Twisted sisters?

Dwight Brenneman and Mary Lou Gingerich rock out during Rock ‘n’ Roll Night at Steinmann Mennonite Church on Feb. 23. The event was part of the church’s Logos non-denominational Christian youth program.

New Hamburg softball registration continues on Saturday

It’s time to get fired up for ball season. Major league teams have reported for Spring Training and it’s time for Wilmot’s baseball players to dust off their gloves, too.

The New Hamburg Softball Association (NHSA) is holding registration at the Wilmot Recreation Complex this Saturday morning, Feb. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Registration continues at the old arena on March 15 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on March 8 from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

The NHSA will again offer a coach-pitch house league this year. Children born in 2003, 2004 and 2005 can join the four-team house league with a maximum of 12 players per team. This league will play on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:45 or 7 p.m. for May, June and July.

Contact Dave Henning or Dennis Clifford, for more information about teams or the softball association.

The NHSA relies on a strong group of volunteer coaches and helpers. For those interested in helping out with a team this summer, please contact Dave Randerson.

New Hamburg Iron Chefs face off in the kitchen

Meredith Hagen of Meme's Cafe and Lance Edwards of Puddicombe House prepare to judge the food created in the one-hour contest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six local organizations are battling in New Hamburg’s own version of the Iron Chef.

The Puddicombe House is hosting the contest and also giving $500 to the winners.

In the first round on Feb. 16, the Wilmot Agricultural Society defeated the New Hamburg Board of Trade. The amateur chefs’ creations were judged on overall taste, presentation, and creative use of a ingredient. Last week, the challenge was to make crabapple dishes.

Like the popular Iron Chef TV show, the teams must create an appetizer, an entré, and a dessert in only one hour. The Puddicombe kitchen’s full selection of cookware and ingredients are at their disposal.

“I think we’ll see some interesting stuff come out of the kitchen. I think there’ll be some bad, some good,” said Puddicombe’s restaurant manager Nick Cressman.

“We wanted to get more involved in the community and there are lots of groups who need the support,” he added.

The contest will also be spectator sport, as video cameras in the kitchen broadcast to an audience in the dining room. Admission is free with drinks and appetizers available.

Having a big crowd is important for the competing chefs, too. For every supporter, they get extra points.

Judges are Meredith Hagen from Meme’s Café, Chris Spotswood from Absolute Fitness and Lance Edwards, the Puddicombe chef.

Future cooking face-offs will pit the New Hamburg Optimists against the Wilmot Optimists on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. and the New Hamburg Lions versus the Lionesses on March 2. The top two teams will compete in the finals on March 9.

Chris Spotswood, Meredith Hagen, and Lance Edwards are judges for the cooking contest, which lasts three rounds before the finals on March 9 at Puddicombe House.

Competing in the Iron Chef contest were (back row, left to right): Nancy and Paul Knowles of the New Hamburg Board of Trade, versus Gail Steele and Genevieve Epp of the Wilmot Agricultural Society, which runs the Fall Fair.

Ducks find unique shelter in Kirkpatrick Park

Someone concerned about the well being of the Muscovy ducks that frequent Kirkpatrick Park in New Hamburg has erected a makeshift shelter for the feral birds.

The shelter, which appears to be constructed from blankets and a tarp tied around a tree with a nylon rope, contains boxes, straw and a number of trays filled with corn.

The ducks were having none of it Friday as they basked in the sun and mild temperatures above the dam.

Vicky Luttenberger, Wilmot Township’s facilities and recreation program manager, said she was informed of the shelter Friday morning and staff decided to leave it alone for the time being.

The ducks are wild and not part of the township’s swan program. The township discourages anyone from feeding the animals.

Nith River flows so far not impacted by melt

Fear of flooding in New Hamburg this week may be overblown.

We had about 3mm of rain overnight and we’ve already hit today’s high of around 8C. More rain is expected overnight but likely not enough to make a significant impact on river flows. Below-freezing temperatures are set to return Saturday.

River flow data so far today shows the Nith River at New Hamburg is below 2 cubic metres per second.

To understand just how high the river has to rise before flooding impacts homes and businesses in New Hamburg’s flood plain, check out the Grand River Conservation Authority graphic below.

Manager of communications for the GRCA, Dave Schultz, says we likely won’t notice any significant melting today, but as temperatures remain mild overnight they expect to see river flows increase.

Schultz says the tipping point for the melt to occur, determined by the number of hours temperatures remain above freezing, will hit sometime overnight. Ice will begin to break up and move downstream, leading to the potential for ice jams when the river begins to freeze again on Saturday. Schultz says the Nith River, and in particular around New Hamburg, is prone to ice jams.

