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Times Wednesday, December 1, 2004 Si Places I've Done Time by Clifford Francis A big bang A couple of weeks ago when the propane depot down at the beach had a few tanks explode, it caused quite a stir. That reminds me of a bit of a bang a few years back. The story goes something like this. A girl that I knew lived with her mom, dad and small brother on a farm on the east side of the Ganaraska Forest. Her dad promised to take us all to the CNE if I would help him cut firewood for the winter. I readily agreed and off we went to Toronto in his fine new Ford car. I believe it was Edsel Ford. The day started out unevent- • ful and only got worse. Shortly after lunch the small brother got lost in the crowd on the : midway. While searching for the small lad, mom got lost. Several hours later everyone was found and things began to look better. A ride on the roller coaster was a great way to top off the day. It certainly tickled me no end. A guy and his girl wanted to ride in the front row of the roller coaster. After much bantering, bantering, I agreed to let him up front, only to find out he was all show and insisted on sitting in the second row as he was afraid. It was my lucky day. While we were travelling at breakneck speed, a goose that was either taking off or landing on Lake Ontario, came flying by. I ducked and the guy behind me got hit in the chest or the stomach by this goose. I never Sixth Annual Farmers' Christmas Parade of Lights tonight knew there was that much poo in a goose, he was covered, and I was more than pleased. Phew. When we arrived back at the farm it was unbelievable, everything was leveled. Apparently the silo had blown up and the explosion had blown both the house and the bam down. Most of the silo was never found. The roof of the silo had blown straight up in the air and caught an air current, current, and landed in Rice Lake several miles away. It landed between two small boats of oriental oriental men fishing. These men were badly shaken by it all. They thought it was a flying saucer from outer space. The fishing decreased in the Lake for several years after. Luckily, no one or nothing was killed. The dog was down at the end of the land chasing cars when it happened and he escaped injury. All the chickens had their feathers blown off, but it being late August their feathers grew back by winter. The old rooster was apparently blinded by the flash from the explosion, so he crowed whenever whenever he felt like it, not just in the early mom. The explosion was said to have been caused by the combustion combustion in the silo, but as the years go by and I think about it more, I've never heard of com blowing up in a silo. My theory is that there was something more than com in that silo. Anyway by Christmas, like the housé, bam and silo, I was gone. It's sort of that way now, that I think about it. Maybe I'll get a new friend in the Spring. The Tyrone, Haydon, Enniskillen, Enfield Farmers' Christmas Parade of Lights is scheduled to run this Wednesday evening, (December (December 1st.) The parade starts on Old Scugog Road, north of Enniskillen and continues on through Potters Lane, to Enniskillen, Haydon then Tyrone. Estimated time of arrival in Enniskillen is 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Tyrone. This is the 6th annual parade by the group, which consists of about 15 floats. Viewpoint Continued from page 2 HOI in AY HOME DF,COR ATING CONTEST sponsored by the Kendal Lions Club Show us your holiday spirit and decorate the outside of your house and garden. You could WIN great prizes. Judging to take place on December 17, 5-10pm. To enter call Ron 905-786-2274 or Shirley 905-786-2484 East of the 115, Kendal, Newtonville area NEWCASTLE FUNERAL HOME Family owned and operated by Carl Good, Funeral Director, and Joyce Kufta 386 Mill St. S., Newcastle 905-987-3964 www.ncwcastlefuncralhome.com "Caring for our Community" site has the gall to suggest that smokers pay more in taxes than they take out of the health care system. I've read figures in the past that contradict theirs, but when my father-in- law died this past summer from a host of complications as a result of his addiction, I'm pretty sure his heath care costs ate up all the cigarette taxes that he and many others paid during their lifetimes. The reality is smoking kills in many Ways. We also know it impairs the health of, and kills those who don't smoke; those who breathe second hand smoke. This alone should be the overriding factor factor when it comes to worrying about rights. When the actions of one impinge on the health and enjoyment of another, it's hard to feel sympathy for the first party. From that point in 1932 when a scientist first proved a link between smoking smoking and cancer, to the point where we are at now, seventy years later, many battles have had to be fought, and much proving has had to be done to ensure that those of us who made adult decisions not to smoke, no longer have to be exposed to smoke everywhere we go. Where there are restrictions on smoking, smokers curtail their habit, and thus, more people are provided provided the incentive to quit. Smokers save money and they reduce their health risks. To date I haven't met an ex-smoker ex-smoker yet that wish they'd never quit, but all of us know plenty who wish they'd never started. An ex-smoker I used to work with once asked a co-worker how many cigarettes he really enjoyed in a day. His reply, after some thought, was, "the one with my coffee in the morning, and the one after supper." The „ rest he just smoked. The former smoker then said he had noticed the same thing when he smoked, and he quit because he was tired of paying for 25 and only enjoying 2! Smokers have the right to smoke as long as no one else has to unwillingly be exposed to their by-products. If this makes it uncomfortable for smokers, that's unfortunate. When mandatory seatbelts were introduced in February of 1975 many of us felt it was inconvenient, uncomfortable, a" violation of our rights, they were supposed to reduce health care costs and many said, "that there was no proof that they worked". Today, most of us wouldn't dream of getting into a car without buckling up in large part because we acknowledge that the benefits far outweigh a minor change in 'habit.' To not buckle up increases the chance of being killed in an accident or killing someone else in the vehicle if we become a projectile. I think there's a parallel here... Farmers invest many hours into creating their one-of-a- kind floats. The design and building of the floats is shrouded in secrecy. After the parade, participating participating farmers gather for a pot luck dinner at the Tyrone Community Centre. People who do not smoke have had to 'accept' the risk of exposure to second-hand smoke for far too long; at home, in the workplace and in public spaces. Smokers have affected the rights of the health of those who do not smoke. This group now wants sympathy, compassion, understanding, understanding, and recognition of "their rights." This notion makes me gag almost as bad as cigarette smoke! The Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers' Council advocates advocates for the rights of smokers but... where have they been when the rights of those, the majority, who didn't smoke were trampled? Why didn't they feel it necessary to provide provide leadership and a voice for us? Why didn't they feel compelled compelled to protect the health of small children in enclosed automobiles and homes while adults smoked? Probably, because it wasn't affecting their bottom, line. Prohibiting smoking in public places is hurting their bottom line, and that's all they've ever cared about! NOW AVAILABLE ÉirnWmiêr- : PAUL JONES V Legacy ol Blessings A medley of Praise Songs $15 CD Available at the Orono Weekly Times or by calling 905-983-5857 Proceeds to the Knox Christian School Building Fund & the Alpha Program at the Marantha CRC HAPPENINGS- Wednesday. December 1 - Orono Town Hall Ohio Fashioned "Community Christmas Carol- ing" featuring "Pure and Simple",. Starts 7 p.m. Feflow and^Rcbekah^nt re^l 2*4 C^urclfst! N ro n<L Craft b aldu g , count, y store, penny draw, new-to-you articles, quilt draw, refreshments. g«t.inia«. neeemhér 4 - Orono Town Hall Breakfast with Santa - 9 to II a.m. Camel rides and pictures with Santa. Thursday. ifeecmltSLâ - Senior's Christmas Tea - Orono Public School invites grandparents and seniors to attend their tea at I p.m. at the school. R.S.V.l. 905-983 500 . i Qi cnuiAHf'c nwie Time Christmas Feast - Entertainment begins at 5:30 foliowX^cr'at 6. Tickets $15 available from Charles Gray 905-9874551 or Maureen Tomlinson 905-983-9642.