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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-09-24, Page 7Page 6 Times -Advocate, September 24, 1997 Publisher & Editor: Jim Beckett Business Manager: Don Smith Production Manager: b ti Lord Advertising. Barb Consitt, Chad Eedy News; Heather Mir, Craig Bradford, Chantall Van Raay Brenda Burke, Kate Monk, Ross Haugh eroduction• Alma Rallantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Brer,da Hern, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front Office & Accounting; Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings, Carol Windsor Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple, Ruth Slaght, Sheila Corbett CCN* The Exeter Times -Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers providing news, advertising and information leadership 11)I'i ()RIALS Publications Mail Registration Number 0386 SUBSCRIPTION RATES; One year rate for Canada subscribers - 835.00 + QST Two year rate for Canada subscribers - 863.00 + QST IAN COM OTHER RATLI Outside Canada - 8102.00 Rural fall fairs keep us in touch with our roots r fall fairs were started as a celebration of agriculture, and to en- courage improvements in products, with prizes for the largest squash, the most perfect ear of corn, the best cattle, the flakiest pie crust and the tastiest pickles. The idea wasn't new. The tradition of gathering together with friends and family to celebrate a bountiful harvest is as old as agriculture itself. From the time humans first started to plant and harvest; instead of just roaming 'around looking for food, the end of summer and beginning of fall has been a time to give thanks; to gaze with pleasure at baskets filled with apples; to relax after the hard work of cultivating, gathering and preserving for winter. The fall fair, in its many guises, has always been part of that. With the urbanization of Canadian so- ciety over the past few decades, the midway has gradually taken precedence over the agricultural displays at, the larger fairs. Most people attend the Ca- nadian National Exhibition in Toronto, or London's Western Fair, for the en- tertainment and excitement. They want the candy floss, the top -name perform- ers, the chance to win enormous plush toys. They might drop in at the agricul- ture building to view a horse show or -taste the bacon=on-a-bun, but they don't stay long, not when there's a neW ride guaranteed to challenge even the strongest stomach. An accidental encounter with an agri- cultural exhibit at the CNE leaves city kids giggling and holding their noses. But to those many who earn their living directly from agriculture, that whiff of apple cider and cow manure is the sweet smell of success. And that is the smell that continues to permeate the many small, rural fall fairs throughout this area. These fall fairs don't relegate the livestock and vegeta- bles to an isolated corner. At a rural fall fair, it's the midway that occupies the far field, while the 4-H calf show and Women's Institute pie tasting are the main events. There's a bit of nostalgia at most of these fairs - demonstrations with horse drawn plows; making fudge from . scratch. But you also see the most mod- ern farm machinery prominently dis- played. There's a bit of silliness - "bossy bin- go" and the like. But you get to have a lot of fun without emptying your wallet. Yes, there's entertainment, but the country music doesn't have a Nashville twang. One of the tap dancers babysits your neighbor's kids, and the master of ceremonies teaches at the local high school. Make no mistake, though; the stars of the show may be home grown, but they are surprisingly talented, a de- light to watch and listen to. The occasional refugee from the city who shows up at a rural fall fair tends to be intrigued by the variety and quality livestock and produce, the delicious food at the various booths, and the fact that everyone, young and old, is having a good time. • Agriculture is a complex and fascinat- ing industry, something clearly demon- strated by our rural fall fairs. They cele- brate the vital role agriculture has played, and continues to play, in the de- velopment of this country. But mostly they're fun. Reprinted from Saugeen City News Your View Letters to the;Editor PUCise ...any major changes that may render these services should be closely studied." Dear Editor: "Hats off' to Mr. Greene for his intelligent com- ments on our PUC in his letter in last week's paper. After continuously reading about "restructuring to save costs" it was both refreshing and enlightening icient to read positive notes with regards to our service as • it exists today! I believe as in so many people of our town that our current services supplied to us by our PUC are not only efficient during "storms" but efficient 365 days a year and that any major changes that may ren- der these services should be closely studied. Sincerely, A. Skinner A View from Queen's Park By Eric Dowd TORONTO-- Ontario voters have given an indication of what they will be looking for in the next election, and it raises tough questions for Premier Mike Harris and his opponents. In a series of polls, Harris's Progressive Conser- vatives have fallen in popularity to about 33 per cern, behind the Liberals' 46 per cent land ahead of the New Democrats' 17 per cent. But the polls have stressed also that a strong majority believes Hams is "on the right track" or "headed in the right direction." Harris's basic route clearly is cutting government spending and the deficit and at the same time reducing income tax. But many who like the idea of cuts have been Tess happy when they are applied to ser- vices close to them, particularly hospitals and social services. In plotting their course for an election about 1999, the Tories do not have the option of abandoning cuts even if they wanted to. Prom- A 1919-1904 r<t4 AS%O • Published Each Wednesday Morning at 424 Maki St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 