Santa Claus listened attentively to Willow Bartsch, 4, as she described wanting a toy dog for Christmas during the ceremonial holiday lighting of Memorial Park in Vienna on Saturday night, Nov. 15. She promised she’d been good all year. (AE/Rob Perry)

East Elgin Secondary School defender Zander Freisen  took down an Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute rusher as teammate Erick Centeno closed in during the championship game for Thames Valley Regional’s Walzak Division at 1Password Park in St. Thomas on a damp Friday afternoon, Nov. 7. EESS led the game 9-0 at the half, and widened that to 17-0 before Ingersoll scored…

A trio of East Elgin Secondary defenders brought down a Strathroy Collegiate Institute rusher during a Thames Valley Junior football semifinal at 1Password Park in St. Thomas on a raining Thursday morning, Oct. 30. The first half ended in no scoring for either team, but EESS, in a dramatic second half, just outscored its opponent 8-7. EESS will advance to…

Nearly two centuries of free-spirited faith and community were celebrated during worship services at Plains Baptist Church on Oct. 19. Known affectionately by its congregation as “The Plains,” the small rural church at 6071 Fairview Road, serving people from St. Thomas south to Lake Erie, was founded in 1830, even before the Dominion of Canada was established at Confederation in…

Bentley Milmine of host East Elgin Secondary School dug an Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute serve during a Junior boys volleyball game on Tuesday, Oct. 21. EESS was victorious in the match, winning three games to one. (AE/Rob Perry)

Performer M. John Kennedy chatted with spectators of all ages, asking them for their favourite Robert Munsch children’s stories, as he prepared for “Classic Munsch Mania” put on by Aylmer Kids & Company at Old Town Hall on Saturday, Oct. 18. Some audience members came from as far away as Toronto for the show, which included retellings of Munsch stories…

Bridget Woolley of host East Elgin Secondary School’s Senior girls basketball team charged toward the Woodstock Huron Park hoop during a game on Thursday, Oct. 16. EESS dominated plan and came away with a 30-10 victory. (AE/Rob Perry)

Ruth Ford, left, and John Hutton brought this 1951 MG TD sports car, in British Racing Green, to a Classic Car Show to benefit Aylmer-Malahide Museum and Archives at Saxonia Hall, just west of Aylmer, on Saturday, Oct. 4. Mr. Hutton said he’d always been interested in British sports cars and, earlier this year, bought his first one. They take…

Summers Corners Public School had 421 participants who raised almost $2,000 in total in a Terry Fox Run on Friday afternoon, Sept. 26, including Alex Fehr, Gr. 7, left, Joey Scott, Gr. 8, Caiden Werkema, Gr. 8, and Landon Connor, Gr. 8, who took part as a group. (AE/Rob Perry)

Front, from left, Aylmer Skating Club members Heidi Van Wychen, Leah Sutherland, Sophia Kuipers and Mia Luong rehearsed a number, under the supervision of coaches, back, Sherry Ball and Madison Ewart on Monday night, Feb. 24 at East Elgin Community Complex. They and the club’s other 120 skaters were preparing for the group’s annual Carnival, showing off the skills they’d…