By Barrie Ogden, special to the Herald
March of 2013 will be marked as an overwhelming time of beginnings and endings in the community.
It all began late last month with the shocking and totally unexpected notice of the closure of Logan Lake’s Bargain Shop. And, you didn’t have to be a shopper who frequented the store each and every day of the week to recognize the negative impact the closure will have – not only on the community as a whole but, more importantly, on the lives of the caring, friendly customer service oriented employees who consistently went out of their way to help shoppers,. all the while offering words of encouragement to those they knew who were dealing with difficult life circumstances.
Many Logan Lakers are desperately clinging to the “when one door closes, another one opens” theory of life, while the optimistic Christians among us, by resorting to prayer, may have received a temporary reprieve for both employees and shoppers with the notice coming late last week that the store will remain open for six more weeks!!
TBS closing was countered on a somewhat different business level when Merritt’s Royal LePage Realty owner, Claudette Edenoste, opened her Logan Lake office on March 8 in the mall space across from the liquor store and the bank. Having previously been involved in real estate in our community and with background and experience as a broker and property manager, Claudette is hoping to assist those in the market to buy, sell or rent. The office will be open Monday to Saturday.Then, on a much more personal level, comes a time of significant loss as the Health Centre and the wider community says goodbye to Dr. Sheik’s amazing, helpful guardian angel May McKenzie as she and her husband Bill, move to Alberta for lower gas prices and to be closer to family. Wonder which is the higher priority? It’s hard to believe that May has only been with us for two and a half years because her presence at the doctor’s office, together with her music ministry at the Church on the Hill, has offered Logan Lake residents a frontline person of character who could be counted on for both assistance and exceptional expertise in challenging, and often life-threatening, situations. So, “Florence Nightingale” leaves us with these special words of goodbye: “May the Lord bless each of you and continue to help this town to flourish and to be a wonderful place to live.”
And, if losing one angel wasn’t bad enough, the community had to say another goodbye as Doris Bruno, our Mental Health worker enters into what will, no doubt, be the exciting new world of retirement. However, as I’ve repeatedly told Doris — she’ll be very much missed because her incredible knowledge, expertise, caring and confidentiality has made it possible for so many in the community, including me, suffering from depression, anxiety and other psychological challenges, to live and experience a better quality of life than might otherwise have been possible. I’m sorry to report that Doris managed to “escape” despite the ticket for a guilt trip I attempted to lay on her.
But from my perspective, the best part for both May and Doris, is that they’re leaving is by personal choice and that, in itself, in this crazy day and age, is something to celebrate.
