Clinton News-Record, 1978-09-14, Page 7•
•
t
•
n 1�
,Buy some floor
Like it or not, and from con-
versations around town there are
some people against it, the arena
floor is being replaced, and is
already half torn up.
The job had to be done sooner or
later, there is no question of that.
The old floor, as badly cracked as it
was might have .lasted a couple or
more years, but it might have also
lasted only a couple of more
months.
Whatever your opinion, our
elected officials have made the
decisions and now we must stand
behind them as they seek to pay for
the debt incurred, without putting
any burden on the local taxpayers.
It will cost $160,000 to replace the
floor, and including, contingency,
and engineering fees, the total will
probably hit $180,000. About $90,000
will be covered by grants, and the
other half will come from
donations.
That means that if the load is
spread among the1,800 families in
the Clinton area who use the arena,
the donation will only be $50 per
family, or less than $1 per week per
family for the next 111/2 months.
So lets dig into our wallets, and
help the fund raising committee get
the money raised as soon as
possible.
Bell tolls again
Gosh, you have to give Ma Bell
credit. The old girl must have
something going for her. Seven
times she has been before the
Canadian Radio -Television and
Telephone Communications
Commission seeking a greater
return for her services. And, seven
times she has come up a winner.
The losers, of course, are you and
I. The telephone users who have
made no demands on Bell for
service other than that which you
expect from a telephone system.
All we want to do is to ring up our
neighbor, or a relative and chat
away.
So, come September 1, we'll be
presented with increased telephone
bills. For what, you might well ask.
That, of course, is the real
question. Residential rates will go
up by five percent; business rates
will ,go up by 10 percent and long
distance calls will cost 9.7 percent
more.
There is no suggestion in these
increases that we are going to 90any more than.. we are .. aIreacty
getting. There is no argument that
Bell does provide good service but
surely, if we are going to pay more,
we should be getting more for our
money.
What's really happening is that
you and I who have been the
financial anchor of Bell since the
year one, are paying more so that
Bell, at the direction of the CRTC,
can provide services at a greater
cost to outlying areas.
Now, we don't want to appear
selfish, but surely the costs of a
local telephone system should be
borne by the people who demand it:
No one .can object to those in
remote areas having telephone
service but let them pay for it, just
as we have all down through the
years.
In any event, we suppose we
should thank our lucky stars. Bell
got only 60 percent of the extra.$399
million it requested.
Having regard for the seven-year
winning streak Bell had, we are
beginning to suspect that Bell
arrives at its annual demands in
the same way most Government
., ,cte pa,rt,r l,ents ,, organize their
!budgets,— ask for more than you
need and maybe you'll get what
you really want. (from The Beacon
Times, Port Elgin)
sugar and spice
European travel -1
If you have the constitution of a bull
moose, the alimentary ability of an
earthworm, the faculty of sleeping
anytime, anywhere, like a cat, a cast-
iron stomach, and a very friendly bank
manager, by all means take a trip to
Europe.
• If, on'the other hand, you have fallen
arches, constipation, hemmorhoids, a
tricky stomach, insomnia, an aversion
to heights or public toilets or
foreigners, and less than twice as much
money as you think you'll need, by all
means don't. .
You start off eagerly to Europe to
look at ancient ruins, and come home
looking like one.
They tell me there are 50 million little
old ladies tearing around Europe
taking notes and pictures, missing none
of the sights, eating the most incredible
food, and slugging down the vino when
they wouldn't even take a sherry at
Christmas, back home. I believe it. I've
seen them. But there's one less now. I
set, off in pretty good shape, In . my
prime. I came home feeling like a little
old lady.
If you have a loathing for winos, don't
go. You'll probably come back one
yourself. If you aren't gregarious, don't
like people, feel some kind of phobia in
mobs, don't go. You'd be miserable.
If you tend to get sick on buses,
airplanes, trains, and boats, better stay
home. You'd be sick all the time.
If you are going with a spouse or
companion, you'll end your trip either
full of deepest hatred, or. with a new
tolerance, love, whatever.
