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I Section Two The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, June 6,1984 15 Salvation Army's Neu, Thrift Store Open, in Former Citadel Unique House Relies OU Sun ? S RttJS for Heating L The official opening of the new Salvation Army thrift store and family services centre took place on Friday, June 1. Some of the staff from the new facility are shown here behind the front counter as they prepare for their first day of business at the new location on Division St. The shop is in the old Salvation Army building which has been vacant since the group moved to new headquarters headquarters at the former Liberty Pentecostal Chrurch. It includes an area for the display and sale of furniture as well as two floors of clothing for the entire family. For the past three years, the Salvation Salvation Army has operated a thrift store at the plaza on King St. But the move to the former church will increase the amount of floorspace from 900 square feet to over 4,000. Shown above, from left, are: Margaret Colliss, Nellie Godridge, Diane Hamstra, and Mrs. Capt. Mabel Cuff. Hours at the new location will be from 9:30 to 3:30 weekdays and from nine until noon on Saturdays. Retiring Insurance Agent of 29 Years Honored at Banquet ;v V, •v' z U- *r- Bert Johnson a London Life Insurance Company representative in Bow- UC1HPUII1IDUI1 a UU11UUII iJUt IHOUIUUVI. ... ^^wmariviHe for-the past 29 years,.was honored last week with a retirement y luncheon held at the Port Darlington Marina. Bert is shown here with a set P- of lawn chairs which was presented by his colleagues to help him enjoy his new leisure hours. In addition Bert received a number of going-away gifts i from his employer and other well-wishers. With Bert Johnson are Orville ( Climenhaga (centre) and District Manager for Oshawa-Pine Ridge David \ Fisher, CLU. For the. past 29 years, Bert Johnson has been helping families in the Bowmanville Bowmanville area plan their financial financial futures as a representative representative of The London Life Insurance Insurance Company. "I'm not a high-pressure salesman," said Mr. Johnson when he recalls his approach to customers since 1955. He thinks it's most important important to provide good service. service. "I get a kick out of knowing I've looked after somebody," he explains. And the knowledge that his efforts have benefited the client is a big source of job satisfaction. That's one of the reasons why Bert Johnson has often found himself selling insurance insurance policies to three generations generations of the same family. When he retires this month, he'll be missed by the hundreds of families and businesses who rely on him not only as a business associate, but also as a friend. "One week I'm talking to the president of a company, the next week, I'm talking to the person who sweeps the floor," said Mr. Johnson in explaining the variety of his job. But both receive the same degree of expert service. service. Bert Johnson first joined London Life in 1955 after serving for 10 years as the i T We Wash Vans! Car Wash r v gWACASTLE HANDI-TRANSIT 571-125? as well as cars. • Mini-Vans • Full-size Vans • Cars of all sizes. Full Self-Serve Gas Bar and Quality Shell Products Plain's Shell Gas Bar Car and Van Wash 180 King St. East Bowmanville manager of the Dominion Store at the corner of Temperance Temperance St. and King St. A lifelong resident of Bowmanville, he was the son of J.H. Johnson, principal principal of the Central Public School. Bert recalls that in the early years of his career, his job included calls at about 175 houses per month for collecting premiums. It's a phase of the industry which has almost disappeared today. But Bert recalls that those monthly hone visits helped him meet his clients and gave him a good start. Bert Johnson has won 22 national quality awards provided by the Life Underwriters' Underwriters' Association. In addition, addition, he has received a number of company honors and was a member of his company's production club annually. Bert recalls that there have been numerous changes since he. first joined London Life. The insurance industry of the 1980s offers many more products than it used to. For example, annuities and •RRSPs are among the products products now available through insurers. That means the business is more complicated complicated and the agent is called upon to answer questions questions on problems such as taxation or investment as well as insurance. There's evidence that in the future, the industry will even become become more complex. "The agent today is much more educated," said Mr. Johnson. But he added that you still cannot beat experience. experience. It's the joy of meeting people, helping people, and providing a worthwhile service service which has kept Bert Johnson in the insurance industry for almost 30 years. Last Friday, June 1, Bert's insurance colleagues saluted saluted his accomplishments with a reception at the Port Darlington Marina and Hotel. Mr. Johnson was presented presented with a set of lawn furniture as well as a number number of other gifts from his company and his fellow- workers in recognition of his successful career. Now that he's retired, Bert and Ada Johnson's immediate immediate plans include spending more time at their cottage this summer. He also plans to keep busy with carpentry and other assorted assorted jobs around the Johnsons' Bowmanville home, where Bertdescribes himself as a "putterer". Bert adds that he'll be waiting until the fall before deciding if he will be making making any other retirement plans. Bert adds that his retirement retirement and the recent retirement retirement of Prudential insurance insurance agent George White opens the door to a new insurance insurance man or woman interested interested in starting a career. But while Bowmanville may need someone who can give his clients the same kind of personal attention provided by Bert Johnson, Bert's customers and associates associates will say that he's the kind of man nobody will entirely replace. sc 7 By Catherine Denny If you have driven down Baseline Road lately you probably have been inquiring about what appears to be a house-less roof sitting on a Maple Grove lot. There is a building under that roof, you just can't see it from the north side. It's an underground solar powered house occupied by Donald and Marie Goyne of Bowmanville, who finally moved in after nine months of construction. The main portion of the home sits beneath the ground. In fact, three of the walls are built right into the hillside, leaving only the south side of the building open to reveal an expansively windowed kitchen, and living room area. The bedrooms are located on the upper level where the sun's rays which are directed through the solar windows provide sufficient heat to warm the upstairs. It's a beautifully designed, open concept home yet many home buyers are skeptical. Even in today's society a solar home is still considered uncon ventional, perhaps even an oddity. No one wants to rely on the unpredictable sun for their source of power. But the sun is not really a major problem because not only are there fireplaces and wood stoves available foi added protection against the cold, the building is well insulated insulated by the constant temperature temperature of the ground. Perhaps the only problem that the Goyne's encountered was not in the heating or the construction of their home but trying to obtain a building permit for it. The town usually calculates the measurements of a building building according to the size of the upper level. In the case of a solar house the majority of the space is located in the lower level and as such the Goyne's home was incorrectly measured measured at 800 square feet rather than its actual 2,500 square feet. The Goynes had to apply for a variance before they began construction which was approved approved two months later with the one stipulation that additional additional support must be built into the foundation, "The house cost us roughly $60,000," said Mrs. Goyne, adding that "it was comparable comparable to the price of an average home and it will save us a considerable amount of money on heating bills in the long run." Hospital Visiting Canadian Waterbed Company's BANKRUPTCY SALE ALL ASSETS MUST BE SOLD Hurry! Only a few left! Substantial Savings ... on Waterbeds Substantial Savings ... on Furniture Substantial Savings ... on Linens and Accessories Hours: Mon. - Wed. 9-6 Thurs. and Fri. 9-9 Showroom F. Alan Lawson, C.A. 23 Caristrap Street •or- Trustee in Bankruptcy Bowmanville 221 King St. E. 623-2717 Oshawa- 433-2166