Holy Family school joins fight against cancer with Terry Fox Run

Holy Family elementary students took a break from classes to run through Scott Park in New Hamburg. They joined other schools across Canada raising money to fight a pervasive disease.

“I’m sure everyone can tell a cancer story. Unfortunately, so can the kids,” said school principal Kevin Hynes. As older generations are affected more by cancer, young people will be next to work against this disease, he said.

“My hope is this disease is coming to an end,” he said. “Cancer seems to be the one that checks people out early.”

This is the school’s 10th year participating in the run, and usually raises around $2,800 each year.

The Terry Fox Run has been held since Fox’s attempt to run across Canada in 1980. This international fundraiser has raised over $500,000 for cancer research.

Meet the candidates in Wilmot

To view a graphical representation of the four wards and all of the candidates in Wilmot Township, click on the photo below:

Stonecroft golf tournament helps Wilmot Family Resource Centre

For the third year, members of New Hamburg’s Stonecroft community hit the links for a good cause. Representatives presented a $9,000 cheque to Trisha Robinson, the Wilmot Family Resource Centre’s director, on Sept. 27.

The centre aims to help local families through food hampers, classes, support groups, and more. They rely on private donations for half of their program costs, Robinson said.

Ninety golfers participated in the neighbourhood’s annual golf tournament on Sept. 13. Money was raised through personal donations, a silent auction, and sponsorships from 59 local businesses. The tournament donation has doubled since the group’s first gift three years ago.

Poor Boys Lunch trades beans for over $23,000

Trisha Robinson and Jim Miller helped served lunch at the New Hamburg Community Centre on Sept. 23 during the annual Poor Boys Luncheon. The charity fundraiser collected over $23,000 for the Wilmot Family Resource Centre, a small increase from last year’s total.  This year marked the event’s 16^th year, and the centre’s 30^th anniversary.

Scott Cressman, Independent staff

Crowds flock to Wellesley ABC Festival for a day of eating and entertainment

A steady lineup of food, entertainment and activities kept the crowds happy at the Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival today. The rain-or-shine event welcomed sun and a few brief showers, but a little rain didn’t stop the fun. The street mall, full of food vendors like Wellesley Apple Products, had people lined up to buy everything from apple butter and fritters, to pork, sausage and schnitzel on a bun.

Top, Isabelle Robinet, Cohen Pettit, Harrison Robinet, Charlie Robinet, Sophia Pettit and Ella Pettit savour some fresh cider, which was offered at the end of the cider tour.

On the pond, the boat regatta was underway at noon where Hamiltonian Garth Parrish was guiding his classic dual cockpit mahogany runaboat scale model through the calm waters.

At the horseshoe pits this morning, Barrie native Charlie Hastings was getting more than a few ringers to challenge the competition.

Mini tractor pull competitor Seth Stewart, 3, came all the way from Owen Sound to take in the festival’s family atmosphere.

Jessie Elgood, of New Hamburg, sang first in the Wellesley Idol finals, taking on Patsy Cline’s Blue to earn applause and the attention of the singing contest’s judging panel.

Members of the Greenwood Hill Bluegrass Band, Benny Schurink on bass and Vern Brenneman on guitar, entertained an audience from a front porch.

Line dancers had toes tapping in the fritter line.

Construction on Phase 2 of the Wilmot Recreation Complex on schedule

Local book club wins dinner with One Book, One Community author Terry Fallis

One Book, One Community held a summer contest for local book clubs to enter by providing a short write-up on the club for a chance to win a dinner with Terry Fallis, author of this year’s book selection, Best Laid Plans.

New Hamburg’s Trinity Reading Club won the contest, giving members the opportunity to dine with the author Monday night. The dinner was held at Peter Nosolik’s house in Waterloo.

There were about a 100 people there and club member Eva Brubacher won the door  prize — an original signed copy of Best Laid Plans.

In the top photo, from left, Elaine Mohr, Eva Brubacher,  Shirley Unrau, Doris  Brubacher, Donnie Bradie. In back: Yvonne Zyma, the New Hamburg libarian who gets the books for the club each month, Heide Bolener, Kathryn Ritz, Vernon Brubacher, Ernie Ritz, Amzie  Brubacher and  Lynn Boehler.

In the bottom photo Author Terry Fallis signs a copy of Best Laid Plans for Kathryn Ritz.

Photos submitted by Lynn Boehler

Barbecue benefits Wilmot Family Resource Centre

Pet Santini and Helen Frepane, from the RBC New Hamburg Branch, held a fundraising barbecue at the new East Forest model home grand opening on Catherine St. in New Hamburg.

The fundraiser was to benefit the Wilmot Family Resource Centre. A donation of $250 was made to the centre.

Supplies for the barbecue were donated by Bill and Jill Fleming, the new owners of Sobeys in New Hamburg.

New Hamburg says ‘howdy!’ to Fall Fair

Jake Straus won the demolition derby for both four and eight cylinder cars and earned over $2,500 in prize money.

Cloudy weather couldn’t spoil the fun at the Midway. Although rain shut down Thursday night’s horse pull and threatened again on Saturday night, kids still crowded onto rides.

Mayoral candidates (l-r) Elliot Fung, Terry Broda, and Paul Knowles competed to land a plunger into a toilet bowl, with Broda’s accurate tosses taking the title.

Do you know the the difference between a smoke dance and a fancy shawl dance? How does Six Nations drumming compare to a Seminole beat? This year, the Gadaihongwas dance group helped fair-goers learn about Native culture.

