The Times Advocate, 2008-06-25, Page 5Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Times—Advocate
5
Opinion Forum News
I OYEARS AGO
June 24, 1998 - On Friday,
Exeter native Bill Ellerington,
57, received an Honorary
Doctor of Laws degree from
the University of Western
Ontario.
The Clinton Community
Credit Union opened its ROSS
Dashwood branch last week HAUGH
with a ribbon cutting ceremo- BACK IN TIME
ny.
Melanie Crete was named Ambassador at the
Hensall Spring Fair, Friday night. The Princess
and Prince were Ashley Bruxer and Ryan Cooper.
The grand champion calves were shown by
Amber Townsend and Jacob Kinsman.
Community Living of South Huron celebrated its
30th anniversary Thursday night in Exeter.
20YEARS AGO
June 22, 1988 - At Friday's assembly at South
Huron District High School, Said Osman was
called to the stage to receive a prestigious certifi-
cate of achievement from science teacher Joe
Jankowski for placing in the 96 percentile in a
Chem -News exam competition which received
6,000 entries from students in Canada, the United
States and Great Britain. Other SHDHS students
whose marks were above the provincial average
were Janet Van Esbroeck, David Josephson and
Marie De Bruyn.
A number of Exeter Hawks players received
special awards at the junior hockey team's annual
banquet. They were George Pratt, Jeff Pfaff, Jeff
Reid, Jim Lewis, Jeff Ansems, Scott Lovie, Mark
Morrissey and Terry Casey.
Jane Papple was crowned Queen of the Hensall
Spring Fair Friday night by last year's winner
Beth Sweeney. Dianne Hamilton was this year's
runner-up. Calves owned by Peter Ryan and Jeff
Gemmell won the calf club grand championship
and reserve, respectively.
30YEARS AGO
June 22, 1978 - Dr. Garent Leitch of Zurich is
the new chairman of the board of directors of
South Huron Hospital. Leitch succeeds retiring
chairman Carf Cann.
The Exeter Agricultural Society recently hon-
oured Mrs. Harry Dougall for outstanding service
to the fair board.
50YEARS AGO
June 24, 1958 - Rev. Alex Rapson of Main
Street United Church has accepted a call to Hyatt
Avenue United Church in London.
McGillivray Township voters by a majority of
83 indicated they approved of a central school to
replace the present dilapidated buildings.
55 YEARS AGO
June 23, 1953 - Huron County Council has let a
$348,472 contract to Ellis -Don Ltd. of London for
the 64 -bed addition and renovations to the Huron
County Home at Clinton.
Kirkton born Ward Men, 28, was chosen grand
champion fiddler at the Championship Fiddlers'
contest at the Hensall arena, Friday night before
an estimated crowd of 1,200.
65YEARS AGO
June 24, 1943 - Wednesday night, the ladies of
the Exeter branch of the Canadian Red Cross met
in the kitchen of James Street United Church and
made 104 pounds of strawberry jam. In a few
days they will be making gooseberry jam.
Conveners were Mrs. Wib Martin, Mrs. L. Kyle
and Miss Laura Jeckell.
Eldrid Simmons of the RCAF now stationed at
Lethbridge, Alberta was awarded his LAC.
Mr. and Mrs. M.W. Telfer moved Thursday to
Parkhill where Mr. Telfer has been transferred
after the closing of the Bank of Commerce branch
in Crediton. They were residents of Crediton for
the past 17 years.
85 YEARS AGO
June 21, 1923 - Mr. F.W. Gladman of the law
firm of Gladman and Stanbury has been appoint-
ed deputy police magistrate of the city of London
and Magistrate of the County of Middlesex.
Mr. Stuart Gladman is attending the Gilwell
Camp for Scout Masters near Ottawa. Stuart was
awarded a two week scholarship in the leadership
camp.
90YEARS AGO
June 23, 1918 - Rev. Ernest Grigg, missionary
to Burma has arrived in Montreal and will visit his
sister in Exeter.
Seniors' Perspective
By Jim Bearss
Adult Activities Co-ordinator
Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with
sticks, it was called witchcraft... today, it's called golf.
3rd Annual Demo Day
Sat., July 5 in conjunction with Ontario
Family Fishing Weekend at Morrison Dam
Conservation Area from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is free, lots of prizes and barbe-
cued hotdogs. "Spot the Croc - "Where's the
White Squirrel - somewhere on the trail?" No
license required. Fishing regulations are in
effect. Young anglers certificates issued.
Enjoy barbecued hotdogs.
Visual treasure hunt (forms available at head of
trails, kiosk and rec. centre entrance to trail and
Godbolt Kiosks). Trails will be open during daylight
hours (wheelchair accessible). Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority advance registration required
for Trail Mobile rides for individuals with limited
mobility. Call 235-2610. There is no hydro available,
supply your own display table. First come - best spot.
Kayak and canoe demonstrations. Donations and pro-
ceeds to MacNaughton and Morrison Dam trails. Fun
and excitement are in store for the whole family.
Corporate Cardboard Boat Race. Your company is
challenged to build a cardboard boat and display it at
demo day then race it July 12 in Parkhill Call for
details at 228-6421 or exiplast@execulink.com
Golf day
Golf Royal Canadian Legion R E Pooley Branch #167,
Exeter, Ontario. 2nd Annual Tournament and Chicken
BBQ at the Exeter Golf Course on July 12, 2008 at 1:00
p.m. Registration is at 12:00 noon. Texas Scramble
$50.00. Chicken BBQ 5:30 p.m. at the Exeter Legion
$15.00. Space is limited to 80 golfers. For more infor-
mation call 235-2962.
