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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-01-28, Page 4Page 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1987 Tho Clinton News -Record Is published each Wednesday at P.O. Bos 39, Clinton, Ontario. Canada, NOM 1 LO. Tel.: 462.9443. Subscription Rate: Canada -521.00 Sr. Citizen - $.16.00 pot your U.S.A. foreign 160.00 per your It Is registered as second class mall by the post office under the permit number 0611. The News -Record Incorporated In 1924 theft mon Ndvs-Record, founded In 1661, and The Clinton News Ora, founded In 1669. Total press runs 3.700. rci Incorporating 1 THE BLYTH STANDARD.) 1 ANNE NAREJKO - Editor FREDA McLEOD - Office Manager SHELLEY McPHEE HAIST - Reporter DAVID EMSLIE - Reporter JANICE GIRSON - Advertising LAUREL MITCHELL - Circulation/Classified GARY HAIST - General Manager .CNA A MEMF'EF BLUE 8196014 AWARD. 1985; Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rate Cord No. 12 effective Oc- tober 1,1964. 11 It's time to "grow up" Municipalities represented in the Lake Huron Zone Recreation Associa- tion were advised recently that they could be involved in a possible liabili- ty claim resulting from an accident associated with Sportsfest in Port Elgin this summer. These types of civil action are becoming more frequent, and while municipalities and their boards are generally protected by insurance, the same is not always true of other organizations in the area which could be named in claims arising from their activities. A meeting was recently held in the Blyth area for such groups and they were advised by a Wingham lawyer that they should incorporate so in- dividual members would be afforded some protection from crippling lawsuits. "You people have survived on a basic quota of incredible luck but (a lawsuit) is going to happen," he warned. "We're still in the horse and buggy stage around here, but you people are going to have to grown up, you are going to have to get some protection." He added that while the cost of incorporating may run as high as $1,000, that sum pales in comparison to the costs awarded in some lawsuits. While incorporation does not provide guaranteed protection for members of an organization, it certainly leaves them much less vulnerable to being personally named in any legal action. Obviously, it is an area in which members of all organizations should have some concern and it would appear prudent that they seek some legal opinion as to the ramifications for individual members when special pro- grams are undertaken. One of the points made at the Blyth meeting pertained to special occa- sion permits. The LLBO presently requires that some individual from the organization sign the application and that person then takes one some special responsibilities. In some cases, that individual may not be the one assigned to enforcing the regulations pertaining to the permit, or in fact may not even be in at- tendance, but that person can almost be assured he/she would be named in any lawsuit arising from the use or abuse of alcohol at the event. That obviously places an unfair onus on the person who signed the per- mit and perhaps organizations should ask their MPPs to have the LLBO approve permits on behalf of organizations without one person having to sign the application and be put in a very onerous position. The entire subject is one that should be more fully explored by all organizations and even private citizens who may have occasion to organize social events, even those stages in their. own homes. The courts are placing increased responsibilities on groups and in- dividuals who assume the role of hosts and those who attempt to survive on a basic quote of incredible luck as outlined by the Wingham lawyer, could be in for some disastrous repercussions. Front the Exeter Advance- TimPq It's about time It finally happened. Huron County has been hit by a snow storm this winter, caus- ing buses not to run and making people think twice before venturing out into the wilds of winter. The 1986-87 winter has been a calm one, so far, and believe it or not, I was waiting and wondering when we would have a good storm. Being located in the snow belt does have its advantages. For children attending school, it means a few extra days off, for people who have to drive to work, it means they can stay home with a good excuse, and for people like me who can walk to work, it means a quiet day at the office. A "snow day" gives me a chance to tidy up all of the loose ends, get a few odd jobs completed that I normally couldn't when people are constantly coming in and out of the office, but most importantly, it provides a break from the regular routine. Fit e fighters commended for work Dear Editor: Small town firefighters don't receive enough credit'. '� On .January 6 our'home was the victim of a fire. Living three miles from Brucefield we did not dream that the volunteer firemen would be able to respond in just a few minutes, especially at 10:30 in the evening. Thanks to their quick response, organized work and cool heads, our home was saved and the damage was kept to a minimum. The firemen staved long