It is intended to allow public input into the 2007 town budget.

Tax rates have increased each of the last 3 years, last year by 4.7%. This will be the first year that the full tax increase caused by construction of the Pyramid Recreation Centre will take effect.

Redeemer University College Choir

2007-02-13T19:45:00.000-05:00

This Saturday, February 17 at 7:30 pm the 35 member Redeemer University College Choir will be performing at the St Marys Presbyterian Church. Admission is by donation in support of the choir program at Redeemer. The choir will also be part of the Sunday morning service.

Redeemer University College is a Christian university with over 30 degree programs leading to the B.A., B.Sc. and B.Ed degrees. It began offering classes in 1982 and since 1986 has been located in Ancaster, Ontario (now part of Hamilton).

Thames Valley Retirement Sold

2007-02-08T07:30:00.000-05:00

Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities of Calgary, Alberta has bought the Thames Valley Retirement Community. Thames Valley is an adult land lease community off Ann St that St Marys residents Al Strathdee & Diane Furtney began developing more than 10 years ago on the former horse farm of hockey hall-of-famer Teeder Kennedy. The community has 58 houses and has sites for another 6.

In a land lease community the residents own their houses but rent the land on a long-term (20 year) lease. In theory residents wanting to move can move their houses but in practice the house is sold and the new owner is given a new 20-year lease.

Parkbridge is rapidly expanding and along with Thames Valley announced buying 4 other properties. They now own 60 properties that contain 13,317 sites. Parkbridge already owns the land lease community of Huron Village Green near Exeter, Ontario.

New jobs for St Marys

2007-01-22T19:40:00.000-05:00

Richardson Foods is expanding its James Street South plant by more than a third with a 63,000 sq. ft. addition to the west side of the building. Once completed 20 to 30 new jobs will be added to the existing 200-member workforce.

Richardson, a division of H.J. Heinz, produces salad dressings, sauces and dessert toppings under private and brand labels for restaurants and food-service distributors. The expansion will accommodate the transfer from Toronto to St Marys of product lines from another H.J. Heinz company Renee's Gourmet Foods. Renee's produces salad dressings and sauces under its own brand name and as well it is Canadian producer of A1 Steak Sauce.

New DaimlerChrysler Dealer

2007-01-10T17:19:00.000-05:00

Monday Phil West announced that next fall he would open a DaimlerChrysler dealership in St Marys. The new building will be located on vacant land next to Downtown Pontiac Buick. In 1996 owner Chris West, Phil's father, moved Downtown Pontiac Buick to its current location at 449 Queen St W from its downtown location at what is now Tim Hortons.

The area has not had a Chrysler dealer since Kalbfleish Bros in Stratford closed last year.

In 2006 Chrysler sales in Canada were up slightly. They had no new vehicles last year but for 2007 they will introduce their revamped Town and Country minivan to be built in Windsor, Ontario.

St Marys Christmas Lights

2006-12-20T07:34:00.000-05:00

The Festival of Lights display continues at Milt Dunnell Field (The Flats) until Wednesday, January 3. There are horse and buggy rides around the Flats each Staurday and Sunday from 6 to 8 pm.

St Marys is again competing in the Winter Lights program. Last year also competing in St Marys category for towns with a population between 3000 and 10,000 were Espanola, Ont, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Nfld, Armstrong, BC, Chetwynd, BC and Petrolia, Ontario with Espanola's WinterLights Theme Tree Challenge winning the category. Other area winners were Ingersoll for cities of 10,000-20,000 and Woodstock for cities 20,000-50,000.

Coffee Culture Cafe

2006-12-13T11:20:00.000-05:00

Logo" />Coffee Culture Cafe is opening today at Queen and Water Streets. Their first location was in Woodstock and they have plans to open franchises in Brampton, Hanover, Port Elgin, Stouville, Peterborough and Port Perry in the next few months. With comfy chairs and wi-fi internet, the Coffee Culture concept seems to have been inspired by Starbucks. The parent company, Obsidian, based in Mississauga, Ontario also operates the Crabby Joes Tap & Grill chain.

Obsidian has said they are looking for locations in older downtown buildings. The 100 Queen St, St Marys location certainly meets that criteria - it was built in 1897 from the ruins of the National Hotel which had been destroyed by fire.

'Romance in D' Auditions

2006-12-06T07:11:00.000-05:00

St Marys Community Players are holding auditions for the 4 character play Romance in D Friday Dec. 8 at 7pm and Saturday Dec. 9 at 1pm at St Marys United Church, 85 Church St S, St Marys.

The roles are for 2 men one in his 40s and the other in his 60s, and for 2 women one in her 40s and the other in her 60s. The play will be performed April 26-30, May 3-6, 2007.

The play takes place in two side-by-side apartments in present-day Chicago. Charles Norton, a musicologist, lives in one apartment alone with his books and music. Isabel Fox, a poet on the verge of a divorce, moves into the other apartment and puts her head in the oven in a half-baked suicide attempt. Charles, next door, smells the gas and inadvertently becomes Isabel's savior. George Fox, Isabel's father comes to town and tries to cheer Isabel up. Helen Norton, Charles' mother, encourages Charles to get to know Isabel.

All four characters use their knack for music and words as they nervously navigate the path of true love. James Sherman's website

Jamie Hahn Elected St Marys Ontario Mayor

2006-11-14T14:26:00.000-05:00

Yesterday former Mayor Jamie Hahn easily defeated incumbent Mayor Tony Winter and Councillor Gerry Teahan to become St Marys Mayor for the next 4 years. Hahn took 53% of the vote.

