Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-10-29, Page 4(THE !MYTH STANDARD) Page 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986 The Clinton News -Record Is published each Wednezday at P.O. eon 99, Clinton, Ontarl% Canada, NOM 160. Tel.: 402.9449. Subscription Rate: Cando . 021.00 Sr. Citizen - 010.00 per year U.S.A. foreign 300.00 per year It Is registered as second clove moll by the post office under the permit number 0117. The News.Record Incorporated In 1914 theHuron News.Record, founded In 1001, and The Clinton News Era, founded lo 1003. Total prow rune 3.710. Incorporating Jr HOWARD AITKEN - Publisher ANNE NAREJKO - Editor GARY HAIST - Advertising Manager FREDA McLEOD - Office Manager Display advertising rater available on request. Ark for Rote Card No. 11 effective Oc- tober 1, 1084. CCNA eiA MEMBER MEMBER BLUE RIBBON A W ARO 1985 Be careful while trick -or - treaters are out and about On Friday night, creatures of all sizes and descriptions will be roaming the streets of all villages and towns across the country. These creatures may resemble ghosts, goblins, witches, cats, robots and a range of other scary figures that the imagination can drudge up. Although these creatures may appear to be frightening, they are, for the most part, harmless. This Friday is Halloween - a time for children to dress up and see what goodies they can gather from neighoring homes. It's a fun time for kids, but it is also a time when they should be careful. The usual safety rules apply on Halloween for both trick -or -treaters and adults. While the youngsters should be sure to look both ways before they cross and the street and try not to zig-zag when they go from house to house, adults should drive extra slowly and, if at all possible, stay off the road for the evening. It has also been recommended that parents make certain the children's visability is not impaired by masks or other costume material. It is also suggested that the costume not hinder the child's walking or running ability. It is also wise to dress your child in clothing that can be seen well at night, such as white or a little bit of reflector tape. Perhaps sending a flashight along would be a good idea. Once the youngsters have returned home, look over their candy before they start to dig in to it as a safety precaution. To ensure everyone has an enjoyable Halloween this year, take a cou- ple extra minutes and make sure your child knows the do's and don'ts. And if you have the time, dress up and go trick -or -treating with them. - by Anne Narejko. Halloween The littlest witch with sparkling eyes Waited and watched for the moon to rise. Her older sisters, their brooms astride Had long since left on their Halloween ride. And, when they had followed their annual course They'd meet at the common where prickly gorse Would ensure that intruders were kept away. The cauldron would bubble - they'd sing and sway )F'or the recipe took a year to prepare And was known to only one witch there. It was nearly time for the fest to begin, And the littlest witch with mischievous grin Arrived like a rocket - and none could dispute her Claim to the best broom controlled by computer. -by Helen Owen Jack Riddell corrects inaccuratcies in speech Dear Editor: I would like to correct some errors and statements contained in a speech by PC Leader Larry Grossman to the Huron PC Association in Brussels. Part of the speech was reported in your paper on October 22. I do not wish to deal with Mr. Grossman's personal attacks, for that is not my style, but it is inaccurate for Mr. Grossman to say that the Ontario Family Farm Interest Rate Reduction (OFFIRR) program is the only significant farm initiative I've introduce . I am very proud of the fact I was able to have the very highly successful OFFIRR nr rqm, e)dended for another three years at an expenditure dr 0411 ifitire .suet " more has been done. In fact, I have in- troduced and committed funds for some 38 new or enhanced initiatives in my 18 months as Minister. The Ontario Federation of ,Agriculture has clearly recognized this. Let me quote from the report the federation presented to the provincial cabinet last week. It said: "The OFA would like to commend an active Minister of Agriculture and Food and an obviously supportive Premier, Treasurer and Cabinet for moving quickly aspects of the agree......