OPTOMETRIST moves in

BY MELODY FALCONER-POUNDER

Dr. J. Richard Samuell, B.Sc. O.D., is passionate about eye health and it is evident when you step over the threshold into Mainstreet Optometric now open at 25 Main Street in Bayfield.

He has strived to make his new business a perfect fit on a heritage designated street. The store has been renovated to include, a showroom, exam room and storage area but every attempt to maintain the character of the 150 year-old building has been made, its tin ceiling, wood floors and even a vintage wall storage unit have been preserved and accentuated.

When it comes to optometric services, however, Dr. Samuell’s business uses state-of-the-art technology.

Spectacle wearers can attest to the frustration they experience when trying to select new frames. They are left to trust the word of a friend or salesperson on just how the glasses look on because they can’t see a clear image for themselves. It is a classic Catch-22 solved now by a computer program known as “Photo Booth”. The concept is a simple one, put on a pair of frames and smile at the computer screen, a built in camera captures an image and instantly displays it. The person can then put on their current glasses and see for themselves how they look in their perspective frames.
 
Patients will also find that the old eye chart has been updated at Mainstreet Optometric. Dr. Samuell uses a computer instead. Using this technology, he can  customize the exam for the patient. For example, for children who can’t read yet he can provide different pictures for them to look at. He can also show movies on the screen to provide children with a focus while their eyes are being examined.

He is also doing his best to operate a paperless office, filing examination records electronically and backing them up regularly. He feels this system will be a great benefit in the long term.

Dr. Samuell has been very pleased with the response he has been receiving from the community thus far.

"The locals have been very supportive. It has been awesome to have people stop in just to introduce themselves," he said.

Dr. Samuell and his wife, photographer, Erin Samuell and their two little boys, aged three and four, currently live just North of Bayfield.

"We just love it here. Bayfield is the nicest town. It is a great place to raise kids. I grew up in Waterloo and we used to come to the Pinery alot when I was a kid, I just love the lake," he said.

Dr. Samuell graduated in 2002 from the University of Waterloo after seven years of study. At first, he worked at practises for Lenscrafters in both Waterloo and Cambridge but has always preferred working in small towns. In addition to his office in Bayfield, he is an associate at offices in Wingham, Kincardine and Hanover.

"I hope to grow the Bayfield practise into full-time work. We are here and ready to see patients; we are in it for the long haul," he said.

The uniqueness of opening a practise on the Main Street of a tourist town is not lost on Dr. Samuell. It is evident in his showroom inventory. He has a selection of 450 frames on the wall and of those 100 are sunglasses. He hopes that shoppers will be enticed through the door to try on Dior, Gucci and Ray Ban shades.

What those shoppers will discover once inside is frames, that include, but go beyond the brand names. Take Tipton Eyewear for instance, based out of Budapest, Hungary the designer has taken recycling to a whole new level. Mainstreet Optometric carries two of the Tipton lines including, Vinylize and Cinematique Frames. Vinylize frames are made from 12-inch records; the grooves make for an interesting detail. The Cinematique line are frames created using actual pieces of 16 mm and 35 mm film in the arms. The film depicting scenes from European art films is protected in a waterproof, air tight, transparent encasement that allows the light to shine through, making the film visually stunning.

For patrons desiring a more "traditional" look there is also a vintage line.

"They are new-old stock, frames made in the 1950s and 60s that have never been worn before. Someone found boxes of them sitting in a warehouse somewhere out in Oregon. A neat find considering retro looks are pretty hot right now," said Dr. Samuell.

Mainstreet Optometric is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, noon to 7 p.m. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Examinations are currently being booked for mainly Thursdays and Saturdays. To make an appointment please call 519 565-2300.

Away from the office, Dr. Samuell keeps busy helping to raise his two sons and playing base guitar for The Full Nelsons a local rock quintet; the majority of which are also passionate about eye health; four members out of the five being Optometrists.

