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| LET ee Cr a i 4 The idea of honouring the Old Bills originated seven years ago and three of the persons in the above picture were responsible for the start. With them are the two oldest Bills in this area attending every function during the seven years. From left, Ron Huntley, member of the Uxbridge Branch, Mr. Samuel Eyres, who in his youth served in Queen Victoria's Royal Navy, John Maw, Deputy District Commander; Herb Buckland, Boer War veteran Ed Mason, chairman of the Old Bills night, held Saturday in the Port Perry Legion Hall, _ the "two Qld Bills SECTION a Volume 106 -- Port Perry; "Ontario, Wanesow, April 26, 1972 -- No. 27 Ratepayers praise Epsom School About 100 concerned par- .ents and ratepayers were "assured by Ontario County Board of Education officials last Wednesday night that Epsom Public School will remain open until at least the end of the 1972 - 73 school year. Mr. Howard Hempstead, Area 4 Programme Super- intendent told the audience gathered in an Epsom class- room that following the end of the 72 - 73 school year, "Epsom will be kept open as. long as there are sufficient numbers of boys and girls to - attend." When questioned by a person in the audience what he meant by "sufficient numbers," Mr. Hempstead replied "around 90 students * for Epsom School." He added that the Board feels the" educational programme would suffer if there were more than two grades within one classroom. At the outset, Board of ». Education Trustee Morley ¢ stantiated rumours Umphrey told the audience the meeting had been called to clear up "some misunder- standing" as to the future of Epsom School. There had been unsub- that Epsom might be closing at the end of this school year. There had also been some confusion as to what classes would continue as Epsom beyond the end of this year. A letter sent from the Board of Education to parents of Epsom and Greenbank students prior to the meeting stated that this September there would be four classes at Epsom and four classes plus kinder- . ¢ 8arten at Greenbank. Mr. Clark Richardson, Superintendent of Operations told the meeting that the Board is faced with two significant factors; these being: a levelling off of enrollment in public schools across Ontario, and the ceilings placed on education spending which necessitates finding the most economical way of doing things. For the school year, 1972 - 73, grade 7 students from both Epsom and Greenbank will attend classes in either Port Perry or Uxbridge. Both Epsom and Greenbank will continue with grades 1 - 6, with kindergarten -at Green- bank. This means enrollment at Greenbank will drop from 251 this year to about 175 next year, with staff reduced by three. At Epsom, enrollment will drop from 132 to about 120. The decision to have kindergarten at Greenbank was based on the fact that the Board has determined there will be only about 8 kinder- garten students from the Epsom area, and 23 from the Greenbank area. As persons in the audience were given an opportunity to comment, it became very evident that parents feel the kind of education their children are receiving at Epsom is excellent. Mrs. Barbara Simmonds, who moved with her family two years ago from North York to Reach Twp., told the meeting she has six school- age children in five different schools, the eldest in univer- sity and the youngest in kindergarten. She said that in North York her children were used to the most up-to-date teaching methods and aces- sories, and on moving to Reach she was concerned over what type of education her children would get. "Boy, did my feelings change after our' contact with Epsom school," she exclaimed. At Epsom, Mrs. Simmonds said her children get the right amounts of discipline, love, concern and individual at- tention from the teachers, and the relationship between parents and teachers has community spirit. Another woman said her * children attended schools in an advanced system in Ottawa. But Epsom school has proved to her that "the small school can work, and work very well." (continued on page 18) Seventh annual celebration Old Bills dined, by 200 veterans and guests Nearly 200 persons came out Saturday night to honour about 25 veterans of the First World War and earlier wars "ontheoccasion of the seventh annual Old Bills Night. Missing on. the occasion' were two of the staunchest participants of the functions, - Ted Jackson and Roy Scott, Mr. Jackson convalescing at "home and Mr, Scott a patient --in-Port- Perry