Computers for seniors
Do you have a computer and want to know what to
do after you `boot' it up? Do you want one on one com-
puter tutoring? Do you need help to be proficient with
`Windows, Simply Accounting, Microsoft Word,
Internet and E-mail or other programs? Contact
Sherrie Thomson, 235-2864 or
sthomson@cabletv.on.ca. I haven't received word yet
about our application for used computers, tutoring etc.
as promoted earlier this year.
Hensall by Design Juried Art Show and Sale
- five years old and growing!
Hensall United Church, King Street, Hensall on Sat.,
July 12 - Fri., July 18. Seniors' Day - Mon., July 14.
Hours: Sat. - Mon.; Fri. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Tues. - Thurs.
2 p.m. - 9 p.m. Tea room and wheelchair accessible.
For more information: Artists contact: Mary Lou Hyde
235-3231 jlou@quadro.net Sponsors and general
inquiries: Ann Bayley 262-3500 x 208 ann@icecul-
ture.com
Bus trip
Mark Sept. 8 - 12 on your calendar for its back to Hill
Island Lodge we go. Both of our trips in the past have
been so enjoyable we just can't stay away.
Relax and come with us on the beautiful three-hour
boat tour of the Thousand islands on Tuesday and to
the War Museum in Ottawa. On Wednesday tour
Gananoque and visit their General Store or to go to the
Casino on Thursday. Nightly entertainment, lots of fun
and games to be enjoyed. All ground floors are taken
and most meals are included. There are 12 seats left.
For more information, please call Judy at 235-4870.
Red marbles
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early
potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and
feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket
of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but
was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am
a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the
conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and
the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today?' 'Hullo, Mr. Miller.
Fine, thank ya. Jus' admiring' them peas. They sure
look good.' 'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'
'Fine, gittin' stronger alla 'time.' 'Good. Anything I can
help you with?' 'No, Sir, Jus' admirin' them peas.'
'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.
'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.' 'Well, what
have you to trade me for some of those peas?' 'All I
got's my prize marble here.' 'Is that right? Let me see
it' said Mr. Miller. 'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.' 'I can see
that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I
sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at
home?' the store owner asked. 'Not zackley but
almost.' 'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home
with you and next trip this way let me look at that red
marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy. 'Sure will. Thanks Mr.
Miller.'
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came
over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two
other boys like him in our community, all three are in
very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with
them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When
they come back with their red marbles, and they
always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all
and he sends them home with a bag of produce
for a green marble or an orange one, when they
come on their next trip to the store.' I left the
store smiling to myself, impressed with this man.
A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I
never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and
their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the
previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit
some old friends in that Idaho community and while I
was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were
having his visitation that evening and knowing my
friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.
Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet
the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever
words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were
three young men. One was in an army uniform and the
other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white
shirts...all very professional looking. They approached
Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her
husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her,
kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and
moved on to the casket.
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as one by
one each young man stopped briefly and placed his
own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket.
Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I
was and reminded her of the story from those many
years ago and what she had told me about her hus-
band's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening,
she took my hand and led me to the casket.
'Those three young men who just left were the boys I
told you about. They just told me how they appreciated
the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim
could not change his mind about color or size....they
came to pay their debt.' 'We've never had a great deal
of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right
now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in
Idaho .' With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless
fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath
were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The moral: We will not be remembered by our
words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by
the breaths we take, but by the moments that take
away our breath. Gwen Baker, London
Tips
For markings on foodstuff and freezer bags you could
use an old lipstick to write the name of the foodstuff on
the box or plastic bag. Lipstick is edible so it's safe.
History
In 1903, Henry Ford and 11 business associates
signed the Ford Motor Company's articles of incorpo-
ration.
Established with just $28,000, the company sold its
first car, a Model 'A' Ford, a month later to a doctor in
Detroit. In 1913, the company developed a new pro-
duction method called the assembly line. It had each
worker staying in one place and performing the same
task on each car as it passed by. This revolutionary
new production method greatly improved efficiency
and was soon being used in factories around the
world.
Old Geezers: Actually, it's not a bad thing to be called
as you will see....
'Geezers' are easy to spot: At sporting events, during
the playing of 0 Canada. Old Geezers remove their
caps and stand at attention and sing without embar-
rassment. They know the words and believe in them.
Old Geezers remember the Depression, World War II,
Pearl Harbor, Normandy and Hitler. They remember
the Atomic Age, the Korean War 1950-55, The Cold
War, the Peace Keeping Missions, the Jet Age and the
Moon Landing, not to mention Vietnam. If you bump
into an Old Geezer on the sidewalk he will apologize. If
you pass an Old Geezer on the street, he will nod or tip
his cap to a lady. Old Geezers trust strangers and are
courtly to women. Old Geezers hold the door for the
next person and always, when walking, make certain
the lady is on the inside for protection. Old Geezers get
embarrassed if someone curses in front of women and
children and they don't like any filth on TV or in
movies or in e-mails. Old Geezers have moral courage.
They seldom brag unless it's about their grandchil-
dren. It's the Old Geezers who know our great country
is protected, not by politicians, but by the young men
and women in the military serving their country.
This country needs Old Geezers with their decent val-
ues. We need them now more than ever. Thank God
for Old Geezers! Bill Tinney
Jim
Be
arss