MCKELLAR RESIDENT REALIZES DREAM

WAVE FIBRE MILL OPENS AT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, REPORTS JOYCE HOPKINS

"So, you're innovating by taking a step back," stated visitor Valerie Iancovich in response to a question answered at the official opening of Wave Fibre Mill at the municipal airport on Wednesday, May 4.

Approximately 20 municipal and airport officials invited to a reception and tour of the "semi-worsted mill," marvelled at the remarkable conversion from an empty airplane hangar to a business that fills the needs, in many ways, of so many Ontario farmers and

designers. Only one other woollen mill is operational in Ontario and it's in southern Ontario and not as large.

Amid prototypes of product and materials, McKellar mayor Peter Hopkins congratulated longtime McKellar resident, Wave Weir, on the success of her venture. Ann MacDiarmid, mayor of Seguin Township, thanked Mayor

Hopkins for sharing McKellar's talent and stated, "I am very excited to see products shipped all over the world from Seguin, Ontario."

Once just a dream, Wave Fibre Mill has become a reality, thanks to the vision and passion of Wave Weir who has relentlessly pursued every avenue to success. Surrounded by supportive staff and family, Weir continues to dream and plan for new uses for the mill.

Necessity being the mother of invention, Weir's husband, Otto Scheule, had a need during renovations for rope, so he created a strong, woven wool rope from the mill's yarn. To add colour to fabrics, McKellar goldenrod and coreopsis

were used. To solve what to do with soiled sheep wool, "manure tea" for garden fertilizer was created. "Everything natural — nothing wasted."

The most modern machine in the mill is the "Rando Feeder" which

feeds the oldest, a 98-yearold "carder," affectionately called by the staff, "the heart of the mill." But, to me, the heart of the mill is Wave Weir.

Look up on the light post in Minerva Park to see a bat box constructed by Ken

Grey with an example of his impressionism on the face. A box can house 300 bats that control insect populations and are good pollinators.

Euchre winners for McKellar Sunshine Club are 1-Jean Broderick, 2-Gail Mayhew, 3-Bev Church and Lone Hands- Jim Zummerach. Hurdville Community Club winners are HighDenny Hare and Janice Hughes, Low- John Peterson and Julie Hare and Lone Hands- Sandra Little. The club's beer bottle (and can) drive is May 22, 1 — 4 p.m. at Hurdville Hall.