focus s on cugogfocus - may 2010 “life’s better at the villa!” all welcome! rsvp to liz auston...
TRANSCRIPT
FOCUSon Scugog MAY 2010
ARTIST KIM
FERNANDES see page 5
PORT PERRY DENTAL CENTRE
Dr. J. Cottrell Dr. C. Banfield
Dr. J. Hardy Dr. J. Isenberg
Dr. E. King OrthodontistDr. T. McIntyre Periodontist
905-985-8451
238 Queen St., DOwNTOwN Port Perrywww.iluvmydentist.com
Seniors Oral HealthIt is important to maintain a regular schedule of daily brushing and flossing throughout your lifetime. But even if you do, you may face
certain issues in your senior years when it comes to your oral health. Wearing dentures, taking medications and general health
conditions are some of the issues. Luckily, your dentist can help you meet most of these challenges successfully.
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EDITORIAL POLICY: Opinions expressed by columnists, contributors and let-ter writers are not necessarily those of Focus On Scugog. Letters must be signed and the telephone number (which will not be published) included. Re-quests that a name be withheld will be honoured only if there is a compelling reason to do so. Errors will be corrected if brought to the editor’s attention. We reserve the right to edit or refuse publication of any material submitted.
ADVERTISING POLICY: The publisher is not liable for slight changes or ty-pographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher is not liable for other errors or omissions in connection with any advertisement in any subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement. All claims of error in publication must be made within one week of each month’s publication, and if not made, will not be considered. No claim will be allowed for more than one insertion.
FOCUS - JUNE 2008 �
FOCUSon Scugog MAY 2010
ARTIST KIM
FERNANDES see page 5
COVER.MAY 2010.indd 1 4/23/10 10:09:41 AM
Cover Picture Award winning artist Kim Fernandes of Port Perry is a children’s book author and illustrator. Her books include Sleepy Little Mouse and Busy Little Mouse. Kim is one of Canada’s foremost three-dimensional illustrators but has turned her talents to-wards conventional art. See Kim on page 5.
Photo by Jonathan van Bilsen
Created & Published by Observer Publishing of Port Perry 188 Mary Street - Unit 201 Port Perry, Ontario - L9L 1A2
PUBLISHER/EDITOR ..................................... J. Peter HvidstenOFFICE/ADV. MGR. ..................................... MaryAnn FlemingADVERTISING .................................................. Tracy Souch, PRODUCTION ..................................................Arlene WalkerFREELANCE WRITERS ................ Paul Arculus, Tammy Horvath Jonathan van Bilsen, Scott MercerACCOUNTING ............................. Judy Ashby, Nancy Hvidsten
PHONE 905-985-8585 email: [email protected]
Focus On The Web: www.focusonscugog.com
FOCUSon Scugog
Volume 5 Number 02 MAY 2010
FOCUS - MAY 2010 �
Inside FocusCHANGING FACES - businesses on the move ................................. 4KIM FERNANDES- planning for Spring Studio Tour ......................... 5THE DOCS - introducing Drs. Adams and Kazarian ......................... 15GUESS WHO CAME FOR DINNER? - black bear drops in ............ 18DID YOU KNOW? - tidbits of useless information ............................. 24SNAP A KAP - did drinking game originated in Scugog? ................. 27ARTS AWARDS - Scugog Arts Council awards its best .................. 28THUMBS - rating events and decisions in the community ............... 32WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - Ginny Burt has a green thumb ............ 36THIS OLD HOUSE - a look at Scugog’s historic homes .....................38TRAVELON - Jonathan van Bilsen’s travel experiences .................... 54 WHAT’S UP SCUGOG - upcoming events around town ................... 56
� FOCUS - MAY 2010
Dear Focus...Mailbox
Do we live in a great town, or what?Dear Peter, On behalf of the Church Chicks United we would like to thank you and your staff for your amazing sup-port of Port Perry’s First Easter Bonnet Contest. We started from scratch and had no advertising money- just some ‘chicks’ with a crazy bonnet dream- and we know that your coverage of our event was key to it’s success. We’re thrilled to report that the public donations on Easter Sunday at the Bonnet Contest were $821.37. In addition R.H. Cornish, S.A. Cawker and Prince Albert elementary schools had “Crazy Hat Day” (on April 1st). The combined fundraising total of the three schools was $591.11...for a grand total of $1412.48 going to The Scugog Memorial Library- Children’s & Teen Section. The Chicks were blown away by the turn out, creativity and enthusiasm of everyone. There were 183 contest hat entries and many more worn by spectators. With this kind of community support, we’re already at the drawing table to make it an even better event next year. We also hope to get all of the elementary schools in Scugog on board for “Crazy Hat Day” next year as well. The smiles on the faces of everyone said it all and we feel confident that there will be Easter Bonnets in Port Perry for years to come. Do we live in a great town or what?
