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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-06-25, Page 23• I think I passed the test and may now, lay claim to certification in the uncle department. Actually, this correspondent is well versed on smatters relating to bejng,an uncle bust; this past week presented a rather testy situation. My older sister, whom I have not seen for many years, arrived in Toronto last week for a holiday in Cambridge with my ninth4r. Her husband,. a mountie, was in Ottawa taking a three-week course on the art of re -sealing opened letters, I presume. Anyway, my young niece, aged 4% and nephew, aged 3%/2, had met their Uncle Dave on one previous occasion but were too young to remember. , Needless to say they approached- the, reunion with Uncle with great an- ticipation. And I would have to admit to being a scant bit anxious myself, wanting to make a good impression on these youngsters so they would remember lir the •go9d, times with Uncle Dave. -However, on our first meeting there were ominous signs indicating Unele Davk . ould not pass the test. AtToronto Airport, I spotted my sister. • t a distance, a stunning lady (she' leaks like me) and ran up fon-an exchange of greetings. I said Hi to the wee Dries and offered just a slnall sample of my winsome smile in that.-. cute little way I have. They were not impressed. w Irt feet as we headed to a lower floor to ' claim the baggage, my nephew lookedup at his mom and said:" Is that our uncle?" It teff to dent the ego some when a 3% year old kid isn't willing to take you on as a relative. And as we drove to Cambridge from the airport, the little guy asked his mother if Uncle Dave could could drive them back to Edmonton. The little niece and nephew were obviously not enamoured with this new uncle. Godencth NALESTAR Marilyn Whiteman and Pam Lambert, along with Sandra Currie, are hanging around Point Farms Provincial Park this summer providing, services and recreational activities for campers and day users. (photo by Cath Wooden) Park celebrates BY CATH WOODEN Over a hundred years ago, tired run-down city folk started coming to a place called Point Farm Hotel to rest up, catch sonie rays, and play badminton. Today, tired run-down city and country folk are coming to Point Farms Provincial -Park -to- -rest up, catch some rays, and play frisbee. The, only difference is they have to bring their own beds. The park is celebrating its fifteenth year in operation this season and it has come a 1°ong way since J.J. Wright built his second resort hotel (the• first one burned down) in 1874. The parcel of land continued to be used as recreational by various entrepreneurs throughout the years and in 1963, the Crown began acquiring the total of 585 acres that is Point Farms Provincial Park;. - -Lt-.....is-__ one o.f ' .1.28. provincial parks' in the country, and to continue the tradition started by Wright, it is classified as recreational, while parks like Cypress Lake are termed naturalist parks and Algonquin is a wildlife park. • There are 200 camp-• sites in Point Farms' two camping areas, Colborne and. Huron. There is also a group camping area which is free to non-profit organizations. Senior 'citizens also can camp free an the park. The Ministry of Natural Resources plans . to delep-a.-new area, east of the Colborne campsites and also .plans • to make the group camping area closed to vehicles: This year, 9,000 trees were planted throughout the park and a visitors services building. was Turn to page 2A • 132 YEAR -26 Despite the bad start things got progressively better during the week and tobe modest, I am now on their swell guy list. V'm.ngt certain if it was• typical uncle behavior but the wee ones had me crawling on the floor, playing ball, pretending worms were snakes, making improvisational swings with a rope, feeding ants and colouring neato pictures while their morn took a nap. Not every uncle would go -to the trouble but then, I'had never fed ants before and it was an interesting proposition. Colouring is also one of, my strong points and I rarely strayed outside the blaclt lines which impressed the heck out of the, little guys. And I am now considering getting a book of my own just to keep in practice. But, to be honest, I have had some previous experience at being an uncle, having two nephews and a niece in London, that require regular uncle - attention.' Onee, whiffle Visiting the youngsters, they had been o itsi4:e playing for a few minutes when I heard a great Commotion at the back door. I went to the back door to have a iaAk- arid found about 10 neighbourhood kids peering through the screen of the doer. "There he is," my nephew shouted excitedly. "That's my uncle." All the kids got a bit wide-eyed at having the opportunity to catch ' a glimpse of the infamous Uncle Dave and there were a few resulting Wows - before they dispersed to resume play. At least that's my story and I refuse to alter the facts. But being a full-fledged uncle can be an exacting and demanding job and I .. was rather relieved to seek respite from the week's holiday behind the typewriter. However, if your kids are looking for a great playmate, I may be able to spare a few hoursfor colouring or ant ceding. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1980 SECOND SECTION Local band records album BY JOANNE BUCHANAN If • you haves been at some social function in the area recently that involves music and dancing, chances are that you have heard, the sound of Star-Trex. There may soon come a day however when you do not even have to leave your house to hear this popular group's music. With the recent release of their first album, entitled, Star-Trex Goldrush, you may soon be, hearing them on local radio stations or if you choose to buy the album, on your own stero. , - The album, which was recorded in March at Maxim Recording Studio, R.R. 2 St. Pauls, features a variety of music in- cluding three original, songs written by group members. The group, the nucleus of which was formed ten years ago, now consists of Rex Johnston,' Larry, Johnston, .Sharon Johnston and Randy Lawson. Rex and Larry are brothers and Larry andSharonare husband and wife. Up until March, the group also included another J`0hnsTon brother.,However, due to other commitments, he. had to quit the group. Star-Trex members maintain a hectic pace. They are now taking bookings steadily for 1981, They play at everything within a 50 mile radius of Goderich, from formal dances and w_edding. receptions ,to,, fairs and beer tents. Their music ranges from disco to fiddle tunes • depending on the crowd they are playing to. They are booked three years in advance for New Years' Eve. They do all their own bookings and promotions, taking time off only when they choose to. And in 'between engagements, there is lots of group and in- dividual p actice. But the group's members