after the fire to en - For example, last Friday my appointment book contained a few events which required leaving Clinton. The snowy road conditions end a closure erased these appointments, allowing me time to clear off the front board in the office, write a few letters I'd been meaning to send and get this column written. One of my regular routines over the past few years has been to tackle what I "fondly" call the Blizzard Beat. Now this beat only comes around when we've had a storm, so, while the majority of people are nestled in their homes, I roam the streets in hopes of finding two or three people blindly fighting their way down main street, digging out their car or pulling a sled. In previous years I used to get blown into the office, grab a camera and head out. But this year I decided to wait awhile. By doing so, I figured more people will be out shovell- ing and more snow will have fallen. Besides, it's cold out there! Last year I swore I was going to retire from the Blizzard Beat because there seem- ed to be so many storms I found myself wandering up and down the streets more and more. But the clincher was when I lost sight of the sidewalk and almost walked into a telephone pole. This year's lack of whiteout conditions has made me miss the Beat, so I'll stick with it for another time or tygo. Letter To The Editor The News -Record encourages readers to sent their opinions into the office in the form of a letter to the editor. However, we've received a few which have not been signed, therefore, we cannot print them. All letters must be signed. If the author wishes to use a pen name, they may have it published as so (as long as it is signed with the author's name as well), but anyone re- questing the writer's realname will receive that information. We also reserve the right to edit any let- ter, but will maintain the essence of the writer's comments. It sure that it was but and helped us clean up. Hats off to the Brucefield Fire Department! Sincerely Don and Daisy Barraclough Objections are out of line Dear Editor: As the old saying puts it, "There's nobody funnier than people." Ron Demers, Bryan Lavis et al built or bought their ouses in the High Street/Smith Str area with the full knowledge that (helots now owned by John Kassies were then zoned industrial and that a factory could be built there at any time. And yet, they are now objecting to two small high-class apartment buildings! In his submission to the planning board, me. Demers infers that apartments, if any, should be built in what he gratuitously terms a "mediocre housing" arta. Now how do you like that one? For Mr. D's informa- tion, there are people in Clinton who would like to sell their homes and move into an apartment, if there were more spacious apartments in quiet neighborhoods available. But just possibly, Mr. Demers, a ShQIIQy MCPhQQ Nast builder, does not want to see several good houses come on the local market. Mr. Lavis' "bottom line" is just about as specious. Several of the signatures on his list are those of people not close enough to the lots in question to be valid objectors and the signatures of several property owners within the legal distance are conspicuous by their absence. There are many people - not just one, as Lavis claims - who would like to see those apartments built. I would be will- ing to wager a fair sum that all 16 units would be rented long before the buildings are completed. It is too bad that there are so many people in Clinton with the "I'm all right, Jack" at- titude. It has kept the town from realizing even a small part of its potential. Yours truly, Ches Archibald. Weather forecasting methods wanted Dear Editor: I would like to ask the readers of your newspaper to share with me any amateur weather forecasting methods known or followed by your readers. Rural Canadians, in particular, still retain that blessed affini- ty with nature which city people may have lost, and 1 am hoping the rural folks will be most generous in their response. Should I receive enough replies I will then, through the assistance of the Explorations Program of the Canada Council, put all in- formation received into a book and make it available to all Canadians. My search for Weather lore covers all of Canada. To illustrate the sort of things I am look- ing for: On the Canadian Plains some people believe that precipitation will follow 90 days after a fog. Others say that the length of a hog's "weather vane" (part of the pan- creas?) at butchering, time indicates the severity of 'the approaching winter. To determine the moisture content of the next year, slice a large onion in two and the 12 in- ner rings will show the moisture content of the year to come. The tremendous progress in modern, scientific weather study is threatening to overwhelm the delightful, homespun methods used by generations of Canadians; methods used long before the development of "high tech" weather forecasting. In addition, the gradual passing of our senior citizens, the people most familiar with folk weather lore, will also contribute to the loss of this important facet of Cana- diana. With the help of your readers further loss can be