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4 The Canadian Statesman Rowmanville, January 17, 1979 Mrs. Marie Parker, Guest e Speaker atSolinaInstitut Recalls Hectic Experience The January meeting of after 75 years and encourage- were advising everyone to Solina W.I. was held in the ment for-tbe future. Mrs. C. off tbe road, storm warni Community Hall with the Bray'favored.witb a piano were at tbeir worst. 25 m president Mrs. R. Best presid- solo, an bour was tbe best spe ing. Opening the meeting with Mrs. Bray tben introduced Her bands were wet, ber e a New Year's thought followed our guest speaker, Mrs. Marie burning and ber back.' by the Mary Stewart Collect Parker, wbo lives nortb Of acbing from straining repeated in unison Mrs. M. Bowmanville and ad come to ward. Vice, secretary - treasurer, tell us about ber experience Susan saw tbe Guelpb read the minutes, treasurer's last winter. off but there were s0 m report and several thank you Sbe and ber daugbter, cars criss-cross over notes from folks who were Susan, were going to Florida access lanes, tbey could remembered at Christmas. A leaving Tbursday, Jan. 26, get tbrougb and so in desp4 thank you note was received 1978 at 6:40 a.m. Tbe car was tion bad kept going. Ti from Mr. Everett Cryderman, packed - - including a lunch, to head lights were on and who had celebrated his 80th prevent tbe necessity of a stop luck and God's grace t birthday. We wish him many for luncb, some candies, were stili On tbe road. Tii more birthdays. medîcations etc. Tbey were were cars, trucks, vans Mrs. R. Fraser read a letter boping to make Seminole, trailers ail over tbe place. from Lai-Chiig, who was a Florida in two days. The median looked like a sup 10-year-old girl when we were dressed in slacks, pull- market parking lot. Tbey h sponsored her is now a over, rubber soled walking been following a small graduate nurse. shoes, unlîned gloves, silk panel truck wbose tail lig The Casserole Luncheon scarf and trench coats witb bad given tbem a small gu this year is to be held March 14 zip-in linings. There was a in a totaily wite world. T, at 12:30 p.m. Mrs. Ashton is light ram falling as tbey drove seconds inter and it too wa again looking after the sale of along Taunton Road and by the median on its side. tickets. Mrs. Best brought to the time tbey reacbed Yonge was afraid to stop and afi our attention the Rights of the St. on the 401 it bad stopped. to go on. Susan scream Child, this being International As tbey passed the Airport "Mom look out". Mrs. Par Year of the Child, we could there were a few flakes Of bad already seen the tangi plan our programs around snow in the air, very igbt. vebicles througb a gap in this. Tbey were really enjoying the blinding snow. By swerv Mrs. F. Westlake assistant opportunity to talk witbout to tbe ieft then a quick turn convenor of Resolutions, was interruptions. The car radio tbe rigbt she managed called upon for the program. was suent. The snow was squeeze between five c She read a poem - - "Through- steadily getting beavier and involved in the smaýb- out the Coming Year". Mrs. B. then witbout warning the Tbey kept going. Taylor commented on the beavens opened up and tbe Kitchener would be ti Motto - - "A Review of Solina wind sbook the car and tbrew best bet tbey tbougbt - W.I. 75th Year". She recalled a biinding wite curtain larger town, roads kept cl< the celebration which we had, across the windsbield. In less Tbey prayed "Please God i with Mrs. Helen Rumble as than 15 minutes the rond was us get there. The Kitche our guest speaker and the covered witb inches of snow cut-off was a repent of presentation of pins to several and visibility at times was nil. Guelpb access rond. So m of our members for their By now they were nearing the trucks, cars etc. at faithful service for 25 years or Guelph cut-off. WHITE OUTS Cambridge Waterloo la more. She read to us an ARE TERRIFYING. She said tbey bad no choice but to k editorial of Dr. Ethel Chap- to ber daughter that tbey driving. Only tbe occasic man's "The Purpose of the would get out of this mess. At 9 luli in the wind gave them Institutç" which had appeared a.m. tbey turned on the radio - indication of the mess t in HIôn and Country in 1962. the weather report was un- were in. Sbe was scared She closed with the last verse believable, the barometer was said a prayer she bnd ol of t Mr. E.MTaylorraad the lowest it had been since used wen driving and nee wr Hurricane Hazel, the police elp - - "God guide my bai Ï"le -agTusaJn 6 guide my head and guide my heart". Seven miles along the road they were stopped by a mass of over 200 cars. The relief of being forced-to stop was wonderful. She did not have to fight the slippery road, or suck in ber breath in fear. They looked at each other and smiled. This flurry could not last - - the snowploughs would be out - - just a small delay perhaps. Being in the passing lane with a large car carrier beside them, a cement mixer behind them and a beige car ahead of them they were comparatively safe. It was now 11:00 a.m. - - she kept ber car running. The gas tank was fairly large and it had been full to the top. Many drivers who turned off their motors to conserve gas could not get thei going again because of the blowing snow wetting them. 11:30 a.m. they had some of their lunch. 