The Brussels Post, 1975-06-11, Page 2AM,
BRuspEko
ONTARIO
larvae in case
gBrussels Post
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 1975
Serving Brussels and,the surrounding community.
Published each Wednesday afternoon at Brussels, Ontario
by McLean Bros.Publishers, Limited.
Evelyn Kennedy • Editor , Dave Robb - Advertising
Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association and
Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association.
Subscriptions (in advance) Canada $6.00 a year, Others
CCNA $8.00 a year, Single CopieS 15 cents each.
Our noisy majority
Groundhogs
it's popular now to criticize Canadians for being
part of the silent majority. The silent majority, an
American term, is used to desbribe the great number
of ordinary citizens who don't say much about the
decisions that are being made by governments that
affect their lives.
But there certainly is no silent majority in
Brussels. The people of Brussels and area are alive
and well and looking after their own interests, thank
you.
When it looked as if a flood plain plan proposed by
the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority would
put a good bit of downtown Brussels as well as some
good farm land in Morris and Grey townships under
strict flood control regulations which might prohibit
construction, Brussels and area citizens had a public
meeting.
The large crowd at the meeting. were upset about
the fact that the decision to designate much of the
land in Brussels as a flood plain was made without
consulting them.
Out of the meeting came the formation of the
Brussels Flood Plain Committee, a group which
intends to present a brief, outlining its objections to
the flood. plain plan to the Minister of Natural
Resources. It's a good move.
Certainly there are councils which were elected by
the people of Brussels, Morris and Grey to represent
the' interests of the people. But municipal councils
have very heavy workloads and have to be concerned
with the day to day running of their municipalities.
There is always room, we think, for a group of
citizens who have the time and interest to thoroughly
document their position on why decisions like the one
that in effect puts downtown Brussels "under
water", should be changed.
The only way that people can make sure that
decisions Which will make big changes in their lives'
aren't made without consultation in some office in
Toronto or Ottawa, is to speak up.
That's what the people who question the flood
plain mapping are doing and we say, good for them.
Marsh World
Ducks Unlimited (Canada)
MOBILE HOMES — Caddis fly larvae, the aquatic
stage of somewhat inconspicuous, mothlike in-
sects, are noted for their construction Of protective
cases. These cases, from which the head pro-
trudes, may be built from bits of leaves, twigs,
grass, sand, seeds or other debris cemented
together by a substance produced by glands in
the front portion of the body.
ta7 -14
Amen
by Karl Schuessler
If there's something I can't stand, it's
growing older. I have absolutely no patience
for that.
No wonder I'm running so fast. I don't want
it to catch up with me,
But then when I saw Otto Kunz last Sunday,
had to stop a second. Take a look and listen.
For I was talking to a 79 year old man who's
now living at the Ritz Villa in M itchell. The
place is for--now how shall I say it?- I don't
like any of those names -- senior citizens,
golden years, retirees, sun setters or just plain
old folks.
But call Otto whatevet you will, I've never
seen him look finer. Or fitter. Or happier.
And laughing so much.
' When Otto left the farm last fall everyone
wondered how he'd manage in his new ritzy
quar .ters. With house rules. Time schedules
and eating hours. For as a bachelor Otto never
catered to clocks and cliques. •
But Otto tells me he's never missed a meal
there.He 's always been on time.
Everyone, wondered if Otto would learn to
wear slippers and Sunday shoes all week. For
as a hired man for over fifty years, he wore
rubber boots on the farm and in the barn. And
once in the house, he'd pull off those boots
and shuffle around in his woolen socks.
But Otto's smart, He knew boots wouldn't
fit in at the Ritz Villa. So he left them
behind--at our house. And last Sunday when
he came over to visit for a few hours, he said
we could keep them for good. He doesn't want
them anymore. He's only now starting to wear
out shoes he's owned for years,
Everyone 'wondered if Otto would tire of
nothing to do, For evert at 78 he plowed fields
and stacked wood and took care of the cattle
and horses in the barn.
But Otto claims he's got enough to keep him
busy. Walking into tOwn. Watching TV.
Beading the newspapers. Visiting; Dozing.
Napping. Watching other people work,
Watching young boys plant trees on the
grounds and knowing they weren't doing it
right. He figured the trees wouldn't live. And
most Of them didn't.
We wondered if Otto could still keep a case
of beer under his bed and limburger cheese on
has boom &torn table --jttst like he did back at the
But he's done even better. His beer keeps
cold in the Villa's refrigerator. And the cheese
gets special attention--wrapped up in extra
heavy papers so it won't stink up the places
We wondered if Otto would put up with all
that clean stuff. For all his life he lived without
benefit of inside toilet, shower or bathtub.
But no worry. Otto's gray hairs gleam to a
silver n ow. His hands are smooth.And his
nails clean. He rubs his hands together and
"
like a doctors.
looks at them, "Smooth," he laughs, just
"And I don't wear out the knees of my
pants anymore, only the seat."
By sitting on a church pew too. And that's
something he hasn't done much either in
years. For Otto never did get out much.
Without car. Without relatives in this country.
Without many friends.
But now church comes to him. In the Villa's
chapel. Entertainment comes his way too.
recitals.
Whe local people
and parties.
eopie put on concerts and
I could see that the first 78 years of his life
Were never like this. In carpeted comfort. In
thermostat heating. In automatic washers. In
bOwls 'of fresh grapes and oranges on the
lounge area tables,
And When Otto told me it
He threw his head back, slapped his knees
and roared, "I've killed many
was time to go
back to the Ritz, I poured hi ma glass of wine,
I told him it was *called cold duck.
a mine never ended up cold—in a bottle.d u ck but
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sk
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raised Our glasses. I toasted'
"TO Ottol Long May he live at the Ritz
best
P yeorll.eonvinced. These last years are his
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