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2 - Orono Weekly Times Subscriptions $33.02 + $1.98 GST = $35.00 per year. No Refunds. Publications Mail Registration No. 09301 · Agreement No. 40012366 Publishing 48 issues annually at the office of publication. "We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs." Wednesday, January 7, 2009 ORONO WEEKLY TIMES - 5310 Main St., P.O. Box 209, Orono, ON L0B 1M0 E-mail: oronotimes@rogers.com or Phone/Fax: 905-983-5301 Publisher/Editor Margaret Zwart Production and Display Advertising - Donna Anderson Wood Classified Advertising - Sue Weigand The Orono Weekly Times welcomes letters to the editor on subjects of interest to our readers. Opinions expressed to the editor and articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Orono Weekly times. Letters must be signed and contain the address and phone number of the writer. Any letter considered unsuitable will not be acknowledged or returned. We reserve the right to edit for length, libel and slander. If your retail or classified ad appears for the first time, please check carefully. Notice of an error must be given before the next issue goes to print. The Orono Weekly Times will not be responsible for the loss or damage of such items. The New Year's Levee, an age old tradition We have changed the calendar and we're already into the second week of the New Year. With festivities and functions associated with the holiday season well spent, January presents a lull in the social calendar for most, except for the New Year's Levee. For the first time in many years, Our MPP, John O'Toole and Mayor Jim Abernethy are holding their levees on the same day and in the same general vicinity, so we can all attend both levees if we so desire. Both levees will be held this Sunday, January 11. John O'Toole will be at the Sarah Jane Williams Heritage Centre, 62 Temperance Street Bowmanville from noon to 2 p.m. and the Mayor will be at Courtice Community Centre at 2950 Courtice Road North, from 1 to 3 p.m. We have recently come to learn that the New Year's Levee is a uniquely Canadian observance. For some strange reasons only Canadians are willing to politely stand in what are sometimes long lines to wish a Happy New Year and shake hands with people they could meet any given day on the street. The word levee is derived from the French verb lever which means "to rise." French aristocrats used to receive guests in the morning after they had gotten up. British sovereigns held their levees in the early afternoon. Since Lieutenant Governors are the Queen's representative, they have adopted this custom in Canada. While the two local New Year's Levees are being held 11 days into the New Year, that was not always the case. The first recorded levee in Canada was held on January 1, 1646, in the Chateau St. Louis, by the Governor of New France: Charles Huault De Montmagny. Prior to that, fur traders had the tradition of paying their respects to the Master of the Fort on New Year's Day. This custom was adopted by the Governor General and Lieutenant-Governors for their levees, and thus it was that in Canada the levee became associated with New Year's Day. It is not clear whether Canada's Governor General still holds a New Year's Levee on January 1, but it appears the Lieutenant Governors of the Provinces do. This year the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, held his New Year's Levee at the Peterborough City Hall, on January 1st. All Ontarians were welcomed to meet the Lieutenant Governor before partaking in refreshments and enjoying local entertainment. An important element of the early levees were the refreshments served. A report of the New Year's Levee held in Brandon House, Manitoba in 1797 indicates that the men of the North West Company filled the house when they all got a dram each. Simpson's Athabasca Journal reports that on January 1, 1821, the inmates of the garrison assembled in the hall, dressed out in their best clothes and were regaled in a suitable manner with a few flaggon's of rum and some cakes. A full allowance of buffalo meat was served out to them and a pint of spirits for each man. Levees today are not nearly as high-spirited as in the past, but they still present an excellent opportunity to meet with elected representatives, extend New Year's greetings and share your opinion on the issues of the day. While you are not likely to get a dram at the local levee unless you bring your own, they do still present a very respectable refreshment table. With the uncertain economic times we are currently facing, the New Year's Levee offers good entertainment value as it is offered at no cost to attendees. As the Municipality is contemplating a near zero tax increase, services will have to be cut, and we might be brown bagging on the front steps of the town hall for next year's levee. Enjoy it while you can. Letter To The Editor Orono history a group effort Dear Editor, Re: your editorial in the December 18th paper, which I received yesterday, I would like to say that I was interested in the comments about the community of Orono. I have very special memories and you are very right in saying that it is a warm and caring place in which to live. I do find it necessary though to go back to basics as to the book, a local history, Out of the Mists. Basics have a habit of being forgotten and distorted. I was not actually involved in the process of writing the book but was certainly there. First of all, the purpose of the book was to put in writing how the community was established and how it had evolved since then, up to the time of writing. There were three people involved in the process. Helen Schmid was in charge of the researching, Sid Rutherford did all the writing. Elva Reid was in charge of publication. The various businesses in the community, many individuals and the proceeds from various affairs all contributed to the publication fund. When the book was finally available everyone in the community was interested in and excited by their book. I do not know if there was any money left over, but I know if there was, it would have gone back into the community. I wish you continued success in your business and best wishes for a happy and healthy year to your staff. Mary Rutherford We covet your opinion! We would like to hear from you, our readers. Tell us your thoughts about local issues and current events. Send us your letters today! THE ORONO WEEKLY TIMES P .O. Box 209, 5310 Main St., Orono L0B 1M0 Fax: 905-983-5301 or oronotimes@rogers.com