The Times Advocate, 2004-07-28, Page 5Wednesday,July 28, 2004
Exeter Times -Advocate
5
Opinion Forum News
ROSS
HAUGH
BACK IN TIME
I OYEARS AGO
July 27, 1994 - Terra Ahrens,
a 22 -year-old Exeter resident
was recently elected as a key
player in the executive of the
Ontario Progressive Conservative
Youth Association.
Sabrina Schilbe was named
Ambassador of the Zurich Fall
Fair on Friday night. Other con-
testants were Heidi Sherwood
and Andrea Riley. The winner
was sponsored by her grandparents at Schilbe's
Pro Hardware.
20YEARS AGO
July 26, 1984 - The former May Jones residence,
the last home in Exeter's downtown core area at
the corner of Main and Sanders streets was
reduced to rubble on Monday. The site will now
become a new commercial venture housing a
pharmacy, flower shop and other businesses.
A letter is on the way to Ontario Education
Minister Bette Stephenson from the Huron County
Board of Education asking for permission to dis-
miss high school teacher and nuclear arms protest-
er Joanne Young of Exeter.
Ailsa Craig residents are signing petitions asking
that charges against Gala Days committee mem-
bers Doug McNair and David Scott be dropped.
They are charged with operating a common gam-
ing house with the annual turtle races.
25 YEARS AGO.
July 25, 1979 - Wor. Bro. Charles Corbett of
Irving Lodge No. 154 in Lucan was elected District
Deputy Grand Master for South Huron Masonic
District at the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge
of Canada in Ontario. His father Rt. Wor. Bro.
Harold M. Corbett was elected to the same position
in 1937.
The 35th edition of the Kirkton Garden Party
was a huge success with more than 3,500 in atten-
dance. The garden party as founded in 1945 by the
late Dr. C.A. Campbell. Master of ceremonies Lee
Paul said, "I remember going to Toronto in 1945
with Dr. Campbell and United Church minister
Rev. Goodgear to line up talent for the first garden
party."
40YEARS AGO
July 22, 1964 - Workmen completed construc-
tion of the sanitary sewers on Sanders and Andrew
streets yesterday and the cement pouring has also
been finished by Hammond Construction on
William street from Huron to Sanders.
45 YEARS AGO
July 22, 1959 - The hot summer has given
Tuckey Beverages of Exeter its "biggest season to
date" according to manager Ross Tuckey. The 11
year-old firm has increased its staff to 30 to handle
the demand.
A new church, the town's eighth will be built in
Exeter soon. Tentative approval was given to the
local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses to erect
a hall in the north-west section near Highway 83.
Blaring of the plant whistle Saturday marked the
end of the pea pack at Canadian Canners Ltd. here.
The corn pack is expected to start on August 24.
Miss Donna Direct, a five year-old mare owned
by Jack Morrissey of Stephen township has won
her last three starts at Richelieu Raceway in
Montreal.
55YEARSAGO
July 26, 1949 - B.W. Tuckey, former reeve of
Exeter christened the new pumping system at the
Moodie well Thursday by using a well known soft
drink, which by an odd co -incidence is distributed
by Tuckey Beverages.
Cal Fahner of Sarnia; Bob Pryde, London; Mel
Gaiser, Shipka; Ray Wuerth and Doug Pryde,
Exeter motored to Washington last week.
60YEARS AGO
July 26, 1944 - Four Exeter churches received
word from the Public Trustee in Toronto that they
will receive a handsome sum of $1,000 each from
the will of the late Horace G. Harwood who spent
his early days in Exeter.
80YEARS AGO
July 24, 1924 - A monster sturgeon fish was cap-
tured by the fishermen at St. Joseph measuring
nearly six feet in length and weighing 137 pounds.
The wine factory at St. Joseph was torn down
last week.
Mr. J. Passmore of Hensall has installed a large
radio receiving set in his store. You are invited to
drop in and hear this outfit.
Seniors' Perspective
By Jim Bearss
ADULT ACTIVITIES C0 -ORDINATOR
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Exeter Legion Auxiliary Bingo:
Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. - July 22, August 5 & 9,
September 16 & 30. Mark your calendar for these dates
and help support local charities.
July 30,31 &Aug. Ist:
"Funion Days in Thedford" Come join the fun. Co-ed
baseball Tournament all weekend, parade Saturday and
Street dance in the evening featuring "Second Wind."
Tickets are just $5.00 each. Car show Saturday, Bed
Races on Sunday. Firemen's roast beef dinner Saturday
with tickets costing $12.00; United Church breakfast
Sunday: Adults $7., kids 6-12, $6.00 and kids 5 & under
eat free! Call Jeff for details at: 296-4994.
Exeter Cemetery Decoration Day:
August 8th Plan to attend this very important
event. Starts at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 8, 2004.
Everyone welcome.
GiantYard & Bake Sale:
August 14. 2004
The Exeter Legion is hosting a gigantic Yard and Bake
Sale. This is one of your last chances to pick up that arti-
cle you have been hunting for all summer. More dona-
tions are needed to make this sale successful. For more
information call Jim Bearss 235-4243, Ron Helm 235-
2644, Arm Armstrong 235-1746 or The Legion at 235-
2962.
Lucan Heritage Bus tours:
Friday August 20
Senior Jubilee - Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto, includes
Bus, Theatre, and night Dinner. This is a great show,
1,300 Seniors on stage over a 5 day period. The 16th
year has been completely sold out for every show.
Limited tickets are available. If you are interested, call
early.
Oct. 4.5.6. 2004 - Three day tour through Muskoka,
colour trip, stay at the Pinelands; Many new things to
see.
