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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1984-02-22, Page 4PAOR01,4341NTIM-NEWS-RECORD, VIMIXTESDALF_EBRITARY 4,1984 14;t10.01,,,,Wisto*Kords MW� .*di WRORRodigy PM, 00*W 1011_004". Orillediet .10.1t014 4824414.1, !RR Plow for..42tkin.111..74,pot year 03.A. fecollPs • 105.00 pew pilaw It r se peewee dem hIIley the pee, eft, ektpti* #.4 imp�3* rtemilow 0117. me POIPtIft40,411140.fp.roliqxd ht Me 1.4 *MM. Pelt*OAkorlit **Sod 41 Mit teed The faleteet#,WAilet fteegeed 1863. Te$ prate moo 3.700. 19k A ,,e•• tt:•• . Incorporating (THE BLYTH STANDARD) J. HOWARD AITKEN - Publisher SHELLEY McPHEE - Editor GARY HAIST - Advertising Manager MARY ANN HOLLENBECK - Office Manager MEMBER A MEMBER clispiliv advertising retail available on request. Ask for Rats Cara. No. 14 effective October 1.11413. Small villages are alive 4,S • A •••0 •k :;s• f..1.'7 slow death of the small ./illages. When transportation wasiess highly developed , One of the sadder facts of life in Ontario over the past 20 years has been the •••„0,4,- .--, these—harntets were busy c-entres of trade and social life. The advent of cars, year-round open roads and bigger stores in the nearby towns have spelled the doom of the little places. ' . Some of them that is. A few of these villages hove, through inventiveness and energy, been able to implement programs of one sort or.another which have brought prosperity, even fome to their doors. St. Jacobs, for example, sitting right on the doorstep of Kitchener -Waterloo, might well have dried on the vine. Instead, it is now an interesting village, with its antique eating places and markets. Elora is another village which was headed for steady decline, but the place has blossomed as an unusual and picturesque spot which is visited by thousands of outsiders each year. The village has even been chosen as, the locale of several movies. Stratford, although not a small village, was doomed by removal of the railway yards which provided the earlier growth of the community. But the entrepreneurs' found the money and the spirit to make the place the -home of the Stratford Festival with theati-ical productions famed throughout the -continent.- - - -.- - • Any list of such latter-day miracle communities would be incomplete without mention of Blyth and its vigorous theatre industry. This year the Blyth Festival 3* " ••,() tv.,....,,, marks its tenth anniversary - and 10 years ago many in the Blyth area were s, laughing at the mere thought of dramatic history being made in the t wn hall there. Blyth has come back to life. It has several new stores and boutiques. The to n hall theatre has been extensively renovated and each season thousands of theatre -goers pour into a community that was only a dot on the map when all this ( started. 4 ii . It takes energy_ancLimagi_nation to_bregthe new life.into a small town but we Sugar a.... .n Spice • have ample evidence that it.can be done. '• from the Winghom Advance Times. StAs 4. 3 Have your say Dear Editor Health Act hurts Dear Editor, I am writing to you as a concerned citizen, regarding the proposed Canada Health Act, which is being forced through parliament in an indecently hasty manner. I believe most citizens are entirely unaware of the implica- tions of this Act. I speak as_a Health Care user when I say, at present, we have a very good Health Care System; however, it is starting to show its age. Like most structures, it requires periodically indexed injections of funds to remain healthy and fit. Increasingly these funds, as I am sure most people will agree, are not readily forthcoming from govern- ment sources, but rather; have been provid- ed by private resources, particularly in this cotnmunity. The new Health Care Act does nothing to improve this lack of funding, but in fact seems to have the seeds necessary to breed -- even further underfunding. At present The Federal GOvertunent is —providing - approximatelY 31 percent Of health care dollars to the provinces. Under the new Act, there are no guarantees that even this figure will be maintained by the Federal Government. - Further, under this Act, your rights as in- dividuals are, to some extent, being • usurped. The Act appears to stifle both priVate. and public initiativeat a provincial level in providing funds for health care. It would appear that there will be no insurance payment made by individuals or corpora- tions under the new Health Act. In fact, in- creased direct taxation would appear to , have to pay for any further funding of health care in Canada. Furthermore, no -private in- surance will be tolerated (totalitarianism within a democracy). I believe your choice of treatment under such an arrangement will be seriously restricted, to such an extent that this Act could become very dangerous to your health. I think a great deal of further discussion is required before this Act becomes law. However, your right to make representation is now limited, due to the .speed which this Act is being Inrced.tluvugiiparliament, 4r -%.;Yotato • -416, - sse,•; 0 • ,0 se, Ss The three week difference by Shelley McPhee Behind The Scenes By Keith Roulston Education plus Having lived through