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THE GOLDEN AGE COMMUNICATOR
Published by:
The North York Retired
Fire Fighters Association
C. Jennings, Editor
Publication available online at: WWW.CITYSAVINGSCU.COM
GENERAL MEETING
Apr. & May 2015
Retnew 138
Edition 24
Volume 2
you in the amount of Twenty Five Dollars,
made out to the “NYRFFA. Send to Ernie
Thorn, 234 Newton Drive, North York,
Ontario, M2M 2P3. Persons in arrears as of
August 31st 2015 will be removed from the
Association mailing list.
***
Members are reminded to mark Tuesday May
12th 2015 on their calendars, which is the
date of our 51st General Meeting.
The
meeting will be held at The Royal Canadian
Legion, Branch 527, at 948 Sheppard Avenue
West. Meeting starts at 1.30 P.M. and a light
lunch will be served at 12.30 P.M. Come any
time after 12 Noon and enjoy some time with
your former workmates.
***
MEMBERSHIP
COLORADO SPRINGS MONUMENT
The Chairman of the
Ceremonial
and
Bereavement
Committee for Local
3888 has advised
our Association that
the following list of
former North York
Fire Fighters, whose
deaths are recorded
as ‘line of duty” will
be put on the
International
Association of Fire
Fighters Memorial Wall in Colorado Springs
this September 2015.
Thomas F. Kelly, September 28th 1973
Francis B. McGovern, November 8th 1984
Robert Ellis, October 6th 1993
Terry Haworth, June 20th 2008
The names of the above are already listed on
the Toronto Fire Fighters Monument.
***
Please check your membership card and if
the date reads April 30, 2015, Ernie Thorn
would be pleased to receive a cheque from
An optimist thinks this is the best possible
world.
A pessimist fears this is true.
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION
The following nominations were received by
the Secretary; in accordance with the
constitution.
There
were
no
other
nominations, thus the persons below, will be
acclaimed and there will not be an election at
the May General Meeting.
President - Wes Rowe
Vice President - None
Secretary – Jim Parton
Treasurer – Jack Walford
Executive Members – Charles Jennings, John
Lemieux, Gary Nystrom, Ernie Thorn,
(Imm. Past President – John Campbell)
Auditor(s) – Frank Lamie
***
1
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
04
Ross Adams
04
Ross Drane
04
Ron Gilligan
04
Ron O’Brien
04
Tom Davies
04
Frank Gay
04
Peter Chitty
04
Peter Sisson
04
Bernard Gervais
04
Wayne Jones
04
Rick Deslauriers
04
Ted Bellmore
04
Bill Sullivan
04
Ed Adamec
04
John Gaffey
04
Lorne Berenz
04
Jim Vickers
04
Bill Stewart
04
Earl Brockerville
04
Tom Carlos
04
Doug R. Smith
04
Rick Caruso
04
Charlie Clark
04
Bruce Gallinger
04
Terry Burt
04
Ross Bushert
Mon Day
05
Kenneth Adams
05
Glenn Raymer
05
Gordon Sweezey
05
Bill Thomas
05
Bill Stanfield
05
Stan Boyd
05
Gary Lee
05
Jim Parton
05
John Dove
05
Tony Saunders
05
Russ Barnett
05
Don Passmore
05
Grant Krueger
05
Tim Barker
05
Michael Dickson
05
Jim Pearson
05
Tom Greer
05
05
05
05
05
05
05
05
05
05
05
05
05
05
05
Bob Blair
Dave Snowball
Kenneth Conley
John Lemieux
Jack Wallford
George Hache
Elwood Williams
Steven Croft
John Kearns
Ken Garnett
A. (Gus) Clarke
Mike Toneri
Kirk Bell
Doug Card
John Perry
***
ADDRESS UPDATES
***
FIRE CHIEF WELCOMES ARSHIP
HMCS. Toronto
returned from
six
months
service in the
Middle
East,
specifically the
Mediterranean
Ocean and Black Sea. Fire Chief Jim Sales
welcomed the Ship and Crew at the Toronrto
Fire and Marine Station (#334) on Friday
February 6th past.
During its recent deployment it was
buzzed by two Russian Fighter Jets in a
menacing manner off the coast of the
southern Ukraine, while patrolling the Black
Sea.
The HMCS. Toronto was built by Saint
John Ship Building Limited, Saint John, New
Brunswick. She was launched on December
8th 1990 and was commissioned on June 29th
1993.