Community Memorial Hospital. Despite their absence, they were certainly not forgotten. Two copies of the evening's program were forwarded to with greetings and signatures from all those present at the 'banquet. The usual excellent roast beef dinner was served by the Ladies Auxiliary. Seated at the head table were the two Oldest Bills, Samuel Eyre and Herb Buckland, second and third vice presidents Ontario Command, Dave --Copperauld and Vince Price, Deputy District Commander, John Maw, M.C. for the evening,Mike Hlozan, presi- "dent of the Port Perry Branch of Royal Canadian Legion; Rev. R. C. Rose, Padre; Doug Scott, president of Veterans' Sons; Wm. J. Gillespie, Warden of Ontario County; Robt. Kenny, reeve Village of Port Perry, Vince McNenly, representing the Old Bills; Ron Huntley, representing the Uxbridge Branch. Also present were --Scugog -- Township Reeve Cecil Fralick, Reach Town- ship, Councillor Neil Hunter, East Whitby Township, Reeve John Goodwin. Representations were also present from other local organizations: From the Masonic Lodge, Hans Kraupa, Worshipful Master; Warriner Lodge, Wm. Barr, Noble Grand; Kinsmen Club, Larry Kendall, president; Men's Catholic League, Leo Taylor, president; Orange Lodge, Allan Luke, presi- dent; Lions Club, Don Carne- gie, past president. Dave Capperauld, second Well over 20 veterans from the First World War and earlier attended the 7th annual Old Bills' Night held in the Legion Hall, Saturday, Above is a shot vice president of Provincial Command, spoke in warm terms of the Old Bills, their efforts and sacrifices during the First World War, paid tribute to those who never returned to Canada and gave credit to the men who helped win the war "to end all wars" and was fortunate to survive the great 1914 - 18 conflict. He -- was introduced by Vince Price, third vice-president of Ontario Command and thanked by Mike Hlozan, president of the host branch. Speaking briefly were Reeve Robert Kenny, Ont- ario County Warden, Wm. J, Gillespie, Vince McNenly on behalf of the Old Bills and East Whitby Reeve, John Goodwin. honoured A new ceremony was added to this function when award pins were presented to . a number of members. Almost 40. legion- ers with membership of 15, 20, 25 and 45 years were acknowledged with present- ation of pins for faithful and devoted service to the local branch: The member holding -- _a membership card for the longest time 45 years, James McNeil was one of the legioners unable to attend at the Old Bills' Night for the presentation. Following the banquet the respective ladies of the men joined the happy gathering for dancing to Geordi Beare and his orchestra. 1921 newspaper ends Mr. James G. Cormack has had a slight problem; one that he has been trying to set straight for the last six years. With the help of the August 4, 1921 edition of the Port Perry STAR, Mr. Cormack's pro- blem is on the way to being solved. Thestory is a bit confusing, but briefly goes like this. Mr. Cormack was born July 28, 1921, in the Port Perry hospital, which at-that-time was called Grace Hospital, and was situated above the Port Perry STAR offices (samelocation then, as now). All his lifé, on all personal papers, legal documents, etc., Mr. Cormack has been listing * his birthplace as Grace Hospital, Port Perry. Six years ago, he tried for the first time to obtain a wallet-sized birth certificate from -the Toronto Registry Office, and found that his place of birth as been registered as Grace Hospital, Toronto, not Grace Hospital, Port Perry. On learning this, mystery of birthplace . he asked the Registry Office to list his birthplace as Port Perry, and was told this could not be done unless he could prove that his birthplace indeed was Port Perry. Mr. Cormack wanted to set the record straight because of concern over possible legal 'ramifications involving in- surance, property, etc. His father, Mr. James N. Cormack suggested checking the records of the Anglican Church in Port Perry. This was done last week, but there was no record of Mr. Cormack's birth in Port Perry. It was Rev. Reg. Rose who put Mr. Cormack onto the newspaper idea, and last Tuesday, he and his wife came into the office asking to see the edition for the week of July 28, 1921. In the edition dated August 4, Mr. Cormack found what he had been looking for. On page 4, in the "Births" column there is a four-line item which says "Born to Mr. (continued on page 18) taken from the stage showing some of the honoured guests attending. deserving . -h