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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-03-20, Page 18Page 18 Times -Advocate, March 20, 1996 e Are They Now? is an extended series on South Huron High School graduates and their career choices Pau/ Kristoferson: trlmmlng the trees WYOMING - "You've got to like to work outdoors," said Paul Kristoferson of his job as a forestry sub -foreman with Southwest Hydro, a division of Ontario Hydro. "It's fairly physically demanding." Working with a crew of four at the Lambton Service Centre in Wyoming, the bulk of Kristoferson's responsibilities consist of trimming and removing trees along hydro lines in Lambton County. He is also responsible for customer contracts and job planning. His job used to include other services such as grass cutting and fence building but with that work now contracted out, the only extra task he finds himself doing is minor fence repair. "We just don't have the staff to do those jobs anymore," he said, adding he liked the variety the other tasks used to offer. Maintaining trees near hydro lines is a year-round task that involves handling heavy equipment The chain saw weighs 20 pounds and the pruner is awkward to maneuver. Technology, however, has insured steady improvement of equipment. For example, Kristoferson pointed out, 25 years ago, before hydrolic operated lift trucks were used, Employees were required to be in a tree in order to trim it. After moving to the Centralia area when he was 16, London native Kristoferson attended South Huron District High School. His fust job was with the Ministry of Natural Resources as a summer parks maintenance employee in Terrace Bay. While considering colleges, he narrowed his choice down to careers in forestry, carpentry or fire fighting and ended up choosing a two-year forestry technician course at Sir Sanford Fleming College in Lindsay. Soon after, although he was accepted to work on a fire fighting crew, he returned to work with the ministry at a summer maintenance job, this time at Pinery Provincial Park as foreman of a government sponsored program for a group of 10 students. After an oil rig job fell through in Edmonton, he worked in the construction industry during the housing boom in the 70's. In 1978 he was called by the ministry to maintain Peche Island, a day use park. He also spent two summers working at Holiday Beach Provincial Park near Amherstburg selling hunting permits and carrying out duties as park warden. During one particularly dry sununer, when Northem Ontario was experiencing numerous forest fires, and when Kristoferson was camp riverside campground foreman at the Pinery, he was called to Red Lake as a member of an emergency standby crew to set up a fire line. "Every pore of your body's got soot in it from the fire," he said of the experience, adding the bugs were also difficult to deal with. "It was interesting but it didn't turn out to be a very long term thing." Following additional work at the Pinery and Holiday Beach, he began his current job in 1981. Ten years later, he was temporarily transferred to London to deal with secondary land usage and power line maintenance as a forestry environment technician before returning to his sub -foreman work. Although working with forestry is physically demanding, Kristoferson likes the opportunity he gets to experience wildlife. "We see a lot of different bird life, raccoons," he said, recalling spotting a tree frog for the first time. "We get to see a lot of things people normally wouldn't get to see sitting in their offices working in town." Kristoferson lives in Forest with his wife and two children. In his spare time he enjoys woodworking, golf and baseball. Around your community 100th birthday celebrations Ellmvllle Church held a "Walk Through Lent" with messengers dressed in their favorite Biblical Fashion. From left, Brad Robinson, Matt Miner,. Mathew Johns and Carolyn Johns pose in robes and headgear. The South Huron Recreation Centre Staff kept children between five and eight occupied during the March Break with crafts. From left, Erin Tordoff, Greg Gielen, Cam and Brett Oud, Mikayla Skinner, Kendra Smith and Tony Allen show off some of the crafts they made at the Rec Centre Friday. Danielle Christmas places cookie mix on a baking