Monster in the Marsh

Photo by Barry Wallace

Pumpkin weighs over half a ton

There are a lot of pumpkins, big and small, at the Hwy. 9 Farmers Market in the Holland Marsh.   However none are as big as the one sitting atop five stacked skids, pictured above.   This pale orange monster weighs in at over 1,100 lbs.

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Barry Wallace

King's 16th Sideroad

Photo by Barry Wallace

  Hay on its way ... for the roan and bay

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Barry Wallace

Autumn images in the hamlets

                                                                                                                    Photos by Barry Wallace

Kettleby

Pottageville

Lloydtown

                                                                                                                  

Laskay

Strange

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Barry Wallace

They don't get much cuter than this!

                                                                                                                   Photo by Barry Wallace

Jasper at Pine Farms Orchard

Jasper is seen patiently waiting for his owner, who is off picking apples, while a Pine Farms staffer babysits 'Mr. Adorable'.   I patted him on the head and couldn't get him to stop licking me.   Linda and I have been thinking about getting a small dog as a companion for our young cat.   Now, if only there was just another Jasper out there.

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Barry Wallace

Schomberg gets ready for Fright Night

 Photos by Barry Wallace

A lot of places get into the spirit of Hallowe'en, but there are few places to compare with Schomberg where every other resident seems to get into the decorating mode.   Some expressions of the event are simple while others (see photo above) are all-out Hollywood productions.   Below is a 'cheeky' pumpkin character whose jeans are riding a bit low.   There is also a Hallowe'en Scarecrow Contest in which many residents and families participate. 

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Barry Wallace

KCSS Football

                                                                                                                Photos by Barry Wallace

Blocking drills at Monday's practise

King City Secondary School senior boys football team is currently in 2nd place, Zone A, of the YRAA Football standings with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss.   Their next game is in King City this Friday at 4 p.m. against Aurora's St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic School.   The junior team plays the day before on Thursday at  4 p.m. against Bill Crothers Secondary School in Unionville. 

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Barry Wallace

More new stores and offices...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

   The western wing of the new King's Ridge Marketplace, on the King Road, appears to be fully leased, based on the signs pictured here.   Meanwhile the eastern wing, on Dufferin Street seems almost complete and ready for new tenants.   At bottom is a photo showing the construction progress of the 50,000 sq. ft. Coppa's food marketplace.   A response to an enquiry at the township office said that Coppa's could still be 12 months from completion.      

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Barry Wallace

Autumn trail on old train route at Seneca

Photos by Barry Wallace

   One of my favourite local short hikes is the old track bed of the Aurora & Schomberg Railway (1902 to 1927) which I access from right behind the old Eaton estate gatehouse at Seneca College, on Dufferin Street,  just north of Eversley.   The old track bed is now a lovely tunnel through the trees and is well-marked with both trail blazes and signs.

                                     

A look through the trees on the trail gives a glimpse of the old Eaton Hall (above) or of  beautiful rolling fields and fall colours.

As I made my way along this particular trail, I couldn't help but notice that all the tree roots and many stones were lightly spray-painted in a grey colour.   A young lady walking her Standard Poodle, Giselle, told me there had been a long cross-country run around Seneca a few days earlier and that some intrepid volunteers had walked the entire course and painted the roots and stones so that runners would not step on them and hurt themselves.   It must have been a long and tedious process.   Well done, folks.

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Barry Wallace

KING REMEMBERS THE GREAT WAR

Photos by Barry Wallace 

Women's Roles in the War effort

King Museum & Cultural Centre has launched its second presentation of memorablia and artifacts associated with WW1.   This year-two production of the 4-year effort is entitled Women's Roles in the War Effort.   Part of the exhibit includes a telephone switchboard from early in the 1900s, which was restored and presented to the museum by the Newmarket Telephone Pioneer Club in 1987.   Pictured above is Cultural Coordinator Caroline Bendiner momentarily sitting in as a telephone operator.   The photo below shows a rendition of a temporary, wartime, nursing station.   This presentation benefits greatly from the expanded space at the newly created history and culture facility.   Museum Curator, Kathleen Fry reminds everyone that the exhibit last until November 24th.   

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Barry Wallace

Smash-up at Schomberg

 Photos by Barry Wallace

The intersection of Highways 27 and 9, a week ago today, was the scene of a frightening crash between a tour bus, loaded with young male adults, and a pickup truck.   Several emergency vehicles, including police cars, ambulances and fire trucks converged on the accident scene, which caused traffic back-ups on Hwy. 27.   Damage to the pickup and its truck cap was extensive.   The bottom photo was taken as the pickup driver was removed on a stretcher and transferred to an ambulance.

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Barry Wallace

Last moment sign add-on

Photo by Barry Wallace

Several signs, like the one pictured above, with the yellow add-on banner at top, suddenly appeared on Deb Shulte's election signs on the day of the election.   A last-minute voting reminder, I suppose, to electors who wanted change.   The signs are still there after the election and they are just as meaningful after election day as they were on election day.   I have no idea how long they will stay in place, but in the interim they are a reminder to all of us, and the newly elected member of parliament, that 'Real Change Now' is what we were promised and what we expect.   Go Deb!

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Barry Wallace

Autumn on the Eighth

Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

ELECTION DAY LEAVES

Photo and doggerel by Barry Wallace

Some fell to the cold ground...

    some stayed up to rule the day...

        but in time all will be blown away.

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Barry Wallace

The Chalk residence

    Photo by Barry Wallace

Keele Street & Heritage Park ~ King City

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Barry Wallace

Country dream home ~ from another century

Photos by Barry Wallace

This abandoned farmhouse is located on King's 15th Sideroad, northwest of Nobleton.   It was likely a cherished home, especially with a windmill at the back door, to likely pump underground water to a surface cistern.   Time however has probably destined this once lovely old home to a non-existent future.

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Barry Wallace

At Pine Farms Orchard...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Avian townhouses in the orchard

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Barry Wallace

King's first round-about road intersection?

Photos by Barry Wallace

 Round-about underway at Kettleby

Construction is underway of a traffic round-about at the Keele Street and Lloydtown-Aurora Roads intersection, south of Kettleby.   The pictures, above and below, are part of a recently-installed billboard, which shows a before photograph and an after image (proposed) of  the intersection and its design features.   The billboard is located on the north side of the Kettleby-Aurora Road, a few hundred metres east of Keele.   In recent years, several very serious accidents, including fatalities, have occurred  at the intersection, which features varying road elevations, and poor sightlines, approaching from the different directions.   Apparently a round-about was deemed a more appropriate solution than traffic lights.   I know of a few small round-abouts in a few King residential subdivisions, but I believe this Keele/Lloydtown-Aurora round-about is the first of this size in King Township.   No doubt, it will take a little getting used to, but the enhanced safety factors should be well worth it.  

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Barry Wallace

Hallowe'en straw bale at Round The Bend Farm

Photo by Barry Wallace

Happy-face doesn't look 'baleful' at all

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Barry Wallace

White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows' fall migration peaks in mid-October

Photo by Barry Wallace

Here's a photo that I took in the backyard of a White-crowned Sparrow (left) and a White-throated Sparrow sharing a close moment beneath the feeders.   The southern migration of both these bird species normally starts in Canada in September, peaks around mid-October and ends in November.   Meanwhile, over the past week, Dark-eyed Juncos (see photo below) have arrived to visit the feeders.

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Barry Wallace