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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-06-26, Page 4 (2)5414=9 Decision shapes future We rather hesitate to muddy the raters on the subject of Exeter's future rater supply, but there is one major point 'tat perhaps has been overlooked and hould be brought to the attention of local esidents because it directly affects the uture growth of the community. A couple of years ago,it was pointed out 'y ministry of environment officials that he future growth of Exeter would be imited by the capacity of the Ausable fiver to handle the town's sewage effluent. At that time, it was noted that the !apacity of the river had almost been •eached and probably would be when the iresent extension of the lagoon is com- peted to handle the balance of the com- nunity now being readied for sewer ser - rice. In simple terms, Exeter is nearing the imit of its growth potential, and similar to nany communities in Ontario, will be ad- ,ised by government officials in Toronto hat no new development will be permitted Iue to the lack of stream flow to handle ?ffluent. So, how does that relate to the present lebate over acquiring new water sources? Actually, it may relate very closely. )ecause the present proposal of the PUC is :o pump an average of 159,500,000 gallons of ,nater per year over the next 20 years. All that water is coming from sources which are located upstream from the iagoon site and are therefore not available For use in the flushing of effluent down the river. If that amount of water was pumped into the stream, it is quite conceivable that Exeter's growth could be extended beyond that which is now possible. The only way. of course, to provide that extra stream flow is to hook into the Lake Huron water supply system and make that other 159.500.000 gallons of water available for stream flushing. It should be clearly understood that the preceding is strictly an opinion and would obviously require more expert ad- vice and consultation to ascertain if in fact the suggestion is plausible. If it is. then a most important decision rests with Exeter council and PUC. In fact tt could be the most important decision ever made in this community because it will basically determine its growth poten- tial. Hinging on that decision will be the development of new subdivisions. the es- tablishment of new industries and jobs. and the extension of present industries. There are many factors. pro and con. which must be given consideration. First and foremost. perhaps, is the question of just what extent the residents of Exeter want to see their community grow. Some will consider the present size to be most favorable, while others may opt for a small, but continued growth each year. Cost is certainty another of the major considerations. The initial cost of piping water from Lake Huron is almost triple the cost of adding two new wells in Usborne Township. In addition, borrowing money at today's rate of interest actually doubles the initial cost by the time it has been paid. In effect, that means that the two new wells in Usborne would cost $802,000, while the water from Lake Huron would cost over $2,300,000. Operating costs are also much higher with lake water. Another factor is the quality of water. At the present time, there is no question that the fresh water from the wells in Usborne is much more enjoyable to the palate than the water from Lake Huron. On the other hand, the supply from the lake has to be classed as guaranteed, while there is no indication of whatvariance may appear in the future from the wells. In addition, shallow wells are more susceptible to contamination from pesticides or accidental oil or gas spills than Lake Huron water. But, nuclear power development along the lake could increase risks of contamination for that supply. Another point is the question of how long Lake Huron water may be available to other communities beyond the present customers. If the present facility reaches capacity it would be questionable if a second outlet would be provided at the same location which is as close to Exeter as any lake source could be. While the community may assume that lake water would be available if required for any reason in the future, this' may not actually be the case. No doubt there are many other con- siderations, but the foregoing are ample to point out the complexity of the decision now before the community. That is a decision that must be shared by many people because it appears too weighty for only three men who sit as com- missioners on the Exeter PUC. The planning board, industrial commis- sion and council should be consulted for their opinions, because it is a decision with which they will have to adhere in the years that lie ahead. It appears important enough to call a meeting of all those involved and concern- ed before the final decision is made on the community's future water supply. pt TIi $ FLftut&E- IT vot"51tT REQUIRE FOE. OF ANY %SNP Need area promotion group? Committees to study com- mittee reports? That sounds akin to one of the senior government's make-work programs, but actually it was a decision of Exeter council regarding the action to take on the town hall and