'78 Elections: '76 Revisited With nominations for the Nov. 13 elections closing this Monday, Oct. 23, it looks like there'll be a lot of familiar faces sitting around Castor area council tables for the next two years. Late this week, returning officers reported few newcomers picking up nomination papers. How- ever, they haven't ruled out a flurry of last-minute interest on nomin- ation day. For local political observers it appears the only major battle shaping up is in Winchester Township where Cecil MacNabb and Gerald Holmes will tussle over the reeveship. On the education front, the only startling development is the retirement of veteran Carleton Board of Education trustee George Drew. In this issue, the Castor Review takes a look at how elections are shaping up in area municipalities. Replacement of the treacher- our St. Joseph bridge south of Embrun will be a priority of the new Russell Township council, Reeve Gaston Patenaude said in an interview. Council has been after funding for a new bridge since being advised by consulting engineers a year ago that St. Joseph could - collapse. However, the Ministry of Transportation and Commun- ication has not yet approved the project. A new bridge would cost at least $350,000 and Reeve Paten- aude is hopeful the province go- ahead will be received in 1979. St. Joseph was one of four bridges in the township found to be unsafe; the others are St. Andre which would also cost about $350,000 to replace, Menard which would cost about $60,000 and Clement which would cost about $50,000. Reeve Patenaude is seeking in the Nov. 13 municipal elections to Extend his 15 year stint on council. He has been reeve for the past two terms. CASTO CREVIEW It appears unlikely the self- described 'full-time reeve" will be opposed. With nomination cut- off this Monday, Oct. 23, there are no challengers in sight. In fact, it looks like the entire council could be ushered back in without opposition. Albert Bour- deau is seeking another two-year term as deputy-reeve; council- lors Baird McNeill, Leo Provost and Leo Marion have also offered their services for another term. So far, said township clerk Gaston Patenaude Vol. 2, No. 1 One Canada Friday, October 20, 1978 STOWE, VT. -- The mountains of Vermont are anything but green this time of year. Not to complain. Kaleidoscopic colors bombard the traveller in breathtaking combinations everywhere he follows the roller-coaster roads. Fall colors are not peculiar to the Green Mountain state but their display is vastly different from that of the table-top stretches of land along the Castor River where autumn sporadically bursts forth like so many scattered Boston billiard balls. In Vermont, as a_ recent weekend visit illustrated, the colors are continuous; rising to misty snow-dusted ~ peaks, sweeping across' sun-kissed slopes. The mountains -act as Nature's easel to explosively exhibit it's canvas. But there's more to Vermont in the fall than this patchwork drapery. In front of this back- drop swells a new appreciation for living, a yearning for the simpler things in life. All one has to do is look at the evidence: Ripening, swollen pumpkins waiting to be carved squat on every balustrade; fat, ridicul- ously shaped gourds line every walkway, dangle from old-fash- ioned hitching posts; decaying, pillars that support the fine, whitewashed cornices. Harvest-time in Vermont may feeling for it is more open. # feathery cornstalks hug the be no more special than any- where else, it may be that the Craft fairs and flea markets abound. There's fresh, home- brewed apple cider at roadside stands, nightly revival meet- ings, square dancing, craft fairs Sidewalk Talk -- By Mark Van Dusen Kaleidoscopic Vermont Stowe itself was a treat. Although slightly commercial, like most famous resorts, it's hospitality was as warm as the friendliest of neighbors. Snuggled in the bosom of lofty Mount Mansfield, dwarfed by dizzying Spruce Peak, among others, Stowe hosts life beehive- style. Accommodation can be idyllic in any one of scores of 19th century inns which by far out- number the modern motels. Between-season prices -- Stowe never really closes down -- range from about $25 per couple per room and up, depending on frills. Most places worthy of their names -- and there are some that make no bones about their quality, such as Top Notch Inn -- kick in bed and breakfast in package accommodation. This can be a good deal for guests with rabid appetites. At The Lodge, for example, bed proved almost to be a gift with three-quarters of the $60 package price having been "eaten up" at one scrumptious dinner for two. The cuisine was definitely haute. The venison was fresh and sweet. The Maine lobster was plump and delicate, frogs legs tender and juicy. The selection of wines was eye-popp- ing with a full bottle of Mouton Cadet half the price of Canadian hotels. Deserts -- irresistible. Unfortunately for late risers, breakfast at The Lodge was served only until 9a.m. However the blueberry pancakes, fresh- perked coffee and Vermont saus- age a few miles down the: Mountain Road in Sol's kitchen at The Gables Inn soon filled that gap. Stowe has one irksome trait as far as eating goes: good meals are hard to find outside of fixed dining hours. Looking