Many Thanks, Pam Hollett and Amy Killeen,
Contest Co-Chairs,on behalf of all Church Chicks United
Hi Peter, Thank you in advance for providing some space to notify people of my yard sale to raise funds and aware-ness of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). My little friend Hayden has SMA, which is the num-ber one killer of young children. On Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29 I will be holding a garage/lawn sale at 40 Robinglade Drive, Seagrave. All the proceeds will go to The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation to help find a cure for SMA.
Caroline LamontSeagrave
Yard sale to raise awareness of SMA
Serving Port Perry, Uxbridge & Surrounding Area 182 North Port Plaza, Unit #7 - Reach St. at North Port Rd.
Sales &Installation
Free Estimates, All Work Guaranteed
• Windows• Doors• Siding• Sunrooms
To the Editor, Once a year the township offers free compost to all residents. This year it was as popular as usual with so many avid gardener’s who realize that compost to a gar-den is like gold dust. Hence we all don’t mind waiting in a huge line-up of cars and trucks for at least one hour. I was about 10 cars away from the front when a vehicle pulled up alongside of me and asked - “is this the line for the compost”? I told him “yes” and that we had all waiting approximately an hour. He said, “well I’m not waiting,” then proceeded to drive through a gap in the pylons and park in the area nearest the huge pile of compost. He then took out a spade and blue box and walked over to the compost. You can imagine people were pretty annoyed to say the least. When I got closer he returned with his compost and pulled out another container. I just could not sit there and watch one more minute, so walked over and asked,”what makes you think that you are better than all these people that have waited patiently for over and hour and you just drive in ahead of everyone and cheat the system.” He replied that he had to be somewhere. I said, “so do we all.” To that comment he said “I’m not slowing anyone down,” as if that made it okay. Boooooo... to anyone who thinks they can do that.
Sheila MoxomSeagrave
Jumping the ‘compost’ queue
MORE MAILBOX ON PAGE 8
FOCUS - MAY 2010 �
“Life’s better at the Villa!”
ALL WELCOME!RSVP to Liz Auston at 905.985.2002
“LAW OF LAUGHTER” LAUGH YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS!Wednesday May 12, 2pm to 3pm
Facilitated by motivational speaker and humour expert, Dianne Pepper. Humour can break the ice, make
people feel great, lift spirits, forget their troubles, ease their pain, diffuse anger, release sadness, even hatred melts away...and boosts the immune system. LOL Law of Laughter is a
fun, high energy, positive workshop. Discover tools on how to de-stress and motivate you to “Laugh your way to Success.”
ENTERTAINMENT FRIDAY NIGHTS
Most Friday evenings 7pm
The Port Perry Villa presents free concerts
by some of our area’s most-requested performers.
Please call ahead to confi rm.
people feel great, lift spirits, forget their troubles, ease their pain, diffuse anger, release sadness, even hatred melts away...and boosts the immune system. LOL Law of Laughter is a
fun, high energy, positive workshop. Discover tools on how to de-stress and motivate you to “Laugh your way to Success.”
by some of our area’s most-requested performers.
Please call ahead to confi rm.
15987 Simcoe St., Port Perry • 905-985-3312 • www.portperryvilla.ca
FISH & CHIPSFRIDAYS!
Seniors $2.99*Reservations required, limited
seating. Served at 12pm, every Friday in May.*Includes coffee/tea,
dessert and taxes.
