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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-11-26, Page 4Page 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1986 The Clinton News -Record is published each Wednesday at P.O. Nov 39, Clinton, Ontario, Canada, NORM 11.0 . Tela 4424444. Subscription Rate: Canada • $21.00 Sr. Citizen • $14.00 per year U.S.A. foreign 864.00 per year 1t Is registered as second class mall by the post office under the permit number 0811. The News -Record Incorporated In 1974 thettvron News -Record. founded In 1441, and The Clinton News Era, founded In 1363. Total press runs 3.700. Incorporating THE BLYTII STANDARD ANNE NAREJKO - Editor FREDA McLEOD - Office Manager SHELLEY McPHEE HAIST - Reporter DAVID EMSLIE - Reporter JANICE GIBSON - Advertising LAUREL MITCHELL - Circulation/Classified GARY HAIST - General Manager CCNA eA MEMBER BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1985 Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rote Cord No. 15 effective Oc• @ober 1. 1944. County agencies show concern for youth Huron County agencies are taking an active role in trying to provide ac- tivities and services which youth want and need, and they are doing it in a way that not one youth should complain about. What is this way that can satisfy the youth as a whole? The youth are being asked for their input. Earlier this year a survey was taken at five secondary schools, two public schools, printed in a county -wide paper and distributed to students who dropped -out of the school system. This survey asked questions con- cerning social needs, health matters, the law and education. But perhaps the most important element of the survey is the fact that it was designed by Huron County youth. Who would know better then they as to what questions their peer group wants answers to? The survey results have been tabulated and presented to the students' councils from Clinton, Goderich, Wingham, Exeter and Seaforth. Hopefully this is not the final step. As Paul Carroll, of the Huron County Board of Education, told the students, a lot of work went into the survey by the youth steering commit- tee as well as the adult committee who assisted. The worst thing that could happen now would be for everyone to forget about it. He pointed out that it was up to the students to follow the project, labell- ed the Youth Assessment Report, through. The report and results of the survey will be distributed to those agencies which can help, but it is up to the students and the agencies to work together for the betterment of their communities. The students were a little surprised when they discovered that they could make a difference in their neighborhoods and at their schools. As one student said, "This is the first time we feel like we have a say." What the students are attempting to implement today may not come in- to effect until they are in college, but they are helping those who will be following them. But most importantly, they will have the chance to make things happen - play an active role in society instead of a passive role. They will learn what steps need to be taken to get jobs done, and perhaps, they will learn a greater respect for those who do the.jobs day in and day of t. °i'Youth in the county have been given this opportunity and if they don't take the ball and run with it, they may never have another thrown their way. - by Anne Narejko. Family is tired of games Dear Prime Minister: We are no longer willing to play games with our food supply! We will not risk having our family go hungry because of some global condition or disaster over which you have no control. We cannot tolerate the danger of consum- ing food that has been treated by chemicals considered unsafe by Canadian health and safety standards. We will not allow the cost of our daily bread to be dic- tated by any corporate profit picture! We want and will support action that will guarantee the viability and profitability of our Canadian farmers such as, land set aside programes, production management and two price marketing systems that en- sure ourfarmers the opportunity for profit. We prefer that the necessary production quota does not accumulate value so young farmers can get started in business and protect consumers from paying for something that has no value. We prefer marketing board policies that are flexible enough to allow a producer to also be a pro- cessor, distributor and retailer, provided that we were assured of a quality food pro- duct. We prefer that the concept of the family farm be encouraged and upheld, to ensure a broad distribution of wealth. We recognize that this requires trade agreements that would prevent food pro- ducts from entering into Canada until they exceeded the Canadian cost of production. We will support a food tax credit for disadvantaged Canadians as willingly as we now support the child tax and property tax credit system. Our family of four, two adults and two children, spends about $4,500 annually for food. A 15 per cent increase in our grocery bill would cost us less than two weeks wages. We have received a report from your agriculture minister John Wise that in- dicates Canadian Farmers produced over $20 billion worth of agricultural products last year and while doing so spent $15 billion. That $15 billion would have to return to the Canadian consumers' pocket in the form of employment, business and interest income. The way we look at the situation, a 15 per cent increase in food prices would result in 3/4 or 10 per cent of that increase coaling back to us in the form of employment income. That represents a net cost to our family of 2.8 days pay, it the products were 1,.aifau14111 grown. Please don't be so short sighted that the Cartoons Flipping through the television guide on a Saturday morning can be a very enlighten- ing