"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."
"I would like to commend both your staff and paper for the coverage given to both the Planning Board meeting and the Council meeting in West Gwillimbury regarding Crang Agrominium. However, there are a lot of facts that I would like the residents of West Gwillimbury to understand about the Agrominium proposal that I am sure they are not aware of..."
"The congregation of Newton Robinson United Church is holding a three-fold celebration this year. The church, whose spire is a landmark for those travelling Highway 27 between Cookstown and Bond Head is marking its 90th anniversary. The celebration will be for the long, lively past, the country-quiet present and a re-dedication to wider community service in the future."
"Reverend Roy Comrie of Umtalie, Rhodesia, will be guest speaker at St. John's West Gwillimbury churches in Bradford on Sunday, April 2. Mr. Comrie is a missionary who serves with the Africa Evangelical Fellowship and studies at Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto. He was born in Rhodesia to parents from Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland, and has served several years in Zambia. He and his wife, Gwyneth, a registered nurse, have been serving in Rhodesia as pastor of a congregation, principal of a Bible School, and evangelists. The Comries have three sons, two of them teenagers, and a daughter, and they are planning to return to Rhodesia in August. The Presbyterian congregations welcome everyone to their Sunday services and invite you to hear this interesting preacher."
