HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1980-06-18, Page 21dRAND COVE ARTIST -- Gordon Lambert,. a resident of Grand Cove Estates at GrenCi
Bend is spending his retirement painting. Many of his scenes were featured of Pinery Park
and include views of Lake Huron.
Staff photo
No Civic .Holido in Au ust this year
After a lengthy discussion
with delegate* of the
Chamber of Commerce,
Grand Bend council finally
voted to select a date other
than Atigest 4 as Civic
Holiday this year.
Chamber representatives
Brad Page, Nick Carter,
Gene Grenier, Bob Simpson
and Larne Campbell at-
tended the meetin: to con-
view council members to
change the date. The
chamber has been
corresponding with the
council on the request since
April.
Tn their argument the
chamber said that Port
Stanley had not declared the
August holiday for several
years and had found the plan
successful. Fort Stanley
declares the holiday in
September so they van at-
tend Western Fair.
Chamber past president
Nick Carter stressed that
"tourism is the very
livelihood" of Grand Bend
and that the whole village
should be open to offer full
services to. tourists.
Secretary-manager Bela
Simpson says that American
visitors are not familiar with
Civic holiday and find it an
inconvenience.
The businesses affected by
the change in date Will be the
Bank of Montreal, The
Toronto Dominion Batik, the
Brewer's Retail and the
Liquor Store, These
businesses will be open
August 14 and will close
whenever the village decides
to declare Civic holiday.
Clerk Louise Clipperton
reported that postmaster
Gar Johnson would remain
closed on August 4 for
practical reasons, She said
that Johnson explained no
mail would go in or gut of the
village that day, and all his
staff could do is sell stamps,
And they have vending
machines that can do that,
Johnson had also told her
that it would not be
reasonable for hint to. close
up at another date, because
then his staff would have
twice as much mail to handle
the next day.
Lorne Campbell of the
Bank of Montreal said that
his bank would only be able
to offer limited services
because his computer
system to other banks would
not be operating.
Jud Burnstead of the
Toronto Dominion bank said
in a letter that his bank will,
be open with full service.
A letter from the Brewer'S
Retailsaidthatthey "heartily
endorse" the suggestion of
remaining open.
Councillor Keith Crawford
said he was concerned about
inconvenience to the
residents of Grand Bend
when there services are
closed up at another date.
No date was set for the
civic holiday.
Councillor Harold Green
asked if the change was
worthwhile when it only
affected the banks and liquor
and beer stores.
Chamber delegates said
that the many visitors to the
village move in on Saturday
or Sunday and plan to ex-
change travellers cheques or
buy liquor or beer on Mae
day.They said that it Will
help promote Grand Bend if
people learn that all services
are open.
Reeve Robert Sharen said
that he would like to see an
objective study done by the
chamber after the change, to
see what the pros and 'Cone
are.
Nick Carter said that they
will poll tourists who come
into the information -booth
that day to see what their
comments are. He said that
they will also poll chamber
members to see - their
reaction.
Gene Grenier argued that
Please turn to page 18A
Price Per -'Copy 35 Cents
Parents pick spokesman
IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME — Bobby Young and Paul Kaempf look over their orienteering program while sitting
outside their covered wagon at Camp Sylvan near Thedford. About 30 grade six and seven pupils from Grand Bend Public
School spent three days at camp last week. Staff photo
Wes Fetch of Southcott
Pines has agreed to be
spokesman for a. group of
concerned parents from
Grand Bend at the next
meeting of the Lambton
county board of education. A
delegation from the village
will be travelling to Sarnia
on the evening of June 23
where Fetch will talk to
trustees and officials,
The group of concerned
parents and ratepayers met
Wednesday in the village
hall to discuss what they can
do about the future of Grand
Bend Public School.
The group decided to meet
after the board's aborted
plans to bus kindergarten
children to Bosanquet
Central revived fears of the
school being closed,
About 20 parents and
townspeople got together to
plan the meeting with the
board. Petch said that they
were pleased with the turn-
by Mary Alderson
It's been a long. round-
about trip, but Gordon
Lambert is finally doing
what he always wanted to
do.
Lambert now retired and
a resident of Grand Cove
Estates in Grand Bend, is
keeping very busy painting.
He was trained as an artist
when he was a young man,
but many things interfered.