Taking a leap of faith
Downtown Port Perry ground to a near halt on Thursday, March 25 when film crews set up their cameras, lights and equip-ment along Queen Street for the shooting of a national Burger King commercial. The shoot involved a number of scenes, includ-
ing the one pictured above, which featured a stunt actor jumping from a window over top of Luke’s Country Store. Queen Street was closed to vehicular traffic, but pedestrians were allowed ac-cess throughout the day. Photos by J. Peter Hvidsten
� FOCUS - MAY 2010
ChangingFaces!
The old boat launch beside the dock at the end of Queen St., Lake Scugog -1965
After a few months of very little happening with this business community, here in the first week of May, we are reporting a considerable amount of shuffling. To start things out this month - a couple of hair salons have joined forces. J. Sowa-Joy Hair Salon, formerly located in the Purple House at 1595 Hwy. 7A, and White Orchid Hair Salon, formerly located at 56 Perry St., have teamed up and will operate under the new name Studio 165 Salon & Spa at 165 Casimir St. On the same street, Inner Beauty & Health, who had been operating from 186 Casimir St. for the past couple of years has now relocated to Unit 1 at 176 Perry St. The Hunter House at 174 Mary Street has a new ten-ant. Paula R. McMurtry, Barrister & Solicitor, opened last month for the practice of family law and general civil litigation. Also along the same stretch, at 240 Mary St., Karen Le Blanc has opened Family Mediation Services providing alternative solutions for separating couples. Another business that has relocated is the Super Video Store which has moved from it’s long time corner stand at 1874 Scugog St., around the corner to new space about three doors away, one unit of the former Quickert’s Frozen Food store. Opening a couple of weeks ago in the unit beside the Super Video Store is a new country decor store called “You’re So Country.” Owners Pauline and Bill Sterling
closed their Oshawa location, of the same name, to move to Port Perry. The Port Perry Pharmacy sign and awning which had been a mainstay at 209 Queen St. for so long has been removed and replaced with a temporary sign. The popular downtown drug store has taken on the new name Remedy’s RX. If you’re an ice cream lover, you’ll have another choice of places to get your favourite flavour of cone this summer. The “Super Scooper” has opened its doors, at 158 Water St. for the season. It was unfortunate to learn that the freezers were unplugged and the door locked up last month at Meats, Meals ‘n More, 54 Water St. This frozen food business had only been in town for a couple of years before its closure. And although we’re a little late with this one, we’ve been informed that Ryan Haslam regretfully closed the Seagrave General Store the end of January this year. East of Port Perry, in Scugog’s industrial lands, we see that has moved from its for-mer location at 14100 Hwy. 12 & 7A to new improved facilities at 27 Easy St., Port Perry. After more than a year under construction and renovations, the attractive Low & Low Funeral Home at 1763 Reach St. has been completed. The owners held an official open house on March 21.
NORTHWOOD ZOO2192 Cookson Lane, Seagrave905-985-2738 • www.northwoodzoo.com
Awwww! Meet the newest members of our zoo family –adorable, fl uffy, little baby animals.
OPENING SATURDAY MAY 15 10am - 6pm
er brightly painted walls pale in com-parison to the gorgeous hues that enve-
lope the canvas works of art adorning each surface. Many forms take shape...
oils... watercolour... clay... a vintage cartoon. Her darling pup, Boscoe, barks cheerfully as I ap-proach, and the artist smiles warmly at my arrival. Meet Kim Fernandes, Port Perry’s award-winning children’s author and illustrator. Perhaps it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but I am utterly astounded by the long and impressive line of artists that came before her! Her grandfather was a gifted cartoonist from New York, working for the illustrious DC Comic Company. Both her mother, Eugenie, and father, Henry, also em-braced the arts, exploring their creative natures in various forms... paint, clay and written word. Her mother has been especially successful as a gifted illustrator for numerous children’s books. Her brother,
with a similar ‘cartoon-like’ style of their father’s work, has just created a Saturday morning cartoon for the CBC, amongst his other works. Kim recalls many early memories that fostered a de-sire for creativity. “My earliest memories are of decorating sandcastles with pebbles and shells,” she stated gleefully. “When I was five, I remember sitting next to my mother in her studio and designing my first picture book”. Crafts and all the glitter and glue that accompany it, were always readily available and a common thread in her home that drew her family together. “I recall making purses out of old jeans; always creating, always playing”. Born in New York, her family moved to Toronto when Kim was just four. Her parents worked as freelance artists and while Kim perhaps didn’t make a conscious choice to become an artist herself, it is a part of her, who she is and it was a natural move to undertake her family’s trade.
