Jim Cumming – From the Publisher Emeritus’ Pen

As we self-hibernate, we can try to make our lives as normal as possible. Take for instance International Day of Pink, which occurs on April 8 this year. Unfortunately, many events surrounding Day of Pink have been cancelled. The Day of Pink, also known as Pink Shirt Day, began in […]

I hate this virus. I hate the insecurity that it has brought into our lives. I hate that I don’t know what will happen after the 14 days of self isolation. Will the self isolation be extended for another one, three or six months? I feel helpless. When will life […]

Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” This thought came into my mind on Saturday evening as I began thinking about our road trip to see our grand daughter. We made it as far as Brandon, and after a discussion with our son […]

Our season is changing. The sun’s radiant heat is pushing back the snow banks. Our major streets are now snow and ice free. Creeks and small streams are again gurgling over rocks and sand bars. Driving over the causeway, one can see ice fishermen in portable canopies fishing along reefs […]

As I changed the load of dried clothes in the dryer, I also emptied the lint container that was totally covered with fibres from the polyester cotton blended shirts that I enjoy wearing. They are comfortable and easy to care for. But week after week, fibers fill the filter that […]

“Like a hand from the dark house came the intense aroma of firewood in the pile. The aroma was visible as if the tree were alive. As if it still breathed.” Taken from Ode To the Smell of Wood by Pablo Neruda When I was in my teens every morning, […]

It is quite clear that Ontario residents and Canadians are moving to fully electric vehicles. As a group of us discussed the various benefits of different half tons on the market over a meal one evening in Thunder Bay, one of the people at the table pointed out the merits […]

I listened quietly in the background on Saturday afternoon as two different parents debated the value of flu vaccines. Apparently one woman’s husband had come down with the flu and had become quite sick. Fearing the worst, she took herself and two children to a pharmacy, hoping that the flu […]

One of the first things that I learned as a newspaper carrier was that many of my customers looked to the Times and Bulletin not only for news, but to read the specials in grocery stores, whether it was Fillmore’s, Einars, the Independent Store Group, Safeway, Shop Easy or the […]

I recently listened intently to a speaker talking about the need for looking to new solutions in community housing. An article in The Economist looked at new solutions for community housing. In a community like Fort Frances, sprawl and infill are easy solutions for new building lots. Coun. Wiedenhoft was […]

I watched the movie “The Post” on Saturday night with my wife. It is the remarkable story of Catherine Graham, who was the owner of the family owned “Washington Post” that she inherited from her father. Her husband Phil had been the publisher, but his sudden death left her in […]

Our Christmas Decoration were packed up on Saturday. Most years, the decorations have been removed on New Year’s Day. We turned off the outdoor lights and suddenly Saturday night the yard seemed so much darker. The outdoor lights on homes remove the darkness of December as more lights are added […]