The Times Advocate, 2008-12-24, Page 5Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Times -Advocate 5
OPINION FORUM&NEWS
0 YEARS AGO
December 16, 1998 - Mark Bell
and Jeff Campbell are key mem-
bers of the Strathroy Junior B
Rockets. Both hail from Hensall.
Bell is the team captain.
Administrator Don Currell is
leaving South Huron Hospital
effective January 31, 1999. He
has been administrator at the
hospital for the past 13 years.
20 YEARS AGO
December 21, 1988 - An Open
House was held at Craigholme
in Ailsa Craig Saturday for the 90th birthday of
Clarence Millson. The former Clandeboye barber
is in excellent health.
30 YEARS AGO
December 28, 1978 - What does a former mayor
do with his spare time? Bruce Shaw has appar-
ently taken up the game of cards. In a recent game
with his son David and Ken Lawton, he scored a
perfect cribbage hand. Shaw was dealt the jack
of diamonds and three fives and the five of dia-
monds was cut.
Edwin Miller of Exeter was returned as a direc-
tor of Gay Foods Limited at the group s annual
meeting recently. Due to sharply reduced milk
volume, curtailment of operations in the milk
plants caused a profound effect on earnings.
Despite this, a patronage dividend of 10 cents a
hectolitre on 80 percent of members milk and 2
and three-quarter cents per kilogram butterfat for
farm -separated cream was approved.
Jean Estey, an employee of the Exeter Post Office
recently received an award for 25 years of public
service.
An ice storm struck just before Christmas, leav-
ing many motorists in the ditches of local high-
ways. Fortunately, nothing worse than minor in-
juries were reported.
45 YEARS AGO
December 21, 1963 - Scout Jim Johnson of the first
RCAF Centralia Scout Troupe has been selected as
one of five from the Bluewater Region to attend
the fifth National Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of
America in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania next sum-
mer. Jim is a troupe leader at 15 years of age.
Hurondale school held its last Christmas concert
last week. The long tradition of concerts at the one
room school will stop as it is expected Usborne
township s new central school will be ready for
next year.
Donald Cann, 19, of Exeter will be a unique
member of the Older Boys Parliament when it
convenes at Waterloo Lutheran College on Boxing
Day. He is the first representative to win his seat
by election.
50 YEARS AGO
December 21, 1958 - Mrs. James Earl who moved
to Exeter from Usborne township about two
months ago received a pleasant welcome from
town merchants Saturday when she won the $100
draw in the Christmas jackpot.
George E. Rether won Exeter council s sixth seat
last week when a recount gave him 463 votes to
460 for incumbent Claude Farow. Judge Frank
Fingland presided at the three-hour count which
broke the deadlock. Rether is vice-president of the
Exeter Kinsmen club.
Lorne Dundas and Jim Prout were in an unusu-
al predicament when a gun -toting hitchhiker held
a gun at their heads for three hours. A. Jack Har-
ness, a native of Exeter identified himself as the
hitchhiker when he gave himself up to an Ottawa
reporter Monday morning.
Students at Whalen school under the direction
of teacher Mrs. Charles Gowan entertained the
community, Friday.
60 YEARS AGO.
December 19, 1948 - The county of Huron has
purchased the antique display of Mr. Neil of Gor-
rie. This is the largest display of antiques in On-
tario.
85 YEARS AGO
December 20, 1923 - Mr. Charlie Coward who
has been in the west for some time, arrived home
last week.
Mrs. Elmo H. Howey has been successful in
passing the junior examination held at the Ontario
College of Pharmacy in Toronto.
ROSS
HAUGH
Back in Time
Seniors' Perspective
By Jim Bearss
SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
Too often we underestimate the power of a
touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an
honest compliment, or the smallest act of car-
ing, all of which have the potential to turn a life
around. People come into our lives for a reason, a
season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally.
Out & About:
Legion News
Local card players are also asked to hone their
card playing skills for upcoming card tournaments J I M
as follows: BEAR
Saturday, January 10, 2009, Pepper Tournament
Saturday, January 31, 2009, Euchre Tournament
Saturday, March 21, 2009, Solo Tournament. Watch your
paper for further details.
Walter Ostanek: Enjoy an evening dancing to the music of
Walter Ostanek the Polka King on Saturday, March 28th,
2009 from 8 p.m. - 12:00 (midnight) at the South Huron
Recreation Centre, sponsored by R. E. Pooley Branch 167.
