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16FOCUS-DECEMBER2014ChristmasisquicklyapproachingandeachyearaboutthistimecomesthecontentiousissueofwhatkindoftreetopurchaseforthecomingChristmasseason...freshorfakeThereareanumberofplacestopurchaseeithertypeinScugogTownshipbutifyourebuyingfreshconsidersupportingthe1stPortPerryScoutswhowillbesellingtreesatthelocalCanadianTirestoreonSimcoeSt.southoftownseestorynextpage.AslongasChristmastreeshavebeenapartoftheholidayseasontherehasbeenadebateoverfresh-cutormanu-facturedarticialtrees.Eachsidehasitssupportersanddetractorsandbothhavetheirprosandcons.Naturaltreesupportersfeelarealspruceorpinetreeismuchmoreaestheticallyappealing.Howeverthosebuyinglateintheseasonmightbestuckwithallthatsleftlongafterthemoredesirabletreeshavealreadybeensold.WhilesomelikethereallookofanaturaltreeothersliketheirChristmastreetobeperfectwithnoneoftheawscrookedtrunkopenspacesofanatu-raltree.Sowhendecidingonrealorfakeconsiderthefollowingfactors.CostOfATreeNaturaltreescanvaryinpricedepend-ingonwhereyougo.Pricescanrangefromlessthan20tomorethan50.Whenmakingthedecisionitsimportanttokeepinmindthatatreedoesnotlastverylongandthereforeinvestingtoomuchmoneymightnotbethebestwaytospendyourmoney.Articialtreeswillinitiallyhaveahigherpricetagrangingfromunder100to600ormoredependingonsizeandtheaccessories.How-evertheyarealsomorecost-effectivebecausetheycanbeusedforseveralyearsaftertheirinitialpurchases.Thereisalsononeedtopurchaseaccessoriessuchastreestandsandwateringdeviceswithanarti-cialtree.MovingAChristmasTreeNaturaltreesalwaysposethechallengeofgettingithomesafely.Whethertiedtotherooforinatrunkofacarthejobcanbequitemessy.Thereisalsotheissueofgettingthetreethroughthedoorwayandthetrailofpineorspruceneedlesfromthecartothehouseandnallygettingastandthatwillholdthetreestraightwithoutfearoffallingover.Clearlyarticialtreesaremoreadvantageouswhenitcomestomov-ingthem.Theyusuallycomeboxedandthereforeareeasytogetintothehouse.Articialtreesarealsoeasytosetupmostoftentodaywithstandsandlightsinstalled.BeforeYouBuyIfyouweretopurchaseonetreeayearfortenyearsasopposedtoonlyonearti-cialtreeinthesameperiodthecostforafreshtreeismostcertaintobemore.Butdothebenetsoftherealtreesstillout-weighthenegativesofthefakeonesClearlythereisasavingsbypurchas-inganarticialtreewhichwilllastforyearsbutitsimportanttolookattheenviron-mentaldiffer-encebetweenthetwooptionsandwhatisbestforyourlifestyle.IntheendthechoiceisyoursThePerfectTreeFreshorfake...itsapersonalchoice FOCUS-DECEMBER201419ThirtyyearsafterwatchingSantarideintotownatoptheSantaClausparadeoatandlessthanayearafterLarryMableyretiredasspecialassistanttoSantaClausTimGriffenisreadytopullonthemagicalblackbootsandbrightredsuitofthebigmanhim-selfthatjollyoldelfcalledSanta.Timknowshehasbigbootstoll.RalphWilburwhowasTimswifesCathyPavlik-GriffengrandfatherbymarriageenjoyedthreedecadesasSantasas-sistantbeforeretiringtoletayoungerLarryMableytakeoverthehugeresponsibilitybackinthelate1980s.LastspringLarryannouncedhewasreadytohanguphisSantasuitsayingAfter25yearsthetimescome.BesidesIm80yearsoldthisyearandImreadyformysecondretirement.BothmencherishedtheresponsibilityoftheirrollofSantasas-sistantandlovedbringingChristmascheertolocalchildrenandfamiliesforacombined55years.ScugogsnewestspecialassistanttoSantahasdreamedaboutthejobforyears.FromaveryyoungageIthoughtthatbeingSantashelperwouldbetheultimatejobhesaidwithawarmsmileandatwinkleinhiseyes.TomeSantawasalwaysmagic.HewasmysuperherowhenIwasgrowingup.TimsrstventureintohisdreamrolecameaboutfouryearsagowhenhewasaskedbyMr.Mableytollinforhimforaday.HecontactedHillisWilburRalphssonwhohadsafeguardedMr.WilbursSantasuit.Timborrowedthesuitforhisrstassignment