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p 8 tribune thursday january 8 1998 stux pigsdogs and squirrels made news in 97 we flew into 1998 on the wings of el nino this unruly weather phenome non has brought in the new year with mild temperatures and hope for a short and semisnowless winter for we rural routers the month of january heralds not just another beginning of a year but also an anniversary of sorts just two short years ago my first rural route ruth column appeared in the tribune newspaper it has been two funfilled years meet ing fellow rural folks who had stories cfa st 1- o i wfe mate bey happy prosperous neiv year thank yoii fdr yoiu- patronage antoinette condello maria mpardakis we have moved r new year special 20 off hilites come visit our new unisex salon new clients welcome jan 2- jan 16 reg 85 i now with your wash cut style 35 full nail set j 2 b nail technician v special we specialize in colour foil hiqhlites updos also facial wax air brushing i 5 5990 sixteenth ave suite 232 oevtj 201 7 irt nw comer hwy 48 16th ave to share griss crossing our countryside ive dug up stories on our past and taken a peek into our probable rural future the year 1997 had a lost dog named jake spending a few days on our back deck waiting to go home after a happy reunion with his owners jake later returned and left a plant in our driveway to thank us for all those dog treats after writing about the myste rious disappearance of socks arid their possible whereabouts i was set straight by plumber tom winters missing socks just might be hanging around the inside of your washer and tom adds they are a safety hazard so dont despair maybe you didnt lose that pair one of my favourites is writ ing about the history of our hamlets and villages and special country spots local resident of island lake peter burdon was quick to cor- rect me when i wrote that the tiny island in the middle of the lake had been reclaimed by rural route ruth ruth leblanc nature driving by with great diffi culty because of all the egg on my face i did indeed see an island i stand corrected long live the island in island lake early last spring i wrote emphatically saying that weeds would no longer rule our yard by mid- july with weeds taller than the cn tower the big guy and i admitted defeat weeds and squirrels took oyer the harder we tried to reclaim our yard this year with my romantic anniversary gift a fertilizer spreader i plan to become my weeds worst enemy or so i hope one nonhuman a potbellied pig named pricilla made for a great story this little porker gained great notoriety when later pricilla led an election race by choosing the cookie of her choice which rep resented a political party a concerned cat lover cajled me after reading my report of the curious christmas cat i had noted the feline love of yummy tinsel and i want to assure everyone i am not advo cating tinsel chow thank you to all the folks who flopped me on the street to say hello and share a word or two one special moment came when an elderly reader came to the office explaining that her health problems would keep her home the night of the festival of lights before you could say name- that tune music was playing and your rural route ruth along with sidekick melissa were singing and dancing for her like a couple of christmas fools thats my recap and now on to newer and better things in the upcoming new year dont forget i love getting your ideas for stories so drop by and say hello save save save this offer ends sat jan 1 0th norte c h e v r o l e t inte olds mo bf lje i q c sale hours mocktims t ua pm sfpm the little dealership with a big 5336 highway 7 just east of mccowan 2941440 toll free 18008922209 wwwautonetcanorthpointe nomtfonte 1 0 interest on selected models up to 48 mths 29 49 also available on selected models sea dealer for tuh details rtot compatible with any other pfogram starting sunday january 18 sunday brunch 11 am3pm au you can eat only 10 kids eat for 3 95 featuring a large assortment of salads cold meats our famous wings all your breakfast favourites and much more dont miss out iv0 york btvcl fast beaver reek hwy oos 7092522