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RIP CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER PAGE7SMHF 50/50 WINNERPAGE9St. Marys Independent36 Water St. S., St. Marys ON 519.284.0041 info@stmarysindependent.com www.stmarysindy.comIssue #1041Thursday, February 11, 2021Black’s Financial ServicesALL WHEEL DRIVE 179 B.W.2019 Kia Sorento X v6 AWDCall us for details 519.284.1340TERM1 year3 years5 yearsGIC0.951.451.55RIVER VALLEYTUBE SLIDEOPENINGSOONBE MY VALENTINE!Heated leather seats, power options including seat, 7 passseating, heated steering wheel, alum. wheels, am/fm cd & satradio, touch button start, power options, bluetooth, tow hitch,backup camera, blind spot, fog lights & much moreGIC INSURED*All rates subjectto change withoutnotice* 26,795HST & licensing extra, payment over84 months at 5.99%. O.A.Cwww.rivervalleygolfandtube.com*All rates subject to change without notice*Are you taking advantage of the TFSA?1 YR 0.68 - 3 YR 1.03 - 5 YR 1.44For more products andFinancial Advice call us today!St. Marys Fire Department COVID-19 outbreakgets ready to move into the continues at St.Marys Memorialnew fire stationHospitalBy Spencer Seymour, Local Journalism InitiativeReporterA COVID-19 outbreak at St. Marys Memorial Hospital is still ongoing.Please check out ourwebsite for openingday, updates & onlinebooking system atrivervalleygolfandtube.com519.225.2329Black’s Financial ServicesThe St. Marys Fire Station is nearing completion and ready to welcome the St. Marys FireDepartment.After nearly nine months of renovations, the St. Marys Fire Station isready to welcome its crew. This Saturday, February 13 is the official movein date for the St Marys Fire Department.“Last May we started renovating thefire hall. Despite the additional challenges presented by the pandemic, wewere able to keep moving the projectforward,” says Grant Brouwer, Director of Building and Development Services for Town of St. Marys.The upgraded station boasts new,gender-neutral showers, washroomsand change areas. It also features anexpanded storage area where firefighters can safely sanitize and drytheir gear, and upgraded ventilationsystems to remove excess vehicle exhaust and gasses from the building.“To say we’re excited is an understatement,” says Fire Chief Richard“Andy” Anderson. “This new facilityaddresses the growing needs of thedepartment and the communities ofSt. Marys and Perth South. We cannotwait to show off the new hall.”Due to current health and safety restrictions, the St. Marys Fire Department will hold off on hosting any inperson events. For now they will besharing this exciting experience withthe town through the Town’s website(www.townofstmarys.com), Facebookpage (facebook.com/stmarys.ontario),Twitter account (twitter.com/townofstmarys) and local media.Questions about the move can be directed to Fire Chief Richard “Andy”Anderson at 519-284-2340, ext. 201or randerson@town.stmarys.on.ca.MORTGAGE AGENTCELL: 519.301.5155www.MichelleWebber.caNeed mortgage help?As of Tuesday, February 9th, the Huron PerthHealthcare Alliance (HPHA) reported that the outbreak at St. Marys Memorial Hospital was ongoing and that the case count sat at six. This includesthree patients and three staff members. One staffmember's listing was removed from the outbreakon February 5th after further investigation revealed the case was community-acquired and notas a result of the outbreak.The HPHA says it is still safe to receive care at thehospital. The hospital remains open for all scheduled clinics, procedures, and emergency visits, andthe HPHA reminds residents not to delay seekingcare if needed. Family and Caregivers are restricted at this time. The only exception is for palliative patients who are allowed one family member/caregiver per day for 15 minutes at a time. Careteams will regularly update families and makethem aware of opportunities for a virtual connection.Unit-level outbreaks for COVID-19 are declared,in partnership with Huron Perth Public Health(HPPH), as soon as there are two or more confirmed positive cases among patients or staff thatcould have possibly been acquired on an inpatientunit. After 14 days with no new cases, the unit level outbreak is declared over in consultation withHPPH.The outbreak at St. Marys Memorial Hospital wasdeclared back on February 2nd, and the case counthas been at six since February 7th."The best thing a human being can dois to help another human being knowmore." - Charlie Munger

