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PAGE 8. WHITRY FREE PRESS, WRF.iNESÃ"AY. OCTOBER 14, 1987 Ruffles begins 4th year There were those who had doubts when Cathy Bevis and Ruth McHale bought an old house on Colborne St. W. as the location for a*store. At that time, it was something that wasn't done in Whitby. But three years later, after hard work on both the building and business, the doubts have been erased and others have followed the lead of the in- novative Ruffles' duo. "It's been fabulous, it's grown so much," says Bevis of the store, formally known as Ruffles Classic Country In- teriors Ltd. She and McHale have gained such a reputation for interior decorating that they are now more often in client's home or cottages than in their store. Diane Middleton is now the store's full-time manager while Joy Smith is the in-store decorator. "Everybody said to us, "You're crazy," recalls Bevis of when they purchased of the home, believed to have been built in 1850, making it one of the oldest semi-detached dwellings in the area. But, often turning in work days of 16 hours for two straight months, they totally renovated the building, not structurally, but cosmetically. They scrat- ched and scraped and wiped away years of paint and wallpaper, in one case, as many as eight coats of paint to reveal the original pine wood floors. The renovation alone made the house worthy of a visit. But for their business, they added a display of carefully selected craft and gift items that found a perfect setting in the Ruffles' interior. At the rear of the houie, for example, the "General Store," as Bevis calls it, for the "jams and savory delights," among other of- ferings. And only recently, another room upstairs was opened up and renovated. It's been the scene of some odd occurrences - "we think we have a little ghost in here," says Bevis with *a grin. The walls of the hallways are filled with items, each in some way different and unusual. "We pride ourselves on fin- ding things that are really unique," she says. "And quite a few are locally made." There are several rooms in the 'house-store' and each is Intrigued, Saun Deane was so won over by the Swedish-made Marbodal fur- niture she bought for her home, that she seized the opportunity to sell the product to others. The result is her store at Pearson Lanes on Mary St. W., in the boutique formerly occupied by Gregory's Men's Wear. Known as Marbol, it is the second of what will be a chain of stores,. with Deane the first licensee outside of Toronto. "It's a great product - you just pick it up and take it home," she says of Marbodal wood wardrobes and cabinetry. Not too long ago, Deane visited the Swedish company's first store in Toronto, and she bought fur- niture for her Cobourg home, then for an office, and then more for her home. "I was rather intrigued by it," she says of the modular product, noting that panels and doors are ad- justable to create any space wanted while installation can be do-it- yourself or done by the store. Carl Anderson founded the Mar- bodal company in Sweden in 1924. The company grew when housing grew in Sweden in the 1930's and 1940's. Saun's husband. Ron, has owned RAISING A GLASS to celebrate three years in business are Ruffles' owners Cathy Bevis (1), and Ruth McHale (centre) and store manager Diane Middleton. Free Press photo utilized to create room settings to show how window treatments and quilts and wall coverings and numerous other interior furnishings will appear. Bevis and McHale also change those settings "every four or five months, as style change," notes Bevis. Bevis had her own sewing and home decorating business for 10 years before obtaining the store. She recruited best friend McHale, then working at Aviation Insurance in Toronto, to join the Ruffles' enterprise. "We have regular neonle coming in all the time., says Bevis, adding that clients come from a wide area. Both owners are now looking for suitable businesses to locate in the other half of the building which has room for two boutiques upstairs and a store downstairs -"something that will lend itself to the building," is what they seek. Bevis notes that others, such as William Little, have-since un- dertaken similar renovation projects to preserve the town's heritage while lending that "uniqueness" to commercial enterprises. As for Ruffles, she says, "It's been a labor of love, and it's really been just great." a McDonald's Restaurant in Cobourg for 12 years. But while Saun helped out, business is really "completely new to me," she con- fesses. "I'm enjoying it. It's been a real An application to expand the car wash on Dundas St. W. to eight bays from the fourhas been recommen- ded for approval by Whitby's ad- ministrative committee. Vito Lapolla. owner of the car wash, had answered many of the concerns expressed by nearby residents at a previous public meeting about noise. At a subsequent administrative committee meeting last week. he explained, in response to further concern by councillor Gerry Emm about noisy vacuums, that the newer vacuums "aren*t too noisy.' The new vacuums will also be located closer to Highway 2 and challenge." She's still busy setting up display