countylive.ca year in review photos – December 2017

Countylive thanks our readers and advertisers for continued support of community news and we look forward to an interesting and informative new year! Please enjoy exploring the site, and the year-in-review series of photographs from 2017.

Council supports preliminary plans for a $1.2 million expansion and restoration to the Picton Public Library Branch approving allocation of $320,000 spread over the next two budgets. The 110-year-old library continues to surge in popularity due to expansion offerings of programs and services on top of books, cds and periodicals offered, but it no longer meets accessibility standards and its offerings do not meet what’s considered required for the population using the facility. The library is 40 per cent more used than the average of all public libraries across Canada.

Students presented Pink or Blue?, an original collective creation put together by students at PECI under the guidance of drama teacher Matthew Sheahan. Two performances off-site, and one at the school, recognized Dec. 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. -Sharon Harrison photo

In an emotional day at Queen’s Park, Prince Edward Hastings MP Todd Smith introduced legislation to require all movable soccer goal nets in Ontario be anchored. He presented the “Garrett’s Legacy Act” with Dave and Gwen Mills, whose 15-year-old son May Garrett Mills died this summer in Napanee when an unanchored soccer goal came down and crushed his skull. Garrett Mills had never played soccer. Rather, was doing chin-ups on the soccer goal, when it collapsed and killed him. The bill passed second reading Dec. 7.vMore than 51 children in North America have died, and hundreds more have incurred serious injuries, after moveable soccer nets tipped over on unsuspecting youngsters.

Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary members presented Fran Donaldson, vice-chairperson of the PECMH Foundation, with a second contribution to the Re-Imagine Campaign for the upgrade of the regional MRI machine. The Auxiliary presented the Foundation with $50,000 which brings their total contribution to the vital piece of diagnostic imaging equipment to $100,000.

Second World War veteran George Swoffer, of Picton, received a warm ‘hug from the nation’ on a snowy afternoon as sisters Sue Jensen and Sharon Abrames made a surprise visit to present a ‘Quilt of Valour’. At 97, Swoffer is one of a handful of veterans left from the Hastings and Prince Edward regiment, but everyone in the room was dazzled by his memories – and his humour – as he shared a few stories from time spent serving his country in Sicily. – Olivia Timm photo

Thanks to volunteers with the Prince Edward County Quilters’ Guild, seniors will be served up delightful hand-crafted placemats with their Meals on Wheels this month. Above, Rosanna Worden Hawker, Sandy Jeapes, Colleen Kelly and Teresa Shephard from Community Care, with Janet Reader Day, Colleen Young and Marianne Sanders showing some of the placemats to be delivered this month.

Christmas will be made brighter for more than 250 children and their families this year as the community steps ups to assist the Prince Edward County Christmas Angel Campaign. Above, Prince Edward Collegiate Institute students prepare to deliver packages for 26 angels.

Sgt. John Hatch, detachment commander of the Prince Edward County OPP gives the thumbs up to Tim Hortons owner Paul Massey during the launch of the Festive R.I.D.E. program in Rossmore. Massey, as would be expected, was drinking coffee.

Inclement weather postponed the annual festive talent show at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute, but students met with the Salvation Army to donate $1,000 to support local children in need. The funds were raised through the annual silent auction. The talent show will be rescheduled later in the school year.

Picton Terminal’s new tugboat Sheri Lynn S will be breaking the ice in Picton Bay this winter. Sandy Berg said Picton Terminals will be breaking ice from the Glenora Ferry, to Picton Terminals, down the centre of the bay, and up to Lehigh Cement Company. Berg notes local sledders and ice anglers should be aware of ice conditions in the vicinity at all times.

Citizens said a chilly goodbye to 2017 as temperatures plummeted, leading to several days of extreme cold warnings from Environment Canada. – Paula Thomas photo