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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-04-15, Page 54—THE HURON EXPOSITOR, April 15, 1I11S Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 JERRI•IYNN DALE - General Manager & Advertising Manager LARRY DALRYMPLE - Sales PAT ARMES - Office Manager GREGQR CAMPBELL - Reporter DIANNE McGRATH - Subscriptions & Classifieds A Bowes Publishers Community Newspaper SUBSCRIPTION RATES LOCAL - 32 50 a year, in advance, plus 2.28 G.S.T. SENIORS • 30 00 o yeor, in advance, plus 2 10 GST. 1,15A & Foreign. 28 44 o year ,n odvance, plus S78 00 postage, G.S.T. exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES Published weekly by Signal -Star Publishing 01'00 Main St., Seaforth- Publication moil registration No 0696 held at Seoforth, Ontario Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of o typographical error, the odvertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged. but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the opplicable rote In the event of o typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong puce, goods or services may not be sold Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn atony time The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes Changes of address, orders for subscriptions and undeliv- eroble copies ore to be sent to The Huron Expositor.• Wednesday, April 15, 1998 Editorial and Business Offices - 100 Main Street.,Seaforth Telephone 1519) 527-0240 Fax (519) S27.2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK IWO Member of Ilse Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association and the Ontario Press Council Publication Mail Registration No. 07605 We're on 'net Want to e-mail your Letters <tothe.Editor Expositor has gone high-tech and oniklilt. address is: • huronexp C odysse;, Remember, ALL Letters to •the Edi s� and have atelephone number forsr�naltt3oa be edited for both length; and Content Don't forget to cheer out aur tumepage a www.bowesnet.com/exposj enough is enough It is getting more and more difficult to believe there is any method in the Ontario govemment's madness. Certainly it can be applauded for attempting to address misappropriation of government funds to provincial bodies/institutions/systems, but what has followed has resulted in the near crippling of a number of its agencies. Perhaps, we've just been far too spoiled for far 'too long, but instead of gently weaning us from its money, the provincial govemment has forced us to' go cold turkey, taking away and taking away until everyone is suffering from a state of with- drawal, contemplating hospital and school clo- sures, and cutting employees and services. What makes things worse, is the fact the.gov- ernment doesn't seem, to all appearances, to know what it is doing. Everyone, from the health system, education system, and lower tier govem- ments, is currently in a state of limbo - about something. Everyone is living under the threat of loss, but with all the delays and changing of directives, no one really knows for sure what's going on, or when the fog will lift. Seaforth Town Council is in the same position. At its last meeting, Clerk Treasurer Jim Crocker indicated the town would be unable to finalize its budget for almost atiother two months, due to the fact the province has delayed the retum of the tax rolls for.a second time. It's hard to get a handle on things when you're continually denied the necessary information to do so. A budget meant for 1998 should be able to be produced before that year is half over - or worse. Perhaps the Ontario government would do bet- ter to set some stricter time lines for itself, or to concentrate on one project al a time, instead of dipping its fingers into all pots at the same time, and, sending ripple upon ripple of confusion across them all. - HR. News, understanding wanted The Huron Expositor is pleased to receive your weekly news reports, but asks for understanding, when it comes to publishing them. Editorial space is allotted according to the amount of advertising space purchased in each week's newspaper. Newspapers vary drastically in size from week to week, depending on such things as incentive to advertise (Christmas, Easter, sales etc...), season, or available funds.lf it's a slow week, it II be a small paper. Editorial decisions have to be made based on the amount of space available. Sometimes, unfortunately, that means paring down of copy, or simply holding it for such time as it can be run in its entirety. We apologize for any misunderstand- ings that may result from this procedure. - HR. SDHS is academics, relationships, identity To the Editor: Attention Mr. Paul Carroll and Trustees of the Board of Education, and Citizens of Town of Seaforth. I am writing this letter out of concern for the potential closing of Seaforth. District High School. As an alumnus of SDHS and a sibling of cur- rent students, I have some serious reservations in regards to the wavering future of the school. Seaforth District High School is an essential part of the community. It is a funda- mental institution in the infrastructure of our town; if Seaforth is to thrive in the future, it is crucial that a sec- ondary school exists within the town limits. Every year, SDHS gives back to the com- munity, it takes part in the Fall Fair festivities, Ciderfest, the Remembrance Day activi- ties, the Santa Claus parade, the Food