HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1977-12-22, Page 4PAGE 4 oCLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1971
What we fhi.nk
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Doesn't make sense
It has been said that English is the
most difficult of all languages to read,
speak and write. If you have ever felt
how annoyingly true that statement is,
have a smile at the following, ' taken
from "Now and Then", Conestoga
College's newsletter.
It may make you feel better --
because there's nothing you can do
about it!
We'll begin with a box and the plural
is boxes,
But the plural of ox is oxen, not
oxes.
Then one fowl is goose, but two are
called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should
never be meese.
You may find a lone mouse or a
whole lot of mice,
But the plural of house is houses,
not h i ce.
And I speak of foot and you show me
your feet,
But I give you a boot - would a pair
be called beet?
The cow in the plural may be cows or
kine,
But the plural of vow is vows, not
vine,
If the plural of man is always called
men,
Why shouldn't the plural of pan be
called pen?
If one is atooth and the whole set are
teeth,
Why shouldn't the plural of booth
be beeth.
If the singular is this and the plural is
these,
Should the plural of kiss be
nicknamed kese?
Then one may be that; and three may
be those,
Yet the plural of hat would never
be hose;
We speak of a brother and also of
brethren
But though we say mother, we
never say methren.
Cold and dangerous
What is an accident in summer
becomes certain death in winter. It's a
cold fact.
The Canadian winter is beautiful;
cold and dangerous. Each year, more
people die a cold death ice fishing,
snowmobiling, winter camping, or
even while on an afternoon snowshoe
hike.
The circumstances vary, but all the
victims had one common enemy: the
cold. The temperature maybe a
relatively balmy' 10 degrees Celsius,
but cold can still kill.
If the ice is thick enough, by all
means walk, ski, snowshoe, or ice fish
on the lake. But forget -the
snowmobiles. The average snowmobile
weighs 375 lbs. — three or four times as
much as an average person. Can yob
imagine how thick the ice must be to
support that?
Should a person fall through thin or
weak ice, 'the extremely cold water
below can, within minutes, cause death
by hypothermia — the loss of body
heat. Red Cross branches across
Ontario teach survival positions Ito
enable some of that body heat to be
retained. 'The Heat Escape Lessening
Posture (H.E.L.P.) and the HUDDLE
can increase survival time by as much
as 50 per cent. They're worth learning,
as are any other tips and techniques
you can pick up about outdoor survival.
Learn how to handle an emergency or
save' a life. If -doesn't take long, and
costs little or nothing.
Then go out and enjoy winter. Use it
wisely.
Sugar and Spice/By Bill Smiler
Christmas, Christmas
Do you find it harder and harder each
year to get 'revved up for Christmas? You
have company.
When the advertising begins right after
Thanksgiving, and the Santa Clauses
become ubiquitous by mid-November, and
the carols are mere cliches by mid-
December, it's hard to reach that peak of
emotion that combines Christian joy for the
birth of Christ and pagan revelry to
celebrate the equinox, by the time
Christmas itself rolls around.
One of the trite remarks of modern life is
that Christmas has become com-
mercialized. But don't blame the mer-
chants. Blame'ourselves. We can call this a
plastic age, but it is we who use the plastic,
whether it be in the form of goods, ideas or
entertainment.
It is we who scurry madly through those
overheated stores, going slightly paranoid
over the business of buying gifts for people
who don't need them.
It is we who eat and drink, too much at
Christmas, which, if the truth were told,
should be a time of fasting and purification,
until our heads were as light as our hearts.
Wouldn't it be much more appropriate if,
on Christmas Eve, instead of having people
in for eggnog and goodies, we threw out
that pagen image, the Christmas tree,
turned off the lights, except for a candle or
two, turned the furnace right off, and sat
around in the cold and dark, transferring
ourselves to a stable in Bethlehem on a
winter night?
No? You don't think much of that idea?
Neither do I. It's like saying that in the face
of the coming energy shortage We should
all blow up our cars, stop using hot water
and deodorants, grow our own food in the
back yard, and chop down all the trees in
the park for firewood.
Whether we like it or not, we are caught
up in the headlong ,race of the human
species toward its goal, whether it be
suicide or glory, and there's no turning
back.
So get that tree up, buy a fat turkey, spoil
your children rotten with an overwhelm of
gifts, and stuff yourself silly as a Roman
senator at an orgy.
This year it's the 1Viounties. Next year the
government may do away with Christmas
altogether because it cuts too deeply into
increasing our Gross National Product.
My old lady and I almost gave up on
Christmas this year. We thought of all the
work to get ready and flinched. I suggested
going south for a week to play some golf,
letting our daughter and her brood take
over our house and have their Christmas
here. She was all for it.