RECOGNITION CELEBRATION TO CONTINUE AT DINERS' CLUB

At their Easter luncheon on Apr. 1 members of the Bayfield Diners’ Club honored Pearl Hartman and George Youmatoff for their long term commitment to the program.

As it still early in the season, several people were away and unable to attend the luncheon and have expressed disappointment at missing it. Therefore the organizers have decided to continue the celebration following the Apr. 15 luncheon.

At this occasion, inaugural volunteers and those who helped establish the group in 1987 will be recognized as well as long time volunteers. This time of appreciation is scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m. at the Bayfield Community Centre.

George Youmattoff started the Senior Citizens Diners’ Club with the late Helen Owen and the late Ruby Fitzsimons. The first luncheon was served on August 19, 1987.  The first meal was prepared by Dawn Erb, of Brucefield, and volunteers for that day were
Wynn Graham, Melisse Kurtz, Gail Grant, all of Bayfield, as well as Mavis Freeman, now residing in Windsor and JoAnne Telford, who now lives in Stratford.

Pearl Hartman has been the coordinator of the Bayfield Diners’ Club for about 17 years, taking over after the death of Helen Owen in 1993. Hartman is currently in the process of passing the job of coordinator over to Patti MacDonald.

New members are always welcome to attend the meals held on Thursdays at noon at the Bayfield Community Centre. Participants should be 55 years of age or over. Please contact Pearl Hartman at 519 482-5283 to reserve a spot at the luncheon.
 

SUMMER DAY CAMP for BAYFIELD

Camp Kintail is coming to Bayfield this summer.

Knox Presbyterian Church is partnering with Camp Kintail, the area Presbyterian Church camp, to offer a Christian based Day Camp every Wednesday at the church during July and August. 

This Day Camp will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It will be led by the very capable and well trained young adult staff of Camp Kintail who will provide the program and activities. The camp will be for children who have completed JK up to Grade 6. The children are welcome to attend all eight day camps or just one or two.

According to Rev. Susan Moore, in a recent press release, “It is the hope of the Knox congregation that we can provide a camp for the children who live in our community all year round, just during the summer months or for those who come for one or two week holidays.”

The first camp will begin on July 7.

The Women of Knox are currently holding a fundraiser to help cover costs for the upcoming summer Wednesday Day Camps.

Members of the congregation are selling Pansy Planters or Petunia Hanging Baskets. These beautiful planters are being provided by Huron Ridge.
 
The Pansy Planters are selling for $12.50 each and the Trailing Petunia Hanging Baskets are $18.00 each. The flowers in the baskets come in blue, pink, red or purple colors.

The deadline to order is Apr. 30 and delivery will take place on the Friday or Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend. To order please call any member of the Knox congregation or leave a message at the church 519 565-2913 and someone will return your call as soon as possible.

CAFE TO EXAMINE BREAST HEALTH

Education is a big part of the “Keeping Abreast” Digital Mammography Campaign to bring full-field digital mammography to Huron County.

Coinciding with the campaign the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital (AMGH) Foundation is hosting a Café Scientific on Apr. 22. The topic of the evening is “Breast Health: Making Informed Decisions”. 

The Café Scientific will be held from 7-9 p.m. at the White Carnation in Holmesville. 

There will be two speakers for the event: Dr. Paul Ferner, medical coordinator, for the Southwest Region of the Ontario Breast Screening Program as well as chief of staff for the Strathroy-Middlesex Hospital; and Yolanda Mundt, mammography coordinator, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, London.

As breast health is an issue that affects both genders, both men and women are encouraged to attend this free, interactive educational opportunity.

To register for the event, please call Betty Tomlinson at 519 524-8689 Ext. 5349.  Registration is required prior to April 19th.

PHOTOGRAPHERS INVITED to CHAMBER CONTEST

What should prove to be the hottest selling item on village store shelves this season? No doubt it will be the 2011 Village of Bayfield calendar.