41.
CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 'It 197,8-irr? ,Q,
Alk
1 FORGOT W
• 1M ON STRIKE Oil •
ON doluOAYSIIIS
• MO -t NTA to
"Actually, I don't work for Air Canada — my mother-in-law
was supposed to fly down to visit us."
}
Commendable
recognition
set
Good food at home
Lately I seem to be thinking a lot
about food. This is my second column
in four weeks on the subject. But why
not? It's one of my favourite topics.
This summer gave me a chance to
travel and to sample the cuisine of
different restaurants. Of course, I ate
my share of hot dogs, hamburgers and
French fries at take-out windows, but I
also enjoyed sitting down and being
served.
I was pleased to discover I didn't
have to drive far or pay high prices to
enjoy good food, fast, efficient and
friendly. service and relaxing at-
mospheres. Some of the best places to
eat are close to home.
On a weekend in Toronto, though, X'
thought I'd splurge on some high-class
meals in some high-class eating
establishments, regardless of the cost.
After these preliminary alarming
notes, I'm forced to admit we had a trip
that was merveilleuse, bellissima,
fantastic rand wunderbar. See how
travel broadens one?
It's not the only way travel is
broadening. I can eat ,and drink
anything and never gain an ounce. But
I watched with growing horror as some
of the ladies in our group, who began
the trip fairly svelte, went up like
balloons under a steady barrage of
French pastries, Italian pasta, Dutch
du lings, Swiss chocolate, and a five -
course dinner every night.
I mentioned our "group." Yes, we
were bourgeois enough to take a guided
tour. Many people, particularly the
young, sneer at this. "That's no way to
see the real Europe," they pontificate.
To some extent, I agree. The best way
to do it is with a back -pack, a year to
spend, and a sucker of a father back
home, ready to bail you out.
But middle-aged couples who can
hardly carry the garbage out aren't fit
to slug around all day With a sixty -
pound pack on the back.
Most young couples with three weeks
holidays haven't the time. And many
other people, who have both the time
and the strength, just don't want the
grubbiness of hostels and hitch -hiking,
suspect water, filthy toilets and the
ever-present danger of being ripped off
or winding up in the local clink for
some unknown reason.
Unless you are filthy rich, have a
good working knowledge of several
languages, and have plenty of time,
take my word. Take a planned tour.
We were lucky, lucky. We were a
mixed bag of about 42: Americans,
Australians and Canadians. There
The Clinton News•Record 1s published oath
Thursday at P.O. Sox 31, Clinton, Ontario,
Canada, NOM 1LO.
Member, Ontario Weekly
Newspaper Association
H Is registered as second class mall by the
post office under the permit number 0917.
The News -Record Incorporated In 1144 the
Huron Neweaecord, founded In 1e91, and The
Clinton New era. founded In 11113. Total press
run 3,3114.
Ilionits*.e.dertediska
totiaia►t,tfy Newspaper
Ajeattetion
I rtoy edrierflslnR rates
frwllrtbla art rsigioet, Ark for
1111iiiS Cafe Nor i Mottle• Ott, 1. •
General Manapr . J. Howard Altkon
Rifer. niwisL.Pft *raid
�MvNf�lali Oitiretef air* C. Hari.
Nawsitdrtriew tlhetltly 444114.0
cittkfe M miisibe. Asit'ideof G16b
ClrNul.flon . Moils M4e040
lulrserlpfton Rata:
Condit •'if per y.ar
u.l<.A. _'I1.110
Other •'O.A'
rr
wasn't one sour apple in the barrel.
Everybody was concerned when
someone was lost, or sick, or a bag was
missing. We shared picnic lunches on a
train, bottles of wine on. a boat, hair-
dryers and irons, kisses and hugs and
jokes and worries.
Everybody kept an eye on the
ubiquitous Larry, 8, and game Granny,
75, both of whom came through with
flying colors. We became a large
family. Two sprightly ladies from
Texas insisted (and they weren't
kidding) that we all have a reunion in
that sovereign state at Christmas.
