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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1983-09-14, Page 4PAGE 4 —CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1983 BLUE RIBBON, :AWARD 1983 Tho Clinton Thavve-Sfecord ie published oath lleedi rosdoy et P.O. ftom 39, Clinton. Ontorio. Corrado. Mehl IBA. Tel.• 992-3443. Subscription Rote: Commodes . '19.69 Sr. Citizen . '13.64 per goer hf.S.&• & foreign • '89.90 per year it to registered es second dew moll ley lite post office under Cho permit nuaroher 9917. Tho POows-accord incorporated in 1M tiro Herron PiOwo-lfecord. founded in 1991, end The Clinton hoer ere, founded in 1942. Tota/ wee, run 4,266. Incorporating THE BLYTH STANDARD) J. HOWARD t .!WEN - Publisher SHELLEY McPHEE - Editor GARY HAIS' - Advertising Manager MARY ANN HOLLENBECK - Office Manager A MEMBER MEMBER Disploy advertising rotes avollable on request. Ask for Pots Cord No. 12 effective Oct. 1. 1991. Tourism counts here This week the Clinton News -Record bouquet goes out to Don and Betty Oke of Henson. Betty, Hensall's village clerk, and her husband Don, proved to be excellent tour guides recently when they gave the red carpet treatment to a family visiting from Hensall, England. The English visitors stopped at the municipal office for information and Betty Oke provided them with an impromptu tour guide of the area. The Okes enter- tained the English couple and their two children to lunch and gave an afternoon sight seeing tour of the village, Bayfield, Benmiller and Goderich. The English family reported that their visit to Hensall, Ontario, was the highlight of their Canadian tour. As the Okes have done, we should all be interested in promoting tourism in our area by making sure that the welcome mats are clearly evident in our com- munities. Bayfield's economic success is largely due to the appreciative tourists who visit the lovely village each summer. Likewise Blyth is in the fortunate position of being a popular tourist spot. This summer alone an estimated 30,000 people passed through the doors of the Blyth Summer Festival. Tourism, as the Southwestern Ontario Travel Association reports, is a major in- dustry in this area. Throughout Ontario it generates billions of dollars in revenue, provides thousands of jobs and is fast becoming the province's largest industry. The Southwestern Ontario Travel Association also notes that in addition to the economic benefits of tourism, local residents may enjoy many side benefits from the tourist trade, such as the development and upgrading of highways, heritage restoration, shopping, festival and cultural events and the enhancement of com- munity pride and cultural awareness. Local citizens are realizing the benefits of special tourist events, like the recent Blyth Thresher Reunion, the Zurich Bean Festival and the annual Klompen Feest celebration in Clinton. It takes planning, hard work and co-operation to organize events of this magnitude, but the benefits and financial gain from such tourist attractions are worthwhile. Another busy summer tourist season may be drawing to a close in this area, but now is the time to begin plans and promotions for the 1984 tourist season. It's time that we realized that our main source of industry is right in our own beautiful, lakeside communities. -By S. McPhee . USC helps less fortunate Dear Editor: We are only too conscious of the many difficulties still facing so many Canadians today, but in countries where unem- ployment is endemic and there are no social services to cushion families against disaster, there is nothing to help stave off hunger and homelessness. The USC is diverting even more funds into family related, self-help cooperative programs to help raise living standards. I am hoping that you will once again be able behind the scenes many in Canada, including most provin- cial premiers, look forward to the day when Pierre Trudeau departs the political scene because they think it will bring an end to what they consider his centralizing, tendencies. They may have to fight an even larger battle against centralization, however, in the form of a stronger enemy: modern technology and economics. There has been more and more em- phasis in recent years, on the need to decentralize the political structure. There have been calls for more power to the pro- vinces, more power to the municipalities, in order to bring government closer to the people. But in ordinary life, the trend seems to be moving in the opposite direc- tion. Modern technology and economies of scale, particularly in communications, are threatening to make us what some have called a "global village" but might better be called a "global suburb". In television, for instance, while costs of producing television shows have risen to astronomical heights, satellite com- munications have made it possible for a few to make larger profits than ever before for a few. 