Local author and illustrator comes from a long line of creative relatives!
KIM FERNANDES
H
Please turn to page 6
FOCUS - MAY 2010 �
� FOCUS - MAY 2010
“It actually all started as a grade 13 art project; my mother encouraged me to develop the clay models into a story”. Over that summer, she wrote her first children’s book, ‘Visiting Granny’, which was published by Annick Press and released in 1990. “I attended the Ontario College of Art from 1989 to 1992. My speciality is creating three-dimensional il-lustrations using an oven hardening polymer clay”. This amazing art form can be seen in many of the books she has illustrated, in particular the “Little Mouse” series. Kim has written two books and illustrated countless more; including a number of the children’s books her mother has written. Family is extremely important to Kim, especially her two most valuable treasures - her children, Owen and Robyn. Although divorced, she is now happily coupled with her partner Bill whom she has supported and encour-aged to pursue his artistic side. Together they have unearthed his unique talents. Kim kindly gave me a tour of her home, allowing me to explore the heavy influence of the arts throughout. A long narrow staircase leads to her basement studio where gorgeous illustrations, colours and clay adorn the walls. They are almost alive and calling to their new visitors. I tell Kim how drawn I am to the colourful flowers; she loves them too. “I guess I forget sometimes what is on the walls” she states mindfully. It takes fresh eyes to remind her of their beauty and their impact on a stranger. Kim has received numerous awards and accolades for her work and enjoys giving presentations to school-aged children. “I love storytelling and providing kids a plasticine workshop opportunity.” Her warmth and natural enthusiasm provide an enriching learning expe-rience for children. She has lived in Scugog for 14 years and loves it here although she recently listed her home for sale with plans to move closer to her parents. “There is an artful influence here - an appreciation for creativity”. Her work can be seen on display at The Framer’s Gallery and at the local birdhouse competition in May. In addition to her busy art schedule, Kim has other interests. “I like crosswords, reading and metal detect-ing” she shares readily. “I like fishing and sailing too... and sushi”! She proudly shows me their new baby... a white sailboat sitting stoically in the driveway. What’s next for this crafty lady? “I’m cooking up a few things” she states mischie-vously. Kim holds her future plans close. She has a few book ideas brewing and is currently working on a gor-geous contemporary oil painting of fuchsia daisies. With a plan to meet again and a quick tickle on Boscoe’s head the interview ends and she’s back to the drawing board!
By Tammy HorvathFocus on Scugog
Continued from page 5
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Stop in today and pick up a Mother’s Day Gift Certificate for a gift she’ll really love.
� e Piano Inn and Café
featuring
Jillian’s At Homewith special guest
Ayala Bar Jewellery
� e Piano Café217 Queen Street
Port Perry905-982-0707
Tickets 20.00
� e Café will be open for dinner prior to show.
Reservations recommended.
Wed., May 19, 7pm
FOCUS - MAY 2010 �
10 FOCUS - MAY 2010
Dear Sir, Just a quick note to thank MaryAnn, Tracy and Peter for helping us promote the Heart & Stroke’s recent cam-paign in Scugog Township, and specifically within the business community. Also a special thanks to your graphic artist, Arlene, who created a great page of information and sponsors. We have recently learned that our fundraising total this year was almost $29,000. We didn’t think we would get this close to our 2010 goal of $30,000, especially in this current economic climate. Thanks again for your support of Heart and Stroke and other communuity projects.
