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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1986-11-26, Page 3NEWS AND FEATURES THE HURON EXPOSITOR, NOVEMBER 26, 1986 — A3 To bee, or not to bee Nuthere is no question BY GERALD W RIGHT Although they have about 45 million employees, Wilfred and Bill Ross still end up doing a lot of their own work. The Ross' employees never take a coffee break, have never gone on strike or even asked for a raise. They never retire or go on pension, and most of them stay on the job until they drop dead. It sounds like a rare industrial set-up but it's really a fairly common one - in the beekeeping business that is. Wilfred, 83, and son BIII, 53, don't have quite the province's largest apiary, but it's one of the more interesting. W ith 900 colonies generating populations of 50,000 each and more in the summer, their honey -making empire extends through the three counties of Huron, Perth and Middle- sex. Between lather and son they have 110 years' experience with bees, and for half a century now, Kitchener -Waterloo has never been without at (east one Ross selling honey at a farm market, For many years W ilfred and his wile Lottie, until her death 10 years ago, sold honey at the Kitchener city farmers' market, while Wil- fred's brother Wallace sold it at the old stockyards market on Victoria Street North. Every Thursday morning at 5:30 a.m. for the past 16 years, Bill Ross has climbed out of bed, driven his fully -loaded honey truck east to the Kitchener -Waterloo Stockyards mark- et, first at its old location on Highway 7 and more recently at the present location off King Street near Wagner's Corners. "If I miss a 'Thursday at that market my customers all want to know where I've been. The business there is just too good to miss and I actually sold 1,200 pounds of honey there on one Thursday just recently," Bill says. There's no sign to mark the location of the Ross' honey house in the hamlet of Brucefield, but if you drive out Huron Road 3 (the Brucefield Road) when there's no snow you don't need one. Piles of recently -emptied honey supers are stacked in the yard, and clouds of bees fill the air above and around them. They're busy "frobbing" or cleaning out what honey the extraction equipment has left sticking to the frames. Inside the honey house is a modern factory equipped with uncappers and extractors which dear the honey from the frames with amazing speed and pump it through a pipeline into large stainless steel tanks where it can be easily tapped into market -size containers. Outside though, everything still goes on pretty much as it has since W ilfred Ross became a beekeeper more or less by accident one summer day 67 years ago. "1 was just 16 years old then," he' remembers, "and there were no cars around, at least I sure didn't have one. I was just put for a Sunday stroll and I saw this big swarm of beeings landing in a poplar tree." "There was a woman who kept bees behind the hotel in Brucefield and my dad and I borrowed a bee box from her and just shook the bees into it. I asked the woman how to look after them. She told me, and I've been keeping bees ever since." The Ross' are equipped to give lessons on the birds as well as the bees. W ithin a stone's throw of the honey house they keep a pen full of exotic chickens (Arconas and golden bantams), a pen of racing pigeons and a pet crow named Sam who "thinks he's a chicken because he grew up in the chicken house and clucks like a hen.' There's a stable with three race horses in it too, because while their 45 million bees are out in the field working for them, the Ross' have tried their hands at many things besides beekeeping. Bill Ross spent 10 years as a sailor on the Great lakes and the Atlantic coast, seven years as an Ontario provincial police constable and six years in industrial security jobs. He's been a driving school -instructor and a welder too, but "i always had the bees as a sideline. Even when •1 was on the police force in Burlington people got to know i was a beekeeper, and I was always on call by the Hamilton city police and fire department to come and move swarms of bees from people's yards and homes. One summer I collected 55 colonies of bees that way." W hen he's not working with his bees and honey these days, Bill plays defence for the Clinton Oldtimers' hockey team, usually about two or three games a week. He's a walking encyclopedia on a lot of topics, but his pet peeve is the way the Canadian government has allowed cheap imported honey from places like China and Argentina to flood the Canadian market, forcing local prices down by as much as one-third during the past two or three years. The only ray of sunshine he sees in. that direction is that the law requires the pasteurization of imported honey. "Pasteurization destroys the flavor and when it comes to taste, the imported stuff isn't even in the same league with natural Ontario honey," he says. 4.'