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Laurel Beechey

Laurel Beechey

Fort McMurray Today

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'Annandale House’ is a national treasure 

In 1881, Edwin Delevan Tillson began to build a farmhouse for retirement in Tillsonburg, leaving the running of his milling empire to his sons.   ...

29.04.2024 30

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Lasso your tickets for St. John’s 'Country Legends Tribute Show'

Howdy! Many of you know me as a big band, Broadway baby… which is true and I will confess, I am not a big country and western music fan, per se,...

22.04.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Gloria’s Guy is a heartwarming reunion

What makes a Theatre Tillsonburg cast and crew special?   It isn’t that everything runs perfectly – that never happens in live theatre. It is...

15.04.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Library plans local history day

I have a terrible problem with the Oxford County Library, Tillsonburg Branch web pages. Once I go on the site, I am on there for hours, all excited by...

09.04.2024 8

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Ted Barris returns to Tillsonburg for D-Day presentation

The Tillsonburg Military Club is honoured to bring Ted Barris back again on Friday, April 19 at the Tillsonburg Legion.   His topic will be...

02.04.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Would you like to meet Slider the skunk?

Over 40 years ago, I started rehabilitating wildlife when I found two baby squirrels in the middle of Rolph Street on my way to a Theatre Tillsonburg...

25.03.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Youth Unlimited YFC fundraiser will upgrade Upper Deck Youth Centre 

You want to do something to help the homeless, the hungry, or to research heart disease or cancer, but there are so many people, animals and charities...

12.03.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Help ‘Stuff the Bus’ in Tillsonburg 

The gauntlet has been flung down in Tillsonburg! Will you dare to pick it up?   Nay, ‘tis not a duel at twenty paces with dueling pistols,...

04.03.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Save the Ontario Science Centre 

Save the Science Centre? Our very own Premier Doug Ford would like to move it to Ontario Place, so the land it is on can be developed.   ...

26.02.2024 9

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Creating inspirational magic with music 

Music soothes the savage beast. It can be romantic, incredibly sad or irritating. It can be jumpy and joyous.   Poetry is much the same, making...

20.02.2024 30

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

We need to reduce our plastic footprint

Prince Edward Island, although our smallest province, once stood up for themselves to stop littering/trash and save jobs at the Pepsi bottle factory. ...

10.02.2024 7

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Pioneers helped shape Tillsonburg

The tall, prominent tombstone that today seemingly stands alone near the high edge of the Tillsonburg Pioneer Graveyard on the Simcoe Street hill was...

05.02.2024 9

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

It is time for some Nunsense

Theatre Tillsonburg’s presentation of Dan Goggin’s Nunsense will chase away your cares and winter blues. It all started started with a line of...

23.01.2024 5

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Are you still keeping your New Year’s resolutions?

Do you still feel the joy of Christmas? Have you ever read Keeping Christmas by Henry Van Dyke? What struck me most about this little missive,...

15.01.2024 5

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

You're going to love 42nd Street

The year is 1933, the First World War is over. By the mid to late 1920s, the Spanish Flu had died out and life and theatre were roaring… until the...

08.01.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Happy New Year!

Time to start 2024 on a fun track. Although Theatre Tillsonburg’s February musical Nunsense, Feb. 8-11 and 15-18, hasn’t gone on yet, there is...

02.01.2024 8

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Do you remember the 1950s and 60s?

A friend sent me one of those ‘remember when’ emails recently which I always enjoy. This one was for those who graduated from high school in the...

28.12.2023 10

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Have a happy, heathy holiday

Thanks to those who asked for more of Ron Turner’s poems at Christmas time. The first is Dad’s Christmas Wish from 1975, perhaps more...

18.12.2023 9

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

The past meets the present in Tillsonburg

November 25 was an auspicious day when the past met the present right here in Tillsonburg. It started in Enfield, Massachusetts, 241 years ago...

04.12.2023 6

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

This weekend is packed with holiday season festivities

If you are interested in Christmas concerts and events in Tillsonburg, I hope you are free this weekend! You are going to need sustenance to get...

27.11.2023 6

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

The search for Lola continues

I find it on my heart to write about Lola, although by the time you read this, I pray the terrible ordeal she and her family have gone through will be...

21.11.2023 8

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

It’s time to talk about climate change

Two topics this week. First, my apologies to St. Mary’s Church Tillsonburg, for mistaking your rummage sale in October as an early bazaar. St....

13.11.2023 10

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Nursing sisters from Tillsonburg served in WWI

Marguerite Sinclair was born in Tillsonburg in December, 1883, with a great pedigree. Her parents were Catherine Marilla Tillson and Dr. Lachlan...

07.11.2023 6

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

It’s bazaar season in Tillsonburg

Say the word bazaar and my brain goes to the Middle East with row of stalls, exotic silks, spices and food. Not quite the same in Canada! Our...

30.10.2023 8

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Theatre Tillsonburg season starts with The Last Romance

Theatre Tillsonburg’s 40th season, starting Nov. 2, will bring you comedies, romance, heart touching moments and a musical comedy! Buy season...

23.10.2023 5

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

The hard life of Tillsonburg pioneer Elizabeth Darrow

Who was Elizabeth Darrow, dead at 26 years, residing in our Tillsonburg Pioneer Graveyard? Amazingly, her history has been researched by the...

18.10.2023 7

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Tillsonburg BIA presents 'Halloweekend' spooky trail, haunted house

Even a man who is pure at heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon shines bright, wrote ...

16.10.2023 7

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

How many times have we averted our eyes?

A wonderful woman named Brenda rescued a baby squirrel she named Daniel. After many phone calls, she found me. A day or so later she got in touch...

03.10.2023 5

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Canada recognizes its British Home Children

The Parliament of Canada has designated Sept. 28 to honour the British Home Child (BHC). Not one, but over 100,000 British children were sent to...

25.09.2023 5

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Military historian to share War Horse experience

The Royal Canadian Legion 153 in Tillsonburg serves our military and RCMP members and families as well as our communities and country. What we know...

18.09.2023 7

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

Get into the ‘Swing of Things’

Are you looking for ABBA Tribute Night tickets on Nov. 4 at St. John’s Anglican Church in Tillsonburg? Please call the church office at...

11.09.2023 8

Sarnia Observer

Laurel Beechey

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