menu_open Columnists

Sarnia Observer

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Gilberts: The disaster staycation tour a suggested day trip in area

Gilberts: The disaster staycation tour a suggested day trip in area

On Easter Monday, Jim suggested that we take a drive and his suggested destination was a place we have been to a few times before.

10.04.2026 5

Sarnia Observer

Jim And Lisa Gilbert

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Topsoil and grass seed blend can repair damaged lawns

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Topsoil and grass seed blend can repair damaged lawns

Snow plough damage at the road. Grub damage. Mice or rodent trails. Fungus. A layer of leaves that smother the turf. Cavities caused by fallen limbs....

09.04.2026 7

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

Mabel writes about travels

Share this Story : The Sarnia Observer Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Mabel writes about travels In our world of electronic and...

09.04.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

For The Expositor

Library helps you get growing

Calling all green thumbs – spring has arrived, and gardening season is just around the corner.

09.04.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

For The Expositor

Opinion: Potholes trump policy as Norfolk taps surplus for road repairs

Opinion: Potholes trump policy as Norfolk taps surplus for road repairs
07.04.2026 10

Sarnia Observer

Mike Jiggens

Reduce, reuse, repurpose — and rethink what we throw away

Reduce, reuse, repurpose — and rethink what we throw away

Reduce, recycle, reuse.

07.04.2026 10

Sarnia Observer

Linda Dejonghe

Reflections: Armenian orphans settled in Perth County more than a century ago

06.04.2026 6

Sarnia Observer

Megan Lockhart

Gilberts: A great baseball story you’ve probably never heard of

03.04.2026 10

Sarnia Observer

Jim And Lisa Gilbert

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Why does grass turn brown?

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Why does grass turn brown?
03.04.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

Inside BCHS: The moments that matter, honouring volunteers

Inside BCHS: The moments that matter, honouring volunteers

At Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS), National Volunteer Week (April 19-25), is a time to recognize a group of individuals who help shape the...

03.04.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

For The Expositor

The Businesses of West Elgin: West Lorne Leaf

West Lorne Leaf is a recently opened (Dec. 8) business at 238 Graham Rd. in West Lorne, in the location occupied for many years by PJ’s Pizza.

02.04.2026 10

Sarnia Observer

Larry Schneider

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Why does grass turn brown?

Please don’t drive past my house and take notice of the grass. It looks awful.

02.04.2026 10

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

WESS school parent council quiz night raises nearly $7,000

How many bones are there in the human body? What is the longest river in Africa? What country has a thousand lakes? What TV show is this theme song...

02.04.2026 10

Sarnia Observer

Larry Schneider

A Scribe’s Musings: Shovels in the ground for new Rodney playground

Ahead of schedule, a crew of diggers arrived at the Rodney Park March 30, and began to fence off an area adjacent to the Rodney Pool.

02.04.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

Larry Schneider

Alec distressed over missing notebooks

In our world of electronic and digital communications, one wonders what evidence of our day-to-day lives will exist for our descendants in the next...

02.04.2026 10

Sarnia Observer

Brian Smiley

Start your own book club with help from the library

Getting together with friends to discuss a captivating book over a cup of your favourite beverage is one of life’s simple pleasures. Whether meeting...

02.04.2026 10

Sarnia Observer

For The Expositor

Food for Thought: From arts to agriculture, James Snyder saw big picture

In past columns, I've discussed people who helped guide me, not only as a person, but also in my agriculture career. James Snyder was one.

01.04.2026 10

Sarnia Observer

Kim Cooper

WALLACEBURG ARTS: Spring concert bringing over 30 musicians together

Over the past four years, a small idea born out of the pandemic has quietly grown into one of Wallaceburg’s most unique musical evenings.

01.04.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

Dan White

Little celebrations and long memories

A great‑granddaughter’s birthday and an unexpected reunion provide gentle reminders of what life offers when we simply show up.

31.03.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

Linda Dejonghe

Reflections: 1926 blizzards almost paralyzed Perth County

The newspapers of the day described the early-spring snowstorms as the worst in decades

30.03.2026 9

Sarnia Observer

Claire Drake

Gilberts: More Tupperville stories from Melba Simpson

Share this Story : The Sarnia Observer Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Gilberts: More Tupperville stories from Melba Simpson This...

27.03.2026 10

Sarnia Observer

Jim And Lisa Gilbert

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Your early spring garden checklist

Share this Story : The Sarnia Observer Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Your early spring garden checklist This...

27.03.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

Bodkin: Fundraisers for United Way of Sarnia-Lambton demonstrate power of community

A warm cup of coffee and a strong sense of community came together in a meaningful way last month for the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton.

