Norma West Linder The Lawrence House at the corner of Wellington and Christina Streets was built in 1892 by lumber baron William F. Lawrence. It is now a Centre for the Arts, and the Turret Room in its upper floor provides just the right ambience for poetry readings. Bunny Iskov, editor of the bi-annual publication… Read more »
Bob Boulton The Sarnia-Lambton Celebration of Lights has come a long way since 1984 when it opened with 650 lights and nine displays. And its enduring glow is just what the New Year ordered. After returning better than ever, this year’s celebration has an extended run until Jan. 30 — a showstopper that first catches… Read more »
John Dickson Sarnia council, and the seemingly powerful Off-Leash Dog Parks committee advising it, are missing the point: the vast majority of citizens do NOT want dogs of any size on local beaches. Council decided recently to seek public input in January on a plan that would see dog owners bring their unleashed animals to… Read more »
Trying to make the most of a second straight COVID Christmas Sir: Last Christmas, my friend Cathie got me a coffee mug that says, “Baby its COVID Outside.” It made me chuckle, but also accept the fact that a pandemic Christmas was a reality. And now it’s a reality for a second year. No one… Read more »
Nadine Wark Lately I’ve been thinking back to my childhood and trying to remember the exact moment when I accepted certain doubts about Santa Claus. I have a photographic memory for names and faces and details of nostalgic events, but this Santa thing has me shaking my head. Many of a certain age can still… Read more »
Marg Johnson While out for a coffee recently with a church buddy, time stopped for me. At the other end of the coffee shop were two large tables, and seated around them in many chairs were men of my generation, leaning back relaxed, coffee in hands and smiles on their faces. I could barely hear… Read more »
Budget numbers from City Hall could use more clarity Sir: A comparison of the City of Sarnia’s 2021 capital budget to its 2022 draft capital budget shows a lack of clarity in actual amounts of money allocated to capital projects in each calendar year. For example, in 2021 about $3.8 million was allocated to the… Read more »
Bob Boulton Local residents are slowly being surrounded by Christmas – the Season of Emotions. Some years ago, we used to think of ourselves as rational. Emotions were regarded as frivolous blocks to life’s important and serious matters – especially by men. Only notable exceptions were allowed: family Thanksgiving table irritation, playoff game excitement, and… Read more »
Randy Evans When looking through old editions of the Sarnia Observer a researcher often comes across odd and interesting glimpses of life from our city’s past. Here are a few: AN EARLIER LAURENCE HOUSE In the early 1900s a woman named Nancy Laurence upped and ran off with a man named George Day. Husband William… Read more »
Reducing our carbon footprint isn’t as easy as it sounds Sir: Regarding Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley’s call for an energy summit. Going Green has hit centre stag, but I just don’t know how we can ‘flip the switch.’ Even electric cars require motors (copper), batteries, foam seats, rubber tires and aluminum bodies (from mills). My… Read more »
