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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-02-11, Page 4-4—THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Fob. 11, 2004 Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Tom Williscraft - Publisher Susan Hundertmark - Editor Dionne McGrath -Subscriptions/Classifieds Bernie Pugh Office/Sales Sara Campbell - Reporter Anne Roden - Distribution OUEBECOR MEDIA E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES. LC;CAL - 35.85 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS 33-85 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. USA & Foreign: 35.85 a year in advance, plus $83.20 postage, G.S.T. exempt Published weekly by Signal -Star Publishing at 1 1 Main St., Seaforth. Publication mail agreement no. 40029693 held at Seaforth, Ontario. Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising spoce 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 applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely on offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time.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 undeliverable copies are to be sent to The Huron Expositor, P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ont. NOK 1 WO. PAP Registration No. 7605 Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004 Editorial and Business Offices - 1 1 Main Street.,Seatforth Telephone (519) 527.0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association "We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." Editorial Farmers need our support more than ever Food Freedom Day has always been an enlightening educational tool to demonstrate how little Canadians pay to feed themselves and their families. But, the fact that it takes only 37 days - from Jan. 1 to Feb. 7 - for the average Canadian to earn enough income to buy a year's supply of food must be particularly galling to farmers this year. When so many farmers are close to the breaking point from the never- ending list of economic challenges that plagued them this year, they must be wondering why they're in the business. Certainly, it's not for the praise, gratitude and parades down Main Street for the essential, life-sustaining service they provide. Local farmers who met with Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Ron Bonnett last week in Clinton expressed frustration that it's still up to them to educate consumers about their plight when they're struggling for survival. Bonnett agreed that farmers are feeling "cranky" since political support for agriculture seems to hinge on the public understanding that their comfortable standard of living depends on the bargain in their shopping carts. And, most shoppers don't understand why farmers are going bankrupt when the prices of the commodities they produce, while already cheaper than those in many other countries around the world, haven't seen a further drop in price. Consumers are just starting to understand the high cost of taking the essential resource of water for granted as municipalities strain to meet new standards to ensure a clean water supply. Most of us have strayed so far from our agrarian roots that we would not be able to feed ourselves without farmers. Continuing to take the essential resource of food for granted could easily lead to the same rude awakening of higher costs if we're forced to depend on imported food to keep us alive. Susan Hundertmark How to access us Letters to the Editor and other submissions can be made to us by noon on Mondays at: seaforth@bowesnet.com All letters and submissions must be sign and accompanied by a day -time telephon number. All submissions are subject to editin for both length and content. Don't forget to check out our homepage at: www.seaforthhuronexpositorrom Opinion Granddaughter seeks information about Mary Anderson, of Tuckersmith To the Editor: I am looking for information about Mary J.E. Anderson, nee Sproat 1891-1949. She was the daughter of George Sproat and Mary Black of Tuckersmith Twp. I would like to know when she went to North Dakota and when she returned to the Wingham area. Granddaughter Patricia Hunking RR 4 Brussels More than anything, spanking reveals that parents are all -too -human It's family legend how my mother once brandished a wooden spoon in an attempt to intimidate my sisters and me into better behaviour at the kitchen table many years ago. The alert attention of three little girls quickly dissolved into the mayhem of laughter when the wooden spoon came cracking down onto the table and promptly broke in two. All attempts at corporal punishment that day ended rather abruptly in humour as my mother sheepishly admitted defeat. It's probably because spanking and other forms of physical punishment were so rare in my childhood home that we remember the incident so vividly. Even though my mother was the main disciplinarian in my home, 1 can't remember being hit by her, not physically at least. Her words were far more effective at making us tow the line. She wasn't above threatening violence but since she never followed up with any action, we knew the threats were always empty. It was her disappointment we feared more than anything. She had high expectations for us and high praise for achievement so we did our best to earn that praise. It's a parenting style I picked up by osmosis, as every child does. That's the tough thing about arguing one side or the other about the Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold a parent's right to spank. What's "normal" varies from family to family. And, what's acceptable has changed dramatically from one generation to the next. As the voices sound off for and against the recent ruling, 1 find myself uncomfortable with the extremes of both sides. Susan Hundertmark I scoff at the idea that there is anything loving about the act of spanking. Yet, I don't believe there's anything criminal about a parent who succumbs to the urge to spunk a bottom now and then. In my view, spanking is a failure of parenting, a last ditch effort at control, an adult tantrum and an indication that parents are all -too -human. Parenting is the toughest job I've ever done and as much as they may look that way while sleeping, children are anything but cherubs. Instead, they are little people with huge and complex emotions, many of which they have not yet been taught how to channel into acceptable hehaviour. And, parents are flawed human beings -with huge and complex