Hometown Strathroy - Caradoc Jan/Feb 2025 Issue 50
STRATHROY-CARADOC LOCAL EVENTS – JANUARY/FEBRUARY
Mt. Brydges Legion 2500 Veterans Dr., Mt. Brydges 519-264-1580 Mondays: Bingo 2nd & 4th Wednesdays: Cards Fridays: Catch The Ace Saturdays: Meat Draw 4th Wednesday: Seniors Euchre Strathroy Legion 266 Metcalfe St., W., Strathroy 519-245-0683 Thursdays: Luncheon, Bingo Thursday February 20 Ladies Auxilliary/VON Lunch Mt. Brdyges Legion Noon – 2 pm $15 pay at the door Sunday February 23 Ladies Auxilliary Breakfast Buffet Mt. Brdyges Legion 9:00 am – Noon Adults $10, Kids $5 Saturday February 22 Coldest Night of the Year Event 37 Frank Youth Centre 4 pm – 7 pm Free In support of 37 Frank Youth Centre For more information visit: cnoy.org/location/strathroy WEEKLY EVENTS
Thursdays – February 6, 20, 27 Free Lunch All Saint’s Church 124 Front St. E., Strathroy 11:30 am Saturday February 8 Seniors Jamboree Caradoc Community Centre 565 Lions Park Dr., Mt. Brydges 1 pm – 4 pm Thursday February 13 Free Community Lunch St. John the Evangelist Church Mt. Brydges Legion Doors open at 7 pm $10 at the door Sunday February 16 Family Feud Mt. Brydges Legion 5 pm – 7:30 pm Everyone welcome Free Monday February 17 Family Day Caradoc Community Centre 565 Lions Park Rd., Mt. Brydges 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm Free 34 Head St., Strathroy 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Saturday February 15 Valentine’s Day Party
Thursdays – January 16, 23, 30 Free Lunch All Saint’s Church 124 Front St. E., Strathroy 11:30 am Friday January 17 Snow Much Fun PA Day Strathroy Library 34 Frank St., Strathroy Drop In / Free 9 am – 6 pm Sunday January 26 Ladies Auxilliary Breakfast Buffet Mt. Brdyges Legion 9:00 am – Noon Adults $10, Kids $5 Saturday December 7 Christmas at the Shops Shops on Syndenham 51 Front St., Strathroy 10 am – 4 pm Friday January 31 Strathroy Rotary Trivia Night The Wright Place
13 Front St., Strathroy Doors open at 6:15 pm Game starts at 7 pm Wednesday February 5 Chip Bingo Lions Hall 432 Albert St., Strathroy Doors open at 6 pm Game starts at 7 pm
Fridays: Darts, Euchre Saturdays: Meat Draw
CALL KEN 519-495-2222 AND FIND A NEW SPECIAL HOME New Year’s Resolution:
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Because MCA is a registered charity, the team must continually fundraise to keep the archive operating. They welcome donations, offer tax receipts, and run different fundraising events during the year. This year, they are raffling four outstanding prizes, including a queen-size quilt donated by ABQ Sewing Studio in Strathroy. Raffle tickets will be on sale starting March 29 at MCA’s annual Her - itage Fair until they sell out or after the Ilderton Fall Fair next Sep - tember. Only 5,000 tickets will be available for $5 each or 5 for $20. Located at 2652 Gideon Drive, Delaware, MCA is open to the public on Wednesdays from 10 to 12 pm and 1 to 3 pm and Thursdays from 10 to 12 pm or by appointment. For more information, visit www.middlesexcentrearchive.ca or con - tact them at 519-518-5590 or middlesexcentrearchives@gmail.com.
