Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-09-25, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2008. PAGE 7. Erin Jutzi and Kittie MacGregor combined their program and a devotional time to begin the Sept. 15 meeting of the Londesborough United Church Women. Readings and scripture passages served to remind the ladies present that evening to give thanks to God, to worship Him through song and to get humour out of life and pass it on to others. For example, one reading was titled, Our Falling Shorts. Hymns, God Give Us Laughter and Come Let Us Sing were part of the program. A matching game, Know Your Hymns, had the ladies testing themselves. As this was the first meeting since June, a number of business items were discussed. Food safety matters were talked about in light of a number of caterings set for the fall. It was decided to purchase two pedestal fans for use in the church basement during summer events. Also the UCW will add another cordless mike for use with the new sound system in the sanctuary. The UCW has a double-sized quilt for sale. The embroidered squares are of a wedding ring pattern and the quilt’s colour is predominately dusty rose. If you are interested, contact a UCW member. Londesborough United’s annual pork roast supper is at the Community hall on Saturday, Sept. 27 between 5 and 7 p.m. Takeouts are available. Tickets are available from any steward or at the post office in Londesborough. The Stratford Normal Schoolopened its doors to teaching studentson Sept. 15, 1908. Later named theStratford Teachers’ College it wasone of four Normal schools built bythe Ontario government to qualify teachers for teaching in the province’s rural areas. There were 184 young teacher candidates that first year. By 1973, by which time rural schools were mostly amalgamated, the Ministry of Education was advocating university educatedpersons in all classrooms in Ontario.The Normal School closed its doorsin May of that year having graduated14,000 teachers in its 65 years.The city of Stratford purchased the school, a heritage building, in 1999. Adjacent to the Shakespearean Festival, the school is now, appropriately, The Discovery Centre. On Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008, 500 graduates returned to the school to celebrate its centennial. The day alsomarked the 50th year reunion of theclass of 1958. Londesborough’s oldest resident,Edythe Beacom, age 92, from theclass of 1939, was one of the oldest graduates attending that celebration and received special acknowledgment. Edythe’s niece, the former Deanna Lyon, took her great-aunt to Stratford that Saturday. Edythe reports that it was a grand afternoon seeing many former teaching friendsand recalling experiences. There wasa large “wall of memories”, picturesand articles from the 65 years of itsexistence. The afternoon includedmusical performances and talks by former graduates and even some of the school’s masters. A tradition from the early years of the school, the maypole dance, was performed by 20 pupils from Sprucedale Public School in Shakespeare. Woman attends special reunion Thanks to God, UCW message On Tuesday,Aug. 12, five couples, Fred and Kathy Lobb, Ray and Beth Radford, John and Bev Elliott, Ron and Jean Jewitt and Keith and Nancy Allen set out from Huron County pulling their trailers. The first leg of their month-long holiday had them travelling the northern Ontario route through Sault Ste. Marie, Nipigon, Thunder Bay and Kenora to Brandon, Manitoba. At Brandon they joined 22 other recreation vehicles and caravaned together to northern Manitoba. The group stopped many times along the way – Dauphin, The Pas, and Thompson – to tour museums, churches and homesteads of the early settlers. This part of Canada had many settlers from the Ukraine they learned. At Thompson the travellers boarded a train to Churchill, Manitoba which is on Hudson Bay. Halfway to Churchill, one passes the tree line and the country is very flat with tundra-type vegetation. Keith noted that there is a huge elevator at Churchill through which grain flows. The communities between Thompson and Churchill rely on the rail line for all their supplies. Moreover the train is the only means of travel for them outside of their settlements. The train runs daily back and forth. However, the tracks are in very poor shape as a result of time and the effects of permafrost. The trip originally took part of a day each way. Today, the residents of those northern areas should not want to be in a hurry. The trip took the tourists 28 hours up and 21 hours back. They learned that the trip from Winnipeg to Churchill now takes 48 hours. During their stay in Churchill, they boarded a large tundra buggy to observe polar bears in their summer habitat. The bears head for land when the ice breaks up on the bay in the spring. They wait in this area near Churchill for the ice to re-form on Hudson Bay. Consequently the bears have no food source, seals during the summer weeks, and can become a problem in the town and area. There