the death of a school in my community once in niy life, I Can understand what parents feel when they set their community schools .threatened by declining enrolment and rigid government regulations on minimum sizes for schools. . Back in my Koine town, I was part of the last graduating class •from the local high school . before it was . closed and amalgamated with a nearby mega -school. That was in the long -ago days before county school -boards andtall so the decision by our local school trustees, all part of the com- munity served by the.. school, must • have • been extremelypainful. They -couldn't -make • a cool, reasoned, distanced decision. They . had to face people on the street when they made the decision. In many cases their own children were affected. The trustees had held out for, a long time against pressure from 'officials in the ministry in Toronto.. The .school, with about 250 students, was not economical they said. Those were the days when the government Was sure that bigger was better, a thinking that saw one -room country schools amalgamated, then these made larger again. It was time when architects made fortunes designing new schools and enlarg- ing old ones. It was a time when the bureaucrats were dreaming up county boards of education to create more bureaucrats. The trustees at our school were told they were hurting their students because they weren't able to attract the best teachers. They were told the students were suffering because they didn't have as good equipment -- in the shops, labs and gyms. Finally after years of such advice alter- nating with tnreats or grants ueing cut off, the trustees agreed to close the school. I wasn't inthe new high school to know for sure if the quality of education was better with those flashy new labs, that whole wing of industrial shops and .commercial classes. I suppose some students certainly were helped. • But for all that was gained, I think 'something was lost too. In our tiny little school we were very much part of our corn7 ntunity. We learned how we had to play our part, how we had to interract to make a small community work. We added ...something to She community„andthe corn-, triunity gave something to us. Because nie didn't have to worry about long bus rides. we played a much more ac- tive role in extracurricular activities play- ing on sports teams, joining clubs and the school band: These added to our own lives and to the life of the school and the com- munity. That was lost to the students who went on to the big school unless they had cars or could arrange transportation after school. • • I think the experts in education made a mistake. 1 think back then especially, iand maybe now too), the experts were too in- terested in the flashy things in education, the bricks and mortar, the gleaming test tubes and retort stands in the labs, the whir- ring machines- in' the shops, the blinking, bleeping computers. But in the final analysis, education comes down to a human interaction between a stu- dent and a teacher. Education is also more —than -you learn- in a. classroom, it is:learning—. about your place in society. When schools ' are taken out of the Community that is lost. Family search Dear Editor, I am trying to re -unite twin sisters who have been separated for more than 80 years and would be most grateful if you would make their story public. Eliza ( on whose behalf I am working) and Harriet Flynn were born August 1, 1901 in Hexham, Northumberland, England to Dorothy , Ann, wife of John Flynn, a plasterer. Shortly after birth, Eliza was adopted privately. Harriet , and her mother came to Canada about 1912. Eliza, who still lives in Hexham, is very anxious to find her long lost twin. Through research in the U.K., it has been established that the last news of Harriet occurred in 1953 when she was reported to be living in Toronto with her husband and three children, two boys and a girl. Unfortunately, there is no record of Harriet's husband's last name. It seems likely that Harriet and her mother may well have settled originally in the eastern provinces. The ladies have an older half-brother, Billy McGarity, who is known to have worked for C.P. in the early 1930s. If Harriet or her children recognize tbemselves from this outline or ifranyone else has information about Harriet and her family, please write to me at: 14 Gertrude Place, Toronto M4J 1R3. Thank you. Yours sincerely, Juliet Mannock. Write CRTC Dear Editor: We would like to ask anyone on the 482 ex- change who desires free calling with the Auburn exchange to take time and write their comments to theC.R.T.C. Ottawa, On- tario. K1A ON2 as they were asked to do in the Feb. 8th edition of the News Record. They can also call Mr. Peter Croome at the Stratford business Office collect 271-7030 with their comments or write their members of parliament. We would appreciate any help you can , give us and we would also like to say "Thank you" to the ones who have already taken time to do so. Yours truly From one of the angry Auburn Residents Enough is enough Listen, Lord, enough is enough. We've all heard of the Year of the Great Plague, or The Year of the Locusts, or some such, with a certain awe, but from a safe