Starting a new year

I could not help but notice Saturday evening as we were fishing just north of my brothers cabin, that the sun is now setting by 8:30 in the evening. We had thought that we could get a full hour and half on the hump, but had to head back to the cabin after an hour fishing.
Fall is coming. The days are definitely getting shorter.
The summer is winding down. Our summer intern Elizabeth Heslop will file her final story in this week’s Times. She spent an evening last week out on skeet range of the Fort Frances Sportsman’s club property and when offered a shotgun, took it up and successfully knocked clay pigeons out of the air.
According to skeet enthusiast, Ted Brockie, she did more than just adequately shoot for a first timer. She has been invited back out this week before she heads west back to school.
Our other young intern who has spent three summers with us, Mallory Donaldson will head back to Lakehead for her final semesters before graduation.
The lazy days of August give way to the urgency of September as we change our lives and our worlds speed up with the start of the school year.
We have had several first riders come into the office with their mothers all excited about boarding the bus to go to school. I don’t know if going to school or the bus ride is more exciting for them. I know that moms are excited to having school start again.
Students will begin trickling into the high school to pick up their timetables.
In homes across the Rainy River district, parents of students heading off to colleges and universities are going over their children’s clothes, stereos, computers, microwaves etc making sure that they are prepared for any eventuality come this fall.
Those who have been away for a year, won’t have as many decisions to make.
But first time students have a lot to think about. By now most will have some idea who their room mates will be. And in discussions, they will be making decisions about who is bringing the fridge, who the toaster, who the microwave. And the nervousness they felt going into high school will be felt again as they head on to campuses and have to learn their way around the school.
And while students are heading back to school, I have noticed that my calendar is filling up with notices of meetings as the summer meeting recess ends the day after Labour Day.
I notice that the Recreator put out by the Fort Frances Sportsplex has sign up schedules for all sorts of recreation groups. Parents whose wallets are not emptied with back to school shopping will see their bank accounts plundered for Minor Hockey, Swimming, Figure Skating, Dance and the list goes on.
The new year is upon us. We just don’t celebrate September 1 as New Year’s Day.

–Jim Cumming,
Publisher