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Karen Robinet

Karen Robinet

Sarnia Observer

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ROBINET: Keep calm and comedy on

10.12.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Diplomacy, not slogans, needed

People on both sides of the Canada/U.S. border now have one more thing in common: We’re all going to be feeling the pain of a second Donald Trump...

03.12.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: FOI doc cause for concern

If the proposed community hub in the former Sears building moves forward, parking is going to be an issue.   According to the official Agreement...

26.11.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: It’s that time of year

Well, here we are. Almost at the end of November already, and that can mean only one thing.   It’s Christmas bazaar time!   Like many...

19.11.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Council needs to ‘mind the gap’

The financial picture in Chatham-Kent seems to be getting more bleak by the hour at the moment, and if we’re not careful we’re going to be in very...

12.11.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Tackling the encampments issue

Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff is one of 13 Ontario mayors asking Premier Doug Ford to provide municipalities with the authority to clear homeless...

05.11.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: In the words of the people

Honestly, the last thing I thought I was going to write about this week was the proposed community hub for downtown Chatham.   But, since I...

29.10.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: One taxpayer, one pocket

As if everything else that we as residents of Chatham-Kent are dealing with isn’t enough, we recently received a fiscal bomb shell with news that...

22.10.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: The great pumpkin experiment

So, there I was a few weeks ago, hand on a tin of pumpkin puree, trying to justify buying it at the “sale” price of $5.99, and in the end I just...

18.10.2024 4

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Council to ‘allow’ public to speak

Well, it looks like Chatham-Kent council members are starting to feel the weight of public pressure in regard to the proposed downtown community hub....

08.10.2024 5

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Adventures in the west

Three adults, one seven-and-a-half-year-old, nine days, eight different hotels and a 4,000 km drive… what could go wrong?!   Actually, the trip...

01.10.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: The horrors, the backyard horrors

On a recent Wednesday morning in advance of writing an advance column, I ventured outside to do a couple of menial backyard tasks before sitting down...

24.09.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Can we blame COVID for housing project stalling?

I was surprised and disheartened recently to read that Chatham-Kent has pulled the plug on an affordable housing project that would have added 27...

18.09.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Much ado about the to-do!

Well, boys and girls, it’s that time of year when yours truly typically pens (or in this case keyboards) an ode to the summer that was with that...

05.09.2024 8

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Planes, strains and automobiles

After not seeing her for a couple of years, plans were made to fly my about-to-enter-high-school great-niece Aaliyah to Chatham for a weeklong visit....

27.08.2024 9

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Is CK property rich and housing poor?

If there’s one thing that everyone in Chatham-Kent might be able to agree on, it’s that we have a real need for affordable housing, as well as...

21.08.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: 65 years ago in C-K

Many moons ago, I bought an old wooden, canvas-covered trunk.   At $20, it was a big-ticket yard sale purchase, which I justified as it would...

07.08.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: No, really, just no

Way back in 2007, the Chatham Capitol Theatre restoration project was ongoing.   At that time, it was estimated the initiative, which would...

30.07.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: The news cup overfloweth

As I sit down to write this column on a recent Sunday morning, it’s on the heels of one of the most fraught news cycles in recent memory.   The...

17.07.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Frustration is in the air!

Such is the state of Canadian airlines that last week as I pointed the ol’ family roadster in the direction of Toronto to pick up No. 1 son from...

09.07.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: ‘Kids are not OK’

The birth of a baby should be the most joyous of occasions which, in a perfect world, would herald the beginning of a life filled with love, comfort...

02.07.2024 9

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Brightenview a cautionary tale

Is it just me or are we all finding it more than a bit bizarre and a lot alarming that we now know an unspecified number of Canadian Members of...

20.06.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: New generational battle heating up

I was recently taking a gander at the CBC website (well, technically I was on my phone and it was the app), and I saw a headline that immediately...

