HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-07-08, Page 7Q�IIllOri
Godench Signal -Star. Wednesday, July 8, 2009 - Page 7
Regular hours will hhelp eep downtown in business
holidays during the summer months part buy actually being open for busi-
are busy. If you want people to shop in ness.
your stores, you should be open on I have had many opportunities to
these days. bring visitors to our lovely town and to
I was sitting in my van on Wednesday, The Square in particular - but each
July 1 in front of one of the stores on time we find the "quaint and interest -
The Square. This store, along with ing" little shops closed, so we head
many others, was closed. In a matter of elsewhere.
20 minutes, 46 people tried to see into I think it's great that you now have a
that store! Even if those 46 people consultant in Mr. Morrison but maybe
only added up to three or four sales, you should start with turning your
those are three or four sales that were signs to open if you really want cus-
missed because this particular store tomers to find their way into your
was dark and locked up tight on a stores.
holiday in the summer. I would like to salute the few stores
The town arranges a wonderful that were open this past Canada Day!
Canada Day celebration every year It looked like you had a wonderful
which brings thousands of people on day!
to The Square, in turn doing their part
to bring the people to the downtown
core. I'd like to see the shops do their
To the Editor;
I have been following with interest
the struggles and complaints of some
of Goderich's downtown businesses.
Their pleas to the town council, BIA
and Chamber of Commerce to "help
them" bring customers to the down-
town are starting to exasperate me.
I have two suggestions of things that
will not only help bring customers to
these stores but may allow customers
to actually purchase something.
First - if your store hours say 10 a.m.
- 5 p.m., then be open 10 a.m. - 5
p.m.
Don't show up to open your doors at
10:20 a.m. or leave a sign saying back
in five minutes.
I had an unpleasant experience while
trying to purchase a Father's Day gift
with my son. We had an appointment
to get to for 10:30 a.m., so I thought
Letters
opinion
we could go to this particular store
(open at 10 a.m.) before hand. We,
along with two other customers,
showed up at 10 a.m. and the store was
still locked up.
The other customers waited 10 min-
utes and then chose to leave, with the
one lady telling me she would stop in
Bayfield instead. We waited. Any other
day I would have left too, but we had
a while before we had to be else-
where.
The store finally opened at 10:20
a.m. — with no apology or explanation.
Loss of immediate business - abso-
lutely. Loss of future business from
myself, friends and family - guaran-
teed!
Next, I'd like to point out that we are
a tourist town. Meaning weekends and
Teens dug deep for UW
To the Editor;
The Canada Day fireworks have
always symbolized "opening night" for
Goderich's summer line-up of events.
School is out, and it's time to embrace
the bounty of the season's activities
with family, friends and community!
It was gratifying to see the good
turnout for the fireworks, despite the
cool and drizzly weather of the eve-
ning.
Collecting donations on behalf of
the Huron United Way, it was an oppor-
tunity to meet and chat with a diverse
and interesting group of people.
To all of you who made donations,
we extend our sincere appreciation.
Although a small minority declined to
contribute, almost every teen dug into
a pocket or purse to support the event.
So to all the teens we met... an extra
special thank -you for your courtesy,
good humour and unstinting generosi-
ty.
Your contributions to the Huron
United Way facilitates our ongoing
financial support of various communi-
ty organizations and groups.
Andria Croteau
Huron United Way
Jennifer Black
Auburn
Local boy growing good ideas
To the Editor;
Hello, my name is Harrison Lobb,
and I want to inform people about my
idea of planting an extra row of seeds
for produce so that it can be donated to
the Salvation Army and Food Bank.
I've already started to grow rows of
cucumbers, radishes, carrots, spinach
and lettuce, which I am going to donate
to the local Food Bank.
My family has been in touch with the
people at the Food Bank and they like
this idea, and will welcome all dona-
tions.
Growing vegetables for yourself and
others allows you to maintain a healthy
lifestyle by getting some exercise and
eating healthy local produce.
Another benefit associated with grow-
ing local produce is the amount of
money that can be saved by participat-
ing in this. Locals could be using their
own garden instead of getting food
from California at higher prices.
I thank you for your time,
Harrison Lobb
Goderich
The 'grader' good is found in hope
To the Editor;
Sloshing around in my bowl of All -
Bran while reading the GSS's hearty
account of the very last Volvo Motor
Grader to come off the line in
Goderich, I was moved Sad stuff. By
the way, Publisher Dave Sykes did a
great job with a subject matter that
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Goderich Signal -Star, Box 220,120 tckns t., Goderich,
or e-mail: gssnews@bowesnet.com or via[.
519-524-5145. W.r y ti
Letters
opinion
was anything but great.
On this day, history appeared as an
awkward bystander next to the pro-
found sense of sadness. Still, the front
page picture said so much. It was a
wide shot of the boys, and some female
employees of Volvo, standing in -front
of the last assembled machine. They
were smiling and waving arms with
victory fingers and a thumbs -up like
they were the Cup winning Edmonton
Oilers of mid -eighties.
Perhaps the human -spirit is indeed
forged with hope. Perhaps the pride of
120 years of history was impossible to
conceal. Perhaps people, under just
about any circumstance, get "Jones'ed"
about getting their mug on the front
page of a newspaper.
Whatever the reason for the snapshot
of abominable sunshine during one of
Goderich's darkest hours, it was a bit
•••
and salt
comforting; a bit perplexing too. Same
deal with the enthusiasm demonstrated
by Volvo employees at the Canada Day
parade this past Wednesday. Proudly
circling The Square were antique grad-
ers as well as the latest models includ-
ing the last one off the line (signed in
marker on the side by all the workers).
Again, there were the happy, waving
arms again and Farah Fawcett smiles.
Huh? Should this not have been a
requiem? A rider -less grader with the
last post blaring from the horn of a
dispirited unemployed person?
Volvo Motor Graders now joins the
Shaeffer Pen Company in writing -off
Goderich. Thank goodness for salt and
the plethora of it at the bottom of the
lake. The road ahead for Goderich can
continue to be seasoned with hope.
Keep smiling.
John Weese
Goderich