"Most people in Canada are dreaming of getting away from the slush and the snow, the freezing temperatures and those dismal cold mornings trying to start the car. A place like Australia, perhaps, with its perpetual summer and golden beaches. Lesley Anne Vasey of Church Street in Bradford has just returned from Australia, and contends she couldn't wait to see some good old Canadian snow again. They have no snow in Australia, she explained, and to a native-born Canadian snow is something you miss after a while. But that doesn't mean it didn't get cold. The two months of winter they did get (in our summer) was cold enough for Lesley Anne because Australian homes don't have central heating. The problems in Australia are similar to Canada's such as unemployment."
"Chicken thieves got away with between 39 and 40 fowl from the barn of Thomas Stewart, 10th line, West Gwillimbury. The pilferers had evidently used a car or light truck in their night prowling, as the marks of tires were plainly visible on the side of the road. It was thought they made their way along a gulley running from the vicinity of the car through a field to the back of the barn. The sound of a fire alarm bell for the first time in many months cause excitement in the town. It was soon discovered, however, that a representative of the Fire Underwriters Association was in town on one of his periodic visits and had put in a fire alarm, calling out the brigade for a test run. The inspector was reported to have been satisfied with the prompt and business-like response."
"More than $1,700 in pledges was recorded at the ski and skate-a-thon Saturday, sponsored by the Gilford and District Lions Club at Ski Haven. It was estimated that Harv Speiran of Gilford was the oldest of the 100 participants. It was also he who chalked up the most money in pledges, over $300, while skiing more than 10 miles. He wouldn't reveal his age. A young bank teller, Kim Brown of Bradford, had $258 in pledges, the highest for the women. Participants came from Gilford, Lefroy, Churchill, Bradford, and surrounding districts. The even was held to raise money for the Lions camp for the deaf at Parry Sound and the camp for the Blind at Lake St. Joseph. Snow and ice conditions were not the best but they did not deter entrants from having a fun-filled afternoon. Many enjoyed making use of the facilities loaned by Ski Haven to the Lions Club."
"Doug Bone, who began collecting old telephones only three years ago, says he now has the largest private collection of antique and unusual phones in Canada. He stumbled into his hobby quiet by accident. Doug and his wife, Joan, who shares his interest, visited the Bruce peninsula in search of glass insulators. While there they were offered two old box telephones. They were not especially interested but bought them anyway. Doug cleaned them inside and out, which was all he needed to stir up the unbounded enthusiasm for the hobby for which he is known today in both Canada and United States. Since that time, he has purchased a major part of one man's collection and all of another's. In addition he visited many of the 30 independent telephone companies still operating in Ontario. He bought a few old phones and a few parts and threw his energy into restoring, trading, and buying phones. His collection includes 160 telephones, all clean and polished like new."
"There was quite a moving experience on Holland Street, Bradford, last week. An Ontario Hydro worker on the roof lifted low-hanging electrical wires as a home was moved to Bathurst Street, disrupting traffic temporarily along the way."
"The Rotary Club of Bradford celebrated its 25th anniversary last week and announced the Rotary project for 1977: a rock garden with fountains at the corner of Barrie and John Streets. Referring to the expense, past president Brad Walker laughed, 'Once that's done we'll have exactly what we started with 25 years ago - nothing.' Mr. Walker is one of the charter members of the club, and he, along with Clare Ritchie, Frank Maurino, George Allan, Jim Everitt, and Jim Simone, were presented with silver plaques for their 25 years of service. Rotary district governor Norm Guild of Brampton was on hand to make the presentation. Lions Club president Bernard Horne called for closer relations between the two clubs and recalled the years of the co-operation on several major projects in Bradford."
"Jim Church, chairman of the Bradford Public Utilities Commission was appointed last week to the finance committee of the Ontario Municipal Electric Association. Mr. Church, a 17-year veteran of the PUC, will work with fellow commissioners from across Ontario for the upcoming year, dealing with the financial operation of the association. A life-long resident of Bradford, Mr. Church is also a member of the Bradford volunteer fire department. The Ontario Municipal Electric Association is the spokesman for more than 340 municipal utilities, including Bradford. The OMEA represents more than two million residential, commercial and industrial customers served by municipal distribution systems. These customers consume two-thirds of the electrical power in Ontario."
"After 31 years of teaching about 1,000 pupils at Bradford public school, Barbara Stewart is retiring at the end of this school year. It's a thought that brings a mixture of emotions for her. On one hand is the anticipation of doing the things she has been dreaming of for years: travelling extensively in winter and relaxing at her cottage in Minden in summer. On the other hand: "I'm going to miss the children," she admits, 'And the staff too. I have many good friends here. I retired as the organist last June. I guess you could say I'm tearing up all my roots...no, routines. I'm tearing up all my old routines.'Although she is leaving Bradford for good at the end of this school year, Miss Stewart has reassured her friends that she will be coming back often to visit."
"Bill Atkins and his daughter, Beverley, of Concession 6, West Gwillimbury, hit the trail on Sunday to enjoy the spring-like day. Car-drivers on the same route faced washed-out sections of road and general bumpiness."
"Tecumseth Township clerk-treasurer Arnold Meredith displays the watch he was presented in honour of his seven years of service in his present position. Present and former township officials gathered on Monday for the presentation of Mr. Meredith who retires at the end of the month."