prevented. Sincerely, R M Himsl 248 Grandview St W Moose JaW, Sask. S6115K7 Tuning in, tuning out There are telephones ringing, people talk- ing, typewriters clattering, computers buzz- ing it's a typically busy Tuesday morn- ing at the newspaper office and, I can't hear any of the racket. I know the sounds well. i've listened to the daily buzz at this office for some 10 years now (gawd, can it be that long already 1. One learns quickly how to tune out the noises that come from the far reaches of the office. Still, 1 have always kept one ear open because I'm interested in the comings and goings in the office, and, because I'm nosy. I can hear my husband in the next office, making plans for a business dinner. (I guess that means I'll be eating supper by myself tonight) . I can hear the editor making plans for this week's paper. (I wonder what story ideas she has in mind for me). I can hear the front office secretary tak- ing a classified ad for used skates for sale. ( I could use a'pair of skates. Every winter I plan to take up skating. Every winter I never get around to it). I can hear everyone putting in their take- out lunch orders for the restaurant next door. (Make mine soup and a roll). if you want quiet around this place you have to head for the darkroom in the back end of the building. Sometimes the darkroom is the last sanctuary for peaceful solitude on a busy day at the newspaper. I however, have discovered a marvellous new method of tuning out at the office. I've plugged -in. Husband's Christmas gift list included a Walkman. I suggested that Gary's family give him the radio cassette player - and - I've been enjoying it ever since. Gary does have his turn listening to the Walkman, now and then. In fact, this little music box has become a favorite toy at the office. I listen to it. Gary listens to it. The editor listens to it. The advertising rep listens to it. Gary tunes into his 1960s Revrval Tapes. The editor listens to the radio news pro- grams. I'm considered the oddball around here when it comes to musical taste - I listen to CBC Stereo. It's Tuesday morning. I'm clanging away on this old Underwood typewriter but I can barely hear the clatter of the keys. I can vaguely hear the telephones ringing, people talking, music playing on the office radio. I'm in another world - tuned in to Mostly Music on CBC Stereo. The Amadeus Ensem- ble is performing at a Toronto concert. They are playing Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 9 for strings. I'm typing along to the music. It's lovely. This Walkman in a great little invention. You just plug in the headphones and the rest of the world tunes out. They say it's great to use while you're jogging, shovelling snow or cutting the grass. I can see myself mowing the lawn this suinmer, listening to Barbra Streisand on the Walkman_ N doubt I'll be singing at the top of my lungs "Oh my man I love him so, he'll never know, all my life is just despair, but I don't care " Won't the neighbors wonder! I need some inspiration to get me through the dusting and vacuuming around the house. 1 may tune into the Bruce Springs- teen and his great live version of the Edwin Starr 1970 hit song "War. What is it good for, absolutely nothing. Say it again " This Walkman is great. I can tune out the office. I cap tune out Husband. Do I dare tune out Bay? Now, when Husband and I make our weekend jaunts to visit the `family Hamilton therd will be rip mo'e arguing 'about what music we will listen too on our journey. Gary wants to hear his 1960s tunes on the car's cassette deck. I want to listen to the radio. We generally enforce a rule of driver's choice when it comes to music selections for the two -and -a -half hour journey. With the Walkman, both the driver and passenger can have his or her choice of music. Baby in the back seat does not appear to have an equal voice in this battle of the tunes. However, we have remedied that pro- blem as well. This Christmas Caylan's Aunt Judith and Uncle David gave her a Teddy Ruxpin. She adores him. I was somewhat apprehensive about this talking bear (he's a glorified cassette deck) that comes with an expensive price tag. I was certain that our 11 month old daughter would not be old enough to appreciate this special toy. I was wrong. This child will sit in her playpen for hours as long as Teddy Ruxpin is there to enter- tain her. She will eat all her supper as tong as Teddy is nearby to distract her attention. She, in her own baby fashion, sings acing to his tunes. When Teddy Ruxpin says good- bye, Caylan waves her chubby little hand. When she sees him,in the morning she greets him with a grinwand a burst of noisy chatter. It seems that we're a family of cassette deck owners - Gary with his stereo system, I with his Walkman, and Caylartwith Teddy Ruxpin. Gary dances to the Moto i sound and sings old Beatles and Monkees times. I conduct Philharmonic Orchestras and try to sing along with the opera greats. Caylan's busy in her,playpen, listening to Teddy Ruxpin and her Sharon Lois and Bram tapes. Little Rabbit Foo Foo is cur- rently her fadorite song. Each of us, in our own style, has found a great way to tune in, and, tune out.