Latest news with #Margie
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Yay for T-Bay!
Peering out our Thunder Bay waterfront hotel window, I exclaimed, 'There's a big guy sleeping out here! No. Maybe he's dead!' Margie rushed to see, imploring 'Where?' I pointed to Lake Superior's famous landform — The Sleeping Giant. photos by Gord Mackintosh / Free Press Even perfect sunrises don't awaken the Sleeping Giant. 'I fell for that!?' she growled. We drove from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay this April. After many kilometres of moose pasture east of Dryden — we counted 22 moose 'Night Danger' signs — the Nor'Wester Mountains rise ahead. The flat-topped range impresses with myriad shapes and sheer cliffs. To Prairie drivers, it's the Rockies in half the time. Kakabeka Falls then stuns. To Prairie drivers, it's Niagara Falls in one-third the time. Upstream spruce bogs infuse its roaring golden waters. In April, enjoy the bonus of ice-packed canyon walls — and no park fees. After May 9, walk in backwards. Wait — that might not go well here. Thunder Bay's Current River rushes violently. To witness kilometre-long rapids, carefully follow Cascades Conservation Area's Yellow Trail. You've wrongly meandered onto the Green Trail if the rapids' rumbling becomes fainter — duh, Gord. Downstream, Trowbridge Falls surges. Unlike mid-July camping memories of lazing in these rapids, spring runoff would sweep me and my koozie down to Boulevard Lake's beach. Below Boulevard's dam, glittering cascades enthrall. Folks fish from urban rivers. Off Central Avenue, I asked a fisher casting in the McIntyre River, 'Whatcha fishin' for? Old rubbers?' The surprising reply: 'Steelhead trout.' I told Margie, 'They fish those with magnets.' Golden waters roar at Kakabeka Falls. Thunder Bay lies on the world's biggest freshwater lake. Despite grand vistas with spectacular sunrises, Superior's lakefront has been crowded with trains, grain elevators and industry. Even the ol' Sea-Vue Motel backs onto Maki's Diesel Repair. But now behold lakeside marinas, walkways, public art. A waterfront art gallery opens soon. Moreover, the new eight-storey Delta hopefully signals the arrival of modern, full-service, shoreline hotels. Room numbers ending in 01, 02 or 04 offer 'Superior' views. Drive east to reflect at the Terry Fox Monument and vista. Westward, pay $10 for the drive-up view from Mount McKay. The Best Western Nor'Wester provides mountain views from even-numbered suites. Better yet, dine with a panorama at The Neebing Roadhouse. The McIntyre River brings steelhead trout into the city. Try yummy Neebing Firebombs. Then cruise into the mountain-framed Slate River Valley for Thunder Oak Cheese Farm curds. Exclaim, 'No whey!' Thunder Bay offers three unusual regional dishes: Finnish pancakes, Coney burgers and Persians. Among Finn pancake eateries, we chose, yes, Kangas Sauna. With 18 sauna rooms for rent, the restaurant section attracts chatty folks, including a snoopy couple arguing about what's best: pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream, or with syrup and bacon. But it's not as if we were yelling. Our friendly server delivered a pun, likely unwittingly. Seeing my almost-devoured layer of four crepe-like pancakes, she asked, 'You gonna Finnish it some more?' Coney burgers mean toppings of meat chili, mustard and onions. Among several joints, we adored these darlings at Westfort's Coney Island and the misnamed McKellar Confectionery. There, gregarious owner George Kelos reminded me that meat chili burgers migrated from this city to Winnipeg where, with more toppings added by the Scouras brothers, Manitoba's iconic Fat Boy emerged. Persians are fried dough with subtly baked-in cinnamon covered in pink frosting. At Holland Bakery, a fellow seeking Persians at 10:30 a.m. was told, 'Sold out!' He replied, 'Ya gotta be quick with Persians!' At The Persian Man, I asked owner Danny Nucci, 'What's your frosting recipe? Raspberry or strawberry and what?' Danny merrily replied, 'If I tell you, I have to kill you.' I said, 'See ya!' A pal later deduced, 'It tastes pinky.' Mount McKay, or Animiki-wajiw (Thunder Mountain), looms over Thunder Bay. I joyously devoured The Sweet North Bakery's Persian frosting-stuffed cruffin (a croissant-muffin mix), licked Merla Mae's Persian ice cream, and sipped Dawson Trail Brewery's Persian-inspired ale. Seeing Sleeping Giant Brewing's huge beer bottle display, I asked, 'How many bottles of beer on the wall?' Staff wisecracked, 'No idea. You might wanna count 'em!' We couldn't spare the afternoon, but thankfully bought its Beaver Duck Session IPA. A beaver duck is a beaver donning a duck hat with handy straps. Thunder Bay delivers more bewilderment. Many street names change while you're driving — one eight times. Winnipeg Avenue boasts four separate sections. And at several major crossroads, street name signs are missing. That's when Margie asked, 'What's this 'Map' function on our dashboard?' The Holiday Inn Motel is unrelated to the lodging chain. Don't expect nips at The Sal. Plus, Thunder Bay 'nips' are gravy-covered burgers. 