`Pii GETTING READY FOR MARKET — Wilfred Rosa fills a container with honey which will eventually make Its way to market. Mr, Ross, 83, and his son, Bill, are renowned beekeepers TESTING THE HONEY — BIlI Rosa, 53, of Brucefield, draws a sample of honey which he will then classify as white honey, amber In this area. Together they look after approximately 45 million bees. (Mcllwralth photo) or buckwheat, based on Its color and offer for sale. Federal Liberal member urges support for party leader BY PATIU('K RA the government in the House of Commons looked at my leader in the House of Commons of He saidlthe Libea�rna ty was in following process a executive buty one were reinstated to their Don Boudria, federal liberal member of said Mr. Turner has "earned our respect by and wondered, Why is he staying?'he r • parliament for Glengarry -Prescott -Russell being with us when times were tough." The "To be able to be a leader when the going federalndelection. at th n polls elec984 declinedSecretary to y sHeathe for R-dick,inoick, f and ich. urged supporthe similar t for party leaderJohn Turner in Liberal leader is currently attempting to gets difficult lakes a very special person,g an address to the annual meeting of the gather support to fend off calls from within ssaid r. Boudria u neo n myvof iew.fpwill the wakind 9 results sl10thes aMrs Boudriacoll d oo n the ret ed by Margaret Shortreed. of RR 1. Holmes ills Federal mbeeral Association in the party for a review of his leadership at an, P P Holmesville on November 20. upcoming convention. Mr. Boudria called Mr, Turner "the best occasions the party was "severely wound- Howard membAitken. Goderich.president: rs of the Jack ve are. Mr Boudria. a member of the infamous "There was a time back in October and friend of the liberal party," joking that ed."past resident: group of rookie MPsdubbed the "Rat Pack" November of 1984. when our party was pretty Conservative Prime Minister BrianMulroney power"S"Sometimes tgoven has 'brain, RRrai4, RRW alton, spresident. by the media. for their boistemus hounding of low in the polls," said Mr. Boudria. "and i is "a close second." governing, that you start to forget about the 1,ice•presidenl: Vern Inglis. Formosa, execu- people you've been governing for." Mr. live vice-president and George Anderson. Separate school board reverses decision party's arty s offered aser an explanation for the Lucknow. treasurer party's poor showing in the last general election. However, he pointed to Liberal Trees on sale 1 inn will be effect ive at the end of December, victories in by-elections in the fall of 1984 and 1986 the popularity of the provincial liberal minority government, as signs that the party was regaining support. Mr. Boudria voiced disappointment that the fccus of the upcoming national conven- tion has turned to a review of Mr. Turner's leadership. Instead, he said, the focus should be on "the process of developing the policies of our party." +' Following Mr. Boudria's address, an executive election was held. All the former By WiI.MA OKE The Huron -Perth County Raman Catholic Separate School Board at a meeting in Dublin Monday decided to reverse its decision made at the last hoard meeting, to tum down starting a Beginners Class at Precious Blood School in Exeter The proposal for the beginners Class had been put forward by Margaret Medve, principal of Precious Blond School, where she hoped to have such a class begin in January 1987. and it was defeated in a vote of three -for and seven -opposed. However. at the hoard meeting Monday have the Beginners nners (lassht the trustees referred tto theBoard Accommodation Review Committee for fur- ther study. The Board will send delegates to the Seaforth Town Council relative to their consideration to the closure of part of Gouiniock Street. Gouinlock Street is the southern boundary of property owned by the hoard which houses St. James Separate School. The hoard accepted the resignation of Mary Baker, a teacher for 20 years, presently to SI Joseph's School. Clinton. The resigna- At the meeting the suggestion was brought up That the "Separate" in the hoard's name, should be dropped. W illiam Eckert, Director of Education for the hoard, said the name is a corporate name and the hoard can't change it as it must be used on all legal documents. Following a