Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-06-27, Page 51A 14-4 --GQDVRIC SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1984 DAVE SYKES r In the coming edition of the Goderich Signal -Star, readers will be regaled with the photographs of smiling faces of the hundreds of elementary school graduates attending schools in the paper's coverage area. It's the graduation season and every student is declared fair game for our photographers *ho flock to graduation ceremonies and wreak havoc among the graduates while proud parents attempt to take pictures. It's a sport that could be easily compared to the demolotion derby with bodies and trophies clashing while parents and photographers grapple for the best angles and available spaces to shoot from. The graduation season, while accepted with a certain degree of resignation, is not exactly approached with great liveliness or alacrity by the members of the pulsating newsroom. It's not that the event is not important to us, it's just that after a few years and 10 or 20 graduation ceremonies, they all start looking the same. But when my youngster graduates, and he may well be the first in the Sykes family to receive an elementary school diploma, the paper better be there ET r something of an in- depth nature. Each year we frantically rush to the six or seven graduation ceremonies to take award and ,in some cases, class pictures, gather up copies 'of valedictory addresses and consolidate the material into a special supplement for the following week's paper. It's an issue that takes time and effort to put together but one we trust that holds some sentimental value for the students, teachers and parents. Attending the graduation exercises of a local elementary school the other evening provoked a bit of nostalgia in this correspondent. My thinking apparatus, which is still in working order, con jure up memories of tall, giggly girls and a sinking feeling about being a Grade Niner in a large high school. I simply couldn't fathom a day without recess and wondered'when those bigger kids got to play baseball or run behind a clump of trees for a smoke. That's what recess was for in those days. At least that's what I'm told. But some things don't change and it's obvious from the graduation pictures that the girls are Just as tall as they ever were and the boys haven't grown that much. Maybe it has something to do with the air or water. Who knows. And while every single one of those little urchins may have tested a 'teacher's patience to new extremes and been responsible for the wholesale introduction of - stress management courses for elementary teachers, on graduation night they present angelic and mature images that belle their mischievous and adventurous natures. They all appear so innocent, so grown up and so ready to take on the adolescent world. I vividly recall my own Grade 8 graduation, It was the first time we ever attended a formal type dance and for many of us, it may have been the first time we would ever submit to the task of actually touching a girl. But if you were going to dance, the touching part was compulsory at some point. So we pretended we like it and soon found out that this dancing might not be such a bad sport after all. Looking back on the pictures of those days, I can never figure out why the girls had ever agreed to dance with the likes of us. Member: Second class mail registration number 0716 BLUE RIf3BON AWARD 1983 THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH &DISTRICT SINCE 1848 Founded in 1948 and published every Wednesday at 0oderlch, Ontario. Member of the CCNA, OCNA end ABC Audit Bureau of Circulations. Subscriptions payable In advance '20.85, (Senior Citizens '17.95 privilege card number required) In Canada, '55. toU.S.A.,'55. to all, other countries, Single copies 50'. Olaplsy, National end Classified advertising rates available on request. please ask for Rate Card No. 14 effective October 1, 1883. Advertleing is accepted on the coniltion that in the event of typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for et the applicable rete; In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising le merely an offer to sell, end may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Star le 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 HUBICK - Advertising Manager DAVE SYKES - Editor P.O. BOX 220 HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK OODERICH, ONT. N7A 4BB FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...please phone (Biel 624-8331 A time to celebrate Canada Day and Ontario Bicentennial celebrations will unfold at several locations in town over four days beginning Thursday, June 28th. And the list of events offered for the Canada Week celebrations is a most impressive one that will: make for good family fun and entertainment. There will be no reason to complain about a lack of activity this weekend. The annual Music Festival and Friends sponsored by the Goderich Optimist Club begins Thursday at Optimist Riverside Park and will feature some of the finest bluegrass and folk entertainment over four days. The festival will run Thursday and Friday evenings and the music will start in the early afternoon both Saturday and Sunday. On Friday evening, the Goderich Legion will host a dance in the Vimy Lounge to welcome members of Post 18 of the American Legion from Bay City Michigan. The'Experimental Aircraft Association will hold a fly -in breakfast Saturday morning at the Municipal Airport and the Legion will hold a reception at 2 p.m. Former parishioners of St. George's Anglican Church are invited to attend the homecoming supper Saturday at 5 p.m. Sunday is a day packed with activity beginning with a special anniversary church service at St. George's and ending with a giant fireworks display over the Goderich Harbour at dusk. In between, you can enjoy breakfast and supper courtesy of the Lions Club at Lions Harbour Park, the Legion will hold a special breakfast and 'afternoon levy, and civic ceremonies, involving town, legion and Bay City officials and dignitaries, will unfold in Cour- thouse Park at 1 p.m. One of the day's highlights, the Canada Day Parade begins at 2 p.m. and will make its way around The Square and afterwards you can enjoy a Strawberry Social at the Livery and later take in a free concert at Lions Harbour Park. It