Keeping History Alive A dedicated group of people quietly tends a treasure trove of history with care and precision in the old Delaware Township office. From formal legal documents to forgotten family photos, the Middlesex Centre Archives (MCA) team ensures each item in their collection is catalogued and filed for access should any - one ever need it. MCA is an accredited archive established in 2013 to preserve the documentary heritage of Middlesex Centre and the former Town- ships of London, Lobo, and Delaware. Archivist Krista Taylor and several volunteers diligently build the collection and maintain the archival documents by assessing each donation to ensure it fits MCA’s mandate, determining its condition and storage needs, and recording the details in an industry-designed database. When deciphering the difference between archives, libraries, and museums, Krista shares this simple insight: “Archives col - lect original, one-of-a-kind documents unique to an area or topic. Libraries traditionally have materials where there may be multi- ple copies and not necessarily unique to their location, and mu - seums collect objects.” MCA’s collection includes archival documents such as ledgers, deeds, church records, and old photographs donated by various groups or private individuals. This issue’s recipe comes from a cookbook created by the South Lobo Women's Institute in 1967. Krista and the MCA volunteers also present various topics to groups, clubs and organizations. You will often see their displays at community fairs around the county. They love sharing their knowl - edge and the importance of remembering the county’s history.
Submitted from the South Lobo Women's Institute Cookbook, 1967
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Jan/Feb 2025 Page 3
Family Day in Strathroy-Caradoc Family Day in Strathroy-Caradoc takes place on Monday, Febru - ary 17, at the Caradoc Community Centre, 565 Lions Park Drive, Mount Brydges, beginning at 2 pm. Municipal staff have a variety of family-friendly activities planned, including a 20ft x 45ft synthetic rink that will be set up outside the Community Centre. Skate rentals will be available in various sizes. Food trucks may also be on site if the weather cooperates. The festivities will wind down with a movie and free popcorn at 6:30 pm Bring something comfortable to sit on as the floor in the community centre is concrete. For more information, visit www.stathroy-caradoc.ca. To volunteer, call 519-245-1070.
Hometown Strathroy- Caradoc Issue #50 Jan/Feb 2024 Your local community connector The 100% locally owned and produced Hometown Strathroy- Caradoc is published ten times a year with thousands delivered free to area residences, set out at local venues, and posted online at www.villagerpublications.com Publisher & Editor: Barb Botten P.O. Box 134, Lambeth Station Ontario N6P 1P9 Barb@villagerpublications.com 519-282-7262 Content Manager: Lynne WIlliams All articles by Lynne Williams unless noted otherwise Graphic Artist: Jon Botten Advertising: Gloria Rae Gloria@villagerpublications.com 519-495-4564 Debbie Mindorff Debbie@villagerpublications.com 519-870-3203 Copyright @ 2015 Villager Publications. All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the Publisher. Information presented has been compiled from sources believed to be accurate at the time of printing however the Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. We’d love to hear from you. Contact Barb at Barb@villagerpublications.com Beautiful Valentine's flower arrangement by Green Bee Floral
Save a Life This Year Canada Blood Services (CBS) has launched a cross-country drive to find 450 new donors of blood or plasma every day this winter to keep pace with the country’s patient needs. Accord - ing to their website, someone needs blood every 60 seconds, and plasma may be a person’s only treatment option.
Please contact Debbie@villagerpublications.com or Gloria@villagerpublications.com for more information regarding any of our local community magazines. Visit our website at villagerpublications.com to read them all. YOUR DECEMBER 2024 VILLAGER PUBLICATIONS LINEUP If you’ve donated before, consider whether it is time to give again. If you’ve never donated, it is a simple process that does not take much time and is a great way to make a difference in someone’s life. Somewhere in Canada, there is a life you can save. Thursday, January 16, 2025 Strathroy Community Christian School 7880 Walkers Dr Strathroy Whether someone is anemic, dealing with cancer, injured in some way, or perhaps has devel - oped a complication while in surgery or giving birth, donating your blood or plasma plays a vital part in their care. It isn’t just about supplying the need today. According to CBS, it’s also about having enough supply in the future to ensure patients across Canada always have access to life-saving blood and plasma.
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Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc
Page 4
be a better municipality for the work completed in 2024. In 2024, several important projects got under - way. For example, converting Saxton Road into an urban road, along with the Strathroy Crossing Drain project will go a long way to alleviate the flooding issues felt in the South Grove subdivision. The work on Fire Station 1 continues with an expected completion date of early summer 2025. Economic growth continued last year with two exciting developments: Burnbrae Farms an - nounced they will remain in Strathroy with the creation of a new 100,000 sq. ft. facility in our north end, and Norbec Industries completed their new $45 million state-of-the-art facility that will bring 70 new jobs to our region. As Mayor, along with Council, I'm extremely confident in our future and the fact that we can compete with anyone to attract new business to our area. It has been a year of tremendous growth, that is true; but I feel that with all the hard, and at times exhausting, work in 2024, we are posi - tioned to meet any future growth with sound planning and a clear direction. In reflection, all the hours were an investment in a community that has a bright future.