distance. But who's going to be interested in The Year of the Smileys.. • Oh, I know we've had a few minor altercations in the past, when I've fairly , humbly suggested that You stop dumping ram or snow onus for 40 days and 40.nights. But. I didn't think You'd start a personal vendetta. I °thought You were Above that sort of things Live and learn. It 'started. in Kugust. My son-, Hugh, a gregarious type who likes almost everybody, admitted to his apart- ment, late at night, two young men and a girl, who'd.come to "visit". He knew one of' them slightly, and asked them in for cuppa. He doesn't drink. They had a bottle. After a while they said they were goingoto rip off his guitar. He said Oh no you'renot, and suggested they leave. One of the men hit him over the head with the guitar. While he was unconscious, or close enough, one of the others hit him on both knees with a hammer. -The young lady of the group heated water and :poured boiling water over his face, chest and back. They took his' stereo and anything else that would sell quickly on the streets, and left. Somehow, some hours later, he managed to lurch and stagger to an emergency ward of a hospital, in shock and great pain. He's back in pretty good shape six months later, with sore knees and burn scars. Why? Who knows? They were probably By Bill Smiley looking for something they could sell quickly, to buy drugs. Or they were animals, already high and looking for a little "fun" as well as profit. That's what life in the big cities of Canada is becoming. A month later, Lord, I fell down a stairs and broke my shoulder. I'm not saying You had anything to do. with it. I don't dare. But one of your cherubims or seraphims might have been trying to curry a little favor. I've never fallen off anything but the wagon before in my life. Five months later (a couple of weeks, the doctors said), I can't open a jar of mar- malade without severe pain, and I can lift five pounds only with great care. Two months later, my wife, in her prime, strong and healthy, fell dead in front of me. My daughter went Kerne to Ottawa with the kids and • found her apartment ran- sacked, stereo and other valuables gone, after her Christmas with me, At least, she said Wryly', they hadn't taken a hatchet -toe the piano. And it's pretty hard to heist a piano out of a basement apartment. Another Canadian city. Great place to live. We might as well all move to Detroit.' . However, there's no personal resentment, Lord. I know you have to test the faith once in a while, or "once and a while",as my English students prefer. Look at what happened to Job. At least You haven't given me boils. Speaking of boils, what's happened to my. , ability to sleep the clock around? It's very nice, being retired and not having to slam that alarm clock off at 7:15 alleidoscope and get tip in the dark. But. I can't sleep. Not in a bed. Only in a chair. I go to bed at a reasonable hour, 11 to • 12, and nothing happens. I just lie there, my mind whirling with all the things I haven't done or should do. I turn on the light and read. Try again. Nothing. Read some more. About daylight I go into a coma for four or five hours. Maybe I'd settle for a boil or two. ' However, I can't complain. It's a fairly good life, being a retired widower; once you've established a pattern. Pie and ice-cream and cheese for break- fast, at noon. Soup and scrambled eggs for lunch, about four p.m. Frozen chicken pie andbanana for dinner, about eight.. And the days have a certain soothing rhythm. Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1. go for physiotherapy to Brutal Brian. It used to be called; in the old days, the Inquiition. I 'don't scream when he takes my shoulder out of thesocket, but I sure -grunt. . Tuesdays and Thursdays are the bad days. I have to set the alarm. After an hour's sleep, on Tuesday I -must put out the gar- bage. On Thursday, after an hour's sleep, I must welcome the lady who comes to clean up the mess I've made, and try to give her some coherent idea of what to do. And every day, still, come warm and lovihg letters from old friends and column readers, to give me a little weep. All in all, not a bad life. But, Lord, if you can find something else to do, stop dumping on the Smileys. Ever wanted to take a ride on that big wagon, pulled by Tom Penhale's matched team of Belgian horses? The Clinton Kinsmen will give you a chance to do so on Saturday. In recognition of their Founder's Day, the Kinsmen will be bringing Hayfield's Tom Penhale to Clinton for a day of fun. Tom's team and wagon will be taking free hay rides throughout town from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The event will come complete with hot chocolate for the kids. The wagon will be set up at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food offices. As well, Tom will show a display of his har- nesses and photos of the magnificent wagon he made for Disney World. You can't beat the price or the fun of this special event. +++ Another special event will be held on Feb. 26 when the Clinton Scouting Movement hold their annual pancake breakfast at the Clinton Legion. You may also notice windows displays around town, in recognition of Guide -Scout Week. The Cubs have their display at Lee's, the ist and 2nd Brownies are at Mary's Sewing Centre and the Beavers are using Shirais window. There are also posters at By Shelley McPhee the Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank and Credit Union. +++ A realistic portrayal? Well, it was close, but luckily not the real thing. Toronto police turned up at Theatre Passe Muraille last week, looking for what they thought was marijuana. During the production of O.D. on Paradise, a play about Canadians in Jamaica, the actors smoked cigarettes that many people, including the police; were sure contained marijuana. The police were called to the theatre after published review reported that the actors were smoking the "wacky tabacky." Metro's finest found that Theatre Passe Muraille was not using illegal drugs, but actors were smoking strawberry tea leaves, because they smelled like marijuana. +++ Robbie. the pet robin of Erma and Hal Hartley .of Clinton... Or ,aln.os. 1i. Pars, passed away quietly one night this winter. Robbie was a well known local citizen and a familiar face in the Clinton News -Record. We are told that his longevity is probably a record, since most robins in the wild survive an average of three years due to their hazardous existense. Robbie's cheery whistles and calls are sorely missed by the Hartley family. + + There are sign S of spring in Clinton down at Ed and Blanche Deeves' home. Blanche reported that this week that the pansies and pussy willows are in bloom on their property. + + + John and Velma Smith of Vanastra have returned home after spending two months in Florida, visiting their two sons and families. While there, they attended the wedding of their granddaughter Valerie Lynn, only daughter of Doug andiLynda Smith, for- merly of Clinton. Valerie married Mark Prosser, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Prosser of Florida. ++-+ The Clinton Rebekah Card Party was held on Feb. -16. Winners were: ladies' high, Vatter Mair; losv, Bernice Brown; metes high, Omerine Watkins (playing as a man); men's low, Warren Whitmore; lone hands, Alden Crich; share the wealth, Hugh Hodges. The next card party will be held on March 15. Sincerely yours, Brian Baker President, Huron County Medical Society French facts Dear Editor: As the committee representing many, parents in the area who are interested in French Immersion, we would like to clarify several points in regard to this program. First of all, when French Immersion • Programs are established, they are offered. on a purely voluntary basis to parents who wish to choose this option for their child's education. Immersion programs have proven to be - the most effective way to teach children fluency in a second. language. French Immersion has been established for 15 years in Ontario and during this time it has become one of the most thoroughly researched educational programs. Findings have been consistently favourable. The Federal' and Provincial governments -provide considerable fundirig for French programs and additional grants become available if .an immersion program is established. Cost studies are being done to ensure that their grants would offset any direct burden to the taxpayer. • Many parents in this area feel that the - value of a bilingual education cannot be questioned. We must continue to meet the , educational needs,of our young children. . ' The Committee for Learning Opportunities Editor's Note: Next week the News -Record will be presenting articles on the subject of French Immersion, dealing with the mechanics and costs of implementing the program as well as some background information. From Auburn Dear Editor: A very sincere "Thank you" to the citizens . and businesses df the Clinton telephone exchange who voted "Yes" on the recent survey regarding toll free service between Clinton and Auburn. • However, I am appalled tothink that „some Clinton bliSinesses feel so economical- ly secure that they do notwish the support of customers from the Auburn area. Inthis day of severe economic pressures one would ex- pect the situation to be the complete reverse. It is a fact that some Clinton businessmen voted "No." How selfish! When the new addition to the Clinton Public Hospital was constructed, I was ask- ed to help canvass the Auburn area. Ap- parently some Clintonians have an extreme- ly short memory. The people of this district responded well, but all of the thanks that we receive is a refusal for a very inexpensive service which we desire. My family shops a great deal in Clinton, as we make many trips there for doctor and dental appointments, for 'banking and for farm machinery repairs, etc. If we receive free telephone service to Goderich it will certainly be More convenient for us to take our business there. We like to carry out our business affairs and do our shopping where it is appreciated. The next time that you require financial assistance for a community project, please don't ask people from the Auburn vicinity fig supped. You'll just have to dig deeper into your own *lets. • • The result of this vote will definitely affect the welfare of your town, as a whole, but, — the choice was yours! A NOS° Selfish Farmer, Auburn