Council will consist of Bill Osbourne, Don Van Galen, Bill Mustard, Gary Boyce, Margaret Luna and Bruce Symons. Osbourne, Luna and Symons were on the last council; Don Van Galen is a former councillor; Bill Mustard and Gary Boyce are newcomers. Current Councillors Rob Edney and David Cunningham were defeated.

MAYOR
Jamie Hahn 1489
Tony Winter 704
Gerry Teahen 627

COUNCIL
Bill Osborne 2063
Don Van Galen 1870
Gary Boyce 1289
Bill Mustard 1170
Margaret Luna 1144
Bruce Symons 1104
--------------------
David Cunningham 1095
Robert Edney 924
Wayne Murray 848
Jim Swan 835
John Near 826
Helen Pate 816
Louis Vermond 134

Remembrance Day

2006-11-04T09:31:00.000-05:00

There will be the annual Remembrance Day church service and parade tomorrow.

The Church Service will be held at the First Baptist Church, Church and Jones St, St Marys at 11am. The parade from the Legion at Church and Station St to the Cenotaph will begin at 12:15pm with the Cenotaph service beginning at 12:30pm.

Alice Lloyd commented on the plaques in memory of the World War II dead in a letter to the editor last week.

Mark Czajkowski

2006-11-01T10:31:00.000-05:00

October 24 St Marys Council approved the site plan for 159 King St S. Mark and Wendy Czajkowski plan on building a three-bay workshop. One of the bays will be used by Mark Czajkowski and the other 2 will be rented out. The plan includes 10 parking spaces and there is a possibility of future expansion.
Mark Czajkowski website

Millington's of St Marys

2006-10-19T07:59:00.000-04:00

Just opened is an Asian furniture and accessories store at 99 Queen St East.

Owners Bryan and Gaye Hoy also own Millington's of Brucefield. It consists of three showrooms of Asian antiques, home decor, prints, lighting, and gifts located in a 150-year-old mill at the corner of Hwy 4 and Mill Rd in Brucefield.

Their new store will be open Tuesday through Saturday.

Public School Plans

2006-10-10T06:19:00.000-04:00

The Avon Maitland School Board invited comments on its June 2006 capital plan. The plan indicates the need for the following expenditures over the next 10 years:

Central PS - $2.48 million on the building, $122,858 at the site
Arthur Meighen PS - $2.14 million building, $264,703 site.

The Board assumes enrollment will decline by 4% at Central and 13% at Arthur Meighen.

September 5 Central's School Council made various suggestions on how to improve its school.

June 14 Arthur Meighen's School Council recommended its school be closed; Grades 7 and 8 moved to the High School; land next to the High School be annexed where a new K-6 school be built.

In the official plan, the current location of Arthur Meighen is adjacent to where hundreds of new houses will be constructed.

Lots of Choice In Municipal Election

2006-09-30T14:54:00.000-04:00

The Stratford Beacon Herald reports November's election will see 13 candidates for St Marys Ontario councillor and 3 candidates for mayor.

Gary Boyce, Don Van Galen, Wayne Murray, Bill Mustard, John Near, Helen Pate, Jim Swan and Louis Vermond, as well as incumbents Cunningham, Edney, Luna, Osborne and Symons are running for the 6 councillor positions.

Tony Winter at the last minute has decided to seek re-election. Former 4-term Mayor Jamie Hahn and Councillor Teahen had previously announced their intention to run for Mayor.

Jamie Hahn To Run For Mayor

2006-09-21T20:15:00.000-04:00

In this week's St Marys Journal Argus Andrea Macko reports Jamie Hahn will run for mayor in November. He was mayor for 12 years before retiring in 2003. Before that he had been a councillor for 12 years.

Donal O'Connor in the Stratford Beacon Herald reports Councillor Gerry Teahen will also run for mayor. Teahen worked for St Marys Cement and spearheaded the Pyramid Recreation Centre project. Teahen is a former mayor and twice lost when running to become an MPP for the Liberals.

Current mayor Tony Winter has until next Friday, September 29 to decide if he will seek re-election. Runner-up in the last mayoralty race Don Van Galen is also considering running. Since the last election Van Galen has chaired the planning committee.

Update: Jamie Hahn Elected St Marys Ontario Mayor

Enos and Eva Hutton 60th Anniversary

2006-09-14T18:19:00.000-04:00

There will be an open house celebrating Enos and Eva Hutton's 60th wedding anniversary Sunday, September 17, 2-4 pm at Thames Valley Recreation Centre, 30 Ann Street.

Wallace Hutton started Hutton Transport with his brothers Gordon and Enos in 1932. They hauled many different commodities including gravel, livestock and corrugated paper. During the 1940's, the company began hauling cement. St Marys Cement purchased the company from the Hutton family in the 1960's.

Perth County Turns Down Annexation

2006-09-13T18:33:00.000-04:00

This morning Perth County turned down St Marys request to annex Perth South land (see map).

St Marys and Perth South had previously agreed to the annexation. Perth South would have continued to receive current taxes plus 40% of any additional taxes. St Marys would have received 60% of any new taxes and paid all of the costs to service the land.

First Nation Ethanol Development had expressed interest in building an ethanol plant there. First Nation Ethanol was established by Aboriginal entrepreneur Patrick Waddilove to build an ethanol plant on Munsee-Delaware Nation land near London. Last December they were turned down by the Ontario government when they applied for a grant from the Ethanol Growth Fund. They are still seeking funding to build their first plant.