11.06.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Let the flags fly high

After some discussion, Chatham-Kent now has a policy in place to help deal with flag raising requests from local groups and organizations.   The...

05.06.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: All the feels at the Falls

To quickly recap for those who may have missed last week’s missive, yours truly and my sister Roseanne recently found ourselves in Niagara Falls...

28.05.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Fun, family and Falls

On a recent Tuesday, I hopped into my sister’s minivan, which believe me, feels nothing like “mini” when you’re used to driving a much smaller...

21.05.2024 30

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Is it Monday yet?!

Well, boys and girls, after a busy, jam-packed weekend, I have to confess I’m almost ready for it to be back-to-work Monday already (not quite, but...

14.05.2024 50

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Living big in a skinny world

I must say I was surprised, and gratified to read that Chatham-Kent’s acing medical officer of health has dared to raise the subject and the stigma...

07.05.2024 30

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Mummy’s little deductible

Some time ago, I did a stint at a company then known as Minacs in Chatham.   It was a call centre that dealt strictly with Chrysler products.   ...

30.04.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Bit of a DCC ‘hubdate’

On a recent Sunday morning as I stared at my blank computer screen pondering what to write about, I decided to seek inspiration within the pages of...

22.04.2024 30

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: I can stop whenever I want!

Apparently, when I find a new hobby, I throw myself completely into it.   Since it’s been such a long time since I started doing something new,...

15.04.2024 20

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Dear Red Cross, listen up

Over the years, we’ve donated to the Canadian Red Cross on occasion.   It’s not a regular occurrence by far, but apparently once you’re on...

08.04.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Two shopping extremes, one budget

My sister Roseanne and I headed for the bright lights of the big city of Toronto over the Easter weekend; a rare event indeed!   Not only were we...

02.04.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: You go girls!

The May Court Club of Chatham recently recognized half a dozen women who have made significant contributions to our community.   They are:...

26.03.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Food insecurity a major issue in C-K

There’s no shortage of irony in food-related news coming out of the municipality these days.   Sadly, but not surprisingly, the public health...

19.03.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Not in our backyard, please

The owners of York1 must be feeling pretty confident that their bid to reopen and expand the former Dresden landfill site will be approved by the...

11.03.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: The whirlwind continues

A quick recap for those who may have missed last week’s offering:   Friend Marg and I headed south recently. First stop: St. Louis for a...

04.03.2024 6

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: A whirlwind of a road trip

As of this Sunday evening writing, I’m sitting in a room at the Historic Boone Tavern in Berea, Ky.    It’s the last leg of a two-week...

26.02.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: More transparency needed from SSOs

The envelope containing a reminder that it was now time to book my next mammogram sat on my desk for a good few weeks before I decided to suck it up...

09.02.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Kicking it old school in 21st century kitchen

Like most of us these days, I absolutely hate the idea of wasting food.    And so, earlier this week I was confronted with the unfortunate fact...

29.01.2024 8

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: Supportive cabin proposal step in right direction

While it may have been overshadowed by another matter, a move by Chatham-Kent council to undertake a new initiative to address homelessness is a step...

23.01.2024 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: The Imagine Chatham-Kent saga continues

Well, if all goes to plan, we the taxpayers of Chatham-Kent will soon be the owners of the old Sears building and loading dock in the Downtown Chatham...

16.01.2024 20

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: My friend Leonard

11.01.2024 30

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: And that was 2023

With just a few more days left to enjoy/experience the remains of 2023, it’s that time of year where we typically take a quick review of the year...

20.12.2023 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: A star and a baby

At this time of year, the thoughts of Christians around the world are centred on the birth of one baby.   His parents, Mary and Joseph travelled...

12.12.2023 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

ROBINET: A few answers to the many questions

In a recent column, I outlined some of my concerns regarding the proposal to move municipal operations out of the current Civic Centre and into the...

05.12.2023 10

Sarnia Observer

Karen Robinet

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