1Se by J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd: Telephone 1-519-235-1331 • Fax: 519235-0768 Q.S.T. #R105210835 —pNp WHAMS uP `(oUR KELTlotPDS7 A•.ird►y I. Mb hams spina Missiles and musings. By Craig Bradford Cowardice in Lucan and where's the Wonder? Cowardice has reared its ugly head in Lucan. Some political pundit paid Cana- da Post $50 so they could share their thoughts on the Nov. 10 mu- nicipal election and throw some lit- erary punches at each councillor to boot. The letter starts off not unlike many letters to the editor common- ly received during an election race. It tells people to put up or shut -up: stop belly -aching to your friends and lovers at the donut shop about. how. council goofs off and do some- thing about it. Run for office if ydu've got all those good ideas or at least show up at the polls come election day. • If the letter stopped there it would've been a darn good letter to the editor. But it takes a nasty, dan- gerous curve by taking on each councillor one by one starting with .Reeve Rob Brady. It attacks Brady for a lack of leadership then accus- es him as well as Deputy Reeve Harry Wraith and Councillor Reg Crawford for profiting at their busi- nesses through their actions as councillors. That's libelous, and if the letter's author had named themselves a more litageous council could sue for defamation of character and possibly win because the letter is malicious in intent, could be proven to damage the councillors' reputa- tions and hurt their business. But that's if anyone swallows such foul gobblelygoep contained in an anon- ymous letter. The village policy on -such rub- bish as unsigned or anonymous let- ters is to read them and then throw them in file #13 — that is, throw them where rubbish belongs, even if good ideas are contained within. If someone has something they feel worthy enough to share with an entire village (though those who've told Canada Post they don't want unaddressed mail missed out), they should be confident enough to put their name behind it and include a phone number where they can be reached .so others can serenade them with compliments or com- plaints. Otherwise keep those opin- ions, whether positive or negative, to yourself. By the way, just about everything I write comes with a byline and I can be reached by calling 235-1331. Squirrel droppings • Being an inquisitive person by na- ture as a reporter and in town for only a few months.- 1 recently tried to track down Exeter's elusive tour- ist -attracting white squirrel while walking around this lovely town. But could 1 find the pink cared critter? No, but I did see grey, brown and black squirrels flitting about in their fall food finding mad- ness in the parkette everyone tells me the rodents hang out in. With my luck, the first time I'II set eyes on the White Wonder is be- hind my car after I make road pizza out of him. And by the way...I've :heard white -y has a had attitude and is known to discriminate against his brethren with different colorings. A case of white supremacy perhaps? One last• thought. Do white squir- rels have to, ahem, woe other white squirrels to continue their kind or is the white gene dominant? Inquiring minds want to know... - ising them made Harris premier and without them he could not achieve his targets of cutting income tax by 30 per cent and eliminating the deficit in his first term. He also has promised many times that he will resign if he does not meet these goals. The Tories have some slight room, particular- ly now that they have more tax revenue coming in than expected because of the economic boom, to make their cuts more palatable by being more selective. They can try to avoid cuts which draw almost universal condemnation, such as closing one program for adults who stutter and firing so many staff at another collecting estranged hus- bands' support for their families that it became ineffective. The Tories have more opportunity to change processes that lowered them in public es- teem. One has been rushing through many fun- damental changes in too short a time. pme were essential for Harris to meet .his financial timetable, but others, such as weakening rent Tough questions are raised controls without doing much to stimulate build- ing new rental housing, could have waited. The Tories have lost respect because their haste re- sulted in ministers introducing legislation which they did not fully understand or had to be re -written because of errors, and they should be able to prepare better. Harris has not consulted adequately, as some of his own MPPs and even judges have com- plained, and even he has started to recognize. this. After first refusing, he has met union leaders and mayors of large cities and has an appear- ance of listening. The Tories also have an im- age as abrasive and can avoid comments that wound without any prospect of gain, the most - cited recently being Harris's calling a hospital that he wanted closed "dingy," which appears minor but the institution is revered by those us- ing it. The finding that Harris is on the right track with cuts also has lessons for the opposi- tion parties. The Liberals under Lyn McLeod had a death -bed repentance during the 1995 election, but their promise to slash spending by $4 billion a year came too late for voters to hear. Now led by Dalton McGuinty, the Liber- als rebuke Harris daily for his cuts, but will need to step back and demonstrate that they also place high priority on prudence to have a chance of winning an election. The New Democrats seem to be out of the running when voters are obsessed with saving because in government before 1995 they ran up huge deficits and now never let up attacking Harris for cuts. But the NDP was the first government in dec- ades to cut public spending dramatically when former premier Bob Rae chopped off $2 billion a year with his social contract. Today it is too bent on winning back offended unionists to mention it.