***
2
MYRTLE (MICKEY) SCATTERGOOD
th
MARY LORENE HAMMELL
th
May 22nd 1929- February 06, 2015
March 4 1929 –January 27 2015
Myrtle (Mickey), wife of
the
late
Earl
Scattergood
passed
away on January 27th
in
Scarborough
General Hospital, due
to complications with
colon
cancer.
Cremation took place
after her passing. A
visitation was held for
her at the R.S. Kane Funeral Home
(Willowdale) on Thursday February 12th 2015,
from 10.00 A.M. to 11.00 A.M. followed by a
Memorial Servce.
***
Mary Hammell, Mother
to Sheila Mattison
(wife
of
Garth
Mattison) deceased on
February 6th 2015.
She rested briefly at
the
Ward
Funeral
Home
in
Weston
followed by a funeral
service in the Chapel on February 13th 2015.
***
CORRECTIONS
-James Vint deceased on December 27th
2014 and not on January 2nd 2015 as
previously reported.
*
-Douglas McLean deceased on December
12th 2014 not January 1st 2015 as reported.
***
RYAN WILLIAM MOONLIGHT
Ryan Moonlight passed
away at home, on January
23rd 2015, at age 37
years. His passing was
unexpected. Ryan leaves
behind, his wife Tiffany
and their two children Ella
and Landon. He rested
briefly at The Barnes
Memorial Funeral Home in
Whitby, followed by a
funeral service in the Chapel on Thursday
January 29th 2015. Ryan was a member of
the Toronto Fire Services for eleven years
and he received a Fire Department Funeral.
***
SICK LIST
By Gary Nystrom
Taff Evans is undergoing more rehab for neck
and face pain.
Joe Gibson is recovering at home after an
operation on his broken hip and some therapy
at St John’s Convalescent Home.
*
Gord Graham is under doctor’s care for lung
cancer.
*
Frank Hall is still under doctor’s care, after
suffering a severe stroke.
MARGARET O”DONNELL
Margaret O’Donnell, mother of Grant Bonner
passed away in the New Horizons Residence
(Dufferin and Bloor) of natural causes on
January 11th 2015, at age 105 years. She
rested briefly at the Turner & Porter Funeral
Home, York Chapel, Bloor Street West. At
one time, Margaret had been a Chieftain of
The Sons of Scotland.
Sick List continued next page
3
Dan McDougall is under doctor’s care for
ongoing foot infection problems and his wife
Donny is also under doctor’s care for several
health issues.
*
Ken Patterson is recovering from an infection
after knee surgery.
*
Les Pratt has recovered from pneumonia and
is now in a retirement home.
*
Bill
Stanfield
was
transferred
from
Scarborough General Hospital, to the
Providence Health Care Centre on January
23rd 2015, for some therapy. He went home
on Wednesday February 18th past.
***
pneumonia, where he spent approximately a
month and lost considerable weight in the
process. Les was moved to the Alexander
Muir Retirement Home, Room 208, 197
Prospect Street, Newmarket in the latter part
of January 2015. Les’s telephone number is
905-853-3133. Janice suggests that if you
wish to call Les that about 7.00 p.m. would be
a good time.
***
GARY WROTE
Dear Ernie Thorn; I am enclosing a cheque
for One Hundred Dollars. Hopefully this will
cover my NYRFFA dues for two years and
any left over funds can be used for NYRFFA
business.
My wife and I attended the
Christmas Brunch at the Mandarin and it was
great to see so many fire fighters that I had
worked with over the past thirty years.
Thanks for your efforts in keeping our North
York Fire Fighters together. Gary Frizzle
***
TO THE NORTH YORK RETIRED FIRE
FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION
Thanks to the many fire fighters who came to
Al Stephenson’s (HAS) visitation at the Ward
Funeral Home in Woodbridge and to Al’s
celebration at the Cornerstone Church in
Kleinberg.
The North York Retired Fire
Fighters performed the Bell Ceremony and
had an Honour Guard (January 5th & 6th). We
will miss Al, but remember him with love and
memories of times shared. Gail Stephenson
***
FROM ROSS
Dear Ernie; My membership for two years is
enclosed.
Our thanks to you, and to
everyone else on the Executive Committee,
for all of the hard work you do. We receive
the bulletin by email so do not need the
mailed copy. Please forward this to the party
involved. Many thanks. Sincerely,
Ross Adams
***
JOHN WROTE
After a horrendous year with chemotherapy,
radiation and 18 treatments with Herceptin
my wife Mary-Ann is finally finished with
breast cancer treatments, and finally feeling
fine. We would both like to thank everyone
for their prayers, etc. they were greatly
appreciated.