It was not until he came to
the peaceful setting of
ilrand Bend that he had time
to take up what he had once
Artist reaches goal
in his retirement years
out. "Everyone was quite
vocal, there was a lot ox '
helpful input," he added.
Petch said that several
area service clubs and
groups took an interest in the
gathering, because they are
concerned about using the
school for extra- curricular
activities. He pointed out
that the library is in the
school, and that groups such
as brownies meet there.
Fetch said that a letter has
already been sent to the
board of education outlining
the questions and concerns
of Grand Bend residents, He
said that his group would like
to know the board's long and
short term plans for the
school.
Questions in Fetch's letter
include wanting to know the
five and ten year main-
tenance plans for the school.
As well, he has asked the
board about the five and ten
year plans for the physical
plant of Grand Bend puteic
school as well as other
schools in the county.
Petch has alsoeasked the
board about the five and ten
year predictions, for
enrolment, and for whatever
demographic studies the
board has done in the area.
As well, this group wants to
make the board aware of
growth and plans in Grand
Bend.
Fetch said that he has
asked the board what their
criteria for redundancy in
schools are, and what the
efficiency of Grand Bend
school is, as compared to
other schools. He has also
questioned them on the
future pupil-teacher ratio,
and capacity figures.
He said that the concerned
parents want to know why
the board is afraid to state
.publicly what their plans
are.
Petch added that the letter
earn a living. He worked for
a while as a commercial
free-lance artist, Design
work, graphics and logos
kept him busy,
"Then a little thing they
called war came along,"
Lambert says. He joined the
army, but Was later given an
honourable discharge when
he developed health
problems. When he returned
to look for employment
there Were no jobs in com-
mercial art. He was able to
get work as an ad manager
with a roofing company.
Please turn to 'a _e 18A
In these days of concern
over the deterioration and
closing' of schools, I think
that the public should be
aware of the fact that they
are losing one of the main
pillars at North Lambton
Secondary School,.
After 30 years of holding
that place together, W.
Steven Evans is retiring.
Steve entered the teaching
profession back in 1950 at
what was known as Forest
District High School. lie was
famous then for his in-
teresting history classes, the
bugle band he organized and
driving fast sports cars.
In later years he took on
the job of vice principal and -
was famous for clearing out
the pool hall, tramping on
smokers and driving fast
sports cars. During my high
school days, there was a blue
Lotus and an orange MG
parked under the V.P. sign in
the same year.
On Friday (the 13th, ap-
propriately enough) former
and present students
gathered for a Steve Evans
appreciation night, They
were all ages and from all
walks of life. There were
even some families present,
where Steve had taught the
parents History, and had
disciplined the sons and
daughters.
Forest Mayor Ronn Dodge
presented Steve with an
engraved pool cue — to
remind Steve of an those
times he had chased Ronn
out of the pool hall when a
gang had been playing
hooky. Bonn said that he
could have been another
Minnesota Fats if it hadn't
been for "Stevie".
Incidentally, Steve has never
played pool.
A telegram came from a
former student in Edmonton,
who said that with Stevie's
retirement, the girls
washroom Would at last be
safe for Smoking.
The highlight of the
evening came when Mr.
Evans told us we could all
Page 1A
call him Steve now. "For
years, he's heard whispers of
"Stevie's coming" when he
walked down the hall.
I believe that I hold some
kind of a record. In my five
long years in high school,
only once did Stevie yell at
me.
Other people got yelled at
on a regular basis--once or
twice a week, My husband,
for example, got yelled at on
a daily basis,
So I should be quite proud
of the fact that I only got a
real blast once, But there's
one problem. The yelling
was totally unwarranted and
unjustified. I was com-
pletely innocent of the crimes
of which Mr. Evans was
accusing me,
remembered the day well
because it was my 17th birth-
day.
My classmates had a
policy in our Math class to
celebrate each and every
birthday a student had. If the
birthday occurred on a
weekend, then we celebrated
on the Friday previous and
the Monday following just to
make sure that person didn't
feel left out.
My classmates came to
Math class that day
prepared to celebrate my
birthday. I had nothing to do
with it.
One of my enterprising
girlfriends had even brought
cup cakes. As soon as the
teacher turned around to
write an equation on the
blackboard, we all bit into a
cup cake.
I guess it was the sound of
everyonelicking the icing off
their fingers that finally
tipped the teacher off to the
fact that We Weren't busy
discerning Square roots.