are bear patrols to monitor the movements of the bears and keep them away from people. Bears that become a problem are tranquilized and taken to an enclosed area known as “bear jail”. They are kept there for a month before taken to another area. While in Churchill, the travellers saw caribou and went on a whale watching tour. Many beluga whales swam right up to the boat. In these northern areas they learned about Native culture and the effects on the Native peoples of the residential school system. Back in Churchill the caravan took to the roads again visiting Gimli (settled by Icelanders), Winkler and Winnipeg enjoying sights along the way. The Manitoba Museum was one of the highlights of the trip and described as excellent. Apparently as one enters the museum the journey from the first settlers to modern times is so well done one feels a part of the history. The five trailers from this area left the larger caravan on September 10th and drove home via North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Members of the group say it was a wonderful trip. They met many new folks and learned a lot of interesting new things. September is Alzheimer Awareness month and there are many places where one can participate in a “coffee break”. Monies raised by these cups, so to speak, fund research into the disease and allow local branches to support those who suffer from this illness and their caregivers. Radford’s Farm Equipment/ Londesborough Post Office thank all who chose to stop by last Friday and make a donation to the Huron County Alzheimer Society. This was the third year for our coffee break and you were most generous about paying for your coffee. I enjoyed all the conversations and appreciated a break from the normal. We can think of it as an investment in our future. Area couples take tour of the west CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HURON TAXES DUE The next tax installment for the Township of North Huron is due on Friday, September 26, 2008. Interest at 1 1/4% per month, or any part thereof will be charged on unpaid accounts as of September 29, 2008 and the first day of each month thereafter. NOTE: Persons who have acquired properties and have not received a tax bill should contact the Municipal Office. Failure to receive a tax bill does not relieve a taxpayer from responsibility for payment of taxes, nor from penalty for late payment. Please contact the Treasury Department in regards to the various payment options available. Pre-authorized payment sign up forms are available at www.northhuron.ca or at the Town Hall. Donna White Director of Finance NEWS FROM LONDESBORO By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296 PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO Standing in the doorway of the heritage Ball’s Church looking west one can understand why the founders chose that spot. The view is breathtaking. For the past few years, Knox Church of Auburn and Londesborough United come together on a Sunday in September to worship there. As worshippers gathered on Sunday, Sept. 21, Nancy Park played preludes on the small travelling organ. Also sharing their musical talents that morning were the Durnin brothers. They played violin selections from a Suzuki Violin School book. A quartet from Londesborough sang Follow the Road (of Prayer) and In My Heart There Rings a Melody. During the children’s time Rev. Pat Cook told the story of the vineyard owner. He went five times to town to hire help to harvest his grape crop. No matter how long they had worked, an hour or a whole day, the workers were paid the same wage. This farmer was generous to all workers giving each the same share just as God gives all of us the same share of His love. God’s abundant grace was the theme for the service. Bernice Gross read the Old Testament scripture, Exodus 16: 2-15, the story of the Israelites in the wilderness. In Psalm 105, the responsive psalm, the writer reminds the reader of that journey. However on that journey the Israelites lost sight of the big picture. They lacked trust in God. God heard their cries and responded to their needs. Christians are made wise unto salvation through Jesus Christ. In looking to the future one can expect potholes and troubles along the journey. But by staying focused on the end, they can meet the challenges with God’s help. The wilderness can be merely a state of mind. One needs to be creative and trust in God to survive. Wonder and joy can be found even in unfortunate circumstances; experiences are gifts along the journey. Modern day Christians tend to enjoy one day at a time enjoying the everyday sights and sounds as gifts from a generous God. One should live life with passion for God is watching and helping. Movie night at Londesborough United is Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. The senior youth group (Grades 9- 12) will meet Sunday, Sept. 28 at Whyte’s cabin from 7 - 9 p.m. for a campfire and devotions. For more information call Crystal at 519-527- 2937. Service held at Ball’s