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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-02-27, Page 4• r`9 ttbies. toW q7 yam* ,r..;:nwxxu. As tl1e driveway encroached n Uie fly ve cls strip! thtea cncd to cons . e it; a the bard -Packed _snow rendered two Aleyr • shovels useless; as the mounting Matta threatened to swallow up the childrec,t and even the modest bungalow; I finally Weill., I was prepared to wait it out until spring. In short, I complained, whined and general- ly acted like a child. But, fair folk, within minutes of the ink drying on page four, there was a propitious change in the weather. Not only did the sky brighten, but three- quarters of the town's population began returning. from Florida and, the clincher, the Signal -Star received its first robin sighting of the year. With those compelling indicators at hand, was it not be safe to assume that a change in theYr st� �1S tti ;modesty 1.antintetrat coin! Rene t, ofa the evidence t hakey i wan thre divine i repaVon, the the biting turned x�l ; bl with it Warm ra 0' that reduced our once foldable .aPQ nt iftsofsnowtowere!'illsandbtmnps. a• Mui now to assume that, this column has the to change the weather patterns by simply commanding winter to cease. The evldence,would suggest that is the case. Within days, the ever -receding snowline, revealed -snow shovels abandoned months earlier, by the children, assorted bikes, wagons and sleighs purported to have been swallowed by snow drifts, the concrete base of the driveway, assorted green things, a barbequeand picnic table and a few neighbourhood children and animals. .While I may, ostensibly, be open about my unrequited distaste for winter, there is always a certain reluctance at the passing of a season. A reluctance to let go because 414 had been pros --., winter not been wow?t and extensiive plots,. tigns, Ore .always Alain ;gear start to a new season, I never.ge emplating half tits tasks las ~ ' tone at the begiming,or winter, but then,the, s k mar is no different. The one major project that received; to,! priority was the skating rink A TOW miserable, self -disciplining exercise that: fathers need to experience once, .1 tackled the task during one of the coldest winteraion record. For days I subjected my . scant frame to the fiercest winds, the coldest temperatures, and lonely nights in, the backyard only to have a weekend storin -.eliminate any visible evidence of a skating rink, And there were other deserved projects worthy of attention and while gave each careful, albeit fleeting consideration, there will certainly be other winters. And more plans to put off to another winter. THE NEW, PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 18411 Pounded in 1548 and published every Wednesday at Doderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA. Subscriptions payable in advance '20.95, (Senior Citizens '17.95 prieliege card number required) In Canada, '55. to U.S.A., '55. to all other countries, Single copies 5OG. Display, Nations! and Classified advertising rates available on request. Please ask for Rate Card No. 15 affective October 1, 1984. Advertieing is accepted on the eanditien that in the event sf e typographical error, the advertising Ypacs occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for eigneture, will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applioabla rata. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services et a lar ng price, geese er eetreleee ntey not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn of any time. The Signal -Star Is not responsible for the lose or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materiels used for reproducing purposes. PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT G. SHRIER - President and Publisher DON HUBIGK - Advertising Manager DAVE SYKES - Editor p.0. BOX ei@O HUC INDU TRNS AL PARKT. INDUSTRIA GODERICH, ONT. N7A 4BE eNG the aN CI1/41k Member: eNA Second class mail registration number 0716 FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...please phone [619]624-2614 The fate of the Huron County Pioneer Museum May very well be decided at the March .7 meeting of Huron County Council. It is an issue that has been before the council over an extended period of time and one that now begs for action as time slips away. There have been public meetings, feasibility studies, a structural analysis, committee and council debates and public protests over the suspectedclosure of the tourist attraction. But now, the reports are in and a decision must be made. Council has at least closed the building and is waiting word on the cost to have the dower portion of -the building -brought up to building code standards and reopened. In bolstering and reinforcing its position, Goderich town council has offered to putup half of the cost of reopening the museum this year, up to a limit of $10,000. The commitment was a sensible one on the part of town council and at least offers credence to its verbal commitment of retaining the museum as a viable component of the town