Judy Anderson, Zone LeaderHeart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario
H&S almost reaches $30,000 goal
Dear Focus...Mailbox
In the spring of 2006, our 7 year old son David passed away after a three year battle with cancer, Rhabdomyo-sarcoma. In the subsequent four years we have held a yard sale at our home in support of cancer research at Sick Kids. All proceeds from these yard sales go directly to sup-port Rhabdomyosarcoma research at Sick Kids and over the past four years more than $14,000 has been sent. These donations are making a difference. Because Rhabdo is one of the less common cancers, there is limited research grant monies so the money raised at the yard sale increases research funding by more than 10%. This is hugely significant as it allows for the chemotherapy to be better targeted and improves the chances of finding a cure for this childhood cancer. This year we are, again, having a ‘Free’ yard sale and all proceeds from this day will be sent to The David Wiel-inga Memorial Fund at Sick Kids. For the past four years we have seen the tremendous response and support of the community and we look forward to the same again this year. We are looking for the following items; kids bicycles, kids books, good quality furniture (no couches please), tools and toys. If you have any items you are able to do-nate to this year’s yard sale please contact Henry or Linda Wielinga (905-985-6715) to make arrangements. The yard sale will be Saturday, May 15 from 8 a.m. -1 p.m. at 2903 Pine Point Rd (3rd road going east off Island Road) and we look forward to meeting you all again this year.
Henry, Linda & William WielingaScugog Island
Yard sale for David’s memorial fund
Thank you Scugog!
We wish to express our sincerest appreciation for your patronage and support
over the past 80 years.
We will continue to serve our customers
with integrity.
Lake Scugog Lumber 11 Vanedward Drive
Port Perrywww.lakescugoglumber.com
The Griffen Family
MORE MAILBOX ON PAGE 12
Ted Griffen knew from a young age that he would one day run the family lumber business Ted Griffen may not have the chisled look of a runway model, but he’s striking in a way few can match. The moment he walks into a room you become captivated by his wide, toothy smile, sparkling blue eyes and his warm infectious laugh. This is a man who loves life and you immediately want to get to know him. So it was, Focus on Scugog sat down with him on the eve of the 80th anniversary of Lake Scugog Lumber Co. Ltd., to talk about the family enterprise he’s worked at since he was a very young man. Energetic and full of life at 81 years of age, Ted is just thankful for all that life has provided him - in particular his wife Jean and family, and is not too proud to say it. “Every night I say thanks for my life. I’ve been blessed and have so much to be thankful for,” he says. Ted recently sold his shares and transferred own-ership of the business to his children. While reminisc-ing about his life and career, surprisingly we found that his story doesn’t being here in Port Perry, in fact
Please turn to page 10
Lake Scugog Lumber marks 80 year milestone
FOCUS - MAY 2010 11
12 FOCUS - MAY 2010
Ted’s collection of memorabilia and hammers owned by, from left, his grand-father Edward J. Griffen, his father Samuel N. Griffen, his great grandfather Samuel Griffen (mallet and watch), Cecil King (50 year employee) and his own at
it doesn’t begin in Canada. Ted was born in
the United States - Detroit, Michigan to be exact. Ted explains that when his father, Sam Griffen, was a young man he was
faced with having no work around Port Perry so he
headed off to Detroit where there were still plenty of jobs. After about four years in the USA, Sam decided to return to Port Perry, where he mar-ried his childhood sweetheart Verna Mackey.
Following their marriage, with Verna in tow, Sam re-
turned to his job in Detroit. Not long after, in November 1928, Verna gave birth to their first son, Charles Edward Griffen. Not by coincidence, Edward was also the name of his grandfather, who lived near Honey’s Corner north of town. With encouragement from his father, Sam returned to Port Perry and purchased the Farmer’s Union Milling Company, on May 25, 1930. Ted was only two and a half years old when they ar-rived in town and one of his most vivid recollections was playing in the old Cora steamboat, which was dry docked on the property his father had purchased. “I lived in the mill from the time I was four years old,” he recalls. By the time he was seven he was working cutting scraps of wood on an old bandsaw, standing on a wooden platform built by his father so the youngster could reach the machine. “I always knew I’d be in the lumber business,” he says, but admits at one point in his life he had dreams of becoming a bush pilot. “I thought that would be a real thrill,” he beams. His dream of becoming a bush pilot faded, but he did get his flying license years later and he has now been flying for more than 50 years. Like many young boys, Ted stumbled through his school years, admittedly not a good student. But he thrived when school was dismissed at the end of the day, wormed his way along Queen St. on his trek home, dropping into shop after shop along the way to feed his curiosity.
