Huron Expositor, 2007-07-25, Page 5Opinion
The Huron Expositor • July 25, 2007 Pogo 5
Reader incensed by Huron County's
portrayal in recent Toronto Star column
To the Editor,
Like everyone else in our county
I was rather incensed by the arti-
cle published in the Toronto Sun
recently about Huron County.
This is the wonderful area in
which I chose to raise my children
- and I will never look back with
regret on that decision.
I never had to worry about guns
and gangs with my kids. I never
had to worry about the kind of edu-
cation they received because I
knew first hand that it was top-
notch because of the dedicaton of
both the kids and the teachers.
They never lacked for self develop-
ment opportunities and their lives
were richer for the opportunities to
commune with the natural world
as well.
Our kids had the strong support
of all the people in our church and
in our community throughtout
their lives, and they are better peo-
ple for that. And when my kids
were sick, I never had to wait long
for medical attention. So I was
somewhat insulted when Ms
Blizzard chose to focus on the neg-
ative in her article.
But Ms. Blizzard is not a travel
reporter. She is a political one. I
went back and read the whole
series of articles by her in the
Toronto Sun. I understand that the
writer's mission was to get out of
Toronto and find out what every-
one in the rest of the province is
feeling about provincial politics.
Of course, she is going to be look-
ing for the problems each of us per-
ceives in our own home areas. It is
very unfortunate that she focussed
firstly on situations such as child-
hood obesity, drinking and drug
abuse.
But she talked to the health pro-
fessional who is working on those
issues. There are issues with chil-
dren and obesity, sure. But I've
seen those problems everywhere
I've travelled, and as a former edu-
cator, I have seen more issues
related to nutrition and lifestyle
than the opportunities for kids to
be active.
Parents in our area go the extra
mile to allow their kids to play on
school sports teams. Many rural
kids also assist with chores and
participate in more outdoor pur-
suits because those opportunities
are more available to them.
As for drinking, I feel that statis-
tics may show a disproportionate
number of young people dying at
the wheel because of a need to
drive. But most young people, in
my experience, ensure that they
have a DD, leave their car behind
and take a taxi or stay over if they
are not able to drive.
They are much more responsible
than many adults we know. Are
there opportunities for our kids?
Sure there are. If they are not
interested in sports, then there are
many opportunities for kids to par-
ticipate in the arts. .
Besides the theatre and dance
opportunities which abound
See HURON, Page 6
GIEMEIMENIE
Egmondville's Ken Doig ousts six -time
winner in Ontario amateur golf in 1957
July 21, 1882
At the meeting of Seaforth town
council, the street -watering tax is
fixed this year at 10 cents per foot
frontage. This is the same price as
last year.
Messrs. A. Young of Seaforth and
J.P. Brine of Harpurhey may well
be classed as the "boss" gooseberry
growers of this section. Two of the
specimens weighed one ounce and
measured three and a half inches
by three and three quarter inches.
If these gentlemen persevere in
well doing, they will soon be able to
grow gooseberries as large as small
pumpkins.
While backing up at the siding at
the station, the engirte, tender and
one freight car ran off the track.
After some manoeuvering by the
train and station hands, things
were put right with little delay and
no injury.
A bicycle man gave an exhibition
of his skill recently. He managed
the "animal" admirably and
seemed perfectly at home with it.
He disposed of several machines in
Seaforth.
July 26, 1907
The Robert Bell Engine and
Thresher Company of Seaforth
have received an order from the
township of Cornwall for a 13 ton
road roller, one large sized acme
Steel Frame stone crusher, a
portable bin, sprinkling wagon and
two spreading wagons. This is an
exact duplicate of a similar outfit
sold to the neighbouring township
'of Osgoode recently.
James Dick has purchased the
residence of Mr. Gifford on
Goderich Street for the sum of
$1,800. He also purchased the resi-
dence of Hugh Williams in
Egmondville for $750.
Although not serious in Seaforth,
the recent electrical storm struck
the barn of Mr. Dietrich of
Tuckersmith with no injuries.
People in the house of Mr.
Modeland near Egmondville had a
severe shock, but no person was
injured.
Mrs. A.P. McLean who was camp-
ing with a party at Maitland Falls,
is reported to have caught a pike
over ten feet in length. Type of
pole, line or lure was not men-
tioned.
July 15, 1932
Speaking of the Seaforth races,
A.D. Sutherland said the entry list
was the largest in years. The usual
entry is eight to 10 horses in each
race. Entered in the 2.27 and 2.20
were 13 each and eight in the 2.15.
Born in Egmondville in 1845,
Thomas Daly, the oldest resident of
Egmondville and Seaforth celebrat-
ed his 83rd birthday at the home of
his daughter Mrs. Frank
Devereaux. He is now the oldest
resident in Seaforth who has lived
here continuously.
The electric engine drawing the
train into Seaforth suddenly burst
into flames. A bucket brigade was
formed and the fire extinguished
before much damage was done. It
is thought the cause was a short
circuit. The train left the station 30
minutes late.
Fred Huisser, section man on the
C.N.R. fell off a handcar in the
vicinity of the Bell Engine &
Thresher Co. He suffered a serious
concussion, but no bones were bro-
ken.
August 2, 1957
Betty Storey, 20, of Hullett
Township was crowned Dairy
Princess of Huron County at
Clinton recently. She was chosen
from a field of five contestants.
Ken Doig of Egmondville high-
lighted opening rounds of the
Ontario Amateur golf tournament
at London last week, when he oust-
ed Toronto veteran Phil Farley, six
time winner of the event. Never
more than a hole separating the
pair, Ken sank a 35 foot putt to win
the match.
Keeping an ear open and an eye
peeled for aircraft in Seaforth
skies, five residents are constantly
alert in their vital role as members
of the Ground Observer Corps.
They are Dick Eisler, chief observ-
er, Mrs. W.P. Miller, deputy chief,
Mr. Miller, son Bruce Miller and
Mrs. Irene Smith, Egmondville.
The purpose of the corps is to act
as a supplementary early warning
system in the air defence of
Canada
Miss Jean Hillen of RR2, Walton
has been awarded a silver medal
for earning highest marks in grade
VIII piano in Western Ontario
Conservatory of Music examina-
tions. She averaged over 90 per
cent.
July 28, 1982
Tuckersmith Township council is
interested in having Union Gas
supply natural gas for heat at the
Vanastra recreation centre, espe-
cially for the swimming pool and to
serve any residents of the hamlet
who mi ht like this form of energy.
A let r thanking the Public
Utilitie Commission for their
"prompt ction" in an electrical
breakdown was received from the
Seaforth Canadian Tire at the
PUC's July meeting. Byron
Winsor, owner of the Canadian
Tire, thanked the commission for
its action May 18 when a short out-
side the store resulted in a loss of
hydro and presented danger to the
computer memory.
A recent rash of vandalism is
"cause for concern, but not a prob-
lem we can't solve," says Const.
Charlie Akey of Seaforth police
who added police are increasing
patrols.