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Wimmmthe lakewasafar cry from what you see today Lmle What rrry mom iinds isolating and remote the big guy and i find heaven. Lalue lovers choose the lalne life became oi the peace and quiet. in the year 2W4 it is refreshing to have this special spot with its little late and country lifestyle that to marry takers is a stroke of luck and a blessing. When my mom came to visit the other day from the bustling metropolis of Uxbridge. she commented that she couldn't live with the quietness and a street when the silence Is broken with enherapasslngcaro'theoddbatk ofado‘g. Life in the country is the only way toga it ishaidtobelievebutwe have called Musselman's take home for twenty years this tall. and the love affair continues td stow as each year passes lust the other cool windy autumn night. i sat on the dedt bundled in a sweater savoring the swndoflailincieavesandthepace and serenity which the quiet brings. In fact. its five businesses in one: 0 the landing strip itself. which is 2,000 feet long and an accommodate a wide variety of small aircraft. It is home to over 30 private planes. including a couple of ultra-lights. 0 an aviation museum. which lndudes not only a number of vintage aircraft scattered over the site. but collections of artifacts ranging from flight suits to election seats to air .meras (current owner Al Ruben is a professional photographer a well as an aviation afldonado). school called Canadlan Elva: Internaflonal. which has 50 students 0! all ages NOVEMBER 2004 But our airport came sooner. founded in 1965 by Ian Lewlndowski. an ex- patriate flyer from the Polish'Air Force and his wife Irene. And even though it's still privately owned and almost invislble from Highway 48, the Markham Airport is in its own way every bit as busy as Buttonville. its official. name is Markham Airport, even though It's only a few hundred metres south of the Whitchurch- Stouffville town line, and even though the Buttonville' Airport, which is also in Markham.‘ is many times bigger. Rural Reflections “Markham’? Airport a busy place ficullural expefimen't?» onastrip nearthehlghway. 'We have to have a diversity of activities here MWL Mawâ€"Airport owner Al Ruben and some of the many vintage' aircraft scattered on the facility's 200 acres. The Air Cadets also operate a gliding school here in the summer. 0 an educational foundation called "Wings of Flight". Al Ruben regularly hosts school classes or scout troops. as well as high school co-op students. The airport is also licensed to offer training in i2 aviation- related trades 0 an organic farm! Al thinks the wasted land at most airports is a crime, so he has i25 of his 200 acres in soybeans. and is currently undertaking some to keep in business.“ Al says. “We do ‘aircraft restoration in connection with the museum, and we've even had a number of movie shoots here. using the strip and the buildings it all makes life around here very interesting ‘ Al stresses that the airport, despite its name. is very much connected to Stouffville. hosting local students and pilots. and even playing a part in the town's polities. "Once the province wanted to put a big landfill. a dump. on part of the would have ruined Spring Lakes." Of all the airport's different personalities. its role as teacher is the one that Al values most. 'i was fascinated by flying as I grew up.‘ he recalls. 'and so many kids are Onoelgotaletterfroma boy who'd been a coâ€"op student here. he said the experience had changed his life. given him a goal and a purpose That alone makes this place worthwhile.‘ - The Martham Airport is 30 seconds south of mm A Iaker’s life for me Pen and paper in hand i collected hum names. addresses and phone numbers and presented the W to thccable mpuny. It was one happy day when, converter in hand i flicked through multiple stations with a cieat picture and a big grin Calling the Cable company sewing SwaMlle, l was told ,there was no demand fmm the area and not enough people. Prove. they said. that it was wanted lnsomewayslfeel likeapioneer at the lake arriving back In the early eighties when there wasn't even cable TV. Being a city girl. the monstrous antenna standlng by our house brought in only two or three fuzzy stations. and that was on a seasonal cottages hned the streets and the Influx of year round realdents was lust beginnlng. Little cottages either rransformed themselves or were removed and replaad by some beautlful homes dotflmthe lakeside Both the lake and l have come ”Once the province wanted to put a big landfill. a dum on pg: ol the §pfing LalEes golf course But they couldn't put It that close to an airport. ll we hadn‘t been here. they Al stresses that the airport. despite its name. is very much connected to Stouflville. hosting local students and pilots. and even playing a part In the town's politics. to keep in business.“ Al says. “We do ‘alrcraft restoration in connection with the museum, and we've even had a number of movie shoots here. using the strip and the bulldlngs It all makes life around here very Interesting ‘ atthesightoiugiybucsandto welcome the nightly chorus of buillrop in the spring lhave lelt the wrath of an exploding sump pump hose as it twirled uncontrollably in my hands squirting me repeat thelace ihaveremovedalarge snake from the living room floor whenourcat‘linybrought homea slippery surprise. i have watched as Christmas ornaments have floated across the basement floor when our sump pump stopped during a stonh and the flooding bean. I have watched blue herons. Mum geese and mmkrats and m and rabbits pass through the bed yard. l have lien tint-d lot iii-s alteradnmlenuhmlhddedtovtsit onesunnyomthyasipamtedthe gate i have hatched the lromheildothinfillhmkeiapsfly across large rooms and other lobe. that wotid male Bob Villa weep! have watched roads being paved. and new faces beome the norm And you know what? i wouldn't change one single hing humlhaveleanunouosaeum ‘i was fascinated by flying as I grew up.‘ he recalls. ‘and so many kids are. Once I got a letter from a boy who'd been a coop student here. he said the experience had changed his 'lile. given him a goal and a purpose That alone makes this place worthwhile.“ - The Markham Airport is 30 accords south oi l9th Avenue on Hwy 48. on the east side at the road. Drop in tor a lascinatlng look at aviation history Of all the airport's different petsonalitles. Its role as teacher is the one that Al values most. London Ame Sewing Stoufiville Arch Residents Since 1975 WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVIELE THIS MONTH - 21 TIM ROCHACEWICH B. COMM. CLU. CH. F.C., CFP 905 640-4588' FOR SERVICE ADVICE CALL Insurance Company Representative