- -- on a number of important issues to the farm' prepared in full consultation with the community." - association. "We recognize and support the initiatives My government also acted quickly and the government has taken to: responsibly to help fall fairs approach the - tackle the interest rate problem by in- Ontario Liability Insurance Pool to ahtain traducing and later modifying the Ontario Family Farm Interest Rate Reduction (OF coverage at a reasonable rate, such as the fairs at Seaforth, Brussels, Howlett, Clinton, FIRR) program. Huron Central and Bayfield. - provide financial support and advice to I look forward to continuing to work with farmers through the Farmers in Transition the agricultural community in this type of (FIT) program. cooperative and constructive manner in - increase the funding level for tile drainage. order to ensure a prosperous future for this - appoint the Right to Farm task force. most important industry. - open the crop insurance program to ShncereI review. - provide projects. Dial -A -Whatever I've mentioned before about the in- teresting objects I receive in the mail. They consist of buttons, pins, pens, writing paper, posters and many amusing cartoons, but last week the mail provided me with a card which was a little out of the ordinary. I must admit, the card really caught my attention. In fact, I was so curious about it, I followed its instructions. The, card carries information to "The What's Lines." If you are like me, you have never heard of this before. Let me fill you in. "The What's Lines" lets you dial -a - horoscope, gives you soap opera updates, sports scores, World Wrestling Federation action news, sports predictions, dial -a -joke, dial -a -romance, lottery results and children's stories. Well, I couldn't resist, I had to phone for my daily horoscope just to see what this was all about. I found the number for my sign and dial- ed. After two rings, the phone was picked up and music began to play. A lady came on to tell me that tension would begin to build in my life and that the planets are arranged in some interesting format. (I didn't unders- tand that part of it.)" She went on to say that I normally thrive Lettrs - strongly defend the interests of the Ontario producers in the bilateral trade discussion." These are only some of the undertakings, but I think the OFA report clearly sets the record straight. There were a number of other points contained in Mr. Grossman's speech, which, although not ._ reported, should also be corrected. Since the change in government in June, lyY,_. tfiie Iilidge "tot - tWnl iney of Agriculture and Food has increased 39 per cent, not 10.5 per cent as indicated in Mr. Grossman's speech. It is also incorrect for Mr. Grossman to - say my Ministry is going to phase out fun- ding for the International Plowing Match. We will be giving as much, if not more sup- port to the plowing match, but in a different form, under an agreement signed with the. Ontario Plowmen's Association. Executive members of the association concur with all funds for four rural child care Jack Riddell, Minister of Agriculture and Food on attention but not today, I'd rather stay at home and stew. Then she told me I was ready to make a long term commitment but family problems would get in the way. Then, just as suddenly as she came on the phone, she disappeared, being replaced with a male voice who quickly ryhmed off the romance number. Thinking that the romance line would give me further information on my sign, I jotted it down and then dialed. Boy was I wrong. Some man picked up the phone and said, "Hello my lady. How are your eyes?" Completely taken by surprise, I pulled the receiver away from my ear and looked at it for a few / seconds before I burst out laughing. After putting it back to my ear I realized it was a recording. This man continued by telling me to close my eyes and pretend I was far away on some island in a resort. In the background you could hear waves lapping against the shore and birds singing in the background. One thing that puzzled me was the fact that they assumed it was a "lady" calling. Does this mean they don't anticipate any guys calling? Regardless of your sex, I don't recom- mend you call this line. Apparently "The What's Lines" are the first telephone information service in Canada to offer a range of entertainment and information programming for callers in the 416, 519 and 514 area codes. "The What's Line" is owned by BDR Audiotex Inc., Oakville, and according to president Robert Orr, "We have eontracted with Bell Canada to provide amusing, in- teresting and informative messages in several categories, a variety that will ex- pand in the very near future." He also said research was conducted prior to the line's set-up and the company has every reason to believe it will be successful. Another line I was tempted to try was the Soap Opera Update. This provides informa- tion on General Hospital, Another World, and my favorite, The Young and The Restless, however, I decided against it. The caller is' charged 65 cents for their daily horoscope, soap opera updates, sports scores, wrestling action, dial-asjoke, totter results and children's stories. If you want to dial -a -romance, it'll cost you 95 cents and if you want some sports predictions to help ' you out in a pool, that'll soak you two bucks. These charges are put on your regular Bell ' Canada telephone bill. With this in mind, I discarded the idea of phoning to see if Nicki was still alive and if Jill had told John about Jack yet.. But if curio sity once again gets the better of me... Six area churches took part in a Massed Choir Songfest at Ontario Street United Church in Clinton on -Sunday night. Church organist Louise McGregor was at the Keyboard, while Toronto conductor John Tuttle led the 100 voice choir in the afternoon rehearsal and evening performance. (Shelley