St Marys Storytelling Festival

2006-09-07T18:11:00.000-04:00

The 3 day storytelling festival begins tomorrow at the Flats - Water St and Parkview Dr.

Friday, September 8:

9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 2: 30 p.m.: Local schools visit the festival. Admission: $2

Morning: Storytelling and Historical Interpretation Workshop at the St. Marys Museum, 177 Church St South with Dale Jarvis, historical interpreter and storyteller from St. Johns, Newfoundland.

Five storytellers visit 10 Perth County schools as part of the "Understanding Human Diversity" program.

7:30 to 10:00 p.m.: Concert of Storytelling and Traditional Music for adults and youth, ages 12 and over. In the Family

Tent. Admission: $7

Saturday, September 9:

9:00 to 11:30 a.m.: Three Storytelling Workshops:
- Stepping into Stories in the Classroom Gail Fricker
- Tell It! Storytelling with Young Children Kevin MacKenzie
- Exploring the Magic of Masks and Storytelling Fay Wilkinson

11:00 to 12:00 a.m.: Author/Storyteller Rukhsana Khan visits St. Marys Public Library, 15 Church St North. Open to all ages. Free.

1:00 to 5:00 p.m.: Storytelling in three tents at the Storytelling Festival on the Flats
- Family Tent: suitable for ages 4 to adult
- Adult Tent: for teenagers and adults
- Children's tent: geared to preschoolers and children up to age 7 or 8

Admission: Adults: $7 and Students K-8: $3. Preschoolers free.
There will also be a Toddler's Tent with activities for very young children, food vendors for lunch or snacks, an eating tent, and music.

7:30 to 9:30 p.m.: Family Concert in the Family Tent: Storytellers' Favourite Stories Suitable for ages 4 to adult.

Admission: Adults $7 and Students K-8: $3

Sunday, September 10:

10:30 to 12:00 a.m. Story Swap in the Adult Tent Free

1:30 to 4:00 p.m. Family concert of stories and music by donation

Website: www.stmarysstorytelling.org

Dana Canada Layoffs

2006-08-30T15:26:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Dana announced it was laying off 108 people in St Marys and is eliminating the third shift at the plant. The plant that make frames for Ford's F-series pickup trucks is at 500 James Street South.

Ford announced a 21% cut in its 4th quarter production earlier this month. Dana Corporation, based in Toledo, Ohio, is operating under Chapter 11 U.S. bankruptcy protection.

St Marys Lions Club Fish Fry

2006-08-23T20:14:00.000-04:00

Saturday, August 26 at Lions Park.

Fish will be served 5 to 7:30 with music by Japser from 7 to 11.

Tickets are $14 available at The Hitching Post
480 Queen West.

St Marys Association for Responsible Town Government

2006-08-22T07:42:00.000-04:00

The new ratepayers association of St Marys Ontario will be presenting their petition of about 1200 names at the council meeting this evening. They will also be giving a presentation why they felt the need to form a ratepayers association; outline their financial assessment of how St Marys Council has done; and summarize the true costs of the Pyramid Recreation Centre.

In addition they will be recommending Council hires a professional project manager; develop a business plan for operating the facilities; and request Council provide an open public meeting to discuss why they went forward, why they felt they did not have any obligation to respond to ratepayer criticisms and how future municipal projects can avoid the criticisms leveled at them for their handling of this project.

Teddy Bears' Reunion

2006-08-17T07:31:00.000-04:00

This Sunday August 20 will be the 21st Annual Teddy Bears' Reunion. The event begins with a short parade at 1:00 pm from St Marys DCVI to East Ward Park on Elgin Street. At the park will be games, rides, crafts and Teddy Bear judging. Entertainment will be provided by Picks and Sticks.

Pictured is a former award winner by Nancy Bax.

Inaugural Ratepayers Association Meeting

2006-08-16T07:43:00.000-04:00

A ratepayers association is being formed in St Marys. Its inaugural meeting will be tomorrow Thursday, August 17, 7pm at the Friendship Centre and is open to anyone. Membership fees will be determined at the meeting and will likely be in the $5 to $10 range.

The group that recently collected more than 1100 names on the Pyramid Recreation Centre petition is forming the association(read the petition here).

St Marys Junction Station Open House

2006-08-15T18:48:00.000-04:00

This Saturday, August 19 from 1pm to dusk there will be an open house at Junction Station, 480 Glass St. A corn roast and barbecue will take place at 4pm. Tickets are $5 available at the door with proceeds going towards restoration of the station.

The station was erected in 1858 and abandonned in the 1940's. The Town has owned the station for more than a decade.

Annexation Public Meeting

2006-08-06T16:00:00.001-04:00

St Marys is holding public meeting Tuesday, August 8 at 5pm on their plan to annex land from Perth South. The land is from south of the current town boundary to Highway 7, from the CNR in the west to the border of lots 11 and 12 in the east. Perth South will be holding its own public meeting the same day at 7pm.Perth South rezoned the land to highway commercial / industrial in October 2005. St Marys appealed the rezoning but just prior to the June hearing withdrew its objection. St Marys intends the land be used for industrial development. There has been no announcement on how much St Marys taxpayers will pay Perth South taxpayers for the land.

Update: September 13, Perth County turned down the annexation request from St Marys.

