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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-07-14, Page 4Ratepayers in Exeter were no doubt cheered when they learned that bids for the tar and chips program on local streets had come in at a very low price due to a price war in that industry. However, that apparently also resulted in the firms getting more jobs than they had bargained for, and as a result the application on town streets has been . delayed until this month, That means local residents have been eating dust for a month or two longer than had been expected, so the reduced price wasn't without its own, high cost. Many peo- ple have been unable to sit out on their verandahs during the hottest part of the summer, and even opening windows has been a problem due to the dust which brings about an additional amount of housework, Next year, if the program is to be con- tinued, council should ensure that some time limit is included before the contract is awarded to avoid the delay that has arisen this year. First thing we know, there won't be any need for a dust control program. The snow will take care of it! Gets late advice When he was introducing Kirk Armstrong around last week, Mayor Bruce Shaw asked if there was any advice that may be beneficial for the new ad- ministrator for the South Huron Recreation Centre. "It's too late, he's already taken the job," was one of the replies. That may have proven a little shatter- ing for Kirk, but no doubt he was well aware of the problems that have been en- countered in this area in the past and realizes his task will be most difficult. His predecessors would probably suggest his position had too many bosses, and Kirk will have an even greater number now that the Townships of Stephen and Usborne have become involved in the operation of the rec centre. Hopefully, some of those "bosses" will keep their nose out of the situation and let their representatives on the board of management have the complete say in the operation of the centre and its employees. If they do find fault, they should com- municate directly with their represen- tatives on the board and pot to any of the employees. It's Kirk's only hope fdr proving the ability which the board obviously consider he has to operate the centre in an efficient manner. Too many cooks spoil the broth, and there's been enough broth spoiled in the field of recreation in this area in the past to make some of the cooks realize their place is not in the kitchen. Its fro t In-the United States, lightning is con- sidered by authorities to be a bigger threat to life than floods. It is estimated that light- ning kills one person and injures four in that country every.day. Such is not the case in Canada. Statistics Canada, for example, shows that only six people were killed by lightning in 1974 (last complete statistics). ,gPP Toronto newspaper (The Globe and "'Mail) says its files show that 104 Canadians died from the, bolts between 1962 and 1972., with eighty per cent of the deaths ocCuring in Ontario and Quebec. In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in deaths by lightning-10_ people were kill- ed in Ontario between July 1975 and June 1976—a result of more lightning storms, ac- cording to specialists. The Ontario Safety League states that you can expect, in your immediate square mile, one or two strokes during each thunderstorm. If your area, for example, has 25 electrical storms yearly, you mad expect from 25 to 50 lightning bolts to hit within a half-mile of your house this year. According to the League, the most clAngerous time is just before the storm Mien dark clouds appear and the air is e not-s 1 charged with electricity. If you are out- doors at that time and your hair feels as if it is standing on end, you are being set up as a perfect lightning target. If you're in or on the water, get out. Stay away from wire fences, clotheslines, overhead wires or . towers, and machinery, Avoid isolated trees and wide-open spaces where you might ,be the tallest thing around. A struc- ture made of any type of metal will provide good protection, since metal is an excellent electrical conductor. If this is not available and you are on open ground, lie flat. If you are inside, don't stand in doorways or near open windows. Keep away from the fireplace, sink, bathroom fixtures, the phone and the television set. It makes good sense to unplug all electrical, appliances (lightning can produce an elec- trical current in the TV's antenna and cause a short circuit in the set). Even being trapped in a car is good protection. You are completely surrounded by metal and to the League's knowledge, lightning has never struck an occupant of a rubber-tired automobile. Respect lightning, Says the Ontario Safety League. It is erratic and dangerous. Times Established 1873 — Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W,N.A., 0.W.N,A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by J. W. Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY, PUBLISHER Editor — Bill Batten . Assistant Editor Ross'Haugh Advertising Manager --- Jim Beckett Plant Manager -- Jim Scott Composition Manager — Harry DeVries Business Manager Dick Jong kind Phone 235-1331 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation September 30, 1975 5,409 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Canada $1 1.00 Per Year; USA $22.00 Page 4 Times-Advocate, July 14, 1977 nrattn; , iE Price war 'dust-tasteful' :-.o.41$111.r..WW.V2 ,}10%600=10AVrenree+1,4CONACIIIS..A,V541$41;4401,1,403. 'AV Win battle not war 20 years Ago Juliette, CBC-TV star, became t') the first person to receive the keys to Grand Bend Wednesday ?1 when she was welcomed at a civic reception on the beach. Thousands lined the street tp see her parade in a convertible, Wednesday night she performed ,s at a benefit dance sponsored by Grand Bend Lions to raise 'funds for the youth centre, The Liquor Licence Board of Ontario has approved dining lounge licences for two Grand Bend restaurants, the Dawn Tavern and Monetta Menard's Tavern, providing they meet building and fire safety stan- dards. The most successful summer e, camp conducted by leaders of t RCAF Station Centralia Cub 1 packs was held at Camp Everton a. near Guelph last week, It was , attended by 54 boys, including six from Exeter. The air base is under new command. New CO ,of RCAF Station Centralia is Group Captain Arthur G. Kenyon, CD, a graduate of Royal Military College. 15 Years Ago Work on No. 4 Highway at Clandeboye and Centralia which has been progressing slowly was suspended indefinitely,this week when the Langton Contracting Co. Ltd. went bankrupt. The town's asphalt emulsion and chips paving program, beset by many delays, is expected to be completed Thursday. Caswell Paving Co. Ltd., arrived here Saturday to do the work but didn't get started until Tuesday afternoon, Close to 150 acres of the bog land on the Haig farm is burning out of control and has been since early spring when 4he dry peat moss caught fire from a rubbish pile being burned by workmen at the farm south of Grand Bend. Manager Bill Schlegel reports that a deep trench encircles the fire and it cannot spread farther. Biddulph Township Council has given tentative approval to the school board's plan to erect a $200,000 central school. The real Mafia You were probably surprised ai5d a bit shaken by that recent . C television show "Connec- tions," all about the permeation of Canadian society by organized dime: the Mafia, the French fnnection, the Hong Kong con- *lion and so on, qt neither surprised nor dis- bitted me. I've known all about i or about four decades. In fact, I amazed that the CBC didn't terview me, if they wanted sitmething authentic about the bOginnings of organized crime in this country. I was there. !Of course, at the time, I didn't r lize what I was getting in to.,1 s in my early teens. But the p ttern, looking back, was oh- wt v us. here were two Families in home town, the Salvatis and t 0 Guaracchis. Showing little orkinality, both operated behind tike front of the fruit store. They were both from Sicily, and they were bitter enemies, If Sammy Salvati ran a special on fresh asparagus, you can bet your armor-plate vest that Joe Giaracchi, after sending one of his boys down to check the prices in:the store window would under- cu . him by a clime. Back and forth went the skir- mishes, but we ordinary small- town punks caught only once in a Wine the savage internecine warfare that went on behind the fruit store fronts. The Salvatis, for exmaple, tried to assimilate, They joined the United Church, to set up another front, and it's been rufnored that they "laundered" a lot; of their ill-gotten gains by syphoning them through that erAanization as donations. . On the other hand, the Guaracchis went on speaking Sicilian, threatening to murder their kids if they didn't work harder, and muttering about their "connection" with Rome. At the time, I belonged to a gang of young hoodlums who hung about in the town's two pool rooms, those of Bob Loblaw and Sylvester O'Toole. One of our gang, the Chinese connection, was Joe Hoo, scion of the only Chinese family in town. As you can see, it was quite a cosmopolitan municipality, although the population was only 4,000. We were a pretty vicious crowd, but it was Depression years, so that we didn't have the opportunities of today's punks, There was no point in snatching purses from old ladies; there was nothing in them. No point in mugging elderly gentlemen for the same reason: broke. We didn't drink, because our fathers couldn't afford to have it around the house to steal, }felling around on motor- cycles, of course, was out of the question But we did terrorize a few neighborhoods by riding our second-hand bicycles on the sidewalks and occasionally right across someone's lawn. I don't want you to think for one minute that we weren't tak- ing out our subliminal frustrations and latent aggressions against society, We were, A least once a week, we'd lean out the third-floor windows of the loCal Chess, Chowder and Crib- bage Club, which we were allow- ed to use, at