Bank drives, and various other service group campaigns. When the com- munity centre was being built and when the local hospital was undergoing renovations, Seaforth District High School took the initiative to help in the fundraising. To lose the Letters to the Editor youth of the town would be to jeopardize the vitality of Seaforth in the future. Seaforth District High School has a long history of educational excellence. Each year approximately 70 per cent of the graduating class pursue post secondary stud- ies. Many students eventually return, to live in Seaforth and the surrounding arca and con- tribute significantly to the community. Of those who don't return, most maintain (inks to Seaforth and acknowledge the impact- the towh has had on their lives. The quality of education offered by SDHS results from the combination of sev- eral important factors. Academics: The local high school is made up of highly qualified teachers who remain open to current research and findings in their fields. Many of these teachers honour their profession by passionately imparting knowledge, but more impor- tantly, by inspiring a Iovc of learning. Many alumni of Seaforth District High School find when attending college and university, that they have been more adequately pre- pared for the academics of post secondary studies than their peers. Relationships; SDHS is a' school where faculty and staff interact in a meaningful way with each other and with their students. Teachers take a genuine interest in both the educational and extracurricu- lar pursuits of students. Long after graduation, teachers, staff and former students who have remained friends can be found on the streets of Scaforth. identity: The students of Scaforth District High School have generally known each other their entire lives; they have gone through preschool and elementary school together, have played the same sports, 'and taken the same music lessons. Beginning high school can be a stressful and difficult tran- sition, coming at that point in adolescence when serious searching for personal identi- ty is taking place. In Seaforth this phase of life is, substan- tially cased by the fact that the student body will remain largely similar and by the belief that "it's our school". These and many other fac- tors exist in a delicate hal- ance in SDHS, a highly suc- cessful balance. No doubt other small schools such as Clinton boast similar educa- tional experiences. Thus to - proceed with the merger of the two schools is to serious- ly disrupt the education and lives of approximately seven hundred students. if adults, (who in terms of develop- ment theory should have strong identities and an estab- lished support network), working for the Board of Education feel uncomfortable within Central Huron Secondary School, how much more detrimental will the experience be for teenagers. It is a well documented fact that large schools have inher- ent educational deficiencies. Academically, larger class sizes are correlated with Iow- CONTINUED on Page 5 Go forward, not backward into the future Dear Editor: We are writing to express our opiniohs on programs • currently offered by the for- mer Perth Board and not offered by the former Huron Board. In particular, Family Studies, Design and Tech., and the use of specialist teachers. We wish our children to march forward not backwards into'the 20th century. The current Family Studies and Design and Tech. offers a full program that introduces and develops necessary life skills to our children. We feel more computer expertise should be available. We feel. the Tech program at the Huron Board offers high tech info. over very small periods of time that cannot meet the stan- dards currently achieved. Specialized teachers pro- vide expertise in many areas that provide a richer educa- tion base for our children. Music skills help develop skills that carry over to other Motto mispelled In a letter to the editor which appeared in last week's Huron Expositor the motto of the Seaforth District High School was mispelled. It should have read SPEM ALIT SUCCESSUS. Our apologies. ,educational subjects. It pro- vides for a more rounded per- son. The quality of education is dependent on the qualifica- tions of our teachers. We feel it is necessary to have quali- fied music teachers in our schools. As well, a French program without qualified teachers can only he as good as thc ability of the teacher. In a bilingual country, we feel it is - important to have qualified teachers for our French class- es. Physical educational in our. society is of prime impor- tance to our health and well being, we feel qualified teachers can help make this an important part of our chil- dren's lives. Our children deserve a high quality and well rounded education. Please consider this carefully before making decisions that would hurt them. Sincerely, Connie Bedford, Juliet Public School Full house entertained by cloggers Dear Editor: To the Residents of Seaforth and, Arca: On Friday, April 3, 1998, in Scaforth, a "full house" was entertained by Sherry McCall and her Cloggers and Steppers of Seaforth and area. The variety show called "Era Dance", was an exciting blend of dance and song - evcrything from "The Maypole" and Scottish Sword Dance to an awesome rendition of "River Dance". Even Elvis and Barbie made guest appearances. The event was choreographed and orga- nized by local dance instruc- tor,,Sherry McCall. assisted by