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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-08-26, Page 4Pope 4 Ttmes-Advocate, August 26, 1992 .e Publisher: Am Beckett News Editor: Adrian Harte Business Manager. Don Smith Composition Manager: Deb Lord PubNoations Mall Registration Number 0386 SUURSCRIPTION RA_ S• Q NAADA Within 40 .IS. (85 tvn.) addromed to tion Setter minim. addresses *30.00 plea -52.10 O.S.T. -Ar Ontolds 40 Riles (65 San.) or any Setter carrier address :30.00 plies 621.25 (total 51.25) + 3.59 O.S.T. Outside Canada 588.00 inion I;I)I'TORIALS Major contribution to Exeter When Harry Burke moved to Exet- er five years ago, very few peo- ple realized it was the beginning of a series of events that would leave our community with a much greater apprecia- tion of its heritage. Combining the talents of an artist which have been developed over a 37 -year ca- reer, with a keen interest in local history, Harry began producing beautiful, life -like portraits of many of Exeter's early citizens. Last Wednesday night they were official- ly turned over to the Exeter Heritage Foun- dation where they will remain on perma- nent display in the Old Town Hall. It's a fit- ting tribute to those who have contributed so much to Exeter over a long period of time. Heritage president Bob Heywood said we can expect to see more examples of Harry's talent in the years ahead. We can't help but agree with the comments of one observer who said she believed one more portrait should be added to the collection... a self- portrait of a man who has made a major contribution. J Regulating attendance, a good idea E very year it's the same thing, ac- tivities at the Zurich Bean Festi- val seldom change. Eat a few beans, look at some nice cars, mingle with old friends and go to the big dance. Well, this year there was something dif- ferent and it was defenitely an image booster to the annual event which draws thousands to the small community. This year, for the first time, organizers said only those with an age of majority card would be admitted to Saturday night's dance at the arena. No exceptions. And there were none, as police officers turned away over 30 young people who did not produce proper identification. ' True, this may have cut down on the bar revenue a little but it gave a lot of older people a chance to enjoy the dance. It was surprising how many seniors at- tended. Many no doubt knew minors would not be allowed in which meant things would be a little calmer, and they were.' With over 800 people, the crowd was well-behaved and there were no altercations like there has been in the past. The Zurich Minor Athletic Association who hosted the dance took a bold step, by breaking tradition and not allowing minors in. They should be commended for it. It's very important that we strive to have community festivities, such as the dance which caps off the Bean Festival, allowing all those of age, a chance to attend. F.G.G. Trip to Debrisville You know the place. You've all been there. Debrisville is just a short distance from where you live. You hang a left right after the bridge, drive till you come to the fork, and then it doesn't mat- ter which way you tum. Both ways will probably get you 10 Debrisville. The first thing you notice is thc trailer park. Actually, it's a colony of mobile homes. Noth- ing against mobile homes, mind you, although at Debrisville they're not mobile at all. They're as stationary as can bc. At any rate, the trailer park is the most attractive part of Debrisville. The best kept, the best cared -for. Across the road is the car ce- metery. In a people's cemetery, the corpses get buried. Here they just pile up. Occasionally some hungry vultures swoop down and heip themselves to a fender, to a windshield, to a bumper or two. Just down the road, past the car cemetery, is an abandoned farm. We all know why is was abandoned. Because it had be- come dangerous. Why, the barn was leaning east and the silo was leaning west so precariously that the owners just got disedu- raged. They up and went and moved into Tumbletown. Across the road from this farm is a large mosquito breading sta- tion with shallow ditches, stale ponds and muddy puddles. Here, a couple of ice fishing shacks arc stored during the summer, while their owners dreary of blizzards to come. We are now approaching downtown Debrisville. The old unpainted house on the right is held together on three sides by vines and propped up in the rear by a tail of outbuildings - begin- ning with the summer kitchen, continuing through the wood- shed and ending in what used to be the outhouse. The whole complex is surrounded by cars, Peter's Point • Peter Hessel trailers, pickups, snowmobiles and dune buggies. Next door is a house whose owners had trouble making up their minds. The husband want- ed wooden cladding, the wife bricks. So they compromised. They stuck angelstone to the front, covered the west side with grey tar paper and the east side with aluminum siding. They're still arguing over the rear, which is partly black from ten -test and partly pink from fibreglass insu- lation. Further down the mad is a house that would be quite hand- some if it weren't for the front yard. When 1 saw it for the first time, I parked and got out of the car because 1 thought they were holding a garage sale. But nei- ther the bathtub nor the laundry tub nor the assorted old tires arc for sale. They're all planters. And in between, busy little con- crete creatures and plaster peo- ple are scampering around. Red - capped