street num- bering proposals. There is no quarrel with the procedure. because both reports submitted by the committee§ were for consideration only and not for immediate decision without further study by council. However, there is an argument over the fact neither of the council committees was handed a deadline. Council, in their wisdom, gave the original committees deadlines, and should have followed the same procedure for themselves. A suggestion that it may take up to a year before the town hall committee comes back with a report is ridiculous. The question has been delayed too long now, and requires more expedient action than indicated. While no one expects members of council to spend the hot summer months debating such important matters, a report by the end of September does not appear beyond reason. Council should set guidelines for themselves as they do for others and set a target date for the reports while the original presentations are basically fresh in people's minds. + + The writer recently joined a bunch of card sharks for their annual golf outing at Pike Lake near Mt. Forest and while there, we ran into a rather interesting family. Sharing our lodging for the weekend were members of the Smith family. That's the actual name, and not one chosen to protect the identity of the people in question. The original Smith family consisted of seven sons and seven daughters, and similar to many families got together only for funerals. On one such occasion, the brothers decided that they should gather to renew acquaintances on less austere circumstances and so• they decided on the Smith family golf tournament. That started about 15 years ago and included the brothers only. it was then decided to include brothers-in-law, nephews, etc. and at this year's reunion a second generation was instituted when one of the brothers brought along his teenage son. Oh, the joys of teaching One of the things 1 like about teaching is that you are not stuck with the same old stupid faces Year after year. as you are in most jobs. In teaching, you get a whole set of new stupid faces every year. They come in every Sep- tember. an entire new gallery of mugs. and sit there looking at you. They look pretty dumb. like any other representative group of people, and you have a moment of despair. It doesn't help much when some of the faces are closed and sullen, and others are sneaky or inslent or just plain devised for hellery. "Oh, boy! This is no bumper crop. More bumptious than bumper. Looks like a rough year ahead." But some strange alchemy goes to work during the year, and by June. if you're lucky. those faces are no longer strangers, but a host of new friends and acquaintances. You have discovered all kinds of things. in the give and take of the classroom, about these bodies, and now you know them as aspects of the human spirit however blurred or bent, in some cases. That girl with the big bust and bum and the pouty mouth, whom Times Established 1873 you registered as Hot -Lips Houlihan type back in Sep- tember. has turned out to be a sweet child who blushes if you ask her what time it is. Conversely. that angelic, straight -looking girl with the big honest eyes and the good man- ners. whom you spotted as a potential prize student last fall, was hauled into court last winter for being drunk and disorderly, a nice way of saying she beat up two cops. That little ratty guy with the dirty hair and the sides falling out of his sneakers. who looked like a refugee from a Dickensian or- phanage, has proved himself a track star and a whiz in gram, mar. Mouthy Mary, whose vocabulary would scorch the skull of a sailor, writes tender, lyric poetry. Jeff. whom you put down as a hockey bum in January, who missed three days a week from exhaustion has emerged since the ice melted as one of the most sensitive writers you've ever taught. • Alan, the belligerent guy you tangled with on the first y of school, and the second, and the fourth and the eighth, a real hood, has come out of his surly cocoon as a football player, a pretty fair Advocate Established 1881 artist, and the best mower of lawns you have hired in years. You are buddies. Cynthia, one of the few familiar faces last September, because you had taught her the year before, hasn't changed at all. She'sust as sweet and lovable and full of fun as always, and you think of her almost as a daughter. And Joe, the other familiar face last September, because you had also taught him the year before, hasn't changed a bit either. He's just as slippery. conniving, lazy and genial as always, and while you've grown to accept him, as you would a member of your family with the same faults. It's the same every year. You start out with caterpillars, and if you are patient and tolerant and allow people to find their way out of their cocoons, you wind up with butterflies, some gray and dull, others brilliant and many -hued, but all of them fluttering life. And you keep track of. volt' butterflies, as best you can. Here's a doctor who didn't know a dangling participle from a ruptured appendix when you were trying to teach him Shakespeare, 10 years ago. And there's a university Amalgamated 1924 Also included in the gathering were some "friends of the family" and the aggregation numbered about 35, attracting Smiths from as far away as Florida and New Brunswick. We're not certain all families could get along quite as well as the jovial Smiths, but they were certainly having themselves a real ball as they played cards, golf, shuffleboard, horseshoes and sat around reminiscing with relatives and friends whom they hadn't seen since last year's reunion. Now, we know some distaff reader is immediately going to ask what the womenfolk were doing. Well, ' they apparently choose the weekend to get together as well, although not to the organized degree of the men. However, we were advised many of the wives congregated for an outing to a play or a night out on the town. It's a most unusual family gathering, but one that was ob- viously being enjoyed to the fullest. It sure beats funerals'. + + + Community spirit is still alive to hit and all the local events and well throughout the district would probablybenefit from the and one need only read through overalpackage promotion. the entertainment pages of this P g newspaper from week to week to It would be a type of area prove that fact. tourist council, and while those The first big event of the organizations have never been overly successful. they've only current season was the Grand Bend Buffaloburger Fest, been attempted on a much wider followed closely this past week by basis. the Fiddler's Contest in Hensall Using the small base from and the spring fair in the same Lucan 10 Hensall, Grand Bend to community. Kirkton, it may prove more Plans are already underway in successful and turn the area into Dashwood for Friedsburg Days another Frankenmuth. and the Lucan Fair committee it's something some keen are also hard at work on members of the organizing groups could well consider, at arrangements for their gala least to the point of staging a show. The Kirkton Garden Party is on tap for next month. general meeting to see if the idea In Exeter, we've got Canada has any merit. Love like Wandering Jew A year ago a friend gave me a love is a desperate game of blind - shoot of Wandering Jew which .,..,man's bluff. Each person has his proved to be the most prolific 'own little bucket, empty and thing to hit this house in ages. In waiting to be filled with love, but no length of time that tiny slip with no love of his own to pour out had grown to fill to overflowing for someone else. the pot I'd planted it in. I finally She goes on to say that for divided the clump into four, Christians the pcture should be broke off slips by the dozen and different. "God loves us. He has startedthem in whatever jar or poured out His love upon us, not container I could lay my hands with a careful and measured on. Friends, neighbors, relatives hand but with incomprehensible were invited to help themselves generosity, splashing and to the ever increasing tendrils overflowing our tiny containers. and start plants for themselves. Enough so that we can channel As a result many houses have that amazing love out to other Wandering Jew trailing inside thirsty people." and out in great verdant abun- "Look," we can cry to the dance. world, "my bucket is full! God The strange thing about that loves me, see what He's done for plant is the more I give away, the me. And there's more, for better and healthier it grows. And everyne...all you can hold! Come it needs little encouragement and see how wonderful it is'.' from me...a bit of water now and How come they don't hear us'? then is all it seems to require. What must we do to make them One small piece inadvertently listen? Perhaps one reason they fell into a pot that already had don't listen is because they see no another kind of plant growing in evidence of love in our actions to it. Almost like magic it rooted others. So they doubt we have and is now producing strong, anything to share with them. shiny tendrils three feet long They can't see our love for God, which drape themselves but they can see how we act gracefullyover the side of the towards our friends, our families, jrdinierthreatening to take those who may irritate or in - over from the original plant convenience us. And they judge which was a rather finicky hard- how much we love God by our to -get -along -with piece of foliage actions. anyway. Another reason they don't pay Love is like Wandering Jew. us much attention is that we may The more we give away, the more be trying to pass off something there is to give. We can't kill the that's fake for the real thing. We source by taking too much from may be trying to replace personal it; a tiny bit of it will often pity for love with endless talk produce amazing results. about how spiritual we are, etc. Many people seek love but are Personal piety is all turned in - unable to find it, or having found ward; love is all turned out - it are unable to keep it. Most tend ward. to look for love from others Love is the real thing...it grows rather than find it within and multiplies by the bushel just themselves to share with others. as my Wandering Jew plant. All "Love me first and then I will substitutes are like the plastic love you in return," is their version...nice to look at perhaps motto. but with no life, or