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Page2 Friday, March 9, 1979 CASTOR REVIEW CASTOR COMMENT THESE WELDER'S MASKS WERE A STROKE oF Genius | T WOULDN'T WANT To MISS THIS ECLIPSE FOR ANYTHING | ZE= 2/7 Vignette By Alana Forrester-Verge The intense heat from the pot- bellied Franklin stove cast its welcoming glow throughout the kitchen after the supper hour, inviting the younger children to remain indoors and join in the activity around the table. Fath- er's footsteps were heard as he crunched his way back from the woodpile, his arms laden with poplar, birch and elm logs. His scraping and shuffling penetrat- ed the mingled noises in the kitchen as he banged on the door for someone to open it. A blast of cold air hit the overheated room causing com- plaints to be shouted by those indoors, "Hurry up and close the door." The two younger children impatiently waited by Mother's side to have their turn stirring the sticky flour and molasses mix- ture that was fast becoming re- sistant to the strongest wrist. At odd moments they fingered a little of the gingerbread, savour- ing the rich spicy taste and the gooey texture that melted so quickly in their mouths. Their older sister cautiously rolled out the dough for more pumpkin and mincemeat pies, keeping her hands and rolling pin well floured and neat under Mother's critical eye. The cats had found their respective corners, one between the brick wall and the Franklin stove where he closed his eyes to enjoy his pleasure, the other to the window sill where she could survey both the family's activity with a benign air and the scene outdoors where she could be on the outlook for that night's cotton- tail visitor. Grandmother remained in her rocker calling the children to her after the oatmeal, date, and shortbread cookies had been shoved into the oven. Scarves, caps, and double pairs of mittens had to be donned once the two little ones had managed to climb into their bulky snowsuits which hardly allowed them to bend down and zip up their boots. "T can't get my zipper up again!"' wailed the youngest. "Never mind! Let me help. The sooner we're ready, the sooner we can leave," called his older sister. "Darn .. . the cat's got my mitten. Here Bonnie. Here, kitty, kitty. Aw, come on, you dumb animal." "Nana, Nana! The sleigh driver's up the road. Come on, kids."' With that announcement there were a few frantic minutes of pulling, yanking, zipping before the youngsters were pronounced ready to go. Mother and her eldest whipped off their aprons, leaving the pies by the oven. Father pushed two more logs into the blazing fire as everyone else crowded to the door. The sentinel at the sill joined the flurry to bound outside for her moonlight hunt in the woods and the lazy cat with closed eyes barely twitched a _ whisker. Grandmother settled back to feel again the uninterrupted peace of a kitchen saturated with country warmth and smells. CASTOR REVIEW "One Canada" Box 359, Russell, Ontario Editor: 445-2080. Sports: Jack MacLaren, Edit- or, 445-2131; Peter Van Dusen, columnist; Garey Ris, reporter, 445-2069. News: Suzanne Schroeter, 445- 5709. Photographs: Mary Rowsell, 445-5244. Advertising: Michael Van Dus- en, 445-5770. Layout: Stuart Walker, 445- 5707. Subscriptions: Tina Van Dus- en, 445-5707. Bookkeeper: Joan Van Dusen, 445-2080. Mark Van _ Dusen, Submissions preferably typed, double-spaced are welcomed, publishable at the discretion of the editor. Published by Castor Publish- ing, Russell, Ontario. President: Thomas W. Van Dusen. Printed by Eastern Ontario Graphics Ltd., Chesterville, Ont. NEXT DEADLINE March 30 NEXT ISSUE April 6 Second Class Mail Registration No. 4218 ISSN 0707 -- 4956 Correspondence Editor, Castor Review: I found the latest issue of the "Castor Review" a most inform- ative and enjoyable one. As a regular customer of the Registry Office I was interested in your article and editorial of the planned addition. Wendell Stanley's fears that the office might be moved to another community are well founded. The enormous growth and planned growth in the area around Orleans has led to specu- lation that the Registry Office should be moved closer to the center of population. With proper planning the new addition will not detract from the heritage value of the present structure. The recent renovations to the Registry Office in the town of Prescott were completed in a manner in keeping with the original architecture and render- ed in a very impressive result. It would be wonderful if the same could be done in Russell. I confess that I had never even considered an entirely new build- ing. I was surprised to discover that the Provincial Government had agreed to improve the old one. It is only due to the tireless efforts of Mr. Stanley and his staff that we are receiving any consideration at all. There is also an added heritage value to the renovation scheme. The old building will continue to be a Registry Office as it has been in the past, rather than being converted to some other use. It is to be hoped that a result satisfactory to the staff, users and neighbours of the Registry Office can be achieved. Yours truly, Gary R. Barnes Hall, Ray and Barnes Barristers and Solicitors Russell and Ottawa Editor, Castor Review: I think it very unfair that our Carnival Queen was put on page 3 of the last edition while Greely's Queen rated first page. How come? I certainly hope a very good explanation and apology will be printed in the March issue. You're doing a fine job but you've slipped up on this. It's our paper, our events and people deserve front page coverage over out-of-towners. Sincerely, Lois Woolsey, Russell Editors note: The Castor Review serves several communities in the Castor area. While the paper is based in Russell and content naturally reflects this, news in other communities, at least from time to time, must be acknowled- ged by prominent display. However, there was more to the presentation of the Russell Carnival Queen picture than that. The crowning pageant overlapp- ed with the paper's deadline and, as a result, the most prominent space