'Socials' are 'shags.' 'Backpacks' are 'pack sacks.' 'Cottages' are 'camps.' For shopping, local vendors cram Country Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Goods and Co. from Wednesday to Sunday. And Fort William First Nation sells gas up to 27 cents a litre cheaper. K&A Variety has 32 pumps! Inside, cashiers bark out pump numbers. Yell, 'Bingo!' To get there, navigate the super-skinny James Street Swing Bridge. Margie almost touched its sides. This must be a dream for local auto shops. Hey — should they have names like Half-Way Motors? Mid City Collision? Gore Motors? GORD MACKINTOSH / FREE PRESS Likely a half-hour's supply of Persians at The Persian Man. And then there's Dusty's Car Care. As for the Sleeping Giant, Delta staff assured, 'Someday, maybe he'll wake up!' Don't miss it. gordmackintosh9@
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Some Zeeland neighbors want to block Mead Johnson expansion
ZEELAND, Mich. (WOOD) — While some property owners have gotten more than $1 million from Mead Johnson for land that the company needs to expand on East Main Street, Margie and Earl Klein aren't selling. Some neighbors say they hope the holdouts will help block the expansion, which they fear will destroy their neighborhood. The Kleins have lived since 1973 in their home about 150 yards west of the baby formula plant — at the heart of the company's controversial expansion plans. They raised two kids there. Her parents lived there in the 1920s. 'We still walk on the hardwood floors that my parents did,' Margie Klein said on Friday. In January, she answered a knock on her door. It was a stranger from Mead Johnson. 'He sat down on our couch and said, 'We want your property.' 'Really?' 'And all of this on both sides of you, and we want everything on Washington Avenue, also,'' she recalled. Mead Johnson, now owned by a United Kingdom-based company, says it needs to modernize. Its $836 million plan calls for an expansion that would mean leveling several homes on the north side of East Main Street, including the Kleins'. The company, which makes Enfamil, released renderings at a meeting this week. The plan requires the city to rezone some of the land from residential to industrial. A hearing is scheduled before the city's Planning Commission Thursday. The company is the third-biggest taxpayer in Zeeland and employs 500 people. 'Mead Johnson Nutrition takes pride in our deep roots in the Zeeland community where we have been producing some of the nation's most trusted baby formula products for more than 100 years,' the company said in a statement released on Friday. 'This investment in modernizing our operations in Zeeland reflects our commitment to sustained job creation and economic growth here in our local community, while also ensuring we maintain industry-leading quality standards and remain a trusted partner in pediatric nutrition.' 'Mead Johnson is important to the community, we want to keep them here,' City Manager Timothy Klunder said. 'We certainly don't want to see a desire where they would have to leave, but we also want then to do it in the right way.' Neighbors have planted signs and launched a website in opposition. Already, the company has bought out most of the Kleins' closest neighbors: One said he sold his home for $600,000 and must be out by July 31. Property records show the company paid $1.5 million for a house and barn a few doors away with an assessed value of less than $300,000. Two properties around the corner went for a combined $3.7 million — about 10 times their assessed value. The Kleins won't say exactly how much Mead Johnson has offered. It's somewhere between $500,000 and $1 million. 'We love our place, but we don't want to sell to Mead Johnson because they are pushy and demanding,' Klein said. Asked if she was holding out for more money, she responded: 'Oh heavens, no.' 'This has nothing to do with the money,' she continued. 'It's the whole principle of the thing. We have lived here for decades. We are so involved in the city of Zeeland, chamber of commerce back in the day. We love this town.' Jonathan Funckes lives on the south side of East Main Street. His home would face the expanded factory. 'I'll be looking at Industrial 2 (zoning),' he said. 'When we bought this, this was all residential.' When Funckes moved in 16 years ago, he said, the neighborhood was mostly rentals, some marred by graffiti. 'We've all in the last dozen years really improved it and brought the neighborhood up and are doing things to improve and make it look better, only to have the city just destroy our property values,' he said. Some neighbors said they fear city leaders have already decided. 'Why would you purchase these (properties) way above tax-assessed values if you didn't have some sort of promise?' Sue VandenBeldt, who lives a few doors away. 'My concern is that the city has sold our neighborhood out. I think my big concern is that we've lost trust in our officials we elected.' As for Jonathan Funckes, 'We're going to be fighting it, but at this point I'm preparing to sell, because I've had enough.' Perhaps, he said, the best hope is the Kleins not selling. 'That's the only saving grace at this point,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion: What Democrats Think When They Think of the ‘Democratic Party'