Then we had The Boys for a week, and
hastily revised our plans. We realized that
if those two were allowed to run unchecked
for a week, we might as well put the house
up for sale when we got home, or set fire to
it, if there was enough left standing to make
a blaze.
if it weren't for that mob, going away
would have been easy, both physically and
emotionally. .I could enjoy Christmas
dinner in a hotel in Texas just as much as I
do at home, where I have to stuff the bird,
mash the turnips and wash 8,000 dishes far
into the night.
I. think I might just possibly be able to
forego having to find a Christmas tree,
dragging it in covered in snow, and spen-
ding four hours trying to get the dam' thing
to stand upright.
It would be a wrench, but I might even be
able to stand not watching my grandboys
rip the paper off 48 gifts and go right back
to beating each other on the head with a
couple ,of drumsticks. Real ones, not the
turkey kind. It's one of their favorite
games.
However, as the hired man said in Robert
Frost's poem of that name, "Home is
where, when you go there, they have to let
you stay." And it looks as though that's the
way Ty daughter feels.
We. tried to fill up the house with other
people. But"my son is in Paraguay, one
brother and his wife in Costa Rice, the
other brother way up at James Bay.
So we're stuck with the kids, and I'll be
`happy if I see the New Year without being
on my hands and knees.
With that wrapped up, there's nothing
left to do, but send my best wishes for the
holiday season ' to all sorts of people,
through this column.
To my old friends in the newspaper
business: hope you all got that big
Christmas issue out without being
hospitalized with total exhaustion.
To my teaching colleagues everywhere:
hang in there; it's only six months until
June.
To the prime minister: dear Pierre, hope
that other turkey doesn't turn up and spoil
your Christmas.
To all the people to whom we used to send
Christmas cards: it's the thought that
counts, and we think of you every six or
eight months. -
To all those people who want a baby so
badly: hope you get twins twice in the next
two years.
To all those people who don't want a baby
t all: hope you don't, get pregnant, not
even a little bit.
And to all the people who bother to read
this column at all, whether you agree or
not, a merry, merry Christmas, with a
special thanks- to those who write. God
bless us, one and all,
"Get lost — this is MY corner!"
Odds 'n' ends - by Elaine Townshend
Merry Christmas
Isn't it strange what one day in the
year, like December 25, can doto so
many people? We even have a name for.
those who pretend not to be affected by
the season - Scrooge.
Dieting is always difficult, but at
Christmastime it becomes mission
impossible. Even the most calorie -
conscious person gives way to the
temptation of hot turkey and dressing,
mashed potatoes with gravy, pumpkin
and mincemeat pies, pudding, fruit
cake, chocolates and fudge.
Suddenly, many of us have the urge to
get in touch with old friends. We thought'
about them during the year, but for one
reason or another we put off writing to
them, Now Christmas is coming; we
have a deadline, and it can't be put off
any longer.
Shopping changes from a.„*chore to a
pleasure. There's a certain air of ex-
citement amid the crowds that meander
around the brightly -decorated stores..
Sure we complain about the rush and the
bother, the expense and the com-
mercialism, but we still spend hours
searching for the perfect gift. We want to
give something meaningful, because it's
Christmas.
We appreciated the thoughtfulness of
people all year, and Christmas gives us a
host of ways in which to say ["thank
you."
Now and again through ti year, we
thought about people less fortunate than
us. Now we want to do something for
them - cook a hot Christmas dinner for a
needy family, give a toy to a child, visit
someone who's lonely or send a letterto
someone far from home.
Some of us are lucky enough to live
close to home and to be able to ,visit
regularly. But now we're going home for
Christmas and that's special. My family
is a small one and we see each other
fairly often, but our Christmas get-
together is an event we plan for and look
forward to for weeks.
Family becomes the number one
priority for most people at Christ-
mastime. Unfortunately, for those
separated from their families, it is the
loneliest time of the year and in the
midst of our own celebrations, we should
give a little thought to them.
One girl recalls her first Christmas
away from home four years ago. Six
displaced Canadians in Pennsylvania
spent the day together and learned how
much their families meant to them.
Of all the holidays in the year,
Christmas has the most effect on the
most people.
It is characteristic of our times that
the meaning of Christmas should be
aptly summed up in the words of a TV
commercial: Christmas is a feeling.
Family, friends, food, sharing and .
caring are all part _of the feeling.
Everything takes on a special meaning
at Christmas, from the laughter of
children to angels in the snow.
'For many of us, there is even more.
Perhaps we went to church almost every
Sunday through the year, but on
Christmas Sunday, there is a special
reason for doing it and a special feeling
in it.
From our early files .
. . .
5 YEARS AGO
December 21, 1972
Clinton finally has• a complete
council following a second
municipal election on Monday
that saw only 23 percent on
Clinton's eligible voters turn out
to cast ballots for three council
seats.
