By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock Working in the news industry can be depressing. It is work that draws much criticism and little praise. The men and women who gather and report news get blamed…
A place to grow
By Sue Tiffin Numerous fairgoers on the weekend described the Haliburton County Fair event hosted by the Minden Agricultural Society as being like a family reunion, and not just those who are related to half…
Getting it done
By Sue Tiffin It felt like I had no sooner sat down to organize the Times/Echo live blog on election night, that the winner had been declared. The night itself wasn’t particularly exciting for those…
Creating better informed voters
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock The really good news about last week’s Ontario election is that its citizens remain pragmatic, rather than dogmatic. Voters didn’t re-elect Doug Ford’s government because they absolutely love it…
Letter to the Editor: June 8
The following is a Letter to the Editor published in the June 8 edition of the Minden Times. Re:Thinking community-based elder care To the Editor, The pandemic has shed a spotlight on our broken…
Look alive, Ontario
By Sue Tiffin "So, who do you think is going to come in second in the election?” is a question I recently heard and one that might have been on your mind during this provincial…
Letters to the Editor : June 1
The following are Letters to the Editor published in the June 1 edition of the Minden Times. Sold your vote yet, want a doughnut? To the Editor, What was that? Sold my vote! What are…
Bread is making us bedbug crazy
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock I now know why our world has gone crazy. It’s from eating rye bread. Rye is a bewitched grain. We know that from modern research into the Salem witch…
A better future
By Sue Tiffin Recently I was reading a picture book to my children prior to bed. The book, Our Planet: There’s No Place Like Earth by Stacy McAnulty, like many books and TV shows geared…
A gun range disgrace
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock An organized gun range is a beautiful place. It’s a classroom – indoors or out – because it teaches valuable lessons. Lessons in safety and care and maintenance of…
Letters to the Editor: May 25
The following is a Letter to the Editor printed in the May 25 edition of the Minden Times. Climate change survey ends soon To the Editor, Did you know that the County of Haliburton values…
Summer days
By Sue Tiffin I love hearing stories about what summer was like in those days that feel like yesterday, for some of you. While fathers stayed home to work in the city and lived to…
The beaver ate my dock
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock I try to be Mr. Nice with my critter neighbours at the lake. It is becoming more difficult, however. Much more difficult, especially this spring. I feed and comfort…
Letters to the Editor: May 18
The following are letters to the editor published in the May 18 edition of the Minden Times. Ford: anti-people, anti-planet To the Editor, The Glasgow Climate Pact resulting from the Conference of the Parties 26…
Make life easier for women
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's RockThe abortion debate has flared into rage again in the United States, spilling of course, into Canada and elsewhere. Much time, energy and money is spent arguing whether governments should…
Letter to the Editor: May 11
The following is a Letter to the Editor published in the May 11 edition of the Minden Times. Keeping the planet on the ballot To the Editor, “Political campaigns are designedly made into emotional orgies…
Hats in the ring
By Sue Tiffin Finally, the time is here, you’ll soon know whether or not your neighbour was right about so-and-so running for mayor. The nomination period for October’s municipal elections opened on Monday, and some…
Here come the little guys
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock They are on their way! You should be spotting them any day now. The last time I checked they were crossing Lake Erie and some areas of southern Ontario…
Letters to the Editor: April 27
The following are letters to the editor published in the April 27 edition of the Minden Times. A vision for the cultural centre comes to council To the Editor, In the last few weeks over…
Saying yes
By Sue Tiffin After my brother-in-law’s passing a few years ago, my response to the overwhelming grief and loss I felt was that I decided I was going to say yes to everything, because I…
Welcome to the bug world
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock As we brace for a new bug season, I find myself hoping for a banner bug year. Not for blackflies, mosquitoes, midges or wasps, but for dragonflies and their…