has taken a great deal of work by many people to produce such a varied and impressive weekend program. Support the events in town in the spirit of the Bicentennial and Canada Day celebrations. Viewpoints differ It's curious how those who don't give the reduction of the federal deficit very high priority seem to be able to cast those who want to get the deficit down as some sort of ogres the Financial Post says. During his leadership bid, Jean Chretien gave the impression that those -such as John Turner- who would like to cut the deficit, would in so doing increase unemployment. No doubt, those who don't worry overmuch about the deficit, big as it is, are influenced by the traditional Keynesian view that deficits can be stimulative nut Keynes expected that in good times the deficits IAould be reduced. This has not happened in Canada for a long time. The net federal debt has not been reduced since 1969-70. In this new world of spend, spend, spend, it now takes 34 cents of every federal tax dollar just to pay the interest on the public debt. That's more than twice what it cost in 1970. This sort of stimulation clearly makes it increasingly difficult for government -with all the demands upon it -to find the means of helping those who are most disadvantaged. Yet, those who claim that deficits are stimulative often characterize those who favor a reduction of the deficit as flinty souls who would sacrifice jobs for the sake of getting the federal budget closer to balance. The obvious contradiction in this argument is that more unemployment means higher unemployment insurance payments, and less tax revenue from salaries and businesses. This can hardly do much for the cause of deficit reduction. Furthermore, there's also a flaw in the basic assumption that deficits are good for job creation. William Mulholland, chairman of Bank of Montreal, pointed to it last week. "If governments spend a great deal of money, then in the short term jobs will be created," he told the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. "But if they spend so much that interest rates are driven up, business investment falters and the price of jobs created in the public sector ( or areas clsoely related to it) is fewer jobs created elsewhere. If continued over time, this lack of private sector vitality will reduce our competitiveness and others will pass us by„ in fact, holding down government spending can, in the long run, he a plus for job creation. The good guys are not necessarily always the big spenders. In the weeds By Dave Sykes DEAR READERS SHIRLEY KELLER Every so often, it should be mandatory for Goderich residents to play tourist right at home. You could take a week, a weekend or just an evening but each person should get off the merry-go-round of living, working and striving in Goderich and view the town through the eyes of a visitor, even for a few minutes. A few weeks ago, I was travelling in Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County to be explicit where the Old Amish way of life is an important industry. It's a great part of the world if I may say so and I hope to go back again sometime. While I was visiting there, I had dinner one evening in one of their homestyle family restaurants. These restaurants, incidentally, are everywhere. In fact, it is difficult to find a spot where you can buy just soup and a salad. However, while having dinner at a long, long table where you sit opposite your partner and beside a total stranger, I struck up a conversation with the people sitting next to me. They happened to be from Lancaster County. They told me they were "playing tourist". They said every spring just before the tourist season got in high gear, the tourist association in Lancaster County offered special deals to residents to come out and see what the tourists see. These folks told me they got 50 percent off on everything - except meals. Meals, they said, were reduced by 10 percent to 25 percent (depending on the restaurant) for one weekend only They told me they were absolutely amazed at all the different things there were to do in Lancaster County. They started to list the things they had done already that weekend - and things they still planned to do. As they talked with firsthand knowledge about their own backyard, i realized the great wisdom of the plan by the members of the Lancaster County tourist association. They knew that word of mouth is one of the most trusted forms of advertising - and they knew that if they could get their own residents enthused and informed about their attractions in Lancaster County, it would be well worth the cost and the effort of doing so. While the Goderich Tourist Association (or whatever body it is that is handling those affairs for the town this summer) hasn't planned a special deal for residents to be tourists -for -a - day, I spent some time this past weekend doing some of the things that tourists do in Goderich. It was great. First off, I did a hilltop walk - that is, I followed the lake along at the top of the hill just at dusk to watch the sun go down from several vantage points along the way and to enjoy the sights and sounds of a lakeport town. Some of my favourite lookouts are from the peaceful park at the end of Blake Street and the pretty parkette at the end of Essex Street and the great park by the lighthouse. Each one affords a view of the lake that leaves a person feeling. serene, and so in touch with oneself. The walk itself was pleasant enough, through well kept neighbourhoods and beneath giant trees that are the true wealth of any community aspiring to be beautiful. Next, I spent part of an evening on the waterfront - first on the north side of the harbour and finally at St. Christopher's Beach. What a transformation! I was impressed! I took a walk along the boardwalk, from end to end, just as the sun was making its final plunge for the day into the horizon. I dreamed of what the park will become in the future as I noted some of the fine new trees that have been planted and imagined what future generations will add to that choice lakefront location. I stopped to watch some kids playing in the little kids park right in the centre of it all. I must have been infected by their laughter because I took a turn on the swings and even tried out the slide. I marvelled at lots and lots of grass so well kept by