​Purple Grove news

We wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

It's been a very interesting couple of weeks of stormy weather, but we do live in one of the biggest snowbelts in Ontario! So, as long as everyone gets home safely, we are very thankful! We are also grateful to those driving snowplows and our emergency services - police, fire and ambulance - as well as hydro maintenance crews, hospital staff and the people working at the grocery stores and other businesses in our communities! And thanks to our snowmobile friends who are running errands for folks!

We extend our sympathy to the families of Gordon Needham of Lucknow, Ron Durnin of Goderich, Beverley MacDonald of Teeswater, Muriel Lamont of Kincardine and many others who have lost loved ones recently. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families at this difficult time.

Get well wishes go out to those in our community recovering from surgery and getting over those flu bugs - hope you're better soon!

The Finnie family gathered at the home of Brandon, Sara and Lainey in Lake Huron Highlands to celebrate Christmas last weekend. They all headed home except for Julianna and Charlotte Smith of Wellesley who had their first “storm-stayed” experience at the farm, joined by Aunt Bonnie as well.

Congratulations to the winners of the Gingerbread House competition sponsored by the Ripley Agricultural Society! They sure look really good to eat too! Thanks to all who submitted their creations for the contest.

There have been some free skating dates, sponsored by local businesses and organizations, at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre. Hope you were able to exercise over the holidays.

Those surprise visits with neighbours and friends are sure welcome respite between storms! Glad to hear that family members are getting back home from their Christmas in the Bruce again too!

Happy Wedding Anniversary wishes to Kevin and Linda McKee and Jenn and Jeremiah Nawegabow!

And there have been a few folks celebrating birthdays: Irene Nicholson, Kendra VanHardeveld, Cierra and Sheyanne Collins, Barb Messenger, Bren de Leeuw, Ainslie Martyn, Jared Martin, Donna Elliott, Rachel Paige, Betty Elliott, Ann Collins, Wilma Sutton and "Larry" from the Coffee Bunch!