In an election of Trumps and Tariffs, ‘Agriculture is a non-topic’
Community effort to help Petrolia family who lost everything in a fire
August 12, 2022
Petrolia is stepping up to help the family who lost everything in a fire at the local funeral home.
Wednesday night, fire broke out in the second storey apartment at Needham-Jay Funeral Home on Petrolia Line. Petrolia/North Enniskillen Fire Chief Jay Arns says it appears it started in the sunroom of the apartment although an exact cause has not been determined.
Arns estimates the loss at about $400,000.
Needham-Jay assured residents they would continue to offer funeral services. The home also has a location in Wyoming.
While the funeral home is continuing business, one of its directors lived in the apartment. Laura Hodgins, her husband, Jason, and their two children, Peter, 7, and Indy, 1, were left scrambling. All their belongings were destroyed. There is now a community effort to help the family.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to collect money to help with immediate needs. You can find it here:https://www.gofundme.com/f/d77mjj-please-help-if-you-can?member=21296919&sharetype=teams&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
Laurel Mallioux and Home Hardware in Petrolia are also collecting gift cards for the family including for Walmart, Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, Food Basics, Dollarama, Mark’s Work Warehouse, Torrid clothing store, and Amazon. They ask that you place them in an envelope with Laura and Jason Hodgins’ name on it. They can be dropped off at Home Hardware.
You can also send an e-gift card to [email protected].
And today, from 1 pm to 5 pm, Dips Ice Cream will be in the Home Hardware parking lot selling ice cream raising money for the family.
Front Page
In an election of Trumps and Tariffs, ‘Agriculture is a non-topic’
April 25, 2025
Blake Ellis/The Independent “Agriculture is a non-topic,” says Brian Eves. The president of the Lambton Federation of Agriculture is about the federal election campaign.The Independent talked to Eves and Lambton dairy farmer, Kevin Forbes about the issues farmers face and what the politicians are saying that is catching their attention. Less than two percent of the Canadian population are farm
Read More
Front Page
Canada’s future, affordability and local journalism all part of the final debate
April 25, 2025
Heather Wright/The Independent The very last speaker of in the very last Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong debate threw away his prepared closing remarks. After listening to the problems Canada is facing, and the historic choices voters will make April 28, Liberal Candidate George Vandenberg said he wanted to speak “from the heart. “My family came from war torn Europe in 1951, 1952. My
Read More
Front Page
York1 project will still follow environmental rules says MPP
April 24, 2025
‘This is the hand I’ve been dealt’ says Pinsonneault Heather Wright/The Independent Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault is trying to reassure Dresden residents the York1 Environmental Waste Solution’s plan to expand the derelict dump will still have to follow environmental standards. Pinsonneault is spoke to The Independent a week after the Ford Government quietly announced it wants to clear away some
Read More
Front Page
Plans for Camlachie mini arena shelved
April 24, 2025
The project’s drivers – the Huron Shores Optimists – say it would place a financial burden on the club Heather Wright/The Independent The Huron Shores Optimist and the Town of Plympton-Wyoming say they will be working together on a recreation project in Camlachie, but it won’t be the $2.3 million outdoor arena project. The Optimist floated the idea of an
Read More