Thursday, February 11, 20212St. Marys IndependentCOMMUNITY —Town offers free telephone programs as part ofCommunity Wellness initiativeEnsures supportive connections are accessible to everyoneSince the outset of the pandemic, theFriendship Centre has recognizedthe importance of accessible programming for everyone in the community. The Centre’s telephone programs ensure that residents who donot use the internet can still makemeaningful connections with others.“The program’s success is the resultof many factors," Bennett explains.“The offerings help create meaning and purpose for people duringa confusing and challenging time.Using the phone is a highly socialactivity, and conversations stimulate thought, help people meet oldfriends and make new ones, andsupport mental, physical and emotional wellness.”“When things shut down last year,we got creative” says Hillary Bennett, Senior Services Program Coordinator at the Friendship Centre.“The team began delivering activities virtually, first through FacebookLive, and eventually through Zoom.But, we noticed a need to reach residents who do not use the internet,and we were inspired to design programs that could be offered exclusively through the telephone.”The Friendship Centre rapidlyrolled out the free telephone programming in April 2020, with themission of supporting seniors experiencing isolation, technological barriers, transportation difficulties andvision impairment.The program schedule has nowgrown to include seated fitnessclasses, museum lectures, short stories, travelogues and reassurancecalls. Socially oriented phone activi-Allan Slater, a regular program participant, makes a pot of coffee and a snackbefore joining a call.ties such as knit and chat, men’s coffee, trivia and games and more recently, recipe sharing are also verypopular, often leading participantsto reminisce as they talk with othersof the same age.OneThe7 Day Forecast - Weather Sponsored byWednesday Thursday FridayFeb-10th Feb-11th Feb-12thSun/cloud-9cFeels LikeSun/cloud-7cFeels b-14thMondayTuesdayFeb-15th Feb-16thFlurriesFlurriesSun/cloudcFeels LikeFeels Like Market Prices-11cFeels LikeLight snowcFeels Like-7cFeels Like Sponsored by(Cash bids as of Tuesday at 12pm.)695 Levitt Street, Granton ON, N0M 1V0 SOYBEANS #2 YELLOW CORNOld Crop – 6.85 Old Crop– 16.93New Crop – 5.38New Crop– 14.28 SOFT RED WHEAT Old Crop – 7.86 New Crop – 7.41 If you, or someone you know, couldbenefit from telephone programs,contact the Friendship Centre at519-284-3272 for schedules andeasy-to-follow instructions. Or visit the Town’s website at https://bit.ly/3rliPP7 and click on the Friendship Centre’s latest newsletter andcalendar.HITCHING POST-11 -12centhusiasticallyexclaims, “I look forward to everyphone program, but especially Friday Fun every Friday at 11:00 a.m.We have so many laughs together.It’s a great way to feel connected toothers since I live alone and don’thave the technology to stay connected online.”St. Marys resident Allan Slater, aregular participant, comments onwhat the programs mean for him. “Ilive in an ideal situation in my ownapartment with other family members nearby. But I am lonesome. Imiss the companionship of my wifeand friends in the community. I lookforward to the telephone programsbecause they give me an opportunity to chat with other people, and usemy brain a 4%

St. Marys IndependentCOMMUNITY —Thursday, February 11, 2021Monkey Tail moustache fundraiserMissy Little has been self-isolating inher apartment since September. Earlyon she decided to add some fun to herday by posting the antics on Facebookof her roommate, a stuffed monkeynamed Gunther. "Never in my wildestdreams did I think that my silly littleidea would touch so many. As peoplestarted commenting and more andmore started following him, I quickly realized that daily Gunther postswere not only therapeutic for myself,but for so many others."Missy decided to use Gunther to raisesome funds for the St Marys RotaryClub. "The Rotary Club was a hugehelp for my family when I was growing up. They were always there to helpus with wheelchairs, walkers, customfootwear, the list goes on. After enjoying the New Years Eve Fireworks display, an event that distantly broughtthe entire town together, I decidedthis was how I could give back."As a result Missy started the Monkey Tail Moustache Contest. Therules were simple, pay 20 to enter,grow a beard, shave it into a monkeytail, look ridiculous and take a photo.The entries would be voted on by theFacebook world. The winner wouldget half of the prize money and therest would be donated to the Rotary Club. The contest did not go asplanned. There was only one bravesoul, Mike Kittmer that took on thechallenge, but the donations quicklystarted adding up. By the end of thecontest, a little stuffed monkey hadraised 700. Mike generously decidedthat all funds raised would be donated to the Rotary.Many did not realize that this was afundraiser, so anyone still wishingto donate, please contact Missy onMessenger, email m.little@sympatico.ca or call/text 519-301-2116. Donations will be accepted for anotherweek!"I hope Gunther not only gives people something to look forward to, butalso makes them smile. When I started in September, I never thought thatI would still be doing this in February, yet here we are. So for as longas Gunther and I are held up in thisroom, we will continue to post daily."Stay Positive, Test Negative, followGunther and donate!3