Dec. 4th. 2004 - Festival of Northern Lights, Owen
Sound, the number one Christmas lights in Ontario,
maybe Canada, for the last number of years. Every year
it keeps getting better.
Please call or E-mail, and tell a friend. Harry Hardy,
227-4887. E-mail harry@cruiseselloffs
September 24th 2004 "Gaither Homecoming Concert"
Grand Bend Golden Agers would like you to join them in
attending this great inspirational gospel singing con-
cert at the John Labatt Centre in London on September
24th 2004. For prices and motor coach details contact
Marjorie Love at (519) 243-4036.
September 25th "Annual Wellesley Apple Butter &
Cheese Festival" Come for the Pancake Breakfast, crafts,
meats, cheeses etc market, Smorgasbord Dinner,
Farm Tours, Cider Mill Tours. Apple fritters &
dumplings; Sausage/schnitzel on a bun; chicken BBQ;
Local entertainment. Quilt auction, Horseshoe tourna-
ment, antique cars & tractors.
September 11 — 13th Huron Pioneer Threshers
Show to be held at Blyth. Contact Marian Hallahan at:
523-9330
September 14 —16 Canada's Outdoor Farm Show
to be held at Woodstock
September 22 — 26 International Plowing Match
and Rural Expo held at Meaford, Ontario in Grey County
Legion Hall for Rent:
Calling all farm organizations, manufacturers, service
clubs, seniors etc. : The legion has its hall for rent for
your occasion, whether its for meetings, weddings,
meals, games, etc. Contact The Legion Branch 167 at
235-2962
Senior Citizen Strikes Back!!
The letter to the bank below is an actual letter that
was sent to a bank by a 96 year-old woman.
Dear Sir/Madam;
I am writing to thank you for bouncing my cheque
with which I endeavoured to pay my plumber last
month. By my calculations, three nanoseconds must
have elapsed between his presenting the cheque and the
arrival of the funds needed to honour it. I refer, of
course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my pension,
an arrangement which I admit has been in place for
only (30) thirty years. You are to be commended for
seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also debit-
ing my account ($30) thirty dollars by way of penalty for
the inconvenience caused to your bank. My thankfulness
springs from the manner in which this incident caused
me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that
whereas I personally attend to your telephone calls and
letters, when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the
impersonal overcharging, prerecorded, faceless entity
which your bank has become.
From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a
flesh -and -blood person. My mortgage and loan pay-
ments will therefore and hereafter no longer be auto-
matic, but will arrive at your bank by cheque,
addressed personally and confidentially to an employee
at your bank, whom I must nominate. Be aware that it is
an offence under the Postal Act for any other person to
open such an envelope. Please find attached an
Application Contact Status, which I require your chosen
employee to complete. I am sorry that it runs to eight
pages, but in order that I know as much about him/her
as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative.
Please note, that all copies must be countersigned by a
Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her
financial situation (income, debts, assets
and liabilities) must be accompanied by
a documented proof. In due course, I
will issue your employee with a PIN
Number, which he/she must quote in
dealings with me. I regret that it cannot
be shorter than 28 digits, but again, I
have modeled it on the number of but-
ton presses required of me to access
my account balance on your phone -
banking service. As they say, imitation
is the sincerest form of flattery. Let me
level the playing field even further.
When you call me, press the appro-
priate buttons as follows:
1. To make an appointment to see me
2. To query a missing payment.
3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am
there.
4. To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am
sleeping.
5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attend-
ing to nature,
6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not
at home.
7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to
access my computer is required. Password will be com-
municated to your Authorized Contact at a later date.
8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options
1 through 7.
9. To make a general complaint or inquiry. The con-
tact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my
automated answering service. While this may on occa-
sion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will be
played for the duration of the call. Regrettably, but again
following your example, I must also levy a $30 establish-
ment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrange-
ment.
May I wish you a happy, if ever so less prosperous New
Year!
A very disgruntled customer
Kids Do The DarndestThings:
A fire fighter is working on the engine outside the sta-
tion when he notices a little girl next door in a little red
wagon with little ladders hung off of the side and a gar-
den hose tightly coiled in the middle. The girl is wearing
a fire-fighter's helmet and has the wagon tied to a dog
and a cat. The fire fighter walks over to take a closer
look. "That sure is a nice fire truck," the fire fighter says,
with admiration. "Thanks," the little girl says. The fire
fighter looks a little closer and notices the girl has tied
the wagon to the dog's collar and to her pet tomcat's
jewels. 'or governors.' Little partner" the fire fighter
says, "I don't want to tell you how to run your fire truck,
but if you were to tie that rope around the cat's collar, I
think you could go faster." The little girl says, "You're
probably right, but then I wouldn't have a siren."
Fraud:
In 2002, Canadians lost approximately 178 million to
credit card fraud. Follow these tips to help reduce your
risk of becoming a victim:
1. Never leave your credit cards in a place where they
could easily be stolen, especially in your car, where a
majority of credit card theft occurs.
2. Never give personal information to callers who say
they are from your credit card company. Credit card
companies do not call customers to ask for personal
information.
3. If you use your credit card to access an automated
banking machine (ABM), protect your PIN. Don't write
your (PIN) personal information number down or share
it with anyone. When using an ABM, take care to make
sure no one can observe you entering your PIN.
4. To place an order, or to make a reservation, provide
your credit card number and expiry date over the phone
only if you have called and know the merchant.
5. Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately. Most
fraudulent use of credit cards occurs within hours of the
card being lost or stolen.
6. Review your credit bureau report annually and
report errors immediately.
7. For more information on credit card fraud or to
report a suspicious situation concerning your credit
card, please contact your credit card issuer at the phone
number on the back of your credit card or the
See PERSPECTIVE page 6
Jim Bearss