Columnists

Off the road again

Posted: March 30, 2017 at 8:53 am   /   Columnists

The one local issue we hear about most is roads. To maintain our roads properly would subsume the whole of the County’s annual budget, so we do triage and only repair the ones that need repair the most, or that have the noisiest advocates. The situation is untenable. I have a solution to offer, which […]

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On the road with mom

Posted: March 30, 2017 at 8:49 am   /   Columnists

By the time The Times hits the street, on the 29th, I’ll be making my way from Heathrow to Upper Street in Angel with LOML and my brother. Yep, I’ll be “over ’ome”. It’s been a busy month, March has been. I’ve been to a lot of places in my time, but have never made […]

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The home stretch

Posted: March 24, 2017 at 9:00 am   /   Columnists

Most of the NHL teams have about 10 games remaining at this point in their season. Some teams have already locked up a post season berth; some are planning for next year; several teams are on the bubble, playing for a chance to earn some playoff cash, and an opportunity to drink from the Stanley […]

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Mistakes

Posted: March 24, 2017 at 8:59 am   /   Columnists

Last month, a night nurse in the Belleville Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit sat with a premature infant, bottle feeding. It was 3 a.m. She fell asleep. The baby’s cries startled her awake. He had fallen from her lap and was on the floor. Later the parents learned their child’s skull was fractured. Last week, […]

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The Natty Nostalgist

Posted: March 24, 2017 at 8:54 am   /   Columnists

Well, Prince Edward County has done it again. Fresh from being chosen as one of the world’s top 10 must-see destinations, we have now triumphed in that one of our number has made it onto the list of Canada’s 10 bestdressed individuals. The list, published last Saturday by The Globe and Mail, includes an “extravagance […]

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Near and far

Posted: March 24, 2017 at 8:51 am   /   Columnists

This weekend I’m in northern- ish Ontario. Specifically, I’m in Espanola with LOML. We’re here for a birthday celebration. LOML’s uncle marked his 100th birthday on Friday. He’s not Irish, and I’m sure luck wasn’t involved in his longevity. As far as Espanola is concerned it’s been about 20 years since I was here. Uncle […]

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Liquid treasure

Posted: March 23, 2017 at 8:59 am   /   Columnists

There are three major alternatives to “organic” wine production. “Biodynamic” viticulture methods have brought about worldwide improvements in the health of the vines, in soil fertility and in pest, weed and disease management. The method is not new: it was practiced up until the 18th century, re-introduced in the 1930s, and is currently gaining traction […]

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Out of touch

Posted: March 17, 2017 at 9:06 am   /   Columnists

Along with the country itself, the Canadian Senate is turning 150 this year. The Senate’s existence has been long fraught with controversy over the entitlement and privilege of its members. But it has been especially harshly scrutinized over the past five years or so. Over a dozen senators made headlines when their questionable spending of […]

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Name that neighbourhood

Posted: March 17, 2017 at 8:52 am   /   Columnists

Public consultation will begin soon on the new Wellington tertiary plan, which is coming out in draft form shortly. After the County’s official plan set the general rules for development Countywide, and the Wellington secondary plan dealt with zoning in our area in greater detail, the tertiary plan will wrestle with some of the softer […]

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Homework

Posted: March 17, 2017 at 8:48 am   /   Columnists

Out of necessity, I’ve worked from my home for many years. Working from home has its pluses and its minuses. On the plus side, I don’t have to conform to someone else’s codes of conduct in the workplace. I don’t have a dress code. I can take as many breaks as I want. If I […]

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