For those of you who are really serious and dedicated to serving your Town of Ponoka and Ponoka County as a member of council you must file your nomination papers in person on Monday, Sept. 23 between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. If you have already thrown your hat into the political ring, good for you, and good luck to all the candidates in your lively campaign leading up to election day on Monday, Oct. 21.
It is really exciting to see that many municipalities already have a large list of men and women vying for a spot on their councils or school boards, which makes for an exciting campaign, as well as offering great choices from which citizens can pick their leaders for the next four years into our vital future.
We wouldn’t be active members of our community if we didn’t discuss and complain a little about taxes, pot holes, roads and all the rest of the political propaganda and procedures that effect our everyday way of life. Coffee and tavern chatter is just fine but the real challenge is to be willing to take a crucial role in the vital affairs of our town and county, if not as a mayor, reeve, or councillor, as a committee member on the various boards that work side by side with council and community organizations.
Then again, if you don’t wish to take the big move into one of the plush seats around the council tables at this time, then please encourage others to, then take part in the always lively forums, read your candidates’ promises and mandates, and ask them lots of questions before you make your decision of choice and cast your important ballot on election day. The great thing about elections is the spirited campaigning, the signs and the hype, and then when all the ballots are counted the successful council members will hopefully come together as a team and represent those who supported and showed confidence in them.
The amazing changes of our generations
No matter how old we may be, we must always find a little time to sit back in our favourite chair and proudly share some of the overwhelming changes that have occurred in habits and lifestyles since we were kids. Sometimes our grandchildren and even our own kids can’t believe how we ever survived way back then, but we will always enjoy sharing the glorious days of our youth.
I was born in 1942, moved to Canada when I was only five, and was very lucky to have had the wonderful opportunity of trying to grow up amongst a whole bunch of great friends and neighbours (and later girls and cars) in my always favourite home town of Ponoka.
• Long before we got our first black and white television set we listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, soap operas, comedy, news, and political speeches on the big tube radio in the living room until 8 p.m. We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt or guys wearing earrings.
• Kids never had time to get depressed, bored or in trouble because we played outside from dawn until dusk, homework and chores came first, and we were taught to respect our adults, or suffer the consequences.
• The term “making out” referred to how we did on our school exam, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, and instant coffee were unheard of, and we had 5 and 10 cents stores were you could actually buy neat things for a nickel or a dime. Ice cream cones, phone calls, a bag of candy, rides on the bus, a comic book and bottle of pop were all just a nickel.
• It was in those days that: grass was mowed, coke was a cold drink, pot was something your mother cooked in, and rock music was your grandmother’s lullaby. As I sit here today gazing at my computer I fondly recall that way back then a “chip” was a piece of wood or a crunchy treat, “hardware” was found in a hardware store, and “software” was baggy pants and slippers.
• Even though the present generation sometimes refers to us as old and confused and say there is a generation gap, we have somehow learned to love and understand their new lifestyles, wardrobe, and overwhelming zest and enthusiasm, which now usually carries on long after we have gone to bed.
Above all, always believe in yourself, share your best with others, and have a great week, all of you!
— Hammertime