Spring is the season for fun and laughter. The season when you walk among the crocuses and daffodils, and remember the fun of picking flowers in the woodlands of your childhood. Adder’s-tongues and Dutchman’s-breeches and nosegays of violets. And beautiful white trillium blossoms–before you knew that picking its flower would […]
Columnists
Each year in Canada, people are injured and others are killed by accidents that could have been prevented. In fact, 90 percent of all accidents are predictable and, with proper education, largely preventable. Falling into an open manhole or sewer, being crushed by some heavy item, or injured because you […]
If you see Crossbills close at hand, you can see the feature which gives them their name. The upper part of the beak is longer than most, and is strongly hooked. The lower mandible is bent upward, and both are skewed to the side so they can cross. The crossed […]
Moving with Mike
Curling is just like riding a bicycle-you don’t forget how. Unfortunately, I learned Saturday that I stink at the sport as badly now as when I last stepped onto a sheet a good 10 years ago with the vaunted Greg Plumridge foursome when the old club was still standing here […]
How would you like to get to age 108–and be in good physical and mental health almost to the end? It’s possible: Gin Kanie of Japan did that before she passed away last month. Her twin sister, Kin Narita, lived to 107. Both “fascinated the viewing public with their sharp […]
Going to Wooster, Ohio is always a highlight. First of all, to visit my aunt and uncle. And secondly, to enjoy the beautiful countryside. Next door to Wooster is Wayne County–a place where Amish families live on lush, prosperous farms snuggled amidst rolling hills. The county is known for its […]
Duff, flats, galley, racks, hatches, bulkheads, killicks, GTs, PDEs, degaussing ranges, RHIBs, bridge wings, the dogs, the serpent or tail, wardroom, the XO, HODS, EO, FMF. The above terms, and more acronyms than I care to remember, were part of the four days I recently spent aboard the Canadian patrol […]
A 20-month-old child from Quebec choked to death a week after an un-popped popcorn kernel got stuck in her throat. The kernel absorbed saliva and expanded to nine mm within seven days, growing large enough to completely block the trachea. Each year, young children in Canada are at some risk […]
You cannot spend much time in the north woods without becoming familiar with the Whisky-Jack.He will drift out of the trees in the coldest weather to share your lunch–stealing the beans from your plate and your sandwich while you reach for the coffee. This bird is one of the jay […]
It was my first year of high school teaching in a small parochial school with very high standards. I was intimidated and worked late in the night to prepare my lesson plans, and still was nervous when it came time to teach. More than anything, I wanted to make a […]
Quetico Centre
I think I’ll stop taking my own advice. For years, I taught and coached people in time management. Over those same years, it seems I had less and less time. I’ve had to remind myself often to practice what I preach–and I do. As a result, I really do get […]
As if our doctors don’t have enough to worry about already, consider for the moment what Alzheimer’s and blastomycosis are doing to their daily schedules. Although Alzheimer’s may have been always with us, there is fresh emphasis on this disease of the mind because of concentrations of seniors such as […]






