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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-12-01, Page 4PAGE 4--GODERICFI SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1982 DAVE SYKES • Time has a nasty and unrelenting habit of eroding and changing one's perspective on things. Time had its way with me on the weekend but I can't say that the view from the other side was all that disagreeable. It was a welcome and pleasant change. For as long as this corresponent( can recollect, the annual Port of Goderich Santa Claus Parade has been treated with as much reverence as any other weekend assignmfnt tett dribbles through to the pulsating newsroom. Very little. To be honest, newsroom cohorts have never relished the propspect of working a weekend loaded with assignments, it's just `one of the annoying aspects of the job. Those assignments are always completed ef- ficiently but it's just that the thought of working the weekend is actually worse than the work involved in most cases. The, Santa Claus Parade is one project that appears on the assignment board every year and, as luck would have it, I seem to draw that weekend on a regular basis. It is a difficult task, at times, to turn the assignment into something new and unique each year. And attempts are made to offer a different angle on the proceedings. Cer- tainly readers might suspect that the pic- tures look the same each year but they are taken with the intention of providing an adequate pictorial representation. This year's parade had a different meaning, even though this agent, again, drew the assignment. While I rather enjoy taking pictures of children in the parade and especially the wide-eyed expressions of the hundreds of kids lining the route, I also had parental obligations to fulfill. Son Bradley took in his first ever Santa Claus Parade and'mom inherited the task of explaining each float as the youngster ex- citedly pointed in 15 directions at once. I have always imaged or assumed that dad's played a vital role in parade` situations. Certainly it is a father's responsibility to hoist his child on sturdy shoulders, giving the youngster unob- structed vision of the parade over the heads of bigger children. Dads are notorious for that sort of dedication. And certainly, any self-respecting father would risk his own life by hurling his body onto the parade route to battle with hun- dreds of kids over randy idly tossed out by the clowns. I was forced to engage in such con- frontations. Saturday out of a sense of duty to my son. If I didn't secure for the little guy, I suspected my self esteem would pale in his eyes. It wasn't an easy chore, but I did manage to grapple with several youngsters and emerge with one yellow sucker. These kids are parade veterans who have an uncanny knack of diving into a pile. of bodies and emerging with a handful of candy. I was obviously a rookie when it came to knocking heads with the kids and sensing my desperation, I feel they somehow collectively allowed me to secure that one suckers Elated at the prospect of passing that first parental test, I later had to chase a fire truck half way around the parade route,while attempting to take pictures, to secure a balloon for my son. The balloon provided the crowning touch and with sucker and balloon in hand, the little guy was obviously pleased with my heroic efforts. I passed -one parade test and. became a little more street -wise in the process. BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1979 Second class mail registration number -0716 SINCE 1848 Till NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT Founded In 1S4$ and published every Wednesday at Ooderltlt. Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OMMA. *slyer. , tieing rates on request. Subscriptions payable In advance °19.N In Canada, 40.69 to U.S.A..'S9.N to ell other count- , tries, single copies Sgt. Display advertising rates available on request. please ash for Rate Card No.1s effective Oc- toberIl, 19112. Second clap moll Registration Number 0716. Advertising 1s accepted on the condition that In the , avant of fypogrphkuI error. the advertising space occupied by the erroneous Item, together with reasonable , allowance for signature, will not be charged kr but that belance of the advertisement will be paid for et the sp- a ennoble rate. In the event of • typographical error advertising goods or services at • wrong price. goods or services , may not be sold. Advertising Is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Slenel-star 1s not , responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts. photos or other materials used for reprodutlne puss. 1 poses. PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT G. SHRIER-President and Publisher DONALD M. HUBICK-Advertising Manager DAVID SYKES-Editor P.O. BOX 220, HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH N7A 4B6 FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES please phone (519) 524-8331 A new twist The fate of the Hugon County Pioneer Museum has now been passed on to the new members of Huron County Council. While the challenge may not be a welcome one for the' n9,9944 ttI., n lssue,,;tliat wiljhave to:beaddressed 'dere 1,ave"beenkt<Wo=divided camp`s' on the issUe,="one ,dial: would like to •°have the °museum relocated to the former radar school in Vanastra, a spacious location, and the other that has fought to have the museum remain in Goderich. Neither sidecame out a winner Thursday as the cards were finally laid on the table with the submission of two reports, one on the present museum building, the other on the Vanastra building. The final result, as of now, is that the museum in Goderich is closed to the public and the building in Vanastra has been labelled as an inadequate structure. In light of the evidence, county Council was forced . to close the museum in Goderich ,on the advice of ex perts,for safety reasons,; and the matter will reluctantly be turned over to the new members of Huron County council. The controversy now takes a new twist. The Museum Programs Collaborative stated the