HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1988-12-28, Page 5n
the
Street
By Jim Beckett
he security sign along a new subdivision street in Orange-
ville was painted in a fluorescent orange warning trespas-
sers to keep out.
This didn't deter us from crossing the field and taking a
tour of my brother-in-law's new house. Everything was going fine •
and we were exploring the upstairs when the first hint of trouble ar-
rived with the sound of a car door closing.
I looked out thc window and saw a security guard who couldn't
have been more than five feet tall... but he was big ertpugh to be
able to hold the hungry -looking Doberman straining at the leash.
My mind tried to convince me that he could be coming to check
out one of the other new houses. However, deep inside i knew the
Doberman was coming to kill inc.
The guard and his trained attack dog came in the front door. I had
the next few seconds of action narrowed down to two choices. I
could somehow manage to jump up, grab one of the rafters and pull
myself into the attic where i would be safe. This idea was rejected
for three good reasons: it looked cowardly, it still left my'wife be-
low and I was too heavy to pull myself up.
The.sccond part of my self-preservation plan involved begging,
which turned out to be a wise decision. I called out to the guard that
we were checking out a relative's house and that we would be (cav-
ing immediately. _ .
Fortunately, the security guard had the Christmas spirit and appar-
entlyhis dog had just been fed. You can't imagine how embarrass-- '
ing it is to slink down a flight of stairs, past the guard and -across
the field under the watchful eyes of a dog that won't stop staring at
you. I get the feeling the four -legged security guard was hoping we
were real thieves.
* * * *
The following stores have been selected as the winners in thescc-
ond annual T -A Christmas Window Contest. First place is Jacque-
line's Ladies Wear, second, The Feather Tick -and third, Country
Flowers.
The three winners in our lucky draw are: Dorothy Stephen, RIR. 1
Woodham, Kathy Coolman, Exeter and Ruth Insley, Exeter. They
each will receive a $25.00 merchandise voucher to be used at the Ex-
eter store of their choice.
*
* * *
Mitchell Brocklebank, described as the "miracle baby" in the Lon- '
don Free Press and Global Television last week because he amazing-•
ly escaped injury after being thrown from his car onto Highbury Av-
enue has a local connection. Mitchell is the grandson -of Bill and
Mary Muller of R.R. 1 Crediton.
* * *.*
Christmas sales for arca businessmen have most merchants ex-
tremely pleased after getting off to a slow start. A manager of one of
our larger local stores described ttfc rush of the last two weeks as
"everything he had hoped for".
Back
in time
.10 years ago
•Former mayor Bruce Shaw made front page news for a cribbage
game he played with Ken Lawton and son David. Shaw scored a rare
perfect hand of 29: the jack of diamonds with three fives, and the five
of diamonds was cut.
•An ice storm struck just before Christmas, leaving many motorists
in the ditches of local highways. Fortunately, nothing worse than minor
injuries were reported.
•The Times Advocate informed its readers their newspaper would in
future be coming to them on Wednesdays instead of Thursday.
50 years ago
• "War clouds arc on every horizon as 1938 closes and. 1939 dawns.
Palestine, the cradle of the church and civilization, echoes to the roar of
armed airplanes and her road, once trod by shepherds and the Prince of
Peace tremble beneath armed war machines."
•William D. Sanders was re-elected by acclamation to the reeve's
chair of Exeter council. The village showcda balance of $6,983.43 for
the year cnd.
• Bell Canada offered its cheaper night-time long distance rates for a
full 57 hours over the New Year's holiday, recommending people send
their wishes "the personal way."
100 years ago
•Trivitt Memorfhj+Church was officially opened, with an estimated
1,200 attending the first evening service.
"Sunday dawned auspiciously. The sun shone with all splendor, thc
air was. filled with the clement of purity, thc roads bcing good the
success of the opening of the Trivitt memorial church.was assured."
Times -Advocate, December 28, 1988
Page 5
Ashley's .Attic part of new Zurich growth
By. Adrian Harte
ZUktIC'H - -Debra Ward thinks
visitors to next year's Bean Festi-
val will :be surprised by several
new stores which have appeared in
the village since. last August. Her
own store, Ashley's °Alttc,,.is one
of the latest additions to Zurich's
business community.
Ashley's Attic opened in time for
the Christmas season on December
1, and Ward says it was well worth
her while to open her doors to the
Christmas shoppers.
"It's been a pretty busy three
weeks," Ward said, wondering what
would have happened had she
opened in November.
•"1 always wanted to -open a store
.of my own," said Ward, who ex-
plained her original idea was to
It's Your Business
Ashley's Attic - Debra Ward, one of Zurich's latest businesswomen, stands in her candy and gift
store with daughter Ashley, _after whom the store was named.
open a candy store. for children.. As
plans progressed to open the store
in their Goshen Sweet house in
what was once a butcher shop.
Ward•decidcd to included-a.selection
of gift items. The giftware is now
one of the main attractions in the
store;
Ward's sister came up with the
idea for the store's name, calling it
Ashley's Attic after Ward's daugh-
ter.
"1t was just something that Zu-
rich needed on Main St.," suggested
Ward, but noted that .the secret• to
the Attic's, success might be in- a
strong .'off-season" trade. .She
won't. need to -'rely on summertime
tourist business as long as there is a
steady demand from in -town cus-
tomers in the fall and Christmas
seasons.
Ward points out her store is only
part of a resurgence in Zurich's re-
tail market. She says the introduc-
tion of the three or four new stores
in the past' few months was long
overdue. •
"l"think it can only help the Bean
Festival too. I think it's been go
.ing downhill for- a while,." said
Ward. "Zurich needed a pickup."
Even though Ashley's Attic has
only been open a month, Ward is
already planning improvements to
her product line. -
"I hope to expand 'even. more on .
the candy section yet," she said. A
selection of -baby clothing is in the
works, and like the' rest of the gift-
ware in the store, will be com-
pletely hand -made.
• Ward will also continue her line
of made-to-order gift baskets, in-
cluding candy baskets of chocolates.
she makes by hand in the store.
"Right now, I'm just experi-
menting with different things," .she
said, but notes her store is small -
and she wants to keep it that. way
for now.
988: The
ear in pictures
�►
SawL&s
oK the 13ecteh
•
RESTAURANT • GRAND BENT
.1091111
November election - November was the month- for -municipal elec-
tions, but the local campaigns were overshadowed by the federal •
vote a week later, in which Conservative candidate Murray Cardiff
fought a close contest with first-time runner Liberal Ken Dunlop.
Beach dispute - In May, Grand Bend businesses went public with
their worries for their future, stemming from the village versus Ar-
chie Gibbs beach ownership dispute. Business owners like JcFry
Sanders foresaw problems with property access and decreased
tourism should Gibbs win his court case, a verdict from which is
expected in the next few weeks. •
w..
Fight for post offices Rural
Dignity,an organization set up
to fight for the rights of rural
Canadians to full-service post
offices, sent two women from
the east coast t� bring their
message to Ottawa. Along the
way, they collected letters from
concerned rural Canadians,
somts of which Liz Armstrong
showed to the press for the
first time.
Fleck workers strike - About
200 workers, mostly women.
turned down 'a contract offer
Froin Fleck manufacturing in
Huron Park and headed for the
picket line. The company
promptly .dismantled and
closed the factory, a move
which union officials predicted
was the future of Canada un-
der Free Trade. • •
•
Drought - The almost total lack of rainfall in June and July had
North American farmers .worried. Usborne fanner Murray Dawson
was no exception as he saw his bean crop wither in the fields.
Late July rains prevented a total crop loss, but farmers still no-
ticed decreased yields.
•
•