pan during the March Break Kids Kookie Kaper at the South Huron Recreation Centre on Friday. While the cookies were baking Rec Centre staff And volunteers kept the chil- dren busy by singing songs. When they ran out of songs to sing the children were treated to a special ap06e0- ance by Barney, Exeter's only skateboarding dog. R ZURICH - Monday afternoon was party time at Blue Water Rest Home as the residents gathered in the auditorium to wish Catherine Mae Bulak a happy 100th birthday. Mae moved to the home six years ago, spent her youth asa teacher and was involved in the educational system. Unknown to family mem- bers, Mae eloped in her 60s to be- come a bride for the first time. Mae is an active worker in the Hobby Room and calls it her job. She also loves cats and dogs. Mtie's Special guests for the afterlo noon included Molly Gowdy, St. Joseph, friend of family and a vol- unteer of the home who visits Mae; Diane Melick (Eula Melick's (niece) daughter-in-law) Juli Me - lick and Tracy Melick-Smith, Diane's dauthers and son-in-law Craig Smith of Goderich; Bill and Jean McGregor (nephew), Kippen; and Peggy and Bill MacLean (niece) of Exeter. Gladys and The Merry Makers played for the 100th party in the au- ditorium. Gladys played accordion and piano, Mozart Geliinas Sr. on banjo and guitar, Harvey McDowell and Elgin Nott on violin, Miles Ut- tley on saxophone and LInda Ruth- erford was guest singer. Irish music was the theme for the day - "McNamara's Band, Peggy O'Neill, The Wearing of the Green". The residents joined into the music with some fancy dancing and the wheelchair swinging. Mae thanked everyone for the party, flowers, cards and balloons. And McBride, sons Allan and Michael, Cathy Shantz, Jean McGregor and Peg MacLean helped serve cake and ice cream to the guests. Tuesday afternoon Bible Study was conducted in the Chapel by Rev. Gani Lazaro, Zurich/ Dashwood United Church. Wednesday was 'Green day" at the home and residents and staff wore their Irish colors. Green tea was the sample of the day for after- noon tea in the auditorium with hostess Gladys Gingerich. Rev. Art Kruger, Church of God, Grand Bend conducted Thursday afternoon chapel service with the assistance of his wife Evelyn as or- ganist. Fr. Matthias Wronski, St. Boniface Church Zurich, celebrate Mass. Ann McBride and sons Allan and Michael called Friday afternoon bingo. Corrections Bryan Negrijn was incorrectly identified as Ryan Negrijn in a South Huron Drama Department photo last week. in a story about the Exeter busi- ness Association's plans for a downtown streetscape a reference was made about Fred Mommerst. The correct name is Fred Mom- mersteeg. The 'limes -Advocate regrets these errors. Condolences to the family and friends of the late Babetta (Con- nie) Kunigunda Minderlcin who passed away at BWRH on Satur- day March 16 in her 87th year. Connie and her late husband were well know in the Zurich area. Con- dolences also go to the family and friends of the late Joan Marie Bed- ard who passed away at the home on Tuesday March 12. Joan leaves behind many family members in the Zurich area and was the sister- in-law of resident Mary Romanis- ''. zyn. On Tuesday, March 12 Gertrude Catherine Fleischauer, an Auxil- iary volunteer who frequented the home with carnations for each new resident along with many other ac- tivities at the home passed away at South Huron Hospital, Exeter after putting in a full day of volunteer- ism at her church. Gertie frequent- ly played the role of Santa Claus for the home and elsewhere and I • was an asset to her community. The residents and staff of BWRH I will miss her presence. Thoughts + from her parish and administration were"We would like to have more people like Gertie in our parish". Lioness draw winner Exeter Lioness members Janet Wunnick and Janet Mason make the Valentine's basket draw which was won by Trina Culrain of Huron Park. Recently, the Exeter Lioness club president Mary -Lou Becker made a donation of $250.00 to Deanna Brock, co-ordinator of the Perth -Huron Branch of the Palliative Care - Volunteer Program. Smart Care Clinic Ed Meldinger of Huron Motor Products Ltd. points out to customers who attended the Smart Care Clinic on Wednes- day night some of the advanced technology new models of- fer. ffer.