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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-02-15, Page 5the Street By Jim Beckett 0 wning a metal detector could save your life. Just -ask Roger Roger lives in Exeter but decided on the weekend to take his wife and family to stay in their cottage at Oakwood. Under normal circumstances there would be nothing unique about this except this time they encountered a frozen water pipe, a routine repair job for most individuals but something that turned into a monumental challenge for Roger. Things started to go very wrong when he used his trusty blow torch to thaw out a plastic pipe, something that isn't covered in any plumbing manual. This added to the problem, requiring the water to be shut off. In most places this too would be routine, needing only a few counterclockwise turns of the valve... but things are different in Oakwood. The valve is located underground outside the cottage which makes turning off the water supply more complicated, even for Roger. This graduate of survival courses and stress management situa- tions rose to the challenge phoning everyone he knew.to come and bail him out. He even drove into the Bend searching for anyone who knew anything about plumbing. He finally found someone from an- other municipality who out of compassion agreed to come and save the family. When they pulled into the yard they were greeted with a scene that could have been taken straight from the movies. His wife was in the front yard with her nightgown flowing in the moonlight holding a flashlight in one hand and a metal detector in the other searching for the elusive valve. Roger has proven once again he can handle any problem providing you surround yourself with the right people. * * * * An advertising promotion in the form of an invoice has been re- ceived this week by many area businesses. The Better Business Bureau recommends that businesses alert their staff, particularly the accounts payable personnel, that these "look alike invoices" are in fact solicitations for business. Canadian Office Supplies are sending this new advertising promo- tion for $198.75 to sell memberships to businesses in this area. Ca- nadian Office Supplies reports that this membership entitles you to a catalogue subscription, monthly mallows and 20% discounts. Ca- nadian Office Supplies further informed the Better Business Bureau that any business that inadvertently paid the invoice can apply for a 100% refund. • * * * * Barb Elliott of RR2 Zurich, won $10,000 instantly in the Ontario Lottery Corporation's Instant game, Instant Jackpot. Players simply scratch off the coating on the four rows of play symbols in the centre of the ticket. If the same prize symbol appears three times in any one of four horizontal rows, the player wins the corresponding prize shown in the legend. MEI Back in time 10 years ago 'Lions treasurer George Godbolt estimated profits from the sixth annual Exeter Sportsmen's Dinner to be on the order of $5,000, all in aid of "crippled kids". Guest speakers included Bobby Bragan. • Lauric Russel. was crowed as queen of the Kirkton-Woodham winter carnival. •Ontarians prepared for their glimpse of a partial eclipse of the sun. 20 years ago • While today we debate Sunday shopping, 20 years ago things were a little different. - "A poll taken among Exeter businesses last week indicated that the majority arc in favour of closing for one full day each week. At present most stores close only Wednesday afternoon." • A group of Dashwood area hunters were pictured with the carcass of a wolf they shot locally. •The Times Advocate editorial page came out against the doubling of post-officc box rental fees in 1969. The argument was that urban and farm customers paid nothing for delivery right to their homes. 50 years ago ."The new High School is receiving its finishing touches. The carpenter work is complete. The painters have taken advantage of the fine weather of the past.few days to paint the outside woodwork. The mastic tile flooring has been laid and the work of interior decorating is well under way. The installation of the equipment will be next in order." •"Thomas Klumpp, of Dashwood suffered a heavy Loss on Saturday afternoon when fire destroyed his planing mill, chopping mill, saw mill and lumber yard." The loss was estimated at $20,000, for which Klumpp said he had no insurance The Dachm ad.fiz ,: merit was powerless to save the mill because of a lack of water. Debate rose as to whether the wells were low, or the pumper or hoses were frozen. The fire departments of Grand Bend, Zurich and Hensall arrived in time to save surrounding homes. 70 years ago •The Advocate marked that at 2:50 p.m. on February 17, Sir Wilfrid Laurier passed away. This came only two years after Laurier was defeated along with the Liberal party in 1917. •A notice under the Dashwood column marked the dissolution of a general store partnership between Ezra Tiernan and George Edighoffer. "The business in future will be conducted by Reid Edighoffcr and Son on strict business principle, embracing honesty, upright and square dealing with all customers, and with this object in view solicit the patronage of all in this community. •"Was anything like it ever known for so early in the season?" asked the Advocate about the fact that sap was reported to be running in local sugarbushes. The column called for making the most of the early flow to help case the national war debt. Ii Dan Meidinger Accounting & Financial Services Authorized agent for most trust companies. Contact me today for highest rates available. on GIC's and • RRSP's 235-0763 &E INCOME TAX SERVICES - income tax preparation by certified personnel - reasonable rates - fast, accurate results - for more information or appointment Call 228t4176 after 4 p.m. •..stswwaxlrrinvvv o'+' 3nrosn ect- . -. Times -Advocate, February 15, 1989 Page 