.Ralphwasashortmansothesleevescametoaboutherehesaidmotioningtoaspotmid-wayuphisarm.ButhemanagedandwentontohelpllinonanumberofChristmaseventsoverthenextfewyears.WhentheopportunitycameearlierthisyearasLarryan-nouncedhisretirementheliterallyjumpedatthechance.Makingeveryefforttohonourthehighstandardsandtradi-tionsofthemenbeforehimTimbeganhistransitionfrommortalmantothecelebrityofSpecialSantaAssistant.Lookingforafreshstarthesearchedtheinternetforanewredsuitandbootsandtoppedthatoffwithacustom-madehairwigandbeardallthewayinLouisvilleKentucky.HeandhiswifeCathytravelledtoKentuckythispastsummerforanaltting.Theresultsareremarkableasseenonthecoverofthisissue.TimtakeshisnewresponsibilityveryseriouslyrealizingeverychildmustbelievetheyaretalkingtoSanta.Andofcoursechil-drenyoungandoldwillbelievebecauseheisSanta.Markyourcalendarsnow.SantawillmakehisannualvisittotheresidentsofScugogonSaturdayDecember6intheannualPortPerrySantaClausParadebeginningat5p.m.GivehimawarmPortPerrywelcome.ByJ.PeterHvidstenFocusonScugogSantasspecialhelperRalphWilburispicturedhereinDecember1985.Ralphisthefather-in-lawofTimGriffenwhoassumestherolethisyearforScugog.TimGriffenspecialassistanttoSantabeginshistermgreetingtheresidentsofScugogthisChristmasseasonindowntownPortPerry.Santasonhiswaytotown FOCUS-DECEMBER201427DAPPLEDALEFARMFarmingisanoblethoughoftenunderappreciatedprofes-sion.FarmersFeedCitiesthepostersremindussothatwewonttaketheircontributionstosocietyforgranted.ThePhoenixfamilyhasunderstoodthatadageliterallyforgenerations.OurancestorEleanorPhoenixgota180-acrelandgrantfromtheBritishgovernmentintheearly1800sexplainsthefamilyscurrentpatriarchKeith.ShewasaUnitedEmpireLoyalist.ThisgroupremainedloyaltoTheCrowninthefaceoftheAmericanRevolution.MostresettledtoBritishNorthAmericanowCanadaandreceivedlandfromtheBritishgovernmenttobegintheirnewlives.ThePhoenixfamilyhasprosperedatDappledaleFarmjustnorthofthecurrentGreenbankvillage.TheoriginalhousesatonthehighgroundatthefrontofthepropertyKeithexplains.Youcanstillndthefoundation.Bythelate1800stheyweredoingwellenoughtobuildanewhouseandmovethebarn.DappledaleFarmhashadmixedusesthroughoutitsrichhistory.Likemostfarmsforalongtimeitsaimwasself-sufciency.WhenIwasakidwesoldverylittleofwhatweraisedbutwealsoonlypurchasedafewgoodsthingslikeourandsugarwhichwecouldntgetfromthecropsandanimals.Wehadmilkandbeefcowssheeppigschickensandrentedoutsomeacreageforcrops.WhileyoumightassumehewasbornintofarmingKeithadmitsheentertainedatleastoneoffshootaswell.Ihatedschoolhesayscandidly.Andcon-sideredbecomingabutcher.Icouldvedonethatfromhereonsiteinthosedays.Helearnedhisskillsthroughold-fashionedhardworkandpracticeandremembersanatti-tudeofmutualcooperationamonglocalfarmers.Thatcooperationwasnecessaryforeveryonetosurvive.Giveyouanexampleveorsixfarmsaroundherehadabeefring.Whenacowfromoneofthefarmswasreadytobeslaughteredthemeatwouldbedividedevenlyamongthem.Remembertherewerentanyfreezersinthosedays.Youdontneedrst-handknowledgeoffarm-ingtoagreethatthemodernversionbearslittleresemblancetothemethodsofevenagenerationago.Farmingsstillhardworkanditcertainlyre-quiresyoutoputinlonghourssays36-year-oldMattPhoenix.ButtechnologyhasmadeitlessKeithandMattPhoenixarestillfarmingthelandtheirancestorscarvedoutofthebushover200yearsagoKeithPhoenixleftandhissonMattareseenhereintheturkeybarnattheirtwocentury-oldDappledaleFarminScugogTownship.Pleaseturntopage28 