Mayor’s Message A recent study indicated that between 2016 and 2021 Strathroy-Caradoc has grown at a rate of 14%, the largest increase between London and Middlesex County. That growth rate is expected to continue. The pressures of that rapid growth continued to be felt throughout the municipality in 2024. The impact on infrastructure, roads, wastewater treatment, water delivery, and recreation facilities were top of mind, as it was in all municipalities. To ensure we are up to the challenge that faces us, we have several plans to guide us. In 2024, we updated the Strategic Plan, which acts as a guide in setting priorities. We also complet- ed the Master Water/Wastewater Plan and the Roads Master Plan. Lastly, the completion of the Service Delivery review will ensure we have a strong organizational foundation from which to complete these priorities to meet the needs of a quickly changing community. The completion of these plans has meant that municipal staff have worked tirelessly along with numerous hours of meetings with Coun- cil. At times it did seem like we were constant - ly in meetings this past year, but the work was necessary and important. I want to thank our staff for their efforts and all of Council for their patience and diligence. Strathroy-Caradoc will
Colin Grantham, Mayor 519.245.1105 x 251 cgrantham@strathroy-caradoc.ca www.strathroy-caradoc.ca
Colin
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sis Canada, recommend that most adults take a daily vitamin D supplement. The recommended daily intake of vitamin D varies depending on age and the individual’s risk of osteoporosis: • Healthy adults age 19 to 50: 400 to 1,000 IU per day • Adults age 19 to 50, at high risk of osteoporosis: 800 to 2,000 IU per day • Adults over 50: 800 to 2,000 IU per day If a supplement is required, the person’s dietary intake should be estimated to establish the correct daily dose. Since they tend to be out in the sun more, and since they gen - erally consume dairy products on a daily basis, healthy children (with the exception of breastfed babies) do not usually require vitamin D supplements. Choosing the right Supplement Vitamin D supplements are sold either as a standalone supple- ment, in combination with calcium, or as a multivitamin. There are various forms of vitamin D. Vitamin D3 is preferable, as it is more readily absorbed by the body. If you are unsure about your vitamin D requirements, or if you need help choosing the right supplement, ask your Bossons Pharmacy pharmacist. Source: https://www.guardian-ida-remedysrx.ca/en/article/vita- min-d-bone-health-andosteoporosis-prevention#sectionEnd
Your Pharmacists can help with Medication Questions Michael Gleiser Owner/Pharmacist Bosson’s Pharmacy & Home Health Care
Vitamin D: One for all, All for one According to Osteoporosis Canada, most Canadian adults should take a daily vitamin D supplement. Read this article to find out why this vitamin is important and how to meet your daily recommended intake. Role of Vitamin D Vitamin D plays an essential role in bone health by facilitating the absorption of calcium. Plus, it also helps maintain muscle health and reduce the risk of fractures caused by falls. A number of studies have suggested that it may also reduce the risk of certain diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and some cancers. Vitamin D and Sunshine The body produces vitamin D when skin is exposed to the sun. However, in Canada, during the long winter months, the sun’s rays are not strong enough to trigger this reaction. Since the body is able to stockpile this vitamin, in an ideal world, it would produce enough vitamin D during the summer to meet its needs during the months when it doesn’t produce any. However, there are several factors that can prevent the body from building up sufficient reserves of vitamin D: • Sunscreen: By effectively protecting skin against the harm - ful effects of the sun, sunscreens reduce the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D. • Aging: As we age, our skin gradually loses its ability to pro - duce vitamin D. • Very low exposure to the sun, even in summer: Some peo - ple who are ill or elderly, and even some workers, may rarely, if ever, be exposed to the sun. Dietary Sources of Vitamin D It is not easy to meet the recommended daily intake of vitamin D through your diet, because very few foods actually contain it. Vitamin D is found in oily fish (e.g., salmon and sardines), egg yolks, and vitamin D-enriched foods like dairy products, ma garine, certain plant-based beverages, and some orange juice brands. Should I take a supplement? Due to our climate, the importance of protecting skin against the harmful effects of the sun, and the low levels of vitamin D in our foods, many Canadians are at risk of vitamin D defi - ciency. For this reason, many experts, including Osteoporo -