I am a big believer in word associations. As in, when I say 'Chick-Fil-A,' what one word comes to mind? For me it's 'delicious.' Or 'consistent.' Or 'polite.' All of those words are positive, which is why, I suspect, Chick-Fil-A is the most successful fast-food chain in the country. This works in politics, too. After all, the two major political parties are, effectively, brands. How people feel about them is critically important to whether they are willing to vote for their candidates. Which brings me to new polling by the Republican firm Echelon Insights for the newsletter site Puck. Echelon asked people to choose a single word that came to mind when they said 'the Democratic party.' The results are fascinating—and depressing if you are a Democrat. In the word cloud of one-word answers from the overall electorate, the three most commonly mentioned words were 'Liberal,' 'weak,' and 'corrupt.' Not good! But even more troubling for Democrats is the word cloud addressing what self-identified Democrats said about their own side of the aisle. The most common word? 'Weak.' That is brutal. And there's more. On Thursday, the Associated Press released a new national poll. In it, just one in three Democrats said they felt 'very' or even 'somewhat' optimistic about the party's future. Compare that to a July 2024 AP poll when six in ten Democrats were 'very' or 'somewhat' optimistic. And to the 55 percent of Republicans who currently feel 'very' or 'somewhat' optimistic about the future of the GOP. On a daily basis, I read stuff from all over the internet that ponders this basic question: Do Democrats needs a more liberal or a more conservative nominee to win the White House back in 2028? But when sifting through these numbers, I kept thinking of my recent conversation with Democratic pollster Margie Omero, in which she said Democrats want—and need—a fighter. That it doesn't matter if that person was a liberal or a moderate, but that they were willing to fight for the values and the people they represented. I think these numbers—and these word clouds—prove Margie right.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
The little-known Aussie paradise where it's only safe to stay for one hour
An isolated chain of islands off the Western Australian coast with incredible snorkelling, diving and fishing is touted by the state's tourism department as one of its 'best kept secrets'. And while many Aussies have never heard of the Montebello Islands, those that are familiar with them may be hesitant to visit due to the islands' explosive history — and we mean that quite literally. The little-known destination is made up of more than 170 islands spanning across 58,000 hectares, and was the site of three nuclear weapons tests by the British military in the 1950s. One of the tests, named Mosaic G2, was the largest nuclear explosion ever recorded in Australia with contamination found as far as Rockhampton in Queensland. On some islands, visitors are recommended to limit their stay to no more than one hour due to radiation still being present. The remnants of buildings, cars and bunkers remain, but tourists are advised not to remove any relics and to avoid kicking up soil or dust which may contain radioactive particles. Initially, Margie Dizon was 'scared' to visit the islands after reading about their nuclear past. The psychologist from Darwin and her partner Ricky Harris love to explore Australia, and visit the Kimberley every year. Last year, when someone recommended the pair visit the Montebello Islands, Margie said she was immediately sceptical about visiting the 'nuclear wasteland'. 'The Montebello Islands were admittedly a scary thing for us, because they were the site of those nuclear tests. And we're not talking about just the one test, they did three,' Margie told Yahoo News. 'How do I know what islands are safe, which are not safe and so forth? It was really hard, actually, selling the idea to myself.' But after months of careful planning and gentle persuasion from Ricky, the pair set out on their boat with $3,500 worth of fuel and made the three-hour trip out to the islands — where everything soon changed for Margie. Margie and Ricky spent hours everyday exploring new islands, snorkelling, fishing and diving. They would eat fresh seafood straight from the ocean, including fish, crayfish and squid, and sleep on their boat every night. The pair documented the journey on their YouTube channel. 