The Aylmer Express

CREATIVE CHURCH SOLUTIONS DURING LOCKDOWN Churches in the Aylmer area are numerous and diverse in their beliefs and rites, though weekly communal worship at a church building was a common practice prior to the pandemic. Since March, most have adapted by in order to continue their ministry while abiding by government COVID-19 health and safety regulations. Current provincial rules state that virtual services are permitted; drive-in services, rites or ceremonies are permitted u...nder certain conditions; and indoor and outdoor events with a maximum of 10 people are permitted, as long as physical distancing can be maintained. (These rules will ease Feb. 16 when the region is to come out of lockdown and change to a "red zone", where indoor church service will be permitted at 30% capacity.) The Aylmer Express interviewed three local pastors to find out how they have been ministering to their congregations under current lockdown restrictions. While from different churches, these leaders demonstrate that all three groups are maintaining their faith communities by finding alternative and creative ways of gathering and communicating, through technology and meeting in smaller numbers. At Springfield Baptist Church, a pastor is in the church building at 11 a.m. each Sunday for anyone who would like to speak to them or spend time in prayer. If someone really needs to talk, they’re welcome to come in and connect, said Pastor John Twinem, adding about five people typically come in each week. The church has also been hosting a series of MicroChurch services, which allow for in-person service, while abiding by current lockdown restrictions by limiting the gathering to 10 people who register for a time slot in advance on the church website. These services include all the elements of a regular Springfield church service, including praise, prayer, and declaring the Word of God, but the small size also allows for discussion and engaging with helpful questions... Continue reading the full story: http://aylmerexpress.com//creative-church-solutions-durin/

The Southwestern Public Health region is expected to reopen under the "RED - CONTROL" Zone on Tuesday, February 16. Notable red zone rules include: -All events and social gatherings: Indoors: 5 people / Outside: 25 people -Religious, wedding and funeral services: Indoors: 30% capacity / Outdoors: 100 people... -Stores Capacity limits: supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies: 75% / all other retail: 50% -Restaurants, bars: Capacity limits: Indoors: 10 people total, 4 people per table, no live music, closed by 10 p.m. -Personal Care Services: most now allowed to operate (hair salons, barbershops, nail care), no personal care services that require the removal of face covering may be provided -Sports and recreational fitness facilities: Training only, no games / Indoors: 10 people in classes + 10 people in weights/equipment areas, Outside: 25 people in classes Full information on the red classification can be found on the provincial government website: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/zones-and-restrictions

Premier issues "stay at home" order Premier Doug Ford on Tuesday, Jan. 12, ordered all Ontarians to "stay at home" effective Thursday, Jan. 14. He said he has declared a new state of emergency for the province given the rapidly rising number of COVID-19 cases, the threat the health care system would be overwhelmed and an increasing number of deaths.... Ontarians should stay at home and only leave for essential trips, such as for work or to get groceries, he advised. Provincial offences officers, most of them municipal bylaw officers, would now be empowered to issue tickets for and disperse crowds at social and other events that exceeded pandemic limits. He called on employers to ensure that any employees who could work from home were doing so. Workplace inspections were to be stepped up to crack down on pandemic rule violations. More details in the Jan. 13 edition of The Aylmer Express.

March break postponed until April 12 The one-week "March break" for students in Ontario elementary and secondary schools won't be in March this year. Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced on Thursday, Feb. 11, that March break was being postponed until the week of April 12. "At this time it is critical that we continue to prioritize the health of staff, students and their families," he said, given that more virulent variants of COVID-19 were a potential risk for ...Ontario, and the spread of the virus among children had spiked during the Christmas holidays. ... http://aylmerexpress.com//march-break-postponed-until-apr/

Wow! 2020 was quite a year. Catch our year-end selection of highs, lows, standout letters, columns, photos and stories in the January 6 edition of the Express.

Carl and Judy Milmine embrace each other and the message of their Valentine’s Day displayLOVEoutside their South Street West home on Thursday, Feb. 4. The couple enjoys decorating their home for special occasions throughout the year. The Milmines have been married 51 years and have four children: two in Aylmer, one in Tillsonburg, and one in St. Thomas. (AE/Veronica Reiner)

Lockdown to end locally on Tuesday, Feb. 16 The Southwestern Public Health area and most other regions will come out of the current provincial COVID-19 lockdown on Tuesday, Feb. 16, Premier Doug Ford announced on Monday, Feb. 8. A few regions in Eastern Ontario will open sooner, and Toronto, York and Peel will have to wait until Monday, Feb. 22.... Today we’re seeing some sunlight break through the clouds, he said at a news conference. Daily cases numbers are down. Transmission rates are down. Less people are being hospitalized. He said that Ontario’s colour-coded pandemic restrictions would be eased somewhat, to allow non-essential businesses to remain open to customers even during a lockdown but at a reduced capacity of 25% for the number of persons inside at any given time. The decision to allow non-essential businesses to open at reduced capacity was an at-tempt to ease the financial strain on many Ontarians, many of whom had been left unemployed because of the pandemic. More in the Feb. 10 edition of the Aylmer Express.

