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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-06-10, Page 44PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1987 Those blessed with ,a thinking ap- paratus that is still in sound working con- dition will fondly recall the Sesquicenten- nial Celebrations of 1977. It was then that a town re -acquainted itself with its -past, fondly embracing the exploits of people like Tiger Dunlop, John Galt et al. In fact, we fondly embraced for about ten days, frolicking in Cour- thouse Park, on The Square, at the beach and , at times, the celebration sort of spilled out onto the streets. It was good, carefree fun capably plan- ned by a committee of dedicated and car- ing citizens who orchestrated an im- pressive and ambitious program of events over 10 days. It was a celebration of the 150th year of the founding of the town of Goderich and it was a celebration of community. It brought people in the community together and it brought people back to DAVE SYKES town. That was a decade ago and this year, if my math skills don't fail rne, is the 160th year of the founding of the town. Those ten intervening years have slip- ped by quickly, too quickly, and I would dearly love to call some of them back because there were so many things 1 had intended to accomplish. So, we push on and with new celebra- tions in the offing we will make new celebrations, create -new memories. Since 1977, Canada Week has been a time of celebration in Goderich. A time to reflect on the rich history of a small town and a time to reflect on the struggles and potential of a fledgling nation. This year, the Canada Week Celebra- tions run from June 25 to July 4 and will feature fun for the whole family the town's Tourist Co-ordinator Robin Stuart says. The fun begins Monday, June 29 with;„ Family Fun Night at the first picnic pavillion at St. Christopher's Beach, The night's activity begins at 6:•30 p.m. with competitions such as; the Sand Sculpture, Jelly Bean Guessing and Beach Ball Volleyball. If those group activities fail to stimulate the family then at 7:15 p.m. you'll want to be part of the Trivial Pur- suit tournament, Family Fued Style which conjurs up visions of a World Federation Wrestling match. Also, for families who would rather ply 'their com- petitive spirit in the culinary arts, the Family Baking Contest will unfold at the same time. Judging will take place in three categories; cookies, cakes and brownies. Puff pastry may be included in the 1988 celebrations. Those semi -sporting events will be followed by the Family Donut Eating Competition and already several poten- tial winners come to mind. The event will get underway at 7:45 p.m. and each team may be comprised of one adult ( the big- ger person and one child. , The evening's fun will climax with the Simon Says Contest at 8 p.rn. Advance registration is required for the volleyball and trivial pursuit competitions by June 27. For complete uet.aoa u, toe r dually Fun Night activities call the tourist bureau at 524-2513. If you thought it was difficult reading last week's column, you should try writing a jumbled piece like that. A col- umn of type was inadvertently placed in the wrong space which resulted in an in- coherent offering. "Which really isn't out of the ordinary," the publisher was heard to mutter. bKM bk+pq .. As the temperature increases so the does the idiot factor among drivers on the road, a radio announcer claimed this week. The idiot factor, apparently, comes into play during severe winter storms and heat waves. It registered in the low 20s this week. Heat tends to make poeple crank their radios up several decibels, hang anatomical parts outside the vehicle and drive in an erratic manner. Opinion THE NEWS PORT FOR 6ODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE,1S48 the /� EST ALL POUND 5 COMMUNITY NEwHPAPEFI IN CANADA' 0 Goderlch •„oc ,�,ru, • n Howe Newspaper co,,,rwuuor,iesa 4 411MIMM.61 SIGNAL -STAR P.0 '20 HUCRCRNS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK ®OOEGR(CH, ONT. Rir7A 428 PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded In 1948 end publloho'J.very Wodnoedmy of Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and CIGNA. ®ubocrlptlone poyablo In advance 6199.00, (Bonier Cltlaona 819.00 privilege cord number required] In Canada, 0390.00 to U.B.A., 900.00 to ell other countries, Bingle copies 90C., Oleploy, National end Cleaelfisd advertising rote. eve/liable on request. Please mak for Rate Cord No. 10 effective October 1, 19(313. Advertl®Ing Its accepted on the condition that In the event of in typographical error, the advertising apoco occupied by the erroneoue Item, together with the reasonable allowance for algnature, will not be charged for but that balances of the advertisement will be paid for et the applicable rate. In the event of e typographical error advertloing goods or services et a wrong price, gbode or services moy not be sold. Advertising Is merely an offer to mall, end may bo withdrawn at any tlmo. Tho Signal -Star is not responsible for the loom or damage of unsolicited menuecrlpts, photos or other motorists used for reproducing purpoeou. General Manager • SHIRLEY J.