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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-05-22, Page 4Page 4 Tknes-Advocate, May 22, 1991 Publisher: Jim Beckett News Editor: Adrian Norte Business Manager: Don Smith Composition Manager: Deb Loin Second Class Mall RegistratIon Number 0386 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ANADA Within 40 mese (65 km.) addressed to non totter cantor addresses 530.00 plea 52.10 ULT. Outbid, 40 miles (65 km.) or any lotto/ cattier address 330.00 plus 330.00 postage (total 360.00) plea 54.20 G.11.7. Outside Canada 366.00 • • pinion _� n 1' n aJ � n A� n n •, n U "Men are never so likely to settle a question rightly as when they discuss it freely." . ... Thomas Macauley Published Erik Wedoesday Menke at 424 Main St., Exeter, Owtarie, NOM ISS by J.W. Eedy tiW{oatioes Ltd. Telephone 14531.2351831 a.a.T. M OS2IOgi Don't shoot the goose that lays the golden egg. Simple rule, and in the case of Grand Bend it definitely holds true. The Grand Bend detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police are very un- derstaffed but give them credit for do- ing a good job this past Victoria Day weekend. Thousands of young people continued a ritual of flocking to the resort com- munity and screamed, yelled and made obnoxious fools out of themselves. F1)1'1'ORI.\1.S Golden eggs in Grand Bend If there were 20 more officers there still wouldn't be enough. And why should there be? If you clamp down and enforce every law including a few by- laws which are being overlooked, you might put a damper on the festive atmos- phere of Southwestern Ontario's favorite summer hot spot. Take away the young people, take away the beer, take away money. Why bite the hand that feeds you, right? In other words, don't disturb the golden goose and her precious eggs. F.G.G. HE WAS SucH A CUBE PEPPY.. Voice of the taxpayer While the truckers who blockad- ed the 401 last week were out to draw attention to their cause - the taxation and legislation that makes it easier for American trucking companies to pick up Canadian busi- ness - there was also a deeper message in the ,protest._ There are people out there who won't take it any more. As government after government seems to embark on a program of ex- perimental taxation - how much can we stand? - the quiet Canadian taxpayer eventually gets annoyed. Picket signs in front of Queen's Park and on the lawn in front of the House of Commons no longer have any true effect, and only now function as a nor- mal part of the scenery. But a line of trucks plugging up traffic on the 401 is a little more obvious. There may have been the odd motorist who found the blockade infuriating, but many sympathized with the protest. Others who perhaps didn't understand the trucker's concerns were still able to equate them with their own frustrations, be it the GST or soaring gasoline, in- come or even municipal taxes. With any luck the government will take some time to listen to the truckers concerns, and will realize that the "level playing field" created under deregula- tion of that industry isn't so level when the American tax structure favours their side. Whether the truckers succeed or not, however, protests like theirs may be- come more of a part of the Canadian spirit than we have seen before. A.n.11. Letter to Editor Dear Editor: One cannot help wondering if many Ontario voters are now hav- ing second thoughts about electing "Boy Scout" Bob and his yap- ping troop of Socialists to "run" Ontario. Political pundits searched the chicken bones after the recent Ontario election and some con- cluded that the voters didn't so much as vote socialist, but voted against "Mumbles" Peterson and his arrogant Liberals. And now we must swallow the result of such folly! The silly Socialists think a 9 Bil- lion Dollar deficit is just the thingl It'll be quite the thing for the poor taxpayers, the farmers and busi- ness people, and a yoke around the necks of our young people when they grow up and have to continue paying, and paying, and paying. Another point ofimpor- tance to many loyal Canadians is the Socialist Anti -Monarchy decision, so soundly con- demned in your timely May 15 soli - 111) tonal. This deci- sion shows the ut- ter contempt the present Ontario government has for the feelings of the majority of the people - the peo- ple they are well peed to represent. The tourist industry is whining about their loss of tourist dollars; surely many Americans admire the word "Royal" and what it repre- sents. They came here, many of them, because we are different - to see visible representation of the Crown, to see the word "Royal" used where they can't. Get rid of that, and continue to overcharge and underservice our visitors and the visitors will stay home. They don't come to see a carbon copy of their own society. Just look at the reception our Queen is having in the Excited States! And ponder, just a bit, Mr. Rae. Yours truly, Gibby (J.M. Gibson) Letter to Editor Non profit housing opening soon Dear Editor: Phoenix of Huron is opening soon!... What's that? Phoenix of Huron is a non-profit Housing project funded by the Ministry of Housing and the Min- istry of Community and Social Services. Three spartnient build- ings have been built in Huron County; one 10 unit in Goderich, on 6 unit in Clinton and one 6 unit in Exeter. 