“I’d stop at Mr. Stevenson’s and watch him repair shoes for awhile, then make my way to Jeffrey and Taylor and watch them make harness. Then it was off down the street to Ben Smallman’s blacksmith shop and I usually ended with a visit into Carnegie’s Hardware store.” After his brief adventure, he headed back home where he changed into his work clothes and headed down to the mill. Here he would fill his wagon with scraps of wood and haul them home, where they were used to heat the house. All this for an allowance of 25 cents a week. To earn extra money he collected dew worms by night, sometimes with his mom. They would be packaged and sold at the lakefront for one cent each. When he turned 14 years old he recalls getting his driver’s license so he could help his dad at the mill. Due to the war, the government allowed young men to get their license early, so at 14 years of age, Ted would drive his father’s 1930 GMC truck around town delivering ice blocks to his customers. These were the same blocks they had harvested from Lake Scugog over the winter. “My dad hated cutting ice in the winter and he was
always ugly at that time of the year,” he recalls. It was during his school years that Ted got a taste for music, a love of his to this day. “I got a taste of the joy of music from a music teacher when I was in Grade 2 and I’ve never lost it,” he says. While attending high
school, he started playing the trumpet in the school orchestra and that lead to his becoming a member of an 11-piece dance band called the Vandywalker Orchestra. “We played at the Jubi-lee Pavilion in Oshawa during the winter and at Musselman’s Lake in the summer,” he said. It was also while attending high school he met the girl who would become his wife. He explained that the senior boys would always look over the new crop of girls coming
“I lived in the mill from the time I was four years old...”
... Ted Griffen
Continued from page 9
Sam Griffen
FOCUS - MAY 2010 1�
into Grade 9 and he picked her (Jean) out of the crowd. Not long after meeting her, she agreed to go out with him. “She was the only girlfriend I ever had,” he said, ex-plaining he never had any time for girls because of his work at the mill and weekends playing in the orchestra. Jean and Ted dated for about six years before he popped the question at her parents home one night. “It was noth-ing special, no getting on my knee,” he laughed. “We were sitting at the table and I pulled a ring out of my pocket and asked her to marry me.” Wedding bells rang in September 1951 and the young couple were married in the Seagrave United Church. Since then they’ve raised three children, Debra, Paul and Ian, who all work in the family business. After finishing high school, Ted headed off to Toronto where he attended Ryerson Institute, graduating as an architect. He returned home to the family business and worked along side his father until he retired and turned the com-pany over to his son in 1970. During Ted’s tenure as owner, the business continued to expand and flourish, particularly the truss plant. Looking to the future the company invested more than $300,000 on an expansion and upgrading of the plant. This took place during the early 1990s, but no sooner had they expanded, than they were hit by one of the worst recessions in memory. “The banks were brutal with us. It seemed they just wanted us to close down,” Ted recalls. But the family refused to go down without a fight, scraping all the cash they could together. Ted and Jean used up their entire life savings and his sons mortgaged their homes to keep the company afloat. “It was the toughest time of my career. I never felt lower in my life,” he said, remembering the terrible feeling he endured when he had to lay off about 30 people, more than half of the company’s staff. But aside from that ‘bump’ in his career, Ted is extreme-
ly pleased and balances the ‘downs’ with his love for the business and the community. He says he has always felt his best when he was build-ing something. “It seems to be in the Griffen’s genes - building and putting things together,” he smiles. And as for Port Perry,
he can’t say enough. “For me it’s the perfect place to live. I love the town and the people.” Then he smiles, admitting he’s never really lived anywhere else in his life. As would be expected, a man who loves his community this deeply is also a man who would try to ‘give back’ for the lifestyle it has provided him and his family. Modestly and reluctantly he described some of the or-ganizations and projects he’s worked diligently for over the past 60 years. In fact it’s hard to know where to start there are so many, but some of the groups who have enjoyed his energy include Community Memorial Hospital, the United Church, Masonic Lodge, Port Perry Businessmen’s Asso-ciation and Chamber of Commerce, curling club, scouting
organization and the Lions Club. And even now, at 80 plus years, Ted is still actively involved in the fight for the re-tention of all services at the local hospital and the recruitment of doctors to the commu-nity. To that end it ap-pears as if his efforts have come full circle. Ted was on a similar committee back in the mid-1960s which was responsible for attract-ing and encouraging Dr. Bill Cohoon and other doctors to set up practice in Port Perry. Today, Ted’s life is a little less hectic, but just as mean-ingful as ever. He is proud his children have taken over the family business. And speaking of family, his sister, brother-in-law, nephews, cousins and grandchildren have all at one time worked at the company.