experience. That is if you're not up on the latest cartoons. When I was a kid, Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Porky Pig and Gumby and Pokey were the big hits. A person could literally sit for hours listening to Bugs saying, "Ah, what's up Doc?" and watching him get in and out of trouble faster than you could say Mickey Mouse. And what about Porky Pig? He was about as innocent as they come, but always seem- ed to be taken advantage of by some one. It think it was his stuttering that made me select him as my favorite cartoon character way back then. Even though I probably should have, I didn't limit my cartoon watching to. Satur- days. Each lunch hour I'd rush home to watch that stoneage family called the Flint - stones. In fact, if I'm home now at noon I still turn them on even though I've seen every re -run at least twice. The difference between now and then is that I don't mind missing them. (Now my major concern is to get home in time to watch the Young and The Restless at 12:30 p.m. instead. ) LQttQrs I've tried to keep up with the times. The Ewoks intrigue i'tie, the Care Bears are cute and I think the Smurfs are the smurfiest. Yes, my new cartoon heroes are the Smurfs. I have at feast a dozen Smurfs in my bedroom, I have Smurfs on the dashboard and roof of my car and I even have a Smurf sticker on my telephone here at the office. I'm not as faithful a Smurf viewer as I us- ed to be, but for awhile 1 watched the Smurfs religiously and even had my mother converted. If you asked me why I liked the Smurfs, I'd say because they're cute, they're funny and they're the good guys: Besides, they're a lot easier to cuddle than Voltron or the Go Bots, whatever they're supposed to be. Kids today love these space-age cartoons as much as my generation loved the ones I mentioned. However, there must be some kids out there who still like the old classics, such as Winnie -The -Pooh, because he's still around. Flipping through the Toronto Star on the weekend I saw an interesting birthday story. It was marking Pooh Bear's 60th bir- thday and suggested he'd be around for sometime to come. My memories of Winnie -The -Pooh stories aren't too vivid. I see a bear with a red shirt, a jar of honey under his arm standing along side his friend, Eeyore, the grumbling donkey. The story in the Star suggests that I'm not alone. They think that perhaps it wasn't the story line that has given Pooh Bear his longevity, but the simple fact that he is a bear. "Bears sell fabric softener, kids' toys and other stuffed animals. Bear wars rival beer wars, as competing advertising firms parade their own stuffed stars. There are Rambo Bears and even Chicago Bears with their own version of Winnie, William Perry," it noted. Others have tried to get on the "bear - wagon" over the years. First there was Winnie -The -Pooh, then another of my favorites, Paddington Bear, came along. Everyone knows Yogi Bear and all ages seem to like the new group of bears called the Care Bears. Last weekend was my first chance to watch a Care Bear cartoon. They're cute and cuddley and always trying to help, just like the Smurfs. I'm trying to keep up with the cartoons so I can converse intelligently withthe younger generation, but my brain must not be programmed to comprehend He -Man and The Masters of The Universe or Voltron. health of our most vital industry and our secure food source is sacrificed for the sake of three days pay. Mr. Mulroney, you will hear from some people that our Canadian marketing board system is responsible for gouging us by two to three per cent. We do not consider ourselves gouged when a primary pro- ducer makes a profit, we all have to profit from our endeavours. We can only be gouged when we have sacrificed our freedom and security and become forced to rely on suppliers outside the protection of our borders. We don't want you to gamble on world markets to provide us with "cheap" food and while we support your position on free trade, it must be recognized that to be free, trade must also be equal and we prefer that the rest of the world aim for our stan- dards rather than us being reduced to world standards. So please act now Mr. Prime Minister because tomorrow for many good Cana- dian farmers is one day too late! Respectfully yours, Jim and Pat Boak and faniily1 To the reader: The reason that we have made this a public letter is to ask for your support of our opinion by writing to your local MP or MPP or to the Prime Minister expressing your views. Our present and future food supply is very important, and we are sure that our governments recognize the fact. But they cannot be expected to take cor- rective action until we, the consumer and taxpayer make our desires known. Remember, right or wrong we elected these people to represent our best in- terests. That makes it our responsibility to inform the elected what our interests are. If they do not respond, then we have the right to withdraw our support. This is Canada, we have guaranteed rights and freedoms that few other countries every dream of. Only by our own neglect will we sacrifice our ,right to freedom. Please support us with your letter. Jim and Pat Boak, Rondeau Park, Morpeth, Ontario, NOP 1X0. 