Junior members, from nine to 11 Sunday nights in exchange for janitorial duties, and spit on passersby below. There weren't many - passersby, that is - on a Sunday evening in a small town, but occasionally we'd hit one, zhout,"Tally-hoe!" and toast each other in Pepsi. But it was through our other thuggish (yes, I admit it now) ac- tivity that we became deeply in- volved with The Mob. This ac- tivity was stealing from the out- side stands of - you've guessed it - the town's two fruit stores. From the outset, it was ob- vious that we'd come under the wing of, one of the two Families. It didn't take long to see where we were heading. The Salvatis kept a good lookout, shouted loud, in English, and would chase you all the way to the river to get back a lousy peach. But the Guaracchis, although they too shouted, in 'Sicilian, were fat and couldn't run. And we had an ace in the hole. One of our gang was one of their boys, Phil Guaracchis. We terrorized him into utter submission by threatening to expose his membership in the club to the Godfather, Joe Guaracchi, who would have thumped him into a very small pizza indeed. So we had an inside man. He'd tip us off when his old man was off with the truck to Buffalo, where he had a close connection,, with the Bananas gang, We knew exactly when he'd arrive back with a trackful of bananas, grapes, you name it, and laid our plans as carefully as the IRA. The minute the new fruit was put on the outside stands, one of our gang would go into the store Exeter colincil may have won the battle last week in their deci- sion to require local resident Brian Wedlake to erect a fence around his wading pool, but it is questionable if they'll win the war if he carries through on his planned appeal of that decision. That is not to suggest coun- cillors were incorrect in that decision when considered in terms of their concern of the safety element. Even Brian ad- mitted that someone could drown in his pool, although he also noted that the same tragedy could befall a person in a bath tub. The crux of the problem appears to be the fact that the local bylaw regulating pools and fences is rather general in nature and opens itself to arguments such as that which has arisen between Brian and council. He appears to be quite correct in arguing that he should not be required to secure a building per- - mit for erecting his pool. It is akin to assembling a backyard swing set and hardly falls into the category of the work re- quired of the building inspector. The safety aspect is a different story and it was generally agreed by everyone involved last week that some guidelines are needed to spell out when a wading pool ine fact becomes a Oimming pool and should be protected by the five-foot fence required in the local swimming pool by-law. Obviously, such a ruling should not be arbitrary, but one made on a set of figures clearly spelled out in the by-law. Whether or not it is emptied at night appears to be of little con- sequence, because those who may be endangered by •a backyard pool should be protected at all times from such hazards. In fact, a toddler is more apt to get into trouble in the daytime than at night so council member's argument that permanancy indicates a pool that is not emptied really holds little water. Many people leave water in wading pools overnight if the water is not too dirty so it will be warmer for their youngsters. By the same token, we doubt that Brian's pool will be con- tinually filled throughout the summer unless it has a, filtering system. Council members are correct in their decision to review the local by-law to see if some guidelines should be included so there will be no argument as to what amount of water requires added safety precautions and regulations. No doubt the Red Cross or Safety Council would be of some help in suggesting when a protec- tive fence is required. We imagine they will suggest that all wading pools require more care and protection than and ask Mama Guaracchi if Phil could come down to the pool room. While she was haranguing him, the rest of us would stuff our shirts and head for the park for a gluttonous gorge. It was only a step from there to getting into the Godfathers cellar and homemade wine when he was out of town. Next thing you know, a couple of us were running dances, at 50 cents a cou- ple, with beer in the back room in a tub of ice. We used to promise the orchestra $25 and then beat them down to $15. The money just rolled in. Some weeks we made enough to pay a little off on our bill at the pool room, where we habitually played on our "nerve". That is without funds to pay for the table, if you lost. There was only one direction we could go, and we'd have wound up more debased and debauched than the Dubois brothers of Montreal, if the war hadn't come along. Some of us got killed. Some of us had a worse fate, We stayed alive and got married, The old gang broke up. But don't tell me about the Mafia. I was there. most people consider necessary, although a five400t fence may be a little out of reason. * * * * Area residents