​Purple Grove news

There are a lot of events happening, and everyone certainly appreciates all the work from the amazing volunteers of those organizations. How fitting that that it's Volunteer Appreciation Week in April!

The Roots of Bruce was held in Walkerton, April 16-17, with more than 600 students in attendance over the two days. The Roots of Bruce has been an event since 1995, established by the Agriculture in the Classroom Committee of Bruce County. Grown in Grey was held April 14-15, so some of our shared agricultural services and programs were busy all week! Check out the Roots of Bruce website for photos and ways that you can get involved. Thank you to the committees, teachers and sponsors for bringing these opportunities for students in our region.

Congratulations to the Kinetic Knights Robotics Team for its achievements at Ontario Champs last weekend in Niagara Falls. It's been a busy time for you and your mentors and volunteers!

The Ripley-Huron Legion hosted a steak dinner fund-raiser, Saturday evening, and the Kinloss Community Centre held its roast beef dinner, Sunday evening. Thank you for the delicious food and great visiting!

April 17,  Rosewood RVilla hosted a Daffodil Tea and welcomed visitors and family to welcome spring and support the work of the Canadian Cancer Society. There always seems to be something happening at Rosewood; thank you to the dedicated staff and those looking out for our senior residents!

Happy Belated Birthday to Tyler Rombouts, Don Simpson, Kostya Kovalenko, Everett Farrell, Joe West and Herman Weller from all your Purple Grove family and friends!

Several volunteer organizations and groups took part in the Spark Fair held at the Kincardine Pavilion last weekend. Thank you to Jodee Beer, co-ordinator of Active Living 55-plus, and the event sponsors for all the opportunities to network with other groups in our community! Also, thank you for the live performances and demonstrations by the Kincardine Community Concert Band, HOM Wellness Collective, and the Active Living Line dancers, and to the Kincardine Environmental Action Network (KEAN) for hosting a Repair Cafe on the Saturday too!

The sympathy of the community is extended to the families of Art Danahy of Kincardine, Frank Alton of Lucknow, Olive Chisholm, formerly of Dungannon, and John Fieten of Teeswater. Many memories will be shared at these celebrations, honouring the lives of these cherished members of our communities.

April 22 was Earth Day and we appreciate those volunteers who help clean up the beaches and roadways after the winter winds and weather! Clean-up crews with KEAN and other organizations have been out already. Please, take advantage of all the recycling programs you can! Hazardous waste collection days are also being held in our communities coming up soon - Kincardine dates are May 9 and July 11, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Kincardine Public Works Yard; and Walkerton's is May 30h.

Speaking of spring and our environment - have you heard the frogs singing? Since there's been more water around Purple Grove, they have been quite loud! So, as far as the old weather predictions go - they need to be shut up three times and it's been once this week. Glad to hear them, the birds returning, robins nesting and grass is turning green! Please don't clean up your gardens too quickly, those robins and other birds need to feed their babies! Apparently, robins will sometimes hatch three sets of eggs in a season. That's keeping both parents feeding babies, and their diet is 40 per cent worms and insects and 60 per cent berries and fruit, but the chicks will all leave the nest within two days of each other! Maybe that's where the expression "empty-nesters" comes from?! Have a great week, everyone!