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Serving Scugog Township Wednesday, February 25, 1976 32 Pages Housewife fights fires . . . On most any day of the "year, according to those who know her, Hazel Laberee is like any other housewife, interested in the same kinds of things, and carrying out the function of millions of' other wives and mothers in the country. She's described as being attractive, not at all masculine, and intelligent and "not unlike anyone you have living next door." But there is a difference. Hazel's a fireman...or fire- person. One of sixty volunteers of the Cumberland Township Fire Department, Mrs. Laberee has been on the department for over a year and has seen plenty of front line action, a job she not only does well but enjoys com- pletely. "I feel that I'm helping my community," she said. "It's my contribution." And it's a contribution hardly overlooked. "We have a problem her," Cumberland's Fire Chief Tom Tennant states. "Many of our firemen commute to Ottawa to work." Like Scugog, there's the problem of having men available during the day, Chief Tennant will tell you, and with this in mind, the . « and does it well Fire Chief Tom Tennant, who heads the 60-volunteer, seven full-time member Cumberland Fire Depart- ment in Ottawa-Carlton, has some definite ideas about the ability of women when it come to firefighting. "They can do the job," he states unhesitatingly. He should know. The com- posite department has had So Maureen Forrester, internationally-known c¢ women volunteers for about two years now, including a female firefighter who can handle herself with the best of the men. "I've been with her at a fire site," Chief Tennant told the STAR "in a telephone interview. "She puts on her hat, boots and coat and gets right in there. Chief Tennant will go even # further than that. Not only do women have the ability to perform firefighting duties, but there are some things that the women excell in. Like dependability. "As a rule," said Chief Tennant, 'the women are very dependable." In fact, Tennant points to a record of attendance at training (continued on page 2) ontralto, highlighted the week- end's official opening program at the Town Hall 1873. Attendance was excellent both Sunday for Miss Forrester's performance and for the open house held Saturday, featuring entertainment with a down-home flavour. The event will kick off an active season of music, theatre, art and more at the Town Hall. Seen with Miss Forrester is John Newmark, her accompanist. housewife not only makes a good firefighter, but a highly dependable one." "I guess that's why I got into it in the first place," says Hazel. "There was a problem of having enough men on hand during the day. It just seems natural for me to try to help out." Mrs. Laberee said that as far as she knows, there is no opposition within the depart- ment. And there wasn't any initial opposition when she applied. "We get along quite well," she said, describing the reaction of the depart- ment. She claims she has little difficulty handling any of the firefighting equipment and feels she pulls her weight as part of the firefighting team. If possible, she'll avoid using the heavy backpacked breathing equipment, but said she is capable of using it if she has to. Regular training sessions - at least once a month - don't seem to reveal any physical weakness. She has no prob- lem keeping up, a fact con- firmed by the fire chief. She never misses a train- ing session, and according to Chief Tennant, has an attendance record as good if not better than most of the men. Mrs. Laberee urged that women be given the chance to try fire fighting. She suggested that due to the training required, many would probably quit, any- ways. "It's not as easy. as it looks," she said. But the important thing, according to Mrs. laberee, is - the opportunity to try. Campai The campaign to raise money for construction of the new Scugog Community "Memorial Arena is moving into high gear this week with Reach area canvassers already knocking on doors and Scugog Island volun- teers getting prepared to do the same. of Barrie Arts Council executive and Barrie Drama Club President Tony Gilsenan visited Town Hall 1873 last week to get some ideas about a similar project being considered by a Barrie group. Dr. John Hammett (left) and Dr. Ralph Price (right) of the Town Hall around. 1873 committee showed Mr. Gilsenan Town Hall viewed by Barrie The renovation of the Old Town Hall may be "old hat' around here, but ap- parently it is viewed by outsiders as quite an ac- complishment. At least that's the indic- ation by Tony Gilsenan, Barrie Arts Council exe- cutive and president of the Barrie drama club, who visited Town Hall 1873 Monday morning in an effort to get additional ammun- ition to fight a Barrie battle that will hopefully save an unused firehall from destruction in that commun- ity. Mr. Gilsenan was to have been accompanied by other Barrie dignitaries including the city's mayor. The others nsteps According to campaign organizers, the Reach area campaign began this week, and that an Island canvas- sers meeting was scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Island's community centre. According to the committee spokesman, the meeting will be run as a general public Bulb ignites gas Tony Salt, an employee at Port Perry Rent-All narrow- ly missed serious injury Friday when a trouble light he was using underneath his car shattered, igniting gaso- line that had leaked from the car's motor. . "I've still got a bad case of nerves today," said Tony Monday, after he told how the gasoline had engulfed the car in flames in less than a split second. 'Mr. Salt said that he had just crawled out from under- neath the car and was on his hands and knees when the lightbulb burst. ""It just flair- ed up," sajd Tony. He said that the ground underneath the car where he had been just seconds before was saturated with gas. When firemen arrived, the car was towed away from the building. According to Chief Jack Cook, the car was damaged beyond repair. official couldn't make it, Mr. Gilse- nan said. . The Barrie group organ- ization,-to save the firehall, must buck not only the tight money situation, but must fight a number of local groups who are opposed to the restoration. According to the drama club chairman, the com- munity's library board is opposed to the development because they want to use the site for a new library. Local businessmen also seem to be opposed to the project because, according to Mr. Gilsenan, there are at least eight different proposals for the site as commercial deve- lopment. (continued on page 2) up pace meeting, and an outline of the general arena project will be presented not only for canvassers but also any other interested people. "There is still room for more volunteers to help out with the campaign," said committee chairman Howard Hall. A meeting for canvassers from the Cartwright area still has to be scheduled, but the committee hopes the campaign in thgl area will begin within tha next two weeks. \ The committee hopes to submit a figure of cash and pledges to Wintario by the end of March. The Wintario scheme will match don- ations (cash or pledges) on a dollar for dollar basis. The campaign in Port Perry has already been con- ducted, and raised almost $100,000. - Target for the campaign is $200,000. 3 '3 wy > > AE Tp" = SEH ¥ AY i: :