The Bayfield and Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) is encouraging people to share their photographs of this beautiful community and perhaps win a little prestige in the process.  They are looking for the best photographs to showcase the Bayfield area in this calendar. The sale of the calendar will help the BACC in their initiative to build funds for community events. This calendar will be available for sale throughout Bayfield during the 2010 season.

To enter upload your photos to the following address in Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/bayfieldcalendar/

The entry criteria are the image must represent some aspect of Bayfield and capture its essence. A maximum of four images may be entered per entrant. Please submit your photo and give it a title. By submitting your photo into the contest the BACC reserves the right to reproduce the image in the 2011 calendar.

The prize for winning is $100, a limited edition calendar, and your name on your image. Contest ends Apr. 22 at 5pm. Winners will be contacted by May 10.

For more information about the calendar or supporting it through advertising contact: bayfieldcalendar@yahoo.com

AUTHORS CAN BENEFIT FROM WRITERS' CIRCLE

Creative writing, is it for you? Is it on your bucket list? Do you want to improve your writing skills? Are you an unpublished or published author?

The members of the Bayfield Writers’ Circle would like to invite people to join them in this literary experience. Their next meeting will be held April 15. The group meets every other Thursday  from 6:30-8 p.m. at the The Village Bookshop. There is no charge.

Gayle Dunn, said in a recent press release, “Is it for me? I asked myself that question in September 2008 when the Bayfield Writers’ Circle began. Fortified with a glass of wine and the company of my brother I attended that first evening. All those murder mysteries that I thrived on, now I have fun developing my own.

“Yes, it was on my bucket list. When I retired, I wanted to write children’s stories. I am working on this.”
 
She went on to say, “A collective mystery novel and a dinner theater murder mystery have been our major projects. Individual workings have been short stories, poetry, and novels. Does it sound like fun yet? It is!”

For further information on the Bayfield Writers’ Circle please contact Judy Keightley at 519 565-4515.

PRESBYTERIAN

What are some of those tough questions that people continue to struggle with as Christians?

A new Bible Study beginning on Apr. 15 at Knox Presbyterian Church will explore the topics that people struggle with as they try to be faithful Christians in the 21st Century.

This five-week study is entitled, “Pondering the Difficult Questions.” The two-hour sessions will begin at 9:30 a.m. Members of the congregations from the village churches as well as those in the community are invited to take part. 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY

People collect the most amazing things and the Bayfield Historical Society has showcased a tremendous variety of these items over the decade they have hosted the Bayfield Collector Show and Exhibition.

The society membership encourages the public to come out and see some of these collections during their tenth annual show to be held on Apr. 17-18 in the Bayfield Community Centre from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The official opening ceremonies will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday with several local dignitaries in attendance.

Show tradition dictates that there will be a lunch room, silent auction and antique appraisals.

Bidding will be held on the many items donated to the silent auction until it closes at 4 p.m. sharp on Sunday. A list of silent auction items is now on display in the window of The Archives Room on Main Street.

Tim Saunders, of Three Squirrels Antiques, will be available to examine visitor’s valuable treasures. If items are large please bring photographs only and be reminded that there is a limit of three items per person.

For exhibiting or show information please call, Phil Gemeinhardt at 519 482-9230 or Binnie Sturgeon at 519 565-2376. 
 

UNITED CHURCH

How the Islam and Christian faiths parallel each other will be the topic of a special guest speaker at the Apr. 18 service at St. Andrew’s United Church. 

Mumtaz Merali, will discuss how Abraham is the common thread that has led to shared priorities and concerns over the ages and continuing to this day.

The church service will begin at 11 a.m. and all are welcome to attend. 
 

BAYFIELD GUIDING

The 1st Bayfield Pathfinders, together with the 1st Clinton Pathfinders, will be hosting their 5th annual Spaghetti Supper and Silent Auction on May 5.

The event will be held at the Bayfield Village Inn with meal service starting at 6 p.m.