are . not com- plaining about the pace because they say they are being paid for what they love to do most --make music. Besides 'the recent album and the single which is . being released off the album, the group has also started Its own record company called Circle City Records (the label under. which their album has been released) and their own publishing company called Star- Trex Music. All of the group's members read 'and write music and have taken private music • lessons at one time or other.' The musical activities of Star-Trex are confined to nights and , weekends because each of the group's members have regular day -time jobs. Larry is the Cable TV system ' manager for Goderich; Sharon works at the land registry office in Godericli; Rex is an electrician; and .Randy make's. -his living-teaehing guitar in Strathroy. Star-Trex was actually born ten years ago under a different name --The Drifters Four. It included the three Johnston - brothers from Bayfield and one friend, John Moerbeek. Their first two engagements • were family affairs --a cousin's wedding in Galt and the Johnston brothers' parents' 30th wedding anniversary. Sharon, who at that time was Sharon Potter from . Holmesville, was dating Larry and she would sing along with the group at their rehearsals. It wasn't long before she was singing on stage as part of the group though. Randy was born in Sarnia and raised in Strathroy. Prior to joining Star-Trex he had been touring eastern Canada with another band . almost steadily every.night for two years. His father, Al Lawson, manager of the PUC in Goderich, told Larry about him. Larry invited him to a few jam sessions with Star-Trex •. and he ended up joining the group. That was a year and a half ago. Randy, who has two months off from his regular job this summer, will be travelling to approximately 30 radio stations in ' Ontario, talking to the program directors and promoting the -group's single and album. In other words, he will be trying to get as much air play as possible. In total, 300 radio,stations. across Canadwill receive the album and single:-9iice played, everything wilt- depend on audience reaction. The A side of the single is entitled You're the Man. It was written by Sharon and features her voice., The B side is en- titled ountry Boy. It was written by Rex. These two songs are both featured on the -.- album along with Fer- nando, Don't Cry • Out Loud, When Will I Be Loved, Looking Back to See, The, Gambler, You Light Up My Life, You're the One that I W ant„ and• ariot'tie'r ori gin al "etititl'etr Love My Little Lady, written by. Larry. The group says these songs represent a good cross- section of the kind of music they like to do. In public and on the album, Sharon sings lead vocals and background vocals. She can also play-._.___ the piano and_•syn- thesizer. Larry shares in the lead and background vocals as well as playing bass guitar and piano. -Rex (from which .the Trex part of the group's name comes from) does "aeilgtiofifir"Vo6alt and Turn to page 2A 0 • • Star-Treft, a popular musical group in the area, has just released an album entitled Star-Trex Goldrush. It features three original songs. Members of the group as they appear on the album cover are, left to right, Rex Johnston, Sharon Johnston, Larry Johnston and Randy Lawson. (Photo by Douglas Spillane) We are a society of chronic fuss - makers, No African tribe in the middle of some jungle has more rites of passage than we do and frankly, it gives me a pain in the shorts. The big fuss during this time of year is graduation from elementary school. I seem to be caught amidst the whole thing what with taking pictures of many Grade 8 A -ward winners and even having my own brother graduating. - .--_When one runs frantically about snapping flicks of dressed up kids looking hot • and itchy and crying mothers and bored dads, and when one runs frantically from store to store looking for a keen graduation present for the sibling, one tends to question the whole deal. Why do we - do this? I'll tell ya why we do this. We do this to make people insecure and malad- justed. I know because your insecure columnist is 'maladjusted and I at- tribute it to all the darn ceremonies I Went through. The Grade 8 routine was especially damaging. I agonized for weeks over whether or not 1 would be the only girl to wear a short dress (my fears were uncalled for; there were two of us.) I wondered if I'd trip on the way up the platform stairs to get my diploma. I was afraid of being a wallflower at the dance afterwards. My brother shares (or shared, rather. His evening will be over when this column comes out) similar fears, I suspect. He decided two weeks beforehand that he wasn't going to go. to the banquet. My mother said that was fine, but she was going anyway. He tried on his'suit so that I could take his picture last Sunday and he screamed that he couldn't brea`tlre• when the tie went on. He also insisted' upon wearing his track shoes with the outfit. I'ni sure the only thing he is looking forward to is getting presents. -His birthday falls on the same day he - 'noshed schuul, which means double whamee to the family's wallets. Graduations must be increasing in importance if the magnitute of the gifts are an accurate measure. John is getting another electric guitar (gee, I hope I didn't ruin anything, Mom) for. graduating. I got a 'beach towel when I did. I spent the summer lying on my beach towel worrying about whether. I was going to be able to find my locker when I got to high school in the fall. And I worried about Whether I was going to pass Math 150. And I wondered if I should buy three-ring binders or duotangs and which was gross and which color was decent. I worried about initiation day and whether I was going to have to stand on a cafeteria table and sing a song. I can't sing. John will probably spend his summer playing his guitar and worrying about whether he is going -to find his locker and whether he will find the right bus 1 ther he will screw up in gym class. If John is' like most of his peers, every kid going into high school this fall is going to have a lousy summer. All this worrying makes us old before we deserve it. If we never graduated from anything we wouldn't worry about endings. and beginnings and moving on to the next thing. If that next thing warranted worring about, then it would be different. But rarely do things turn out as frightening as we figure they will be. I refused to attend my high school commencement for that reason. If you simply ignore these things, they will go away without all the fuss and pageantry and picture taking and crying mothers. For the first time in my life, the beginning of this summer does ngt mark the end of something else. There are no marks in the mail, there is not the beginning of September to plan for. Just my poor old brother to em- pathize with. cath wooden