27.03.2026 8

Sarnia Observer

Pamela Bodkin

Mahon: A question about red tape we don't ask

One might suspect we talk about red tape in the same way we talk about luck

26.03.2026 10

Sarnia Observer

Paul Mahon

Alec worries about Mabel's health

Share this Story : The Sarnia Observer Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Alec worries about Mabel's health In our world of...

26.03.2026 30

Sarnia Observer

For The Expositor

One eRead Canada returns this April with national book discussion

Book lovers across the country are invited to take part in a unique, coast-to-coast reading experience this April. The library is once again joining...

26.03.2026 30

Sarnia Observer

For The Expositor

Food for Thought: Farmland disappearing at alarming rate in Ontario

Share this Story : The Sarnia Observer Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Food for Thought: Farmland disappearing at alarming rate in...

25.03.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

Kim Cooper

WALLACEBURG ARTS: Concert band celebrating 10 years with greatest hits concerts

What do you celebrate?

25.03.2026 30

Sarnia Observer

Dave Babbitt

Opinion: Ford’s pepper-spray push raises safety concerns

Share this Story : The Sarnia Observer Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Opinion: Ford’s pepper-spray push raises safety concerns...

24.03.2026 40

Sarnia Observer

Mike Jiggens

Canadians make their mark at the Academy Awards

More than a few Canucks left the Dolby Theater with an Oscar statuette

24.03.2026 30

Sarnia Observer

Linda Dejonghe

Reflections: Easter weather 100 years ago was far from springlike

Perth County residents were still contending with snowstorms during their first days of spring

23.03.2026 30

Sarnia Observer

Betty Jo Belton

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Sycamores grow comfortably in different climates

20.03.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

Gilberts: A look at Melba Simpson’s Tupperville

20.03.2026 30

Sarnia Observer

Jim And Lisa Gilbert

Learning to speak to an AI

20.03.2026 30

Sarnia Observer

Tim Philp

Eric Bunnell's People: Choral Connection revives Mozart’s Requiem for April 3 performance

19.03.2026 30

Sarnia Observer

Eric Bunnell

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Sycamores grow comfortably in different climates

When our kids were kids, about 20 years ago, we exchanged homes with a family near Southampton, England, about two hours’ drive west of London.

19.03.2026 30

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

Library offers lifelong learning opportunities with Universal Class

The Brantford Public Library is opening doors to a world of knowledge and creativity with Universal Class, a comprehensive online learning platform...

19.03.2026 30

Sarnia Observer

For The Expositor

Melville looking for answers from Alec

In our world of electronic and digital communications, one wonders what evidence of our day-to-day lives will exist for our descendants in the next...

19.03.2026 40

Sarnia Observer

For The Expositor

Despite the weather, spring is on the way

After a harsh winter, Ontarians are ready for a season of renewal

17.03.2026 30

Sarnia Observer

Linda Dejonghe

Mahon: Cattle rations again pressured by human bandwagons

The lines of an illogical human universe are intersecting at the back end of the common cow.

16.03.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

Paul Mahon

Reflections: A glimpse of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations of 1926

Tea parties and drawing contests were some of the ways that Perth County residents observed the holiday

13.03.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

Cindy J. Sinko

Gilberts: This Dresden story deserves to be better known

The province created the Ontario Water Resources Commission, which began to regulate and provide financial help to develop things like water treatment...

13.03.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

Jim And Lisa Gilbert

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Greens of all kinds popular in spring

Like a kid in a candy store. The day we received the new seed racks, I scoured the selection, looking for what’s hot and what’s not.

13.03.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

John Degroot

The Silverpit structure

The North Sea is one of the most thoroughly mapped patches of seabed on the planet, a consequence of decades of intensive oil and gas exploration....

13.03.2026 30

Sarnia Observer

Tim Philp

Eric Bunnell's People: Still Standing in St. Thomas

The hit CBC show's St. Thomas episode will air this Tuesday

12.03.2026 20

Sarnia Observer

Eric Bunnell

Three cheers for Jayden King’s Ontario curling team

When the Olympics were on some were thrilled there was a constant variety of sports available to watch on TV.

12.03.2026 50

Sarnia Observer

Linda Dejonghe

Craft Month inspiration at the library

March is Craft Month and the library is inviting the community to get creative.

12.03.2026 40

Sarnia Observer

For The Expositor

Alec recovering from rash

In our world of electronic and digital communications, one wonders what evidence of our day-to-day lives will exist for our descendants in the next...

12.03.2026 40

Sarnia Observer

For The Expositor

Curlers, Family Feud contestants shine light on Norfolk, Tillsonburg

In only the past few weeks, Norfolk County has been placed firmly on the map, thanks to national television.

12.03.2026 60

Sarnia Observer

Mike Jiggens

Momentum building as plans for new hospital accelerate

After more than 15 years of planning, momentum is building for a new hospital that will transform how Brant Community Healthcare System cares for...

11.03.2026 40

Sarnia Observer

For The Expositor