Tickets are $25. per couple - available at the Bar or by call-
ing 519-235-4156.
New Year s Eve Old Tyme Country Dance featuring
Rural Roots at Kirkton-Woodham Community Centre, De-
cember 31, 2008. A ticket includes a bountiful buffet lunch.
Tickets are available at Kirkton Market 229-8923 or contact
Jeff Miller 237-3424, Murray Armstrong 236-7746 or Wayne
Otterbein 235-0559. Age of majority required.
First Annual Blue Balls Co-ed Sno-Pitch Tournament
at the Mitchell Ball Park, Mitchell on January 17, 2009.
Proceeds will go to Juvenile Diabetes Research Founda-
tion. Round Robin Format and all teams guaranteed three
scheduled games. Headquarters are at Mitchell Community
Centre. For more info Call: Cole Aicken 519-301-4810, Chris
Otten 519-274-3538 Greg Pennings 519-615-0964
Need a special gift for friend or family? Trivitt Memorial
Anglican Church is sponsoring a bus trip to the Sound
of Music at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto on
Saturday, May 23, 2009. This will be a matinee performance;
tickets are $110. per person including the cost of the bus.
For tickets call John at 519-235-4156.
Cooking with Pork: Learn how to cook with pork. Plan
to go to this informative meeting at the Riverview Estates,
Exeter, on January 8, 200911 am. Deb Campbell, Ontario
Pork Producers Nutritionist will be your instructor and
she wants to share valuable information with you about
the other white meat and explain cooking recipes for pork.
Turn east at the Beer Store and follow the signs to the Rec.
Hall. Lunch is available for $6 per person.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I
would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would
seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to
dream.
Rural Corner:
January 6 & 7, 2009: 16th Annual Southwest Agricultural
Conference at Ridgetown College University of Guelph and
mark your calendar and watch for program details at www
southwestagconference.ca
March 11 to 13, 2009: Western Fair Farm Show London,
Ontario. Mark your calendar and watch for details at www.
westernfair. com /shows /farm
A man is out shopping for his wife s Christmas gift and
he asks the sales clerk for ideas, indicating that he doesn t
want to spend much money. The clerk brings over a beauti-
ful gold necklace, on sale for only $100. The man shakes his
head no. The clerk brings over several choices of perfume at
$60. per bottle. Once again, the man shakes his head no and
says, Listen, I d like to look at something cheap. The clerk
returns quickly and holds up a mirror.
Santa Claus takes poor, sick Rudolph to the vet. He says
to the vet, Doctor, please do something for my Rudolph.
His nose won t light up. The vet walks out of the room and
returns with a pet carrier. He places the pet carrier next
to the reindeer, opens it and out steps a cat. The cat walks
around the reindeer and sniffs it. The cat then climbs back
into the carrier. The animal doctor takes it out of the room
and returns. He hands Santa Claus the bill.
Santa gasps, $350 dollars! You didn t do anything for my
Rudolph and you re charging me $350 dollars?
The vet shrugged and replied, That s the usual charge.
$50 dollars for the office visit and $300 dollars for the Cat
Scan.
A Different Christmas Poem
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
SS
The sound wasn t loud, and it wasn t
too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn t quite know, then
the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the
night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
What are you doing? I asked without fear,
Come in this moment, it s freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire s light
Then he sighed and he said It s really all right,
I m out here by choice. I m here every night.
It s my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at Pearl on a day in December,
Then he sighed, That s a Christmas Gram always re-
members.
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of Nam ,
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he s sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, a Canadian flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.
So go back inside, he said, harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I 11 be all right.
But isn t there something I can do, at the least,
Give you money, I asked, or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you ve done,
For being away from your wife and your son.
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we re gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.
Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to
our service men and women for our being able to celebrate
these festivities. Let s try in this small way to pay them a
tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our
heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.
Note: I want to wish all the Senior Perspective readers
who have encouraged me to keep giving them impor-
tant information regarding senior issues a very Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please give Huron
County Warden Ken Oke encouragement to do his best
in these troubling times for us. I also want to thank the
staff at Exeter Times -Advocate for allowing me to keep
my fellow seniors informed through this column.
Merry Christmas, Jim