Ruth E. Roy, a Clinton widow
and mother of three children,
topped the polls with a 434 vote
total, while Roy Wheeler an
Ontario Hydro employee was
second with 357 votes and Bill
Stauttner, a Clinton businessman
got the third seat with a 223 total.
Terry Maguire received 156 votes
while Norm Lacroix received 151.
The .second election became
necessary when only three people
were nominated for the six seats
on council when nominations
closed November 13. The three,
Ernie Brown, Don Hall and John
MacFarlane were acclaimed to
their posts.
Ontario Development Cor-
poration will provide funds to
assist with the expansion
program of a Goderich firm and
the establishment on a new
manufacturing operation in
Vanastra, near Clinton.
Huron Acoutics Industries
Limited will receive a $15,500
performance loan toward the
establishment of a 16,000 sq. ft,
plant at Vanastra, the former
RCAF base near Clinton.
The company manufactures
wooden ' enclosures and assem-
bles hi-fi speakers for the
domestic and export markets.
Hurpn Acoustics began
production in October and is
employing about 10 people at
present. Further staff will be
required as production increases.
The first blizzard of the season
greeted Christmas shoppers in
Clinton last Saturday as high
winds and heavy snow created
bad driving conditions and poor
shopping weather. Clinton has
received 19 inches of snow and 1.3
inches of rain in the past week.
10 YEARS AGO
December 21, 1967
Hector Kingswell, prominent
Clinton businessman Was elected
president of the Clinton Com-
munity Credit nion Limited at a
recent meet' f the board of
directors. a succeeded A.
"Red" Garon, who was president
since February 8, 1956.
Ties seemed to highlight the
annual Detroit -Clinton event at
Clinton arena Saturday evening.
After the Midgets tied 5-5, the
Juvenile team proceeded to tie
the visitors 6-6.
The tie carne with the
assistance of three over age
juveniles in the persons of Cam
Colquhoun, Don McDougall and
Larry Pickett.
To complete a successful year
for the Legion Ladies Auxiliary,
the outgoing president, Mrs. Don
McLean presented past president
William Chambers of the Legion
with a cheque for $700 to be ap-
plied to the Legion's building
mortgage.
At the final meeting 'of the
Bayfield Council, the village
dump was a main topic of
discussion. The Reeve pointed
out that at this time of the year
many other townships and
Villages close their dumps and
consequently trucks from
Seaforth, Goderich Township,
Hullett Township, Hay Township
and as far away as Kincardine
have been observed using the
municipal dump to tip their
refuse. Council expressed con-
cern at the cost of keeping the
entrance and exit clear and' the
reeve suggested a joint meeting
of Bayfield and Stanley councils
early in the New Year to discuss
the problem.
The December meeting of the
Bayfield United Church Women
was held at the parsonage at
Bayfield with Mrs. Beck as
hostess. The president Mrs. E.
Cox had charge of the meeting.
Mrs.' Beck took charge of the
election for the coming year.
Officers are: president, Mrs.
Elgin Cox; first vice president,
Mrs. A. Betties; second vice
president, Mrs. W. Riddell;
secretary, Mrs. B. Townshend;
assistant secretary, Mrs. A,
Lockhart; organist, Mrs. Bill
Cox; visiting committee, Mrs.
Riddell; Mrs. Chester Sturdy;
buying committee, Mrs. A. Bell,
Mrs. T. Sowerby.
25 YEARS AGO
December 25, 1952
Rev. George J. Hoytema was
inducted as minister of the
Christian Reformed
Congregations which worship in
St. Andrews Church, Clinton and
Cavern Presbyterian Church,
Exeter. The minister, his wife
and their family, Miss Francis,
John, Charles and Jerky are
living at the corner of North And
Mary streets in a home recently
purchased by the congregations.
The Auburn Horticultural
Society held a door decorating
contest during the past week. As
a result many attractively
decorated doorways and doors
can be observed, all heralding the
approach of Christmas.
Certificates for attendance in
Sunday School in Brucefield for
40 or more Sundays in 1952, were
presented Monday evening by
Norman Walker, superintendent
to Inda, Barbara and Mary Lou
Taylor; for 40 or more Sundays
for two years in succession, red
seals were given to Gerald Baird,
Orrin Baird, Helen Broadfoot,
Jean Rathwell; blue seals for
three years, Gaye Elliott, Janet
and Barbara Henderson, Carolyn
and Betty Ross, Jean Broadfoot,
Doris and Joan Walken, Olive
Aikenhead and Bob
Fotheringham.
50 YEARS AGO
December 22, 1927
You can cable a Christmas
greeting to your friends overseas
now for the small sum of one
dollar. Ask the CNR up -town or
station agent about it.