looking for an enjoyable night out during the summer may be, surprised to learn that some of the best enter- tainment possible is available right on their own doorsteps, We refer to the theatrical productions at Blyth and the Huron Country Playhouse. Unfortunately, many area residents think in terms' of black ties and evening gowns whenever the theatre is mentioned, but that is a long way from the at- mosphere at either of these theatres. Strictly informal. In addition, both feature "light" entertainment in their productions. Basically, they stick to comedies or musicals for we common folk in Huron and the viewer has little to do but sit back and enjoy the proceedings. And enjoy it, you will! Last week the writer attended the opening of the Blyth summer festival to see "Summer Burning". We came away with sore sides from the constant humor, in particular from a scene in which the grand- father in the play peels off his outer suit of underwear to give his inner suit its weekly wash in his home made shower. It's the funniest thing we've seen in a long time. That is not to suggest that the writer, Huron native Harry Boyle, doesn't have a message in the play. The suspicious and vin- dictive nature of people was clearly portrayed and no doubt touched most of the people in the audience when they stopped laughing. The Huron Country Playhouse, of course, has another superb list of productions for the season well worth your consideration. It is interesting to note that many of the regular patrons at these i two theatres are people who had to be coaxed there in the first place and who probably attended with the thought they wouldn't enjoy it. It's not dif- ficult to get "hooked" once you find out what you've been miss- ing. Try it! You've got nothing to lose unless you don't enjoy laughing. * * * If Premier William Davis wants minority government to last for at least four years, he should include a clause calling for a pay increase with each piece of legislation he proposes. That way he would be certain to get unanimity from all par- ties, because pay increases is one item that the opposition never question. Considering that they are plan- ning to get an increase of some $4,800 within the next few months, Premier Davis should have balanced that out with a Dear Sir Many plans are well underway in Dashwood for Ithe many ac- tivities involved in our good old Friedsburg Days - July 29-30. The talent show will take place,,,,, Friday evening and all inquiries should be made to Theresa McCann, Mt. Carmel or Donna Hoffman, Dashwood, Inquiries, regarding the Miss Friedsburg contest should contact Donna Hoffman. Highlight of this weekend has always been the large parade at 2 p.m. on Saturday July 30. The theme of this year's parade is - Festivals of the World - which should prove to be as enter- taining for the viewer as the par- ticipants. Such floats might depict the Mardigras, Spanish bullfight etc,etc. All entries for the parade will arrive at the ball park at 1 p.m. on Saturday July 30 for the judg- ing and the parade will leave for the route at 2 p.m. Besides bands, municipal of- ficials, members of parliament, and shriners the parade will have other special guests. Gary Allen .Price from' C.F.P.L, will ride in the parade and contacts are also being made for either Miss Dominion of Canada or Miss Teen Canada to take part in the fun. All inquiries for the parade should be made to either Paul Salmon, Mt. Carmel or Ruth Anne Merner, Dashwood. At 4 p.m. Saturday, July 30 Friedsburg will have its second annual pet show. Young and old are urged to bring out their pets - of any description, There are a variety of categories for the judging that should accommodate even the most unusual pet - such as dog with the longest tail, best dress- ed pet, smallest and largest pet and best groomed and trained, The pet show will take place behind the Dashwood Communi- ty Centre next to the picnic pavilion, This event proved to be 55 Years Ago A mean act was perpetrated at Dashwood on Monday evening of last week when some person or persons entered the garage of Rev. W. Yaeger, pastor of the Evangelical church, and slashed ten auto tires and in addition cut the guy wires letting down an aerial for a wireless radio. Damage amounted to about $200. A number of Boy Scouts under the charge of Troop Leader Stuart Stanbury enjoyed a hike to the lake Monday taking along with them a trekking cart con- taining provisions and a sleeping tent, Miss Cowan, who has spent the millinery season with Miss Yelland has returned to her home in Atwood. Mr. S. Pollen of the Ford garage had a bone in 'his wrist fractured Sunday morning when a car he was cranking backfired. Rose Lamport and Dorothy Balkwill are attending summer School at Alma College, St. Thomas. Messrs. S. M. Sanders and James Brintnell have sold the Exeter Evaporator to Mr. A, D. Clapp, Dutton, who will install new equipment. This will furnish a local market for the apple crop. 30 Years Ago Exeter's newest venture in the entertainment field will have its grand opening tonight — the new