Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-04-22, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL STAR, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1981 dave sykes_. t I am rather despondent. Returning to the rigors of work after a Fong weekend -of -food, beveragrr re2fi ,r rte, a small contributing factor to the despon- dency. True, Easter is the first long weekend break after three gruelling months of winter, but the source of my malaise goes much deeper than that. You see, I didn't get a dam thing for Easter. That's right. There wasn't one thoughtful or considerate person who cared enough to slip a gooey treat under my bed on Easter morn. Easter was- just another day for this dutiful derelict of the deadline. I didn't . awake to find a trail of jelly beans leading from the bed to a hidden chocolate treasure. There were no secret notes directing me to a basket full of eggies and bunnies. There was no chocolate bunny with colourful ribbons, no eggs with mushy centres, no jelly beans, no decorative little chicks on the easter basket, no...well, in short, my Easter basli etrwascmtat_yt s „ , — Large sigh! Big kids aren't supposed to admit to being disappointed but there is enough kid left in me to want an Easter goodie. But it was not to be. But watching little relatives cram chocolate things in the general vicinity of their mouths provoked a bit of nostalgia. As a child, there was more chocolate on my white shirt than I managed to shovel into my mouth. Easter was always one of the biggies and ranked close with Christmas, birthdays and school holidays. And at Easter, at least in my family, everyone had to put on their best outfits for church. That meant I wore a white shirt with a little bow tie and shiny shoes. The girls in the family always had brand new hats, prissy little gloves, white ankle socks and white patent shoes. Anyone would have been able to pick us out in the dark from a mile The best part of Easter process was having to search for the goodies left by the bunny. Little notes would direct us to various locations in the house until the loot was uncovered and carefully taken to the bedroom for scrutiny. I often wondered how the Easter bunny found the time to write those little notes or leave a trail of jelly beans. But then kids don't often question the methods or source when chocolate and candy is involved. Parents sure do get away with an awful lot of sneaky stuff though. And it takes kids a few years to catch on to those devious methods. This year mother had a housefull of kids and grandchildren and the bunny delivered hordes of stuff to my nieces and nephews. One of nay nephews was pleased with his loot but he lost some respect for the Easter a bunny in -the process. He simply couldn't understand why most of_ the._children gotneat stuff and my seven - week old son (his cousin) didn't get anything. Somehow, he thought the Easter bunny was more understanding than to neglect a little person. I tried to explain that the bunny realized my son was a little too young to indulge in the Easter offerings. Next year, I offered in explanation, the bunny would be sure to leave the youngster something. He seemed somewhat appeased by the explanation but I'm sure his glowing visions of the Easter bunny is now slightly tar- nished. But more important, the Easter bunny neglected this big kid and I'm beginning to wonder if he really exists. Perhaps, if some kids have more goodies than they can handle, they would consider sharing a little treat with a big kid. BLUE RIBBON `AVM RD Second class mail registration number -0716 SINCE 1848 THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT Pounded in 9C4g and pia puislisluwieaory Waihiesday as aalirleh, Ontario, Monti:or of t to.Cadet,ond Aduer- tlsing rotas on request. Subscriptions payable In advance '17.55 In Conada. '35.15 to U.S.A., '35.01 to all other coun- tries, smile copies S5'. Display edvertlsing rates available on request. Please ask for Rate Card No. 15 effective Oc- tober 9; 10M. Second clots mall Registration Number 0715. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that In the event of typographical error.'tbe advertising space occupied by the erroneous Nem, together with reasonable allowance for signature. will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will b1s paid for at the ap- plicable rete. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services of a wrong price, goods or services m.y not he sold. AilvertlsMg Is merely an offer to cell. and may be withdrawn -at any time. The Signal Star Is not responsible for .the less or demote of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproducing pur- pOM1. PUBLISHED BY:SIGNAL-STAR PUBLISHING- LIMITED ROBERT G. SHRIER-President and Publisher DONAI D'M. FIUBOCK A6iver4ising manager ( DAVID SYKES-Editor P.O. BOX 220. the (IOW HyCK1.NS ST. 5%1%1 INDUSTRIAL PARK GO GODERICH N7A 486 r FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES please phone (519) 524-8331 Tough time for industry Business and industry form the heart of 'a community, providing jobs and growth potential for any city or town. It is industry that spawns growth but lately economics has eroded the industrial base of many communities. Not that such erosion is gnawing away at industry here, but last week one local industry was forced to relocate for business reasons. .F -,While the Economic Development 'Committee ;iwaa. pleased with one company's plans for expansion, they regrettably accepted the news that Envirosound Inc. was moving plant operations to Guelph. It is always difficult for a small town to lose industry and jobs but the company could not work around the problem in this location. Company president Terry Wilton explained that the move