'rake the case of a controversy in Saskat- chewan right now. Local cable companies, at the urging of complaining customers, have asked the CRTC ) Canadian Radio and Teleconununications Commission) for permission to change from bringing in U.S. stations from just across the border because they don't have strong signals and instead bring in satellite sigi.als from sta- tions in Detroit and Seattle. Opposition has come from local television stations in Saskatchewan which can see the beginning of their end with satellites beaming signals from a few huge stations at a fraction of the coast per customer. Faced with com- petition from super stations which can cover half the world. how does a small local station exist. We have a graphic example right in our own backyard. In the early 1960's before the proliferation of cable television, CKNX television produced incredible afflount of local programming. There were 'v. -omen's shows in the afternoon. music shows, news to bring the USC message to your readers who have so often showed they cared. The USC's 39th campaign begins Sep- tember 13 with a Christmas Day target of $4,000,000. Dr. Hitschmanova asks you to accept her warmest thanks and kind, personal regards, , Thank you. Sincerely yours, Pamela Lee MacRae (Mrs.), Director, Information Services. 6i101Ns all auwug up w itiklnuig uie al.dl.wil an integral part of our local communities. But the station in those days had little com- petition. People were still willing to accept the rather primitive production qualities of the CKNX shows. When more and more television became available, two things happened: on the one hand people saw more of the Hollywood television shows that cost millions to make and turned their back on the local product made on a shoestring, and on the other, with so many stations available, the limited number of viewers in our rural area anyway, became split to the point the mar et wasn't in- teresting to big-time national advertisers. Why, for instance, if you were the advertis- ing agency for Proctor and Gamble, would you spend money on CKNX if you're get- ting a good part of the area audience on Global. If you are advertising on some American superchannel, you won't even have to bother advertising in all of Canada. Modern technology harnessed to the profit-seeking private industry spells trou- ble for community unity, regionalism within a country and for whole countries who want to do more than be bombarded with a foreign culture. Local television sta- tions are in trouble. Local newspapers may follow if the trend people predict comes true and we get all our news elec- tronically. But the trend favors the already power- ful. As superstations grow we will get our news and views filtered through powerful city stations. Since the United States has much of the wealth and the apparatus to produce television, we will be even more dominated by U.S. culture and so will tiny countries on the other side of the world that have been protected by distance until now. 9 That's why we should call it a global suburb because like a suburb, the rest of the world will be dominated by the major centres of money and population. For those who worry about a sense of com- munity, about human scale and one-to-one relationships, the future may not be as rosy as the futurists predict. la A vintage year by Shelley McPhee sugar and spice dispensed b bill smiley Summer daze ' Well, you can't say it hasn't been a hum- mer of a summer, with all those bright hot days beckoning everybody to the golf course and the beach. Why is it then, that when I go into the local delicatessen to pick up a bit of grub- bery, there are 44 women ahead of me, waving their numbered cards, pushing, jostling, pointing at six kinds of cold meat, and shouting: "A liddle of that, cut real thin. Half a pound of that, in one -pound chunks. Three-quarter pounds of the potato salad, no more, it makes me fat; two pounds of the pickled beans - well, no - well, OK, I'll have only a spoonful"? Who's at the beach'.' Who's at the golf course? Well, I know who's at the beach. The cops. I took the boys out for a swim one blazing afternoon, found what I thought was a fairly legal spot, even though it said "No Parking," and it cost me 10 bucks. Why aren't our boys in blue out chasing motorcycle gangs, instead of hanging tickets on doting (doty?) grand- fathers? I guess it's fairly simple. They're not going to be beaten up by the odd grand- father. Who's at the golf course? I don't know. I'm not going to thump around on my tin foot checking what idiots are hitting or missing a little white sphere when the temperature and humidity are up around 100 degrees. F that is. Just to add to my summer fun is a busted eardrum that isn't healing. But even that has advan ges. If I push my finger into my good ea' , I can't hear a word my wife is saying. It rives her woolly, because I've been pretending for years that I was getting deaf when she went into a tirade. -Why haven't you trimmed the hedge?" Eli? swept the ledge? "Why don't you get the grass cut?" "Watch your language, lady." "Why aren't you useful about the house, like other husbands?" "Eh, I wouldn't be seen dead in a Mother Hub- bard?" Just to add to my summer fun, my English staff has disintegrated, in almost one swell foop.' One lady, an outstanding teacher, has become