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Take a Look Back PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, December 9, 1986 -- 17 Photograph courtesy Whitby Historical Society This week's photograph shows all that was left of Burns Presbyterian Church in Ashburn after it was consumed by fire on February 12, 1967. The frame church was originally built in 1857 and in 1911 was raised and placed on a foundation. Unfor- tunately, the fire also destroyed many valuable records of this area's forefathers. The residents of Ashburn showed their tenacity and rebuilt their church later that year, this time of brick. It was constructed on the same site and still serves the com- munity today. I'll bet there isn't one person reading this ditty who either now has a pet, or at least had a pet at one time in their lives. It almost seems as though not to have a furry little being rom- ping around the house means that house is not a true home. It is somehow lacking a vital part. As for myself, I am presently down to just two pets: a black neurotic dog who sees herself as being just a fuzzy human person, and a fat white cat who thinks he is a dog, albeit the most important dog in the world. Anyway, it has recently dawned on me that our family are slaves to these animals. We feed them on demand, race around to make sure they are let out at the proper time, and in general put ourselves out for them constantly. | When you come to think of it, the whole world is going to the dogs, (if you'll pardon the pun). The advertising world has come up with the biggest con job of all time, and the dumb thing is, we are all buying it. * Take the food we feed these creatures. I can remember when I was a kid, and had a cat, and the only thing on the shelves of the supermarket to feed her was good old Puss and Boots. I think you had a choice of two or three flavours, but as far as I can recall, there was only the one brand. Same thing went for dog food. Although there was more of a selec- tion there, still only a few brands such as Dr. Ballards and Pard. Nowadays, supermarkets and the like have almost an entire aisle devoted to goodies for our animal friends. And have you noticed the flavours? No such thing as fish, chicken or beef anymore. Oh no .... check out beef Wellington, Ragout Chicken Supreme, Mixed Grill and even Gourmet Platter. My husband should be so lacky every day of the week to be served such a meal. And for dessert there are chocolate candies and other little treats, all designed for Fido and the Puddy-tat. The newly released Dogue magazine real- ly flipped me out. This, I thought, was the liv- ing end .... the ultimate in indulgence. But I was wrong. The following you will probably find hard to believe, but I swear it is absolute- Viewpoint ly true. (Have I ever lied to you before?) New York's prestigious Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts has seen soloists of every kind. This you are probably familiar with. But few of these artists have ever achieved the popular acclaim of Pumpkin, an orange striped cat. Pumpkin, who distinguished 'himself with a pulsating vibrato, was the star performer in a recent '"'Magical Musical Meow Off," a coast-to-coast search for the most melodius meow in kittydom. Sponsored by Ralston-Purina, makers of Meow Mix, the contest featured six feline finalists. After fly- ing the cats to New York, Ralston put them (and presumably their owners) up in a posh hotel, chauffered them around town in limousines and offered $25,000 to the top meower. This still is not the ultimate. To complete the extravaganza, the company unveiled ""Meow-Aid" -- a plan to distribute $25,000 worth of Meow Mix to homeless cats across the United States. Only in America, you say? High-level hype? Perhaps. But the Meow Off is just one example of how companies now choose consumer promotions -- special events, cents-off coupons, give-aways -- rather than the traditional advertising to reach we, the general public. I mean they have already got us bam- boozled intu buying cat or dog food because it sounds like something we would like to eat ourselves. Wonder how many people buy the liver flavour anyway? And I also wonder if all ~ those different rehashes of beef flavour real- ly do taste any different from one another. They all look and smell the same, and deep down, I am convinced it is all the same stuff put into different cans. One day I am going to find someone stupid, or hungry enough to taste test them all and give me the truth. Anyway, back to the reason for this Meow Off. The guys that make the food we buy for our animals are in business, and as such are out to make money .... right? And all of them have tried all the old gimmicks, and they are wearing thin, and now they have to come up wth something different .... right? Turn to page 20 Reflections of a golden age by Mabel M. McCabe Memories Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? This question is heard most often these days than any other. Well, | have to con- ~ fess that | have not and | will probably be running around at the last minute as usual. There always seems to be one more thing that | need to make everything complete. The rush and bustle of gift shopping can be a chore but it can also be the source of joy if we don't allow it to get out of hand. | am going to give less this year but | will give things | make. When one takes the time to put together a gift with their own hands, it really seems more important. | would like to have enough to be able to buy expensive things for all my loved ones, but I'm still in the category of the poor | guess. | can remember a Christmas that looked like a real disaster when my oldest three were young. My husband had just changed to a new position after the war, and money was very scarce. A good friend call- ed him and said his boys had many toys they had outgrown. They got together in the friend's garage and with much paint and many tools, they made almost new toys for our boys. Boy! Do | remember that year! It was the time | went out with my boy Jimmie and bought the tree. | also put it up but not too firmly. Jimmie, on his "new" tricy- cle hooked the decorations at least four times and managed to drag the tree all over the room. What a mess! Five years ago, | had the pleasure of celebrating the big day with Jim and his family on the farm. We made it a real old-fashioned type Christmas. Jim cut the. tree in the bush and it was decorated with _ home-made trimmings. There were strings of popcorn that Craig his youngest tried to eat before we got them up. There were ropes of cranberries and coloured paper chains. It was one of those outstan- ding trees that I'll never forget. The great thing about it was, that as presents were unwrapped, we put the coloured bows on the tree. As the pile of gifts grew smaller, the tree became more colourful and beautiful. | felt that | had been transported back in time to the Pioneer days. It was a Christmas | cherish in my heart. | have spent the happy day with each of my children in different years and they always leave me with a little something special to add to my memory book. Since my husband's death, we have dropped our family gather- ings, because without him, they are not complete, but they were great fun while they lasted. The whole clan with their spouses entow and children of all ages would come to the house of one brother or sister. ~ It was on Boxing Day and everyone ate their fill and played and sang till they were hoarse. | hope you have followed along with me on my trip down the paths of times past and that my recollections brought you a few smiles and memories of your own. We are all different and yet so much the same. We hold fast to the things that brought us joy and keep them for that moment when we can take out our invisible book of reverie and en- joy them over and over again. ; | take this chance to wish everyone a Happy and Joyous holiday and may you receive more treasures for your special book to keep it forever bright. { i SCOUTS PAPER DRIVE The regular monthly paper drive of the 2nd Brooklin Beavers, Cubs and Scouts will be held on Saturday, December 13th, 1986 starting at 9:00 a.m. . Kindly have your papers, tied securely two ways, at curbside before 9:00 a.m. as they could be missed if put out later. Ashburn residents may leave their papers at the Community Cen- tre the Friday previous, December 12th. No earlier please, as it con- stitutes a fire hazard. . The paper drive include the areas of Cedarbrook Trail, Robmar St., and Macedonian Village. Many thanks for your continued support to this worthwhile ser- - vice and fund-raising project of the Scouts. Paper Drive convenor is Arnold Tripp, Tel. 655-4993. _ -- i) CCD)