2:00 p.m. and Joe, Joe was a truck driver who systematically checked as many cars as possible (She learned later there had been many truck drivers who risked their own lives to save others). Joe came into their car quickly and asked if they were alright, if their window was down just a bit, had they checked the tail pipe - - a guard against carbon monoxide poisoning. Were they scared? Hungry? Did they have enough gas? Did we have enough food to share with others? After four hours the sight of another human being had been very welcome especially a man so know- ledgeable about blizzards, cars etc. He told them the car carrier had a sleeper cab and room for a least seven people so if the car quit they were to get into the carrier after locking the car doors, there, might be looters. A truck load of pipe had skidded and dropped long lengths of pipe blocking both westbound lane about 2 miles further along. They listened to the radio - - all police cars and snow ploughs had been taken off the roads. Momentary panic set in - - they cried a little - - they slept a little. 4:00 p.m. a man staggered by the passenger side of their car - - his car had McGREGOR I.D.A. DRUGS get ngs iles eed. yes was for- cut- any the not era- heir by hey ere and The per- had red ghts uide Two s in She 'raid med ker e of the ving n to to ars -up. heir - a ear. help ner the any the nes eep onal any hey and ften ded nds, Mrs. Wes. Hills thanked Mrs. Parker for bringing to us her experience showing how our lives can be changed within hours. The meeting was turned back to the president. We then had the roll call - - "When you go out in winter never leave home without - ? The meeting closed with O Canada. A social time was enjoyed in the lower hall. Lake Scugog Lette r to, the Edito rClaims Three rammed into the back of 'the car carrier hours earlier. He had stayed in his car until it quit, though is jaw was broken and his teeth were forced back into his mouth, the white plastic bag he had wrapped around his head was blood soaked. He was helped into the car carrier, making about the ninth person to get into the sleeper cab. 5:00 p.m. Joe was back to see how they were doing - several had died. Now it being dark every- thing seemed worse. The car carrier driver came over to us. "Would we like to send a message to our family on his C.B. radio?" They wrote the phone number and a short message - - They were safe, warm, scared somewhere on the 401 between Kitchener and Woodstock. Their husbands had the news within an hour. Had we ever heard of Drumbo? They hadn't until that day. A town of approxi- mately 400. At 6:15 p.m. snow- mobilers came to the car and told them the town of Drumbo was sending two snow ploughs and two school buses to pick up stranded motorists - - DID THEY WANT TO GO - THEY DID - it would be safer than spending the night in the car. They would take their small overnight bags, their purses, lock the car and leave the keys with the driver of the car carrier in case snow ploughs were put into service. The east lane of the 401 was clear of traffic from Drumbo to Wood- stock because of the car pile-ups both east and west of this area. Although it was against the law for school buses and local snowploughs to be on the 401 - - people came first. At 8:20 p.m. their car doors were opened by the snowmo- bilers and they were pulled out into the coldest, meanest weather she had ever experi- enced. They were carried to the Drumbo school bus which was designed to seat 30 to 35 youngsters - - now was slowly transporting 80 men, women and children to the Agricultu- ral Hall. Shortly after 9:00 p.m. they pulled up to a low white building. There they found light, warmth and people. The hot soup, tea, coffee, sandwiches, cakes, cookies, fruit, warm blankets, compassion and friendship all ready there and waiting for them. There were approxi- mately 300 people cared for thatnight each with a story to tell. By 11:30 p.m. most of the women and children had been offered accommodation. They were invited to a home where they were made very comfort- able. They phoned home that they were safe. The next morning everyone was back at the hall to find out about the road conditions, their cars and the weather. The police had promised to be there but they still could not get through, it was three days before the roads were open. For a token fee the local garage in Drumbo towed the cars off the highway to the town, made sure they were in running order and then deli- vered them to the homes where the owners were billet- ted. Mrs. Parker and Susan returned home on Sunday. She said it was a horrible experi- ence - - it was a learning experience and it was a wonderful experience. She said if we are faced with travel at this time of year be prepared. There are a few things so easy to do which could mean the difference between comfort and discom- fort, life and death. 