28FOCUS-DECEMBER2014labourintensive.Nowadaysfarmersandthatlifestyleareadyingbreed.HisfathersmilesknowinglyasMattdescribessomeofthosetechnologicaladvances.Icanrememberworkingtheseeldswithhorseshesays.Mydadsrsttractorithadsteelwheelscameabout1950.Todaywehavemedicatedfeedtopreventdiseasesamongtheani-malswhichwewouldvetreatedwithpenicillinyearsago.Andwherewehadalmostnogovernmentregulationsyearsagotherearealotoftheminplacenow.OneoftheseisplainlyevidentaswepreparetoenterthebarnwherethefamilynowraisesturkeysforMapleLeaf.Acentralentranceofferstwowingsnopunintendedpromiseaccessedthroughseparateman-doors.Colouredtapedenesasizableareaaroundbothentrancestheeffectmuchlikeagoaliescreaseinahockeygame.Apairofshoeswaitsinsideeachrectangle.BiosecurityiscriticaltothehealthofthebirdsMatttellsme.BeforeIgotoeitherpartofthebarnItakeoffwhatevershoesIvewornoutsideandputontheonesdedicatedtothatside.AndifIgofromonesidetotheotherIchangeshoes.Thisminimizestheriskofcontaminationfromtheoutsideinandfromoneparttotheother.Thatsakeypointthegov-ernmentinspectorwillcheckwhenhevisits.Overshoessatisfytheinitialrequire-mentforavisitorbutthebiosecuritypreparationdoesntendwiththatsingleaddition.Coverallsglovesahairnetandmaskaltermylookfromordinarytothatofasci-movieextra.ThisisthebrooderbarnMattexplainsasweenteralongrectangularspacecoveredinthickshavings.Rightnowwerewaitingonnewstock.Whentheydocomethehatchlingswillspendtheirrstmonthherethenmovetotheothersideofthebarn.Itllbe95degreestokeepthemwarm.WhileMattmonitorstheyoungbirdsmultipletimesinadaythroughthiscriticalstageoftheirdevelopmentsomeofthetechnologywhichhassimpliedhisworkinglifeisapparent.Longrowsofautomaticfeedersforwaterandfoodhangjustabovetheoorofthe88-footlongfacility.Ikeepthehopperfullandthema-chinedoestherest.Thebarnssecondsectionislledwithgrownturkeys.Thebirdskeeptheirdistancebutforatleasttherstwhilewatchmyunfamiliarformcuri-ously.ThesebirdsareastallastheyregoingtobeMattexplains.Theirskel-etondevelopsrstthentheystarttobulkup.Theseareabout11kilosnowandtheyllbeabout16whentheyleaveafterthreemonths.Andeventuallytheyllgetboredoflookingatyouandeithersitdownormigratetothefarendofthebarn.TurkeyfarmingisarelativelynewenterpriseforDappledale.Weboughtanotherfarmsquotaacoupleyearsagohesays.Sup-plymanagementthegovernmentsMilkcowsmakeupasubstantialpartofthefarmbutrecentlytheypurchasedanotherfarmsquotaofturkeys.Icanrememberworkingtheseeldswithhorses.Mydadsrsttractorithadsteelwheels....MattPhoenixPleaseturntopage30KeithPhoenixhasbeenmilkingcowshisentirelifeandstillenjoysgoingouttotheDappledalebarntotendtohisherdofdairycattle.PhotosbyJ.PeterHvidstenContinuedfrompage27 44FOCUS-DECEMBER2014kneweverythingtherewastoknow.InsteadhesaidTheresanopeningforaprinterinVancouverwedlikeyoutotakeit.VancouverIsaid.Idontwanttogothere.MyfamilyshereThenyourered.Andthatwastheendofmyprintingcareer.IronicallytheclassiedsectionofanotherlocalnewspaperwouldguideDonspathtothefuture.IsawanadintheOshawaTimeslookingforlettercarriers.ApparentlyGMhadhiredabunchofthemawayandnowtheywereshort.IddonesomereliefworkatthelocalPostOfceasateenagersotheyhiredmerightonthespot.Thatwas1965.Itwasamatchmadeinheaven.EversinceIwasakidIhadalwayslovedtheout-doorsplayinginthewoodsswimmingintheTrentRiverhockeyshinghunting.Sotheoutsidepartofthejobappealedtome.Iwasyoungandhealthy.PlusthehoursweregooditmeantthatIworkedsteadydaysIgottomeetpeopleanditpaidmorethanwhatIdbeenmakingintheprintingbusiness.ItwastheperfectjobformeormaybeIwastheperfectguyforthejobDonsdaysstartedearly.By630a.m.hedbeinthepostofcepre-sortingthedaysdeliveries.Theinitialpartofhisroutewouldgointohisbag65-70poundsofitwhiletheoutlyingareaswouldbemovedtothegreenrelayboxespositionedatstrategicpointsoncitystreets.Thenitwasoutintheelements.BadweatherdidntbothermebutIremembersomeoftheolderguysmanyofthemwarveteransinmyearlytimeonthejobreallylabouredonfouldays.Ididhavecoldearsoncolderdaysbecauseweworepeakedcapslikepolicemen.Buteventuallytheygaveusbeaverhatsandthatwasbetterfortheroughweather