The people of Huntsville’s community topped 2016 stories

Huntsville residents are avid community supporters and we published plenty of stories about people doing good or doing interesting things around town. Here’s what caught your eye the most:

Carol Corry put her knitting skills to good use to help keep local people warm

Carol Corry just wanted people to be warm last winter, so she took her overflowing stash of wool and put it to good use, knitting more than 40 scarves that she left outside the Algonquin Theatre for anyone to take if they were feeling the cold: Local woman knit a bevy of scarves to keep strangers warm. It was an extension of the good works she already does as a volunteer for Muskoka Landing, The Table Soup Kitchen, and Hospice Huntsville to name a few. She and a group of women from All Saints’ Anglican Church also make lap quilts for residents at local nursing homes and patients at Huntsville Hospital’s chemotherapy clinic.

“I’m not one to just sit,” said Corry, who made the scarves over the previous winter. “I had all this wool and I thought it would be a good idea to do something so people could be warm.”

Mother Nature, perhaps miffed at the man-made success of Arrowhead’s Ice Trail, turned Huntsville into one giant skating trail at the end of February. A Doppler reader submitted this photo of Doug Hogue skating down the road to a neighbour’s house to carpool to work.

Doug Hogue skates to work on February 29, 2016

Back in November 2015, the Huntsville community was devastated when news broke that beloved resident Ray Porter had suffered a stroke, which left him unable to speak and in a wheelchair for several months. By May, he’d come a long way, making strides in his recovery thanks to his determination to be his old self again: At long last Ray Porter is home and continuing on the road to recovery. Ray played the role of Santa in Huntsville’s annual Santa Claus Parade for decades and Huntsville was thrilled to see him this year as the parade marshal:

Earlier this month, Dino and Bessie Georgas, owners of Family Place Restaurant and Pizza, offered up a free lunch to the local community in exchange for donations to the Salvation Army. Attendees were treated to a buffet of the restaurant’s specialties: Greek and Caesar salads, souvlaki, roast beef and Bessie’s delectable homemade baklava. They raised more than $4000 in the process. Annual Family Place Christmas luncheon raises thousands for Salvation Army.

“We had a nice turnout – some regulars and some new faces,” says Bessie. “We are happy that the people came to support (the Salvation Army).”

Ken Moser has loved every minute of his retail career, but, at 75, says it’s time to move on

When Ken Moser said farewell to “a great career” as the owner of Huntsville’s Canadian Tire store so that he and his wife Gail could see their kids and grandkids more often and spend time doing the things they lover to do, Huntsville wouldn’t let him go without many well wishes and kind words that demonstrated the kind of man he is. Former employee Gayle Spears had this to say about her once boss:

“Just like to take a minute to thank Ken and Gail Moser for being more than a great boss. I started at CTC in September 1988 and have had the pleasure of managing several different departments then running promotions for him. I can say without hesitation that it was the best job I ever had!! Sure he kept us all running but I always loved a challenge. Throughout my stay at CTC, Ken has been there like a father, helping me through some difficult times over the course as owner. You have made a close family unit between these walls at CTC and this community. Thank you for all the laughs, challenges, jokes and being a part of the CTC family. Enjoy retirement as you deserve it!!”

Do you have a favourite community story from 2016 not mentioned here? Let us know what it is in the comments!

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