When we had our farewell party in
Paris, it was a combination of New
Year's Eve and the Mardi Gras. I was
kissed and hugged and wept upon by so
many ladies of various ages, shapes
and accents that I was wishing the trip
was starting all over again.
Perhaps that was the greatest thing
we learned on the trip, although the
whole thing was a tremendous
educational experience in art and
history =- that almost all people have a
warmth and decency and plain
goodness in them, once the everyday
facade is broken through.
There was another way in which we
were extremely fortunate, as well. We
had — and I say it without
qualification, the best tour guide and
the best bus driver in all 'of Europe,
Annette and Giovanni.
For the first couple of days, I thought
Annette, a blonde Dutch girl, was a
relic of the Gestapo, as the bullied,
pushed, pulled, urged, and rounded up
stragglers like a sheep dog. I thought
Giovanni was a rather surly Italian.
How wrong one can be!
By day three, we all knew that
Annette knew her way through Europe
as we know our way around our own
houses, that she knew how to get us,
ahead of the mobs, to the best place to
eat, to shop, to go to the toilet. By the
time Giovanni had taken us through the
hair -pin roads of the first Alps, and had
helped every lady off the bus at every
stop, with a smile, we knew he' was
prima. More later.
What's your Opinion?
Write a letter to the
editor today and
let us know too.
I received a few surprises.
The only thing that was high-class
about the first restaurant was its
location - on the roof of a hotel.
The smorgasbord cost $12.95, which I
didn't think was an exhorbitant price
until I tasted the food. The salads were
bountiful, but they all had one thing in
common =' little or no taste. I've heard
of crunchy rolls but the ones that ac-
companied the salads were just plain
hard.
The main course consisted of hot beef
with gravy,' cauliflower and tiny round
potatoes that looked and tasted
suspiciously like the ones we can buy in
tins.
For dessert I had strawberry
shortcake, I think. The white cake was
dry and crumbly; it was covered with
red gelatin and hada lonely strawberry
pushed in here and there._
Fortunately a bowl of juicy oranges
sat on the table and helped to wash
down the dry cake.
The next night, at a different place, I
ordered a $4.95 hot turkey and dressing
dinner. It was not a lot to pay for a meal
in a restaurant, but it was a lot to' pay
for a TV dinner, which is what it tasted
like.
Although the room was not unusually
crowded, the waitress forgot to bring
our coffee. We became tired of waiting
and ended up enjoying dessert —
delicious butterscotch sundaes — at a
nearby Dairy Queen.
The best meal I tasted on the whole
weekend was a breakfast of hot cakes
and sausage under the golden arches.
Before the two days were over, I
resorted to ordering my old standby of
a toasted bacon sandwich and fries.
I enjoy eating out for many reasons
— not having to cook, not 'having to
clear off the table and not having to
wash dirty dishes. What a treat to be
able to relax over a second cup of
coffee knowing I can just walk away
when I'm through. But I + find it
disconcerting to go to a restaurant and
be fed potatoes €;rom., a can. and stale
cake.
The weekend in Toronto was
frustrating but it taught me to ap-
preciate the small-town restaurants
around home.
What a relief to be able to order a
steak well-done and to have it cooked
that way. And what a,treat to eat home-
made apple pie for dessert! .
25 YEARS AGO
September 24, 1953
A special meeting of the Clinton Town
Council was held on Monday evening of this
week in the board room at the town hall. All
members were present for this meeting,
when a decision was reached to move the
municipal offices to the old public school at
the corner of William and Ontario Streets.
Mayor W..J. Miller presented two items on
the" agenda for the evening: the heating
system of the town hall and the disposal of
the public school. Since the heating system
repair depended on the attitude of council
towards taking over the old school for
municipal use, the mayor suggested that the
matter be taken up first.
More people than there has been for many
a Wednesday, stood on the street and at
Library Park yesterday afternoon, wat-
ching the futile attempts of Clinton's pigeons
to avoid skilled trap shooters. Stationed on
the higher buildings throughout town, as
well as in the business district, members of
the Kippen Gun Club and Goderich as well
as excellent shooters from Clinton, the men
reduced the number of pigeons by a -known
137 birds, and today still more are being
picked up.
