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Orono Weelily Times. Wednesday, Septeniber 24, 1997 - I I Cereriony off icially marks start of school Arthur Black Well, I ain't superstiffous, but a black cat crossed my trail Old blues lyic I've only been cuffed in the head a few times in my life, and most times I was in a sit-, uation where 1Idknd of expect- ed it (iLe. doing my level best ta cuf somebody else in the head) -- but I do recaîl an occasion when a backhander took me by surprise. I was swabblng decks on an ail tanker somewhere between Halifax and Amuay Bay, Venezuela. 1 made the mistake of whistling while I1 swabbed. Next thing 1 knew I was sprawled face down on the deck between my bucket and my mop. The Bosun, a red-faced Yorkshireman built like a beer stein, stood over me with his hands on his hips. "Eeit!" he snarled, "Do ye not know better than t'whistie on a ship? As a matter of fact I didnt -- but I learned right quick. I discovered that among sailors it's considered perilously bad luck ta pucker yaur lips and blow whîle you're at sea. They believed, quite seriously, the whistling encouraged the winds ta blow. That wasn't the only superstition those men at sea embraced. They believed it was bad luck ta change the name of your boat; ta name a boat before It was launched: for two relatives ta crew on the saine vessel and ta board a small boat from any direc- tion but the starboard side. One crewman told me that sailors neyer molest seagulîs, believing them ta be the souls of drowned mariners., They're a superstitiaus lot, your sailors -- but then why not? They've gat a risky job, flitting like water spiders over the tossing bosom of a capri- ciaus and frequently violent ocean. They need ail the good luck they cari get. Strange how most -of us, Subscribe to Orono Weekly Times A (tile exercise can, go a long way! Walking 3 km in 35 minutes can do wonders for your heath. Ifs that simple. _Sharing o HedlthierFutur sailor and landlubber alike, still observe many aid super- stitions. How many of us would deliberately walk under a ladder? Open an umbrella in the house? Not me. Not without tossing a lit- tle sait over my shoulder. Look at weddings. The bride must wear white. On the wedding day, the groom must not see the bride before she cames down the aile. And when the deed is done we thraw handfuls of confet- ti or rice at them. Enduring habits, supersti- tions. I'm not gullible enougli ta think that handling toads will give me warts, but I cross my fingers before I go in'te ask the boss for a raise. Mmnd yau, when it cames ta superstitions, the Russians make yau, me and the entire Canadian merchant marine look like a pack of scientific rationalists. Russians are superstitious with a vengeance. Give birth ta a baby in Mascow and your neighbours will tel you nat ta show it ta strangers for 40 days. Bad luck. They also believe lU's bad luck ta cut the kld's hair or fmngemnails for a whole year after birth. In Russia, it is also bad luck ta: e be born ar married in May *shake hands over a threshold - give knives or handker-, chiefs as gifts e give anybady a haif dozen rases. Five roses are okay. Sa is seven. Odd numbers are life- affirming. Even numbers mean death. Russians aren't ail nega- tive; they have goad luck omens toa. They believe for example, that if you forget somethling in the house and have ta return for it, you can cancel any accrumng bad luck by looking inta a mirror and smiling. Before setting out on a trip, superstitious Russians sit down for a minute of silence with fri ends or family. to have grade seven and eight in the local community," says Adams. "The close liaison between Courtice South and Lydia Truil Public School will work to the benefit of Courtice South students and will be enhanced by a parent co-operative at both schools which will help provide a smooth transition for the stu- dents." Both Courtice South and Lydia Truil public schools will be twinned. When the school opens, about 500 students are expected ta enroil at Lydia Truil Public School with enrolment moving to 600 stu- dents in the following year. The officiai sod-tummig for the new Lydia Truil Public School in C-ourtice takes place today Wednesday, September 24) , 1997 at 1:30 p.m. at the !ite of the new school at 80;Avondale Drive. Special guest1s at the event include members of the Truli family, the area MPP, the Mayor of Clarl2ngton and rep- resentatives of senior admin- istration and trustees from The Northumberland- Clarington Board of Education. Student repre- sentatives from Dr. Emily Stowe and Courtice South public schools will attend the ceremony because some stu- dents at these schools will become part of the Lydia Trul school community. Lydia Truli, one of the orig- inal settlers in the area, was a seif-tauglit herbalist and toured the local area on horseback providing care to people of aîl ages. The new school, scheduled to open in September, 1998, will run from junior. kinder- garten to grade eight and will include both French Immersion and full Englîsh progranis.i .Principal-designate for the new school Pat Adams says students in the Courtice South catchment area will begin their education at Courtice South for junior and senior kindergarten and grade one and then move to Lydia Truil Public School for the subsequent grades. Students living in sections one and three (west of Truils Road) who attend Dr. Eniily Stowe Public School will move to the new school in September, 1998. "The o rganization of the school supports -the comrnu- nity's desire for a dual track school (French Immersion progranis runnlng parallel ta Engli sh programs). It sup- ports the community's wish And my favourite.- On Russian buses you'll often see commuters exaxnnng their tickets closely. That's because it's considered the greatest luck if your ticket number happens ta -have the same three numbers at the begin- nlng and at the end. The thing to do if you get one of those tickets is .... .eat ItL That's right. Eat the ticket. On the spot., Man. It'll be a long time before I'm desperate enough ta eat my bus ticket for luck. Touch wood. ORONO WEEKLY TIMES (905) 983-5301 Business Cards, Envelopes, Letterheads, Flyers, Newsletters Fuil Colour Printing FUNERAL SERVICES PRE-ARRANGED AND PREPAID Funeral Directors Paul R. Morris Robert E. Williams Gary M. Conway Doug R. Rutherford Newcastle PhotorapIiic prnets Sumîoer Of Sawv5 19g Kcng st, e'5st Newctystle Colour full frame onty 98 3 O9OfrexisSET1/7 110, 126, Disk & 135mm 9 7 3 0 ET119 Bilessîngs Cru ise & Travel are pledsed (o announce-(he cippointmnenf of QORD MILLS Travel Tour Co-ordinator Qord Milis is a senior who has spent almost ail of his life serving the public. He is used to, dealing with people from ail waiks of 1fr and has served the community interests weli; most recently as a member of the Ontario Legisiature. Qord is congenial, approachable and caring; a friend to turn to for help, ail qualities that make for a great Tour Co- ordinator. Biessings Cruise & Travel is pleased'to welcomne Qord to our company and wouid encourage you to join him on one of his up-coming tours. Carnival Cruise - March 1,'1998 Cuba April, 1998 Tour Scotland & England lune J1, 1998 Alaska (]ruise Auýgust, 1998 Greek Island Cruise ()ctohc'r 1998j Cùnitdct Blessfiizgs ruise X Trâ vel (à)2 3 -0 00u"5A