The Citizen, 2004-05-20, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2004.
• Mandilynn's opens in former Merry Piper
Home town and home made
Residents of Brussels will be able to treat themselves
more often to home cooked meals without lifting a finger in
the kitchen as 18-year-old Amanda St. James of Brussels
opened her new restaurant, Mandilynn's on Turnberry
Street. Amanda St. James stands with a plate full of
homemade muffins in the kitchen of her new restaurant.
(Elyse DeBruyn photo)
Letter to the editor
THE EDITOR,
Earlier this morning I listened to
the CKNX talk show with disgust.
Our MP Paul Steckle, who is also
the Liberal chair of the agriculture
committee, outlined how certain
meat packing companies have been
held in contempt of Parliament for
failing to show financial
information indicating that they
have not been gouging our beef
farmers.
Paul also said that the
Conservative Party blocked his
Motion that would have punished
the packers to the tune of $250,000
per day for this. In short, despite the
fact that the Conservatives agreed
that the packers are in contempt of
Parliament, they do not believe that
they should be punished for their
crimes.
As a beef farmers of many years I
am shocked. Like many farmers, I
have been following the work of the
Committee for nearly a year and
quite simply, they have done a great
job. Since our BSE troubles started,
the all-party committee has
seemingly set aside their partisan
differences for the betterment of
farmers. They have worked to open
the border to Canadian beef, they
have worked with the industry to
develop financial aid to keep family
farms afloat and they have tried to
develop plans to prevent this kind of
thing from happening again.
As a beef farmer, I cannot express
how disappointed I am that the
Conservatives threw that all away
for reasons that defy logic. 1 Could
care less if an election is looming,
this is my livelihood and I would
have expected better.
The Conservative MP who was on
the radio with Paul tried to come up
with several excuses why this was
the best option but he sadly missed
the mark. He agreed that the packers
were guilty, but I guess he feels that
Canadian farmers should pay the
price for the actions of these
American companies.
When the Conservative MP said
that the Canadian government
should "leave agriculture alone" I
was truly angry. Perhaps I shouldn't
have been because, after their recent
actions, I would suggest that his
party has already done that.
Sincerely,
Joe Semple
Letter
THE EDITOR,
Respect for the dignity and
sanctity of human life should be the
prime concern for all of us. Yet,
degrading of humanity begins with
the wanton killing of the unborn
human.
If we condone tne ending of the
life of the tiniest human being, then
life for humankind has lots its
meaning.
President Bush can not claim to
be pro-life when he causes the death
of thousands of defenseless civilians
in his war. Individuals or nations
who have power over others must
use it to protect and not to beat those
who do not have the ability to
defend themselves.
Power over others often brings
out the hidden beast inferiority
creates. Proof of it is evident again
when we see the military degrade
and torture their prisoners.
Spiritual leaders of true character
have, and are, preaching as the basis
of peace, integrity and unselfish
giving. When will we ever listen
and follow their lead?
Adrian Keet
Ingersoll, ON.
By Elyse DeBruyn
Citizen staff
Spending time with family while
enjoying a delicious homemade
meal is exactly what one Brussels
woman is bringing to town with her
new family-oriented restaurant.
Eighteen-year-old Amanda St.
James has opened Mandilynn's, a
family dining restaurant on
Turnberry Street in Brussels and.
after a few minor setbacks, business
is running as planned.
She said she was getting tired of
working for people for minimum
wage and after moving back to
Brussels from Port Dover in
January, the idea for a family
restaurant hit her around Valentine's
Day.
"My mom was my ambition. She
always said "you'll do it, it'll work
out," and it has."
She saw a sign in the former
Merry Piper restaurant window and
with some persuasion from her
mother, she went for it.
"I was very hesitant at first
because I was going to go to
university for a dental assistant."
She said with her experience as
manager of a Subway store in Port
Dover and her mother's 23 years of
experience as a manager in the
restaurant business, she thought she
would be able to handle it.