roller skating rink, put up by Mr. Earl Neil. Exeter Band has been engaged to play at the Teeswater Fair. Thomas Appleton 92, was the oldest Orangeman at the Milverton walk, July 12. A number of farmers in the Chiselhurst area had their entire crops wiped out Sunday in one ,,of the worst hail' storms in this section, Approval has been received from Ottawa to proceed with the construction of 25 war-time houses in Lucan, known as Lucan project No, 1. Rev, Ernest Grigg was honored by friends before his departure from Exeter. He was presented with a traveling set and cash. very entertaining last year. Any inquiries regarding the pet show should be made to either Paul Salmon or Ruth Anne Mernet. In addition many other ac- tivities are planned such as arm wrestling, tug or war etc. along with a midway, and •the usual food and refreshment delights. Thank You Ruth Anne Merner Dear Editor: I am writing in reference to the TV programs on "Auschwitz". The concluding statement "we have to make sure this does not happen again" was ironic and very disturbing to me. Every hospital with an abortion clinic is causing mass ex- termination of Irving people. Everyone knows that a baby is living long before it is born - even as early as six weeks of pregnancy there is a heartbeat and it is completely formed physically. These aborted babies are also used for ex- perimentation, as were the Jews. How are they killed? Babies that are too big to be dismem- bered (literally torn apart) by sucking them out with a vacuum cleaner device, are drowned in a pail of water, left exposed in a refrigerator, given a shot of saline solution (this is like bur- ning them alive) and etc. Abortions number 40,000 to 50,000 yearly in Canada alone, Their total number far exceeds the number of slaughtered Jews, Talk to your friends and neigh- bours about abortion and they will shrug and mumble "the government will stop it if it's that bad," Write to your M.P.'s and they pass the buckonto the people with always much the same story - "abortion is wrong but this is a free country, they say, and everyone is entitled to his own religious beliefs," Since when is it permissible to kill in a free country? Since when should tbel, choice of taking a child's lifer depend, on your religious beliefs or your lack of religious beliefs? The reasons given for the "Auschwitz" programs was to educate us and prevent mass extermination of people . again, yet here we all a& - knowing that the painful extermination of thousands of helpless children goes on every year and only making excuses for its con- tinuation. Yours truly, 'Evelyn Regier • * Dear Editor: Sportsfest 'is being held in Kincardine August 12, 13 and 14, 1977, It consists of 12 recreational event tournaments. We are trying to get as much in- volvement as pOssible from communities such as Exeter. The success of Sportsfest '77 will largely depend on participation from interested people and organizations in the community of Exeter and surrounding area. Sportsfest is sponsored and organized by the Lake Huron ZoneRecreationAssociation in co- operation with the Ministry of Culture and Recreation. The • Lake Huron Zone Recreation • Association is an organization made up of'Recreation Directors and Recreation Personnel from Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth and North Wellington counties. Through these tournaments we encourage fun, participation, good sportsmanship, low key competition, and hopefully on- going inter-community com- petitions in the future for these developmental sports. There are events for all ages: Archery, soccer, table tennis, shuffleboard, euchre, swimming, horseshoe pitching, T-ball, worneris recreational softball, mens slowpitch and girls softball and tennis. Registration forms, rules and details of tournaments are available from the Exeter Recreation Committee, Deadline date for registrations and fees is July 23, 1977, We are trying to provide as many towns, organizations and individuals as possible an op- portunity to come to this year's host community — Kincardine, and participate. Anyone intersted from the area may contact Mrs. Elizabeth Varley of the Exeter Recreation Committee or David MacDonald, Sportsfest Co- Ordinator, P,O, Box 583, Kin- cardine, Ontario or phone 896- 2421. Hope to see you at Sportsfest. 1 '77) David MacDonald, Sportsfest Co-Ord ria tor. '4,71;wavrervemliavir....1.- § t $100 bonus clause on each piece of legislation. That would have put a total of 48 items through Queen's Park without a squab- ble. We doubt that many people will complain about the pay boosts approved by the Ontario legislators. They're within AIB guidelines and in comparison to many people, the MPP's have been falling behind. In fact, Huron-Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell is still far below the pay given to some public of- ficials in this area. The new ad- ministrator for the Huron-Perth Separate School Board, for in- stance, has been hired at a salary of $37,000 per annum. That appears to be out of line with most of his employers — the taxpayers. S