In an election of Trumps and Tariffs, ‘Agriculture is a non-topic’
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Petrolians celebrate 143 years of Scottish merriment
December 4, 2013
Highland dancers from the Neufield Highland School of Dance entertain at Petrolia’s St. Andrew’s Society Thursday. There are few traditions which have lasted as long as the St. Andrew’s Society Dinner in Petrolia. For 143 years, men in the community have been getting together to greet old friends, share some laughs and celebrate their Scottish heritage. About 200 people
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Movember Madness at St. Phillips
December 4, 2013
Students and staff at St. Phillip’s Catholic School in Petrolia were raising money for can- cer research during Movember. Teacher Greg Vandenberg grew a ‘stach with the rest of the men on staff and students and their families pledged money to help. Friday, the students donned their own moustaches including Darrin Bowen, left, Aisha Sayers and Calvin Sysel who are
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Santa gets a little mood music in Petrolia
December 4, 2013
Santa is warming up his sled to head to Petrolia and there will be some special music to give him an island welcom. Petrolia welcomes Santa Claus with an “Island” themed parade Dec. 7 at 2 pm. The Town of Petrolia Community Services Department says “The Golden Harps Steel Orchestra” will be bringing as many as 15 members to treat
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Author needs help with foreign drillers book
December 4, 2013
Windsor-based author Gary May is looking for help as he compiles the stories of Lambton County’s foreign drillers. May wants you to scour family records and memories in search of materials he hopes can add detail and perspective to the story. Hundreds of Lambton County oil workers fanned out across the globe over a period of some 70 years –
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Lambton jumps into wind fight
December 4, 2013
Lambton County is jumping into the divisive wind turbine fight with both feet. It recently agreed to try to become a participant at an Environmental Review Tribunal on a project in Goderich which is part of a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms civil suit. The Goderich couple says the wind energy companies should be able to prove industrial wind
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White Rose Petrolia’s new town flower
December 3, 2013
The flower which once graced gas stations around the country is Petrolia’s new official flower. Town councilors have named the white Pascali Rose as Petrolia’s town flower, a nod to the White Rose Oil Company which had its beginnings in Petrolia. In a report to councilors, Dave Menzies, director of community services, writes in 1907 a group of Petrolia hard
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Community centre launches new website
December 2, 2013
It will soon be easier to find out about your favorite programs at the Oil Heritage District Community Centre. Laurissa Ellsworth, manager of marketing in Petrolia, is putting the finishing touches on a new website for the centre. Currently, residents can access information about the complex through the town’s website, but Ellsworth says it can be “challenging to dig around
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Petrolia woman urges caution with door-to-door salesmen
December 1, 2013
Bonnie Elliott wants to make sure no one falls for a slick salesman at the front door. The Petrolia woman had a close call this weekend. She was in her yard doing some clean up when a door-to-door salesman startled her. “He seemed to jump up from behind the car,” she told The Independent. The man told her he had
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Local athletes hoping for a spot on Team Canada
November 30, 2013
Petrolia Taekwondo athletes are looking from a spot on Team Canada. They are from left: Coach Mark Warburton; Urvashi Thongam (under 49 kilograms); Lauren Anderson (under 52 kg); Emilee Berdan (under 55 kg); Jewelian Blackbird (under 59 kg); and Coach Ryan Formosa Four local Taekwondo athletes will vie for a spot on Team Canada on December 1 in Montreal
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Author pushes for mercy for executed Sarnia woman
November 30, 2013
It is an uphill battle, but Bob McCarthy is hopeful the federal government will one day “correct a travesty of justice” which lead to the hanging of a Sarnia woman over 100 years ago. McCarthy, the author of the book Case 666, The Elizabeth Workman Story recently spoke to about a dozen members of the Petrolia Library’s book club about
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Oil Springs celebrates Christmas tonight
November 29, 2013
There will be music in the air in Oil Springs Friday night. The Village of Oil Springs along with the Oil Springs Optimist is hosting a Jingle Bell Walk. Village Clerk Jennifer Turks says this is the second year for the event geared to children and their families. The night begins at the Youth Centre on Victoria Street at
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Learning about preserving history
November 29, 2013
Bert Duclos of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport, points out the communities with active Heritage Committees. He was in Petrolia Thursday explaining to Lambton County groups what they can do to help local councils preserve the community’s heritage buildings and land masses. Of Ontario’s 414 municipalities, 152 are actively working to preserve their community’s heritage and five
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