emotions of their own - who are usually doing their best to add a few more skills to the limited parenting repetoire that was handed down to them from their own parents. The few times I've spanked my kids. I've been at the end of my rope and responding in kind to an out -of -control tantrum by a child who was so full of anger and frustration he (or she) seemed to he looking for a boundary to contain him (or her). Both spankings ended with tears and apologies on both sides. And, they brought home to me that spanking was not okay because I realized that by allowing myself to lash hack in anger and frustration, that's exactly the hehaviour I was normalizing for my kids. Instead, we pound on pillows and talk and talk and talk. Our emotions are still huge but that's okay because we work every day at finding a peaceful resolution to the endless challenges we encounter in life. Streets are closed to traffic when Silver Creek floods south end of town in 1954 FEBRUARY 14, 1879 A stout heavy built specimen of the wandering species of travellers known as tramps came to town last week. He did not seek money but work at whatever consideration the public might give him. We are told he sawed four cords of wood for one of our citizens on Saturday. A very pleasant and successful social was held in the First Presbyterian Church recently under the auspices of the Women's Missionary Society. The chair was occupied by Rev. Peter Musgrove. Addresses were delivered by Rev. Graham, of Seaforth, and Rev M. Coy, of Egmondville, and music by Professor Jones. A young man, the son of Simon Barrows, of McKillop, got a very severe cut on his foot while cutting wood in the bush after the axe slipped. Messrs. Burnett and Dolphin, of Seaforth, have leased the Roxboro flour mill. J. Bulger, of McKillop, has sold the 40 acre farm on which he lived to Thos. McQuade for $2,100. The horse stolen from the stable of Donald Ross, of Brucefield, was found in a farm yard near Renniers Mill at Brucefield. FEBRUARY 19,1904 The January thaw came this year in February. The extremely cold weather of the past three weeks has been succeeded by a welcome mild spell and on Saturday there was a decided thaw. The country roads were impassable on Sunday but now are getting into decent shape. The Mayor called a meeting of the council on Years Agone... Friday to consider the coal situation in town. The council had six tons at the town hall to spare which Mr. Parkes, the manager, very kindly offered for disposal by council. A 25 horse power engine for saw mill purposes was shipped from the Bell Engine works to Tillsonburg. At the annual congregational meeting of the First Presbyterian Church a resolution was unanimously passed increasing the salary of the pastor from $2,400 to $2,700. A. G. Ault, of Seaforth, has placed a cash register in his grocery to keep up with his largely increasing trade. Snow shoeing and tobogganing are very popular amusements this winter. FEBRUARY 16,1929 The businessmen in Hensall, with directors John McIntosh, J. Wesley Beattie and Robert Archibald Jr., of the Seaforth Agricultural Society, were in Stratford attending the convention of fall fairs. Mr. Archibald went on to Toronto as delegate to the provincial convention. A lively game of hockey took place in the Palace rink between two teams of girls, The Pats and The Bunnies. The line-ups included Pats V. Hudson, B. Stevenson, H. Rankin and L. Crowell. Bunnies M. Hildebrand, E. Grieve, B. Edgar, A. Edmunds and O. Nichol. Miss Turner, of Clinton, has taken a position as bookkeeper in the G.A. Sills and Sons Hardware Store. Quite a large job of gravelling has been completed on the boundary line west of Walton. Mr. and Mrs. Angus More. of McKillop, entertained the Mcrry Makers at their home. The evening was spent in playing cards and dancing. FEBRUARY 19, 1954 Mrs. Roy Lawson and Mrs. Evan Hoffman entertained in honour of Mrs. Phoebe Booth who on that day celebrated her 90th birthday. when friends and neighbours gathered to spend the afternoon. The highlights of the day were solos sung by an old friend, Mrs. John M. Govenlock. Rising waters of Silver Creek flooded the Lions Park and thc south section of town. Streets were closed to traffic. Stewart Wigg was elected President of Branch 156 Canadian Legion. He succeeds Leslie Beattie who served two years. Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Holland. of St. Columhan, marked the 40th anniversary of their marriage when members of their family were present. Mr. Holland has been post master and has conducted a general store at St. Columhan for 50 years. They were married by the late Father Whitc. Subscribers of the McKillop Telephone system approved an increase in rates of $4 per annum at the annual meeting held in Carnegie Hall. J. M. Eckert was reappointed Secretary Treasurer and J. Keller Linesman. FEBRUARY 15, 1979 The question of who pays for the maintenance of Seaforth's fire hydrants Ron diDom dev.er«tenddevs COT Isn't there someplace that you find intimidating? hasn't been solved yet but Scaforth council decided Monday to have the matter settled in the courts. Council has argued for sometime that the Fire Arca Board should pay the entire $5,400 cost of fire hydrant maintenance annually. Council threatened to withhold their 1978 payment to FAB if the question couldn't he resolved but relented in December and paid the FAB costs. Tuckersmith Township Council agreed on a new salary schedule for township employees. The salary for the clerk treasurer, John McLachlan was raised to $19,000 from last year's salaiiy of $18,810, plus a car allowance of $1,500. His assistant will continue to he paid at the rate of $3.50 per hour but this is under review. Hensall council approved a six per cent salary raised for themselves and village employees. Under the new bylaws. Reeve Harold Knight will receive $675 per annum and council members will receive $540 for their year's work. After a meeting with Chief John Cairns. Scaforth Mayor John Sinnamon and councillor Brucc Hoelscher both have said the chief is doing a good job keeping police overtime to a minimum. Cairns explained Scaforth's total police overtime hours in 1978 were about half those of other Huron municipalities and that more than half the overtime hours were spent in court. Seaforth Council has reserved a decision the town won't sell the property it owns on Main Street proposed for a fire hall until a site for thc building is definitely settled. by David Lacey 5