••KELLER- Editor DAVE SYKES Advertising Manager DON HUBICK FOR BUSINESS OR !EDITORIAL OFFICES...please phone [S19)524-ES14 Second class mail registration number 0716 Member: eNA CCNA A new defence strategy As the Canadian Armed Forces approach the turn of the century, they will undergo major changes to increase their ability to defend Canada, and meet their commitments within the western alliances. Surface warships and nuclear -powered submarines, together with aircraft and tanks are on the agenda for the next 15 years. The White Paper tabled by Defence Minister Perrin Beatty says the forces will see increases in people, money and equipment to enable them to better defend Canada, and meet commitments to our European and North American allies, It stresses that our beliefs in democracy and freedom align us with these countries. In the rivarly between East and West; Canada is not neutral. The White Paper says we will cancel our commitment to send the Canadian, Air -Sea Transportable Brigade Group and two fighter Squadrons to Norway in time of emergency. Instead these forces will be reassigned and consolidated with those stationed in Central Europe to provide a more sustainable force. Equipment will be stockpiled in Northern Europe for the Canadian brigade group assigned to the Allied Command Mobile Force. The navy will recieve six patrol frigates,,mine counter-measures vessels and new ship borne helicopters. Up to 12 nuclear -powered submarines will be purchased and a grid of sen- sors will be placed under Arctic ice. Six more long-range patrol aircraft will be required and new radar equipment installed in existing aircraft. The Canadian Rangers will be expanded and better equipped and a train- ing centre will be set up in the high Arctic to support operations there. The gap in training between regulars and reserves will be reduced and pay and benefits improved. . The White Paper cancelled the country's commitment to the northern flank of NATO but equipment will be pre -positioned in West Germany for a Canadian brigade, which would join the Mechanized Brigade Group already station in Europe. There will be an increase in the number of military personnel permanently, stationed in Europe and research and development of of space -based surveillance and communicatioins will also be pursued. The white paper also stressed Canada's interest, in the Pacific Rim and Asia. It suggests that the Arctic Ocean is growing in strategic importance, raising sovereignty and security concerns for Canada. These changes in our military strategy and the manner in which we equip our forces, will evolve over the next 1 years. During this period there will be significant growth in our coun- try's defence spending and additional resources will likely be required when the program gears up. There will be greater opportunities for women in the forces and more recruits will be sought from ethnic minorities. The War Measures Act, invoked by Pierre Trudeau during a Quebec kidnapping in the early 1970s, will be replaced with new legislation and the government intends to create a civil defence agency, Emergency Preparedness Canada, to co-ordinate the civil aspects of mobilization planning. The white paper adresses some obvious deficiencies in the Canadian defence strategy and the attention to the forces will enhance the morale of the Canadian troops and reinforce our commitment to NATO. "IF rnis fuE$DAYf rry /wit sDime5OcIE7 f" New asphalt distributor in commission 25 YEARS AGO The town's new asphalt distributor has been put • into commission and started street oiling. It is a Littleford, purchased through the General Supply Company of Canada. Though mounted on a truck own- ed by the town, the machine cost about $4,000. It replaces a sprinkler long in use. Works chairman Ken Croft and Town Foreman Roy Meriam's staff tested out the distributing apparatus last Thursday and Mayor Fisher and Parks chairman Mrs. Mooney were on hand for an informal inauguration at the public works building, Cambridge street. In what promises to be one of the liveliest Federal elections in years, voters of the riding of Huron go to the polls on Monday. There is a total of 25,711 eligible voters in Huron and because of the riding's first four party fight in history, it is reasonable to assume there will be a large turnout of ballot casters. Returning Officer Russel Bolton states there are about 400 more eligible voters this time than there were in the 1958 elec- tion. Local statistics indicate this increase comes largely from the Town of Goderich and Goderich township. Goderich has 3,899 eligible voters this time in contrast with 3658 in 1958—an increase of 241, 50 YEARS AGO L LOOKING BACK telephone system was changed to common battery operation. It is not necessary now for citizens of Goderich to turn the crank on