the Goderich Parks Department and I was happy to see it so compatible with the sand that usually comprises a beach. I noted the freshly painted heavy chain fence so in keeping with the waterfront and I liked the way the parking was spread all along the edge of it all in neat packages. I didn't have time for the nature walks from St. Christopher's Beach up to the top of the hill, but I saw many people who were exploring these inviting trails. A swing around The Square has to be part of any tourist's tour of Goderich and I didn't miss that. The brick sidewalks with trees and flowers interspersed, the pretty lamp posts, the hanging flower baskets, and a well groomed and shady Court House Park are ringed with a variety of interesting shops, each one looking ship-shape and ready to serve. It is obvious that many businesses on The Square are making a real effort to be as exciting on the outside as on the inside. it's good to see. I didn't get to the museums or to the restored jail. Have you done those things yet" I didn't get to Harbour Park to the band concert or to any of the other 'green' places this town offers. I didn't get to sample or even observe any of the activities at the recreational spots in town. I didn't get a tour of the oldest homes in town or some of the historical streets and sights of Goderich. Maybe I'll do that later this summer - or maybe I'll do it when the tourist committee offers a special weekend for residents to enjoy The Prettiest Town in Canada. I think I'd like that. Whenever I have occasion to turn my at- tention to the procedures and attitudes of the Public Utilities Commission of the Town of Goderich, my reaction is on two levels. On one level there is full a�pppreciation of the job done by the workers and manage- ment. In individual cases the response is swift and satisfactory: the ge eral day-to- day operations are carried out so smoothly and dependably that we have become ac- customed to it without further thought. When it comes to the commission itself. however, the impression is not nearly 'as clearcut as in the first instance. At the public receiving end the commissioners' at- titudes can come across as unnecessarily rech.:,ive, evasive, pedantic and at times perhaps even arrogant. Obviously a great deal of the credit for the good functioning of the operations must go to the commission as well. However, there is also an element of being a little kingdom in the forest: if you want to have access into its territory, you must first overcome all kinds of discouraging obstacles. A recent case is an ulustration. In April this year Jim Searls wrote to the PUC ask- ing for a summary of remuneration and ex- penses` --paid to commissioners and ad- ministration. The commission responded with a motion by James Peters, seconded by Leonard Sheardown "that Mr. Searls he notified by letter, including supportive material. that he is requested to make an appointment with the utility to view the desired records". The so-called supportive material does not address the request. It refers to persons appointed by municipal councils. No council makes appointments to PUC. Mr. Searls has made the correspondence available° The "supportive material" con- tains one interesting reference to the Public Utilities Act, according to which "the com- mission shall furnish such information as may be required by the council at any time." Since municipal councils are aware of this fact, the reference to it in this cor- respondence strikes one as a teasing hint how citizen Searls, in his role as councillor Searls, could come a step closer on the guarded path to the secluded1tingdom. So on .June l lth councillor Searls, second- ed by councillor Carey, made a motion "that the PUC forward at the earliest possible date a summary of remuneration and ex- penses paid to both elected and appointed of- ficials for the year 19$3." The motion passed easily with the support of the majority, of council members. After a subsequent clarification of what or who is an elected and an appointed official (good grief!) the decision was made by the commission to release to the council not on- ly the requested information but also the related information concerning all other local PUC employees. It is my understanding that this informa- tion is now at the Town Hall where it is to be placed on the next agenda and will find its way to the council members, including councillor Searls. Other people make their own points and some of them are likely to be quite different from mine. I am not questioning the number of conferences and workshops attended by the commissioners or the amounts spent. I have always emphatically supported the views that the individuals who make an ef- fort to learn are our truly effective representatives. The commissioners deal with complex and specialized matters and there is no doubt that it takes a lot of infor- mation to be on top of it all. My concern is with attitudes and with the methods used by the commission; I find them cumbersome, unfortunate, outdated and removed from the public realities of elected representation. Mr. Herb Murphy, the commission chair- man, feels that the members followed pro- per procedures and acted .correctly in a fashion they found comfortable. He assures that there was no attempt to withhold infor- mation, but maintains that to handle a private citizen's request differently from the proposed method would consume too much office time. Ilad Mr. Searls made an appointment, would he be let loose alone among all the KJ(' books? With personal respect for Mr. Murphy and the other commissioners, my conclusions are these: Nothing in the proper and correct procedures prevented the commission from making the information available without further ado. There is a mechanism in place for individuals enquiring about their own ac- counts. I suggest that Mr. Searls' request for general information was the only one of its kind, not one of hundreds. Much of this 1983 information must have been available from T -slips and other audited material. Quite clearly, the chosen method took more time, not less, and drew a lot more at- tention to an essentially simple matter. It amazes me how often elected represen- tatives complicate their own part in public matters where a simple and direct approach would save so much tension, time and trou- ble. ELSA HAYDON