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rr hore pra ah 73 Pe VE | A oy . of, A special flight for comet watcher Twice in a lifetime Normally, the 1910 skyline was pretty black, unilluminated by city lights, aircraft and pollution. But on May 18th, a 13 year old ~ Manchester boy named Frank Johnson watched incredulously as a searing white flash of light streak- ed across the stars. "It lit the whole sky, pretty near," Frank recalls. "I thought there was something wrong with the world when I saw it." The "it" in question was Halley's Comet and on May 18th the earth passed through its tail leaving witnesses across the nation breathless. There weren't any radio stations to explain the phenomenon, no TV stations either, and people like Frank were sure the comet meant something foreboding was about to happen. And in the years following the comet's impromptu ap- pearance, many tragedies were blamed on Halley's Comet, in- cluding World War I. Frank Johnson is 89 now, the date is 1986 and the whole world has changed since the comet's 1910 ap- Frank Johnson was 13 years old when he first saw Halley's Comet. This year he was lucky enough to see the comet again, a feat most people will never accomplish. See story for details. | Allen's Siding Products Ltd. ings, Soffit Eavestrough for Barns! ALCAN SIDING ... 75.00 per sq. (FORMERLY CHRIS ALLEN ALUMINUM) -- FREE ESTIMATES -- Professional Installation of Win- dows, Storm & Patio Doors, Awn- Shutters, 5" Seamless Eavestrough, Aluminum Siding, & Fascia - Florida Rooms Pre-painted Steel Vinyl Siding .............. 85.00 per sq. D-4 Alum. Siding ...... 90.00 per sq. ! Horiz. Alum. .......... 102.00 per sq. ha 985-3747 | or Rob ... a i. a ae fe . This -time around, the comet bomet didn't come as a surprise to anybody. Months of publicity and ballyhoo surrounded its arrival and nobody was afraid the streak of light was a sign of the end of the world, or of anything else equally mournful. Quite the opposite, in fact. Telescopes have sold like proverbial hotcakes and people have gone out of their way to spot the comet. So it's no surprise to hear about CP Air's special Star Ship Flight, designed for one purpose only --- to see the comet at its best. The airline assigns points to all passengers and regular flyers can amass their points in order to take advantage of free flights. Doreen Torrens and her husband managed to collect the 20,000 points each necessary for the special Star Ship Flight, and were therefore en- titled to be on board when the 737 took off from Pearson Airport on March 22nd. The Mississauga couple had other ideas, however. Mr. Torrens gave his ticket to his father-in-law, Frank ~ Johnson, figuring the boy who saw the comet so long ago would ap- preciate the sight even more as a man. So when the flight took off at 3:15 "a.m., Frank and Doreen were aboard. The whole reason for the flight originated because of the position of the comet. In 1986, when the comet is on the brightest and most norther- ly part of its flight path, our planet is on the far side of the sun and our view is blocked by solar glare. That's why when the comet was at its best in February, Canadians couldn't really see it at all, and why observers in the southern hemisphere got to see the better view when it did become visible. Scientists say the comet will never become bright this time around, and from Canadian latitudes it will only be visible low in the sky close to the horizon where 'atmospheric haze and pollution will mostly obsure it. Which is why CP Air decided to send up their Halley's Comet Ex- press. Dr. Tom Clark, Director of - McLaughlin Planetarium was on hand to give an introductory lecture before the plane flew up to 37,000 feet to a destination somewhere south of Cleveland (on the tickets, the destination is listed as " Dummy City."). Once in position around Cleveland, the plane made several * turns so all passengers could get a chance to see the comet. Bin- coculars helped, but some said they could see it with the naked eye. Frank Johnson admitted his eyes aren't as good as they used to be and all he said he could pick out was a little smudge about the size of a thumb print, a bit brighter on the right side than on the left. But this did little to deter his en- thusiasm for the trip. He was win- ed and dined and even interviewed by reporters from the Toronto Star and CFRB who made the trip as well. Infact, Frank was a real celebri- ty on the flight. He was the oldest passenger on board, and one of few people still alive who remember seeing the comet on its last ap- pearance in 1910. He was interviewed alongside a young boy who has a good chance of seeing the comet again when he gets to be Frank's age. During an interview with John Enright of CFRB he quipped, "I doubt if I'll be around for the next appearance, although I do remember thinking in 1910 that I could possibly see it again." You never know, Frank. PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, April 8, 1986 -- 2) Se ---- ---- ------ Co -------- --- The beautiful acrylic paintings of Toronto artist Ann Davidson- Bilas are now on display at Scugog Memorial Library until April 25th. Water and rock are the essence of this art and the spirit of wild, natural communion that can be found in these two natural elements is delicately counter-pointed by their finish and preci sion. She writes, *'| have a passion for water. Water is living, hyp- notic, soothing, exciting, unpredictable. We are drawn to water's movement, to its mystery." See story for details. Water passion in bright acrylics From April 5 to 25th, 27 acrylic. paintings by Ann Davidson-Bilas will be on view at the Scugog Memorial Public Library, Port Perry. Ann Davidson-Bilas is a young Toronto high realist painter who is fascinated by lakes. She has painted the North Channel of Lake Huron, Georgian Bay, Lake Simcoe and the Rideau Lakes. But while many realist painters produce scenes that are stilled and static, Ann Davidson- Bilas is exceptional in making pic- tures full of emotional intensity and movement. Water and rock are the essence of these paintings. The water is living, free, gleaming. Bare rock acquires force through a heightening of perspective. Whole painting establish a magnetic, kinesthetic sense of movement into the far distance. And the spirit of wild, natural communion that is in these UXBRIDGE MEMORIAL ot is delicately counter- ted hy their finish and precision gr Davidson-Bilas studied at Sheridan College, the Ontario Col- lege of Art, and the Three Schools. She has had two solo exhibitions at Eaton's Art Gallery and has par- ticipated in several juried shows, winning the Best Artist award at the . La Cloche Mountain Art Show in . 1983. She writes, 'I have a passion for water. Water is living, hypnotic, soothing, exciting, unpredictable. We are drawn to water's movement, to its mystery." Fifty years ago Emily Carr, overwhelmed by the beauty, freedom and power she found in the British Columbia forest, wrote that we must go to the trees "in a spirit of recognition of the God spirit among them." With kindred heart and with beautiful effect, Ann Davidson-Bilas goes to, Ontario lakes. A COMPANY MEMORIALS OF DISTINCTION GRANITE - MARBLE BRONZE Cemetery Lettering & Renovations Custom Designing . 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