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Huron Expositor, 2002-10-02, Page 10s-THO MORON ixroealTO11. October sa, 1001 Black encourages kids to be heroes From Pogo 1 talk about it, it's so horrifying. It really gives you a good perspective on life when you live m the toy box I live in, in the world of sports," he said. Black encouraged children and their parents to aspire to become everyday heroes. "Being a hero means getting involved and not staying on the sidelines. That's what we're here for - to get along with each other, to enjoy each other and to help each other out," he said. Black said the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks which occurred where he now likes to call "Ground Hero" instead of Ground Zero, have created a lot of everyday heroes in police officers, firefighters and paramedics. . "It was an unfathomable tragedy in the U.S. and everyone since has been saying, 'God bless America' But, they truly should be saying, `God bless humanity' because we've been seeing more humanity in the past month than we've seen in a long time," he said. Black, who almost missed his plane back to Toronto from New York City Saturday night where he was interviewing singer Lenny Kravitz for Canada AM, said the CTV show will be returning to New York in the future to collect some of the personal stories of heroic New Yorkers during the crisis. "As evil and horrific as it was, I think some good will come out of it," he said. rFLU VACCINE CLINIC�� SEAFORTH MEDICAL CLINIC Wednesday, October 24, 31 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Thursday, October 25 and November 1st 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. No appointment necessary but please bring your health card. The walk-in clinics have been cancelled for Thursday Oct. 25th and November 1st. For real peace of mind, look for this symbol <,t protection. • We provide insurance protection that lets you sleep at night. That's because the collective strength of our 50 community based mutual insurers makes us among the most financially secure insurance networks in the world. For you, it means friendly knowledgeable service from people who understand.your needs and provide the protection and service you want. Sebringville 393-6402 • 1-800-263-1961 •A Member Of me Ontario MutuM Insurance AssaHtron Call LYNDA VINCENT at 527-2204 or toll free 1-888-269-0377 News Haunted Van Egmond House tour will stress `creepy' atmosphere By Susan Hunderttmark Expositor Staff Even though just one person , called to share Van Egmond House ghost stories, assistant curator Kyle Rea is confident the house is spooky enough for a successful haunted tour on Halloween night. "Basically the creepiness of the atmosphere is what we're concentrating on and we already had enough stories to put a tour together," he says. Dressed in a black cape, Rea plans to lead groups through the darkened house holding an oil lantern. As well, kids are being encouraged to visit the house as a trick or treat stop where there will be Halloween candy and decorations. With an admission fee of $4 per adult and and $2 per child, Rea warns that the tour may not be appropriate for younger children. "There won't be people jumping out from behind doors. I think your imagination is a lot scarier than anything else," he says. While Rea asked the community several months ago to come forward and share any ghostly stories or experiences they've had at the Van Egmond House, only one person contacted him. Ghost stories he's accummulated involve silhouettes seen in windows at night and footsteps heard on the stairs. "If I saw someone in a window, I'd be quite unnerved by the sight because I know no one's lived in the house for more than 30 years," he says. Another story involves Rea's friend, who while walking at night noticed a single light like a candle glow coming from one window of the normally lit -up house. When he got closer to the house, he saw what looked like someone working at a desk in the candlelight. "He swears he saw someone and he fled because he was frightened and when he returned all the house lights were on again," says Rea. "Anne Johnston is who the ghost is reported to be," he says. Anne Johnson is the wife of Constant Van Egmond, son of Colonel Anthony Van Egmond and builder of the house. Rea says others think the ghost is Madam Van Egmond, wife of the Colonel who moved in with her son in 1846 and lived there until she died in 1874. Each tour will take a half hour each and Rea is hoping that if Halloween's haunted tour is successful,, he'll be able to do the tour monthly during next year's 30th anniversary of the Van Egmond House. "I don't know if it's going to fly and I haven't got approval yet but that's what I hope to do," he says. Couple tries to solve lighting mystery in Van Egmond House 15 years ago From Pogo 1 Marg picked up her husband, who was walking home from the Van Egmond House, and told him that once again some lights were on but that this time, she thought she'd seen a figure in one window. Beckuse he'd just turned all the lights off and locked up, they turned right around and headed back to the house, determined to catch whoever was messing with the lights. "I told him someone was in there and this time I went in too," says Marg. While Bill headed for the second floor where Marg had seen what she thought was a man standing at the window, she went to the basement looking for some way someone could have entered the house. "I started to hear what sounded like whispering that started following me wherever I went. I went up to join Bill and whatever it was came with me. When I got to Bill, I told him I thought it was Van Egmond himself," she says. Marg, who says she has some psychic abilities, says she's always been more intrigued than frightened of ghosts. "Ghosts don't fizz on me," she laughs. But, since that time, Marg says she's felt drawn to the Van Egmond House and goes there whenever it's open to the public. "I always have to go in there. I think he's trying to communicate with me but I'm not tuned in enough yet to understand," she says. Marg has come to believe Looking for a guaranteed investment? the Colonel is waiting for his son, with whom he wishes to share the secret of gold and wine he buried on the property as an inheritance for his son. "That's why he's standing in the window - he's waiting for his son to come home. And, he's worried about someone taking the wine and gold before his son gets it," she says. Assistant curator Kyle Rea says Colonel Anthony Van Egmond never lived in the Van Egmond House and died in a Toronto jail. He was buried at his farm but his body was moved to the cemetery behind the house several years later. "The Colonel never lived there but that doesn't matter. You could argue that he's returned as a spirit," says Rea. Rea adds he's heard many. stories about alcohol buried on the property, particularly in the basement. "There are so many rumours about treasure and ghosts at the Van Egmond House it's beyond belief. It's a place of complete mystery that people seem fascinated with," he says. Rea says some of the more "wayout" stories involve headless ghosts and bodies buried in the basement. He says that while security lights are often on in the Van Egmond House, a motion sensor alarm inside would go off if anyone truly were moving around inside. "In a way, the ghost stories keep the vandals away. Most people don't want to break into a haunted house," he says. It's ri/jht under your nose. What you do for a child today Lasts their whole lifetime. _7 he Marley 7?/eari are lint the 6e ginning. www.h uron ear lyyears.ca AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR FIREARM OWNLS IN ONTARIO 1 's time to register your firearms Look for your form Right now, in the mail! registration is FREE! Your personalized and easy -to -complete firearm registration form is already on its way to you by mail if you hold a valid firearms licence or Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC). You must have your licence or FAC before you can register. Firearm registration is a legal responsibility for all firearm owners. Registration is a one-time endeavour. You can save the $18 fee if you apply to register your firearms by the deadline indicated on your form. Acting now means you're sure to have your registration documents before you need them. You may also apply to register on-line. Visit www.cfc.gc.ca for details. For more information, call: 1 800 731-4000 or visit: www.cfc.gc.ca • Registration works towards improving public safety by recognizing owner accountability for the safe use and storage of firearms. • Any restricted or prohibited firearms that you registered under the former law must be re -registered. There is no fee for re -registration. • An amnesty is in effect until December 31, 2001, to allow those in possession of unregistered, restricted firearms to either register or properly dispose of them. • Registration enables police to trace firearms that may have been stolen, • illegally Imported, illegally manufactured, or bought on the black market. • Insurance coverage and claims can be obtained or handled more easily for owners of registered firearms. • By law, all firearms must be registered by the end of 2002. Canad! •