First mayoral race in a decade

Todd Cowan has been watching the goings-on at Woolwich council with an increasingly skeptical eye, not always impressed with what he’s seen. In launching his candidacy for township mayor, he wants others to see changes are needed.

“I’ve been thinking about doing this for a long time. As I watch the way township council operates, I see the need for a new vision,” said Cowan, a former Queen’s Park insider. “I’ve been around politics for a lot of years. We have a lot of potential here, but we need some new energy. …Read more

Just like all the other kids

Two and a half year old Gabbie Strauss is still too young to realize that she’s different from other little girls. As far as she knows, everyone drinks glasses and glasses of water and takes ‘vitamins’ every six hours.

Some day Gabbie will understand that her vitamins are actually medicines that slow the effects of a rare genetic disease called cystinosis. The drugs help prevent the formation of crystals of cystine that would otherwise build up in her cells and destroy her organs …Read more

Slo-pitch tournament honours Don Dietrich

The sounds of clanking bats and the slap of the catcher’s mitt that echo from the ball diamond were joined by a chorus of voices singing ‘The more we get together’ and frequent laughter at the Don Dietrich Fun Slo-Pitch Tournament June 26-27 in St. Clements.

“‘The more we get together’ was Don’s favourite song,” said Brenda ‘Beanzie’ Brenner, a member of …Read more

Back in the saddle again at the Milverton Rodeo [Gallery]

Trevor Dunk won the tie-down roping event at last weekend’s Milverton Rodeo with a time of 15.1 seconds. Here, his horse puts on the brakes as the loop settles around the calf.

Township loses a community advocate

Bob Waters, an Elmira lawyer, a former Woolwich mayor and long-time supporter of recreation projects, succumbed to cancer Monday. He was 69.

Waters was remembered this week as a man dedicated to community service, sometimes leading the charge but often quietly doing his part …Read more

Students help build home in Breslau

Dominik Cislo started high school with a plan. He was going to take a variety of academic courses throughout his four years at St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Kitchener and eventually choose a university to attend. Now, the Grade 12 student is headed in a new direction, one which he thinks is a much better fit for him, after taking an eye-opening ‘home build’ course this past semester …Read more

St. Clements boy to donate locks to Angel Hair for Kids

Ten-year-old Peter Jones is looking forward to the day when washing his hair means a 20-second shampoo.
That day is coming soon: next Tuesday, Peter will have 10 inches cut off his shoulder-length blond hair, leaving him with just an inch or two.

The hair will be donated to A Child’s Voice Foundation, which runs the Angel Hair for Kids program. Angel …Read more

Summer playground program makes itself at home

It’s good to be back home again. Or more accurately, it’s good to finally have a home.

The Woolwich Memorial Centre is the new home base for the township’s summer playground program this year. Previously, the program was forced to shift between different schools as custodial staff did summer cleaning. Now they’ll be in one place for the duration of the program, and the new location will cut down on busing costs …Read more

Students put elbow grease into courtyard space

Students at Elmira District Secondary School can kick up their heels and relax in a new green space/patio area in the courtyard, one they built themselves.

The school has been a bit noisier this past week as students used hammers and electric saws to construct a recreation area with handmade tables and chairs and a stone patio in a space that was once practically ignored …Read more

Paddling their way to better health

Breast cancer is a disease that affects women of all ages all around the world – a fact that is brought home at events like the International Dragon Boat Festival, being held in Peterborough this weekend. More than 70 teams from around the world, made up of breast cancer survivors and their supporters, will dip their paddles in Peterborough’s Little Lake …Read more