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healing air conditioning systems 191 weans st lum 7 hilton 4711748 rateniriiisljip sine siatfilwa tribune community doug hackert 6405339 stoufrville aluminum siding windows specializing in replacement doors and windows serving whitchurchstouffville uxbridge and area i a metroland community newspaper wednesday february 17 1988 uxbridge builder pays tribute by bruce stapley he epitomizes the very essence of a rags- to riches story his legacy is a delightful mix ture of earned friends and re spected foes hes a legend to all whose lives hes touched gino testa the son of an italian farmer arrived in canada 35 years ago with but 25 cents in his pocket he slept under a bridge today he sits behind a desk on the site of his latest newhome de velopment testa heights ux bridge and he marvels at how good canada has been to him this is a beautiful country says the man whos built houses and apartments from uxbridge through to niagara falls with a few stops in between canada treated me well from the first day i arrived ginos tribute is more than verbal for years hes exhibited his generosity to friends and stran gers alike the care he once received from the staff of uxbridge cottage hos pital following a car accident has inspired him to make a generous financial donation for every home sold in his 200unit development these gifts exclude lump sum donations i care for people and for the community says the man whose straightforward honest manner sets him apart from many high- stake developers his workaholic nature that saw him on the job christmas day is countered by a compassion that had him deliver ing a fruit basket and a coffee cake to nurses on the uxbridge hospital staff and patients the very same day so great is ginos concern for the medical facilities of uxbridge and area he recently purchased two homes near the hospital site to make way for a 22000 square foot medical centre this way he explains the medical needs of the sick and elderly can be tended to at one location right now sick people must drive all over town for medical services he frowns id like to see all services in one building with the hospital next door on saturday evening as a tri bute to his many friends gino hosted a dinner in the goodwood community hall the banquet was in celebration of his 35 years in canada for george johns a close friend whose restaurant catered the feast it was a labor of love every night i go home and thank god i have gino for a friend he says adding i sure wouldnt want him for an enemy mr johns describes gino as the greatest trouble is he points out when he retires he wont be able to help people any more gino admits any success hes enjoyed has been built on trust see this he notes pointing to a scrap of paper its a contract containing a name an address and a dollar figure written in pen and ink this and a handshake is a contract gino proudly refers to a letter to the editor published in a local newspaper in it a customer tells how gino extended his closing when he had every right to take the mans deposit and void the deal but the clincher raves mr johns was the day gino took a group of men including a hydro inspector on a tour of testa heights everyone was standing and waving the inspector couldnt believe it he said hed never seen this kind of reception for a builder before usually they throw bricks at them he recal led the hydro official saying for gino a regular work day can extend from five in the morn ing until nine at night he and wife elisa reside in a lovely home north of the bethesda sideroad in whitchurch- stouffville hes the proud father of four children and four grand children for a hobby gino raises beef cattle the 140acre farm north of stouffville gives his life true meaning he gladly shortens his sleeping hours to pack as much activity as possible into his days born in patricia italy gino vividly recalls arriving at toron tos union station at 11 pm a cold night in march 1953 the protection of a bridge was his temporary refuge his first job was that of a pin- boy in a toronto bowling alley he was paid 90 cents a night he then travelled to kapuskas- ing where he worked on the rail road later he took a job in a lum ber camp and then toiled as a bricklayers helper gino sums up life in three de- scriptives hard work caring and honesty one can also add de termination and sensitivity with gino testa what you see is what you get i dont like beating around the bush he insiststcll it to me straight for35 years ginos been telling it straight and on saturday night he said thanks his guests responded the plea sures all ours quiet please were trying to read students from all grades at whitchurchhighlands public school took part in a readathon february 9 part of the schools annual fundraising campaign for purchasing new equipment and organizing field trips pictured left to right are back row dawn albright jennifer off enbeck front row chris manuel michael powell and john dandy blaine kaneko gino testa built his company on and earned 90 cents a day at his hard work caring and honesty first job in a bowling alley he began life in canada as an im migrant who slept under a bridge jim thomas crime stoppers attempted robbery at brooklin bank crime stoppers and the durham regional police are asking the publics help in solving an attempted robbery at the canadian imperial bank of com merce on baldwin street brook lin january 8 1988 at about 220 pm a man en tered the bank and for a few mi nutes read through some in formation at the back counter he then went to the withdrawal coun ter and there spoke to a clerk he discussed opening an account and then passed her a note telling her he wanted cash he opened his coat and showed her the butt of a gun saying this is real he demanded cash several more times and the clerk- hesitated he then told her to stay where she was and walked out the door turning west towards the post office he is described as white male about 30 years old 6 feet in height 180 pounds medium build dark brown straight hair just over his ears thin beard and moustache ncatly trimmed wearing a light blue clothtype jacket waist- length with a zipper front match ing scarf and black cloth pants he was wearing a white golf cap with ballentines on the front in reddish letters or writing were you in brooklin this day did you see this person did you see him in a car if you have any idea who this person is call 2228477 or 1-800- 3878477 free from all phones in cluding pay phones the informant will not be re quired to identify himselfherself or go to court the crime stoppers office is open 8 am to 10 pm monday through friday whats inside up up and away in a hot air balloon c3 community calendar c13 school enrolment x meeting c9 i bruce stapleys columnc2 born to shop cio whats on c16 and c17 marie lloyd putting zest into teaching c15 i 3