Online Petition

2006-07-19T17:34:00.000-04:00

A local group is trying to raise funds to hire a lawyer to begin the injunction process to stop the construction of the Pyramid Recreation Centre. As part of the effort they have a petition that reads:

To: St Marys Town Council and Ontario Municipal Affairs

I ask the Council of St. Marys to delay construction on the Pyramid Project until an independent body confirms the Town can afford the expenditure and the community can have a public discussion and vote whether they want the project to proceed.

The online version of the petition is at www.petitiononline.com/07182006/.

The reasons for the petition are outlined in a letter by Andrew Atlin to the St Marys Journal Argus.

St Marys Eggstraspecial Fair

2006-07-17T07:53:00.000-04:00

This week the 159th annual St Marys Ontario Fair takes place at the Community Centre.

Thursday, July 20, 2006 6 p.m. -11 p.m.
Friday, July 21, 2006 10 a.m - 11p.m.
(Friday Not fully Operational - Gate Fees at 3 p.m.)
Saturday, July 22, 2006 9 a.m. - 10:00 pm
Sunday, July 23, 2006 8 a.m. - 4:00 pm

Thursday night is Toonie Night at the Midway, also watch the Fair Ambassador Competetion and Entertainment.

Friday has the Children's program during the day, the Simtra Trials Team Professional Bike Stunt Show and then the parade featuring the OPP Golden Helments followed by the Fiddlers Jamboree.

Saturday has Youth Lawn Mower Pulls, Demolition Derby, Mini Rod Tractor Pulls, Baby Show.

Sunday begins with the Lion's Club Breakfast, Church Service, then the Car Show and Agility Dog Show.

The Trade Show Exhibition is open all weekend with presentations.

Day pass is $2, 4 Day Pass $10 and children under 4 are free.

The complete schedule is at St Marys Agricultural Society.

11th Annual Stonetown Heritage Festival

2006-07-07T07:36:00.000-04:00

Today
A Celebration in Stone - 11am to 4pm same time tomorrow - a multimedia presentation at the Town Hall Council Chambers.
Sidewalk Sale - continues tomorrow
Opening - 7pm - at the Town Hall, includes live music
BBQ - 5pm to 7 pm - 34 Wellington St South
Army and Navy Club Bavarian Garden - 5pm to 1am today, 12pm to 1am tomorrow - 23 Wellington St South

Tommorow
Raspberry Pancake Breakfast - 8am to 10:30am - at the Farmers Market
Car Show - 9am to 6pm - Stone Willow Inn, 940 Queen St E
Flea Market - 9am to 2pm - at The Flats
Pitching Cage - 9am to 4 pm - Queen Street
Music on Queen at Water Street - 10:30am Ron Coultherd and the Wildwoods - 11:45am Tree Penny Piece - 2pm The Stratford Strutters
St Marys Chess Challenge - 11am to 3pm - Queen Street
Architectural Walking Tour - 11am - beginning at the Town Hall
Horse-drawn Wagon Ride - 11am to 2pm - Kin Park at Station Street
St James Anglican Church Open House - 12pm to 4pm - 65 Church St S
Treasure Hunt - 11am to 1pm - Starting at St Marys Museum
Children's Heritage Fair - 10am to 3pm - outside the library includes pioneer crafts and face painting
BBQ's - 11am to 9pm - Queen Street
Rubber Duck Race - 7pm - The Flats
Street Dance - 8pm to 9:30pm - Queen Street and Water Street
Fireworks - dusk - The Flats

Sunday
Heritage Church Service - 10:30am - St Marys United Church, 85 Church Street South
18th Annual Garden Tour - 3pm to 8pm - visit 8 gardens for $7

Happy Canada Day

2006-07-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

The 15th annual Canada Day celebration takes place today at Cadzow Park and St Mary Museum. It begins at 11 with a barbecue and continues with the arrival of the giant birthday cake at 1. Among the events will be free admission to Cadzow Pool in the afternoon.

Pyramid Rec Centre Tenders

2006-06-22T07:39:00.000-04:00

Tenders for the construction of the Pyramid Rec Centre will be opened today at 4pm at the Town Hall. St Marys Council will award the contract at the June 27 council meeting.

At a March 9, 2006 public meeting it was estimated that the tenders would come in at about $13.3 million. With contingencies and additional fees the actual cost to St Marys is expected to be $16 million.

This week's editions of the Journal Argus and the Independent have another letter objecting to the project, this time from Jack Coddington. There have been many such letters over the last two years many of which are at stmarysont.250free.com

Giant Book Sale

2006-06-20T07:18:00.000-04:00

The Annual Book Sale to aid St Marys Public Library is Friday, June 23, 2006 from 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday, June 24, 2006 from 10 am to 4 pm. Organized by the Friends of the Library it will be held at at the Mercury Theatre 14 Church St across the street from the library.

Cadzow Pool Opens

2006-06-16T07:36:00.000-04:00

Cadzow Pool at Tracy and Park Streets opens tomorrow for the season. Admission is $2 per day or 30 coupons for $40 Monday to Friday 4 pm to 8 pm and weekends from 12 pm to 8 pm. The depth of the pool ranges from 2feet to 4-and-a-half feet.

The Quarry swimming pool opened 2 weeks ago. Admission there is $4 Monday to Friday 3 pm to 8 pm and weekends 12 pm to 8 pm. The quarry has a depth of between 20 and 25 feet.