John Zikovitz
***
THE GOLDEN AGE
I felt like my body had gotten totally out of
shape, so I joined a fitness club and started
exercising. I decided to take an aerobics
class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated,
jumped up and down, and perspired for an
hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on,
the class was over. From Garth Mattison
***
WE HEARD FROM JANICE
Janice is the daughter of Les Pratt who
informed us that he was taken to the hospital
in Lindsay in the latter part of December with
4
guys do to look after us. Much appreciation.
All is well at our household and I hope the
same goes for yours.
Regards Gerry
***
CONGRATULATIONS BILL BROWN
Bill wrote: Charles, I
was given the honour
on January 22nd past,
of being named the
Fire Instructor of the
Year 2014, by the
Ontario Association of
Fire Training Officers.
There are so many
members of this organization that I have
learned from over the years and am grateful
to for all the help they have given me. Thank
you OAFTO for the honor. There are many
firefighters and officers of North York, City of
York and Toronto Fire who have shaped my
career and shared their wisdom with me.
I finally retire on January 30th for the second
time. My last day will be at Toronto Fire
Academy spending 3 hours with the new
recruits in the classroom. My favorite
assignment has always been recruit training.
Bill Brown
***
What did the fish say
when he hit a concrete wall?
DAM!
***
FROM DIANE PUK
Hi guys... Well....picnic was great....weather
was great and the company was awesome,
unfortunately there were a few regulars
that had other commitments or illness
and couldnt make it. I apologize if I missed
any names in the picture. The winners of the
bean bag toss were as follows....
Consolation Winners... Lynne Burgess
Lloyd Morrison
Champion Winners:. Heather Morrison,
Rick Lee
If you need any further info.. Let me
know...you guys have a lot of editing to do on
this one eh...thanks again for you input with
notices about the picnic.. It wouldn't be a
success without you.... Diane
9 VOLT BATTERIES
Nine volt batteries are the reported cause of
some serious structure fires. The design is
different than most other small batteries and
this is where the problem lies in the storage of
said batteries. Both terminals are on the one
end of the battery and if some metallic object
makes contact with both terminals there can
be heating sufficient to ignite other
combustible materials in contact.
The
solution to the problem would seem to be
relatively simple. 1. Keep new batteries in
their packaging 2. put a piece of electrical
tape over the terminals of old batteries that
are awaiting recycling. 3. Do not carry lose
batteries in your pocket. From Bill Sullivan
Persons in picture Diane & Bob Puuk, Dawn
& Dave Pulleyn, Pat & Norm Hosking, Loretta
& Bob Candy, Lloyd & Heather Morrison, Paul
& Sharon Barron, Rick & Tandy Lee, Darlene
& George Hache, Lynne & Bryan Burgess,
Sharynne Dave Wickstead, Hugh & Judy
Pearce, the Dempsters, Danny Weir
***
***
GERRY BRUNTON WROTE
Ernie; Dues for 2015 plus $10.00 for stamps
or whatever. Thanks for all the work you
5
ROM THE WILLIAMS
Charlie,
Just
wondering if we could
put our ad in the next
newsletter.
Crash
won't have a use for
them anymore, so we
might as well get rid of
them. Phil is coming
along well. Just have
to
see
the
Cardiovascular
Surgeon to examine
an occluded vertebral
artery on the right side of his neck.
Calloway Golf Set –
For Sale
1-3-5 Big Bertha; 3-45-6-7-8-9 Pitchwedge;
King
Cobra
II
Oversize Irons;
PGA Sand Wedge,
Cobra Smart Sol,
Bobby Grace Putter
(FAT LADY Swings),
Wilson Staff Bag.
Contact Beverley or
Phil
Williams
at
[email protected] or 905-3973192
***
HEART MONTH
In recognition of
Heart
Month,
Toronto
EMS
has
been
involved
with
sixty grade six
students from a
Toronto school.
Paramedics
demonstrated
how to tell if
someone
is
unresponsive
and
not
breathing. The students practiced CPR
(hands only) and saw how an automated
external defibrillator (AED) can be used to
help someone suffering from a cardiac arrest.
***
ERMA BOMBECK WAS QUOTED
If life is a bowl of cherries
What am I always doing in the pits?
***
FROM
THE
TAYLORS
Big Hello!
Robin and
I went to
the Royal
Hiacos
Varadero in
January
and ran into none other than Roger Martin
and his lovely wife Diane from White Rock
BC. Lots of fire fighting stories (some of them
true) and a good time was had by all.