Olivia Roth was named New Hamburg’s new Fair Ambassador for 2010-2011 on Friday night.

Fall Fair spins into Wellesley

The smell of french fries and cotton candy filled the air, and children jumped onto the rides that would swing them through the air. Dogs and horses were dressed to impress, while creative crafters earned ribbons and prizes.

Wellesley’s annual fall fair was held Sept. 14 and 15, and some local students were given a break from classes to attend, including Sydney Nosal and Monica D’Arcy of St. Clemens (above). The fair included midway rides, a pet show, and various contests, and, of course food. Three finalists in the Wellesley Idol singing competition also earned the right to perform at the Apple Butter and Cheese festival on Sept. 25.

Garrett Flynn of Wellesley tosses to win a goldfish at the midway
.

Cecil and Martha Wells of Paris, Ont. and their first-prize-winning team of three-abreast horses.

Mannheim Mennonite Church harvests squash for food bank

Some of the congregation members at Mannheim Mennonite Church were busy canning salsa Saturday after harvesting a big crop of onions from their church garden. The congregation decided to use some land on the church grounds to plant a garden of sunflowers, onions and squash this summer with some of the bountiful harvest destined for the Wilmot Family Resource’s Food Bank. Here, church members Elizabeth Fraser, Sharon Gingerich, Grace Neizen and Eugene Slagell take a break from canning salsa to inspect their garden. The group hopes their efforts inspires more giving gardens.

Breakfast in the Park fuels Huskies’ win

The Optimist Club slogan “Friends of Youth” is appreciated by many in our community.

On Sunday, about 15 New Hamburg Huskie Erb Transport Novice Rep hopefuls and their families decided to give back to the service club that has supported the team in the past. After a tough early morning tryout, the group visited the Optimist Club of Petersburg’s final Breakfast in the Park for 2010. The boys refueled at the delicious all-you-can-eat buffet and then went on to St. Clements to earn a 3-2 victory against the Twin Centre Stars in their first exhibition game of the season.

Photo submitted by Darryl Huras

Tavistock Fall Fair offers fun for all ages this weekend

The Tavistock Fall Fair is in full swing this weekend with a midway, horse show, craft displays, chili cook off and air-band competition drawing crowds to the arena grounds and Queen’s Park.

The heavy horse show attracted spectators to the ball diamond Saturday where they watched as horses like four-year-old Kauffman’s Rocket King, and trainer Darren Beemer, right, of Country Meadow stable in Plattsville, take the top prize in the Percheron category.

Then there was this morning’s parade through town. Floats decorated with the flower theme of the fair winded their way into the fair grounds. The Stratford Police Marching Band drummed up crowd enthusiasm for the annual celebration hosted by the Tavistock Agricultural Society.

Sisters Ella, 5, and Arielle McGregor, 3, enjoyed the view from their flowery float, while a group of stars in the making promoted the fair’s popular air-band competition with some odd costume choices.

Stephanie Lupton, a Grade 11 student at Waterloo Oxford District Secondary School, dove right into her role as newly-crowned ambassador of the fair.

Entering the chili cook off proved a challenge for Haysville’s Bryn Gladding, who with the help of his son Leif, 8, was busy chopping, mixing and sampling his chili entry up until the last minute before judging.

Mixing things up a different way, friends Dillon Smith and Spencer Roth hold on tight as the Scrambler kicks off their afternoon of fun on the midway.

The Tavistock Fall Fair runs a full slate of activities through Sunday.

Keeping the faith in Baden in support of Leeanne’s Haven

Christian singer Lindsey Minaker performs during the Kid’s Hope Festival in Baden on Saturday.

The day-long concert, featuring more than a half a dozen gospel and faith performers, is a presentation of Morningstar Family Ministries in support of Leeanne’s Haven. Morningstar hopes to raise $25,000 to help establish the foster home for girls at risk.

The concert, which wraps up Saturday evening with a set from Manafest, also features children’s activities, a barbecue and silent auction.

Tickets are available at the door and at various Christian book stores across Waterloo Region.

Pink Zumba party raises money for local Run for the Cure team

When Angela Desjardin connected with ABsolute Fitness instructor Liliana Dominguez with an idea to raise money for her team in the upcoming CIBC Run for the Cure, she hoped their plan to hold a free Zumba demonstration at the New Hamburg Community Centre would lead to a few donations.

Desjardin’s team, the Baden Believers, has a goal of raising $5,000 leading up to the Oct. 3 run/walk at Bingeman Park to raise money for breast cancer research.

When the team of women opened the door on their event Thursday night, they were overwhelmed with the turnout.

Close to 50 women and young girls showed up, most wearing some form of pink, to offer a donation of their choice before shaking, spinning and gyrating to the Latin-flavoured beats of the high-energy aerobic dance class. The event raised $555 for the team.

It’s Desjardin’s fourth year in the CIBC Run for the Cure and her mother in law’s fourth year cancer free. “That has been a big influence,” Desjardin says.

Before the Zumba class, the Baden Believers had already raised $4,100. Last night’s event put them well within reach of their goal.

Photos, from top, Samantha Lapointe and Tinisha Schuitema try out the Zumba dance. Lisa Ferber, dressed in pink from head to toe, shows her support for the Run for the Cure. Veronica Mensch, 10, Melissa Linares, 10, and Eliann Desjardin, 4, get into the rhythm of the Zumba class.