'lite purpose of this honoring pro- ject is to provide a supportive and safe environment for women and their children who are dealing with the devastating effects of woman abuse.Rent isgeared to in- come and the approximate length of stay will be 6 months to 12 months. Some women will be coming into Phoenix after their stay at Survival Through Friend- ship House, the Crisis Shelter for Battered women and their children serving Huron County„ while others who are not in immediate cri- sis will also be entering Phoenix to make use of the Children's pro- grams, counselling and advocacy iii apport ive non-violent atmos- phere. Phoenix of Huron is a place to take some time to begin to heal and adjust to a new way of life while making informed decisions, completing legal processes and finding permanent housing. Esctt building is complete with non -furnished apartments, a meet - Ing room, front office, counsellor's office, a playroom and A MINI- MUM OF STORAGE SPACE. There is a total staff of 7 for all 3 sites and a voluntary Board of Di- rectors from our community. We have already received nu- merous calls from wonderful peo- ple wanting to donate various piec- es of furniture and we have gladly accepted as the families who will be using our services may be in some need of things to set up house. However, WE NEED STORAGE SPACE to put these donations in all three *owns. If any- one knows of anyone who could donate a storage space, it would be a wonderful service to Huron County. The Goderich site phone number if 52A-1620. The Clinton site phone number is 482-5288 and the Exeter site phone number is 235- 3183. • Sincerely yours, The Staff of Phoenix of Huron Digging up the dirt The Victoria Day Weekend usually marks the official start to summer. There is optimism for the coming summer, and memories of Victoria Days past, while trying to forget the time I crashed my bicycle and spent a week in hospital. This year, since I had the first two days of the weekend off, ed- itor's privilege (we . all have to work the Monday because our deadlines don't take holidays), I spent the time with my parents. Instead of heading for the lake, they were plotting to bring the lake to them - by constructing a pond in their garden. Garden ponds, with all their waterfalls, lilies, and goldfish, are a favorite pastime in Eng- land where they don't spend sev- eral months a year frozen solid. But they are catching on over here, as is evidenced by the rela- tive ease with which you can now buy the liners, pumps, fil- ters and other hardware needed to get the job done. This wasn't Mom and Dad's first garden pond. We dug one only a few years ago, but the parents sold that house last year In favour of one with a larger back yard - hence the need for a new and larger pond. Bigger isn't always better, Dad and I agreed as we used a pick- axe and shovel to haul away countless wheelbarrows of soil and hide them down the far end of the yard, where they now join as one long mound - something like your own personal Maginot line. What Mom's going to do with all that dirt is beyond me. If there was one thing we were agreed on though, Dad and I, was that we were going to do it right. The mistakes we made Hold that thought... By Adrian Harte with the last pond were not go- ing to be repeated this time around. Consequently, Dad in- sisted on digging down to a full 75 cm depth at the very deepest point. This, he decides should be deep enough to provide win- ter refuge for the giant goldfish my parents am going to raise. No more tanks of fish in the basement. Mind you, we can't be exactly sure how deep is deep enough. Most of the books on the subject insist that keeping fish out all winter is entirely possible and provide data for the harsh cli- mates of places such as North - em California or Kent. We were also careful to keep the edge of the pond as level as possible, meaning several ago- nizing hours with moist clay and a trowel to bring the liner up to height at the low spots. To keep it all in place, this time, will be a surround of de - gantly shaped bricks thoroughly cemented together. This, how- ever, will not be done until all adjustments to the liner have reached the pinnacle of perfec- tion - which, I hope, is accom- plished long before my next vis- it. The piece de rtssistance for this creation will be the combined waterfall/filtration bed which Dad plans to cascade over the boulders that overhang the pond. Yes, that's right, we dug the pond undemeath huge boulders. The effect is fairly picturesque, but I'll be damed if I can see how the waterfall is going to be as easy as Dad says it is. If it was up to me I'd probably give up and buy one of those ready- made statues with the built-in plumbing. I'm partial to a wom- an holding up an um. I think it would be evocative of an Italian courtyard, but Dad says it would just be tasteless. If the waterfall scheme doesn't pan out, he may just change his mind. By popular demand - We wel- come back Rhonda Vandeworp to the pages of the Times Advo- cate as our summer student. Rhonda is from Wooster Col- lege, Ohio, but says she is still a Canadian at heart. Aside from her general reporting duties to help us through summer vaca- tion time, Rhonda is also armed with a list of feature stories she can't wait to write. Don't be surprised if your name is on that list. Letter to Editor Thanks from Block Parents Dear Sir: My thanks to Chief Harkness of the Exeter Police Force and your- self for the recognition given to me last week on behalf of the Block Parents. The Exeter organization was started by the Beta Sigma Phi so- rority in 1979 under the ambitious guidance of Mary Jane MacDou- gall with help from Kevin Short, formerly of the Exeter Police de - Many other people deserve some praise as well. Eileen Miron (now of Stratford) was in charge for a couple of years. Sue Ann Ra- senberg, Jan Gardiner (Us - borne), Phyllis o lett (Credi- ton)and Kath Hayter (Dash - 111) wood) have been involved for sever- al years. They join Liz Acton, and Joyce Fulton to make this year's committee. We're pleased that the local po- lice recognize our humble contri- bution to the safety of our children. It's the support of the police, local educators and the dedication of all the Block Parents in Exeter and surrounding area which make the system effective. Lois Godbolt Chair Exeter and District Block Parent Committee