for more that beef-on-a-bun after mid- afternoon was all but futile. The only other let-down was the night life. Basically, there was none this time of year. Although Stowe boasts a variety of discos, Irish pubs and piano bars, most were closed by 11 a.m. Going back to the room to watch TV was out of the question since the surrounding mountains make reception fuzzy at best. Most inns didn't have TV; how- ever some offered game rooms and libraries. For the traveller with time, Stowe can be reached from the Castor region in five hours by way of the International Bridge at Cornwall, Malone, N.Y., Interstate 87 and one of two ferries across Lake Champlain. The Autoroute east of Montreal to Highway 10 and Interstate 89 is about one hour faster. Either way, a weekend in Stowe at this time of year can be and to spend a an awesomely colorful relaxing place weekend. Jean-Guy Bourdeau, election re- turning officer, few newcomers have taken out nomination pap- ers. Another major priority of the new council will be implementat- ion of sewer and water works in Embrun, Reeve Patenaude said. Village well water is seriously contaminated and the reeve said he's been assured by the Ministry of Environment there will be no delays in getting under way next summer. Turning to the controversial North Road issue, the reeve said there's still a slim chance it could be paved this fall although the more likely outcome is for a new surface "first thing in the spring." Reconstruction of the last section of the road within Russell Township has been completed at a cost of about $125,000. The North Road is under the super- vision of Prescott-Russell county council not township council. Reeve Patenaude is a member of the county roads committee. Reeve Patenaude, a former dairy farmer, earns a yearly salary of $4,200 in his municipal government capacity. He noted that some councillors feel he should be paid more for the many hours he puts in on the job. "T really don't have much to say about that," he commented. The reeve said he's enjoying municipal politics more all the time because '"'there's much more action and involvement then there used to be."' Osgoode Osgoode Township voters will not be asked Nov. 13 if they favour pulling out of the regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton, Reeve Albert Bouwers said in a pre-election interview. Reeve Bouwers said he has been asked by some township residents for a referendum on the issue as part of the municipal election ballot. Such a referendum was order- ed, then abandoned by Ottawa city council. "I'm sure about 90 per cent of our voters would be in favor of getting out of the region," Reeve Bouwers stated. "But it's point- less to consider such a move if there's no alternative." Ina brief submitted to the pro- vincial government late last year, Osgoode council suggested a new Carleton County be formed, comprising the rural portion of the regional municipal- ity with the possible addition of Russell Township. Nothing ever came of the proposal. If re-elected, Reeve Bouwers More election said he hopes to devote more time to municipal business, to the possible extent of giving up real estate sales. The president and major shareholder of Metcalfe Service Centre, he has spent four years on council, the last two as reeve. The four other councillors are also seeking new terms. Fred Alexander has served two years as has Mary Cooper while Albert McKeown and Philip McEvoy have devoted seven and ten years respectively. With the deadline for nominat- ions this Monday, Oct. 23, Os- goode clerk Fred Wilson, election returning officer reports that two newcomers have declared inter- est in Council seats: Doug Thompson, of Edwards, and Brent Reid, of Manotick. al Albert Bouwers Reeve Bouwers said he would expect to receive a larger salary for putting in more hours in his municipal capacity and wants voters to know in advance. He now earns $5,600 a year for an average of three night meetings a week. The reeve feels the main prior- ity of a rural township is still the road system and plans next term to concentrate much of his energy in that department. Although he has not yet heard from the Ministry of Transportat- ion and Communications con- cerning the proposed new link to Highway 417 he remains confid- ent of provincial cooperation. Working in tandem with Rus- sell, Cumberland and Winchester townships, Osgoode is looking for $2 million in provincial grants to reconstruct and pave 11.4 miles of the Boundary Road from Marionville to the four-lane high- way. Turning to another topic, Reeve Bouwers said he doubted council would begin supporting daycare programs despite re- quests received from some quart- ers. "If we support one we leave the door open to others and we're not in a position to finance a whole lot of them."' news, page 3 A PROUD YOUNG LADY Susan Kingsbury, 16, was the proudest young lady in Kenmore and perhaps along the Castor, this week as she was awarded Grand Champion Winner at the Ottawa Winter Fair for a 1220-pound bull which she raised herself. Susan's steer topped three categories includ- ing forty steers and went to Dominion Stores for $8 a pound. Believe it or not, Susan, a 4-H Club member, never got around to naming her Prize Bull.