CHASING RAINBOWS

Avid anglers will be trying to catch the heaviest Rainbow Trout from Oct. 15-17 during the Bayfield Lions' Club's 32nd Annual Rainbow Trout Derby. Registered participants may catch fish from the Bayfield River only from 6 a.m. on Friday to noon on Sunday. There are cash prizes for the three heaviest Rainbows. plus prizes for successful young fishermen. All participants will have a chance to win a variety of other prizes generously donated by local merchants. (Photo by Melody Falconer-Pounder)

bayfield's doors open program focuses on the outdoors

STORY BY MELODY FALCONER-POUNDER

The Huron County version of the popular Doors Open is returning on the weekend of Oct. 22-24 after a two-year break and will be combined with the Haunted Huron program. The event will feature 22 heritage and unique sites across the county open free of charge to members of the public on the Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Along with the number and variety of sites open, the event also features over a dozen other programs and activities taking place over the course of the weekend.

Doors Open events allow the public access to sites in their community that they may not normally have. This year’s Huron County Doors Open event has a focus on the Canada Company and the opening of the Huron Tract. Visitors can take in a number of significant sites connected to this part of the county’s heritage.

Special programming for the weekend includes heritage walks, author readings, a photography exhibit and a heritage marketplace.

In Bayfield the focus of the Doors Open weekend will be getting outdoors to enjoy the area’s natural beauty. The Bayfield River Valley Trail Association (BRVTA) is also offering a family friendly, guided hike along the Sawmill Trail at 1 p.m. on Oct. 23. In addition, a Heritage Walking Tour of the village will begin at 2 p.m.

Full Doors Open and Haunted Huron event details can be viewed online at www.hauntedhuron.com or www.ontarioswestcoast.ca. The Doors Open program is administered by Ontario Heritage Trust, across the province in 2010 over 60 Doors Open events have been held.

Local Children's Aid Society to close in December

It was announced in Stratford on Oct. 7 that the Huron Perth Children’s Aid Society (CAS) will cease providing child protection services effective Dec. 15.

“We have been left with no choice,” said Vince Judge, president, Board of Directors. “There’s simply not enough funding to fulfill our statutory obligations without putting children at risk.”

According to the press release sent out by the Huron Perth CAS, the Ministry of Child and Youth Services funds child protection agencies using a flawed formula that has left the local CAS with a projected deficit of $1.3 million dollars for 2009-10 and debt carried forward from prior years of $870,000 despite program and staffing cuts of $500,000.

“Huron-Perth CAS is the lowest funded agency in this region,” said Tom Knight, executive director. “We are extremely efficient with our funding. We consistently spend ten to fifteen per cent less than other child protection agencies across a number of areas.”

The press release stated that the issue is the way the agency is funded.

“We believe the funding formula can be improved,” said Judge. “It doesn’t reflect regional differences and it doesn’t support good clinical work. The children and families of Huron and Perth counties deserve services equal to those received across the region.”

The agency provides service in rural areas without public transit. It regularly spends $50,000 to $60,000 each month in mileage costs using volunteer drivers to transport children and families to visits and appointments.

The funding formula should support good clinical work by allowing necessary staffing for good outcomes for children.

“It’s universally agreed that children do better in family environments, so we use additional staff to help them stay there,” said Knight. “According to the current formula, we’re over budget in that area, yet we save the government money on more expensive group home costs. We only want to provide services to vulnerable children and families who need them.”

The agency has been in negotiations with the Ministry of Child and Youth Services for several years. Earlier this year, Huron-Perth CAS, along with 11 other agencies, took the government to court to have the funding reviewed. While the process is still ongoing, the agency has run out of funding.

Huron Perth CAS advocates for and protects children’s rights, supports and strengthens families and is a leader for change in the community. They serve approximately 448 families each month and conduct more than 1600 abuse investigations each year. They also help more than 200 children who are in their care.

volunteers needed to pick up a paintbrush

The iconic Bayfield Archives Building in front of the Library on Main Street is in desperate need of some TLC and members of the Bayfield Historical Society (BHS) as well as concerned citizens are coming to its aid.