sick of the system, pulled out and started her own business. Another has gone on halftime, so he can write poetry. Two others are knocked out for some time with heart trouble. Another has been having a baby, with six months leave. Her kid will be ready for Day -Care by the time she gets back. I'll probably wind up with a couple of jocks who don't know the difference between, "I seen the both of them;" and "The whole team wore gloves on its right hand," or "Shakespeare wrote in longhand because the typewriter was not yet in- vited." However, as summer wanes, don't think we haven't had a swell time. My wife took a music course, driving 60 miles a day to do it. 1 had some nice trips, too. To the beach — $10. Eight miles. We talk vaguely about going to Stratford or the Shaw Festival, and wind up wat- ching a re -run of "Dallas." I sit in the backyard trying to get in- spiration from the trees and all I can see is dust, and all I can hear is bulldozers. Speaking of dust, that's all you'll be able to see of me, even if it's only snow -dust, come Dec. 31. And I'm sure you had a lovely summer, too, with all those relatives dropping in, just at meal -time. You're having two slices of ham and a kaleidoscope tomato, and a big bowl of canned soup, and a whole carload of friends whom you in- vited to drop in, six years ago, arrive at the door, friendly as all get out and hungry as hell. No, no, they wouldn't think of staying for lunch. It would be an imposition, which it is. Half an hour later, they've drunk all your beer, commented on your "lovely" house, and downed the canned ham you were saving for an emergency, gobbled the fresh corn you were saving for supper, and cleaned up your fresh green beans. You don't even know whether the guy's name is Rob or 'Rod, or whether the woman's name is Myrtle or Marg. You just sit there in the debris, not caring, and hating their kids for breaking a branch off your lilac tree. Summers, on the whole, though, are therapeutic. They make you realize how horrible winter is in this country. They make you realize you are too fat and blowsy, and that, next winter, you're going to ski and walk in the snow, and not be such a slob, eating pig food and lying around like a eunuch or a harem member. And, of course, when winter comes, you realize that you must keep up your strength by eating lots of carbohydrates to beat the cold, and watching TV "to keep up with things," and that next summer you're going to exercise and get fit and brown by running down in the car to the super- market, and jogging all the way from the car to the house with the groceries, and striding angrily across to the boy who cuts your lawn and demanding why he hasn't cut it. And all the time, millions of kids are starving in Asia and Africa. Serves them right. They should have been born in Canada. by' Shelley McPhee I've read the reports, mulled the situation over in my mind and discussed the incident, but still I don't feel qualified to write full fledged editorial comments on the recent downing of the Korean Airlines 747. In my mind there are still to many unanswered questions, too much double talk and far too many unathorized com- ments being made. Perhaps we will never know the truth behind the tragedy. That will all depend on the honesty, the moral responsibility and the truth of the leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States. It seems to me that our world leaders are playing dangerous games. I only hope that their power struggles end on a peaceful agreement, not with the ter- mination of mankind. + + + Good luck wishes this week go out to Jane Bell, daughter of John and Edith Bell of RR 2, Seaforth. Jane graduated from the Seaforth District High School as an Ontario Scholar and this fall is attending the University of Toronto where she is majoring in phar- macy. d A top notch student, Jane received her elementary school education at Hullett Central School in I,ondesboro. + + + If you enjoy singing, then one of the finest ways to share your voice is with the Blyth Festival Singers. The choir began weekly rehearsals on Sept. 14 at the Blyth Public School. Future rehearsals will be held Wednesday nights at the Blyth Memorial Hall and the first concert is scheduled for Nov. 25. If you are interested in joining, call Judy Morton, membership co-ordinator at 357- 3791. Choir fans will be pleased to gear that choir director Laurie Rowbotham has been appointed conductor of the Wilfrid Laurier University Choir. a- + The Bluewater Blid Council will be hosting a special display of CNIB visual aids at the Wesley Willis Church in Clinton on Sept. 20. The display will show the newest equipment available to help blind people lead normal lives. Everyone is invited to view this show. + + + Welcome back goes out to George and Margaret Champan of Bayfield after their summer in northern Ontario. George Chapman is a familiar name to the Clinton News -Record pages as he has helped capture village activities with this camera for the past several years. The summer leisure life suited George and he will be retiring from the job as our official Bayfield