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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-05-28, Page 19dove sykes Gaol has re=opened BY JASON AINSLIE The Huron Historic Gaol was once again opened Saturday, May 17 providing localites and tourists with a preserved piece of the past. For many years, people have toured the old jail and this year it will be easier than ever with a self tour approach. The self tour is conducted through the use of signs, artfully : printed, whin irmw describe each important section of the historic site or where a significant event occurred. Last year alone, nearly 18,000 people learned how the gaol was in- strumental in establishing Huron as a separate district, with its own rules, regulations and representatives. Curator Harry Bosnell says he expects the same numbers for 1980. The jail, completed in I am begining to shake, my head is jerking tor::one side uncontrollably, and: saliva is dripping from the corner of my mouth. b I fear the end is near. The afflicting maladie,. more to the point, is withdrawal. The symptoms::• reappear each May and generally dissipate through the summer months. But, there is no quick remedy or healing salve. Time offferslittle consolation and I must stare down reality. There are no more hockey games. Admittedly, that may not sound like a big deal to anyone but I do not seek any sympathy.. It is not the hockey that's addictive or a major attraction during those two months but, rather, The Pool. And the pool is life and supercedes all else. Now this isn't just a two-bit hockey pool with a quarter ante and a $2 payoff on a final score. I'm talking bfg bucks friends and neighbours, moms and dads. How does $270 sound. Major leagues all the way, right. 1842, was discontinued as a detention centre in 1972 when it was designated 'inefficient' for its holding capacity of only , 12 prisoners. Since 1972, however, the historic building has become a popular visiting spot for area residents and tourists alike. Each Sunday and holiday, the busy flea market will be in operation, and . Mr. Bosnell is pleased that Turn to page 12A • The Pool is now a spring time tradition. 4 time when up to 20 nor-, manysane me eabandon all family and. work; responsibilities' and stake their wallets on a group of truculent hockey players.. The pool begins before the start of the ptayeffs when iip to 20 guys willing to stake=; $15on their hockey savvy gather for a draft. Each participant draws a number to determine his position in the draft. Hence, the person who picks number 1 has first selection of the eligible players involved in the NHL playoffs. As a rule Guy Lafleur would be a logical selection and considering he played very few games due to an injury became the source of much wailing and nashing of teeth and wife beating. Each participant selects 10 players for his team, without any duplication, and his players goals and assists are tallied throughout the playoffs. The top pointgetter receives a hefty chunk of the total prize money with four prizes offered in total. thederich SIGNAL—STAR Of course, -the main p.bjeot,ef'the POO . is to select players who, b p0u.,lly, reach the-$tanley Cup final and score a lot of points.' The result .is that those involved in the pool become rabid hockey fans and theamc s line scores are scanned more thoroughly than stock market quotations. It's a private war and every man battles for himself but the only an- noying aspect is that one must relyon his team of players. There is much ambivalence between pool participants and front runners are often the targets of much abuse and derision. Everybody has much con- tempt for another player of higher standing. In such a pool, the winner of the Stanley Cup is irrelevant and personal team preference takes a back seat. Wife, kids, friends, mothers -in -law -if they don't play for the Islanders or only see spot duty -they aren't worth a second look In April or May. I, like .other pool player; ' I suspect, .Yell at my players on the television, urging them tQ produce and defaming them when they fail. It's important, During a monthly poker session at my place, the television was naturally turned on. in the last°two Years -have had to attend weddings during playoff - time. At one I went out to my car during -the reception and listened to a game in French, hoping to pick up on a few goals and assists. This year I had to suffer through two weddings. One reception hall had an adjoining lounge and television. I was dragged out of there ion several oc- cas ions. c-casions. I have avoided yard work to keep a watchful eye on the pool proceedings and often dreamt that Rick McLeish would score four goals and I would over come a pack of players to win the pool. But it's over now and I can•relax and reflect on a second place finish. But next year, I wonder if Mike Bossy will be available in the second round. 