I should point out that this
teacher did not, like many
teachers, have eyes in the
back of his head, It Was
amazing how much he
missed when lie was busy
drawing parabolas in the
blackboard.
A good vice principal has
eyes in the bank Of his head.
Mr. Evans was a good vice
principal.
I think the teacher may
have noticed a little smoke in
the air when I blew out the
candle on my cup cake. But
he made no comment.
Nor did he stop sketching
graphs when We played
volley ball with the party
balloons. He did flinch when
one of the kids let go of a
balloon and it buzzed around
the room making rude
noises until all the air was
out of it.
The teacher didn't seem to
mind the fact that one girl
was busy making party hats
out of newspaper and soon
all of us were wearing
Napolean shaped chapeau's
made out of the London Free
Press.
But I think it did bother
him when one guy started
cutting up his Math note
book in strips to make long
party streamers. And
although he didn't complain,
I think it did bother the
teacher when every one in
the class sang Happy Bir-
thday to me.
As the bell rang, we left the
class, very smug in our
conviction that the teacher
had not really objected to our
party because he said
nothing about it.
Unfortunately, he did
mention the goings on to the
vice-principal and ap-
parently, because it was my
bathe used in the Happy
Birthday song, that was the
only name given to Mr.
Evans.
A period later, I was
minding my own business in
Home Ee. class, when Mr.
Evans opened the door and
bellowed my name. I
scurried out into the hall,
where I received the worst
tongue lashing of my life.
I attempted some feeble
protests, but Stevie did not
seem able to see my
reasoning. But how could the
whole thing be my fault when
the party was in my honour?
I still say I'M innocent.
JUNE 18, 1980
members could "save their
breath."
Mrs. Case said that she has
most of the former team
members back, and they are
an experienced crew. She
said that she will again be
riding in the winning bed, as
long as her team mates don't
tip her out in the practise
run.
Mrs. Case said the Sanders
team will be using the same
bed as last year with a few
improvements. They won the
trophy with a modified baby
crib.
Neither the Colonials nor
the Sanders teams feared
any competition from
newcomers in the bed race
circuit. Rumours have been
rampant in Grand Bend this
week of several newcomers
trying to steal away the
ribbons. However, organizer
Brad Page said that few
beds have yet been
registered.
Page says that most of the
registrations come in on the
morning of the race,
presumably because the
entries prefer to keep un-
dercover as long as possible.
At a Burgerfest
organizational meeting
Monday night co-chairmen
Gene Grenier and Nick
Carter said that everything
is under control for the big
weekend. Chamber of
Commerce member Lorne
Campbell pointed out they
still need co-operation from
the weatherman.
Both Grenier and Carter
said that more volunteer
help will be needed to make
Traffic had to be detoured
off 'highway 21 for three
hours Saturday when an
entire tractor-trailer load of
corn had to be cleaned up.
A 1980 Mack truck owned
by Huron Grain of RIEL 3,
Parkhill tipped on its side as
it was rounding the ramp
from highway 82 on to high-
way 21. The entire load of
corn was spilled across high-
way 21, Traffic was re-
routed around Yogi sear
Drive.
Driver of the truck Brad
Ford Was not injured hi the
accident, and helped shovel
up the corn. A front end
Burgerfest a success.
Helpers are needed in both
the food and beer tents for
serving and security.
Anyone wishing to help out
is asked to call Grenier at
238-2418 or Carter at 238-2532.
If someone wishes to help
with the preparation of food
they can contact Ruth
Dunlap at 238-2431.
Burgerfest weekend will
be kicked—off Friday when
the beer tent opens at noon.
There will be dancing with
live entertainment until 5:30
and then again from 7:30
until midnight.
The bed races will begin
Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
Entrants should contact
Brade Page at 238-8061.
Action will continue at 1:00
p.m. with the chain saw and
cross cut saw competitions.
Organizers for that event are
Stan Lovie at 238-2727 and
Gord Brown at 238-2080. At
Young man
on fourteen
Ontario Provincial Police
at Grand Bend laid 14
criminal code charges
against Patrick Walter
Akiens, after they recovered
about $3,000 worth of goods
which had been stolen in
London, Strathroy and
Pinery Park.