674-0449. Got an opinion? Write a letter to the editor Final Swim By Anne Narejko SheIIey McPhQQ Nast Good riddance November You'll get no sad laments for November from me. This rotten month is nearly over and I'm anxiously awaiting the moment when I can tear the page from my calendar. I don't like November, never have, and I suspect that I never will. There's not much good to say about November. It's a nothing month, like March, caught between the final aautumn glories of October and the winter beliauty of the Christmas season ahead. November is foul weather month. On November mornings the sun weakly shines, giving promise of a good day ahead. By afternoon the skies cloud over, 'gale force winds attack the shoreline and stinging pellets of snow fall by night. Night comes early in November. By sup- per time the sun has set and I'm ready for bed. November is a hard work month around our house. Despite all our good intentions every year about this time we're battling the elements in order to gather the last of the maple leaves. We have a half-dozen lovely old trees on our property which we praise by summer and curse by fall. One. tree in particular is a late bloomer and in turn it is the last to drop its leaves. Every year we can count on raking leaves in a snow storm. I had good intentions this fall with my out- door ,chores. One ambitious day Baby and I headed out to the front lawn for an afternoon of raking. I was up to my neck in leaves. Baby was not content to simply enjoy some fresh air and outdoor scenery. She wanted out of the buggy. And so, my afternoon was spent busily gathering a bag of leaves, then taking Baby for a quick spin up and down the driveway in her buggy. Then.back to the leaves for a spell, followed by another spin for Baby, Finally, we have all the leaves gathered. Still, there are flower beds to clean out and spring bulbs to plant. Last year I couldn't plant my bulbs because I had a bel- ly full of baby. I had visions of bending over to plant my tulips losingmy balance and landing head first in the uniper bushes@ This year I have a busy nine month old t daughter to contend with. More experienced s mothers tell me that the time to do household chores is at night when the baby is sleeping. Maybe so, but I'll be darned if I'm going to plant flower bulbs by flashlight. At this rate I may never see daffodils again. November is a month of preparation for winter, and a tidying up time after the sum- mer season, that has past. The lawn mower gets stored in the back of the shed and the snow shovel is moved to the front. Snow tires go on the car, storm windows go up. , Winter coats and hits are brought out of the closet. Snow boots 'ore given a good coating of mink. oil. . And, there are Christmas lights to suing across the front verandah, always on a cold rainy day, always after supper when it's too dark to see anything outside, always when you have a darned November cold. I complained about colds in this column space last week. I'm still complaining. Yet, I'm making a gallant effort to get out to the Christmas parties that are now underway. It's hard to be social when your throat is sore. It's hard to put on your best party face when no amount of make-up will cover your red nose. It's hard to enjoy an evening out with one soggy Kleenex to tend to your nose problems. Ah well I reason, it's probably better to have a cold now - better to get it over with before Christmas. But it's an expensive bug, this cold of mine. I've spend a small fortune on throat lozenges, cough medicine and boxes of Kleenex. Its money spent that I really can't afford to part with at this time of year. I become financially panic striken in November, fearful that I won't have enough bucks to buy everyone's Christmas gifts; to pay the babysitter while we go to umpteen Christmas parties; to buy extra food and goodies to serve when Christmas company drops by. In November you can go to the grocery store, spend 20 dollars, and come home with a handful of items. There's not Much to eat either - a jar of olives, a pound of pate, can- died fruit for the Christmas cake, a couple of cans of priceless sweetened condensed milk, and, a few bags of munchies for the Grey Cup game. Along with Christmas expenses, we worry hat the furnace won't last through another eason, not to mention the old car that chugs and belches and at times simply refuses to start on these cold weather days. November is tax time, property taxes are due. Too, at this time of year people are busy making plans and dreaming up schemes to avoid paying extra money to the government. If they have any money at all, people tend to make their charitable dona- tions at this time of year, or borrow money from the bank to put into tax deferred in- come investments. It's tough to beat the blahs in November. I like to shop when I'm feeling depressed. There's nothing like a new dress or a pair of shoes to lift my spirits. Not so in November. I can't face the Christmas -crowded stores and the high price tags that go along with the peak buying season. And, I cannot ade- quately justify a purchase for myself when Christmas is drawing near. I like to get out for an afternoon walk with Baby or a Sunday car ride for a pleasant change in scenery. In November though, there's nothing pleasant about a stroll. It's too cold out. And a Sunday drive is more trouble than it is worth, what with muddy roads to contend with, not to mention a bleak landscape that does nothing to raise one's spirits. I devor cookies when I feel blue. That's no good in November. My shortbread cookies, made from an old family recipe, are heavenly. I eat them, feel momentarily gid- dy, then fall to the blackest depths of depres- • sion, knowing that I have consumed millions of calories and I'll never be able to fit into my Christmas party dress. I like a soothing soak in the bath tub to re- juvenate my weary body. Yet in November, when we're still trying to keep our expenses low by keeping the furnance turned back, a bubble bath is agonizing. The bath itself is fine, it's getting out of the hot tub and facing the cold air that's tough to take. So much for a relaxing bath. The Farmer's Almanac says about November - "Good riddance! Clear then in- termittent. Cold that's seasonable; heavy rain then snow up north. Unreasonable! Icy then nicey; outlook dicey. Dress your turkey warm: heavy snow storm!" • That's November, not a suitable month for man or beast. At least the birds have got the right idea, they head south.