132 YEAR -22 WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1980 SECOND SECTION Summer Schedule of events • MAY MAY 31: SHRINER'S.PARADE A JUNE 7 Over 2,000 Shriners and their wives are in town this weekend and Friday,May 30 they will hold their spring ceremonial. On Saturday, May 31 the Shriners will stage a parade in Goderich FARMER'S MARKET. The Goderich Recreation department is sponsoring a Farmer's. Market at the Ron Feagan Memorial Grandstand beginning June 7 and running JUNE 22 through to the end of August. The market will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. SUMMER CONCERT The Summer. Concert Series in the bandshell at Harbour Park begins and will run through the summer -months featuring area bands. JUNE JUNE 28 JUNE 27 OPTIMIST CLUB FESTIVAL The Goderich Optimist Club's three-day music and craft festival begins at 4 p.m. and the entertainment includes Willie P. Bennett, Doug McArthur, South Trail, Frank Wheeler and Tom Woodcock. SKY HARBOUR AIR SHOW The Goderich Municipal Airport will be alive with ac- tivity June 28 with an im- pressive air show. The one -day show will feature Bill Cole and the Descenders Parateam, Oscar Boesch and dispalys by the Experimental Aircraft Association. The Optimist Club Music' Festival continues in Harbour Park with top flight entertainment JUNE 29 JUNE 27- 28-29 ®N■■■mmeemm■mem■eee■me■■wmemmmm■mm■ ■ ■ FOUNDERS DAY PARADE The Tourist Committee has . put together a unique Founder's Day program featuring a bike tour at 9 a.m., a large parade in the afternoon and a fireworks display in the evening. The Optimist Festival continues in Harbour Park DUNGANNON SLOWPITCH TOURNAMENT Several area slowpitch teams will be competing in a double - knockout torunament at the Dungannon Agricultural Fairgrounds. JULY 6 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES The summer concert series continues inharbour Park and this week the Ayr Kinsmen Band will entertain beginning at 7 pm.. JULY 12 GODERICH 10 KM. FUN RUN AND ROAD RACE JULY ■ ■ ■ o The second Annual Goderich e Fun Run and Road Race will ■� begin at town hall at la a.m. and follow a 10 km.. route through Goderich. Last years race at- e tracted 150 runners from e — Ontario or -e_____. are expected for the 1980 edition. m • JULY 16 HELL DRIVERS ■ ■ ■• The Goderich Police Association is sponsoring the famous Hell Drivers driving team. There will be one per- formance at the Ron Feagan Memorial Grandstand. JULY 17-18-19 KINSMEN CARNIVAL The three-day Kinsmen Carnival begins July 17 and will run through Saturday. The carnival will feature rides, bingo, a midway and a beer tent in Courthouse Park. JULY 10-11-12 FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS Goderich Festival of the Arts is an annual attraction in town that begins Thursday, July 10 and runs through Saturday. The three-day festival will feature arts and crafts and displays by several area artisans. There will also be flower, photographic and art displays. JULY 11-12-13 GODERICH SLOWPITCH TOURNAMENT The Goderich Men's Slowpitch League will sponsor a three-day tournament at Agriculture Park featuring several area teams. The three-day event will be a double knockout competition. AUGUST AUG. .1-2-3-4 DUNGANNON 125th BIRTHDAY -REUNION The community of Dungannon is celebrating its 125th birthday and reunion with four big days of events. The events will include a giant parade, a community show, dances and a beer tent. AUG. 3 SUMMER CONCERT The summer concert series continues in harbour park with the Goderich Laketown Band providing the free en- tertainment beginning at 7 p.m. AUG.. 15-16. SPORTSFESTi'80 -17 The town of Goderich will host Sportsfest 80 for three days involving teams and athletes from areas in the Lake Huron Zone Recreation Association. ^ wer 2,000 athletes are-expeea___-. AUG. 17 CYCLING RACE For the first time Goderich will host a cycling race. This first race is sanctioned by the London Cycling Club and should attract competitors from all over Ontario. There will also be an amateur competition. The race begins at 10 a.m. AUG. 22 FOUR'S