Donations of silent auction items are always gratefully appreciated from those in the community; items will be accepted until May 4. At past auctions everything from apple trees to homemade cakes has been up for bidding.

The evening is almost always a sell-out so be sure to reserve your tickets now by calling Melody Falconer-Pounder at 519 565-2443. Tickets are also available from members of the Pathfinder units.

OPTIMIST CLUB

The profits from the event will be put toward the girls annual year end adventure. 

Ladies mark your calendars because a night just for your indulgence is approaching fast.

The Bayfield Optimist Club is holding a Ladies’ Night on May 7 at the Bayfield Community Centre.

The doors will open at 8 p.m. and a variety of entertainment is planned including, an elimination draw, a belly dancing demonstration and a silent auction. A highlight of the evening will be a performance by comedian Elvira Kurt.

Tickets are available for $15 a person at Brandon’s Hardware. Proceeds to the Optimist Club’s youth related projects. 

BACC FASHION SHOW

“Body Garnish – the Figure as this Year’s Canvas” is the title of the upcoming Luncheon and Fashion Show to be held on May 9 at the Bayfield Town Hall.

The Bayfield and Area Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the show with profits going to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada.

The doors will open at 12:30 p.m. Fashions from area businesses will be featured in the show starting at 1 p.m. Tickets are available now for $25 from Inspirations please call 519 565-2710 or Pat Lewington at 519 565-2202. 

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

"Organic Gardening" will be the focus of the next Bayfeild Horticultural Society meeting to be held on Apr. 19.

Tony and Fran McQuail will be the guest speakers on this very timely subject. All in the community are invited to attend the meeting which will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Bayfield Lions' Community Building.

CONCERT SERIES

“Big Town Canadian Singers Going Small Town” is the theme for the spring installment of the Bayfield Concert Series to be held in the Bayfield Town Hall.

The headliners are some of the countries’ top talents, who when mixed with some locally grown entertainers performing as their opening acts, create the perfect blend for an exciting evening of music.

Scheduled to perform are: Melissa McClelland with Brad Cassel, Apr. 17; Luke Ducet with Beth Moore, May 8.

Individual show ticket prices range from $10 to $25. Tickets are available at Ernie King Music in Goderich and Black Dog Village Pub and Bistro in Bayfield.

The series is being presented by Meades Bros. Productions and The Little Inn of Bayfield. Special Concert Getaways are now available at The Little Inn; to learn more please call 1-800-565-1832. 
 

FITNESS FUN

There are plenty of ways to get in shape for summer in Bayfield – check out the options listed below, one may be perfect for you!

Playing badminton is a terrific way to get in shape. The sport is offered at Huron Centennial School every Tuesday night from 7-9 p.m. There is no charge and all participants need to bring are running shoes. Organizers state that it is basically backyard badminton, played inside and is great exercise and lots of fun. Please note there will be no badminton on Apr. 13 due to the school play.
 
Pole walkers meet Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. at 6 Main Street.  Lessons for new pole walkers will be starting soon please call 519 565-2202 for more information.
 
Or try a Sit and Get Fit Class, organizers state they do stand up once in while. The class is held on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m. in the Bayfield Community Centre.
 
Oh and stay tuned to the Bayfield Breeze for an announcement regarding a brand new fitness activity to be offered in the area… 
 

BRIDGE CLUB

The Wednesday Evening Bridge Club would like to invite anyone with a penchant for card playing to attend their next meeting, Apr. 14.

The decks will be shuffled starting at 7 p.m. at the Bayfield Lions’ Community Building.

FILM SOCIETY

Cairo Time is the title of the final film in the spring series of movies being offered by the Bayfield Film Society. The curtain will go up on this film on May 13.

A later start time is being tried for this season and the films will commence at 7:30 p.m. in the Bayfield Town Hall.

Tickets cost $10 per person at the door the night of the film.  

For more information please contact Lynne Gillians at 519 565-5884 or by email at lynnegillians@hotmail.com