Jeff’s update: Some loose ends and some comings-up
Wallet returned, retirement earned, and fundraising yearned ...
In the interests of tidiness and completion, let me tie off some past business, and start by telling you Doug Sloane and wife Evelyn made the trek from Prince Edward County recently for the purpose of retrieving Doug’s wallet, the one he lost in 1953.
You might remember my column of May 5 in which we learned that Hamilton couple Laura and Logan Speziale had found an old, well-preserved wallet in the subfloor of their home on the east Mountain that they’re renovating.
We put out a call for its owner. It took almost no time to find him.
Doug was 13 when he lost the wallet. He’s 79 now. After a long and fruitful career at Stelco, he and Evelyn retired to the Picton area.
We did a followup column May 16. But it wasn’t until June 5 that they visited Laura and Logan — living with Laura’s parents, Denise and Jack Wilson, until the reno is done — and the almost-ceremonial transfer of said billfold was finally effected.
It was a wonderful occasion and I was present. Lots of stories of old Hamilton. Jack also worked at Stelco for a time.
“Hey,” said Doug, “I remember having $10 in there when I lost it.” Laughter abounded, then and through the evening.
Laura’s parents had some wine and refreshments out for the company. Of course, Doug and Evelyn brought their own — Doug is a prizewinning amateur winemaker in Prince Edward County, and they’re both active volunteers.
Doug and Evelyn were joined by friends Ken and Lynda Parson; Doug and Ken have known each other for almost 70 years and were part of the 26th Scout troop led by the late Harry Bryant.
“I really don’t remember the wallet,” said Doug, but naturally he remembered the priceless contents — not cash, but a picture of his dog George, his Scout card, an old baseball schedule, much else.
“What a lovely reunion,” Denise, Laura’s mother, emailed me. “I think we may have made some new friends.”
One of the funny-side notes: I actually knew Doug and Evelyn Sloane, mostly Evelyn, back in the ’90s when she worked at the Art Gallery of Burlington (then the Burlington Cultural Centre) and I was often there covering the arts. Small world. Big treasures.
In May of last year, we reported that the wonderful St. Mark’s Preschool in Dundas (full disclosure, my two daughters went through there what seems a lifetime ago — well, 15 years) was changing location.
It had been at St. Mark’s United Church, Creighton Drive and Governor’s Road, for 55 years, but the church had new plans. So Sue Andersen and the preschool packed up and moved to Yorkview Public School, as Dundas Valley Co-operative Preschool.
In case you’ve been wondering, it’s been a terrific success. Full enrolment, lots of new features, outdoor playground, gym.
But now there’s one more big change. Sue, truly the soul of the place for the last 37 years (she started at St. Mark’s in 1981), is taking a much-deserved retirement.
“It was a difficult decision,” Sue tells me. “It’s been my life.”
But she’s leaving things in good hands, with Brianne St. Louis, the preschool is thriving, and, well, “I’ve got six grandchildren,” Sue says, and she’d like to spend more time with them. And travel with her husband.
But we’re not letting go that easily. There’ll be an open-house for Sue on Saturday (June 16), 1 to 6 p.m. at Dundas Legion, 280 King St. W., Dundas.
Happy trails, Sue. You’ve touched so many lives.
Child Haven is a praiseworthy and vitally important organization, devoted to assisting children and women in developing countries, and it has a strong presence in Hamilton.
Child Haven is having a big fundraiser here Friday (June 15) at Narula’s Banquet Hall, 1162 Barton St. E., near Ottawa Street, from 6 to 10 p.m., featuring silent auction, Tamil dancing, delicious dinner and more.
The MC is some guy named Jeff Mahoney. Oops. There goes my Friday evening nap. Please join us. For tickets, call 905-465-1911 or visit childhaven.ca.