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The decision all came about when my ageâ€"old elec- tric razor suddenly died. As with any relic. repair parts are hard to find. I've shopped everywhere, The Only aller- nalive is a replacement. all it a mustache o: a moustache. it really doesn't mal- tct. Bothlspelllngs. accoullng to Mr. Webster. are cortect. Ignorâ€" ing the choice; I‘ve decided to grow one â€" with mixed Some like it. Some don't. In the meantime. I've switched to a slick new Schick; a stylish safety model that does a satisfactory job - except for a permanent shadow above my upper lip. "fly as I might. the wee black patch remained. So I said to myself. "leave it be”. And for the past three weeks. I have. with gratifying effect. A hill-grown moustache has begun to appear. l'm beginning to like it. Every night before bed- time. I soak the untamentzr tion with warm water to stim- ulate growth. In the morning, 1 brush it. then groom it after applying a dab of Grecian For- mula to eradicate the grey. Minors don't lie. The face I see looking back reflects an innovative person; I'm a brand new man. The moustache. as any one knows. isn't by any rncans ‘a pioneer approach to inflat- ing the male ego. The process has been around for years. Remember movie stars Clarke Gable. Charlie Chap- lain and Tom Selleck; come- dian Groucho Marx; intel. lectual Albert Einstein; dic- tator Adolf Hitler; wrestler Lenten project keeps growing Coach touched thousands of lives flulk Hogan and hockey star Lanny McDonald? They sported everything from smudges to handlebars. Pub- lic appearances gained them world -wide prominence. However. for lip~top perfec- tinn. one not-d look no further than Spirit hockey broadcaster Rick Callaghan. owner/opera- tor of Stouffviue's 410 Auto. Rick 48. made me mous- tache move while still a stu- dent attending Mohawk. Col- lege in Hamilton. Although colour and style changes have occurred during the past 19 yeaxs. Rick keeps it completely namnl. - While cutie: the subject of ridicule. in Stoufl'vilie it’s now so acceptable. be In: gained The Stache as a complimen- tary moniker. So what: does wife say? “She loves it.‘ he clahns. “she'd want me no other ,y. mmmmmx Sqwhydolbother? mmmhmmh “It's my normal look.” he same as most. I sup- MMGOM pose. 'l'he moustache radi- rects attention from a slowly receding hairline. Folks tend to focus on my lip-top instead of my head-top. This helps restore self-confidence. But there's a penalty to pay. "I liked you béttér the way you were." said one critici “With the few years you have left. you should have left your face the way it was.” said another. Fortunately. most are less serious. They just look and laugh. "Is it drip-dry?” joked one. "A saving on Kleenex.” teased another. However. When It comes to basic" honesty. kids take the cake. At Stoufiville’s Mil- !ard Street/Glad Park Avenue crosswalk where I serve as a student guard. my mous- tache is avfavourite conversa~ (ion piece. A "When I'm older. will I of five. "When you kiss some- one. does she say it tickles?“ inquired _a of six. “My dad has one but it doesn't look like yours â€" his is handsomen' said another girl of six . I’ll be honest. too. I'm going through a stage. one that undoubtedly won't last. It's metely a perspnal Lent~ en project with an extension period longer than initially anticipated. Rest assured. when the moustache becomes ratty. it'll be time to remove the one. too?” asked a boy OPINION The former Smufivillo resident died last week doing one of the things he Enjoyed best playing basketball Rick Maloncy was the poster boy for everything that is right about sports in our schools. th'terwugh.l\1dwsalmtinw. he coached teams in the Markham Car- am youth basketball club and in the Wtdmmhfimuffville Minor Hockey ('5 so imnic. the timing of [his lengthy debate about teachers wetting or volunteering - pick your poison ‘ after regular school hours in Ontario. All while wr moum the death of a macho: who lived l0 mach many of our He taught. auxin-d and cum-Ila] students alSLanherAndremMarflmn. the home school f0: Catholic kids” from Slmnfivillc. for all ofits 29 years Our youngest daughter. Jenny. was lucky enough to play on the (Edmals under Rick when he founded the club out of St. Brigid Catholic School. just around the corner from his family‘s home on Greenwood Street. ‘lhat was eight years ago. From that one team of Grade 6 girls. many of whom had barely handled a ball before the first practice. he kick- staned careers. They didn‘t win many games or even score many baskets during that first season. But gust a couple of years later. those same Cardinals were wearing sil- ver medals and smiles at the provincial chmpbmhips in St. Thomas Manyofthoseglflswouldstarin higl'rschoolballal area schoolgSome would piay MA summer ball or at uni- versity. Some would stay in the game as coaches As parents. we wete often amazed. by Coach Rick's schedule. gomg from the St. Brother Andre football field. to the Stouffville Arena and over to an elementary school for games and sometimes all in the same Given his longevity at St. BA. and the thousands of lives he touched as a coach and guidance counsellor. it's no wonder then: were long lineups {in his weekend visitation and an overflow crowd at Monday's funeral. “10 former University of Western Ontario football player absolulvly loved il all. I heard all about it and saw it in his eyes in a Kelscy's in Cambridge um- night as the team and parents waited for a table after a particulatly reward- ing day in a tournament. He was burn to develop and lead. '10 coach. And that was just a snapshot ()nc team in a lengthy list at squads We've seen his impact at The Sun Tribune. mo. Stories on Mt. Maloney's death and funeral have had record readership on our website. yorkregion. com It was a similar scenario when another legendary York Region high school foo!de and basketball coach from Stouffvillc, Wayne Nugcnt. died last summer. Students new: furgm those wacht-rx who made a difierence in their lives. mlfiasmrsmolnranrm with Iim Mason OffIheTop