The shoot was conducted by Earl R.
Doucette, president of the Huron Fish and
Game Conservation Association and in-
cluded some 20 men. John Anderson shot the
highest number, counting 20 pigeons as his
bag, Roy Bellinger local game warden was
on hand.
• We are proud to announce that the Clinton
News -Record has been awarded third place
in the provincial competition of weeklies for
the title of Best All Round Newspaper in its
circulation class.
Storekeepers are warned regarding a man
and woman who give the names of Robert
and Leola Stevens who have cashed two
worthless cheques in the Town of Clinton for
$50 each. Their method is to order goods of
small value and then pass over the cheque.
They are wanted in other towns. Any in-
formation about these people would be
greatly appreciated by the Clinton Police
Department.
50 YEARS AGO
Sept 20, 1928
Instead of playing in the Library Park as
announced on Sunday afternoon the Kiltie
Band 'changed its mind and went down and
gave a concert at the Huron County Home.
They played on the park in the evening.
The Home and School Club held the first
meeting of the season, which took the form
of a social. gathering, at the home of Mrs
J.C. Dandier on Tuesday afternoon, the
Collegiate, Public School and the School of
Commerce being the guests,
A large number gathered and a fire
having been kindled in the grate against the
chilly autumn wind, Mrs. Gandier's cosy
drawing room, opening into a conservatory
and the garden, presented a very inviting
Dear Mr. Fitzgerald:
I was pleased to learn that the
Clinton News -Record was awarded a
Blue Ribbon, along with other
recognition, at the Canadian Com-
munity Newspaper Association con-
vention held this year in Vancouver.
I would like to commend you and
your staff on winning the various
awards, as I can appreciate the time
and effort that goes into newspaper
work.
May I take this opportunity to
congratulate you and extend sincere
best wishes for continued success in
your news coverage of the area.
Yours truly,
Jack Riddell, MPP,
Huron -Middlesex
Community harmony
Dear Editor:
The Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs of
Clinton wish to thank the town council
and the Legion pipeband for their co-
operation last Saturday evening in
planning and participating in the of-
ficial Clinton Community Grandstand
dedication.
We felt that it was a prime example
of how' different facets of the com-
munity can work in harmony to foster
superior community spirit.
We were especially pleased to see so
many citizens attend the . impressive.
ceremony, bringing that same neigh-
bourhood spirit with them.
To the near capacity crowd of 450
people who attended the street dance
afterwards and to those 50 or more who
purchased tickets, even though they
had previous commitments, the Kin-
smen and Kinettes hope that everyone
had a tremendous evening and thank
those who gave their confidence that
was shown in the work of the local
organization of KIN.
A, special thank you goes to the staff
of the Clinton News -Record for the
printing of news releases of the. event
and for their effective advertising. The
overwhelming turnout renews our faith
in the positive power of the press.
As always, the Kinsmen and Kinette
Clubs of Clinton are interested in
suggestions from the community.
Serving -the community's
greatest needs
We remain
The Kinsmen
and Kinette Clubs
Clinton
a look through
the news -record files
appearance. A jolly few hours were spent
renewing acquaintences after the summer
vacation, amongst those who knew each
other and getting acquainted with
newcomers. Afternoon tea was served from
a daintily spread table at which Mrs. A.T.
Cooper and Mrs. Hearn poured tea.
The Goderich Township School Fair was
held here on Thursday last and proved to be
a very successful affair. The Hohnesville
School carried off the first prize, the N.W.
Trewartha cup, second time, in the parade.
This year four schools entered the parade.
The prize winners wore orange and purple
sashes and carried sheaves of grain. Their
banner was also orange colored. No. 9 came
second.
75 YEARS AGO
Sept. 17, 1903
In excavating for the Combe block there
was brought to light the remains of one of
the supply tanks used by the Clinton's first
fire brigade. They were built by Mr. W.S.
