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Wednesday, September 22, 2004 Orono Weekly Times - 3 Places I've Done Time by Clifford Francis Opinion Continued from page 2 Lest we forget I think the greatest thing that ever happened to me was being born a Canadian. To be born here and live here was all I could ever ask for, anything else that happens happens in my life is a bonus. To find out that the Town of Clarington is going to honour honour veterans of the wars in the last 100 years is wonderful. wonderful. Naming streets and buildings after these men and women is a great ideà. The hardships that many of these people had to endure was incredible. One old gentleman that lived here in the village operated one of the big guns in the first world war. For two years he travelled with that gun, sleeping under a piece of tin at night or when they were not in action. Winter or summer it made no difference, he was there. Having worked at the tree nursery in Orono, I had the privilege of working with a couple of veterans from the second great war. A Mr. Bruce Mercer and Mr. James (JIM) Buckley. Either said little or nothing about the war, it was over and they were glad. For many years I worked with Jim Buckley on the irrigation systems and F learned little about the war from him. He had been shot by a German sniper and wounded, and spent the last part of the war in a German prisoner of war camp near the Black Forest in Germany. The food was awful, consisting of cabbage cabbage and potatoes, and as he said, the odd worm for protein. protein. He told me of a man building a hand made radio from the telephone receiver that someone had smuggled into the camp when the prisoners prisoners where out on a cleanup cleanup mission. The man Used the telephone receiver, a razor blade and a whisker for a crystal, and they were able to listen to the BBC reports from England on how the war was going. After the war, Jim made a radio like it using a Gillett Blue Blade, a telephone receiver and a whisker from a cat, and it worked well. I listened to CFRB by holding the receiver to my ear. Jim told me a story about after the war when he was selling poppies for the Legion. When he took the box of poppies to the Legion, he set them down on the counter counter and asked for a beer. Are you a member? they asked, and he said "no". They told him, "no beer unless you are a member or someone, signs you in." They were soon told where the beer and the Legion could go. Jim Buckley has passed on now, along with many more veterans. My friend Bruce Mercer is alive and well and living in Cobourg. I hope when Bruce's sign goes up they put on it 'Bruce Doc Mercer' that's what we call him. He can fix anything. These kind of people that have protected our great land are my heroes. Let's never forget them. aaron McDonald Newcastle Funeral Home APPOINTMENT It is with great pride that Carl and Joyce welcome Aaron McDonald to the staff of Newcastle Funeral Home as a licensed Funeral Director. Raised in Newcastle, Aaron attended Clarke High School and completed his co-op program at Newcastle Funeral Home. He then went on to graduate from the Funeral Service Program of Humber College and has been a licensed Funeral Director at Oshawa Funeral Service for the past four years. Recently married, Aaron and his wife Andrea (nee Hartmann), formerly formerly of Kendal, have made Newcastle their home, where both ol their families now live as well. Aaron's compassion, professionalism and experience will ensure that the tradition of service families have come to expect from Newcastle Funeral Home will continue to be maintained. We welcome Aaron to our staff, and invite you to drop in and meet him. NFH NEWCASTLE FUNERAL HOME 905-987-3964 www.ncwcastlcfunoralhomc.com 1930's, we had R.B. Bennett, the infamous Prime Minister of the depression years. David Peterson and Pierre Trudeau both used family wealth as a launch pad for political careers. Our current Prime Minister is a multi-millionaire who for years, avoided paying Canadian Canadian taxes. He found a legal way to do that. As I recall, Peterson, Trudeau and Martin represented represented the Liberal party. So, maybe the current bunch at Queen's Park could stop their silly games with spoons. South of the border, money and politics have a long, long connection. Both Mr. Bush and Al Gore came from families with both money and a history of political political involvement. Mr. Kerry married into much money. Two of the greatest U.S. Presidents, (Kennedy and Roosevelt) were from very wealthy family and they regularly regularly used family funds to further further their careers. So, to our ears, the "Pink Spoon" idea by our provincial liberals, should be exchanged for a little truth in politics. Maybe the liberals might remember their own (very recent) promise to us - of "no tax increases"! We also watched as several politician (examples could be Brian Mulroney, and Jean Chretien) became wealthy after they left office. If we have to choose between people who are wealthy when they enter politics, politics, versus people who use the political route to become wealthy, it seems the former is the safest bet. So, Mr. Tory, pink spoon and all, looks like a fine alternative alternative to our current leadership leadership in Ontario. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JFC .■£& r lipiii i SARAH CATHERINE VOLLMER Born September 10th, 2004 1:02am, Peterborough Civic Hospital A sister for Rachel Proud parents Reverend Warren and Susan Vollmer of Lakefield, Ontario. Grandparents Reverend Dorinda Vollmer of Bowmanville, Heather and Tom Wheat of Ottawa. Aunts and Uncles Richard and Jana Purcell (Vollmer) of Coos Bay, Oregon; Marjorie and Roger Clark of Hartford, Connetticut. #■* '••"V HAPPENINGS Thursday. September 23 TT . x , Orono Horticultural Society Fall Flower & Vegetable Show - Orono United Church, 7:30 p.m. Guest speaker: Paul Zammit, Plant World Ltd., Toronto. Topic "Container Gardening - Four Seasons of Interest". Saturday. September 25 Orono BIA Annual Chili Cook-Off - Main Street, Orono. Awards, entertainment, talent con- test. Chili cooker participants call Evelyn at 905-983-9167 to register. Talent contest participants call Jodi 905-983-9009 to register. Euchre 3 Tournament at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 214 King Aye. E., Newcastle, 7 p.m., Cost $10 - includes prizes, 50/50 draw, lunch, wheelchair accessible. ^ron^Unfteff^urch Farmer's Market - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Silent auction, kids activities, | jams, pickles, fruits and vegetables, baked goods, crafts, refreshments Kendal IJons 6 Chdb Pancake Breakfast at Kendal Community Centre from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets: Adults $5; Children 12 & under $3; Children 3 & under Free Ed^îltorton^anTthe "Gig Brothers" Jazz and Variety from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at "The Mill Restaurant", 990 Ontario St., Cobourg - 905-377-8177. Kirby UnftedTchurdf Anniversary Service, 7 p.m. with Guest Speaker Rev. Richard Parker. Ham & Salad Supper 5:30 p.m. prior to service. Tickets $12 - call Brian 905-983-9473. Kendal UnUed'church Women Service at 10:30 a.m. Kendal United Church. Speaker Rev. Bryan Ransom and special music by choir members April Moore & Don Peddar. Lunch and fellowship to follow... everyone welcome. Or one! IJn ited *C h u rch Annual Roast Beef Dinner - 2 Scalings: 5 & 6:30 p.m. Tickets $12 Adults; $8 kids 6-12; Under 5 free. For tickets call Randy 905-623-0305, Lisa 905-983-9930, Norm 905-983-5532 or the church 905-983-5502. O rono Crown°Lands Trust Pancake Breakfast - 8 to 11 a.m., early birds by chance after 7 ai.m. Enter at main gate - Ochonski Rd./Station St.