The Huron Expositor, 1998-09-23, Page 5Opinion from few facts, `gross exaggerations'
I lived in Egmondville for a
few years and enjoy receiv-
ing the Expositor here in
London. I would like to see
your editor actually do some
homework with respect to
editorials. There is an ongo-
ing dispute between those
that teach our children and
those that are responsible for
the funds that make that hap-
pen. Your editorial this past
week contained little facts
and in fact gross exaggera-
tions - "little squabble", how
does illegal walk out grab
you.
Why don. - 'port on
the curre• ton of dol-
lars spet.. our system -
how much is spent where.
Give your readers the infor-
mation they need to make
informed decisions.
Take it a step further and
find out the following from
the staff at Seaforth High
School:
- How much are they paid
for their hours in the class -
Letters to the Editor
room (annual salary/hours in
class)
- How much are they paid
for their overall service
(annual salary/hours in class
+ hours in extracurricular
activities + prep time)
- Apologies for the intru-
sion into the teachers person-
al life but tax dollars paid the
bill.
- Are extracurricular activi-
ties required by teachers or is
this time given like that of a
minor hockey league coach,
for the enjoyment? This is
their work to rule option.
- What is the impact on
their lives with the proposed
changes to actual classroom
time?
- If a teacher has instructed
history for 10 years, how
much prep time do you
require for year 11?
What does the board save,
if any, with increase in class-
room time?
What is the percentage
spent in your area to adminis-
ter the system versus teach-
ing the children?
Is a million dollar renova-
tion of Seaforth High School
a wise decision? That is a
good deal of money that
could he used for a child's
post secondary education.
Have you attempted to get a
personal view from one of
the teachers, preferably a
towns' folk on the effect of
the legislation?
Last but possibly most
important, what is the effect
on the taxpayer with the pro -
From Seaforth to Bay Street
ERQM Page 4 was needed to find an answer.
Trying to reconcile and bal- Without an abundance of self
ance numbers of shares and confidence I made a sugges-
the number of dollars and tion to my immediate boss.
make it come out right before Not wanting to look too fool -
the next day of trading was an ish if my idea was stupid I
almost impossible job - so the expressed it was a question.
"error account" grew. He looked a bit puzzled and
The brainy high priced help said somethine like. "Mv God
were looking for a complex it might work."
and costly solution - it was He said put it on paper,
moe than decade hefore the which I did, and a secretary
computer. In fact the word typed it for me. It was my first
was not yet heard in office ever memo, knowing my limi-
conversation. tations I asked Pat Maw, one
Because I was alone in the of my mentor ladies to check
city with little money for my spelling and grammar.
entertainment I went to bed My boss took it to the vice-
early...and arrived at the office president. He had never
most mornings hefore 7. All before spoken to me but now
the others started at 9. It gave stuck his head out of his office
me time to think about the and said, "Westcott, come in
problem and to try and come here please". As if he was
up with some ideas. It wasn't requesting something as mun-
part of my job but I was close dane as a cup of coffee he
enough to know about it and said, "Westcott, I want you
to hear it discussed by my and Lefeuvre to go to New
boss and the vice-president. York for a few days." "You
My limited education and can work out of our office
level of knowledge did not down there and meet the fel-
allow me the luxury of mak- lows at 70 Pine, and see if
ing lofty appraisals of compli- your idea makes sense to
cated and screwed up office them." 70 Pine Street was the
procedures. ...but oddly address of Merrill, Lynch. I
enough, simplicity and com- • could hardly believe what I
mon sense was exactly what was hearing...it's 1950 and
Parking spaces to remain
Eliminating a couple of
parking spaces near the inter-
section on the south of
Goderich Street West would
cost more than Seaforth
Council bargained for, after
investigation by Works
superintendent John Forrest,
who first suggested it last
month.
Council decided not to pro-
ceed at its Sept. 8 meeting.
After taking a tape measure
,o the corner, adjacent to the
dentists' office, Forrest found
out there was a one -foot devi-
ation, so curbing would have
to be taken out and roadway
adjusted.
