HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-04-08, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010.
“I can have that for you on
Wednesday,” Max Oldfield would
often say that if a sale wasn’t
possible right that minute.
Max died on Thursday. He lived
life well, always inquisitive and
interested in the world about and
always ready to tease with the
twinkle in his eye. Oldfield
Hardware has been on our main
street since Max came home from
World War II and he and Jean set up
and grew their hardware business.
He provided education sessions
for many village boys over those
years as they worked with and for
him at the store, in the orchard or at
the farm. After school or Saturday
hours at Oldfield’s could have you
clerking, fixing bikes, repairing a
kettle or a window, catching
chickens, slinging bales, picking
pears or sorting tubes or bolts. All
three of my sons benefitted from the
knowledge shared when they
worked there. Max often questioned
if I was having any more boys but
never took my offer to come and
work with him. I was just trying to
help.
At the students’ sides would be
Max, Jean, Jack or Nora letting them
know how to proceed. Later Jim and
Darlene took the lead. I will always
be grateful for the tips of life that
Max and Jean gave my guys
especially how to show respect, give
customer service, work hard, be
efficient and always, well nearly, use
your sense of humour. Max showed
us how to live life well. Goodbye
and thanks Max.
Easter visitors were out and about
all weekend, celebrating the great
weather with family and food and of
course a few eggs and chocolate
thrown in.
Frank Workman is moving well
after his surgery and having son
Peter home from Nunavut was a
bonus to recovery.
Edna Pearson also is missing us
but is getting closer to home, she’s in
hospital in Wingham and doing well.
Easter for Edna had Joyce and Janet
with her at the Fireside.
Bye now, Betty G.W.
By Jo-Ann McDonald
The general meeting was held at
Brussels Branch, Royal Canadian
Legion on Tuesday evening.
The first vice-president, Deb
Cann, conducted the meeting with
Comrade Jo-Ann McDonald
substituting for the absent Comrade
Josling.
The Branch is saddened to hear of
the passing of one of the long-time
members, Max Oldfield. Our
condolences are extended to his
family, Jim and Darlene, Anne and
Cecil and their families, and special
friend Audrey Chambers. Max was a
64-year member of Branch 218 and
had received his 60-year
membership pin at a special
Honours and awards evening four
years ago. Max had served with the
Royal Canadian Air Force from
1941-1944 as a wireless mechanic.
The Brussels Branch 218 held a
Legion service on Sunday evening
prior to the evening visitation. There
was near 20 Branch Comrades in
attendance plus other Comrades
from the Zone who placed a poppy
in remembrance of a Veteran.
The first place team at Thursday
night darts was Roger McHardy and
Deb Burch. The second-place team
was Glenn Zehr and Sandra Josling.
The high shot of the evening was by
Harry Smith, hitting 111. The high
starts of the night were by Sharon
Robbins with 93 and Penny
Reynolds with 94. The last night of
darts is this week.
The Saturday afternoon euchre
had 6 1/2 tables of players. The first-
place team was Lillian Appleby and
Delores Howatt with 80 points. The
second-place team was George and
Deanna Bacon with 72 points and
third was Bev Hayden and Mary
McIntosh with 66 points.
A staple at the Brussels, Morrisand Grey Community Centre fornearly 30 years, Murray McArter is
finally set to retire later this month.
McArter, who would have been
working full-time at the community
centre for nearly 30 years if he had
stayed on until September, has
decided to hang up his skates, but
that doesn’t mean that he won’t be
busy.
“I’m not just going to sit around
my house all day,” he said. “Anyone
who knows me, knows that won’t be
the case.”
He says that he’ll still be the
community centre’s remaining
employee Abi Corbett’s lifeline if
she has questions, due to the wealth
of knowledge that has been accrued
over his nearly 30 years on the job,
something she says she’s happy
about.
In addition to being there for
Corbett and the community centre,
McArter says he’ll remain at his post
as Brussels fire chief and that he’ll
also honour his agreement with the
Brussels Optimist Club and help
with the impending renovations to
the baseball diamond later this year.
McArter said that there is no
specific reason why he decided to
retire now, but that his pension was
offered to him, so he took it. Corbett
jokes however, that before McArter
can get going on any of his own
projects this summer, that he has an
extensive “honey do list” that willneed to be completed after nearly 30years of long hours, nights andweekends at the community centre.McArter says that when he firststarted at the community centre, his
salary was offered to him on the
condition that it was considered
enough money to complete the
community centre’s tasks for the
entire year.
“I got paid my salary for the year
and if I wanted to hire help, I would
have to pay that person out of my
own salary,” he said. “Needless to
say, that didn’t happen. I didn’t want
to have to give away any of my
salary, which wasn’t too much at the
time as it was.”
That arrangement led to McArter
working a lot of nights and
weekends. At the time, he said he
didn’t mind the work, but looking
back, he has no idea how he was
able to work the hours that he did.
“Well it made my wife a widow,
that’s for sure,” he said. “I was
younger then, so I could handle the
hours, but I joined the fire
department shortly after I took the
job, so that took up even more time.”
McArter remembers it well,
because he had to ask the permission
of the chairman of the recreation
board at the time, who was Wayne
Lowe, if he would allow McArter to
volunteer with the fire department.
Thirteen years later McArter was
the Brussels fire chief, which led to
even more responsibility, but
nothing that he couldn’t handle, he
McArter retires
Legion saddened by loss of Oldfield
Brussels, Morris & Grey Community Centre
Doors open at 6:00 pm • Dinner 7:00 pm • Auction 8:00 pm
TICKETS
$30/person
Proceeds support the Wawanosh Nature Centre
Friday April 23, 2010
www.mvca.on.ca 519-335-3557
Conservation
22nd ANNUAL
MAITLAND
Conservation
Foundation
Silent and Live Auction
Call 519 335-3557 for
tickets.
www.mvca.on.ca
Dinner Auction&
When you need to get the job done ~ Call us!
CONSTRUCTION LTD.
519-887-9061
•Licensed Septic Installations
• Fill • Bulldozing
• Excavating
• Loading & Hauling
• Crushed Asphalt
Screened & Field
Topsoil
Natural Bark Mulch
John
Men, kids & women
If you dare come in
for a buzz cut
on Friday, April 16
4 to 8 pm
in front of Turning Heads
& Making Waves
480 Turnberry St., Brussels
Donations only
All proceeds go to
Mim’s Twisted Sisters
Relay for Life Team
No appointment needed.
BUZZ OFF
CANCER
NEWS
FROM BRUSSELS
BUY? SELL?
TRY CLASSIFIED
Pouring it on
Syrup was of the utmost importance over the weekend at
the Melville Presbyterian Church’s annual Easter breakfast
before their Easter Sunday service. Olivia McArter was one
of the many diners who was appreciating the sweeter things
in life, adding a little maple syrup to her pancakes. (Vicky
Bremner photo)
By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen
Continued on page 30
By Betty
Graber
Watson
Call
887-6236
887-9231
A NOTE FROM BETTY
At the Branch
Brussels Legion
10:00 am ~ 4:00 pm
SILENT
AUCTION
Bid on numerous items including baking, gift certificates, preserves, pickled
eggs, MS 180c. Stihl chainsaw, lamps, meat, woodworking and much more.
Proceeds to Accessibility Fund.
Saturday, April 17