Larry and Robin Taylor
***
CASUAL PART TIME EMPLOYMENT
Ward Funeral Home is currently looking for
Limousine/Funeral Coach Drivers to serve
their Weston, Woodbridge, Oakville and
Brampton Communities. Must be available
Days, Evenings and Weekends (not a
scheduled shift – phone request by chapel
manager as needed). All inquiries should be
made to 416-741-9610 Jim Parton for more
information. Thankyou
***
6
A hangover is the “wrath of grapes”.
***
INFORMATION FROM ERNIE
In the period
from
January
2014 through to
January 2015,
our association
suffered
the
passing of 14
Brother
Fire
Fighters
and
10 Ladies.
Five
of
our
members
and/or families
requested
the
“Bell Ceremony”
and this was
performed in all instances”, three times in the
GTA, once in Huntsville and again in
Kleinberg.
Following all services where the “Bell
Ceremony” was conducted; Executive
Committee Members who were present, were
the recipients of many kind and favourable
comments pertaining to the ceremony. Most
persons were not aware that the ceremony
existed.
I would like to thank Charles Jennings
and Jim Parton for performing the “Bell
Ceremony” on these occasions.
The “Bell Ceremony” is an option for
our members who wish to avail themselves of
it. We will do our best, dependent of course
on weather and other circumstances.
A LETTER FROM ELAINE
Hi Ernie;
I
hope this letter
finds you well.
Despite popular
belief
the
Maritimes is not
encased in an
icy shell. Ha. However this is the worst winter
that we have experienced, since moving here
fifteen years ago. Where has the time gone?
I have returned to Ontario six times
over the past year since it has been a very
difficult year for our parents healthwise.
I miss my former NYFD Family and
hope to reconnect sometime on one of my
trips back. Take good care. Stay warm!
Elaine deBoer
P.S. Enclosed is annual dues. Thank you
and the Executive for all that you do.
Elaine deBoer
***
THE PHILOSOPHY OF AMBIGUITY, AND
THE IDIOSYNCRASIES OF ENGLISH:
1. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
2. What if there were no hypothetical
questions?
3. Is there another word for synonym?
4. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they
garnish his wages?
5. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he
homeless or naked?
6. How do they get deer to cross the road
only at those yellow road signs?
From Brian Bertram
***
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
Ernest Thorn
***
7
SOME OF OUR MEMBERS
Some of our members have recently changed
their addresses and living styles, as follows -
SNOWBIRDS PICNIC
Hi Charlie; Just got home from the NYFD
picnic in Seminole and just wanted to let you
know what a great time my wife and I had. It’s
always good to see people that you worked
with and even though we are all a little older,
the tales keep getting taller. Our thanks go to
Diane and Bob Puk for all the work that they
do putting this together. It is greatly
appreciated.
Paul & Sharon Barron
***
Les Pratt, “Alexander Muir Retirement Home”,
197 Prospect St., Room 208, Newmarket,
Ont., L3Y 3T7 905-831-3133
*
Frank Hall, “Orchard Villa Nursing Home”,
1955 Valley Farm Rd., Pine # 3, Pickering,
Ont., L1V 3R6, Frank’s wife Rhona will take
calls for him 905-831-9343
*
Joe & Helen D’Onofrio, “ Robert Speck
Retirement Residence”, 100 Robert Speck
Parkway, Apt.101, Mississauga, Ont.,
L4Z 01A, phone # to follow later.
***
Betty Carson , Gibson House, 1925 Steeles
Avenue East, Room 116,, North York,M2H
2H7, 416,493,0415.
***
YOUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President –Wes Rowe - 905-477-6336
Secretary – James Parton – 416-741-9610
Treasurer – Jack Walford - 905-478-2994
Membership Chair – Ernie Thorn - 416-221-8696
Executive Board Members
Charles Jennings (Editor) - 416-221-4253
John Lemieux – 416-225-3323
Gary Nystrom – 905-640-9253
Imm. Past President
John Campbell– 905-804-8875
Honourary Member – Chaplain
The Reverend Dr. Ron Nickle
416-590-9390
ERNIE WROTE
I
am
constantly
reminded of what a
GREAT organization
we have and I am
quick to remember
that our Association
is great because of
the members that we
have. It is that time
of
year
when
members pay their
annual dues and once again we find
donations from some members, along with
their dues. Sometimes it is cash and other
times it is self addressed, postage paid
envelopes. We have also received another
donation, from a long time friend, Mrs. Gwen
Kane. The allegiance is very much
appreciated.
Ernie Thorn, Membership
***
***
EDITOR’S COMMENTS
Items for the next newsletter should be in the
hands of the editor prior to May 1st 2015.
Charles Jennings
15 Hounslow Avenue
North York, Ontario, M2N 2A9
Tel 416-221-4253 – Fax 416-221-7861
[email protected]
***
8