Stick Swinging in St Marys

2006-06-08T19:17:00.001-04:00

Last year the Morris Men of New Hampshire came to St Marys Ontario and their stick swinging blows could be heard for blocks. This year the London Morris Ale is in front of the Creamery ale-house at 10 this Sunday morning. The wenches that make up St Marys Northwest Morris Dancers will be adding a little decorum.

St Marys Ontario Morris Dancing 2005

Pentecost Service & Celebration BBQ

2006-06-04T07:14:00.000-04:00

Today is Pentecost and St Marys churches will be having a service and barbecue on the Flats at 4 pm. Cost per person is $5, $10 for the family.

Pentecost is the Jewish harvest festival (Shabuoth). In Christianity it commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.

Antique Appraisal

2006-06-03T07:16:00.000-04:00

The 3rd annual antique appraisal will take place today from 10:00am – 4:00pm at the St Marys Arena & Community Centre. Coins, Jewellery, Paintings, Postcards, China, Toys, Dolls, Furniture, etc. can be valued for $10 for 3 items $5 for 1 item. There will be collector displays and drive thru furniture appraisals available for large pieces. The event is sponsored by St Marys Agricultural Society.

Excitement in St Marys

2006-05-30T08:01:00.000-04:00

Yesterday morning after holding up a bank in North London the robber made his way to St Marys. He walked into the Stewart home pulled out a gun and demanded car keys from Katie and her mother Christine. They gave him the keys and he took off in the family's Chrysler 300. A short time later he crashed the car south of Mitchell. London police, canine units, the OPP and the police helicopter launched a search for him with the dogs finding the man a few hours later by a creek still armed with a pellet gun.

The 30-year-old from Kitchener is now charged with three counts of robbery with a weapon, four counts of pointing a firearm, one count of uttering a threat, one count of impersonation and two counts of break and enter.

Garage / Bake Sale

2006-05-26T07:21:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow St James Anglican Church will be having a garage and baking sale at the Parish Hall next to the church. The garage sale begins at 8 am with the usual assortment of used treasures and bargains. The bake sale begins at 10 am selling baking of all kinds including St James' famous meat pies.

Farmers Market Opens Tomorrow

2006-05-19T07:05:00.000-04:00

St Marys Farmers' Market opens for its 14th year tomorrow. It runs from 8 to noon every Saturday through to October 28. It is in the parking lot behind The Source by Circuit City at Water and Jones Streets. There are about 10 vendors who tomorrow will be selling spinach, rhubarb, asparagus, pork, veal, honey, cookies, pies, plants and more.

Lawn Bowls

2006-05-16T07:48:00.000-04:00

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 pm new players are welcome to try lawn bowls for a couple of weeks at the Parks Lawn Bowling Club. Just come down to the club located at the north end of the Flats or call Len Boreham 284-2372, Rob Truax 284-2598, Colin Campbell 284-2238 or Larry McLellan 284-3502. A game generally lasts about two hours.

Joining the club costs $70 per person $35 for under 18's. Members can practice any time during the week and can play at other clubs. Members own their own bowls and shoes.

4.7% Tax Increase

2006-05-10T06:59:00.000-04:00

Last night St Marys Council approved a 4.7% tax increase. Each of this council's 3 budgets has resulted in large tax increases. The full impact of Council's decision to go ahead with the $16 million St Marys Arena expansion will not be felt until next year but will result in increased taxes for the next 20 years.

Email from St Marys Journal Argus Reporter Maggie Whitcroft

2006-05-04T21:55:00.001-04:00

Your website and email address is linked to the St. Marys blog
website so - how do you get an email to the blogger.
The blog is very frustrating and sometimes has information that needs updating.
Do you know who or how to contact the blogger?
If not, then I ask you why you would allow an unknown to link your website?
Maggie (maggie.whitcroft@sympatico.ca)

Thrift Store Big Sale

2006-05-03T07:56:00.000-04:00

Saturday, May 6 from 9 to 2 the Salvation Army Thrift Store will be having a sale. The sidewalk sale will include baked goods and crafts and will benefit the Salvation Army St Marys Ministries to Women. The store is at 35 Water Street South.

'Ethan Claymore' by Norm Foster

2006-04-27T07:25:00.000-04:00

Starting today the St Marys Community Players will be performing Ethan Claymore by Canadian playwright Norm Foster at the St Marys Town Hall Auditorium.

The play takes place the week before Christmas, as struggling egg farmer/artist, Ethan Claymore meets a woman who could turn his life around, and receives a visit from his estranged, and recently-deceased, older brother. The 2 act play has a cast of 6.

Performances are April 27, 28, 29 and May 4, 5, 6 at 8 pm. Sunday matinees April 30 and May 7 at 2 pm. Tickets are $15 adults, $10 youth and $12 for groups of more than 10. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling 284-0507.

Note: This is some confusion about the status of the Town Hall Auditorium for future events. See Gary Austin on Town Hall Auditorium Renovations

Quilting in St Marys

2006-04-18T07:31:00.000-04:00

Quilters in St Marys can join The Stonetowne Qulters Guild for $30 a year. They meet the 3rd of the month September to May at 9:30 am (including this morning) at the Grace Community Church. Contact is Mary Lou Davis mrdavis@rogers.com.

Later this month Thursday, April 27 to Saturday, April 29 the Huron-Perth and Stonetowne Quilter's Guilds will jointly hold the 'Piecemakers 2006' Biannual Quilt Show at St Marys Community Centre, 317 James St S, St Marys, Ontario. Admission is $5 and will feature guild members work, sale of handmade articles and a merchants's mall.