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Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc
Page 6
Tanton’s Locker Service: Early Frozen Foods by Libby McLachlan
The mention of 'locker service' often prompts a puzzled look. But for a few brief decades, between the commercial development of refrigeration and the advent of home deep freezers, it offered homeowners a unique food storage alternative. George Tanton of London recently recalled his family's business in Strathroy during this period. By the l940s, thanks to electricity, refrigerators had replaced icebox - es in many homes, although hydro was still not always available in rural areas. While food could now be easily kept cool, the next step was to freeze it for longer storage. New businesses sprouted up in the 1940s to provide such freezer service, often in butcher shops. A large room behind the retail area would be equipped with a refrig- eration unit that kept the temperature below freezing. Stacked rows of wooden or wire mesh 'lockers', each with its own padlock, filled the room. Families could rent a locker to store frozen food, usually meat, to be picked up and taken home as needed. In Strathroy, locker service was provided by Cyril “Charlie” Tanton for some 21 years. At age 16 Charlie emigrated on his own from England to Port Arthur (Thunder Bay). At 18 he joined the army and served overseas in World War I; he was wounded in three different battles, including Vimy Ridge. His son, George, remembers seeing the scars on his chest and back from a bullet that went through his body. After the War Charlie returned to northern Ontario, where he met and married Myrtle Scott, a nurse. Like his father, Charlie was a butcher by trade, and the couple opened a butcher shop in Sundridge, northern Ontario. A year later they moved to Exeter and operated the “Ideal Meat Market” for ten years. In 1942 the family moved to Strathroy and opened Tanton's Locker Service at 14 Front Street W, with refrigeration and lockers installed by E J Wright Ltd. Charlie and Myrtle, with sons George and Jim, lived above the shop, not an unusual arrangement for the time. Tanton's became the largest locker service in southwestern On - tario, with 535 lockers. For $8 per year, you could rent one large enough to hold 250 pounds of meat. Most of the time, all the lockers were full and there was a waiting list of customers. The main freez - er room was kept at 0 degrees F; there was also a 'sharp freezer' at -16F, and a cooler for hanging sides of beef or pork (or sometimes even venison). Tanton's was not a butcher shop (the McCandless Butcher Shop was across the street); they sold only sides or quar - ters of meat. Sides of beef were purchased from Canada Packers in Toronto and sides of pork from Coleman's in London. The meat had been inspected and graded as red, blue or commercial. Af - ter hanging in the cooler for several days, the sides would be cut into roasts, steaks, etc. as the customer wished, then wrapped,
Myrtle and Charlie Tanton with grandson Steve. Photo courtesy of George Tanton
labelled, "sharp frozen" and placed in the customer's locker. The meat was always wrapped in two layers of white waxed paper, with a red label for beef or a yellow label for pork inserted between the layers so it could be seen. Often, customers chose to keep their padlock key on a board in the store, for convenience. Tanton's also sold milk, frozen ('frosted') fruits and vegetables, and fish, including B.C. salmon which arrived in wooden boxes. Another big seller was ice cubes, at 50 cents a bag, made using regular ice cube trays. In 1963 Charlie Tanton died after a massive heart attack while working in his store. His wife continued to run the business. Son George, who was living in London, came out to Strathroy each Saturday to cut meat for the lockers. After a year, his mother sold the store to Ovation Shoes. By this time, home freezers had ap - peared; as they became more popular, locker service gradually dis - appeared. But it had met a growing consumer need and provided business opportunities in the years between the coming of freezer refrigeration and the availability of the home chest freezer.
Tanton’s Locker Service located at 14 Front St. W. Photo courtesy of George Tanton.