No longer does he have to jump out of bed and head to the office. Now he and Jean, his wife of almost 60 years, enjoy breakfast together, read the paper and look out over Lake Scugog from their fourth story con-dominium. Later in the morning he’ll drop by Lake Scugog
Lumber and work a few hours putting away stock, before ambling down to a ‘secret hideaway’ to practice his trum-pet or work on his model of a Beaver airplane. And if that isn’t enough, he plans to continue play-ing golf a couple of times a week during the summer and maybe even meet up with his good friend Don Patterson for an afternoon of sailing on Lake Scugog. When asked how he’d like to be remembered, he sat back in his chair and reflected for a few minutes before an-swering. He simply says he would like to be remembered for his honesty and integrity during his years in business. “I’ve never done anything great in my life, but I always tried to be honest and fair to everyone. I really think that is important,” he said. With such a simple philosophy, it’s no wonder Ted Griffen was able to earn the respect of his family, staff and community and successfully usher his company into the twenty-first century. We’re sure Ted’s name sake, grandfather Edward Griffen, is proudly looking down with that familiar big, wide smile that is a Griffen trademark.
By J. Peter HvidstenFocus on Scugog
“We used up our entire life savings to keep the company afloat...”
... Ted Griffen
“I’ve never done anything great, but I always tried to be honest and fair to everyone”
... Ted Griffen
Ted Griffen, right, with his father Sam at the new plant in 1980, during their
50th anniversary celebration.
1� FOCUS - MAY 2010
Dear Sirs, Re: The Docs. If these Doc articles are a PR exercise to promote con-tinued funding for the Port Perry Hospital, which would make profiling the current doctors in Port Perry relevant, then you should admit the fact. If it is a historic perspective, I do not know how you can write articles about Dr. Cohoon and Dr. Allin with-out an outline on the similar contribution made by Dr. Ralph Price. Dr. Price is right up there with them in the founding of the medical centre. He was the sophisticated one to the practicality and nonhomie of Dr. Cohoon and the geniality of Dr. Allin, and they all had a similar tremendous impact on Port Perry’s culture let alone their health. I hope you will correct this failing in one of our next issues. People do not forget very easily in smaller towns.
Yours trulyHilary Gibson, Port Perry
Editor’s Note: The Docs feature is simply an introduction of the ‘current’ crop of medical practioners. They are profiles of the men and women who serve the community today, not those from the past. The role Dr. Ralph Price played in establishing Medical Associates has been noted at least twice, starting with the first article (Feb. 2010) in which Dr. Price and Dr. Cohoon are pictured turning the sod for their new medical building. Sorry, but three is no hidden agenda in the articles!
Questions purpose of ‘Docs’ articles
Dear Focus: The Scugog Memorial Public Library Board would be pleased if you could help us inform the public of the launch of the “Growing Together” Fundraising Cam-paign. On average, 50 people visit the Scugog Memorial Public Library every hour and our busy little library is bursting at the seams! To meet the needs of our commu-nity we are expanding the library from 6,700 to 16,000 sq. ft. Funding from all three levels of government will cover the bulk of the project, but we also need the com-munity to show its support of the project through direct contributions. The Capital Fundraising Committee has been very active in conducting the early stages of the campaign and, thanks to their effort, we are well on our way to-ward our fundraising goal of $750,000. We feel like celebrating and we want everyone in the community to join us on Saturday June 12 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Palmer Park. We are partnering with Community Living Durham North, an agency assisting people who have intellectual disabilities to become ac-tive, contributing members of their community. The day promises to be an event that will be fun for the whole family! There will be food, story-telling, music, races, face painting, and many more fun activities for all ages! We will also have pictures of the new library on hand so that everyone can see and share in the excitement. We are appealing to everyone in our community to play a part in helping us put this campaign over the top. Bring the whole family out and help us celebrate. Your Library, Your Community Growing Together!
SincerelyAmy Caughlin,
Chief Executive OfficerScugog Memorial Library.
Join library in celebrating expansion
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