gnomes and blue -capped smurfs, and plaster skunks and squirrels. On the opposite side is what used to be the general store. At least that's what the old sign says. Now, the occupants arc thinking about turning the place into a museum of contemporary transportation, judging by their display of upside down boats and canoes, of run-down motor- cycles, outgrown bicycles, aban- doned three-wheelers and tired old jalopies. We are now reaching the fash- ionable outskirts of Debrisville. As we ,leave, we climb a little hill and pass a dwelling, formid- able and imposing enough to be classified as handsome. The lawn is neat and freshly cut. Too bad about the plaster deer and the statue of a black stable boy. Debrisville is smack in a re- gion that is spending taxpayers' money to attract tourists. It makes me wonder. Why do some communities take pridc in their surroundings and others don't? And why is it that so many villages. towns and rural townships allow a Debrisville in their midst? Could it be that their council- lors are afraid to enforce munici- pal bylaws? Surely they must care about the visual environ- ment of their own communities. Why is there no action? 1 concede that we cannot and should not legislate against bad taste. After all, taste can be sub- jective. And the principle of in- dividuality should be supreme. But what about the utter ugli- ness, the eyesores and the clutter caused by a small minority of residents too disinterested and apathetic and lazy to clean up their property? Why should they be allowed to have it their way? To cheapen and depreciate our countryside, our towns? 'How about a campaign 10 clean up Debrisville? "Men are never so likely to settle a question rightly as when they discuss it freely." ... Thomas Macauley Published E. 4, W.deaadey Mamma at 424 Male st.. Easter, Ontario, NOM 18a by J.W. Eddy PublkkatIosee Ltd. Telepboe.11113351331 OSA. Atiee2lesls "Let me know when school begins again." Letters to Editor Thank you for honesty Dear Editor: I hope the wonderful woman who found all my credit cards and 1.D. on Main Street on Wednesday and turned them into the Exeter Police will read this. I want ha to know how grata ful Iamtoher and how very much I appreciate her honesty and thoughtfulness. She must be a great role model to her two small sons. Sutcerel Maggie Abrams Student employment centre closes Dear Editor: As the school year draws near. the Canada Employment Centre for students has once again closed iL. doors for the fall and the win- ter. Despite a poor agricultural year and an uncertain economic climate. the Exeter area and its surroundings have done an excel- lent job of integrating students into thc work force. As the Stu- dent Placement Officer, I look back on this pest summer as a success. Many students were placed in part- time and full- time positions ( as well as odd jobs). Looking I back, I will also re- member ow school 11 visits where the stu- dents were given advice on every- thing from the service our office provides, to the filling out of re- sumes and job -hunting skills. The student centre will re -open in the spring of 1993. To all thc employ- ers who hired students this sum- mer. thank you very much. Tim Connell). Student Placement Officer Stable funding a must Farmers: As 1 sit back and read the many letters coming in against stable funding, 1 get a sinking feeling that we are going to let a golden oplxxtunity like stable funding pass by because of some petty griefs and misinformation against our OFO's the OFA, NFCI & CFFO. These fanners complain of a yearly fee of 5150.00 saying that it would be unfair to "extort" this "substantial" fee from them. It is by no coincidence that a lot of these samepeople have for years never supported any GAO and see this option being taken away from them. Their claim of lack of lead- ership and action from these CFO's is unfounded. Like many farmers they compplain•like hell of no action yet cubed their tax re- bate, MSA and GRIP cheques ao fast the dust couldn't nettle on the envelopes. Of course there will al - 1 ways be problems with these pro- grams but the bulk of fainter . have derived benefit frau this elusion of gov't matey. Where farmers do you think these pro- caine ??I'll tell from n the diligent. pro• fits efforts of GAO's. Many complain in particular that the OFA made a poor judgement when they dug in on their stance at the GATT rally to not allow any deal to be without the inclu- sion of Mick XI. They felt that this hard lien stance may have prevent- ed a deal from bautg signed that would surely have benefiuod all cash trop sad livestock farmers. Peioaid BBC may! The US complain about Canada refusing to budr on the supply management and by helping to nix any potential deal but it is their own govt treasuries and their hi*e probes that areat the root of the X lam. The inclu- sion of article I was not too much to ask for. Many of the farmers who do not wish to support GPO's want the Line in the Dirt" group to be our glorious leaders. Who do you think pod organize the "Line in the Dirt"?? Who spoke at the meetings besides any elected MPP's?? Who does the gov't consult with on any farm topics?? Onc answer gentle- man, GAO's. Finally fanners if the faiers against this proposal succeed I challenge them to orpnize themselves into their own GPO and try to change the plight of fanners today. You will ace that it is not as easy as you think and that maybe the present GPO's aren't doing all that bad a job and - deserve all our support through stable funding. Sincerely, Jody Durand