was purely a matter of economics. The company was - simply too far' removed from its direct market area. The company has only been in the Industrial Park for over a year but needed more work to keep the machines in operation. Unfortunately, that work wasn't in the Goderich area. It is a difficult enough task for the economic develop- ment committee and the Huron County Development Offlee to attract industry to,lthe area without having to , sbattle against industrial losses and plant relocation. But perhaps it is a battle that will have to be fought. Luckily the Envirosound relocation announcement was tempered by the news that Huromic Metal Industries will expand its Industrial Park operation. Council has ap- proved the sale of a parcel of land and Bob Patterson hopes an additfon can be built this year. The expansion could mean 1D. o 15 new jobs at Huromic and that's welcome news whenanother industry is forced to seek better markets outside the Goderich area. D.S. Support bike-a-thon Hopefully this Sunday biikers will be out in packs for the Annual Kinsmen Bike-a-thon for cancer. The Kinsmen and Kinettes have worked diligently on the ride for the past few years to support the fight against cancer and boost research efforts. Pledge sheets are available at several locations in town and if possible .everyone is urged to haul bikes out of the garage and basement and, take part in the ride. If you are unable to participate at least support a biker with a modest pledge. Every donation helps. Drivers are also urged to exercise more caution Sunday as the bikers wend their way through town streets. The ride begins at 2 p.m. from the Suncoast Mall and bikers will be on the designated route for at least two hours. D.S. Give students a chance This time of year college and university students are on the prowl for summer jobs. And in a few short months the number of job seekers will swell when the high school year ends. That will put a lot of young people on the summer job market and some ofthem will be looking for their first full-time employment. Many employers in the Goderich area have an active summer employment program and they are fully aware of the benefits of student labor. Young people have a lot to offer business and industry. But the task of finding a summer job is not an easy one. The economic climate has dictated cutbacks', in several areas and jobs are simply not as plentiful as they once were. t Students now may have to knock on several doors before any opportuniV prsents itself. The Student Manpower of- fice does a lot of the door knocking for students in advance and is successful in making needed placements. Many businesses and industries co-operate with the stu- dent placement centre annually which indicates they were more than satisfied with student labor. But the jobs are tougher to find each year. Students and young people have something to offer the labor force but they have to be given the chance to display that initiative and talent. If you have any openings during the summer or could use some extra help, contact the student placement office and give a student a chance. D.S. amou f lage Isikt Photo by Guth Wooden EAR READERS BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER April makes me think of spring ... and spring makes me think of daffodils. Daffodils make me think of cancer .... and cancer makes me think of new hope. Newhope makes tne think of April and spring ... and round I go again. There's no doubt about it. The bright yellow of the cancer campaign daffodils gives almost everyone a lift And when we're talking about such a dramatic and Often devastating disease as cancer, a lift is just what we need. Hardly anyone has been untouched by cancer. Most people have a mother, father, brother, sister, friend, fellow worker or acquaintance who has done battle with the illness. And hardly anyone is complacent about cancer. Most people will admit the disease commands respect simply because it isn't easily controlled with a tablet or two taken regularly. Very often, treatment- involves surgery or chemotherapy or a combination of the • two. Almost always, there's a stint in hospital and a constant vigil following treatment to ensure the disease is in check. Cancer is not something to be taken lightly. Despite the Canadian Cancer Society's efforts to reduce ignorance surrounding the disease, it is safe to say that there are many, many people who haven't taken the time to learn much about the illn ess-or the seven danger signals of it. There are still more people who know the danger signals, but who choose to push them to the back of their minds. Sometimes it is just reluctance to take care of their own bodies, but most often, I suspect, it is nothing but fear to face facts. Perhaps Terry Fox has done more than most cancer sufferers to tell the world` that cancer must be met head on. Terry keeps on demonstrating in such a powerful way that there's absolutely no way to duck the disease when it strikes. The only thing to do is to fight and fight hard to win the battle with it. Thanks to Terry Fox, the battle with cancer is , getting easierand easier to fight. Thanks to Terry Fox, there's more money to spend on research and there will be more and more methods for doctors to use to control and eventually cure the disease. +++ It is just a little over 28 years ago that my own mother was stricken with cancer. For a long time her disease was not diagnosed. Precious time was lost treating her for in- digestion and kidney ailments and nerves and just about anything else you can mention. But then, even if time had been saved, the doctors just didn't seem to have the weapons to use against the disease. Surgery was the most prevalent procedure ... and when it failed, there