5 Exeter's key and screen artist closing up shop EXETER - The terrible memory and forgetfullness of many area res- idents has been one of the "keys" to the success of Exeter hardware store operator Glenn Fisher. Fisher who along with his wife Mary will be closing the doors of the last of the old-time hardware stores on Main street on May 1 has been specializing in making duplicate keys for many years. - He has been cutting up to up to 100 keys each week and says a lot of his business is repeat when cus- tomers lose their original keys and in some cases subsequent ones. The building which was pur- chased from the estate of the late George Hawkins in 1974 has now been sold to Country Flowers, now located directly to the south of Fisher's. When Glenn Fisher purchased the hardware bbsiness from Hawkins on July 13, 1952 ,he became Exeter's youngest businessman at the age of 23. For five years prior to the pur- chase he was employed in the office and stockroom at Dobbs Motor. While some of the remaining merchandise may be disposed of by an auction sale in late April, Fisher says things have moved well during his "25 percent off everything sale". He added, " I've already made ar- rangements for the sale of the bal- ance of the paint, nuts and bolts, key machines, scales, adding ma- chine and cash register." In addition to making as many as' 100 duplicatee keys each week, Fisher has repaired thousands of windows and screens over his 37 year career in the hardware business. Asked about his plans for retire- ment, he replied, " I may do a few screens and windows at home." In the early days, Fisher cut glass for car windows for garages and auto body shops. - He recalls, " In the early 1950's I did a lot of car windows for Larry Snider Motors as some new auto- mobiles would come in with side windows broken. I also did wind- shields when they were flat before going to hard glass." In recent years, Fisher has in- stalled windows for an antique car owned by Hal Walsh of Huron Park and a 1915 Ford Model T now be- ing restored by John Stewart of Cre- diton. During a windstorm that hit the area about 10 years ago, Fisher worked almost day and night to keep up to the calls. He comment- ed, " I would work outside all day and then in the shop at night to get these repairs completed." During 'the almost 37 years in business, Fisher found tin* to serve on Exeter council for nine years. He was a councillor for four years, dep- uty reeve for one year and served as reeve for another four years. The mayors at the time were Ted Pooley and Si Simmons. The town sewage works were started during his term on c'uncil and he was chairman of the Huron County Health Unit for a time. Key job - Glenn Fisher busy at making keys. Screening - Glenn Fisher is , busy placing a new screen on a patio door. Zurich Hydro manager leaves for Palmerston ZURICH - Reeve Bob Fisher brought what he called, "distressing news" to Thursday's regular meet- ing of Zurich council. He informed fellow council members that Hydro manager Char- lie Eckel had resigned his position effective April 1 to accept a similar post with the hydro commission in Palmerston. On the suggestion of Fisher, an advertisement for a replacement for Eckel will be placed in the Zurich Advance and the Exeter Times Ad- vocate. Whcn councillor Herb Turkhcim suggested that any possible candi- dates would know about the open- ing through municipal publications already contacted Fisher comment- ed, "There may be local electricians ,interested in the job who would not otherwise know. When Charlie got the job he was an electrician and not a lineman." Peter's Point: piano lesson. �� •P•S 11 Continued from page 4 played Jesus loves me, and he is now entering the Laughing Alliga- tor stage. Will he continue with his lessons after the performance? Maybe for a while. In the meantime, Stephanie is waiting anxiously in the wings for her chance. Our strategy is to make her beg for it. When she is finally allowed to take lessons, she'll real- ly appreciate them. At least that's the theory. Having created these children, we stmpty to make them as per- fect as possible. Since music is an important part of our culture, we want them to "get music". I'm not as convinced as Elizabeth that pia- no lessons arc the answer. I asso- ciate music with inspiration, en- thusiasm, spontaneity, freedom and joy. I feel that piano lessons can easily turn all that into drudgery, work, methodology, repetition, and worry. Elizabeth argues that there is no better w,ay of stimulating and maintaining musical creativity in children. I realize that the training of a concert pianist involves "10 percent talent and 90 percent sweat". but why do we have to ap- ply the same ratio to a child who is supposed to enjoy music? We have come to realize that an adult is required to practice the pia- no with a child. Since in our fami- ly -the adult with the greater knowl- edge of musical theory happens to be Elizabeth, she has been nomi- nated and appointed ac PhD. P.P. (Person helping Duncan Pi mei Practice). Since I can say without boasting that I clearly have the best musical Dr. J.L. Jadd Is pleased to announce the opening of his Family Pre r at 496 Main St., South (Formerly Dr. Ecker's office) Phone: 235-0910 car in the family. my f 10 decide' whcthcr a ;n note or chord sounds right or wrong. In other words, we have a neat divi- sion of labour in terms of piano lessons. Elizabeth looks after the theoretical, practical, managerial, mechanical, pcdarogi al and finan- cial aspects, v I ,t;n in charge of the purely artistic, aesthc !ic and, emotional side. I'll report further after the next music festival '• the meantime, why don't you tell us .about your own experiences? Let's hear from parents,. students-- and last but not least - piano teachers. RON KEYS, VARNA 1/4% 1 to 5 years comp. 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