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a±hcon FRAN'S HIDDEN CURL 1212 N Green St • Ofc 8 McHenry II 344 1019 PAGE 9- PLAINDEALER - WEDNESDAY, | MARCH 21. 1984 "Sometimes my day starts in the middle of tne nn night'.' Lmaa Xu.?mdr Supervising Engmeer CoTimorwea!!1" Eaisor "It didn't seem that bad outside when I went to bed. But when the phone woke me-or the thunder, I think it was a tie--it felt like the world was coming to an end. "It was the start of the July 4th weekend in 1983 and I'll never forget it. You just can't forget some­ thing that bad. "We were up to our necks in a major storm, causing major damage. And a whole lot of Commonwealth Edison people on standby were being called in to restore the electric service it knocked out. Telephone operators, clerks, linemen, foremen, dispatchers, e* -veers, me. I was in <~yr/-r «ve had to go on-all we e nave to go on-were phone calls People reporting a pole broken on Cermak, a transformer blown on Sunnyside, a line down on Austin, and lights out everywhere. "We had to analyze every call, one at a time. Look for patterns. Locate the trouble. Find out who was affected. Was it one house? One street? A neighborhood? The entire community? "It's an enormous job. A methodical, painstaking process. Pure detective work. Not toinention plain old professionalism. What I mean is, no excuses, no complaints. Just get it done, and get it right. "It's the only way a storm can belt a community for three days, knock out service to over half a million people, and almost all of them have it restored the very next day. "Wis were ready. We're always ready* Commonwealth Edisan. Doing things right. fatd ptrtd of i*>- Phone 385-0170 WAS YOUR PICTURE IN THE PAPER? Reprints of any photo which appeared in the McHenry Plaindealer and taken by our staff are available at modest prices. All are black and white. NON SUBSCRIBER SUBSCRIBER 5 x 7 - *3.50 *6.00 8 x 10 - '6.00 *10.00 * Order Yours Today! ALLOW 7 DAYS FOR PROCESSING McHENRY PLAINDEALER 38)2 West Elm Street Happy Birthday • Fashion Fun ^ 1245 N.Green St. V INFANTS WEAR McHenry GIRLS WEAR (815)385-6172 BOYS WEAR 4 ALICE WRONSKI INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL SHAPE & n0» j m A50 Rcg STYLE °* IM $,5.00 By appointment with Alice only --Now thru 3/30/84-- Visitor calls U.S. lighthouse in a storm For Russian-born Boris Dragunsky, Ph.D., the United States has special significance. "Democracy," he said, "is like seeing a lighthouse when you're in a storm." The 43-year-old Jewish im­ migrant, naturalized last year in Waukegan, attended a special meeting of the Ethics Group of the First United Methodist Church early this month to describe life in Rtissia and his view of the Soviet government. Dragunsky left Russia eight years ago when emigration was allowed. His trip to the United States was funded by various organizations whose purpose is to help people who want to leave the U.S.S.R. He later paid them back. Because of family influence, Dragunsky received a better than average education. He began the study of English at age 12. So when he came to the U.S., he felt his ability to speak the language was quite adequate. His first stop here was Houston, Texas, and found that Texans have their own brand of English. He was dumbstruck, wondering if he had reached the wrong country. After Houston, his work sent him to other cities and he finally settled in Highland Park, 111., where he works as a self- employed professional engineering consultant for concrete construction. His work takes him to many cities and other countries. Although his discussion with the Ethics Group and their guests was sparked with amusing stories, his message was more serious. "Tlie Soviet Union is a nation of people who, in the country's entire history, have never known freedom," he said. He called life in the U.S.S.R. "oppressed and deprived for the average person." And he avowed that there is a Russian mentality which encourages the status quo. "Russians are afraid to change and don't want change," he said. He noted that the people are firmly indoctrinated into the patriotic mold of sacrifice from childhood on. The average Russian fatalistically accepts standing in long lines for hours to buy food. And for most of them, clothing and household items are in­ frequent purchases, using up precious rubles (Russian money) which are hard to come by. Most items in Russia are in short supply, and Russian- manufactured goods are poorly made, he said. People with contacts and money will usually seek better, imported items. Dragunsky is concerned that Americans do not understand the Soviet system and thought processes. "Soviets respect strength and look down on weakness," he said, "They are first of all militaristic." After World War II the Russians admired the U.S. having seen the well made tanks and military products of the war. But since the Vietnam War and the Iranian hostage crisis, they think America has gone soft. Because of this viewpoint, Dragunsky favors a military build-up in the U.S. with con­ ventional weapons, not nuclear- powered. He also expressed concern that American diplomats are chosen for political reasons rather than for their knowledge and ability to negotiate. He sees Central and South America as vulnerable to Communist ideology because of the poverty there. "The Communist idea sounds terrific ~ equal rights and sharing for everyone," he said. But he emphasized that Com­ munist Russia is in actuality a highly class-conscious society with the divisions based primarily on Party status rather than wealth. Dragunsky also noted that he doesn't think all the conflicts in the world are Soviet-inspired. "The Christians and Moslems have always fought," he said referring to Lebanon. "We give the Russians more credit for cleverness than they deserve," he said. Dragunsky said most Russians believe the U.S. is a decadent country "with great unemployment and crime at every corner." He is convinced more trade with Rusia would expose Russians to America's advantages. Mr. and Mrs. Lester Bacon hosted the Sunday afternoon meeting. Normally, the Ethics Group meets for discussion early Saturday morning. It was formed more than five years ago by the Rev. Ralph Smith to explore ethical issues through discussion and exposure to a variety of viewpoints. Other guests have included local and out-of-town businessmen, legislators and professional people as well as foreign visitors. j PSfollowing the^| Church Troop 88 receives medals Six members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish, Johnsburg, Troop 88, received the "I Live My Faith" Medal on Sunday, March 11, at St. Peters Cathedral, Rockford, presented by Bishop Arthur J. O'Neill at the annual Diocesan Religious Awards Convocation. Pictured, left to right, are Lisa Dombroski, Rebecca Wilcox, Kelly Schaefer, Cari Podolski, Father Holdren, St. John's pastor, Brandy Bolda and Lisa Fehling. Radio personalities at city church Sunday, March 25, at 6 p.m, Maranatha Assembly of God will be hosting per sonalities from radio station WCRM-FM in Dundee. WCRM is a contemporary Christian music station covering the Fox Valley and western suburbs of Chicago. Representing WCRM wilt be Jim Burkhardt, vice president and general manager, and Jim Channell (Bro Chan- nell), program director and afternon disk jockey. Burkhardt, who has been managing the station for three years, will be sharing the WCRM story along with its ministries and reason for being. Jim Channell will be sharing his personal testimony of the miracle God performed in his life. Chan­ nell, Captain Whammo on WMET's rock music station in Chicago, was selected in 1975 by Billboard magazine one of the top four rock disk jockeys in the U.S. Maranatha Assembly of God is located at 1309 Court Street, McHenry. Everyone is welcome for this special service. For further information call 344-0557. Happy Birthday Grandpa MOVING SALE! HELP US MOVE TO OUR NEW MILL POND COURT LOCATION BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF STOREWIDE PRICE CUTS E 75% OFF! SALE STARTS MARCH 21 Fran is pleased to welcome Aftce Wronski to the staff of "The Friendly Little Beauty Salon that's hard to find." ^}a±fiLon 1007 N. PRONT ST., HOURS: (S. RTE„ 31) McHENRY MON.-FRI. 10-5:30, SAT. 9-5 . w I