McPhee-Haist photo) ShQ1IQy MCPhQQ Nast Got an opinion? Write a letter to the editor Joyful noise The assignment was a simple one. "Could you take some photos at the On- tario Street United Church Songfest?" the "Sure," I replied. "T was p arming on o-"" ing anyway." So, off I trundled to the Sunday event. My plan was well laid out. The Songfest began as an afternoon session when six church choirs - from Ontario Street Church, Wesley Willis Church, the Clinton Christian Reformed Church, Holmesville United Church, Northside United in Seaforth and North Street United in Goderich - met for rehearsal with accomplished conductor John Tuttle of Toronto. The rehearsal was in preparation for a massed choir concert being held at the church that night. As well, each individual choir was practicing numbers to perform at the evening Songfest. My plan was a practical one. Attending the afternoon session would give me the op- portunity to take lots of good photos during the rehearsal. That way I wouldn't disrupt the eveningperformance by jumping up and down in front of the audience to take pic- tures or blasting the choir with my flash. People tend to get nervous around me when I have camera in hand. I wish they would get over this camera shy business, it would make my job much simpler. Anyway, that's a topic for another column. So; on with my plan. I reasoned that with work out of the way in the afternoon, I eould sit back and enjoy the show myself that night. It was a grand 'idea on my part, so I thought. It kind of got out of control. By the time the evening performance roll- ed around I was sporting a choir gown, Mk-, ingpart in the grand processional into the. • church and singing with more than 100 other people in front of the crowded church. "What am I doing here?" I asked myself. "I don't even know these songs. I'm not even a member of the church choir." My- revelations came too late.. I was already half way through the second mass- ed choir number, (the most difficult one at cia"i i 1Sefiire'-7'e"alYrertrexJcesiz* - . perhaps I should have made by choir debut at a less noticable time. I had no idea that singing was such hard work. It was exhilerating mind you, but by the end of the day, after more than four hours of singing, my vocal chords were aching. I love to sing. I spend most of the day creating joyful noise. At work my editor jokes, "Quit singing, or you're fired." At least I think she's joking. When my husband's listening to the stereo he says, "Shhh, will you stop singing, I'm trying to hear the music." My daughter Caylan likes my singing. She hasn't told me otherwise, although I must admit, she's only eight months old. But her face lights up in glee' when I burst into song, as long as it's her favorite tune "I Love My Cat." Caylan thinks I'M Barbra Streisand, at least, that's what I've told her. I wonder if Barbra ever had to sing "I Love My Cat" during a car trip from Clinton to London, just to keep her kid in the back seat quiet? And I'm so pleased, Caylan loves to strum on my guitar. I'm certain she'll be another Ilona Boyd. And she pounds on the keys of the old upright piano. We may have a child prodigy on our hands. She had to stay home the day I made my debut on stage in the massed choir. Perhaps it's just as well. I sang in the soprano section, even though I'm not a soprano. I faked my way through the Music, even though I can barely read a note. Once in a while I managed to hit on a few bars of familiar music and I sang my lit- tle heart out. Other times I just opened my mouth. Perhaps I have a future in lip , singing? My sister is the real musician in our fami- ly. She sings like a songbird and creates delightful music from the piano keys. I'm known to pound and thunder my way . a CtUs`5 t iter Mpet weciale '#pts=. eludes "Heart and Soul," "In-A-Gaddae Diva" and "The Lost Chord." On good days I can even get the right hand and left hand in synch. Perhaps Caylan will take piano lessons someday and teach her old mother too. -r took lessons for a short while, but had trou- ble following the notes because I'd in- variably memorize the piece and I'd never have any idea where I was in the music' when the teacher asked. I live with the idea that I have a good ear for music. This notion got me into the mid- dle of the massed choir performance. They presented me with this folder of imy pressive numbers and said "have fun." The first song I looked at was a German piece. Much to my relief I was informed that we would sing the English venison. I latched onto a choir companion for safe- ty and I followed Donna around for the elf; tire day like a lost puppy. Fear rose in my heart when I thought that Donna and I would be separated in the mass choir. "You can't sit here," I told another choir member. "This is Donna's seat and I'need her." Thanks Donna. And thanks to you Sandy for letting Me hang on to your choir gown. I may have got- ten lost in the crowd without you. And to you too Judy for inviting me to join in the choir day. Thanks to you all, choirs and audience, for enduring my premiere performance. I had a great day. Let's do it again sometime/