units for kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms and plans to add com- plementary items for the Christ- mas season. farther irom the abutting residen- tial buildings than the existing vacuums. "You're not trying to suck us in, now?" asked councillor Joe Bugelli. "My main thing is the neigh- bors," said Lapolla. "Because I thought. what if Ilived at the back? What would I like??" Whitby council was to decide Tuesday night on the committee recommendation to approve the application for the eight-bay coin- operated car wash. The existing car wash will be removed should the application be approved to allow for construction of the new one. whitbybusiness Nominations wanted for outstanding citizens If you know of an outstanding student, business person or cor- poration in Whitby, the Chamber of Commerce would like to know, too. Until 3 p.m. on Nov. 9, the Cham- ber is accepting nominations for the Student of the Year, Business Person of the Year and Good Cor- porate Citizen awards. These awards will be presented at the Chamber's annual meeting Nov. 24 at the Whitby Yacht Club. Nominees for Student of the year must have been in Grade 9 to 13 in the 1986-87 academic year, had a successful academic record, and been a resident of Whitby during that time. Whitby residents who at- tend schools such as Denis O'Con- nor High School in Ajax, will also be eligible for the award. The Chamber is seeking a student who has made an outstanding con- tribution to the Town of Whitby and his or her school, as well as being a good academic achiever. Previous winners have been Anne Ottenbrite and Frank Ignazzitto of Henry Street High School and Anne John- ston, Katherine Dobranowski and Sandra Lyon of Anderson Collegiate. Nominees for Business Person of the Year must have made an out- standing contribution to the town during 1987 and have been working and/or doing business in Whitby in 1987. They must also be successful in their occuDations. Previous winners have been Bill Bonnetta, Bill Nurse, Bob Atter- sley, Mandy Crawford, Howard Smith, Don and Bev Rogers, Nigel Schilling and William D. Little. Both the Student of the Year and Business Person of the Year awar- ds are presented annually. The Good Corporate Citizen award is presented only when it is deemed by the Chamber of Com- merce that a business in Whitby has demonstrated its good citizen- ship by making an outstanding con- tribution to the town or its citizens. Previous winners are Cobi Foods Inc., Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village, and the Continental Bank of Canada, Whitby branch.(now Lloyd's Bank). Anyone making a nomination should send the name, address and phone number of the nominee, along with all pertinent supporting information as to why he or she should receive an award, to the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, Box 268, Whitby, Ontario LIN 5S1. If the mail strike is prolonged, nominations should be hand delivered to the Chamber of Cofn- merce office in the Whitby Centen- nial Building, 416 Centre St. S. Nomination forms are available at the Chamber office. All correspondeince will remain con- fidential and will be turned over to the selection committee appointed by the Chamber. Nominations received after 31p.m. Nov. 9, will not be considered. From hobby to shop By EMIILY PARE It was while on maternity leave from her high school teaching job a few years ago that Pat Schlieffer started to collect plates. Collecting turned to selling and, eventually. one of the most recent stores to open in Whitby Lanes. Precious Plates N' Things. Schlieffer began selling plates in her home and on weekends at an Oshawa f lea market. After two and a hall years there. she then opened. with family support, a small shop on Brock St. in Whitby. She recalls that it was cold in winter, hot in summer in her cram- ped, dingy quarters, so when, a year and a half later, a rent hike loomed, Schlieffer moved to her present location in Whitby Lanes. The change of locale proved in- spiring, she says. Schlieffer quit her teaching job and with the help of former high school colleague Harold Kelson, they arranged the new space to give it a modern look. Schlieffer had her collection of Bradford Exchange and Keirstead plates at the recent Pickering home show. Her shop also has Pen Delfin figurines along with potpourri scen- ts and picture prints..Coming soon for Christmas is a néw gift line of French inscribed mugs and other items, all limited edition. Plate collectors will find it help- ful that the store has.rails with the frames, says Shlieffer. A Precious Plates Collectors Club has also been established in which members receive a monthly newsletter and discounts. By furniture she bought, Saun Deane now sells it Car wash expansion to be recommended CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF WHITBY WHITBY TRANSIT INFORMATION WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21,1987 WHITBY MUNICIPAL BUILDING 575 ROSSLAND ROAD EAST WHITBY, ONTARIO - MAIN FOYER - 2:00P.M..8:00P.M. ALL WELCOME PLEASE BRING YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS NOTE: FREE TRANSIT SERVICE ALL DAY LONG AND EXTENDED SERVICE UNTIL 9:00 P.M.