was nothing much else to try. My mother died. Since that time, I've known many people who had cancer. Some of them have died, but almost all of them lived much longer (and in greater comfort) than my mother lived after the disease was discovered. A good many of them are still living and en- joying life every day. I have a very good friend, for instance, who had cancer of the larynx. After surgery, he couldn't speak. But thanks to years of therapy and hard work, he is able to carry on a conversation again. He feels great. He looks great. And -he's a real in- spiration to everyone who knows him. In fact, he now donates time out of his busy schedule each week to talk to other patients with Ya wn...stretch... sigh... murnble... snore. By its very power of suggestion, spring fever has me in its mysterious grips. I do not know if anybody has an accurate description of the symptoms of this dreaded disease, but I affix the label to myself every spring. I am hoping that Daylight Saving Time will somehow miraculously cure my inertia and put my body clock back in syn- chronization with the clock on the wall. Spring is a difficult season to cope with. The world has one foot in winter and one foot in summer and the weather doesn't know which way to go. My neurotic being reacts by wanting to lie down and go to sleep or to go out beer -drinking, sometimes even at the ;erne time. Consider your confused columnist's plight. She awakens at the crack of dawn which remely early this time of tends to come year. She wants to Jeep some more, but the sunshine pouring thi97gh the window prevents this. By noon, she is nodding off over her desk. A quick lunchtime nap, and she is energized for the afternoon. But not for work, however. The sun is shining and the birdies are chirping and she sneaks off for some frisbee -throwing and kite -destroying. After supper, it is all of a sudden dark and cold. She turns on the TV and sees hockey. She turns channels and sees baseball. She runs to check her calendar. Shaking, she lunges for the telephone and dials a number, any number. "Help me!," she crieout. "Why am Iso comused?" "Now now now," answers a soothing voice. "There's no need to be confused when the smelt are running. Put on your rubber boots and let's go." She is still confused. She never knew that little fish had legs. She also doesn't know where they are running to and why she has to catch them. She drowns her confusion over several miles of gravel roads before asking when they are 'going to catch up with the smelt. "Soon," comes the answer. "Next weekend." She wonders why they have to get such an early start. "Oh. I guess I was a little mixed up," comes another wise answer. She becomes glad that she isn't the only one who is confused. She goes home and gets up with the sun a few hours later and the whole non -routine begins again. Got the picture? I think 1 have discovered the key to spring fever. It is the fact that nobody knows what it is they are supposed to be doing during this transitional spring period. It is a time of endin it and beginnings, but not actually doing anything but drinking beer. Everybody is either going to bowling banquets or hockey banquets, or signing up for summer things, or thinking about cleaning out the garage, or napping., It is obvious that our society suffers frau severe anxiety attacks this time of year because there's no organized' leisure ac - tivities to jump into after we jump out of our long underwear and before we jump into our fishing, baseball, tennis, soccer, and swinuning paraphernalia. As a result, we all fall down with spring fever. 1 suggest we hire a program co- t' ator to transform our spring •-ver rt collective confusion into organized con- fusion. How about Budweiser and Carlsburg taste tests? - How about races to see who can get from the Maitland River flats to the Nine Mile River flats fastest and with the most amount of beer consumed? How about a prize for the person who can sit in front of three television sets and follow NI -IL playoffs, 'a Blue Jays baseball game, and the last episode of Dallas, and untangle fishing line all at the same time? The possibilities are endless, but I'm too confused to do the organizing myself. I think I'll take a nap. a problem like his. He encourages them and gives them hope. In fact, I think my friend is a better human being now because of his illness. He used his brush with death to help him see what has real and lasting value in day-to-day living. And so many of his friends have benefitted from his remarkable experiences. But the fact remains, that 25 years ago, it would not have been possible for my friend to conquer his illness. There has been much progress made in the fight against cancer, and there is indeed much reason to have hope that the disease will one day be eradicated com- pletely. +++ The campaign for funds for the cancer society is on right now. The canvassers` have been out in. Goderich, and I'm almost certain most of you have been asked for'your contribution. According to my cancer campaigner, the results this year are as good - maybe better - than last year. That's encouraging. I know many cancer society workers were concerned that the extra- ordinary appeal for Terry Fox projects would have adversely affected this year's cancer campaign. It now appears the concern may have been unnecessary. And it's a tip of the hat to each one of you out there who has taken this cause to heart - and to yourpodtetbook. If you still haven't given to the cancer cam- paign - or if you'd like to give an extra gift as a measure of your confidence in the future - do so today. You won't be sorry. And who knows? You may be helping yourself to a healthier tommorrow. Or someone you love to longer life. cath wooden