and its tourist attractions. It has been about two years since county council entertained the prospect of moving the museum to a vacant building in Vanastra. Council was pressured from a number of schools and philosophies and while that plan has fallen victim to new and better plans there still remains the ultimate decision. . To rebuild the museum in God!rch on the existing, site or build a new corr1 elsewhere. The property committee of county council suggested the county commit $300,000 an- nually towards rebuilding the structure on the present site. Many of the county's 26 municipalities simply couldn't justify the expenditure. While it may smack of the anti-Goderich sentiment that is rumored to permeate the ranks of county couneil from time to time, there are no other attractive alternatives. Some councillors have not disguised the fact they would like to see the musuem moved to a more central location. Other, see the obvious merits of having the county musuem located in Goderich and also recognize the merits in keeping it open. The Huron County Pioneer Musuem is a treasure of history, an important link to the heritage and beginnings of the county. That the musuem should continue is unques- tionable and that it should continue to thrive in Goderich is logical. 'fay mere virtue of geography, the town of Goderich undoubtedly attracts more tourists flan any othercounty t'ToTitn, village •Tirtowfl"ship. tiavirng the museum trrGoderich'is-of mutual benefit to the county and town. It's a reciprocal arrangement. There are afnumber of activities -and events that attract the incal attractions while visiting. The town helps promote the musuem and its attractions and the county benefits from that. When two things work well together, separation can only be harmful. D.S. Spring flow 13y Todd Mowatt POSTSCRiPT SUSAN HUNDERTMARK Hello, Goderich! I'm Susan Hundertmark mechanic told me it has something to do bug (such -44 the fact -that--several arid—I'll be taking ove from Joanne with the position of the battery but I think mechanics have told me they won't touch a Buchanan as she mentioned in her final col- my bug just gets stubborn and grumpy when Volkswagen), there are some benefits. umn last week. I'll be continuing the same it needs a rest. There's a certain camaraderie between type of column --sometimes funny, My bug would be very happy if I decided bug owners. A fellow bug 'driver, who is sometimes serious but always, I hope, worth to move to a warmer climate. It runs like madly scraping the ice from the inside of the reading. clockwork during the summer months but windshield while the windows are wide open If you haven't mel me yet, you'll probably would prefer to be stored for the winter so he can see,is never so miserable that he soon see my bright.yellow 1974 Super Beetle months like a German sports car should be. forgets to wave or toot the horn as he passes tooling around town (when it's not in the When I insist on driving it through the cold by another bug. I guess misery really does shop for repairs). and snow, it devises all sorts of schemes to love company. Eeople_..are usuallyui a amused when stop me. One winter morning, I started it up, Bugs. also have great gas mileage, are they discover the link between m— y erman •letrttrunwhiie-I cieaned-off-the-windows-and---reasonably-pricer! used -cars and gtye,you a heritage'and the make of my car. Actually, jumped in to head for work. After several at- good knowledge of the workings of a car there is no connection between the two. My tempts to go forward or backward without (from all the visits to the mechanic). great grandfather who carne to Canada success, I realized the emergency brake had They're also a great topic at cocktail par - from Hamburg, Germany, did not pass on frozen on. ties; it seems that everyone I know used to any knowledge of his language or, culture to - It was towed down to the nearest gas sta- own one. his descendants.' But, I have managed to tiop where it spent a cozy afternoon in a But, I can't blame everything on my bug. pick up a few appropriate German words to heated garage white a mechanic thawed out Since I learned how to drive a standard use during the times when my car doesn't the brake with a blow torch. transmission car using my bug, you can im- want to run properly. The fact that a Volkswagen Beetle's agine that it's received its share of abuse Though every car has its own idiosyn- heater, was never designed for Canadian from me. I remember. cursing at the poor crasies. it seems that Volkswagens have winters also works to my bug's advantage. thing just because I was having difficulties distinct personalities all their own. If you've I've learned that a trip to the army surplus with my timing with the clutch. seen the series of movies made about "the store for survival equipment is as important First stalling, then jumping around cor- Love Bug", be assured the movies are not as a tune-up to prepare my bug for winter. ners before learning the smooth transition entirely fantasy. My bug has not yet