Colder temperatures on the weekend don’t mean the risk of flooding is over. Flows will continue to remain high as snow melt from the northern part of the watershed moves downstream next week.

Homeowners in New Hamburg’s flood plain are urged to take the regular precautions as spring approaches by getting valuables off of basement floors and preparing for rising water.

Young skaters show their stuff at Wellesley show

Small skaters wobbled across the ice, to the delight of family members in the audience, as the Wellesley Skating Club held a skating show on Feb. 11.

Eighty-five kids participated in the first public show the club has run in 15 years, said coach Karen Buhlman.

The event was a fundraiser for the club, which offers various learn-to-skate and figure skating programs for kids and adults. The club also collected food bank donations at the door.

Young skaters wait their turn to hit the ice.

Kids horsing around before performance time.

Send your team’s sports reports to the Independent by Friday this week

Does your team play this week?

The New Hamburg Independent will be going to press sooner than usual because of the Family Day holiday Feb. 21.

Submit your game reports and photos by Friday for publication in next week’s paper.

Grand River Heritage Day Workshop 2011

Wilmot’s Aquatic Aces swimmers earn medals

Several local swimmers took top spots as the Wilmot Aquatic Aces traveled to Brantford last weekend to compete in the Western Region meet.

From right to left, are Alex Buehlow, Mary Tilford, Caitlyn Armstrong, Erica Buehlow, and Michael Heath.

Alex earned five top-three medal in butterfly, backstroke, and individual medley events. Erica finished top-three in the 1,500 m freestyle race, while the other pictures swimmers were awarded ribbons for top-eight performances.

The Aces are in the pool regularly to practice for their next meet. The Speedo Eastern Canadian Championships are coming on Feb. 17-20.

Winter storm covers New Hamburg with snow

The blizzard-like snow storm expected to hit southern Ontario overnight Tuesday didn’t create as much havoc as expected. Although roads were snowy and slippery, life was able to proceed near-normally.

The days biggest challenge was clearing all the fresh powder from sidewalks and driveways. Above, George Schneider clears snow from behind his home on Seyler Street in New Hamburg on Feb. 2. It was the second time he had to bring out his snow blower.

John Neilson also brought out his machinery to periodically clear a path in front of the Independent building on Peel Street.

New Dundee Optimists award local outstanding youth

Don Poth was recognized with New Dundee's Volunteer Hero Award at the Optimist Club's Jan. 25 appreciation dinner. Left to right: Peter Lade, Don Poth, Marilyn Sararus, and Lynn Sararus.

The New Dundee Optimist Club held their awards night Jan. 25 in the town’s community centre to recognize outstanding local youth.

This year, Hannah Rodger of New Dundee won the club’s annual $1,500 scholarship for a high school graduate going on to post-secondary studies. Rodger earned the award by giving 850 hours of volunteer service to the community, far beyond what students are required to do.

Don Poth received the Adult Volunteer Hero award, which is awarded annually to a local adult who has made significant contributions, in terms of volunteer hours, for the benefit of the youth in the community over many years.

Don has lived his entire life in New Dundee and contributed in many ways. He is a founding member and past president of the Optimists club and his election to receive the award was unanimous.

The only reason he hasn’t received it prior to this year was because he was the chair of the selection committee until last year, said past club president Peter Lade.

The 2010 Youth Appreciation Awards went to:

Thomas Lade (from New Dundee Minor Softball Association, squirt),
Scott Siragusa (from New Dundee Minor Softball Association, midget),
Charlie Timmermans (Plattsville District Minor Hockey Association, peewee house),
Joshua Balfour and Kogan Shantz (Plattsville District Minor Hockey Association, AE),
Abigail Zondervan (New Dundee Girl Guides),
Drew Einwechter and Alex Hallman (New Dundee Public School),
Isabeau Glebe (Baden Public School),
Grant Hagedorn and Nikki Watson (St. James Lutheran Church),
Adam Darkes and Emily Shantz (Bethel Evangelical Missionary Church),
Rebecca Forbes (New Dundee Baptist Church).

Hannah Rodger received the 2011 Optimist Youth Scholarship from past club president Peter Lade on Jan. 25 to recognize her more than 850 volunteer hours.

The New Dundee Optimist Club youth award winners. Back Row L to R: Nikki Watson, Scott Siragusa, Grant Hagedorn, Adam Darkes, Rebecca Forbes, and Emily Shantz; Front, L to R: Abigail Zondervan, Alex Hallman, Drew Einwechter, Isabeau Glebe, Kogan Shantz, Thomas Lade, Joshua Balfour, Charlie Timmermans.