'I didn't think I would say it, but I'm in love with it,' Margie laughed. 'What changed it for me was the marine life. In the end, Ricky and I almost stopped fishing. We would just catch one fish to have for dinner, but the rest of the time we didn't want to fish anymore because it was just so beautiful. 'It was just teeming with life and big fish. You can choose to spear, or you can just watch. We chose to just watch. It was amazing.' They even visited 'ground zero', the islands where two of the detonations occurred in 1956. Margie said she only stayed on the island a matter of minutes but Ricky got a little closer to a plaque that signals where the bomb was detonated. The first weapon to be tested in the Montebello Islands was an atomic bomb that was detonated in 1952 on a Navy ship moored near Trimouille Island. The other explosions took place on Trimouille Island and Alpha Island, both in 1956. After spending eight days at the Montebello Islands, Margie and Ricky were sold — it had quickly won their hearts to become one of their favourite destinations in Australia. After their first trip last year, the couple soon headed back to stay for another month. Then earlier this year, they returned again for another eight days. 'Montebello Islands changed my life,' she said, adding she used to be terrified of diving and would have panic attacks under the water. 'Now I dive every possible chance I get. And I'm a psychologist, I treat people with phobias. For so long, I couldn't treat myself until I just let go. 'It was so beautiful, you cannot focus on anything else. I think with this particular place, you just switch off and there's nothing but you and fish and marine life in front of you — Oh! and a radioactive island!' Even 73 years after the first weapons test, elevated radiation levels are still present on the islands. Madison Williams-Hoffman, PhD candidate in environmental radioactivity at Edith Cowan University, has studied radionuclides (isotopes that give off radiation) in the Montebello Islands for the past six years. She told Yahoo News they will remain in the area 'for a very long time'. 'There are still areas that have higher radiation levels than others, so in the areas where those levels are highest it is recommended that you limit the amount of time you spend there,' she said. 'It's similar to when the UV index is very high, you are recommended to protect yourself and one way you can do that is to limit the amount of time you spend in the sun to protect you from the UV radiation.' Williams-Hoffman said other studies have found that radionuclides are even present in the fish around the islands, although the levels are 'very low' and don't pose a threat to people who have eaten them. She implored all visitors to respect the guidelines in place on the islands, including following the one-hour time limits and leaving the soil and relics undisturbed. "There really aren't that many (rules) — they wouldn't impact your trip there otherwise, and they're not hard to follow,' she said. For those with more questions about radiation, Williams-Hoffman recommends ARPANSA's Talk to a Scientist team. 'A real scientist will get your questions and will be able to give you an answer or point you to where you need to go. It's a fantastic program. 'Radiation science can be complicated, so I'd just recommend getting your facts from the experts rather than TikTok or YouTube personalities.' For more information about the Montebello Islands, including a map of the elevated radiation areas, check out the visitor guide here. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Winnipeg Free Press
03-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tails of exploration
Preparing to travel, I opened my luggage and swivelled for pyjamas. Turning back, the suitcase was packed — with Pirate, our Jack Russell Terrier. When taking out the luggage, Pirate stormed the door, the gate and, at the vehicle, just couldn't resist repeatedly bouncing up off the ground — boing-de-boing-de-boing. Whether they're born travellers or just stalking food-providers, eager mutts like Pirate exhilarate road trips. I offer some tales and tips. As a frenzied life force, Pirate increasingly insisted he serve as our co-pilot. Attentively perched on the vehicle's console, he nonetheless proved unreliable. Turn-signal clicks, changes to speed and road surface or roadside dogs and cats deranged him and he filled the car with himself. White hairs fused to our clothes so folks across the street could see we were dog people. Ensure those handy lint rollers are in handy places. Margaret Mackintosh / Free Press Gord Mackintosh and his trusted co-pilot Pirate cruise along a calm stretch of Highway 2 in southwestern Manitoba. We learned that Pirate's quiet stares