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j i 8 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, March 21, 1984 Section Two Spotlight on Jessie Slemon Bowmanville Kinsmen Host Zone Conference by Donna Fairey There was a time when local artist Jessie Slemon was forced to sandwich her painting between minding a country store and raising raising a family. That's not the case today. Her offspring have families of their own, the store was long ago sold, and Jessie is free to devote all the time she wants to painting. painting. In fact, she spends several hours of nearly every day brushing her nature interpretations onto canvas. Jessie has become recognized for her painted landscapes and flower studies. Morover, about 25 of her most recent works will be displayed at the Visual Arts Centre commencing Sunday, March 25th through April 1st. The exhibition exhibition is a milestone for Jessie. It marks her first one-woman show. And in order to meet the opening deadline, she has been painting steadily since last fall. Jessie even cancelled a winter holiday in order to prepare for the show. In the past she has won awards at juried exhibitions sponsored by the Oshawa and District District Art Associatio, the Newcastlè Visual Arts Centre and the East Central Art Association. Association. Her work can be found in private collections collections in Canada and the United States. Raised in Hampton, Jessie recalls that she began painting in elementary school. She later graduated from Bowmanville High School before enrolling in the Peterborough teachers college. It was during the period at college that her first serious art works were turned out. However, time to develop as an artist soon became at a premium premium when Jessie married married the late John Slemon Slemon and the couple set about the business of earning a living and raising two children. For many years the pair carried on the family family tradition of operating operating Slemon's general store in Enniskillen. In addition to a healthy re tail trade, the store served the surrounding community as the area post office headquarters. headquarters. Yes, Jessie was busy in those days. Nonetheless, Nonetheless, she found time to squeeze in a painting here and there. However, However, it was years later before the luxury of limitless hours for her art became a reality. •Indeed, Jessie's art has surmounted other odds, as well. Some years ago, the painter was striken with arthritis, arthritis, a disease which has limited certain of her hand functions. She was forced, for instance, instance, to abandoned knitting and crocheting because of loss of hand flexibility. She has, however, been able to maintain sufficient movement to continue with brush and oils. Where art is concerned, Jessie has always found a way. And the result can be seen in her magnificent paintings, the majority featuring local landscapes landscapes and nature scenes. She has recently recently completed, for example, an attractive piece featuring Tyrone mill. Moreover, the art room in her tidy Bowmanville Bowmanville bungalow is lined with other familiar familiar landscapes, bunches of painted lilacs, roses, tulips and other flowers. Many of these will be displayed during the upcoming art show at the Mill Gallery. Gallery. Seemingly Jessie's incredible modesty is drawn from the same bottomless well as her artistic creativity. And if demonstrated talent is the sole factor which dictates the timing for a feature exhibition, then Jessie's March show is overdue. Newton ville Church Sunday morning greeters were Mary Jones and Janet Paeden. The children's children's story was read by Mrs. Lynda King assisted by Shaunna Mclnnes and Beverly Beverly Stacey. As this was the first Sunday of Lent, Lynda's sermon was entitled entitled "A Revolutionary Life - True Fasting". Mary Vin- kle read the scriptures and also a short address of her stay in the hospital last fall and her meaning of "Prayers". The choir sang "Why do I sing about Jesus?" Mr. and Mrs. Fred Henderson Henderson returned Sunday evening from their 1 week vacation to the Barbados. Mr. and Mrs. Earle McE- wen of Peterborough were dinner guests on Saturday with Mr. and Mrs. Don Vin- kle. Bowmanville Kinsmen played official hosts recently recently when they organized a zone Spring conference conference at the Flying Dutchman Hotel. The annual weekend meeting of several clubs within the zone began Friday, March 9th. Representatives of the participating clubs are shown above front row from left: Mark Borutskie-Bowmanville, Peter Paton-Oshawa, Jim Levac-Orono Great Pine Ridge, Fred Weiner-Bowmanville and Mark Mason-Brooklin. Rear from left: Ron Nidderie- Ajax, Dave McReelis-Manvers, Ted Smith-Oshawa Motor City, Owen McCann-Whitby and Bob Hud- son-Port Perry. TTERS TO THE EDITOR March 17,1984 The Canadian Statesman The Newcastle Independent Dear Mr. James, Here I am again, pestering you with more detail on the subject of property assessment. assessment. I do hope I am not taxing your interest. Did you know, Mr. James, that if any one of your readers were the owner in 1983 of a farming operation which was valued at $109,600, his operation operation would have carried an assessed value of $6394 and his property tax in that year, before applicable credits, would have been $2300? Did you know that when the provincial provincial assessors recently reappraised reappraised his operation and decided that it was worth $182,000, the assessed value dropped slightly to $6370 and his property tax in 1984, before mill-rate increases, would" also drop slightly to $2292? If however, your reader was a self-employed bricklayer, a skilled tradesman at the Goodyear plant, a retired school teacher or an employee of your newspaper and he owned a home which was previously previously valued at $109,600 but recently reappraised by the assessor at $182,000, he would have been reassessed in 1984 at $8190. His property tax in 1984, before an adjustment for mill-rate increases, would be $2947 - up 49.6 percent in one year. Such are the inequities of market-value assessment. On the strength of this information, information, Mr. James, I would suggest that all your readers do their part to restore the Town of Newcastle to the solid farming community it used to be in "the good old days." There are distinct advantages. advantages. James Slyfield R. R. 1, Bowmanville L1C3K2 263-2959 Keep Canada Beautiful HOME OF THE FUEL ECONOMY CAR. MIDWAY DATSÜN 1300 Dundas St. E., Whitby 668-6828 Your chance ta honour =a shining example.- %. n °.STAM° A F° r ^ en ^ ce t° B c the Community I They are the bedrock of society, quietly, selflessly devoted devoted to those who need help. They ^ are the people who, with no thought of compensation, voluntarily devote part of their ^ lives to the bettering of the lives of others - the disabled, the disadvantaged, the sick and the lonely. Some contribute their time and talents to helping others achieve - in culture, arts, sports and recreation. \icentennial Medals To commemorate Ontario's Bicentennial, a special medal has been struck. Made from Ontario gold and nickel and minted in Ottawa, the medal features Ontario's coat of arms and p the Bicentennial symbol. Tominate a Special Person In this Bicentennial year, 1,984 medals will be awarded to volunteers who have made a valuable contribution to their communities. Every community across the province including ill! t ('■' : I'Vt ■- .{ j : /V. 5 H municipalities, Indian Bands and local service boards will be asked to nominate anywhere t m from one to 13 non-elected individuals (dependent on § population). Beyond this, some 200 medals will be awarded to citizens whose names have been put forward by their fellow citizens or by volunteer organizations. Q ntario's Bicentennial It's an occasion for communities to join together and celebrate our rich diversity. The Bicentennial Bicentennial Medals Program is one way we can honour those special values we all hold in common, and those special individuals who've made our life together better. We need your nomination by June 30,1984. Nomination forms are available by writing: Exécutive Secretary, Bicentennial Awards Committee, Box1984, Queen 'sPark, Toronto, Ontario M7A1N3 William G. Davis Margaret Birch, M.RP Premier Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier Ontario