ENOUGH On August 22 the California based softball team, Four's Enough will play an exhibition game against the Goderich Men's Intermediate team. Game time at Agriculture Park is 7.30 p.m. AUG. 31 SUMMER CONCERT AUG. 29-30 -31 SEPT. 1 The goderich Lakeotwn Band will close out the summer concert series at harbour Park with, n 7 p.m. concert, There is no admission charge. FASTBALL TOURNAMENT The Goderich' men's Indust rial-F-astballL —e - one of the finest fastball tour- naments in the area." The four- day double knockout com- petition will begin Friday, . August 29 and the championship games 'will wind up Monday, August 1. The tournament features several of the top fastball teams in the area from London and Kitchener and of- fers 6' an exciting weekend of ball. mpmemm*mmmmmm m mmemmmmmme■■mseem■mem■mmmmme■mmmmmmm■m umnomm■emmmummu ■es■■eeummmmmm iiimmummommm■■■■■WWWems■■■■■memmei■■■ee■e■■e■e■Neem■■eseee■ee■ae■■■eee■ee■■e■■■solani msee®m■■eee■unsim eummm mmomm■ee The ability to master mingle is not one of my better traits. In fact, master mingling is not one of my traits at all. I guess I just never learned how to talk small enough to be able to cross over the barrier into the world of un - communication for as long as it takes to munch an hors d'ouvre. Chit chat is a fine art that has been around as long as there has been weather. I stand in awe of people who can effortlessly small talk with casual acquaintances at parties and gatherings. They chat about their children's escapades, the prize begonias, how to save fuel, someone else's mid-life crisis, and their trip to Moosenee. My mother is the master mingler of them all, the most accomplished chit chatter you will ever meet. One must supress applause after witnessing a particularly splendid foray of her chat. What makes her style so effective is her finesse, her smooth transitions from topic to topic before there is ever an uncomfortable gap in the con- versation. We were all out for supper the other'' night with acquaintances from Michigan. Mother was in fine form. Before the dinner was done, she had successfully discussed how attractive high ceilings are and how hard they are on the heating bill, her gardening experiences, how much my brother has liked fish ever since he was small, how much she enjoys travelling, how Russia doesn't care if anyone comes to their Oympics, and how pro athletes get paid too much. I was amazed, She never once talked with her mouth full and I still can't figure out how she got from one topic to the next. After dinner I held up my napkin on which I had written, '9.99'. She did not receive a perfect 10 because she paused once to go to the ladies room. But who am Ito judge? I, who cannot carry a conversation in a bucket. I, who like to get right into the Meaning of Life after the introductions: It tends to make people uncomfortable. It's not that I do not realize the meaning of life is not suitable for Friday night talk along with loud music and co chips. I just don't have a garden oa children and I don't play golf. The poor unfortunate soul who I meet in the chip dip usually falls victim to this kind of scene : "Good party, eh?" he opens. "I',m really not a liberty to say. You see, that ' would require a value judgement on my part and I always try to remain objective." "Oh," I've got him stumped there. "Did you see The Muppets the other night? Woody Allen did a tango with Miss Piggy," he offers. "How existential." I murmer. "But do you think french philosophy will Suffer because of it?" I am beginning to Stab in the dark. "U'h. Did you see the Islanders - Philadelphia final?" he asks, looking for a place to run. "Certainly not. Hockey is having an unsettling effect on the decaying morals of today's youth and I'll have no part of it." I answer, looking for a place to run. "You are very wierd aren't you?" he asks, accidentally stabbing the chip dip, with the end of his tie. "That would require another judgement," I stammer. This is the point I usually break down. "But I don't have a garden!" I wail. "Or a T.V. and I've never been to Niagra Falls ! " There are two possible reactions here. Either my chit chat partner goes home and is depressed for a week, which every one of them have done so far, or he offers to teach me the finer points of small talk, which I dream about. I picture the day when I can cruise about a room mingling with the best of them, saying, "Nice night if it don't rain," and going home with the knowledge of an evening well spent.