Coun. Heather Robinet said
Cart stolen
A home-made wooden cart
full of flowers valued at $150
was taken from John Street in
Seaforth sometime overnight
Sunday.
It is five-foot by three-foot
with buggy wheels, and was
left outside on the north side
of the residence. Anyone see-
ing it is asked to call the
Seaforth office of the Ontario
Provincial Police.
RiDE CHARGES
A 54 -year-old man and 17 -
year -old male were charged
with liquor offences in sepa-
rate incidents by OPP when
the "Reduce impaired
Driving Everywhere" pro-
gram was in Seaforth on Sept
12.
The teenager was charged
at 11:30 p.m. on Victoria
Street when officers discov-
ered "a large quantity of
beer."
in another RiDE related
incident at about 9 n.m. on
the same day. a 54-y . ,r -old
Goderich man •was charged
with impaired driving and
refusing to provide breath
samples, and is scheduled to
appear in Goderich court on
Dec. 7.
`SQUARE' BOARDERS
That Saturday a pair of 15 -
year -old youths were charged
with skateboarding in the
Square at Goderich. They are
to appear in court Nov. 12.
only a few months ago i was
climbing hydro poles in
Seaforth....and now I'm being
sent to solve a problem in
New York, with the world's
biggest stockbroker.
A porter at Union Station
took my bag and I was escort-
ed to my own room in the first
class section of the New York
Central. I lay there watching
.the midnight sights go by the
window as the train heads for
the Niagara border. The wail
of the now long forgotten
steam engine whistle and the
clickety clack o f the wheels
put me to sleep. I wake at the
call of the porter - hearing his
loud musical voice call out,
"Ninety minutes to Grand
Central Station." I lay at the
window and soak it all in as
long as I can, for the tracks
ran for miles and miles along
the bank of the Hudson River.
I joined my boss, Bill
Lefeuvre, in the dining car for
breakfast, wanting to remem-
ber every little thing that was
happening. I would put it all
down on postcards to Virginia
and my mother and dad when
we got to New York.
I was so very lucky...for
making the transition from
small town to Bay Street was
made easier by wonderful
a business on the east side of people who treated me with
the corner had expressed con- patience and respect. 1 was
cems that getting rid of the offered help at every turn. I
parking spaces would foster was blessed by timing. Sadly,
an increase in illegal turns. the graciousness of the 1950s
Deputy -clerk Cathy Garrick is long gone. Then I was con -
said Town Hall had only had sidered a neophyte who need -
one phone call suggesting the ed support and a kind word.
spaces be eliminated. Today I would likely be
"Right now it looks like a looked on as a nerd and
very expensive venture," laughed at.
Forrest said. Who knows what might
have happened had I stayed in
the Bay Street stock and bond
business. i might be filthy rich
with stock in Microsoft....or at
the food bank telling of my
misguided faith in Bre-X. But
it was not to be.
I was lured to Queens Park
to become a minor spear carri-
er for the old grey fox from
Lindsay, Leslie Frost.
Lured, I recall my the
money. It paid $100. A year
more than i made at
Dominion Securities...so i
stayed for 35 years.
Fire. destroys
old Hallett school
Fire destroyed an old
school house (Number 1 I )
that had been renovated in
Hullett Township in the early
morning hours of Sept. 12.
The bed and breakfast on
Conc., 10 (Pt. Lot 16) was
owned by Adriana Maathuis
and Jens Schoenrank.
Blyth fire chief Paul Josling
said the cause was undeter-
mined hut accidental.
posed changes? I pay thou-
sand of dollars every year to
the government. Would fifty
dollars more ensure "quality
education", a hundred? My
children's' future is at stake. 1
need to know the impact on
my bottom line not some half
a billion savings province
wide.
My questions are directed
more towards the teaching
staff due to an ignorance of
their daily workload and their
monetary compensation.
However, teachers walked
out last fall and left one of
my children out of school.
"For the good of the educa-
tion system," they reply.
Show me how. The govern-
ment has an agenda so does
the teachers union.