available for the picture was on page 3. If time constraints had not been a factor, it is possible that the picture of the Russell queen would have been more prominently displayed. The paper does not feel that an apol- ogy is necessary. Invitation The Castor Review has been delighted with the quality of submissions received from read- ers to date and invites budding poets, essayists, letter writers and news reporters to send along their work. OPP PRAISE Corporal Roland Lahaie, officer in charge of Casselman OPP, has come to the defense of his detachment over recent criticism in this paper. He comes well armed. A December editorial, "Absentee Police," criticized the current system of policing Russell from 12 miles away. The editorial was sparked by a brutal attack on a Russell couple who surprised an intruder ransacking their home. The intruder escaped. This thug, the editorial suggested, "obviously knew that he was in no danger of being interruped by police or even of being pursued," and concluded, "absentee protection is not much better than no protection at all." Corporal Lahaie says the editorial "hurt". He insists his de- tachment is providing more than adequate protection with the resources at its disposal. Although he acknowledges that Casselman has the lowest crime rate of all area communities because the detachment is stationed there, he stresses that Russell is one of the most closely patrolled of these communit- ies and that his detachment's record of law enforcement is better than many in Eastern Ontario. The veteran officer could be accused of sour grapes if his words were not sweetened by his detachment's performance since the editorial appeared. Charges were laid in connection with five breakins and thefts, a car theft, possession of stolen goods as part of what police believe was the smashing of a major stolen goods ring in Eastern Ontario, arson, not to mention the numerous routing investigations and patrols. Impressive. Although we still feel that "resident" police protection is the best crime preventive, it is reassuring to know that the Cassel- man OPP are working hard to dispel the myth believed as truth by some twisted criminals that the Castor area is a "soft touch.,"' Police everywhere carry a high profile. It is the nature of the job, much is expected of them. As a result, they are prone to criticism. And, although their worth is often taken for granted, there are times when they are deserving of special praise. For the Casselman OPP, this is one of those times. BUMPED OUT Morewood's Cecil MacNabb has been bumped off the South Nation River Conservation Authority -- which oversees the Castor River and its branches -- in what seems to be an act of political revenge. Mr. MacNabb, a postmaster and antique dealer, occupied a seat on the authority for 18 years, four of them as chairman. Having just led the group through the most controversial two years in its history, he wanted to remain a member during its most productive phase which is not beginning. But it was not to be after Mr. MacNabb attempted a comeback as reeve of Winchester Township last Nov. 13 and lost to incumbent deputy-reeve Gerald Holmes. In forcing his political rival of close to 20 years into the effort and expense of mounting a campaign, Mr. MacNabb sealed his fate on the authority. A municipal council has the choice of delegating to a conser- vation authority a representative from within its ranks or a simple taxpayer. Most members of the South Nation authority are township reeves, and Mr. Holmes decided he would take over the Winchester seat, easing Mr. MacNabb out the door. There's really nothing to be said about the moral aspects of the MacNabb ousting. It's all part of the political game, a game Mr. MacNabb knows as well as anybody. Had the shoe been on the other foot, it could just as easily have been Mr. MacNabb giving Mr. Holmes the bum's rush. We would note that the loss of Mr. MacNabb's expertise gained after so many years is unfortunate at a crucial time for the authority as it embarks on a multi-million dollar channeliz- ation program designed to ease flooding along the South Nation. Outspoken and often obstinate, Mr. MacNabb has been a dedicated authority leader. Although he at first treated flood- prone farmers lobbying for channel improvements as trouble- makers, he mellowed after he realized they were basically try- ing to steer the same course as the authority. We don't contend that Mr. MacNabb should necessarily have remained chairman. But his continued membership would have been beneficial in upcoming authority deliberations and served as a small reward for his years of public service. CHURCH CONFLICT An issue has arisen upon which the Castor Review feels duty-bound to comment although in so doing, it opens itself to conflict of interest accusations. Sale of Russell Baptist Church is now being negotiated with a businessman, whose plan as far as we've learned is to demolish the existing building and replace it with a modern convenience store. Here's where our conflict arises. We had been negotiating purchase of the church for eventual use as a newspaper office. We had been prepared to accept a counter-offer from the church committee and had applied to the township planning board to change the zoning from institutional to commercial. But a new bid, higher than ours, came in and the church committee did what it felt it had to do -- accept the best financ- ial arrangement. Our plan had been to keep the church intact, to dress it up and preserve it. New we're out of the picture and we hold no bitter feelings. We have a comment, though, which readers can accept or reject in light of our involvement. The Russell Baptist Church, somewhere around 100 years old, should be protected for posterity. Although the building requires major floor repair, it's basically in sound structural condition. The days of wholesale destruction of our history are gone. Communities all over North America are implementing tough regulations to safeguard their heritage, and Castor councils should be thinking along the same lines.