At least two more weeks of online learning. Just four days in - how is it going for your family? Online learning will continue in southern Ontario for at least two more weeks, until Jan. 25, as announced this afternoon. (http://aylmerexpress.com//online-learning-only-for-elemen/)... Nichole Sproul shared a snapshot of the experience with her family, saying, "Here is the unrealistic reality of virtual learning. This is our week. Three kids in school, a 2 year old and two teachers. This isn’t going to be easy but we are all in this together. Thankful for some amazing teachers that are keeping our kiddos going." From left, are Lincoln, Easton, Nixon, Ryan and Kennedy. The kids attend Springfield Public School, while Ryan teaches at Glendale and Nichole at East Elgin.

Attorney General issues cease and desist order against Church of God The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General has issued a cease and desist letter naming any pastors, elders and directors of the Church of God on John Street North in Aylmer, town police announced on Thursday, Feb. 4. Deputy Chief Nick Novacich said the letter was served on church Pastor Henry Hildebrandt on Thursday morning.... The letter was an initiative of the ministry, and had not been requested by Aylmer Police, Deputy Chief Novacich stated. The letter, he continued, outlined that the church was in contravention of emergency orders made under the Re-Opening Ontario Act, Regulation 82/20. The letter requests that the Aylmer Church of God and anyone acting on its behalf immediately cease holding gatherings of more than 10 people, unless those gatherings are drive-in services only and comply with all other applicable provisions of Regulation 82/20. Section 9 of the Act permits the Crown to commence an application in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for a court order restraining Aylmer Church of God, and anyone acting on its behalf, from contravening Regulation 82/20. (Photo: AE/Brett Hueston)

Five more COVID-linked deaths in SWPH region

Talbot Street in Aylmer was transformed into a winter wonderland Boxing Day morning on Saturday, Dec. 26. John Morse snapped this photo on his daily stroll while heading to a farm belonging to his father-in-law, along with his dog Jacob. The snow arrived in the nick of time, allowing for a white Christmas. (AE/contributed by John Morse Photography)

Eighth death in area linked to COVID-19 Southwestern Public Health on Friday, Dec. 4, announced the eighth fatality in this region linked to COVID-19 after the death of a man in his 80s. The health unit released no other information about the man, but did state the Southwestern region, made up of Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford, had experienced one of its highest single-day increases in confirmed cases.... ... Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joyce Lock warned that the rising number of cases, if it continued, could move the Southwestern region from the current Orange-Restrict colour code to Red-Control, which would lead to tighter pandemic restrictions. She encouraged the public to follow the following three precautions to prevent that: Maintain physical distancing and wear a face mask in the workplace, especially in lunchrooms or while on break; Limit close contacts to members of your own household, which translates into being closer than two metres to someone for 15 minutes or more; And to stay home and seek testing if experiencing even one symptom that might be related to COVID-19. ... http://aylmerexpress.com//eighth-death-in-area-linked-to-/

TVDSB seeks public opinion on rural schools **Note: This post contains updated link from story on Page 1 of this week's print edition** The Rural Education Task Force of Thames Valley District School Board has opened an online thought exchange, seeking the opinions of residents on the needs of schools in the countryside.... Elgin St. Thomas Trustee Meagan Ruddock said that the question being posed was straightforward: What are the unique challenges and opportunities of our TVDSB rural schools, and how do you think we can enhance the rural school experience? In addition to responding to the question, which went online at www.tvdsb.ca/RETF on Monday, Nov. 30, the task force hopes that participants will check in once or twice over the next two weeks to review concerns and suggestions raised by others and rank them in order of priority.

What have you been up to on this snowy day - work or play? Share your snow day stories and photos with us.

Fundraising kicks off for Terrace Lodge Malahide Deputy Mayor Dominique Giguère on Tuesday, Dec. 1, kicked off the fundraising campaign to purchase amenities to improve the lives of Terrace Lodge long-term care home residents as part of a project to expand and renovate the home. A committee led by Deputy Mayor Giguère hopes to bring in $650,000 over three years. An online catalogue is available where donors can choose specific items to sponsor, ranging from a can of paint to an outdoor gazebo, at www.DonateToTerraceLodge.ca . (AE/Rob Perry)