In early Sept., the BHS received permission from the Municipality of Bluewater to undertake the required upgrades to the building that is owned by the municipality. The society has held work parties over the past few weeks to scrape the old paint from the building during the first stage of revitalization. This week volunteers began priming the building and have managed to get about half done but they are racing against the weather and they need help to get the job done.

The next work party will be held starting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 16 and all who care about this historic building, and are able to do so, are invited to pick up a paintbrush.

The work is being completed through the generosity of experts as well as with this year’s BHS program money.

Come "cut a rug" at the hall

The Festival City Big Band is returning to The Bayfield Town Hall on Oct. 23 to provide an evening of entertainment for those who like to “cut a rug” or simply tap their toes to swing-era standards.

The Stratford based 17-piece band has been impressing audiences with their wide range of music including, swing, contemporary jazz and Latin numbers since 1995. The band is directed by Laurence Gauci and features the vocal stylings of Cathy Whalen and Christ Adair.

Dancing will be held from 9 p.m. to midnight and there will be a light lunch and cash bar. Tickets cost $20 each and are available now by calling Charlie Kalbfleish at 519 565-2244 or Pat Langley at 519 565-2894.

The Bayfield Town Hall Heritage Society would like to thank OLG for their generous sponsorship of this event.

 series to focus on strong cores and good eye health

“Here’s to Health!” is an opportunity for area seniors to learn how to maximize their health with self-management tips on how to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. The education sessions will be offered for free on Mondays until Nov. 22.

The sessions will be held at the Bayfield Community Centre starting at 10:15 a.m. and, with one exception on Nov. 1, will be an hour in length. Also please note that due to the municipal election scheduled for Oct. 25, that morning’s session’s location will be announced shortly. There is no need to register to attend.

The session topics are as follows: Chiropractic and Optometry Services, Oct. 18; Nutrition and Your Bones, Oct. 25; Healthy Ways to Prevent a Stroke, Nov.1; Exercise for Healthy Bones, Nov. 8; Pharmacy Services, Nov. 15 and Healthy Lifestyles to Protect Your Bones, Nov. 22.

The third session, Chiropractic and Optometry Services, to be held on Oct. 18 will feature two experts in their field, Chiropractor, Dr. April Hulley and Optometrist, Dr. Richard Samuell. Hulley will discuss how having strong core muscles can help prevent low back pain while Samuell will share tips for ensuring good eye health.

with thanks

The Penhale family asked the Bayfield Breeze if we could provide them with some space to say thank you for all the kindnesses that have been shown to them by their neighbors in memory of Tom Penhale. Here in her own words on behalf of herself and her children, Rick and Wendy, is a note from Carol.

Our sincere thanks to our kind friends and neighbors residing in Carriage Lane Subdivison that contributed to the Oak Tree and Bench Memorial on the morning of Sept. 25. The memorial is located inside the entrance to the park and it makes such a beautiful landmark and is quite the eye-catcher.

We lived here for so many years when it was just a field across the road. Now we have the gorgeous subdivision and the good folks who live in the houses. As each house was built, and as the development grows, we welcome each and everyone.

For Tom to be honored in such a way was just overwhelming and we thank you from the bottom or our hearts. God bless you all.

Optimist Club

Homes for the Holiday, a tour of homes decorated in anticipation of the festive season, to be held on Nov. 6-7, is sure to be a pleasant lead in to the village celebrations one weekend later.

The doors of five beautiful Bayfield homes will be opened to the public on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Area florists, designers, merchants and those with a penchant for holiday décor will enhance the houses; providing visitors with ideas they can incorporate in their own homes.

The featured homes range from a Grande Dame constructed in 1868 to a modern lakeside beauty that recently won a prestigious award for its design.

Tickets are on sale for $15 each and will include a light lunch served at the Bayfield Village Inn. Tickets are available now by calling the Bayfield Village Inn, 519 565-2443.

The Optimist Club of Bayfield is organizing this event and proceeds will go toward local youth related projects.

Church on the Way

“Esther, Its Tough Being a Woman” is the title of the book featured in an upcoming Bible Study being sponsored by Church on the Way.

