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The Castor Review, October, 1981 3 Ghatter Russeller in Windsor When the National Bank of Detroit decided to open its first Canadian office in Windsor, Ontario. who did it choose to be the new branches first manager? A former Russeller -- Jim Morrow. Jim was born in Russell and still keeps up with the local news by reading Russell's best monthly newspaper -- the Castor Review. It's lunchtime BETTER LATE THAN NEVER Because of the continuing rain, farmers were late getting into the fields this summer but by mid-August haying operations were well under way. In this scene reminiscent of the Saskatchewan Prairies, farm equip- ment waits while a farmer has his lunch. Time to sprout wiskers Beard sprouting should be springing up around the Castor area soon. Ray McNamara announced recently that the Russell Winter Carnival's Beard Growing Contest will return. There will be prizes in three categories again. One, which anyone can win, is for most unusual beard... hmm, that opens up all kinds of possibilities. We all have until February to think about it. Society blooms The Russell Horticultural Socie- ty held its fall meeting in late September to plan its next year's activities. "The forty-five members who attended the meeting enjoyed a pot-luck supper, "said Dorothy Kinkaid, the Society's secretary. "And then Betty Hay, the Socie- ty's President suggested a number of activities to take place in 1982. They included: trips, hanging baskets for the village and workshops. "The Trillium Awards for outstanding landscaping in Russell and the surrounding area were awarded at the meeting. And that was followed by a general question and answer period on all aspects of gardening."' The members postponed a deci- sion on whether to join with the Agricultural Society for the an- nual flower show until their next meeting in January. Housing - sales boom on Sales of houses have picked up considerably in the Russell area during the last few months. Since May, approximately 30 homes have been sold, according to real estate agents. There have also been several sales in the Forest Park -- Embrun area. The reason for the sales boom, according to Glendon Loucks of Rhodes Real Estate, is that a new home in Russell can be purchased for approximately $35,000 below the price of comparable houses in the city. "This in itself is a powerful lever persuading people to buy outside the city," said Mr. Loucks. "After all, for that kind of price spread you can buy a lot of gas. City prices have soared as | 'much.as 18 per cent over last year 'while in the country they have in- creased about 5 to 10 per cent". Most of the sales have been to young couples moving out of the city. Many are looking for affor- dable homes with room to raise a ' family. Their dream home becomes a reality when they are willing to travel beyond the city limits. About half of the homes chang- ing hands were older village homes with a heritage aspect. Many purchasers are looking for older homes and are willing to do the work necessary to renovate or repair them in order to have the advantage of their solid construc- tion, larger lots and charming characteristics of the period. Vandals batter park by Ian Darragh Vandals caused between $500 and $1,000 damage to the Russell Dam Conservation Area when they dismantled a concrete bench and table and threw part of it into the Castor River. "'We're very upset and if the police lay charges, we'll co- operate in every way we can,"" said Ken Dunlop, treasurer.of the: South Nation Conservation Authority. Work on the nature park, which is on the south bank of the Castor in Russell, had only been completed in mid- September. Dunlop said the foreman of the authority was heartsick when he saw the damage. He had been working with students on the nature trail all summer; $3,000 was spent to make a gravelled path into a lookout over the dam, to put up benches and plant trees. Dunlop said the conservation authority is planning to replace the broken benches next year and another $3,000 is budgeted for im- provements to the park next sum- mer. It is used by many senior citizens who live in a nearby apart- ment complex on Church Street. "'We put everything back tem- porarily, but obviously we will not be spending that kind of money in that location, since it is not ap- preciated by a small minority." said Mr. Dunlop. "We tried to make a nice park for senior citizens and now we _have to start over. And our development grant is used up."' VICE & CRAIG Funeral Homes Inc. METCALFE 821-2120 WINCHESTER 774-2120 CHESTERVILLE 448-2120 Before. . . Ron and Menna Andrews enjoy a Castor Conservation area park bench with baby Tristan on a lazy Fall evening. The benches and tables were recently installed for relaxing beside the village dam. aa. Alter The same benches and table are unrecognizable after vandals finished their work. A nearby wooden bench was tossed into the Castor River during the mindless act. Workers have since done their best to repair the damaged public property which is often a welcome respite for seniors out for a stroll along Russell's nature walk: (Tom Van-Dusen photos) Enterprises. (613) 445-5291 Michel A. Cousineau B.Sc. Com. Accountant Accounting & Income Tax Consultant for corpora- tions, Partnerships, Proprietorships & Farming - Box 88, R.R. 3, Russell, Ont. KOA 3B0 | Chantal bide niga: "Ine. General Contractors @ Residential, Commercial & Industrial @ Air Tight and Passive Solar Homes @ Backhoe & Bulldozer Rentals ® Snow Removal RUSSELL 445-5666 "the answer to the problem" Woéd Héat D. [[ATREMOUILLE ave CVn. ate BN Ste soccer --_--~ CHALEUREUX -- Stoves 561 rue Notre Dame St., EMBRUN wwe)