1. Listen to the weather re- port on the radio before leaving. 2. Make sure the gas tank is full. 3. Dress properly for our Canadian climate. You may have to walk to safety. 4. A sleeping bag, snow suit or blanket can be a life- saver. 5. A large moutbed container or plastic bag for use as an emergency toilet. 6. A tin or large container for melting snow. 7. A tbermos or container of of water. 8. Flashligbt and extra bat- teries. 9. A first aid kit. 10. Stay with your car - - it is a protection against tbe ele- ments. 1L. Food in the form of a boney-based candy bar, cup of soup, fruit, dried fruit. 12. Don't panic. Help is a prayer away. Mrs. Parker has written tbree books. She concluded her talk by reading some of tbe poems from her book Inside Out. Better Late Than Never Dear Mr. Editor, My compliments on your editorial "Foreclosing Our Options" (Jan. 10/79). Mr. Abrecht uses a cliche well-worn by those concerned about further nuclear development in our present society. Citizens of this area have had several occasions over the past few years when this possibility has been presented to them. In the spring of 1977, for example, a group of people calling themselves "Walk for Life" stopped overnight at St. Paul's Church. Led by a Roman Catholic nun, the walkers consisted of a United Church theology student, a Jesuit priest and several other Christians concerned re. the spread of nuclear materials and technology. They passed through many Ontario towns as they carried their concerns to parliament hill in Ottawa, were heard, and forgotten. Later that summer, inspired by Walk for Life and encouraged by Energy Probe and the Greenpeace Foundation, a group of concerned local citizens started SEAP - Darlington (a branch of Save the Environment from Atomic Pollution - Port Granby). After hosting a peaceful protest walk to the Darlington nuclear site in the fall of 1977, which many local people found too "radical" for their liking, SEAP continued to press for a re- assessment of the nuclear issue. Submissions were prepared by SEAP members for the federal En- vironmental Assessment Hearings into Eldorado Nuclear's proposed uranium refinery and waste disposal site at Port Granby; and for the provincial Royal Commission on Electric Power Planning (Porter Commission). An energy fair was organized to promote alternate sources of energy and conservation. However, involvement of large numbers of local citizens was not the result, and today, the group remains small, if not somewhat disillusioned. On January 22, 1979, the Porter Commission will hear SEAP's sub- mission to its public participation phase; approximately one year af- ter it was written. Also, the Premier of Ontario is considering a public appeal for a review of the exemption of Darlington Generating Station from Ontario's Environmental Assessment Act. (this after the site has been altered by massive earth- moving operations). In the Ontario Legislature, the Progressive Con- servative MPP for Fort William, Mickey Hennessey has declared that "Hydro is too powerful for the Energy Ministry to curb "(Globe and Mail, Jan. 11/79). The recom- mendation of the Select Committee on Hydro Affairs, that construction at the Bruce 'D' heavy water plant be halted, has been followed after a six-month delay costing $60 million. As one considers these develop- ments, the question arises whether they, plus your editorial, plus SEAP's inception, are not "too little, too late." Or, is it "better late than never," with Darlington Nuclear Station the next candidate for the chopping block? Yours to a non-nuclear future, A SEAP member, Name withheld by request. ***** ******* Got the blues? Wantto get away from it all? Take a walk! Snowmobiles Late Sunday afternoon, the snowmobilers plunged through the ice at Lake Scugog, a mne and a nalf north of Caesarea. Barry Willis, 25, Little Britain, Garry Todd, 26, Oshawa, and Douglas Arnott, 26, Lindsay, managed to get out of the water and make their way to solid ice after losing their machines to the bottom of the lake. The snowmobiles have not yet been recovered. Several cars belonging to ice fisherman, broke through the ice of Lake Scugog last week, resulting in a tragic incident in which a diver lost his life diving to retrieve the cars. The incident indicates that weather factors this winter have created unpre- dictable ice conditions. Inspector Dean Westbrook of the Durham Regional Police reported that several attempts to recover the diver's body have failed and a number of the cars are still resting on the bottom of the murky lake. "People are not being care- ful at all," stated Inspector Westbrook. He cautioned that they need to exercise far more care and awareness' when using ice covered lakes. He noted that a crack may suddenly occur in the ice and produce an open space of water which is a deathtrap for a snowmobile travelling at a high rate of sneed. Unstable ice conditions are not restricted to Lake Scugog. Westbrook cited reports of snowmobiles going through the ice in northern lakes as well. "People need to be VERY careful using any ice covered lake," he warned. NG ST. WEST 623-6702 BOWMANVII±5