By Grace Oborne As I reflect on how my summer has gone thus far, from the hammock in which I sit in, I look out only to see the sun beaming onto Canning Lake. I…
Showering in my undershorts
By Jim Poling Sr. Have the feeling that someone is listening and watching?I have that feeling more often these days. It’s more than a feeling. It has become a belief.The other night the television went…
Accept sacrifices: save the future
By Jim Poling Sr. Mother Nature is no longer simply disappointed in us; she is blazing angry.Her anger is evident throughout the world this month. Killer mudslides in Japan. Parts of Germany devasted by unprecedented…
It’s not goodbye …
By Chad Ingram “All good things must come to an end sometime, so don’t burn the day.” That’s a line by Dave Matthews, a favourite musician of mine. This will be my final column for…
Mind your own business
By Jim Poling Sr. An interesting anniversary passed virtually unnoticed last Sunday: the 204th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death.Austen, in the two centuries after her passing, became world famous for her novels interpreting and critiquing…
Minden’s history was rowdy
To the Editor, It seems to me that Janice Carr’s lament for the intrusion of a pot shop on Minden’s bucolic Main Street in last week’s Times views the past through rose-coloured glasses.Once, Main Street…
A litter letter
To the Editor, First, congratulations to those local community groups and private individuals that volunteer their time and efforts to clean up roadside litter. It is heartening to see in local media and when travelling…
Oh, the water
By Chad Ingram It was down, now it’s up. Not so many weeks ago, water levels throughout the county were incredibly low, courtesy of an early spring freshet coupled with a long drought. Now, after…
Did Neanderthals have more fun?
By Jim Poling Sr. You have to wonder whether the Neanderthals of 50,000 years ago lived better lives than we genius Homo Sapiens of the super tech 21st century.The Neanderthals lived in caves and had…
Not the spot for pot shop
To the Editor, What in the world is going on? A cannabis store on Minden’s main street?I have lived here all my 70-plus years and have always been proud of my hometown – not so…
Call for total fireworks ban
To the Editor, As a resident of Minden Hills and Horseshoe Lake, I am emailing you about the use of personal fireworks. You may remember a petition that was sent, a couple of years ago,…
Wet bulb temperatures
By Laurie Sweig I read an interesting article this week about wet bulb temperatures. according to the CBC article, a wet-bulb temperature is a theoretical measurement that combines temperature and humidity. As we all know,…
Service above self
By Chad Ingram When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this year he hoped to see the vast majority of Canadians fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September, it seemed impossible to fathom. If you recall,…
Make your voice heard
By Chad Ingram Late last month, Haliburton County councillors received an initial presentation from the consultants responsible for the drafting of a new shoreline preservation bylaw.That process will involve an extensive, two-phased public consultation and…
Our hot future
By Jim Poling Sr. I’ve been worrying about my granddog Rusty who has been suffering through the West Coast heat wave.Rusty has a daily walk and on a recent outing during unusually warm temperatures he…
Daises and lucky Canadians
By Jim Poling Nature regularly shows us that life doesn’t have to be as complicated as we sometimes make it. It’s showing us again this month with a spectacular display of one of its simplest,…
Bobcaygeon Road in bad shape
To the Editor, I am writing regarding the Bobcaygeon Road which is desperately in need of repair.I know you know this, and I am sure plans are afoot to do something, but I wanted to…
Confronting legacy
By Chad Ingram Canada Day falls this week and maybe this is a good year to not celebrate. Maybe this is a good year to reflect on Canada's true history, its true identity, and think…
Sticky situation
By Sue Tiffin Recently on a Saturday morning, I opened a door to a storage room in the basement and lo and behold, was welcomed by a milk snake stuck to the wall. You read…
Bundled and betrayed
To the Editor, On the rare occasion when the CRTC does not allow Bell Canada to raise prices on some of their services, Bell gets creative and still finds a way to stiff us. I…
When it’s broken …
By Jim Poling Sr. Imagine you are a potter whose prized vase slides from slippery fingers and falls to the floor.If it is only cracked, you try to patch it. If it is shattered, you…