NEWLY SINGLE SOURCE SAYS PIPPA AND HARRY SPENDING TIME TOGETHER {page 16}
SHE’S HAD IT HOUSE ARREST IS GETTING TO LOHAN
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LONDON
Thursday, June 23, 2011 www.metronews.ca News worth sharing.
Kingsmills is down with Dolly going up
Jumping. Jay
Downtown furniture store celebrates after well-known and beloved employee hits a milestone: 25 years with Kingsmills KYLE REA/METRO
If you’ve been to Kingsmills in downtown London, chances are good you’ve run into Dolly Magee. After all, it’s hard to forget taking a ride inside an elevator with an actual lift operator — only a handful remain in the entire country. And for more than a Kingsmills elevator operator Dolly Magee. quarter-century now, Magee has been the friendly face just inside the 1931 Otis-Fensom elevator 1986, after answering a helpdoor waiting to greet and polite- wanted ad on TV. “This is my second home. I’ve ly escort you to the floor in question, even warning you to watch been here for so long and I enjoy every minute of it,” she said. your step as you exit. And the next time you visit? “Some people say it’s like stepShe’ll likely remember your ping back in time. They love the service and wish there was more name. Magee started at Kingsmills in of it.” Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays makes a catch to save a home run against Jordan Schafer of the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field yesterday. Bautista also hit his 22nd homer of the season, but the Jays lost 5-1 for their fourth loss in a row. More coverage, page 20. SCOTT CUNNINGHAM/GETTY IMAGES
Bautista saves one, hits one
“It’s really part of the heritage of the city. Obviously an unmanned elevator is a money saver, but you don’t get this kind of service if you don’t have a Dolly.” JIM HANDS, VICE-PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF KINGSMILLS, COMMENTING ON THE 1931 OTIS-FENSOM ELEVATOR, ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL STILL IN USE NATIONWIDE
Jim Hands, vice-president and general manager of Kingsmills, praised Magee, calling her a landmark for Kingsmills. And she’s got a sense of humour, too. “You ask Dolly how the day is going and she’ll answer, ‘Well there are a lot of ups and downs!’” “Dolly’s the everything person: she’s the friendly face and knows everybody’s name and almost every customer’s name,” said office manager Maria Scarpelli. And customers do indeed recognize her — and miss her when she’s gone. Hands himself operated the elevator for a few minutes yesterday. “Just in the short time I was operating the elevator (yesterday), a lady got on and asked, ‘Is Dolly on holidays?’” But will Kingsmills soon celebrate 30 years with Magee on staff ? She doesn’t think so. “There comes a time in your life when you need to retire. But not just yet!” KYLE REA