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Times-Advocate, 1987-04-15, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, April 15, 1987 Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgama ed 1924 BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1985 imes dvocate Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario, NOM ISO ' Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386. A Phone 519.235-1331 r LORNE EEDY Publisher JIM BECKETT Advertising Manager BILL BATTEN Editor HARRY DEVRIES Composition Manager ROSS HAUGH Assistant Editor DICK JONGKIND Business Manager SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada: $25.00 Per year; U.S.A. $65.00 C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS 'A' rnhiosopny 1s requireu The question of recreation funding remains as one of _the_most contentious for all area municipalities, and while there'are no easy answers, it is becom- ing clear that the solution rests primari- ly with those municipalities reaching a general consensus on a basic philosophy or statement of purpose. In recent years, various municipalities have implemented a variety of funding schemes for facilities, programs and participants. In many cases those schemes have resulted in conflicts with neighboring municipalities or even for ratepayers within their own boundaries. Surely, one basic part of the philosophy should be that all ratepayers within the respective municipality be treated equally and that they should be given some freedom in choosing the site for their. recreational pursuit, particular- ly in the matter of convenience. It appears unreasonable, for in- stance, that an Usborne or Stephen resi- dent living on the outskirts of Exeter should be expected to travel to Kirkton• or Huron Park for swimming lessons or that a Hay resident living on the outski s of Hensall should go to Zurich for hockey or figure skating. . However, often supporting grants from municipalities tend to remove the choice for some ratepayers. Perhaps the more important issue in recreation philosophies pertains to who or what will be subsidized or whether there will be subsidies at all from municipal coffers. Over the past couple of years, there have been divergent viewpoints in that regard. Some municipalities provide 'direct subsidies for facilities, others pro= -vide them for participants., --and even others have combinations of those two, either directly or indirectly. Even age is a factor that some use. This is obviously the most difficult question on which to reach a general con- sensus; yet it is also the most important in establishing -equitable policies through which municipalities can remove some of the conflicts they face from within and outside their boundaries.. - Some- advance has been made in that regard through the joint meetings held over the past couple of years in this area and officials should be encouraged to con- tinue in that pursuit. . One common denominator that has also appeared is that the majority of elected officials believe that any grants they provide should' be aimed solely at their own ratepayers and that too is a st ep in the right direction. The theory is good, and while it will be a struggle to make it equitable, it has more advantages than any policies and practices of the past. Under the scheme, Exeter contributes only to Exeter par- ticipants and few can argue with that. Part of its success may rest with neighboring municipalities adopting the same philosophy and there is ample evidence to suggest that if that happens throughout the area, recreation funding, will become more equitable and stable than ever before. It's a goal that all - municipalities should consider, although the mechanics will naturally be subject to change and future conditions. Perhaps even the philosophy will change, but it can't be changed at present because none exists and that is the important first step. British can teach us Canadians have always tended to think that the British are' just a little more civilized than we in the new world. Last week they proved it again when British M.P.s voted by a wide majority . not to reinstate the death penalty. Not that the feeling is unanimous. Surveys in Britain show, just as they do in Canada, that a large number of peo- ple want the death penalty brought back (70 percent in Britain). In addition, Britain, as Canada, is ruled by a government that has shown many of the same right-wing tendencies that brought the death penalty back in the U.S. Hopefully the British decision, along with statistics that show murders drop- ped by 20 percent last year, may make Canadian MPs reconsider what seems -a sure move toward bringing back execu- tion as a method of,rpunishment. Blyth Citizen Trips needn't be costly Sometimes it takes the simple comment of a child to help up keep our values and goals straight. One of the current popular trends in elementary schools is to take children of the graduating class on. a trip. Sometimes the students go to Toronto for the day. Sometimes it is stretched out over several days - to Ottawa, Quebec City or some other fairly exotic location. The costs are usually borne by the students, their parents, or in part by the rest of the communi- ty through various fund-raising efforts. In an earlier column i talked about a young lad who had never even been to London and thus would benefit tremendously from such an excursion. A number of years ago my Grade 7-8 students were able to get a grant which_enabled them to visit for a week with a Kenor class. They, in turn, came t, Southwestern Ontario to be hosted by us for a week. It was one of those once hi a lifetime trips for that group and the staff who accompanied them. We flew by jet right over the sparkling blue waters of Lake Superior. During the week we By the 7 Way by Syd Fletcher visited the Royal Mint, Man and Nature Museum, Lower Fort Garry in Winnipeg. We went through a pulp and paper mill, and even went up in a hush plane over Lake of the Woods. When we returned at the end of the week we knew that nothing could possibly match, the excite- ment of that trip. The next year we decided on a much small scale event. We went to a local church - camp in January for two blustery cold days. The kids snowshoed, cross- country skied, did compass work, built survivalshelters, and spent all their spare time sliding on their backsides down a very. icy hill. One Grade. 8 boy came to me after the two days and'said, in all sincerity, "You know sir, I real- ly enjoyedthe trip to Kenora last year, but this year... it was the very best." Now as an adult and a teacher I had pretty strong opinions about which trip had more educational value but a 13 year-old's point of view was certainly much dif- ferent. Perhaps he had been able to look beyond the glitter of an airplane ride -and the great distances involved to the social contact, the vigorous exercise and the battle against the elements *hich the last }rip had offered. At any rate, I think it is impor- tant that we realize that great amounts of money don't have to be spent on school trips to be of high quality. Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited PARDON ME - 15 THIS SEAT TAKEN? L EFIC Can celebrate There -are times when the troubles of the world become so stifling that it is practical to get into arguments for which there is no easy answer; or for that mat- ter, -`for which any answer is basically worthless. Most people have been present on occasions when speakers have attempted to relate a story and have become bogged down in a minor detail that has no conse- quence on the outcome or pur- pose for the story. The speaker may have difficul-. ty recalling the exact name of a person involved or even a date and after audibly debating the issue with himself, admits that it doesn't really matter because it has no real bearing on the point. being made. If you're looking for such an argument to escape the realities of the current time, consider a point being raised by a British Columbia man who has thrown a bit of a wet blanket on plans for a massive celebration to usher in the 21st century. For many people. that debate is pointless, because they pro- bably won't be around to mark the even! anyway. However, this gentleman claims that the 21st century will not start on January 1, 2000, but actually will fall on January 1, 2001. His contention is that the first year of the Christian era must have been number 1 A.D:, sug- gesting 0 A.D. would have look- ed silly on calendars. If the first year was number 1, the hun- Bunny The minds of our children are filled with a host of mythological creatures. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus make toys at the North Pole all year. Old Nick delivers them at Christmas in a sleigh drawn by reindeer. Rudolph's nose guides them through snowstorms, and fat old Santa squeezes through millions of grimy, narrow chimneys. ' Any child .who can believe in those goings on will believe in leprechauns on St. Patrick's Day, in witches on Halloween, and in fairies, elves, giants, dragons and unicorns. No wonder that the Easter Bun- ny is accepted as readily as Dad's paycheck. Both are taken 'for planted. : The evidence is un- mistakable: the Easter Bunny must be real because it (he,she? ) delivers the goods. Our kids get excited about Easter immediately after their spring wardrobes have been pick- ed, tried on, exchanged, tried on again, worn and scattered around the housewith all the rest of their clothes. - - As soon as the first bare patch of grass appears in the yard. Duncan is on the lookout for anything resembling an oversiz- ed, white rabbit or hare carrying a basket filled with packaged chocolates, covered on the top with multicoloured excelsior. So far he has reported several groundhogs, numerous squirrels and chipmunks, the cat from across the creek, and the Avon lady. The Easter Bunny doesn't .Ire' dredth and final year must have been 100. So. not only is there a risk that the 21st century will be ushered in too soon. his argument would indicate that we've also been in- correct. in welcoming in the Batt'n Around .with likThe Editor decades and centuries of the past. There is almost 13 (or is it 14? ► years to decide the issue of what date will be chosen to mark the turn of the century, although given the penchant most have for staging parties, the simple solu- tion may be to have two giant celebrations and appease both sides of the argument. * * * * * * One of the dangers inherent in engaging in bitter arguments is that your opponent could become vindictive and that's a situation that crops up more frequently than most would think. It is one of the. human foibles that can make life miserable for people, not only those on whom vindictiveness is placed, but those who carry the grudge around until they seize the oppor- tunity to get even. There are, however, those who arise above that urgeand have delivers come until Easter Sunday, 1 told him. except sometimes it t he,she?.) snoops around the house taking stock of which children are good and which are PETER 'S POIN"I' • twice the virtue of being able to bury the hatchet and get on with other things. A prime example of that arose at the recent meeting of Exeter council when the appointment of Fred Mommersteeg was approv- ed to handle the chore of looking after the town's flower beds this season. As readers will know, Fred was engaged in a rather bitter battle with council a few months ago in relation to a TV dish at his residence on Gidley St. and that resulted in charges and counter- charges and some rather unplea- sant exchanges with council members. Given those circumstances, there would have been many who would have resorted to covert tactics that would have made his appointment an impossibility. Sure, there were some raised eye -brows when the recommen- dation was made at council, along with a couple of off-the-cuff comments to indicate some had not forgotten the dispute, but they were not vindictive in any way and were espoused more in jest. People who have driven past the Mommersteeg residence know full well that he will be a most capable caretaker for .the town's flower gardens this year• His appointment also clearly indicates that council members are most capable caretakers of the town's business and, almost without exception, make deci- sions with their heads and not their hearts. It's an example of leadership that more should follow. qtr goods • bad, so that it t let's stick to the neuter gender, since i have no in- formation that points inany other direction ► can sort out its stock.. So many Laura Secor-d eggs, so . many -chocolate images of itself. so many packages of Reese's Pieces... As Easter draws -near, Duncan has now enlisted Stephanie and Alexander as sentinels. All weekend they stalk the grounds, looking for a -white, bushy tail here, a long pair of ears there. Alexander is really being a good sport. At 8 his faith in the Buriny is not as firm as it used to be. "When i was young,..." is one of his favourite phrases these days. But he doesn't spoil the r • for "the children", as he calls the twins. The kids are out there in their splash suits and rubber boots, " discovering all the mysterious things that reappear in the spring: hurls and sprouts andold leaves and a faded little ball (hat they forgot to bring into the shed before the first snow arrived. They listen to the sounds of spring. they breathe the fresh spring air, but most of all they try. to catch a glimpse of the Easter Bunny. Today i was working on something that had nothing whatever to do with bunnies. After all. i have to earn money to help all those mythological he- ings to satisfy the kids, Suddenly .all hell broke loose. There was wild yelling outside. Stephanie rang the back doorbell like a maniac, while Alexander and Duncan stormed in the front door, their rubber boots oozing mild. "Daddy, Daddy, the Bunny Rabbit was here! Come quick! We found some Easter eggs." Before i could extract myself from behind the desk, all three of them invaded my office and plunked the evidence right on top of my clean manuscript: "Easter eggs, Daddy! We found them under one of the apple trees." Now I'm the last person to disillusion a child's beliefs in the supernatural. But when rabbit excrement in the form of shiny little brown pellets is deposited right on my new printout, i feel justified in delivering a brief lesson in natural history. And when that was done, and when their little hands had been, scrubbed, i said: "Let's- just be thankful that Mom isn't home right now", and I sent them hack out to continue their vigil for the real Easter Bunny.