By Emily Stonehouse It’s no secret that this is the season for kindness. The concept of giving - whether it be time, money, energy, or gifts - is the centrepoint for the holidays. Last Thursday,…
O Holy Night!
From Shaman’s Rock By Jim Poling Sr. (This column is a story I have written and told many times. Christmas without it again would not be Christmas.) --- Fresh fallen snow protested beneath the crush…
Our roadside garbage pits
From Shaman’s Rock By Jim Poling Sr. What the world needs now are more dog walkers like Row Iliescu. Iliescu is the Toronto woman who spends a lot of her time picking up litter while…
Winds of Change
From Shaman’s Rock By Jim Poling Sr. The wind off the lake is furiously slapping the flag on the pole anchored in the little flower patch out front my place. There’s nothing noteworthy about a…
Who will stop the Russians?
From Shaman's Rock By Jim Poling Sr. IF I THROW stones at my neighbours relaxing on their backyard patio, other neighbours witnessing the crime will rush in to stop me. If I take wire cutters…
Fixing social media
From Shaman’s Rock By Jim Poling Sr. Whenever I read about global problems, I note climate change, serious pandemics, wars-military conflicts, poverty and hunger always top the list. I’d like to add one: social media.…
Home is where the heart is
By Emily Stonehouse HELLO, MINDEN. I think I know most of you. If not, my name is Emily, and I am pleased to be stepping into the role as editor for the Minden Times. I…
Of leaders and bucklers
By James Matthews Leading in the best of times is difficult enough. Leading in these hard-scratch economic times takes a toll beyond my comprehension.For the best leaders, anyway.Newly minted mayors and councillors in Haliburton County…
Of masks, decency, and the Tory heel
By James Matthews Just wear the mask. It’s the decent thing to do for the people around you. Go ahead: Put it on when you venture close to or within a crowd. If not for…
How to shiver correctly
By Steve Galea Now that the cold weather has finally arrived, new deer hunters might need a reminder on how to shiver correctly. As any veteran deer hunter can attest, this is one of the…
Finding a new way of living
By Jim Poling I’m not one for rewatching a movie, no matter how good it might have been. Especially if it is a remake. I made an exception recently and ordered up the 2021 remake…
Damned if you do …
Op-ed By Fay Martin You know the story about the blind men meeting an elephant. Each one had access to a different part. The one who had the tail described confidently that the elephant was…
Of humbug, Jim Reeves, and how it’s suggested…
By James Matthews A thought or two about Christmas. I hear readers protesting: Jeez, can’t we get a little more beyond Halloween before talk of Christmas? I get it. But, the shopping centres, the big box…
Bin there, done that
By Steve Galea Like many hunters and anglers, when it comes to hunting and fishing gear, I have a lot. I actually have so much that you could probably do a two-part episode of Hoarders…
A merry-go-round of scams
By Jim Poling Hey, Beverley J. Karl@aliciablong05@gmail.com. I am emailing to let you know that I am returning your nose. I found it sniffing around my business the other day, looking for ways to relieve…
All that is old is new again…
By Fay Martin Housing is unaffordable, we read and hear everywhere, and that is jeopardizing our economy and discouraging the younger generation. Ah, hasn’t it always been thus? In Middlemarch, George Eliot’s novel published 151…
Of government, a pandemic, and Jacks-in-boxes
By James Matthews This is a level of seriousness people try to keep out of their lives. Excuse the improper formatting. It’s necessary for space and accommodating a newspaper’s column-width. [BLACK SCREEN] Dr. Nicole Bocking…
The buck stops here
By Steve Galea f you hunt deer, two things are for certain: first, there will be times when you are sitting with a perfect wind in your face at a spot where your trail cameras…
A bureaucracy gone mad
By Jim Poling Sr. I have confirmed that COVID-19 is not a respiratory disease. It is a mental disease that makes some people more stupid than they already are. I confirmed this during yet another…
The splendour of the woods
By Jim Poling Sr. The lights dim. The audience turns to other spectacles.Nature’s annual autumn show is over. It was a spectacular one. Certainly one of the most vibrant in years. Crimson and golden hillsides…
A step to a bright new day
By Darren Lum There’s a lot to unpack in about a 600 word editorial to say goodbye.But after almost a year of these, it’s something I’ve been told I’m good at, so here goes.Thank you.…