warmth or Eillen Gruber, in her book, To growing shoots to share with Live in Love, says the search for others. Week celebrations coming up this weekend. followed by the rodeo on Labor Day weekend, while over in Zurich they'll soon be scrubbing the pots for this year's Bean Festival. Add to the list the hundred and one "smaller" events throughout the area in one year and you come up with enjoyment and excitement for all ages. Sooner or later, it may be wise for all the area groups to get together and form a general council for promoting all these special events on an overall basis as well as the individual ad- vertising that accompanies each event. Many people have been over to Frankenmuth for that com- munity's festival, which attracts thousands and thousands of people, and there's no reason to doubt that this area could get together to pack 'em in as well. Combined advertising of all the special events in this area would indicate that on practically any given weekend it's a good place Our response to now By ELMORE BOOMER Counsellor for Information South Huron For appointment phone: 235-0560 or 228-6291 SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A. and ABC Publisher Robert 5outhcott Editor Bill Batten -- Advertising Manager Assistant Editor - Ross Hough Plant Manager les Webb Composition Manager David Worby Phone 235-1331 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Moil Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation March 31, 1975 5,249 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $9.00 Per Year; USA $11.00 +CNA professor. one of the swift, eager minds you touched on her way through the system. John has become an artist, and is going to marry Trish. and you think it's a great match and hope the best for them. because you knew them away back then, when they were kids. 'And another John and a Bill are journalists. and Betty is a fine nurse, and Florence is going to be a lawyer, and Mike takes off your storm windows and Betty works in the travel agency. and gives you the best of service and Pete is going to take you fishing to a special trout stream as soon as school is out and Rosemary has had four babies, every one a beauty. it's like pulling teeth to make them admit it, but most teachers become pretty fond of most of their students over the course of a year. A few of them, of course, only a mother could love. i can think of no fate more horrible than being a teacher who doesn't like kids. and no better life than for one who does. SO Years Ago Sunday and Monday were red letter days for the members of the Elimville Church, the oc- casion being the fiftieth jubilee, followed on Wednesday by a great picnic for members of the Sunday School. When the news reached Hensall Sunday, that Doctor Peck had died in St. Joseph's Hospital, London, a shadow of gloom was cast over the whole community. Centralia has every reason to be proud of their cattlemen, Byron Hicks and William Colwell who since Christmas have handled in the nieghbourhood of 4,000 cattle. Archie, the eleven -year-old son of Mr. & Mrs. Albert Etherington had a narrow escape from death Monday afternoon while driving a team on a cultivator. The team bolted when frightened by a motorcycle and became tangled in a fence. Neither the boy nor the team were hurt. 15 Years Ago Rev. Edgar Roulston, pastor of the Lucan and Clandeboye United Churches is retiring from the ministry at the end of June and settling in Exeter. Construction of Thomas Street from Carling to Marlborough was started this week by Sam Sweitzer for John Burke realtor. The street will provide access to the lots in the centre of the subdivision. Mrs. Franklin Skinner en- tertained at a trousseau tea in honor of her daughter, Mary, bride of Saturday. Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Dixon, Betty and Jim leave today by plane for Vancouver from which city they will visit Victoria, Seattle. and other points. The biggest holiday in history flooded into Grand Bend and the Pinery Park over the July 1 weekend. Splitting wood is easier if the position of knots and grain are considered. Shade from trees delays snow melt. 25 Years Ago Bob Weeks, RR 4, Clinton, who was engaged by the Exeter Legion to advertise their frolic by means of his loud speaker equipment, won the new car in the raffle. Huron's Male Choir held their annual supper picnic at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Emery Desjardine, Grand Bend. Ivan Hunter-Duvar was one of the seven graduate radio officers who received their wings at Clinton Radar School last week. Street signs for Exeter have been received by the Lions Club and will be erected soon. Mr. Ed Westcott has purchased the brick residence of Mr. & Mrs.Thomas Coates, Andrew Street. ev. R.A. Brook, minister of ft churches for the past anda12 yeears was honored by the congregation prior to his departure. A hug for Canada Canada Week - June 24 to July 1 - gives us an opportunity to af- fectionately salute "our home and native land". Canada has been cast in the role of a conciliator in our world today. While Canadian forces certainly made their mark in various wars, it has been in peacekeeping efforts that a place has been found for our -country. This is not by accident. Finding a place has been a Canadian preoccupation. And such a search has been pursued by compromise and conciliation. One of the marked differences between the evolution of Canada and the United States is the lack of violent revolution in the for- mer, and its presence in the latter. It may be that violence has remained part of the United States culture while compromise characterizes Canadian society. This may be one reason for American draft -dodgers finding a home here. Geography has played its part in the Canadian compromise. Our fathers came to a wilderness and hewed out farms from the forests. Many opine that Canadians have a fortress mentality. Our compromise with nature is one of degrees. The small clearing has given way to the broad fields of agricultural life. This latter has in turn given way to urbanization. Farmers in- creasingly make up less and less of our population. Population has become con- centrated in the arable parts of the country. Most Canadians live within forty miles of the American border. Population - wise we are the Chile of the north. One of the compromises being forced upon us is the need to expand our population base in 10 Years Ago such a way as to save our Hon. C. S. MacNaughton and agricultural land. Mrs. MacNaughton attended the Climate tois one of elements that hashe opening night and presentation of geographical King Henry Part One at the shaped our life style and forces us Stratford Shakespearean to live carefully. The far northern Festival. reaches of our country is Grant Walker, son of Mr. & developed only on the basis of Mrs. George Walker, of 104 tremendous expense. The ten - Queen St., Hensall, was scrat- dency has been to stay where it is ched by a stray cat Wednesday warm. evening and has begun receiving But this compromise is fiyid. anti -rabies inoculations Thur- The call of the north is upon us. sday for 14 days. There are resources to be Mr. & Mrs. Wallace Seldon developed. Tfiere is quietness to celebrated their 25th wedding be enjoyed. There is a frontier to anniversary Saturday in• St. be explored. There is a territory Catharines with family and to be claimed. From the south friends. there is the drift to the north Barbara Ann Gardiner, which will ever be stronger. Cromarty, has taken a position in Geography has east its the Stratford General Hospital as determinations over us in other nurses assistant. ways. We are a nation over Mr. & Mrs. Alex McBeath of against the American fact. The f(lppen were taken by surprise compromise of nationhood was Monday evening by about 50 forced upon us by the American neighbors, friends and relatives aggressive acqujsition of all who gathered at their home to empty land. celebrate their 25th wedding Nor is this all. We would not be anniversary. making plans for the north as quickly as we are if there was not just as aggressive a giant just over the pole. Russia is ready to explore and claim any empty land or untravelled sea. So to maintain our place, we deploy our resources to make the nor- thern emptiness Canadian. Anyone would think that we have enough compromises and conciliations in the above list. All of these add up to one of the highest expense accounts just to keep the countryviable. No other people capita just to deter- mination is ex- pensive. One tremendous compromise worked into our very life is bilingualism. Two peoples basically different in culture, language, attitude and religion, have to sit down together. There have been overt battles and running provocations. The 1970 crisis reminds us of the delicate balance between different peoples. Amazing as it seems, this compromise has been suc- cessful in some degree at least up to this time. Our founding fathers stretched their imaginations to form another compromise. Different colonies had to be united in such a way that each one would be satisfied and so that enough power would be available to make the central government effective. This federation has many strains and almost break- downs — but here we are a nation of ten provinces. The art of concilation is the supreme Canadian charac- teristic. It turns out to be a fact that every compromise agreed to, every resolution accepted becomes an enrichment to the nation, a gift to the world. The challenges go on apace. The native peoples are making their claims. Any fair judgment between the first peoples and the colonizers will enlarge our sympathies and strengthen us greatly. We are still making our place against American pressure. This time it is not a matter of empty land but a smothering, dominant culture. This struggle for a Canadian uniqueness whilst maintaining a generous spirit is bound to be a matter of maturation. The list of compromise and conciliatidn goes on apace. The developer must face the con- servationist. management must work with tabour; freedom and bureaucracy must find a balance; the east and the west must know each other. The Canadian identity then is bound up in finding credible answers to all sorts of competing pressures. It will demand basic changes from all of us. it is exciting to give Canada a special hug at this birthday time. pay as muc per be a nation. The to be Canadian 1