"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."
"At the urging of Mayor Roy Gordon, the role of Bradford's planning consultant on the town planning committee is being reduced. 'I have had the opinion the board is being run by the planner, when he should be there just for advice,' Mayor Gordon told the committee last Thursday. After the meeting, chairman Art Kneeshaw said he would "tone down" the work of consultant Bruce McLaughlin of Proctor and Redfern engineering firm. He said more work would be placed on the shoulders of committee secretary-treasurer Pat Storey. He told committee members that planning decisions are their responsibility and the planner should only be asked for advice. Mr. Kneeshaw said during the meeting that the planner has helped with his experience in other municipalities, dealing with many sorts of development proposals. And committee member Gord Compton said the committee 'would have been lost' at times without the planner's guidance. Mayor Gordon said later that he did not know how much money would be saved by having the planner attend fewer committee meetings. He said the main issue was that the committee function had become a 'morass' of planning that confuses most of the people involved."
"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."
"Churchgoers at Bradford United Church were treated last Sunday to the "gospel folk" music and words of inspirations from the group Tushisah. The group is comprised of local students who play area churches and convey religion through their music. Tushisah was conceived five years ago from the Inter-school Fellowship Club at Bradford District High School. The group consists of (left to right) Rick Swagerman, Doug Gray, Marilyn Kell, Bonny Vaughn, Patty Flack, Jean Faris, Gary Swagerman, Al Faris, and John Bassie on drums. Sound man is Gratz (not shown)."
"Someone would like to thank you, Dr. Gilbert Blackwell of Bradford. Her name is Helen Michalowski, she lives in Toronto now, and she's almost 60. Twenty-two years ago, Helen was a recent immigrant from Poland and she brought her seven-month-old daughter, Mary, to your 72 Barrie Street office. Helen said her child was dying and you spotted a malignant cyst behind the baby's ear. You grabbed your coat and left the regular patients in the office to drive Helen and Mary to Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto, where an operation saved the young life. Helen was poor in those days and she couldn't afford to pay you. You said that was OK. But she never forgot. Helen went through a broken marriage, six major operations of her own, and now she's married a second time. Mary just graduated from the University of Toronto and she is working as a public health nurse. After all these years, Helen dropped into your office last week to pay you - but you wouldn't hear of it. You told her you were just pleased she had come to thank you and to hear that Mary is now in the business of helping people through medicine. You said money could not make you as happy. In broken English, Helen thanks you, Doctor: 'I'd like from the bottom of my heart to thank Dr. Blackwell. My girl has brought me so much happiness.This is priceless, what he did for me. God bless Dr. Blackwell forever.'"
"Anne Everitt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bev Everitt of Bradford, recently graduated from nursing course at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Toronto."
"Janice Anne Masin, daughter of Miloslav and Anne Masin of Bradford, received a bachelor of applied arts degree in the secretarial science option. She graduated with honors on Thursday, June 2, at the spring convocation, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, Toronto. Janice is employed by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Toronto."
"Mary Frances Bateman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Gordon Bateman, Scanlon Avenue, Bradford, received the degree of bachelor of physical education on Saturday, May 28, at the spring convocation, McMaster University, Hamilton."
"Gordon Compton, who owns the Bradford IGA, was born in London, Ontario, where his father ran the local A and P store. Gord's family moved around quite a bit from the time he was born in 1933, until they settled in Bradford. His father owned the old IGA store, now the site of 'Flowers by Tina.' After graduating from high school, Gord studied for a year at the School of Mines in Haileybury, Ontario, but gave up his studies and returned to help out in the family business when his father became ill. He eventually took over the business and saw IGA move into its present home in 1966."
"More than 250 well-wishers and dignitaries filled the auditorium of the Bradford and District Community Centre Sunday to honor Tom Gardner, Bradford's Citizen of the Year for 1976. Mr. Gardner, who operated a hardware store in Bradford for 56 years and represented residents on the local school board for 28 years, received gifts from the Chamber of Commerce, Mac Lewis on behalf of the Bradford Lions Club, the province of Ontario, and the congratulations of his friends and neighbors. Mayor Joe Magani paid tribute to Mr. Gardner and his wife Rita for their contribution and presented Mrs. Gardner with a bouquet of flowers in recognition of her patience and support. Councillor Bob Sturgeon congratulated Gardner on behalf of West Gwillimbury Township Council, and MPP Art Evans presented the guest of honor with a plaque from the province. On accepting a silver tray engraved with his name and honor from Gerry Barker, representing the Chamber of Commerce, Gardner acknowledged that his wife deserved the honor as much as him. The citizen of the year also appealed to those present to support the Newmarket and District Association for the Mentally Retarded which he has worked for devotedly. This year, he said, the association finds itself in need of funds. Brock Evans and Rev. Bob Chapman both reminisced about their acquaintances with Gardner."
