I would like to send out my deepest sympathy to the family of Keith Racine who passed away on Feb. 25. Keith was a volunteer fire fighter and on Friday all his friends and fellow firefighters attended his funeral. He was paid much respect. You couldn’t find a parking spot anywhere in town.

I would like to also send out my condolences to friends and family of Blaine Strutt who passed away Feb. 27.

I was shocked to hear of the sudden death of Bonnie Lynn Desabrais Piché who passed away on March 2, in her 51st year. My deepest sympathy to her family and friends.

Animal Aide Pontiac is holding a new spring fundraiser. We are selling tickets on a garden cart filled with garden tools and supplies. Tickets can be purchased from me or any one of the other members. So please support this organization which helps spay and neuter cats and dogs to help control the pet population.

A few weeks ago, I went with Susan and Faye Belanger and Todd Hodgins on the bus trip to the casino at Rideau Carleton. We were picked up in Renfrew at 9 a.m. It cost $30 to get on the bus but when you got to the casino they give you back the $30 to play. The bus got there about 10:30 a.m. and it left about 3:30 p.m. We played a few games, had lunch and a few more games and then had an enjoyable trip back home.

What a great way to spend the day. I’m not positive but I think the bus goes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and it picks up people in Cobden, Renfrew, Arnprior and Ottawa. It’s a nice trip to do with a bunch of friends.

I would like to send out happy birthday wishes to Karen Quinn and Paul Haldeman on March 5, to Connie Belland, Wayne Corriveau and Shirley Pepin on March 6, to Jerry Pepin, Yannick Ladouceur and a special happy 70th to Linda Belland Lemaire on March 7, to Eric Bertrand on March 8, to Pat Kavanagh, Marie Pilon on March 9, to Fern Quinn on March 11 and to Serge Jolin and Carolyn Kluke on March 12.

It is time to change your smoke detector battery and clock batteries this weekend because it’s daylight savings time. We get to put our clocks ahead an hour and get even more daylight.

It is spring break this week for the Quebec children and it will be spring break next week for Ontario. I’m hoping to go down and visit my grandchildren depending on the weather.

So all the Irishman are getting geared up for St. Patrick’s Day and they’re in for a great time in Douglas, Ont. again this year. Of course there are many parties in and around the Pontiac. There are too many to mention but they are advertised in THE EQUITY. It seems like everybody likes to be Irish for at least one day.