their telephones to signal the operator. With the new system, merely lifting the receiver causes a small lamp to flash before the operator at the exchange, who then asks for your number and completes the call. For weeks technicians of the Bell Telephone Company have been working at the exchange on the north side of the Square installing this intricate equipment, and much rearrangement of outside lanes has been made. It was the work of only a few seconds to connect Goderich's 700 telephones with the new switchboard and to cut the wires running to the old magnets system. The pageant conunittee for the Goderich Old Home Week has received the talent list from the John B. Rogers Producing Com- pany of London who will stage and direct the great theatrical spectacle "Britannia" here on August 2,3 and 4 and is now work- ing on filling the various roles. Melburn E. Neither rain, nor snow, "Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail, nor dark of night, shall stay these couriers from their appointed rounds." Well, it seems what the elements have been traditionally unable to do, has been accomplished by a combination of thick- he'aded forces, in the form of Canada Post and the Letter Carriers Union of Canada, Who's right and wrong in these occa- sional postal disruptions (beleive it or not, there hasn't been one. in six years) is completely irrelevantto the discussion here. In the eyes of te average person, Canada Post is wrong because, well because they're Canada Post; the letter carriers are wrong because their getting paid $13.43 per hour and the rest of us aren't — and they're both wrong because they let this -thing slide to the point where Turner ( manager of the company) will himself direct and produce "Britannia" here. He will arrive July 5, and will begin immediately afterwards to put the mam- moth production together. It is expected there will be a cast of 600 in the pageant, including principals, dancers, massed choir; symphony orchestra and others. 70 YEARS AGO Huron County Council concluded the regular June session on Friday afternoon of last week and adjourned to meet again on the 19th instead.to designate a system of county roads to be improved under the Provincial Act whereby the province refunds one third of the amount expended by the county. The council made a grant to the Children's Aid Society of the county of $2,500 for the purchase of a. shelter, but withheld approval of the plan for the pur- chase of the St. Lawrence property in Goderich, referring the matter to a committee. Some attention was given to the affairs in connection with the management of the county house of refuge, regarding which friction has arisen between the keeper of the house and the inspector. The matter was left in the hands of the refuge committee. nor sleet, nor ... collective bargaining regular mail delivery is threatened. Canada Post is going to win itself some public support by keeping at least inter- mittent mail delivery going in striking areas by the use of (dare I say it) "scab labor". The carriers have already won themselves some points,by•making this a rotating strike, so they won't be shutting the entire mail system down all at once. That's all well and good until this thing begins to turn ugly, picketers attacking replacement workers and such things. Let's hope it doesn't get that far: Meanwhile, the rest of us may have to wait a little longer for that tax refund cheque, or that letter from Aunt Matilda; but we'll also get a few extra days of solvency before the old Visa bill comes in. Fair enough trade, I would think. However, I think I might miss those letters from Ed McMahon, informing me that I "may already have won!" Maybe we should scrap the current system of mail delivery altogether and go back to the old Pony Express system. That way, if the letter carriers wouldn't deliver the goods, the horses could pro- bably do it without them. Maybe faster too. While all this is going on, a more serious labor problem is being entirely overlooked. I heard a radio report this morning detailing the begitriiing of the strike of some 400 actors who supply the voices for a number of Saturday morning cartoons. Bad enough we aren't going to have any mail to open on Saturday mornings, now we will also have to settle for re -runs from this angle at -sick Raftis of the Flintstones and Huckleberry Hound. ' Maybe we could work out an accep- table compromise — one that would get everybody back to work. Get the striking letter carriers to do the voice-overs for the cartoons. That way, all those people who are at work when their mailperson usually makes his deliveries and never have a chance to talk to talk to then, could at least have a chance to hear their voices corning out of the mouths of such cartoon favorites as Yogi Bear and Bugs Bunny. Meanwhile, imagine the fun you could have if your mail was brought to your house by, say, Porky Pig. "Whaddya. mean, nothing but bills again?" "Th-th-th-that's all folks!" I'm sorry, but somebody had to say that. '