photographer. Thank you George for all your help in making the Bayfield Bugle a SSn- cess each week! + + + Don't forget that this Sunday the Terry Fox Run will be held in Clinton. Sponsor sheets are available at Mac's, Backer's, Dixie Lee and the Canadian Cancer Office. Make the event an athletic challenge for yourself, or take the family out on a picnic hike over the l8 km. cow -se. Registration will be held at CHSS bet- ween 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and the run will go, rain or shine. + + + Congratulations to Mrs. Harvey Lantz of RR 1, Shakespeare. Mrs. Lantz was the winner of an overnight bag from the Clinton News -Record draw, held at the Blyth Thresher Reunion. Fire en ck to th ust be Dear Editor: On Sunday, Sept. 11th the Blyth firemen held a pancake breakfast at the firehall to raise money for equipment for the emergency van. Many came to support them but many more did not. I am angry at and ashamed of the ones that did not as too many people in our town have nothing but complaints against the fire depart- ment. Recently I heard there was to be a petition started about how fast the men drive to the hall. Did they ever stop to think that maybe someday their house may be on fire and then they would probably be like the other half who complain because they took too long. How do they know there aren't small children trapped in a house? Don't say it can't happen, the sharp reality of the tragic deaths of those four children in Atwood stayed with many for a long time. Do the people not realize that the fire whistle is not for the firemen but for us, the rest of the community? I myself go check that my children aren't near the road and hopefully people who are driving pull over to the side. The "firemen" are just like everyone else and can make mistakes, but at 3 a.m. on a stormy winter's night if my house was on fire there is no doubt in my mind that the firemen would be there within minutes to do the best they can. So let's quit complaining and be proud of our fire department. Thanks to everyone who did come out an support the fire department and for the one's who didn't well—maybe you will take time and stdp and think the next time the fire whistle blows, after all it may be your house there going to. A Firemen's Wife Blyth. Friends say thanks Dear Editor, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed and work- ed at the Blyth Centre for the Arts' second annual Country Fair. Without the support of our board members and you, our "Friends of Blyth", fund raising projects such as the fair are impossible. We had a very successful day, raising approximately $1,100. A special thanks to all the local ladies who donated baking and candy. It was all very much appreciated. Don't forget our Medieval Feast on Saturci y, October:2 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the 'box office (523-9300) or The Blyth Saga (523-4331) . Thank Sincerely, Liz Herman. We've moved Dear Editor: Two weeks ago I wrote in regards to the Clinton Hospital Auxiliary Penny Sale. I wonder if everyone noticed the new location. The Penny Sale will be held at St. Pauls Anglican Church, Rattenbury Street entrance in Clinton this year. Sincerely, Marj. Vere, Publicity Convenor. P.S. See you all at the Penny Sale, —M.V. RCAF reunion Dear Editor: There are no doubt readers of your newspaper who would be interested in knowing of the forthcoming 38th Annual Reunion of No. 6 Service Flying Training School, R.C.A.F., Dunnville, Ontario, and I would appreciate it if you would provide a news item in a coming issue of your newspaper. For the past 37 years Royal Canadian Air Force personnel who were stationed at No. 6 S.F.T.S. during the war have gathered in Dunnville to celebrate their station reunion. This year marks their 38th get together which will take place Sept. 16, 17 and 18. The event begins with a reception Friday evening, hosted by Mayor Frank Marshall. A golf tournament will be held Saturday morning and in the afternoon a demonstration of ultra -light aircraft, a parachute drop, a parade, memorial service and fly-past of wartime Harvard aircraft is scheduled, followed by the annual banquet in the evening. Group Captain A.J. Bauer, C.D., National President of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, will take the salute and inspect -the band and air cadets of No. 150 White Tiger Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets of Hamilton, Ontario. The weekend closes Sunday morning with an outdoor "Flapper and Banger" breakfast at the Riverview Motel. All wartime personnel are invited to attend. If not on the mailing list, please contact: Frank Scholfield, Adjutant - General, P.O. Box 187, Dunnville, Ont. NIA 2X5. Ph. (416) 774-7595 (Bus.) (416) 774-5480) Res. ) The publicity we have received in the past has resulted in the attendance of several "first timers". each year and has made it possible for us to hold this rather unique reunion annually since the war ended in 1945. Your co-operation is again appreciated and will help to make oui reunion another great success. Yours very truly, F rank Scholfield, Adjutant -General