telecommunications building in Vanastra is unsuitable for a museum. B.M. Ross and Associates of . Goderich reported that the present museum buildings do meet the standards of the building code. To bring the Vanastra building up to requirement would -sat the county over $5 million with renovations to the eum portion of the building costing $2 million and over So million would be required to bring the remainder of the . buildingup to standard. So the new council will either .have to find an .alternate site for the museum; repair the present location or even build a new structure on the present site. Regardless, it is going to cost the taxpayers of Huron County to preserve the museum tradition. It is going to take some funding. A reserve fund has already been established, tut it will undoubtedly take years to establish theworking capital needed for a project of such magnitude. Whatever2council decides, it will have the backing of the citizens of Goderich who expressed a desire to be involved in plans. The time will come when that commitment will have to be honoured. It is somewhat ironic, though, that while one faction of county council pushed to relocate the museum in Vanastra, the latest study reveals that the radar school is an inadequate alternative. There are no winners or losers in this situation and now the county must band together to find a feasible Solution to the problem. The museum may be located in Goderich, an advantage for both the county and town, but it is a county project and a collective effort is required. The solution will not be an easy one but hopefully the new council can take an equitable approach. D.S. Take precautions With the winter season fast approaching, area residents must be duly reminded that it also means the return of rabies in the Huron County area. Huron County Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Harry Cieslar reminds residents that rabies are a hazard this year and special precautions should be _taken when dealing with animals. Children should be duly warned of the dangers of contact with strange animals. The MOH advises that parents can .save themselves and their children unnecessary vaccination and worry by taking proper precautions. Everyone should avoid contact with wild animals and stray dogs and cats. Think rabies first before handling any sick animals, including domestic animals such as cattle beasts and horses. Take the time to warn your children against contact with any stray, wild or ill animals. It could lead to a potentially dangerous situation. One of the best preventative measures a family can take against exposure to the disease, is to make sure that family .pets have been adequately vaccinated against rabies. Watch carefully for signs in your family pet that may indicate something is wrong. Do not permit your children to have contact with the family pet if it suddenly becomes hostile or appears to have been in a fight with another animal. Do not allow your children to come in contact with animals or pets that are allowed to run loose and children should always avoid wild animals that appear to be friendly in nature. If your pet is showing any unusual signs of hostility or illness it should be placed in an isolated and confined area and a veterinarian should be contacted. Under normal circumstances, the animal must be . kept under cons finement and observation for a period of 14 days. If the animal's condition deteriorates, or if it dies, the Huron County Health Unit should be contacted. Rabies has been on the increase in the Huron County area and it is wise for everyone to follow the precautionary measures. The risk factor is too great to fool with. If anyone requires further information on the subject they can contact the Huron County Health Unit in Clinton at 482-3416 or Agriculture Canada, Health of Animals Branch, Seaforth at 527-1470. Plaudits for parade The annual Goderich Santa Claus 1 Parade has traditionally marked the beginning of the Christmas season. • . There 'vas ample snow covering Saturday to get people into the spirit and certainly this year's rendition generated more spirit for the crowds lined around the Square. Events such as the Santa Claus Parade are an integral part of life in a small community both for participants and spectators. The parade is undoubtedly aimed at children and hundreds of children obviously enjoyed themselves Meeting cartoon characters, scrambling for candy, viewing the interesting floats and finaily meeting the star timilleilialeisteareaseimialaimairedereuerssewwwmademerwsidesi attraction, Santa Claus. This year's parade featured 48 entries and was one of the finest sponsored by the Goderich Recreation Department. The groups, clubs, schools, businesses and individuals who took the time and effort to construct a float or prepare an entry should be congratulated. Your spirit and enthusiasm added to the success of the parade. It takes a lot of work and planning to organize the parade and prepare the floats and costumes. Everyone involved deserves plaudits for keeping the Santa Claus Parade tradition alive. The children of Goderich will certainly remember that. tradition and hopefully keep that spirit alive. First impressions By Syke DEAR READERS SHIRLEY KELLER There is a four-letter word which is widely us- ed these days. Since this is a family newspaper I won't spell it out, but I'm quite sure all of you have heard the expression of which I speak. When I was growing up, the word was around. Sometimes it was scrawled on the sidewalk in chalk or red paint. Occasionally, a more daring type would scribble the word on the side of a building. As I recall, the word usually stood on its awn. It wasn't anything much - not a noun, not a verb, not an adjective, not an adverb. It was just a singular dirty word that people used for its shock value. Today, the word is found everywhere, even in some new dictionaries. It now appears to be a legitimate verb although in common usage, it is generally an adjective or an adverb. One would expect to hear this descriptive word in locker rooms, in bar rooms and maybe among uncouth boors who have the intelligence quotient of a stringbean. If. the word is suitable anywhere, it would be only in these situations, one would ex- pect. But one hears that word now among young ladies and small children, in movies and in plays, at picnics and at cocktail parties, on television and on radio. It is written on every other page in most modern novels and it is even in the title of a new movie, I understand, which has thankfully been banned by the very controversial board of movie censors. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau made headlines when he was accused of using this word, but I don't know why. According to one young mother to whom I spoke this past weekend, even kindergarten students in at least one Goderich school are well acquainted with the terminology. People who use the word seem obsessed with it. They can't use it often enough in a normal con- versation. Now they have developed body language which can be used in conjunction with the word - or by itself. This upward digital gesture has again become a dubious trademark with our prime minister who has been severely chastised for.it. It seems Canadians have one standard for the nation's leading government representative, and another for themselves. Even the sweet little thing next door can give "the finger" to the careless driver who pulls out in front of her at a four-way stop without losing the respect of most polite society. But there is mounting evidence that theword is strictly a North American expression. While travelling through parts of Europe last fall, I saw the word as part of the graffiti in washrooms for instance, but always it appeared to have been penned by persons whose language was English. Friday evening, I. had dinner with some visitors to Canada from Denmark. The topic got around to this word and its meaning. I blushed with embarrassment at the prospect of having to define this word to the innocent gentleman who asked. But wonder of wonders, an explanation came forth that delighted me - and determined then and there to share that explanation with all of you, dear readers. I was told the word has evolved from a British law to deal with boys under the age of 16 who had illicit sexual experiences. These young offenders were charged "for unlawful carnal knowledge" Busy court room officers simply abbreviated those words to save time. The charge has long since been stricken from the statutes, but the "`word" formed by the shorter -form of the original charge has lingered on. And on. �I haven't a clue how to verify this explanation. I'm not certain I want to. But I do know it gives me ammunition with which to fight the over -use of that ugly word in just about everything I hear and read these days. Now when I hear that word I stop the person who said it and ask, "Do you know the meaning of that word you just used?" Right away I have that person's attention. I have caused that person to stop and to think what has been said. Then I treat that person to the ex- planation I just gave to you. The person looks at me with some disbelief and maybe some annoyance. But I'm ready to wager that before the word is used the next time, the ex- planation of the word will leap into the person's conscious memory. My hope is the person will soon find the word dull and inappropriate. Given enough time, the word may even disappear from that person's vocabulary. With any luck at all, that person will become an advocate to drop that word from the English language entirely. Or at least relegate it to its proper place - among the trash. Town council and PUCare not feuding Dear Editor, 'In several recent election speeches, ;repeated references were made to a "rift" between the town council and the -PUC, and to the necessity of "mending fences". These utterances astonished me. Before the echo of the speeches fades perhaps we should take a quick look at the subject, because the public has been left with the unfortunate impression that for quite some time there has been a feud between the two bodies. Feuds are childish, benefit nobody and have no place in serious municipal business where the public can expect fair, reasoned and business - LETTERS like approaches and at- titudes. As far as my memory -and experience goes, there is not and has not been any feud between the two bodies. There a have been disagreements–even sub- stantial disagreements–on some points concerning the takeover and financing of the waterworks operation and expansion. There is a very mistaken public perception that if one questions something or is in disagreement over some ---business -point,—figures--or proposals, one is inevitably in a feuding position. Such an attitude does not belong among elected people. I can understand that the situation may have created a little tension in some minds, because a certain potential for a degree of tension is built right into the system under which the two bodies operate and over which they have no control --the However, as cumbersome Municipal Act ant} the Public__uag�,s the system-..--- Utilitie_At.appears, I mould think that the requirements of the Acts simply provide for checks and balances. Perhaps the system should be changed by the province, but until it is changed, we must live with it in a business -like manner.. There is no cause for in- dividual members to take offence or interpret requests for factual information or substantiating documents as a sign of personal animosity. Feuding is emotional rather than rational. I cannot speak for the others, but I know of nobody on the Goderich Town Council or in These Acts determine that the municipality owns the facilities, ...but the PVC PUC mar ages and operates them. To make it worse, for major capital works, expansions and debentures and other purposes, 'the PUC - must have the council's approval. The PUC audit is included in the audit of the municipal corporation. Even for such things as the amounts for the commissioners' remuneration, they have to come to council. All this can hardly lead to a love affair. I can un- derstand some of the PUC frustration and impatience. Turn to page 5 e