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Jan/Feb 2025 Page 7
ARTIST OF THE MONTH
The Art of Destressing Payton, a local artist from Strathroy, finds she can create a therapeutic environment and mindset when she paints. Pay- ton uses painting to help her decompress and relieve stress, releasing the tensions at play in her inner world. “When I am feeling stressed, I turn to art,” she explains. “I think it’s all the adrenaline. I’m able to channel it into my art.” Payton paints with acrylics pri- marily, and she loves to create pieces that utilize refurbished objects. With her art practice, Payton strives to create deco- rative, bubbly pieces that are colourful and adventurous. She enjoys researching and explor- ing new techniques. Joyce Hurd, Payton’s grand - mother, first introduced Payton to the world of art and encouraged her to study various techniques. Payton also takes private and group classes, including those that Joyce teaches.
FROM STRATHROY TO PORTUGAL!
Joyce has been, and continues to be, Payton’s muse, guide and mentor. “My grandma is always encouraging me,” adds Payton. Following in her grandmother’s footsteps has helped Payton develop a creative mindset that has grown through lots of prac- tice. As Payton looks to the fu - ture, she hopes to continue developing her skills and would like to carve out more time to paint. Payton especially enjoys painting with her friends. “I find spending evenings with friends painting brings everyone together,” says Payton. “You bond together and share each other's creative side while catching up on life.” Payton has enjoyed the thrill of selling her work in recent years and hopes to create more work that people would like to buy. “The best compliment comes when someone buys a piece,” adds Payton. “There’s no feeling like it.” To see more of Payton’s work, contact her grandmother, Joyce Hurd at Joycehurd4@gmail.com.
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Adam’s son Kael, who is 12, is also involved in the business. “I love that this is teaching my son a good work ethic,” says Adam. Besides maintaining the high quality of the O-Joe brand, sup - porting the local community is another priority for Adam. Be- cause his kids are involved in hockey and several sports, he understands the importance of giving back and supports local fundraising efforts. Adam is also open to collaborating with local businesses by adding more menu items to the café. As the café gets off the ground, Adam plans to offer coffee tast - ings and opportunities to learn about different roast profiles and ways to prepare coffee, such as French press and lattes. Located at the Rusty Wrench, 9 Front Street in Strathroy, O-Joe Café is open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 3 pm and Satur - days, 9 am to noon. Their grand opening is Saturday, February 8, from 9 am to noon. You'll find an array of coffees to try, tasty eats, and a lot of fun! For more information, visit O-Joe Coffee at www.ojoecoffee.com.
Looking for that Perfect Cup of Joe Strathroy now has a new option for people to find that perfect cup of coffee to add to their day. With his passion for making coffee and bringing the community together, Adam Cairns, owner of O-Joe Cof - fee, has opened a unique new café that shares space with a brewery on Front Street in Strathroy.
When Adam learned that Mugg’s Coffee Shop was closing, he saw an opportunity to open a café as part of O-Joe Coffee’s suite of services. This opportunity was made possible by collaborating with Chris Traczuk, who owns Rusty Wrench Brewing Company. Sharing the brew mas - ter’s space made sense to both own - ers and on January 3rd, the O-Joe Café opened at the Rusty Wrench. Operating in Strathroy since 2013, O-Joe Coffee is a small-batch cof- fee roaster that sources sustainably grown and ethically traded coffees,
preferably from smaller farmers where the supply chain can be traced. Adam and his team pride themselves on roasting their beans fresh, using eco-friendly packaging and shipping right to their customers' homes or offices. When O-Joe Coffee’s founder, Joe, decided to sell the business, he hoped to find someone local who would take it to the next lev - el. With his background in accounting and having recently sold his stake in the London Music Conservatory which he co-owned, Adam was perfectly positioned to be that someone. Attracted to the quality of the O-Joe Coffee products, Adam purchased the business in October 2020. “Adam has always cared very much about quality in all products he consumes, so this business was a natural, comfortable fit for him,” says Adam’s wife, Lindsay. Adam is involved in every aspect of the business, including hands- on roasting, developing new techniques, and creating ideas to build the business. Jenna joined the company to help with pack - aging and delivery. She’s a Strathroy local who loves being part of this growing business and claims that O-Joe coffee is the best in the world. “I call Adam the coffee Jesus!” Jenna laughs.