meant quick stops. And we learned to put poo bags in cup holders, purses, pouches and pockets. Likewise, any empty bags. Tim Hortons' drive-thru lanes triggered Pirate's jitters, heightened after Steinbach's dog-loving servers handed him a free Timbit. It vanished in one gulp. He then thrust his nose into my face for my Timbit. And with that nose, Pirate regularly smeared vehicle windows with translucent swirls and swoops — relaying encoded messages to the aliens who sent him here. Left alone, Pirate often activated the four-way flashers. He once endlessly laid on the horn waiting outside a pet-food store, but considering his anticipation, we understood. And one afternoon we momentarily left him in the car with Bulk Barn jujubes Margie tied into a plastic bag, and then into another plastic bag. But Pirate chewed the plastic and gobbled each jujube (maybe 40) — and even the black ones, to really upset Margie. He was fine though, at least better than when he swallowed a darning needle, confirmed by X-rays, that he managed to poop out embedded in an earplug. Before a family road trip, I finished up a watermelon by generously feeding it to Pirate. With five in the vehicle, a dastardly smell later engulfed us. Seeing no emitters across the horizon, we blamed each other. No one confessed. (I never do.) The stench returned. Despite Pirate's ploy to appear innocent, I heard repeatedly from the kids, 'Ooohh, Pirate!' We deduced: excessive watermelon. I filled the car with gas, alright. Yes, we were the ones, swerving and shrieking with windows jolting up and down, heads intermittently poking out. Gord Mackintosh / Free Press It was Pirate versus the Red Baron at Arnes. Service animals aside, hotels post wildly varying canine policies. These require scrutiny. We once saw a sign saying, 'Pet free.' Margie exclaimed, 'Pets are free!' Another confusing sign for road-weary passing travellers, like me said, 'No pet fee.' Some pet-friendly hotels offer dog beds and treats, but allow only small dogs or just one pooch. Most require damage deposits from around $10, daily. We found a hotel charging $75 per stay up to seven days and a $250 'undisclosed pet fee.' Charging for hiding pets is not uncommon though. Front-desk staff must have stories, like hearing 'No, this is our son in the stroller. Needs a shave, eh? Droolie, leave your hat on!' Hotel policies may stipulate you are not allowed to leave dogs unattended. This restricts your freedom to roam when dogs can't remain in a vehicle on hot days or when the hotel pool beckons. Some hotels let dogs be left in a guest room only if kennelled. Housekeepers must have stories too, like 'I… I opened their door and, oh, it was awful — awful! Out of nowhere it sprung! I need another duster, eyeglass lens, fresh underwear.' When leaving rooms without Pirate, we diverted his attention by tossing treats. He apparently behaved. We found him napping on familiar scent — even a lone sock — or curled up in a suitcase. But Carman's Blue Crescent Hotel called us to say that Pirate was barking. We swiftly returned. Some of the treats we tossed him had rolled under low furniture. Borderline animal cruelty. Gord Mackintosh / Free Press Pirate enjoys a very stable canoe trip at Bakers Narrows. Some stores allow leashed dogs. Among them, many require they be carried. Restaurants increasingly offer pooch-friendly patios. Beausejour's Airliner Drive In offers a dog menu including The Hellcat which features bite-sized morsels of beef or chicken. And dog-friendly pubs are also becoming common. We discovered taprooms where quiet dogs peacefully mingle with growlers. Sightseeing with canines guarantees folks will chat you. That's lovely if you enjoy endless narratives about someone else's dog (and you do if you've read this far). Plus, energetic dogs compel you to exercise while hoofing it to unfamiliar places, like when we frantically pursued Pirate and his red leash as he chased a rabbit across a busy road into the bushes. Some dogs don't mix well with water. Pirate anxiously avoided lakes, but when family members swam, he leapt into action to 'save' them. When canoeing, he thankfully stood motionless. However, in a motorboat, Pirate whined with a strange sound — something like 'Don't wanna. Don't wanna.' After treats, he joined Canada's fishing community. Vacations mean ice cream. Shops might offer doggie delights — for free — and once the server is out of sight, you can enjoy the whole delicious scoop and Milk-Bone for yourself. Kidding! I don't care for Milk-Bones. The only thing that could take Pirate's place would be a monkey and a standup comedian. RIP, beloved co-pilot. Gord Mackintosh / Free Press Pinawa's Ice Cream Shop proves dogs know their ice cream. gordmackintosh9@ Margaret Mackintosh / Free Press Pirate surveys the hills… or is there a squirrel out there? Gord Mackintosh / Free Press Pirate enjoys a dog-day afternoon at Nestor Falls.
