Support Local Magazine: Dufferin County (Fall / Winter 2022)

DUFFERIN COUNTY

I pray my own lesson in unpreparedness is one you never have to learn.

It was a beautiful Friday morning, September 16, 2011. I was getting ready to leave the house and open the family restaurant. Something I had done thousands of times in the past. My wife and our first born, who was 10 months old at the time, came outside to say their daily goodbyes as I was warming up the Harley. It was our last month living at my par ents’, as we had bought our first house in April, and the closing was less than a month away.

I could hear someone talking to me, but it was all dark. It seemed to last forever. When I finally opened my eyes, the upside-down man holding my head told me not to move, and that I would be ok. All I could feel was a warm wetness in my lower body, and I knew then he was doing his best to keep me calm. He asked if I had a cell phone, and if there was anyone I wanted to call first.

Even in my broken physical condition, knowing my wife, I had the mental capacity to coach him on how he had to inform her. ‘You have to tell her IN THIS ORDER; ‘your husband is fine, but he’s been in an accident’. No one really hears ‘but they’re fine/they’ll be ok’ after ‘your spouse has been in an accident…’ That’s lesson #1. Join me in the next issue to know how I was unprepared, what I did about it, and how you don’t have to make the same mistake.

IRWIN ARORA

Irwin Arora and his family live in Dundalk. Irwin is a Financial Solutions Professional and contributes this column in an effort to help educate readers on the potential downsides of being under-insured based on his experiences.

Irwin Arora

www.agents.wfgcanada.ca/irwin-arora (Financial Solutions)

Robert Iantorno

www.robertiantorno.ca (Mind Over Motor)

Jason Todoroff www.jtlawyer.ca (Family Matters)

Kevin Arthur Land www.speakingvolumesbooks.ca (Arts & Culture)

Jeff Wilson www.jeffwilsonartist.yolasite.com (Illustration)

Jonathan Nhan www.curateandupgrade.ca (Wellness)

Tyson Rier www.hurontractor.com (Tractor Talk)

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Welcome to our Fall / Winter edition.

We’ve got lots for you this month, including a feature article by Kevin Land about the ri valry between Flesherton and Markdale, an introduction to your neighbour, Nick Hill, a solemn piece penned by Jason Todoroff, and a cover story featuring our favourite independent toy shop, PJ Knickerbockers.

Thanks for joining us again this time around and I hope you enjoy this issue.

FROM MIMICO TO MEAFORD

Thanks for reading!

Roger Tumminieri

Publisher, Support Local Magazine letsgetbacktobusiness@gmail.com www.supportlocalmagazine.com (416) 788-0716

www.fiatluxmedia.com

Congratulations to Monika Borner-Fachnie and Dennis Fachnie, owners of D&M Home Care Assistance on their 1 Year Anniversary. D&M Home Care Assistance provides per sonal support services and nursing care for adults, seniors, and children in Grey, Bruce, Dufferin and Wellington Counties.

Based in Dundalk, Monika and Dennis are providing much needed private healthcare services to our community. Visit them at www.greybrucehomecare.com

www.fiatluxmedia.com

How many Independent Toy Shops can you think of off the top of your head?

Not too many, right?!

Well, luckily for everyone reading this, we have PJ Knickerbockers in Markdale!

Shop in store or online and enjoy the huge selecton of toys, games, puzzles, clothing, and so much more.

Owner, Justine Goudy, has stocked up on all kinds of new items just in time for the Holidays. So if you’re the kind of person who enjoys buying toys for kids, go see Justine...she’ll help you select the perfect gifts for those special youngsters in your life.

11 Main St. East, Markdale www.pjknickerbockers.com (519) 986-3119

FLESHERTON CALLING MARKDALE ANSWERS

Those who know me personally, or are familiar with my Speaking Volumes Face book page, will know that I have long held a dream of being an investigative journalist. In this report, after months of living on corn dogs and cold coffee, my goal has finally reached fruition and I am ready to break a local story of unrivalled significance. It is a longstanding tale of lethal contempt, qui etly lingering under the surface of daily life in our community, akin to the enmity held by the Hatfields and the McCoys, the Mon tagues and Capulets, and the two sides of the American Civil War. It threatens to destroy the very fabric of life here in Grey County and turn it into a neighbourhood party run by the Black Donnellys.

