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AER ORE John Cummins, a long-time Georgetown resident, dis- plays the Christmas card he and his family have ben back and forth to his cousin Bill Tuck and send! ~ tally for 42 years. photo af Oksana Babel TW By Oksana Buhel A Christmas tradition begun by long-time Georgetown resident John Cummins and his family combines festivity, histori- cal appreciation, environ- mental friendliness and financial prudence — they have been sending the same Christmas card back and forth for 42 years. Cummins and his wife Eileen first sent the Christmas card in 1951 to Cummins’ cousin Bill Tuck, also a Georgetown resident, and his wife Lottie. The next year the card was sent back with the Tucks’ signatures and the new date. the card, but another one so it didn’t look cheap,” Cummins laughed. “Then the card became more valuable and ‘we didn’t have to send any The card appropriately s: “It’s kind of old and ENS “At first, we sent back * es Fab in spots it’s pretty thi “You an see it’s used...but shucks, it’s good. enough to use rin! “So don’t mind if it’s worn ‘n torn — Don’t won- der what the catch ““Cause here’s my wish- es...good as new, right NET RCTAS FEVER SER AE HEH AEN 9 A family Christmas tradition continues (Each letter i in the word “patches” lifts up and Christmas greetings are hidden underneath.) The 78-year-old Cummins is the last surviv- ing originator of the Christmas card tradition. Now he corresponds with Jim and Joan Brandon of iN of nt ¥: one we Kingston (Joan is the ¢ Tucks’ daughter). Cummins is both pleased « and surprised the tradition ¢ has last lasted as long as it has 5 almost half his life.)- “It’s quite a credit to s Canada Post the card is , still going,” he comment- ed. Brenda 877-5165 ~ 24hr. pager ~ JOHNSON & | ASSOCIATES Sales Representative rp, REALTOR” 232 Guelph St., Georgetown 873-2254 By Oksana Buhel By time Kathy Knwied returned. from Ghana to Ospringe, a two- year trip turned into a four- year trip — the table in the garden with a few books had swelled into a public library system with four branches and 700 eager Ghanaian were taking advantage of its ser- vice. Knowles left for Ghana in the summer of 1989 with her husband John, and her chil- dren Kaitlan (8), Sophie (5), and Alastair (3). The Knowles’ youngest daughter, Akosua, which means “girl born on Sunday”, was born shortly after the Knowles arrived in Ghana. While John was working as a financial manager for Golden Rae gold mine in the sonia aI, of Accra, Kathy ig care of their chil- Hq x ys § pc WIET #23e. vee apo 20303 Fe rcaceyy gqrove Every day Kathy dragged a table into the garden and the children gathered around while she read to them. Slowly, friends of the chil- dren joined the gathering and Kathy devised her idea of Starting up a book-borrowing system for the local children. The Knox Presbyterian Church in Acton had collect- ed before the Knowles left for Ghana to enable Kathy to buy books for rural residents. Kathy Se es = Project to incorporate her vas a library system for se Sieiity had 50 children’s books and she bought others when the family travelled to different countries. “Kathy would round up the whole family and cart us off to sec- ond-hand book sales,” John reminisced, He added trips to the book sales were often so fulfilling, the family would ‘Your independent voice in Halton Hills’ African children benefit from basic librar sometimes return from their trips with 10 suitcases of books. Eventually the garden table was too small to accommo- date the increasing number of children, so the Knowles’ converted their garage into a iil B the project grew in pop- ularity among the: local chil- dren, the garage also became too small to house the books. The Knowles’ decided to find a larger, more permanent structure for their library. They cut windows and in a 40-foot shipping err er, installed electricity and Osu Library opened for aig ness. (The Knowles’ lived on Osu St. in Accra) The library was an instant sucess. “We had a waiting list the first week,” Kathy said. By the time the Knowles’ returned to Canada, Kathy ed on page 6 eZ PEACE, ct Gove “ KEE Rhode, hee OM ccacey prove pb Mocice Bee” y of hope _ 50 cents includes G.S.T. Library’s humble beginnings The Knowles’ and their housekeeper/librarian, Joanna (third from right) gather in the garden where plans for the Osu library origheiat, From left: Wellington, John, Akosua, Sophie (in front), Kathy, Joanna, Kaitlan an PEACE REG ais ers gad ices BEA fot Kove HEN ce Neg got & @loove cree oe oe Catch The § eee There’s Enough Good Will To Go Aroun & Remember, the food banks need your support throughout the year! Acton Food Share _ Love in Christ Food Bank Acton, 853-0457 foeace Ot oN AEG RQhovedy ego &f-0- ag photo submitted