Jennifer Cranston / Essex Free Press

Amherst Quarry blasts a large section of rock at their 50th anniversary open house.

By Jennifer Cranston, June 24, 2009

About 300 people showed up at Amherst Quarry’s McGregor location to celebrate its 50th anniversary on Thursday, June 18.

“My grandfather, Murray, was the one who started it,” said owner Ed Smith. “He bought the abandoned quarry in Amherstburg.”

The purpose of the open house and barbeque was to thank all the customers, municipal politicians and public works departments who have supported them throughout the years.

Ed’s father Bill and his uncle Alex bought out Murray’s partners when Bill was 23.

“Basically my whole life it’s the only job I’ve ever had,” said Bill who is now semi-retired.

Bill’s wife Cathy has a stone from the first blast at the McGregor site. She intended to retrieve one from this day’s blast to put with it.

Amherst owns about 700 acres in McGregor and another 400 to 500 acres in Amherstburg. There is enough stone for several more generations to retrieve.

Jennifer Cranston / Essex Free Press

(L-R): Volunteer Lonnie Jones, GECDSB Director of Education Warren Kennedy, Essex Mayor Ron McDermott, volunteer Gerry Belanger, Food Bank director Eileen Clifford and EDHS Principal Terry Lyons pose in what will soon be the storage and service area of the Essex Area Food Bank.

High school to make room for Essex Area Food Bank

By Jennifer Cranston - June 24, 2009

Watching Eileen Clifford walk through the space in EDHS that will become the new home of the Essex Area Food Bank is like watching a kid on Christmas morning opening the gift they wanted most.

“It’s perfect!” she said repeatedly.

EDHS Principal Terry Lyons has been aware of the challenges faced by the food bank for some time.

At the top of two flights of stairs in what used to be a girls’ locker room, the current space is overcrowded and lacks convenient parking. The advancing age of most of the volunteers also makes the stairs difficult to negotiate.

During business hours the landing between flights of stairs is filled with people waiting their turn at the food bank.

Lyons had been eyeing an old computer lab with two adjacent rooms for a while.

“Eileen and I have been talking about this for a long time,” he said. “Then Mr. Kennedy came on board.”

Director of Education Warren Kennedy has been aware of the food bank’s plight since he took the position in March.

Kevin Wickham

Members of the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre Foundation and the United Communities Credit Union celebrate the kickoff of the Seeds4Hope cancer research program. (L-R): Margaret Williams, President, Cancer Centre Foundation; Carlene Frimer, Staff Trainer, UCCU; Nancy Gibbons, Foundation Administrator for the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre; Sheila MacKinnon, Chair of the Board, UCCU; Liz Arkinstall, Community Relations Manager, UCCU; and Jim Lynn, President and CEO, UCCU.

Credit union donates $20,000 to kickstart program

By Kevin Wickham - June 24, 2009

The first cancer research program for Essex County was unveiled Thursday afternoon at the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre, thanks in large part to a generous donation from a local credit union.

“We salute you. It was a fabulous idea… thank you very much,” said Canadian Cancer Foundation President Margaret Williams as she accepted the $20,000 philanthropic gesture from the United Communities Credit Union.

This new cancer research venture, called ‘Seeds4Hope, will be a yearly grants and awards program to fund locally-based new and innovative cancer research, with the hope that results translate into better prevention, diagnosis and treatment at the cancer centre.

Donations received will initiate seed grants or start up funding.

“There is ongoing research around the world, around Canada, and there is some cancer research going on here at the University of Windsor and the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre, but this is the first time there has been a program for locally based cancer research,” Williams acknowledged.

“The only way we can do this program is through community donations.”

Celebrating, recognizing excellence and saying goodbye

Special end-of-school bash

ECS honours volunteers

Carstar soaps it up for charity

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