Chatham Western Junior B Champs

2006-04-09T23:25:00.000-04:00

Tonight the Chatham Maroons became the Ontario Western Junior B champions by beating the St Marys Lincolns 4-3 to take the series 4 games to 3. The Lincolns and the Maroons were the two top teams in the regular season both finishing with 68 points. Its the third straight year that the Maroons have won the championship and the 7th time in the last 9 years. St Marys last won in 1994.

St Marys Arena Expansion to Proceed

2006-04-02T12:56:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, March 28 St Marys Ontario Town Council voted 6 to 1 to call for tenders for the $16 million arena expansion project. Only Councillor Bill Osbourne voted against the project based on the funding of the project and the unrealistic timeline of the project cited by the architects.

The timeline calls for the project to begin before November's municipal election. The town will be fully responsible for the funding of the project which will give rise to an annual obligation of about $1.0 million per year for 20 years. March 9, 2006 Deloitte and Touche outlined the St Marys Arena Expansion Financing Strategy.

Previous posts on the St Marys Arena Expansion
6 November 2005 - Architect hired for Living Life Project
19 January 2006 - Living Life Mission Update
23 March 2006 - Letters to the Editor

430 Houses Planned

2006-03-30T19:44:00.000-05:00

There will be a Planning Advisory Committee meeting Monday, April 3, 7:15 pm on the plans for part of the farm between Emily and James Street north of the Grand Trunk Trail. The proposal for the 43.73 hectares (about 108 acres) call for 315 lots for single detached houses and 115 multiple attached dwellings. In the plans Glass St would be extended west from James St over to Emily St and Wellington would be extended north into the sub-division. The public meeting will take place in St Marys Town Hall Council Chambers.

Letters to the Editor

2006-03-23T07:38:00.000-05:00

This week's St Marys Journal Argus was expanded by 4 pages to include 12 letters on the arena expansion (also known as the Living Life Project). The only 1 of the 12 letters fully in support of the project was from an original proponent of the scheme, the St Marys Hockey Association. The arena expansion is on the agenda for the next council meeting Tuesday, March 28 at 7:30 in the St Marys Town Hall auditorium.

In sort of related news, Cindy Bilyea who until recently was President of the St Marys Hockey Association lost out to Robert Wilhelm Tuesday night to become Perth South, Ontario township councillor. Perth South which surrounds St Marys funded 40% of the current arena and on April 27, 2004 their council voted 4-3 against contributing to the Living Life Project.

Slow Food Dinner

2006-03-21T22:12:00.000-05:00

There will be a fundraising dinner this Saturday, March 25 at 6:30 pm at Smith and Latham Restaurant, 139 Queen E, St Marys. The 4-course meal for $115 will feature locally produced game meats and other locally grown items. Funds raised will be used to send local delegates to Turin, Italy this October for Terra Madre the Slow Food sponsored meeting of world food communities.

Slow Food, founded in 1986, is an international organization whose aim is 'to protect the pleasures of the table from the homogenization of modern fast food and life.' It has over 80,000 members in a 100 countries including over 600 members across Canada.

Happy St Patrick's Day

2006-03-17T07:28:00.000-05:00

The Parkview Creamery Bar and Grill at 120 Parkview Drive will have Irish Specials all day and starting at 7:00pm sing-a-long Irish tunes with Gary McGill.

St Marys Lions Club is presenting a dance at the Community Centre from 8:00pm to 1:00am with music by Jasper.

Meantime there will be an Irish Stew Dinner at St James Anglican Parish Hall at 6:00pm for $12 and later a euchre card party at the Holy Name of Mary Parish Hall at 7:30 pm.

Ontario Horticultural Society

2006-03-08T07:02:00.000-05:00

Today Canada Post has issued a set of 4 stamps to commemmorate the 100th anniversary of the Ontario Horticultural Society.

St Marys Horticultural Society was established in 1965 and has about 315 members. Their next monthly open meeting is April 3, 7:30 pm at the Legion Hall, 66 Church St N when there will a talk about bonsai.

Living Life Project Public Meeting

2006-03-03T18:09:00.000-05:00

There will be a public meeting on the Recreation Expansion Project (also known as Living Life Project) next Thursday, March 9 at 7:00 pm at the St Marys Community Centre. There will be a presentation by architectural firm of Garwood-Jones & Hanham and accounting firm Deloitte & Touche. The parameters of the project were outlined in the Bryson Report presented last August.

UPDATE: The handout from the accountant on the finances can be seen at St Marys Ontario Arena Expansion - Financing Strategy

River Valley Golf And Tube

2006-03-01T07:23:00.000-05:00

River Valley Winter Tube Slide, seven miles southwest of St Marys has been operating for 10 years. Their March Break hours are Monday-Friday: 12noon-10pm, Saturday: 9am-10pm, Sunday: 9am-6pm. A 2-hour run costs $14.00.

River Valley is owned by former NHLer Walt Tkackuk who bought 100-acres there in 1970, while he was still playing hockey.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Suppers

2006-02-23T19:18:00.000-05:00

Next Tuesday, February 28 St Marys will have a choice of churches to visit for a pancake supper. St Marys Ontario Presbyterian, 147 Widder Street East, will be having their supper 5:00 - 7:00 p.m; cost will be $5 (pre-kindergarden free). At the St James Anglican Parish Hall, 65 Church Street South, will be pancakes, syrup, sausages, dessert and beverage. Their event is from 4:30 - 6:30 pm; cost is $5 adult, $3 children 6-12, $15 family.