attemp- And, whenever I travel any distance in my between gears, I usually blamed my bug for ted to tilt me up"tvttt a-dat^e birHt -have- bu 4-urin The_wcinter. I'm usuallyw.e rJpg_ my eiibarrassment. Then, to add insult to several human characteristics. a parka, two pairs of wool socks and mit- injury, I taught my si ter how to (rive-ra My bug likes to travel at speeds slightly tens• Those who s are unprepared and less above the speed limit and grows bolder on adventurous refuse to ride with me in the muiti-laned highways wiles e it enjoys pass- 4'ntar ing other cars. Needless to say, whenever I get a chance When it's had enough of travelling, it's • to ride in a heated "Canadian" vehicle in the 6 standard car with my bug. After °every trip to the mechanic's, I threaten my bug with the auto wrecker's and it seems to run a lot smoother for awhile. When I finally do buy a new (Cana - been known to refuse to budge usually when winter, the bug stays behmd. dian) car, I won't miss the hassles but I will its snug in my driveway at home. -a-'"'fhthe"per-e-e of distinct personality. • Is it some new kind of silly season or perhaps an attempt to tickle our sense of merriment at a time when the winter days start to look desperate? How else would one ,explain the draught beer wars and the meat patty battles? - It is an odd thing for me to worry about. I do not even ,like beer (a glass of wine would 'go nicely with my dinner) but Lam appalled by the sound of so many authorities increas- ingly yapping at our heels in what should be our own territor'. More and more, one must do this, one cannot do that. There is a feeling of being fenced in. Any day now we might discover that a ,grocery store is allowed to sell only one brand of tea, flour or whatever. The principle is the ,'same. And it is all so ridiculous. The proposed beer quota system which limits the breweries' draught sales to a cer- tain percentage of the market, already is restrictive ina competitive sense, but to fur- ther limit the matter of personal choice would be unacceptable interference. Forced by public reaction, the Ontario government has now put the proposed restrictions on hold and will review the in- tended policy. There is something ludicrous about the thought of so many serious of- ficials spending such a lot of highly priced time to have prolonged negotiations on the subject of he^r quotas. Or on the matter of meat -patties. One would ave thought that Toronto is by now far too urbane,. sophisticated and cosmopolitan to be drawn into a flaming controversy over the name of meat patties, but there -it is. It appears that over the past two decades or so, literally hundreds of food outlets in Tbronto have been selling special meat pat- ties of ' ethnic origin and of increasing general . popularity. They were always known and sold as "patties". Suddenly the government inspectors in Toronto declared that these tasty concoctions can be called patties no longer, but must be defined as pies. Whoever is selling them as patties is violating the law and can be fined up to five thousand dollars. No, they were not pulling our leg, they were serious alright, and the consiuner battle was on. Five thousand dollar fine indeed! When Eaton's in Montreal had to remove the apostrophe from its signs at the height of the Quebec language laws folly, I was sure that anybody who tried any Similar nonsense in Toronto would be laughed right out of town, but the patty -pie dispute shows that Ontario's biggest city is quite willing to claim if; share of language foolishness and is not above firing the officialdom's thunder- ing cannons in order to scare flies. These items just caught my attention as the most recent and thoroughly ridiculous examples of the officialdom's ever present intrusion into even minor everyday affairs and personal choices and tastes. You pro- bably have your . own list of interferences that disturb you. If the matters are small enough, public reaction can often cause changes, thus creating a near illusion that we have a Aay 'after all in what goes on in our lives. We can win beer wars. What about the big decisions and freedoms, the future direction of our country's independence or perhaps the fate of the planet on Vvhich we live? What in- fluence have we on cruise missiles over our territory and foreign nuclear submarines in our ports? How do we count when our coun- try's participation in the obscenity, of "star wars" becomes reality? In what way" will our preferences determine the constantly escalating military expenses allowed togob- ble up these billions of dollars which we Can- not spare for human felief and social im- provement? It is relatively easy to repulse unwelcome small intrusions into the im- mediate territory of our daily lives, but it is not prudent to stop there. The large foolishness is tool dangerous to be ignored. If the hawkish p rooters of war threats as a way of life cannot be subdued by solemn op- ponents - could we as individuals start a campaign of laughing such buffoonery out of existence') Has it been tried? ELSA HAYDON