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Jan/Feb 2025 Page 9
OPEN DAILY 11 AM to 10 PM
A Pizza Place by Any Other Name SLAMZ Pizza, formerly Andy’s Legendary Pizza, has a new name, but owners, Steph and Mathew Richardson want you to know they're still the ones behind the great food, location, and customer service that Strathroy has come to know and love. Steph and Mathew took over the Strathroy location of Andy’s two years ago. In November 2024, with over 22 years of combined restaurant and food industry experience, they decided to stretch their entrepreneurial muscles by leaving the franchise world and striking out on their own. Besides changing the name, Steph and Mathew have tweaked a few other things. For example, their pizza sauce and buffalo sauce are now made in-house, using local ingredients whenever possible. They also added new items to the menu that people won't find at typical take-out places, such as fresh-cut chips, do - nuts, and deep-fried cheesecake. Ordering pizza has changed as well. SLAMZ Pizza now accepts online orders through its Facebook page, and customers only order and pay for the toppings they like. This way, they get the pizza they want without ordering and paying extra for a specialty pizza, minus whatever toppings they don't like. A high degree of satisfaction is a big part of the customer expe- rience that Steph and Mathew want SLAMZ Pizza to represent. They will happily adapt items to accommodate customers’ food sensitivities whenever possible. “We appreciate honesty from our customers," Steph shares. "If there’s something they would like altered so they would enjoy the food more, we will do what we can to accommodate them. If we can’t do something, we let them know what we can do instead.” When asked how they came up with the name SLAMZ Pizza, Steph explains, “Almost everything we do is for our kids. We took the first initial from our first names and our three children.” Steph and Mathew moved to Strathroy six years ago, and they’re excited to grow their new business in the community that’s been so supportive. They’ve enjoyed working with local businesses, and Steph and Mathew look forward to continuing that support while providing good quality, fresh food for many years. Located at 10 Metcalfe Street West, Strathroy, SLAMZ Pizza is open for delivery and pick up, Sunday to Saturday, from 11 am to 10 pm. To view their menu and order online, find them on Face - book or call 519-204-6664.
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The idea to collect can tabs came from a Google search where Gordon found a story about Jace Weber, a 10-year-old boy from Mildmay, Ontario, who holds the Guinness world record for col - lecting 6,227,236 tabs to help buy a wheelchair for a friend. Gordon has 165 collection bucket locations throughout the county, including at businesses, legions, and schools in Mount Brydges, Strathroy, Komoka, Wardsville, Glencoe, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, and Munsee-Delaware Nation. Gordon sells the tabs to London Salvage & Trading Company for scrap metal. The tabs, which are made from pure aluminum, are melted and formed into 90-pound ingots used in manufacturing. Gordon estimates that 2,100 tabs equals approximately one pound. At 30 cents a pound, Gordon will need 10,000 pounds – over 20 million tabs – to reach $3,000. With the community rallying behind him, Gordon is on his way to achieving his goal, with four million tabs collected in his first three months. Gordon has been fundraising for community organizations for over 60 years, beginning when he was 15 by helping his fa - ther sell poppies. He’s been deeply involved in whatever com - munity he’s lived in ever since. These days, Gordon also helps fundraise for the Melbourne Legion and the Strathroy Salvation Army, and every other month, he organizes a special meal for the residents in his seniors’ complex. Gordon will be collecting tabs until fall 2025 and encourages ev - eryone to help. For more information on where to take your tabs, contact Gordon at 226-378-5942 or email tinybeachesboy@live. ca. You can also drop off your collection anywhere you see Gor - don’s buckets.
Buckets of Community Spirit Gordon Robbins, a long-time resident of Melbourne, has become the king of col - lecting can tabs to raise money for MRI accessories to go with the new machine coming to Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital (SMGH). He hopes to collect enough tabs to raise between $2,000 and $5,000 by fall 2025. “I pitched the idea to the Strathroy Mid - dlesex General Hospital Foundation (SMGHF) Board,” explains Gordon. “Since they had funding for the MRI ma - chine already, they suggested raising money for accessories to go with it.”
Those accessories include noise-can- celling headphones to help mitigate the loud banging of the machine as it oper- ates, as well as foam pads that help a patient hold a specific position during the scanning process. “These are small things that can enhance the patient's expe - rience,” Gordon adds. “They’re expensive, and with wear and tear, they need replacing periodically.” Another item Gordon would love to help the hospital purchase is a specific lift that moves patients onto the MRI bed. According to Gordon, SMGH has one, but it’s in their Xray department, which is too far away from the new MRI room to share.
