Purple Grove news

Sure feels like spring, with much melting of snow, resulting in lots of water. Please be careful around the many creeks and streams as they are cold and fast-flowing.

Hopefully, everyone has been safe while clearing gutters and roof tops of snow loads. Some have found uses for those blocks of ice, turning them into interesting ice sculptures. What else can you find for the amount of snow that has accumulated over the past few weeks? It’s been quite a ride for some!

Also hoping everyone has been safe while travelling and avoiding those many storms causing accidents and finding ourselves stuck in snow banks.

Once again, we are all affected by the time change, spring ahead. It takes time to adjust and our bodies feel it, sometimes we are maybe not as alert, especially while travelling from one place to another. 

We extend our best wishes to all the folk who are celebrating birthdays: Shirley Harris, Nellie Knoop, Joyce Osborne, Dianne Gamble, Alexis Logtenberg, Marilyn Reid, Joseph Bridge, Carter Bridge, Becca Farrell and Kyle Bridge.

Marilyn Reid enjoyed celebrations for an early 85th birthday at the home of Brian and Jo Reid and family members, Sunday. Also, Bradley and Elisabeth Reid, Lucinda and newest baby, Timothy, of Alexandria are visiting family for awhile. Great timing for good weather especially with little ones in the car.

Another bounty of wings was served by the Ripley Legion - great food and good visiting with everyone. Thanks for such occasions as this, for all to enjoy.

We are saddened to learn of the closure of the Hensall and District Co-operative feed mill in Ripley. The mill has been part of the Ripley community for many, many years and the staff has been part of our family; thus, the end of another era. We wish the staff members all the best for their years of service to our community.

Marianne Hogan has received the King Charles III Coronation Medal, awarded to people across the Commonwealth who have made a significant contribution to their country or to a particular province, territory, region or community. Marianne was nominated for  her significant contribution to the community of Kingsbridge. Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb forwarded her nomination to the Governor General who picked her to receive this distinguished medal. Marianne is the artistic director of the St. Joseph Kingsbridge Community and has used her expertise and her connections within the music industry to make the Kingsbridge Centre a success. She wants to share this recognition with the rest of the Kingsbridge community that has worked hard with much dedication to show that community matters. Congratulations to Marianne!

PURPLE GROVE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

The Purple Grove W.I. met at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre, Wednesday, and enjoyed having Amy Nesbitt, personal trainer and yoga instructor teach some important breathing techniques and stretches to improve our overall mental and physical health and well-being. Learning how to relax those hard-working muscles and reduce our stress levels can do much to make us feel better.

Of course, having the sun shining that day was great too! Convener Fran Farrell shared some Irish Jokes. MaryAnne Kukoly was hostess with the coffee and tea on, and a lovely lunch was shared, prepared by Bren de Leeuw and Cheryl Bridge.

In our business, plans were made to attend the District Directors meeting re-scheduled to March 27; the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada (FWIC) Advocacy webinar, March 7; getting program ideas for 2025; membership dues; and the annual meeting, April 2, at Dianne Simpson's home.

We plan to have coffee and muffins available for sale in the social room for the Ripley-Huron Fall Fair again, and we are catering the Lions dinner in April.

It was another meeting of learning and sharing and having fun together. Thank you to Amy for sharing her knowledge with us and everyone who attended!