I am speaking, of course, of the deep dis dain held by the residents of Markdale for those of Flesherton, and vice versa. The origin of the resentment between the two communities remains unclear. It is gener ally believed to have begun in the 1930’s when a pair of octogenarians, one from each village, came to blows after a heated altercation during a quilting bee over co lour and fabric choice. The disagreement escalated, with all involved taking sides and culminating in a ceremonial burning of the quilt prior to the Fall Fair.

The fallout from this incident has been hor rific, with Markdale residents being viewed as dull bureaucratic types whose idea of excitement is watching a documentary en titled “Great Moments in Lawn Bowling”, while Flesherton is filled with artsy-fartsy ex-hippies glued to the faded sofas on their front porch. Certainly, we’ve all heard the jokes:

Q: How did the Markdalian break his leg while raking leaves?

A: He fell out of the tree.

Q: How many Fleshertonians does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: None. It’ll be daylight in seven hours.

Over the years, this relationship settled into a kind of veiled hostility, but the time has come to break this impasse. Therefore, to extend an olive branch, I have decided to move my bookstore from Flesherton to Markdale. Starting October 1, “Speaking

Volumes Books and Audio” will be located at 42 Main St in Markdale, formerly Mark dale Computers.

There will be those who are reading this column who might think that it is nothing more than a blatant attempt at self-promo tion to generate business, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It is merely de signed as an instrument of healing, and if going into the bookstore and buying a book helps that process, so be it. Before long, that nasty quilting bee business will be long forgotten, and the two communi ties will come together and work toward a harmonious future, a book firmly in place under each arm.

For those who may be wondering “Will the column still be called ‘Flesherton Calling’?”, the answer is an emphatic “Yes!”. After all, what better way is there to show the unity between the two formerly alienated popu laces?

Besides, I think the little old lady from Flesherton at that quilting bee was right about the colour choice.

By Kevin Arthur Land Owner, Speaking Volumes Books & Audio

NEIGHBOURS NICK HILL

Nick Hill resides in West Grey (Pomona, to be exact). He lives on a stunning horse farm called Offshore Acres with his wife, Britt.

Nick grew up in Chatsworth at Motopark Training Facility; a motocross mecca in the heart of Ontario. He’s a talented graphic designer and owner of Design By NH.

NICK HILL Owner, Design By NH

Nick is now offering custom apparel ser vices with direct-to-garment printing, heat transfer vinyl, and embroidery - all with no minimum orders. So if you’re looking to support local, get in touch with Nick Hill.

info@designbynh.com | designbynh.com

By: Roger Tumminieri

We love the story behind this hat.

asked our Little Guy who was 3 at the time these questions: 1. If you could design a hat, what colour would you make it? 2. If you could put one word on it, what would it be?

FAMILY MATTERS LEST WE FORGET

This December marks the 81st anniversary of the battle of Hong Kong. Canada had sent just under 2000 soldiers to the Crown Colony. The British assured the Canadian government that they would not be put in harm’s way and that the Japanese at most could muster 5000 soldiers if they chose to attack Hong Kong. In fact, the Japanese attacked the colony the same morning of Pearl Harbor with approximately 30,000 soldiers. Badly outnumbered, out of food and ammunition, the British Garrison sur rendered on Christmas morning. 493 Ca nadians were wounded during the battle, 290 were killed. Almost that many (267) died at the hands of their captors in the prison camps after the battle. The battle is one of the worst military disasters in our history, which may be the reason that so few Canadians know about it. The really appalling thing about the debacle was that the Canadian government did not make any inquiries or any kind of an assessment before sending Canadians to Hong Kong. The government simply and rather naively accepted the British assessment which said there would not be a significant number of Japanese forces in the area and that Cana dians would not be in harm’s way.

LIFE & DEATH FUNERAL PRE-PLANNING

Do you contemplate your own inivitable demise?

If you do, you’re not alone.

Join a growing number of people who are starting to look past the fear of death and are pre-planning their own funeral.

It’s an uncomfortable concept to think of, I know. But consider for a moment the ben efits of knowing that your significant other and next of kin won’t have to deal with the details of your funeral. You’ve lightened their burden at a time when grief and sad ness prevail.

I had the opportunity to speak with April Fawcett Myles, Managing Director at Faw cett Funeral Home in Flesherton, about the concept. I was surprised to hear how many people do this and how easy it actually is to pre-arrange your funeral.

“It takes less than an hour in order to give your family peace of mind for your end of life decisions,” she explained. “And when you pre-pay, your money earns interest and we can guarantee your pricing.”

To start the conversation about your fu neral wishes, call Fawcett Funeral Home in Flesherton at (519) 924-2810.

You and your family will be glad you did.

JASON TODOROFF