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Page 12 Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc
Historic Grant Helps Landowners and the Environment The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) launched its Sydenham Phosphorus Reduction Initiative (SPRI) in December 2025, thanks to a historic investment of $7.85 million over four years from the Canada Water Agency. Landowners can apply through SPRI for funding and educa - tional opportunities to implement or enhance agricultural best management practices (BMPs) on their properties. BMPs such as windbreaks, cover crops, and wetland resto - ration play a critical role in minimizing phosphorus losses to waterways. They also help reduce soil erosion, protect wa - ter quality, increase crop yields, and potentially decrease the need for fertilizer, among other benefits. “SPRI is a substantial investment in supporting the efforts of our local producers and rural landowners as they work to build soil resiliency for both the benefit of water quality and for sustainably supporting future crop yields,” shares Jessica Van Zwol, Healthy Watershed Coordinator at SCRCA. “I’m excited that we have this opportunity to support our local ag- ricultural community, many of whom have already adopted several BMPs in their farm management.” For more information, visit www.sydenhamriver.on.ca/steward - ship/healthy-watersheds-program/spri or contact Jessica at jvanzwol@scrca.on.ca or 519-245-3710, ext. 241 or Lisa McNeill, Agricultural Stewardship Technician at lmcneill@scrca.on.ca or 519-245-3710, ext. 125.
An aerial view of the Crump Family Farm demonstrates the power of stacking Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce phosphorus losses. By combining tiered settling ponds, a grassed waterway, cover crops, and tree planting, this farm showcases a multi-layered ap- proach to sediment and erosion control, supporting both agricultural productivity and water quality. Photo courtesy of ALUS Middlesex
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Jan/Feb 2025 Page 13
Kung Fu & Tai Chi School EXPERIENCE MARTIAL ARTS AND WELLNESS BOOK A TRIAL CLASS AT https://kungfu-taichi.ca Dedicated classes for children • Day Camps Classes for teens, adults and seniors. At the end of 2024, the team’s record stands at 15 wins, 9 losses, 3 overtime losses, and 2 shootout losses, earning them 35 points. The Bulldogs aim to solidify their playoff position with a full slate of games in January and February and 10 games left in the reg - ular season. (226) 998-8703 Enhance Physical Health, Confidence and Self Esteem with Sifu Carlos Ferraz 190 Wortley Rd. Martial Arts and Wellness Programs in the Heart of Wortley Village Bulldogs are Howling Again After a slow start to the season, the Mount Brydges Bulldogs are making a strong comeback down at the Tri-Township Arena. With 13 games in hand, the Bulldogs have climbed from 7th to 4th place in the Yeck Division standings. The last three games of the season were tough ones for the Bulldogs with an overtime loss against the Thamesford Trojans on December 21. Another loss in regulation play on December 22 against the Lucan Irish seemed to suggest it was going to be coal in the dogs’ stockings. However, they rallied on December 28 to win in regulation play against the Aylmer Spitfires to end the year on a high note. The pack has been bolstered by the offensive return of Nick Mazza from London and the addition of new players: London’s Nolan Burnside, Calgary's Tim Jozsa, and newly acquired for - ward Justin Zirul, also from London. This infusion of talent will help the Bulldogs give the other teams in the Yeck Division a solid challenge for top dog. With holiday celebrations over and a long stretch ahead to gar- dening season, consider spending an evening with your favour - ite dogs at the Tri-Town Arena. Here’s the home game schedule for the remainder of January and the month of February: January Home Games:
Saturday, January 11 vs Petrolia @ 7:30 Saturday, January 18 vs Lucan @ 7:30 Saturday, January 25 vs Exeter @ 7:30 February Home Games: Saturday, February 1 vs Thamesford @ 7:30 Saturday, February 2 vs Exeter @ 8:00
Any Mt. Brydges Cougars players wearing their jersey or team jacket get into the game for free as do children 13 and under who are accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available at the door. If you’re interested in volunteering on game day, contact General Manager, Brian Griffiths, at bgriffiths9494@gmail.com. Photos courtesy of KPH Photography
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Page 14 Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc
Strathroy’s
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