World Day of Prayer

Next Friday, March 3, 2:00 pm at Grace Community Church there will be an ecumenical service with the theme of 'Signs of the Times'. 170 countries and regions will have similar services.

Lincolns Finish First

2006-02-20T07:15:00.000-05:00

Last night the St Marys Lincolns defeated the Sarnia Blast 6-5 in the final game of the regular season of the Western Junior B Hockey League. The victory left the Lincolns on top of the standings of the 9-team league tied with Chatham Maroons with 68 points. The last time the Lincolns finished first was in the 1993-94 season. 435 attended bringing the season total for the 24 home games to 10,940.

The Lincolns will now play 8th place finisher London Nationals in the quarter finals. First game of the best of 7 series is Friday at 7:45 pm in St Marys.

Drama Festival at St Marys DCVI

2006-02-18T19:57:00.000-05:00

March 1 through March 4, over 200 students from 9 area high schools will be putting on short plays at St Marys District Collegiate & Vocational Institute, 338 Elizabeth Street, St. Marys. Doors open at 6:30 pm with the first play starting at 7:00. Tickets are $10 per night or $25 for all 4 nights.

This event is part of the 60th annual Sears Drama Festival which involves more than 300 schools throughout Ontario.

Wed March 1	Thu March 2	Fri March 3	Sat March 4
St Marys How Nous Avons Met Central Huron Clowns Elmira Killing Time St Marys Do It Right	Listowel Uncensored Confessions of a Nobody Elmira Little Shop of Magic Listowel Love	Mitchell Overlaid St Anne's The Devil and Daniel Webster St Anne's Variations on the Death of Trotsky	Stratford Central The Master Builder Nancy Campbell No! Not the Russians! Goderich The Plain Dealer

Science Hill Drifters

2006-02-14T07:03:00.000-05:00

The local snowmobile club is the Science Hill Drifters formed in 1993. It grooms over 185 kms of trails on 10 major trails, including 18 kms of a Trans Ontario Provincial (TOP) trail. TOP trails make a 19,831 km (12,322 mi.) border-to-border network of trails.

The Club house is located 1 km north of St Marys on Thames Road. It is heated and open 24/7 during the winter months with the kitchen open on weekends. The next meeting of the club is Wednesday, February 22 at 8:00 pm. Their website is at www.sciencehilldrifters.com

Habitat for Humanity St Marys Build

2006-02-11T15:11:00.000-05:00

Area Presbyterian Churches are raising funds for the Habitat for Humanity project on James Street South.

Some of the St Marys Ontario Presbyterian Church fellowship time donations are for the St Marys Build and later this month on Saturday the 25th St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Stratford will be holding a quilt workshop fundraiser. The session will be from 9 am to 4 pm and cost $15 plus the cost of materials.

Excavation will be begin May 1 and the project should be completed before Labour Day. 2 families will be chosen from the over 30 applications. Habitat homeowners buy their home through an interest-free mortgage and are expected to to assist in the building. For this project the land was donated by St Marys and the Avon Maitland School Board.

Delaware Speedway drops NASCAR event

2006-02-08T07:12:00.000-05:00

Today, Delaware Speedway announced it would not be part of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series this year. It held the stock car race in 2004 and 2005 and both times it was won by Scott Lindsay of St Marys.

The Speedway is just west of London, Ontario and is a 1/2 mile semi-banked asphalt oval track.

In 2005 Scott Lindsay finished ninth overall in the Nascar Dodge Weekly Series. There were 18 races with the only other race in Canada taking place at the Autodrome St Eustache, Quebec.

Darlean Morris

2006-02-04T07:27:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow Sunday, February 5 from 1-4 St Marys, Ontario artist Darlean Morris will be at Gallery 96, Startford for the closing of an exhibition of her paintings. She uses a abstract expressionist style working with either oil, watercolour, or acrylic. Gallery 96 is located upstairs at the Discovery Centre beside the Festival Theatre, 270 Water St, Stratford.

Ms Morris' studio faces the Thames next to the Opera House. The space was last used selling ice cream.

St Marys Horticultural Society

2006-02-01T07:36:00.000-05:00

The Horticultural Society has open meetings and a guest speaker the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 pm at the Legion Hall, 66 Church St N. Today the speaker is Dorothy Elliott. Among the Society's activities is maintaining eleven flower beds throughout St Marys. Their website is at www.stonetown.com/horticulture

Sergeant Joseph Taylor (1887-1918)

2006-01-28T07:37:00.001-05:00

"I'm not sure why he had it but my Grandfather who lived in England (he is deceased) gave me a WW1 medal when I was a kid. I was doing some research and figured out that it was awarded to Sergeant Joseph Taylor, 25th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Nova Scotia Regiment). He appears on the Cenatoph in your town. It holds no sentimental value for me. If you have any information about his family, I would be glad to mail them the medal or you could share my email address and they can contact me directly. I live in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. I do not want any payment for it. I just think it would be nice for his family to have it.

Thanks, Mark"

Emails to stmarysheritage@lycos.com will be forwarded to Mark
A photo of St Marys Cenotaph

Perth-Wellington (Ontario) Election Results

2006-01-24T07:19:00.000-05:00

Conservative incumbant Gary Schellenberger was re-elected in yesterday's federal election in Perth-Wellington, Ontario. The Conservatives, NDP, Green and Christian Heritage Parties all did better than in the last election. St Marys councillor David Cunningham received 2681 fewer votes than the Liberal candidate in 2004.

