Champion Country, Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - All Wiarton WilIie logo and book created locall y Logo recently used to help celebrate 5Oth anniversaiy of Wiarton's Groundhog Festival By Robin Downton-Poirier SPECIAL TO THE CHAMPION With many people considering bîm an expert on Wiarton Willie, David Haley wrote a book (in 1999) and designed a logo about the weatber predicting rodent. Haley a Brittania Road resident, said the logo was used to commemorate the recent 5Otb Anniversary of Wiartons Groundhog Festival and so raise moncv for the Wiarton Legion. The logo was originallv drawrn by Haley' in 2000 after be completed bis book, 'The Life and Legend of Wiarton Willie. The pîcture, depicting Willie in a mecadow, sai for vears, witb Haley unsure of what bc'd like lu use it for. An advertisement at the beginning of January about the 50th anmvcrsan promptecl bim to finalîx put the logo to use. "The logo bad been sitng in mv bouse stne Januan 2000,- said Halev. 1bn nottccd the anniversarv flyer, I pulled tbe logo out and called the luwnr of \\'tarton tu sec if we could use it and tbev agreed.-4 Halex' took tbe design to a lricnd \vbo enbianced the imnage on ber computer by adding a brilîtant rainboss andI titles for tbe ý50tb Anniîversarv and 'f be I egcnd' Wjllje a Canadian icon \itts (the) t anadian icon tîtat es-cn, une assuctates witb \Viartuns mid-%%itnter festival. Because of tbîs unîversal recognition, Willie is referrecl tu sîmpîs as f be Legend' (on tbe logo),- said Haley. Tbe logo was emblazoned on tiomeruîs items bv tbe Village Gallery and Graphics in \Vaîerdown. inclutclng sweatsbîrts, t-sbirts, bats, and beadbands, ail beîng sold bv, order tbrougb Haley, at tbe \Vîarton Groundbug F-estival, and at Spice 03' t ife in Milton. Haley bad received orders for more than $7,000 tn mer- cbandise before tbe festival even began. The logo bas also been adopted by tbe Wiarton Legion to help raise money for a new mural to be painted on the side of a building in Wiarton to commemorate tbe Vear of tbe Veteran. The cost of the mural is $8,400, said Haley, and the Legion bas raised over a quarter of that amount already witb the logo. Haley grew up in Flamborough and ofien 'hunîed' groundhogs as a child. With bis fatber as the officiaI Wiarton Willie archivist, be bas been privy to a great deal of informa- tion about the rodent for years, belping hiru immeasurably wben writing bis book. 'The Lîfe and Legend of Wîarton Ski -Fui BRENDA JEFFERIES / SPECIAL TO THE CHAMPION CREATIVE DUO: Author and Wiarton WiIlle expert David Haley (right) and Dave Cooper of Waterdowns Village Gallery and Graphies show some of the memnorabilia created in honour of the 5Oth anniversary of Wiartons Groundhog Day Festival. Willie', primanly hTitten for cbildren, is a biograpby of Wiarton Willies life, bis ability to predict tbe weatber, and bow Wiartons mid-winter festival became dedîcated to bim. Altbougb tbe timeline is sligbtly stretcbed to incorporate some of the town of Wiantons interesting details, tbe story is very factual and aIl tbe cbaracters are real, said Haley. "This is a bistonical novel wove around actual events and people, witb fun brougbt in and adjusted for înterest. It is very autbentic," said Haley in &Bod I Service Spa-., Needmng a Break from the COLD? A Corne Enjoy a Eucalyptus Steam Room, a 1/2 Hour Arornatherapy Massage using Hot, Smooth River RcS. Single or Couple's Rooms Avallable. *fadai e aicua # pdicureS *aromathe mopé WsastnlIIIhair emakeup - roups Welcome - 25, i St. E. Ion w Mitn I051 Haley said be bas sold about 1,200 copies of tbe 'Life and Legend of Wiarton Willie'since being publisbed, but admits tbat sales tend to be centered around Groundbog Day and Wiarton's Groundbog Festival. The book is available at Harris Stationary in Milton and Different Drummer Books in Burlington. To purcbase merebandise or a copy of 'The Life and Legend of Wiarton Willie', contact David Haley at (905) 335- 2136. The team ut Total Skin &r Body SPa Î STORE HOURS invite you to corne and relax! il MON ..0l-6 Let us pamper you In our friendly atmosphere. 1TUES & WEO ... 9-7 Bring your spouse or plan a group party. THURS & FRI ... g-g Nme: Address: Phone: ______________Email: I q klugddscuponfraàdom ct M à /2 hmu ~ massae. th - ud -el -o -à -dw - -- - , t:~vjm YAYAIAAIA'M ~ ~ il 1111111 L'I1 u1~W~I1îiU la-Hilli UV iË6