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FUN AT THE RUSSELL FAIR © We decided to take in the ~ Russell Fair the other night to see whether the colour-and excitement of country fairs of other days was still there. It was. In abundant measure. We happened to drop in on opening night, featuring Gor- die Tapp, Eastwind and Wayne Rostad. Gordie Tapp, as everyone knows, is what is described as a perennial favourite. That is, he has been around long enough that he has built-in audience among mid-age folks for his songs about the little white building back of the bar and his jokes about pigs, cows and farmers' daughters. Wayne Rostad sings in a big, hearty voice about, of all things, the old Gatineau Road and the longest bar in the Gatineau at Kabazua; and it is endearing and wonderful that someone should perpetuate these wonders in song. Besides that, he writes the songs himself, with considerable talent. Eastwind is a good group, com- bining the best, or least raucous of rock with good, solid country, in- cluding a fiddler who is out of this world and must be seen--and heard--to be believed. So, the 800 people who filled Russell arena for the occasion got their $5 worth and more. It wasn't _ a beer drinking crowd. The bar brought in $1,000 less than last year, when Garol Baker was the attraction. Which may simply show that Gordie Tapp brings out more pop drinkers than Miss Baker. The midway this year was a disappointment both because of the few rides and the quality of those which were available, con- siderably below last year. What -happened? According to fair of- ficials, the company which com- mitted itself to supplying a mid- way sent its best rides elsewhere and Russell got the leavings, not precisely a new situation. But in the things that mattered, horses, cattle, cooking and han- dicrafts, the 126-year-old fair liv- ed up to expectations and justified the hopes and hard work of fair president Barry McVey and secretary George Young, who burned the midnight oil for weeks ahead in order to have everything ready. The new cattle barn was a big success, easing the load on the old facilities and providing space for farmers to ready their cattle, ad- ministering finishing touches before the showing. The Russell horse show is class- ed as a small but first class exhibi- tion and it lived up to its reputa- tion. Entrants were from all over the Ottawa Valley and those who admire fine horse flesh exhibited by keen and enthusiastic riders, had something to cheer about. A LITTLE TRIM The ladies, of course, came through in their usual outstanding fashion with cookery, needlework, quilting and flower arrangements that have long rank- ed the Russell exhibits as among the finest in Eastern Ontario. Nor should we neglect to men- tion the outstanding contribution of 1l-year-old Cameron MacGregor, whose apple-sauce cake and date squares walked away with first prizes in the men's section. No discrimination here. We talked to Cameron's mother, who told us that he got into cooking when he used to come home from school and there was no pie or cake available that day. He set to and made his own. Now, he is recognized as a prime cook, along with mother, Mrs. Ian MacGregor and _ his grandmother, Margaret Burton. He did not seem terribly disturbed by the fact that his prize offerings were on display in such fast company as cakes, pies and cookies by outstanding experts like Margaret Burton, Marjorie Dugdale, Bertha Smith, Anne and Judy James, Ruby Hamilton and Ina Kinkaid, Russell's finest. "How do you feel about cook- ing?" we asked the sturdy, red- headed lad who seemed more con- cerned about what was going on in the cattle barns. '*T like to eat it." A lady has got to look her best for a beauty contest and too much fuzz on the ears just won't do. Brenda and Barry Booth were busy during last weekend's Russell Fair putting the finishing touches to "Balsam Lane Doris Renown" before she paraded before the judges. Patty and Barb Robertson, of Kingston found this patch of warm grass as good a place as any to relax between events at the Russell Fair horse show. However, they also had their hands full what with horse Midnight demanding to be fed and dog Tiger insisting he too warranted some attention. Tiger gave Patty a smooch on the cheek to prove his point. (Photo by Rowsell). Page 3 TWO BEAUTIES Sharon Sharp, of Russell, was at the fair grounds early last Satur- day grooming her prized Nikki for showing in the cattle contest. True to a top performer, Nikki seens quite comfortable with publici- ty. (Photo by Rowsell). METCALFE BANK Expansion start soon The $225,000 Metcalfe Royal Bank expansion project should begin within "a few weeks", said manager Lorne Finniss. All the preliminary work is done and approval has _ been received from Osgoode Township to demolish an adjacent house for provision of parking space. "'We'll hopefully be able to use our 1,000 feet of additional space sometime this fall," Mr. Finniss said. Included in plans are redesign of the teller area and increased storage and vault space. While the existing building is only about three years old, its capacity was rapidly exceeded. . Meanwhile in Russell Village, construction of the new Bank of Nova Scotia is well underway and the building is shaping up as an asset to the business section. Manotick Station Marks 125th Manotick Station was jumping last weekend with the celebration of its 125th anniversary. The party, sponsored by the Manotick Station Community Association, featured three days of parades, craft fairs, dances, corn roasts, softball tournaments, horse shows, field days, draws and fire department demonstrations. The celebration ended with a giant bonfire attended by a large crowd of local residents. Manotick Station, a few miles west of Gree- ly on Regional Road 8, was founded in 1854. -scotiabanks THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA RUSSELL 445-2880 'Grow With Us' Scotia Bank