Akiens, 18, of Grand Bend
has been remanded in
custody and is scheduled to
appear in provincial court in
London shortly,
Two other thefts valued at
loader was brought in and
the corn was put into another
truck.
Two tow trucks, and large
tractor and the loader
pushed and pulled until the
tractor and trailer were up
right. Forest detachment of
the Ontario Provincial
Police investigated the
accident, and estimated the
damage at about $15,000,
Pinery OPP laid 22
charges under the liquor
licence act during the week
of June 8 to 14, They laid
eight charges under the
provincial parks act, and 15
people were charged under
the highway traffic act. One
2:00 p.m. the Optimist Club
is sponsoring the junior
superstar obstacle course for
children at the soccer field.
Skydivers will be doing
precision jumps on the beach
at 3:00 p.m.
On Sunday the Lioness
club is sponsoring the fish
fry on the beach from 11:00
a.m. to 2:00p.m. The bathing
beauty contest will be held in
the tent on Sunday afternohn
at 2:00. At the same time the
Grand Bend Colonials soccer
team will be playing the B's
at the soccer field,
The Optimist club will also
be sponsoring a dunk tank
during the weekend to raise
money for youth activities.
A special feature will be the
reeve's challenge. where for
a little more money. the
public can send Bob Sharen
or Charlie Srokosz for a
swim. The tank will be
located next to the Amuse-
ment Park on the beach.
charged
counts
a total of $162 were
recovered by Grand Bend
OPP during the week of June
8 to 16.
There were 19 charges laid
under the liquor licence act,
and four minor accidents
investigated.
They charged 60 people
under the highway traffic
act, and gave out 34 traffic
warnings. The detachment
investigated a total of 45
general occurrences.
theft was investigated and
two trespass complaints
were handled. There were 17
other miscellaneous oc-
currences investigated.
The Pinery detachment
office was moved Wed-
nesday from its location
inside the park to one of the
houses opposite the park
entrance.A large sign marks
the new office. Spokesman
for the detachment says the
move was made to give the
police more room in the
office. The Fortner office is
going to be used by the
Ministry of Natural
Resources.
hoped would be his profes-
sion.
Lambert was born and
raised in the Montreal area,
and developed an apprecia-
tion for art in his high school
years. He went on, and
studied art and painting at
several school and colleges.
In 1937 he travelled to
England with the idea of
studying under other artists.
He journeyed through-out
Britain, but eventually came
home again.
He had to give up his idea
of working as an artist and
decided that he needed to
was sent to the board in
advance so that they could
have answers ready when
the Grand Bend delegation
attends the meeting next
Monday.
9 • afta
BY MARY ALDERSON
So long, Stevie
The old rivalry has been chances of getting back the
revived this week. Sanders title, Castors on the bed have
Tavern and the Coldnial been changed to 24 inch
Hotel are again vying for the tricycle tires.
Great Grand Bend Bed Race Musser said he was
title. This year both teams distressed to learn that only
have vowed that they will seven pushers were being
take the special Hotel allowed this year. He
Challenge Cup in this planned to have a team of 12,
Saturday's race. using them in groups of four
Last year the Sanders and switching three times.
team unexpectedly stole the Musser says that Colonials
title from the previous are planning a practise run
victors, the Colonial team. this week, "We'll whiz
The Colonials placed a around the beer store lot."
miserable third behind the he explained.
Seaforth Hotel. Spokesman As a final important detail,
for the Colonials gang John Musser said that the
Musser says that won't champagne for their pre-
happen this Weekend, race breakfast had been
"We'll definitely be ordered.
ready," Musser said. Musser Spokesperson for the
said that a few new people Sanders camp, Kim Case
have been trying out for his said that she hoped the
team, ands them may bee „Colonials "had a bigger. aed
.some new faces this'year. better breakfast this year."
Musser added that But as for taking the title
modifications to the bed away from Sanders, Mrs.
should also improve their Case said the Colonial team
'"IMI:AMIMIONNORMKASUOMMICEVMMilik ''MUSWOMV4.,
We'll be ready' Colonial says,
Save your breath' says Sanders
ALMOST UPRIGHT AGAIN — It took two tow trucks, a tractor and a loader to set this
tractor-trailerphoto on its wheels again. The truck tipped on its side when rounding the ramp from
highway 82 onto highway 21. The entire load of corn was spilled across highway 21.Staff
orn spilled across road
•i • w en tractoPitratter t ips