a crew of dozens and a cast of over 60 performers. Approximately $1400, was raised for Cystic Fibrosis research. C.F. is a genetic disease, causing breathing difficulties and digestiv;, problems for the children and young adults affected. There is no'cure, yet, but thanks to events such as this, funding for research can be ongoing. As a family affected per- sonally by Cystic Fibrosis. we wish to take this opportu- nity to thank Sherry and each and every one of the cast and crew for the tremendous effort and wonderfully enter- taining program. Special 'Thanks to the following for their generous contributions to the prizes: Millingtons, Walton Restaurant, Total Image II, Nifty Korners, The Looking Glass. Larry and Cathy McNichol, Vincent's. The Oakwood inn, The Little Inn, Tim Notions and CKNX. Our heartfelt thanks also. to everyone who came out to the show and supported so generously. Yours sincerely. Bill and Helen Southgate and Family Resident to be honored for activism Dear Editor: Gwen Pemberton of Bayfield turned 86 on April 2, 1998 and we would like to invite anyone who has known Gwen to help us celebrate her lifetime of activism. We are planning a dinner for May 1st Students grateful to community To' the Editor: On behalf of the student body, we, the Seaforth District High School. Students' Council would like to thank everyone who helped and supported us in the saving of our school. We really appreciate your efforts so far. We know that you will continue to support us as we battle on to gain a permanent ,solution to this crisis. Brent Ribey, • Prime Minister & the SDHS Students' Council. and at that time will present Gwen with a scrap book of memories and letters from friends and colleagues. People will remember Gwen from her leadership in the Bayfield Historical Society work, her service on Bayfield Village Council and her can- didacy for the Huron - Middlesex NDP in the early 1980s. Anyone wanting to share a memory or contribute a letter to the scrap book can do so by sending it to Lynda Rottcau, phone 524-8482. Gwen was already a pen- sioner when 1 first got involved in politics in 1980. A memory from the 1981 campaign was of Gwen being turned away frau:.. Seatonh "AIL Candidates Mcetina" because she, one of the can- didates, was a woman. Today it is hard to imagine that kind of sexism but it is because of Gwen Pemberton's lifetime of activism and the work of others like her that positive change has occurred in our communities. i invite all who know Gwen or who would like to honour her for her lifetime of com- munity activism to come on May 1. Tony McQuail Huron -Bruce NDP Riding Association Seaforth gelding a model horse for old country APRiL 15, 1898 D. Donovan shipped a car load of horses to the old country on Tuesday. They were as good a,lot as has left Seaforth station for a long tirr.e. There was one beauty, a four year old gelding, which weighed 1,850 lbs., and is in every respect a model horse. He was purchased from Mr. Kemp, Hibbert. Mr. Donovan went with the horses and we hope he will have good luck. Whooping cough has been quite prevalent among the children of town for the past few weeks. Master Johnny Grainger met with a very painful acci- dent on Tuesday morning. He had been engaged to work with James Gemmill, in Tuckeremith, for the summer months, and had just com- menced his duties on Monday. On Tuesday morn- ing, Mr. Gemmill had occa- sion to use his horse power, In the Years Agone and Johnny was driving the horses, and when'going from the horse power to thc Karn, his foot got caught in the dri- ving shaft, and , before the horses could be stopped, his foot and leg was lacerated and broken bcry badly. The poor little fellow endured thc pain most manfully, and Dr. Anmstong, being called, pro- ceeded to reduce the fracture, it being very difficult to do, owing to the splintering of the bone. The doctor suc- ceeded in getting it well ban- daged together, and we hope that no serious results will follow. APRIL 13,1923 Monday evening last stu- dents, ex -students and ratepayers of School, Section No. 9, Tuckcrsmsith, to the number of about one hun- dred, gathered at the beautiful home of Mr. Thomas Shillinglaw, to unveil to him the monument that he had unconsciously erected to his memory in that community through hit thirty-two years of residence. A fine mahogany chair and fountain pen were presented to him by Messrs. Kennedy and Moore, while Mr. John Elgie read an appropriate address. Mr. Robert Devereux has sold his blacksmith and car- riage business in Seaforth to Mr. James Davis, of Stratford, who will get pos- session on May 1st. We are glad to learn, however, that Mr. Devereux will still remain a resident of town, but will take a well earned holiday after being 42 years continuously in business. In 1881 he entered his appren- ticeship in thc same stand with the late John Dorsey. JANUARY 30, 1948 A supply car, part of a C.N.R. freight train, was damaged to the extent of approximately $50 Saturday evening. when a fire, caused by an overheated stove in the car, brokc out while the train was standing in the Scaforth yards. The Scaforth fire brigade responded to the call at 7 p.m. and declared the fire out at 7:35. However, an hour later, when the freight. en route from Goderich to Stratford, was three miles out of Seaforth, the fire was dis- covered burning again. The train backed into Seaforth, and the fire department was =inn= on Page 5