The local office of the Canadian
National Express has been
altered somewhat, an- upstairs
office having been built over the
centre of the main office, where
desk work may be done in war-
mth and comfort and free from
interruptions from callers. There
was not enough floor space below
for both the express and the
florist buisiness, but this gives
space for the work of the former
to be carried on without in-
terruptions.
Several rumours are going the
rounds about the possible
aspirants for the town council for
the coming year. Nomination
night will bring aspirants out and
the next day will show how many
are really candidates.
Citizens who are interested in
the welfare of the town should
attend the meeting Monday
evening and see that the persons
best fitted to fill the several
positions are nominated. And the
positions should not have to go a -
begging for men to fill them in an
up-to-date town like Clinton.
The schools close today for the
Christmas holidays.
What you.
think
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Nurses
Dear Editor;
We enclose a pamphlet
explaining the role of three
nursing organizations. These
organizations are sometimes 410
confused by the public.
The primary function of the
College of Nurses is
protection of the public, i.e. in
order to practise as a
registered nurse in Ontario, a
nurse must be registered with
the College . of Nurses and
hold an annual certificate of
competency. The Registered
Nurses' Association of
Ontario (RNAO) protects the
profession's interests and
integrity. The Ontario
Nurses' Association (ONA) is
the nursing union which
bargains on behalf of those
who are employed in agencies
which are certified as ONA
bargaining units by the
Labour Relations Board of
Ontario.
We would be very pleased if
you would keep this material
for future reference, as it
may assist in clarifying any
confusion regarding these
bodies.
Sincerely,
(Mrs.) Myra Henry,
Secretary,
Huron Chapter, RNAO,
Goderich.
Wood
Dear Editor, W
We are requesting your co-
operation in policing of ad-
vertisements placed in your. • .,
newspaper under "Fuel for
Sale
The following information
will assist your • advertising
staff in giving the proper
requirements for persons
with "Fuel for Sale" ads.
The "Cord" is the only legal
unit of volume for the
measurement of firewood and
contains 128 cubic feet (4' x 4'
x 8'). •
It may be subdivided into
"1/4 Cord", "/2 Cad", "3/4
Cord" or subdivisions of 128
cubic feet.
"Face.. Cords", 'Stove
Cords", etc.`, are not legal
units of measure in Canada.
Firewood must not be ad-
vertised or sold by these
terms.
Firewood may be sold by.
size (i.e. 4' x 8' x 16") without
using the word "Cord."
As you know, Canada is
involved in converting to the'
metric system, and it is our
presumption that once
conversion is effected, wood
will then be sold on the basis
of a stacked cubic meter. This
volume will be (ap-
---iproximately) less than one
third of the full cord and once
this changeover is im-
plemented, this cubic meter
will no doubt correspond to
the volume actually being
sold in the case of firewood.
Cordially yours,
J. Moroz
District Manager
Weights & Measures,
Consumer and
Corporate Affairs.
Aid for metric tools
A new Program entitled
"Assistance Program -
Workers' Metric Tools", will
pay 50 t percent of the pur-
chase cost of metric
measurement sensitive tools
such as sockets, non-
adjustable wrenches, taps
and dies, nut drivers, drills,
bits and measuring in-
struments. Also eligible for
compensation are tool chests
and cabinets and reasonable
delivery costs and carrying
charges for credit purchases.
Tools which are not
measurement sensitive, e.g.
rackets, speed handles, U -
joints or adaptors are not
eligible for assistance.
To qualify for assistance
employees must live and
work in Canada and be
required as 'a condition of
employment to provide their
own tools. Tools must be
purchased in Canada by the
employee for his or her own
personal use in the job. The
program is retroactive to
April 1, 1977, and will last
until March 31, 1982.
A claimant may make only
a single claim during each
calendar year and may claim
only once for an eligible tool.
Claims use application form
provided by Metric Cotn-
mission Canada.
The Clinton Nows•Rocord Is published each
Thursday at P.O. Box 39, Clinton, Ontario,
Canada, NOM 11.0.
Member, Ontario Weekly
Newspaper Association '
It is registered as second clan mall by the
post office under the permit number 0017.
The News -Record Incorporated In 1924 the
Huron News -Record, founded In 1001, qpd The
Clinton New Ira, founded In 113. Total prep
run 3,300.
Clinton NewsReco 1
Member Canadian
Community Newspaper
Association
Display advertising rotes
available on request. Ask for
Rate Card No, 0 effective Oct. 1,
1971.
General Manager • J. Howard Aitken
Editor • James E. Fitzgerald
Advertising Director • Gary L. Hoist
News editor • Shelley McPhee
Office Manager • Margaret Gibb
Circulation . Freda McLeod
Accounting • Marlon Willson
Subscription Rotel
cantle •'13 per year
U.S.A. •'17.00
Other •/0.00
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