discussion Mr. Eckert said he would investigate the possibility of dropping the "Separate" if it can be legally changed. The Board agreed to again donate $100 to TV Ontario as a sustaining member, The students benefit from the programs offered by the station. which are used by 85 per cent of the students of Ontario's English language elementary schools and 90 per cent of the secondary schools, 50 per cent of the community college instructors and 23 per cent of the university instructors. The Board approves the appointment of a teacher to the Secondary School Steering Committee in Huron County. Gaetan Blanchette. Superintendent of Education outlined to the trustees the Junior Review. A Board Perspective. which will be forwarded to the Ministry's Regional Office in London for consideration. The next meeting of the board will be the inaugural meeting, which .will be held on December 1. The second meeting for December will be held on December 8. Needs clarification A statement in an article which appeared on the front page of last week's Huron Expositor was slightly misleading. The statement. contained in an article about residents opposed to a pmposed closure of north Gouninlock Stredt, suggests' that D'Orlean Sills said he'd prefer to see 1,^m1c^ yg,; ..,;< south Gouinlock Street dosed off rather than North Gouiniock. Mr. Sills said no such thing. instead he pointed out to council that North Gouinlock, because it has less of a grade and is in better repair than the South Gouinloek Street, is used more by the residents of the town. He did not suggest that South Gouinlock Street therefore be the one to be closed off. Our apologies to Mr. Sills for misconstru- ing his statement, and our apologies to REGEIVES CERTIFICATE — Doug Poulton, road superintendent for Tuckerarrilth Township everyone who might have been inconveni- received the G.S: Anderson Road School certificate from Reeve Robert Boll for successfully enced and -or embarrassed by our editorial completing the Roeds and Environment short course at the University of Guelph. (Oke photo) mistake. A If a business venture goes well for a local group, young people may find themselves with a place to go in the evenings Bethel Bible Church. who have in the past sponsored a number of events for youth in the town. will start today to sell Christmas trees from 1he vacant lot' across from Archie's Sunncn on Goderich Street East. All profits from the tree sales will go toward funding (Continued on Page Alt � COMMUNITY CALENDAR If you're organizing a non-profit event of interest to other Seaforth area residents. phone the recreation office at 627-0882 or the Expositor at 527-0240, or mall the Information to Community Calendar, The Huron Expositor, Box 89, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK IWO well In advance of the scheduled date. Space for the Community Calendar Is donated by The Huron Expositor. Wed., November 26 Saturday, November 29 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Minor Hockey Novice Tournament 1 :30-2:30 p.m.Story thlibrary 7:59 p.m. HarmStoony Hi-tiHourlesat "Chreistmas Cabaret" Show. Sunday, November 30 12:30.5 p.m. Minor Hockey Novice Tournament 5-6 p.m. Petite Ringette 6-7 p.m. Tween Ringette vs Huron Park 7-8:30 p.m. Canadians vs Flyers 8:30.10 p.m. Bruins vs Rangers Monday, December 1 4:30-8:30 p.m. Figure Skating Tuesday, December 2 7:30 p.m. Wreath making demonstration al Seaforth Library. Flee admission. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Pee Wee Practice 610-8 p.m. Bantam vs ©ma Logan 8-10 p.m. Midgets vs Arthur 1-3 p.m. Moms and Tots Skating at Arena 1:30-4 p.m. Senior Shuffleboard at Com- munity Centres 4:30-500 p.m. Tween Ringette 5-5:30 p.m. Dance 3-5 years old 5:30-6:30 p .m. Dance 6-10 years old 6:30-7:30 p.m. Dance 11 years and up 5:30-6:30 p.m. Atom practice ' 6:30-7:30 p.m. Centenaires practice 7:30-8 p.m. Minor Broomball 8-10 p.m. Mixed Volleyball at High School 8-9 p.m. Minor Broomball 9-11:30 p,m. Ladies Hroomball Thursday, November 27 4:15-5:15 p.m. Atom Ii Practice 5:15-6:15 p.m. Bantam practice 6:30-7:30 p.m. Minor Broomball 7-9 p.m. Typing at High School 7:30-12 Mens broomball Friday, November 26 4-5 p.m. Senior Houseleague Practick 5-6 p.m. Junior Houseleague Practice 6-9 p.m. Minor Hockey Novice Tourna- ment Do you have a meeting, game or special event planned for the near future? 1f so let us know so we can Inform the public. It's difficult to find out what's happening unless you're willing to keep us Informed. The community calendar is an eight-day timetable of non-profit events going on In the comniunity. Let's keep each other on top of things.