Harland in 1862 and served their purpose for
several years. A diminutive hand engine
was all the brigade had in those days but
they did good service with it on several
occasions. Mr. Harland was building
wagons in 1862 and has continued in active
business ever since, making him one of the
oldest businessmen in Clinton.
Mr. John Moon of Goderich Township had
half an acre of beans last year and the result
was so satisfactory that he planted ten acres
last spring. The weather so far has not been
the very best for saving them but he expects
they will come out all right and be a
profitable crop.
The trustees of school section No. 7
engaged Miss Annie E. Consitt fpr another
year in Hillsgreen at an increase in salary of
$40 and they think they could not have done
better.
The harvest thanksgiving service in St.
Luke's church was well attended and en-
tered into with spirit in Stanley Township.
The decorations were pretty and the service
hearty. The congregation deserves special
mention of late, having papered and painted
the church and otherwise improved it.
Mr. Thomas Cousins of the Base Line met
with an accident a few days ago which will
lay him up for sometime. The tine of a fork
struck between the fingers of his left hand
and blood poisoning setting in he has had a
bad time of it. We are pleased to hear,
though, that he is now improving.
Born September 14, 1852, Mr. Robert
Holmes MP celebrated the 50th anniversary
of his birthday on Tuesday. The News -
Record joins with his numerous friends in
wishing him many happy returns of the day.
100 YEARS AGO
Sept. 19, 1878 '
A rumour has been current in town for
some days that Miss Croley a former
teacher in the Model' School had been found
dead in her bed in Toronto. We have it on
good authority that this is untrue, although
6
she is lying quite ill.
Since the announcement in these columns
that the bones of a child had been found in
the churchyard, our office has been
besieged by numbers of small children who
generally want to know "if a baby's bones
are here." On their curiousity being
satisfied by a glance at them, a look of
horror passes 'over their countenance and
they depart to wonder and ruminate over
the remains.
'Last Thursday our town was visited by a
man with a hand organ. While playing in a
certain locality a man who had imbibed too
freely of "bug juice" started dancing to the
inspiring tunes, but he tumbled un-
ceremoniously into the mud. Regaining his
feet and the sidewalk, he continued his
antics and soon drew more attention than
the musician. As his arms and legs flew up
and down like those of a "jumping -jack" his
style of dancing was one hardly likely to be
introduced into fashionable society.
The list of convictions for the quarter
ending September 10, are a slight increase
in number of those of the preceding quarter.
Under the heading Drunk and Disorderly,
there were 36 convictions, the same as the
last quarter; assault 37, an increase of 4;
suits for wages, 12; insulting and
threatening language 19; illegally selling
liquor 6, being 5 less than last time; 1. for
bigamy; 1 for rape; and actually one for
stealing ashes. Goderich magistrates claim .
precedence for the number of convictions
returned, there being 52 for that place;
Brussels comes next with 44; Exeter follows
with 21; Seaforth and Blyth 18 each and
Clinton has 17. It would appear, from the
list, that a great many cases are got up on
the slightest pretext, some being
recriminatory and it would no doubt be
much better if recourse to the law was nQt
had in many of them.
Our Mayor, W.C. Searle, Esq., who has
been confined to his home for some days by
a cutaneous affection of the feet, was able to
be out on Tuesday.
On Sunday night last, a horse belonging to
Wm. Townsend, who lives near Bayfield,
was stabbed to the heart by some inhuman
wretch. fhe cause of this mean act is
unknown.
The young people of Londesboro are again
called to take their last farewell of another
of their young companions. Within a very
short time, we have read several obituaries
of young ladies who have passed from our
midst in the prime of life; at the time when
life seems most precious, just as youth is
emerging into womanhood. In. the glowing
noon of vigorous life, with high hopes and
bright prospects before them. The name of
our young friend, Miss Mary Govier is today
in the deaer*column and for a moment we
can scarcely believe it to be a reality, yet
there is a Vacancy in the old bbtne that earl
never be filled.
o