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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-03-29, Page 66 Signal Star • Wednesday. March 29, 2017 signal -Star A Symbol of Community VOL. 26 – ISSUE 10 PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 Signal Star Publishing 120 Huckins St. Goderich ON N7A 3X8 519-524-2614 www.goderichsignalstar.com POSTMEDIA JOHN BAUMAN Group Manager, Media Sales jbauman@postmedia.com ext. 232 JANET SHRIER Office Manager jashrier@postmedia.com ext. 220 SUSAN MCINTOSH Sales smcintosh@postmedia.com ext. 228 TARA CORRAN Sates tcorran@postmedia.com ext. 230 STACEY SCOTT Inside Sales sscott@postmedia.com ext. 229 RHONDA BUTT Accounting rhbutt@postmedia.com MARY JOHNSTON Accounts Receivable majohnston@postmedia.com CURTIS ARMSTRONG Group Director of Media Sales 519 376-2250 ext, 514301 or • 510 364-2001 ext. 531024 Editorial Deadline - Friday 2 p.m. Advertising booking deadline - Friday 1:30 p.m. SUBSCRIPTION RATES ADVANCE: Regular $50.00 includes GST (12 months) Seniors $50.00 includes GST (14 months) US $249.00 plus GST Foreign $416.40 plus GST Single Copy $1.50 indudes GST Publications Mail Agreement No.40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 120 Huckins St., Goderich ON N7A 3X8 For any non -deliveries or delivery concems: 519-524-2614 Goderich Signal Star is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an Independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For more information or to file a complaint go to www.mediacouncil.ca or call toll free 1-844-877-1163. The Goderich Signal Star shall not be »able for failure to publish an ad for typographical errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of that portion of the ad in which the error occurred. The Goderich Signal -Star reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement. The Goderich Signal -Star is a proud member of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) and The Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA). Member of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association and the Canadian Community Newspaper Association. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. ocna Canada Where the Inukshuk once stood Kathleen Smith Goderich Signal Star It was just over a year ago hi March 2016, when more than 150 Inukshuks were demolished off the waterfront of Lake Huron in Goderich. There were many legal rea- sons and safety issues involved in the decision to tear down these monuments built and left by locals and tourists over the years, but in my mind it was very unfortunate. Due to one person's inability to recognize that the structures were free-standing and man-made, a symbol of community and wel- come had to be torn down. There is no argument that the free-standing rock structures could hurt someone if leaned on, leading to safety issues for the public. The fact that someone of their own free will, stood beside and touched a structure for a photo opportunity, then decided to make a complaint after a rock fell and took legal action against a town, based on an incident of their own free action, is extremely disappoint- ing and unfortunate. In the Inuit language, "Inuk- shuk" means "in likeness of a human; and were traditionally used as navigational aids, marking a place of respect or memorial, or to indicate where fish could be found. These symbols of man, tradi- tionally meaning "someone was here'; are some of the old- est and most important objects placed by humans across the vast Arctic landscape. They soon started to show up south of the Arctic, from national or provincial parks, to Northern Ontario roadside landscapes, perhaps built and left from some weary travellers along their jour- ney to leave a welcoming symbol letter to the editor It's a dirty time of year This is a dirty time of year but it is also a time to observe and what I see keeps me awake at night. Every year I notice more and more soil scoured off unprotected fields and wonder how anyone can allow that to happen. There has been an upsurge of interest in cover crops to counter the change in how nutrition is delivered to the soil and to protect the soil when we have reduced snow coverage; which happens more and more. But some farmers are failing to take notice. If you rent your land and you see this happening then you need to have a serious discussion with your tenant. Farmers of old worked closely with the soil and learned to offer a year of rest or fallow, and enhance and feed the soil with the addition of bedding material and manure from their livestock and yes cover crops. This is not new science just a matter of re-educating ourselves. Fast forward, no rest, no cover, minimum nutrient matter. There is no happy ending to this kind of stewardship of the land. But there are some good stories out there and again by observing the land you can see the cleaner snowbanks indicating less soil deg- radation, and more windbreaks to further protect the fields and a enhanced list of cover crops offered to restore some balance to the soil. Along that line of thought comes the Huron County Natural Heritage Plan. I think if they had just said we are updating our aerial maps and checking the health of the natural environment in our county, nobody Would have blinked. I am not quite sure if the con- cerns raised are helpful. Under our planning act, including our own secondary plans that are in place in every municipality, is a section labeled natural environment, areas for those to come. They were a welcome sight to a traveler, symbolizing friendli- ness and community, signifying safety, hope and friendship - qualities that Canada, as a wel- coming community, embraces. In fact, the Inuit tradition of Inukshuks forbids the destruc- tion of these structures, seeing as they are beacons of hope and friendliness, as well as memorials for those who have passed on before us. Perhaps the County was right in their decision to demolish the Inukshuks that welcomed visitors to the beach, in order to prevent future accidents, for the well-being of the public. Despite what has happened and what cannot be changed, it can be agreed upon that the 150 or more Inukshuks that were torn down changed the landscape of the beach. The Inukshuks were a tourist attraction, a piece of history within our great country, and a that are not agriculture and not part of settlements. We need to maintain or increase these areas to ensure the health of our community. Consider these areas as infrastructure for our envi- ronment. The setbacks ensure these areas continue to exist but again by simply observing one can see infractions all over the countryside. Edges of wetlands where the shrubs and plant material are pushed back a bit each year, crops planted as close as possible, and then some, to cropping along tight edges to open municipal drains and natural wetlands. The mapping gives us all a better idea of what is working, and what has been infringed upon. I did not read anything about enforcement of the setbacks, merely that they exist. It is up to everyone to protect these areas. - The last item that keeps me up at Contributed Photo Many people who would visit Goderich and the beach, would be drawn to these man-made monuments, adding a different element to the Lake Huron landscape. Pictured here is tourist Anna Gemsjaeger from Germany, standing beside one of the structures. sense of belonging and friend- ship within the community. As we get closer to Canada Day and our nation's 150th birthday, it made me contem- plate upon the symbols that were once a part of our commu- nity that were representative of a sense of "I was here"; symbols of belonging; symbols of hope; symbols of friendliness; sym- bols of respect; symbols of his- tory; symbols of Canada night is the County's roadside veg- etation plan. While the County is supplying better imaging for our natural environment, council has approved an increased level of roadside mowing for 2017, the year of the IPM in Walton. Bees and monarchs, need I say more? Rather than showing visitors what roadside lawns can look like why don't we take some of that cash, make a few signs and educate both the public and our elected officials that our roads are 'pollina- tor friendly' by not mowing. Consider, 'bees and butterflies at work Deciding to do extra mowing in the year that our beautiful Mon- arch has been placed on the endangered list (Dec. 2016 Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, COSEWIC) really is too much to bear. Sleepless in the Saratoga Rhea Hamilton Seeger LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Signal Star welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include the writer's full name, address, daytime phone number and signature (for verifica tion). Anonymous letters will not be published. We reserve the right to edit all editorial submissions including letters for clarification, style and length. Let- ters must be signed and be in good taste and follow the laws of libel and slander.