Continued from page 3
"The whole experience of getting
set up and looking forward to
running my own business is well
worth the effort. We've run into
some brick walls, but I haven't been
"I didn't mind the workload (at
Subway) and I thought, if I could
handle that then I can handle it here.
I knew that once we got going, I
would be guaranteed a job."
St. James soon found out how
difficult it was to start a business,
especially at the age of 18.
"Financing was absolutely not
possible for me. I didn't have any
credit, so no credit is bad credit to
(banks). It's a vicious cycle, you
can't have credit, but you need it,"
she said.
With the help of her family she
was able to get enough money and
start her business.
The name Mandilynn's came from
her first name and her middle name,
Lynn.
"I though it was unique and no
one else had it when I did a name
search," she said.
With triplets on the way, - her
decision to open a restaurant in
Brussels was simple.
"I want my children to have a
future here because it's safe with
nice people."
She said one of the best parts of
owning her restaurant is being able
to meet new people and hear the
stories of "way back when" from the
elderly people.
"They (elderly people) are so
interesting to talk to. I also love to
waitress and I think it has brought
to the point where I can't pick
myself up," said Mary Lou.
She said one of the important
things she wants people to know is
that Mary Lou's Consignments will
offer the everyday basic necessities
our family closer together," she said.
St. James has her.family working
side-by-side with her. Her brother
Joey is a waiter, her sister Brittany
preps and cleans dishes and her
brother Pete is learning to be a cook.
Her mother is the main chef while
her dad is the handyman, fixing
anything that needs it and helping
with renovations to the restaurant.
Mandilynn's offers a wide
selection of homemade meals and
St. James said a lot of the recipes
used in her restaurant are passed
down from generation to generation
and "no one has the recipes, but us."
"I'd say 85 per cent of our food is
homemade, right down to the
spaghetti sauce and lasagna."
Her mom also makes homemade
breaded chicken fingers and fish
sticks, cream soups, rice pudding,
mashed potatoes and hamburgers.
• Because she is only 18 years old,
she is not eligible to have a liquor
license, but in a month St. James
will turn 19 and will apply for it.
She said the Big Burger is one of
the biggest sellers as it has two thick
patties that aren't processed.
She said they offer different
specials every day with take-out
available and delivery is soon-to-
come.
St. James said she has planned a
big afternoon of kareokee this
Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
like-socks and pantyhose.
"Some things are just not offered
in town and some people can't make
it to big box stores every week to get
those necessities. We're hoping to
provide people with these things,"
said Mary Lou.
She also said that tourists will be
able to find inexpensive clothing if
they by chance, forgot something.
Mary Lou's Consignments will be
open Tuesday to Friday from 9:30
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting May
21.
Full house
turns out
to Lodge
Morning Star Rebekah Lodge,
Brussels, enjoyed a full house for
the meeting on Tuesday, May 11.
Brother Roy and Sister Mary
Elliott were present from London.
Noble Grand Sister Elva Brown
presided for the meeting.
Eight plan to attend St. Marys
Lodge's 50th birthday party on
May 29.
Sisters Joyce Jacklin and Gertie
Kellington reported on their three
days at Rebekah Assembly sessions
in London.
Several members visited with
Sisters Mary Lowe, Marie
McTaggart and Leona Connelly
recently.
Tory move disgusts
local beef farmer
Moving on up
Several Belgrave Sparks have flown up to Brownies. Back
row, from left: Lindsay Shiell, Emily Meier, Katie Siebert and
Ashley Higgins. Front: Cassandra Carter and Carlene
Bremner. Absent: Victoria Howatt. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Business offers everyday items
West Nile virus: Preventing bites.
Wear light colours, long sleeves and long pants. Use bug repellent containing DEET and
read product directions carefully. Avoid mosquito areas especially from dusk to dawn
when they're most active. To learn more visit our Web site or call for a brochure.
1-877-234-4343 TTY 1-800-387-5559 www.HealthyOntario.com
Fight the Bite!
Protecting your hmIth. 0 Ontario