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Which quote or source do you prefer and why?: Charles Bukowski’s “The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.” Or Bertrand Russell’s: “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people are so full of doubts.” Send thoughts and local examples to: [email protected]

(In the newsletter email, click on the Echo Essentials logo for the updated website version, past editions and subscription form.)

Top Shelf

• Reducing carbon footprints can be economical
• Ed Eng remembered as a passionate life-long learner
• Forgette found not guilty of assault, confinement charges

Today’s Distraction

The Geminids meteor shower began Sunday and is expected to peak mid-December. It’s considered to be one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers, according to NASA. Interested in astronomy? The North Bay Astronomy Club’s Facebook page posted a link to a YouTube channel called Astronomy by the Bay (not North Bay, Saint John, NB) and its latest post: The Sunday Night Astronomy Show … A Talk With Astronomer Mike Thorne. They also have a Facebook page, see the Nov. 10 post where they announce that an asteroid was named after them. See the local club’s website HERE.

Essentials

Reducing carbon footprints
can be economical

Find the podcast HERE.

In tomorrow’s To North Bay With Love podcast, Katie Bevan from The Farm boutique and host Lisa Boivin discuss how shopping locally can save you money in the long run and help reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.

“I hope everyone is doing something, one little tiny thing to make their footprint smaller,” says Katie, who is also chair of Downtown North Bay and Waterfront (formerly the Downtown Improvement Area). “Like that’s really the essence of the business (at the F.A.R.M. “Fashion Art Retail Market).”

Katie explains that they are trying to have product lines offering a variety of price points, including locally made goods, and they have turned the former Pearl’s jewelry store space into Main Supply and Refillable Goods for bulk buying (which saves on containers and offers wholesale sizes).

Before that discussion, Lisa and producer Ben Sargent chat about life in a world of not having access to plastic bags when you need them and using paper straws (or Lisa’s retractable metal straw she carries around with here).

• Lisa and Ben talk about plastic bags and paper straws  1:40
• Katie joins and talks about why local shopping is perceived to be so expensive vs big box stores  6:30
• The F.A.R.M. refillery and goods 11:00
• Where does the F.A.R.M. source their products 15:00

Ed Eng remembered as
passionate life-long learner

In the latest Small Town Times podcast, Helen Eng and Lori Laporte talk with editor Dave Dale about the late Ed Eng, a local restauranteur and internationally renown advertising photographer. Helen remembers her husband for his humble ways and passion for learning regardless of his achievements. See the BayToday feature about his 2017 passing HERE.

Lori is a long-time family friend who worked at their Dragon’s restaurant on Lakeshore Drive, as well as the Old Chicago on Main Street, as well as a model for his photography. Ed passed away due to cancer six years ago and would have turned 77 this December. The Back in the Bay Magazine is featuring Ed Eng as part of its Winter Edition, the 12th issue of the printed nostalgia publication. It is scheduled for distribution before Christmas.

Helen says Ed had a “very good temper, was very patient and very artistic and he always like to listen to people’s point of view,” she says, adding “he loved learning” from other people, especially about higher technology. “He said, ‘Never stop learning,’ that’s was his philosophy.”

Forgette found not guilty
of assault, confinement charges

Earlier today, Justice Erin J. Lainevool found Sheldon Forgette, former deputy mayor of North Bay and a one-time mayoral candidate, not guilty of assault, forcible confinement and two other less charges heard in his trial earlier this month.

See the BayToday coverage by Stu Campaigne, including links to the court stories, initial charges and his declaration of innocence after he was arrested in the midst of last year’s municipal campaign as Forgette sought to regain his council seat.

Justice Lainevool concluded her reasons for judgment by stating all Canadians are afforded the presumption of innocence when facing charges in a court of law and the onus is on the Crown to provide the evidence for the judge to return a finding of guilt. In this case, those legal parameters were not met.

“The court’s role is not to complete the jigsaw puzzle,” said Justice Lainevool.

Today’s Zen Suggestion: Having the last word in every debate doesn’t guarantee victory but it will improve your chances of speaking to an empty room.

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Echo Network

Small Town Times:

Sports tourism is worth more focus and investment, says former North Bay event coordinator Larry Tougas and former city councillor Dave Mendicino. Small Town Times editor Dave Dale concurs, saying the potential is boundless if the city funnels in more seed money to secure events. See the podcast interview HERE.

Also on the network is a highlight reel of Nipissing Lakers hockey action recorded this weekend. The Nipissing Lakers women improved to 10-1 on the year to lead the OUA Eastern Conference after blanking Western 5-0, Friday, and the Windsor Lancers 4-1, Saturday at Memorial Gardens. Video includes last three goals of the shutout win over the Mustang. On the men’s side, Nipissing fell 4-1 to the Ottawa Gee Gees, Friday, and the Carleton Ravens, Saturday.

As part of the win against Western, Malory Dominico scored her fourth goal to raise another $100 for KidSport North Bay as part of her Young Leader Legacy Foundation, sponsored by the Wolves Den Gas Bar. See the To North Bay With Love podcast about Dominico’s efforts:

The Frontline:

Missed the North Bay Battalion 7-6 win over the Sudbury Wolves on Sunday afternoon? Catch the North Bay Mitsubishi After Action Report recorded live after the final whistle. Brad Brooks and Ben Long break down all the action and react to player and coaches comments fresh off the ice. They do it after each home game, including this Thursday’s match against the London Knights.

Earlier Thursday, the Frontline dropped their latest podcast featuring Battalion defender Tnias Mathurin, who explains his almost year-long shoulder injury, sitting on the sidelines, getting back into game action in the playoffs, his Red Wings camp and more. Ben and Kortney are joined by Matt Sookram to talk all things Battalion and Voodoos, as well as the Lakers Spotlight on soccer player Avery Duguay (begins at 46:24 mark of podcast).

Backroads Bill:

Bill and his road trip partner Brian Emblin share their quest to find the four corners of the province by visiting the furthest points north, south, east and west. One of the many highlights was surviving a polar bear scare one night as part of a trip seeing more than two-dozen of the northland predators. Last week, they talked about Finding the Geographic Centre of Ontario.

Previous podcasts include: Labyrinths, Wolverine Heritage Canoe company in Wawa The ‘Art’ of Wildlife Photography, The Man Buried in Two Places, Bill Takes a Trip to Red Lake, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Bashin’ Bill Barilko and The Legacy of Terry Fox.

See Bill’s columns in BayToday, including Grey Owl – The Great Imposter.

Events Echo

Free Art Fix workshops sessions Thursday, Nov. 23, 30th and Dec. 7 on visual art and poetry at the White Water Gallery. Funded by Community Foundations of Canada and North Bay and Area Community Foundation. Email [email protected]

Tuesday, Nov. 21

(For more events further out on the calendar, check Tourism North Bay’s comprehensive events listing guide. On Facebook, check out Creative Industries North Bay.)

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If you have something to add to the discussion or an idea for one of Echo’s podcasters or affiliates, email Content Director Dave Dale at [email protected].