Brian Mellen
Arthritis `Blitz'
garners $1,600
Dear Editor:
On Tuesday, Sept. 15 the
CIBC staff and a wonderful
group of volunteers hit the
streets of Seaforth to canvas
for the Arthritis Society.
Although we were not able to
canvas the entire town in the
three hour "blitz", we (the
community)- were able to
contribute just over
$1,600.00 to the Arthritis
Society. We would like to
thank the dedicated volun-
teers and the people of
Seaforth for their generosity.
Sincerely,
Deborah Brindley
Branch Manager
CIBC Seaforth
Md,Me Birmingham RMT
Regisiered Massage
Therapist
527-0780
Total Image 1
Thura/Sat.
Complete
Automotive Repair
"Class A Mechanic"
TIRE SALES, SERVICE & REPAIR
ARCHS IGS
527-0881
24 Goderich St. E. SYR
frl:l
Allan Carter, Broker
• Home Auto
- Commercial
• Farm
522-0399 Seaforth
1-800-265-0959 Strathroy
/o)
THANK -YOU
Thanks to Mayor Dave Scott and
his generous helpers for their
part in making Saturday's BBQ a
great success.
We raised approximately
8800.00 for
Jesse's Journey
Thanks to all who donated!
Donations are still being accepted
at our store until Sept. 28, 1998.
Let's see what we can achieve for
a very worthwhile cause.
TMS HURON EXPOSITOR, SEPTEMBER 43, 1994-5
1
SEAFORTH INSURANCE
BROKER LTD. 527-1610
• Home
• Commercial
• Auto
• Farm
• Life
• Out of Province
Travel Insurance
Barb Watt Joanne Williamson Lynn Pleach, Ken Canino 41 Main St. S. Seaforth
Friday, September 2S, 1998
10 am - 2 pm
RegistereNurse on site for specialty care in:
�RNS
-'' CALLUSES
TOE NAILS
CALL 527-1990 to make an appointment
*A 45.00 charge will apply.
Rx Central Keating's Pharmacy
67 Main St., Seaforth — 527-1990
Review of activities at
SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Living With Cancer the diagnosis and treatment for cancer is bound to
be STRESSFUL. Come and,join us in teaming the skills needed to cope
with sleeplessness, depression, fear of appointments, pain and other
.issues associated with cancer. This informative session win ►,geld Wed.
Sept. 23/98 @ Seaforth Manor Activation Room, Lower Level at 7:30
p.m. Presenter: Dorothy Chapman. Everyone is welcome - survivors.
family members, and friends. No registration necessary. Sponsored by
Seaforth Cancer Support Group and Huron Hospice Volunteer Senlce.
For further information, please contact Shirley Dinsmore at 527-0655 or
527-1005.
50/50 Draw feeling lucky? Without a ticket you wont stand a chance.
Tickets available from Hospital Auxiliary Members or at, Seaforth
Hospital Booth at the Fair Oct. 9 & 10/98. Cost: 51,00 ea. or 3 for 5,2.00.
Winner will be announced at the Seaforth Fair.
PUMPKINS? Do you have an abundance of pumpkins in your garden:'
If so, would you he willing to donate to the Teen Volunteers for the
purpose of Fall pumpkin decorating for the patient areas. If you are able
to help. please give Frances Teatero, Program Co-ordinator a call at 522-
1619 as soon as possible.
OB PREADMIT CLINICS if you are 36-38 weeks pregnant and
planning to deliver at Seaforth Community Hospital. you are requested
to pre -register by contacting Nursing Office (519)527-3(X)). Clinics by
appoinlmenf ONLY each Sunday beginning Ci 1 p.m.
.
1 STAYAWAY
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Hydro
ice storms, high winds or fallen
tree limbs can bring hydro
lines down. And even a
fallen wire that ��
seems dead can be .,
dangerous. So don't
go near the wires,
warn others not to
and report the fallen
wires to your local ,
hydro or theAP/
police as soon -or/ r
as possible.
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If a line falls N-411'!11,,,,
across your r, �\�
vehicle, stay , t�,�'►
inside until a hydro `=
crew removes the line. , r
If there's a live power line
touching your car, putting even
one foot on the ground can be a
fatal move to make.
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