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Merry Christmas Russell Review Box 359 ® Russell, Ontario © Phone 445-2080 Vol. 2, No. 14 "You make the News" December 18, 1976 Township Elections .. . Patenaude Re-elected Reeve, Three new Council Members get nod Gaston Patenaude, re-elected reeve of Russell Township Dec. 6, lists improvement of roads north and south of Russell Village as his priority for the coming term. Reconstruction of the north road to Highway 417 and com- pletion of work on the south road to Morewood were two of the major concerns expressed by residents during the election campaign. The 48-year-old Embrun farm manager said he will continue to push for the installation of sewers in Russell and Embrun, projects which he said the province has reassured him will begin next year. He named the development of municipal parks proposals for both villages as other priorities. Mr. Patenaude gained his second two-year term of office by beating former Reeve Bernie Pelot, the only challenger for the seat, by 190 votes. The final count was 1137 to 947. He said he is looking forward to working with the new council which consists of only one other incumbent and three newcomers. Albert Bourdeau, of Embrun, 37, a Department of National Defense purchasing agent, is the new deputy-reeve. He accumulat- ed more votes with 1197 than any other candidate. Leo. Provost, 63, a retired Russell resident, and Baird McNeil, 43, an Environment Canada personnel administrator of Russell, received 1166 and 942 votes, respectively. They join Leo Marion, 57, a Marionville farmer-contractor, who was re-elected to his second term with 1167 votes. Mr. Patenaude said his work in community affairs with Mr. McNeil and Mr. Bourdeau and his acquaintance with Mr. Provost would help council settle down to business smoothly. He said the results of the vote showed residents wanted a change although he felt the former council functioned well. The new council will also be more representative with three councillors from Russell Village and area, he noted. None of the previous councillors was a resid- ent of Russell Village while only one was from the area. He said there are no immediate plans to seek a salary raise for council members who now earn $250, $200 and $175 a month for reeve, deputy-reeve and council- lor, respectively. Long-time Russell | couple married 50 years On Dec. 5 in the hall of St. Andrew's and St. Paul's United Church, nearly 200 friends and relatives gathered to honour Orton and Mildred Harrison on the occasion of their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Master of Ceremonies was Lorne Harrison. Mrs. Richard Morrow read a personal history of the Harrisons. Mr. and Mrs. Russ_ Phair presented the guests of honour with a framed plaque from Premier Wm. Davis. Letters and telegrams were received from Prime Minister Trudeau, the Rt. Honourable John Diefenbaker, Opposition Leader Joe Clarke and J. Albert Belanger. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison wel- comed relatives from as far away as Halifax, Missisauga and Sherbroke. A memorable sur- prise came in the form of a Christmas tree decorated with 50 paper-wrapped_ silver dollars from all the nieces and nephews! Shannon O'Reilly Grade 2, Russell Public School Sidewalk Talk by Mark Van Dusen Christmas Spirit starts in the Heart Christmas spirit is mentioned a lot this time of year. Simple, it's Christmas. Too often though it's referred to in a negative sense. "I can't seem Christmas spirit." "There's no Christmas spirit any more."' Not unusual statements. However those who find them- selves uttering similar thoughts perhaps should examine closely the reasons for their dejection. Their own attitude toward Christmas should be the main object of scrutiny. It's possible they are doing nothing to foster a Yuletide feeling of belonging. Let's face it, Christmas spirit begins at home, in the heart. It's not something that unexpectedly grabs you from behind with a grip like an English bulldog. Nor does it come by parking in front of the TV and watching the latest array of burping dolls and karate-chopping toy soldiers. And, although getting warmer, hearing Bing Crosby croon White Christmas for the umpteenth time is even wearing a little thin. Spirit in the alcoholic context is not the answer either. One can search for meaning in an endless stream of rum _ toddies and eggnogs but will likely find nothing more than another hang- over. No, those who expect Christ- mas spirit to rub off on them like wet paint are bound to be disappointed. They've got to take the brush in hand and spread the spirit themselves. Gift giving, while a traditional Christmas custom which helps instill that special welling of emotions, is becoming increas- ingly clouded by commercialism. to get the It remains tenuous at best as a hook upon which to hang a merry mood. True Christmas spirit is more than that, more than giving. It's sharing, sharing something per- sonal, something created with precious time and meticulous care. It can be as untinseled as a quick call or a brief visit to a friend just to say hello. It can be sending a card -- maybe even a homemade one -- or baking a spicy meat pie to warm neighbors when they emerge from the cold. It can be cutting some ol'- fashioned salt dough decorations for the tree. It can be carolling, hanging a wreath outside the door to show that peace and goodwill are no strangers inside. Guests at a party at Ron and Suzanne Veh's recently weren't long in catching the _ spirit. Midway through the evening, Ron popped up bedecked in a St. Nick's suit to scatter candy canes to appreciative merrymakers. This going one step further, this painting on of the spirit, cannot but be contagious. Once infected, it spreads like butter on a hotcross bun. Almost everybody except for a few scrooges want to feel its sweet delirium. But it can't be found neatly-packaged on a department store shelf for $10. It must be prepared for unselfishly, accepted gratefully and enjoyed fully. The only reward is in infecting others. "And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us Every One." Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. 'Happy New Year