The nine week study will begin on Oct. 20 followed by another meeting on Oct. 27. The sessions will then be held on every other Wednesday from Nov. 10 to Dec. 8. Following a Christmas break, the study will commence on Jan. 12 and will again be held every other Wednesday until Feb. 23. All the sessions will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Bayfield Lions’ Community Building.

The study focuses on the Book of Esther using a guide created by Beth Moore.

Organizers believe that if you have ever felt inadequate, threatened or pushed into situations that seemed overpowering, this is the study for you. Just as it was tough being a woman in Esther’s day, it’s tough today. Moore peels back the layers of history and shows how very contemporary and applicable the story of Esther is to our lives.

To register for the study please call Anne Laviolette at 519 565-2454 or email her at annelav@tcc.on.ca Participants will need to order a study book at a cost of $18.

Plein Air Day

JMR Gallery’s first Plein Air Day in June was such a success with Ontario artists that they have decided to do one in every season, the Autumn Plein Air Day will be held on Oct. 16.

Participating artists are asked to meet at the JMR Gallery in the shops on Charles Street between 9-10 a.m. Then they can head out to spend the day painting around the village soaking up the beautiful colors of the season.

Work created on Saturday will be entered into the galleries annual Loving Bayfield Exhibit to be held in Aug. 2011. The day will end with refreshments being served at 3 p.m. at the gallery with an informal exhibit of the day’s work being shared.

Books and Brunch

The Village Bookshop is providing area residents with ample reading material this fall with three authors coming to town to share their work.

On Oct. 23, Peter Edwards, author of The Bandido Massacre will settle in to the parlor at The Little Inn to read from his work starting at 3 p.m. Admission to this event is free and refreshments will be available to purchase.

People are invited to break bread with Judy Fong Bates, author of The Year of Finding Memory, at The Black Dog Pub and Bistro on the evening of Nov. 20. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. and tickets are $35 per person, including dinner.

The Books and Brunch series will return on Dec. 5 with Alison Pick, author of Far to Go as the guest speaker. The event will be held at The Little Inn of Bayfield starting at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person.

Tickets for the two readings that include a meal are available now from The Village Bookshop.

horticultural society

The Bayfield and Area Horticultural Society (BAHS) will host their Fall Pot Luck for members and invited guests on Oct. 18.

The event will be held at St. Andrew’s United Church starting at 6:30 p.m. Those who attend are asked to bring a dish to share and their own plate and cutlery.

A highlight of the evening will be an Informal Master Gardener Forum, so bring gardening questions as well!

Film Society

The Bayfield Film Society has moved their Fall Series to Wednesday nights. The next cinematic experience will be held on Oct. 13. The title of the film to be presented is Mao’s Last Dancer.

The films are shown at the Bayfield Town Hall. Other titles in the series are: The Secret in Their Eyes, Nov. 10; and Me & Orsen Wells, Dec. 8.

This is an opportunity to see Toronto Film Festival Films without having to leave the village. All films will begin at 7:30 p.m.

For more information and for tickets call Jane Rowat at 519 565-5838 or e-mail wjrowat@tcc.on.ca.

concert series

The fall line up of top tier entertainment has been established for the autumn months in the ongoing Bayfield Concert Series. The concerts feature big town Canadian singers going small town and highlights opening acts of local Huron County talent.

The concert schedule is as follows: Oct. 30, Oh Susanna; Nov. 13, Danny Michel; and Dec. 10, Good Lovelies.

Ticket prices range from $25 to $35. Tickets are available at the Black Dog Pub and Bistro, Ernie King (Goderich) and at www.ticketscene.ca

The concerts are being presented by Meades Bros. Productions and The Little Inn of Bayfield. Overnight packages are now available at The Little Inn; to learn more please call 1-800-565-1832.

FITNESS FUN

Opportunities to stay fit, and have fun while doing it, abound for fall 2010.

Pole Walking is a popular part of many fitness regimes. There is currently a Pole Walking session on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Thursdays at 1 p.m. The group departs from 6 Main Street. The session incorporates an hour of walking with an ending cool down stretch. And pole walking is not just a women’s exercise; new sessions are being introduced for men on Mondays and Fridays starting at 8:30 a.m.

Anyone new to Pole Walking can contact Pat Lewington at 519 565-2202 for more information.