21,986	45.9%	Gary Schellenberger
12,351	25.8%	David Cunningham
8,934	18.6%	Keith Dinicol
3,203	6.7%	John Cowling
1,432	3.1%	Irma Devries

Shown are results released election night. The validated results released several days later are Schellenberger 22,004 46.1%, Cunningham 12,301 25.8%, Dinicol 8,876 18.6%, Cowling 3,117 6.5%, DeVries 1,396 2.9%

St Marys Ontario Federal Election Results (less advanced poll).

Library Renovation and Expansion Meeting

2006-01-21T07:28:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, January 25 at 6:30 pm project architect John Knox will present his feasibility study on expanding and renovating St Marys library. Mayor Tony Winter, St Marys Public Library Board members and staff will be present. The library was last expanded in 1988 when it doubled in size.

Living Life Mission Update

2006-01-19T19:39:00.000-05:00

St Marys council with 1 dissenting vote has given another $10,000 to a Hamilton firm to develop plans to expand the hockey arena (the project is also known as the Living Life Mission).

The project will now cost an additional $3 million from just 2 months ago. The dissenting vote was from Bill Osbourne who dissented on the grounds that if funding was not in place when the expansion cost $10 million then the funding won't be in place now that it costs $13 million.

Municipal, provincial and federal funding will be required. Perth South, which paid for 40% of the cost of the current arena, has rejected making even a token contribution to expanding the arena. Federal and provincial funding programs do not currently exist for this kind of project.

The report Arena Manager Jim Bryson presented at the August 23, 2006 St Marys council meeting that led to hiring the architect is at:
St Marys Ontario - Living Life Project.

Free Curling

2006-01-14T07:31:00.000-05:00

St Marys Curling Club will be offering free curling instruction on Tuesday at 1:00pm. They are located at the Lind Sportsplex, 425 Water Street South.

Catholic Reorganization

2006-01-09T06:32:00.000-05:00

The London Ontario Catholic Diocese final recommendation for parish reorganization will see 1 in 5 churches closed.

Holy Name of Mary Church in St Marys is part of the Huron-Perth Deanery which will close 7 churches. Holy Name of Mary itself is being asked to reduce its number of Masses. It is also being asked to submit a plan by February 14 to show how it will become financially viable within 3 years.

2 pastors and 1 associate pastor serve St Joseph's, Stratford, Immaculate Conception, Stratford and Holy Name of Mary, St Marys. The Stratford churches had already reduced to 2 Masses each.

Green Party Event

2006-01-05T07:13:00.000-05:00

The 2004 documentary 'The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream' will be shown Saturday, January 7, 2006, 7:00PM at the Friendship Centre, James Street, St Marys. The Green Party candidate for Perth-Wellington, John Cowling, will chair a discussion afterwards. The premise of the 78 minute film is that the suburban lifestyle must change because suburbs depend on cheap and abundant fossil fuels and global oil production has peaked.

See also John Cowling on Peak Oil

Milt Dunnell 100th Birthday

2005-12-24T07:43:00.000-05:00

Former Toronto Star sports writer Milt Dunnell is 100 today. He was born on a farm near St Marys. He worked as a reporter on the St Marys Journal Argus in the late 1920s then moved to the Stratford Beacon Herald where he stayed for a dozen years. He joined the Toronto Star in 1942, became sports editor in 1949 and continued writing columns there until he was in his nineties.

In 1992 he was named St Marys first honorary citizen and earlier this month it was announced the Flats (where this year's light display continues until January 4) will be renamed Milt Dunnell Field.

UPDATE Milt Dunnell died January 3, 2008 at North York General Hospital at the age of 102.

Red Firetrucks Cheaper

2005-12-14T07:07:00.000-05:00

Stratford, Ontario is buying a new mini pumper for their fire department. Since the 1970s their fire trucks have been yellow but they will be switching to red because the new red pumper costs $1000 less.

St Marys fire department consists of a full time fire chief Dennis Brownlee who has been in the department 32 years and 24 volunteers. Their equipment includes one 1,050 GPM pumper, one 1,250 GPM 50 foot telesquirt, one tank truck and one rescue vehicle, all are red.

The 1050 GPM Pumper is for sale for $50,000, it is a 1992 GMC Topkick with 23,500 km.

St Marys Cement

2005-12-07T17:40:00.000-05:00

St Marys Cement was founded in 1912 in St Marys, Ontario by John Lind and Alfred Rogers. It is now headquarted in Toronto, Ontario and as well as the plant in St Marys has plants in Bowmanville, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. The company is owned by Group Votorantim, a Brazilian conglomerate.
Founder John Grieve Lind gave to the town Cadzow Park in 1926 and Lind Park in 1934.

Mercury Theatre Staging 'Our Town'

2005-12-01T07:26:00.000-05:00

St Marys professional Mercury Theatre is staging Thorton Wilder's 1938 Pulitzer Prize winning play 'Our Town'.

Performances are on Friday, Dec 16, 2005 - 7:00 pm, Saturday; Dec 17, 2005 - 2:00 & 7:00 pm; Sunday, Dec 18, 2005 - 2:00 & 7:00 pm. Tickets are $35 adult, $30 senior, $20 student.

The 72-seat theatre is at 14 Church Street N across the street from the Town Hall Theatre where St Marys amateur company perform.