Purple Grove news

So did anyone catch the lunar eclipse Tuesday morning? It was out there until the clouds swallowed it up, quite interesting anyways. Our skies are always changing, and so is the time this weekend! Spring ahead with your clocks!

Celebrating birthdays this past week or so, were John Farrell, Nellie Quinlan, Alexis Logtenberg, Dianne Gamble, Joseph Bridge and Becca Farrell.

Harvey and Bren de Leeuw enjoyed visiting with parents, Jackie and Henry Pope of Port Elgin. Best wishes are extended to Jackie and Henry who are celebrating their 65th Wedding Anniversary on the weekend!

Thomas, Becca and Arlo Farrell travelled to Waterford where the Huron-Bruce Blizzard Under-11 Local League White hockey team (Arlo is the goalie) competed in the weekend tournament, bringing the silver back to Ripley and Lucknow. Congratulations, boys!

We extend our sympathies to the families of Hugh Mason, Sam MacGregor and Don Eyre. Each of these men influenced and cared for many people in their families and communities with their work and talents. They will certainly be missed.

Thank you to all who participated in the Coldest Night of the Year Walk in Kincardine and thanks to the Kincardine Legion for the chili and socializing after too!

The Ripley Agricultural Society is hosting a half chicken dinner fund-raiser, Sunday, March 29, to support its pledge to the Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation. You can get your tickets ($35 each), cash only, at Pollock Electric and through directors of the board, until March 20. Dine in or take out at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre. Dinner times are 4:30-6 p.m., and 6-7:30 p.m.

There are also a few spaces left for the Fermentation Class, March 28,in Ripley. E-mail ripleyfair@hurontel.on.ca for more details.



The Ripley Reunion committee presents donations to the Purple Grove Community Centre, $2,500 (above); and to the Purple Grove Women's Institute, $700 (below)



PURPLE GROVE WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Wednesday afternoon, March 4, the Purple Grove Women's Institute met at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre. Mary Anne Kukoly was our hostess.

The Roll Call was, "What book are you currently reading?" We shared a variety of favourite and challenging reading topics that we are enjoying. Other important dates and notable things about March include that it is Irish Heritage Month, Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, and Red Cross Month. March 20 is the first day of spring, but also the International Day of Happiness!

Convener Diane Clifford introduced our speaker, Michaela Posthumus, who is the library supervisor in Ripley. Michaela grew up near Tara and is glad to be home in Bruce County and enjoys her work very much.

Libraries don't just have the typical books to read any more. Audio books have become very popular and "Playaways," instead of CDs, connect to head phones and you can take them with you wherever you are. Another option is to put "Libby" on your cell phone and order, reserve, listen, re-listen, and return books without leaving home or when travelling. The librarian can also put that application (app) on your phone!

There is lots to explore on the website - you can order from the "Library of Things" for those "things," such as sports kits, fishing rods, museum and park passes, that you need only for a short time. You can also check out the Niche Academy which has training resources for language learning, ancestry, movies and a LinkedIn Library for educational courses.

Michaela told us of many other benefits of going to the library for book clubs, workshops and children's programs and to subscribe to the newsletter to keep up with events. We expressed our appreciation to her for a wonderful presentation and most of us plan to visit our libraries more often. We also appreciate the knowledgeable staff at our Ripley Library so much!

After a brief social time with lunch prepared by Betty Johnson and Bren de Leeuw, we addressed our business. Updates were shared on the upcoming Huron-Kinloss Volunteer event and Spark Fair in April.

President Bren de Leeuw thanked those who came out for the Ripley Reunion cheque presentation and gave a summary of the Feb. 19 Federated Women's Institutes of Canada (FWIC) Zoom meeting with more than 90 members attending from across Canada, sharing "The Stories that shaped Us."

We are planning the District Annual with Purple Valley. Fran and Bonnie Boyle shared plans for May Night/day away. The Chesley Community Players are presenting "The Calendar Girls" over two weekends in May.

Brenda also circulated some planning pages for next year's programs and encouraged all members to get their volunteer hours counted for the April annual meeting. The annual meeting will be April 1 at 1:30 p.m. at Dianne Simpson's home. New members are always welcome to join us.

Fran Farrell, Marilyn Reid and Bren de Leeuw, president of the Bruce South District W.I., were in Chesley, March 5, for the Bruce District Directors meeting. All nine branches were in attendance and participated in planning the District Annual, Area Convention and Rally. It's going to be a very exciting year in Bruce District! We're planning to be at the International Plowing Match in Walkerton, Sept. 22-26, too!