.Traditionallyterritorialdogsrepresentagreaternemesistolettercarriersthanrainandsnow.Alongafour-mileroutetherewasboundtobeacrabbycanineortwo.Dontgetmewrongthree-quartersofthedogsyoudencounterweregreat.ButIcanttellyouhowmanytimesIgotopenedupbyonewhowasnt.Thesmalldogswereworsethanthebigonestheywerebraveanderceandwentforyourankles.Yougottoknowwheretolookandweweretoldnevertotakeachanceandgointoayardwhereyoufeltthreatened.Somepeopleherelateshalf-jokinglywerealargerPostaldeliverymanDonOrrpicturedwithadoginhisarmsalongoneofhisroutesinTorontointhe1960s.Continuedfrompage43IsawanadintheOshawaTimeslookingforlettercarriers.Sotheyhiredmeonthespot...DonOrrPleaseturntopage47 FOCUS-DECEMBER201447annoyancethananymutthemightmeet.IneedmywelfarechequeWhereisitIdjusttellthemIdidnthaveitbutsomeguredIcouldmakeitappear.Nodoubtthereweresomeinterestingwarstoriesex-changedamongcarriersAndinDonsexperiencetherewassurprisinglyforajobdonealoneastrongcamara-derie.Therewasastrongsocialbondinspiteofthefactthatwewereseparatedformostofourworkinghours.Alotofpracticaljokesamongthelocalsevenanationalhockeytournament.WhiledeliveringmailinOshawaDonreportedseeingveryfewoddorinterestingthingsbutwhenhemovedtoTorontotodeliveronadowntowncityrouteeventsbecamemorefascinating.IusedtodelivertotheFederalTrustTowersonYongeStreetwheretherewasabankonthegroundoor.Somebodydaccidentallytrippeditssilentalarmbutwasntawareithadgoneoff.WhenIgottheretheremustvebeen30copspoundingonthedoorguringitwasarobbery.Irangthebuzzerontheentrydoorandsomeonecamestraightaway.Thepolicemaninchargewasprettyannoyedthathismenhadbeenbangingawayontheglassandapostmangotsomeonesattentionjustbyring-ingthefrontbuzzerBrusheswithcelebritieswerealsoamongtheperks.IranintoLeeMarvinatoneaddress.Didntrec-ognizehisfaceatrstbutassoonashespokeIknewwhohewas.RedSkeltonhehadbadasthma.CherylLaddshewasmarriedtoaguyattheCBCmusicproducerBrianRussellandwerodeupitselevatortogether.FosterandBillHewitthadanofceinonebuildingandwereverypersonableFrankSelkeJrCardinalCarter.Ordinarypeoplemostofthem.MapleLeafGardenswasalsopartofhisrouteandasalifelonghockeyfanDonfounditsworkingsandchar-actersfascinating.MyroutewasshorterbythenandIwenttherepartlytokilltime.Remembertherewasntacoffeeshoponeveryblockthenwhereyoucouldjusthangout.OneoftheGardensmorememorableandcolourfulcharactersshowedhissoftersidetoDon.ItwasnthispublicreputationbutMr.HaroldBal-lardhadaheartasbigasamountainespeciallyforkidsandcharities.GavemestuffforthePortPerryMinorHockeybanquetssolongasIdidntrevealmysource.Therewereamusingmomentsaswell.DoncherishesthispictureofTorontoMapleLeafsownerHaroldBallardwithhissonChris.ItookmyfriendDonHurstwithmeonce.Hedplayedgoalyearsbeforeattheamateurlevel.WeranintoAlanBestergoaliefortheLeafsatthetime.MybuddyDonhewasntshy.HesaystoBesterImgoingtotellyouwhatyouredoingwrongandproceedstodemonstrate.CredittoBesterhelistenedintently.ButIthoughtthatwashilariousthisguybasicallyoffthestreetgiv-ingadvicetoanNHLgoalie.Theve-daygrindandthecommutetoTorontowouldultimatelybegintoovertakeDon.WhenhewasbumpedbyanothermoresenioremployeethechangebroughthimbacktoPortPerryandyetan-otherchapter.Isemi-retired.Ibidasaprivatecontractoronmailroutesontheislandanddidsomeon-callreliefforthepostofce.Buttheenjoymentneverwanedandheremem-bershisjobcolleaguesandsupervisorswithgenuinewarmth.IhadacoupleofbossesIdbegladtomentionbynameWayneBurrellatStationAinTorontoandPatBlaneyinMarkhamtheymadeitadreamtogotoworkeveryday.ItsbeenaworkinglifewelllivedforDonOrr.Thejobtheinstitutionthecustomersthebossallofthemyoucouldsayearnedhisstampofapproval.ByScottMercerFocusonScugogMr.HaroldBallardhadaheartasbigasamountainespeciallyforkidsandcharities...DonOrrContinuedfrompage44