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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-11-28, Page 4•w PAGE 4 ,--GODERICH SIGNALSTAR, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28,1984 DAVE SYKES Everyone has ' lived through some embarassing moments. Some, no doubt, have lived through more than their share of embarassing, moments, over a lifetime. Embarassing moments are characterized and perpetuated by foolishness, a weakness of the thinking apparatus, impetuous and otherwise unco-ordinated physical movements and in some cases, stupidity. They more than often occur in a crowded room or other public places. Have you ever tripped on a sidewalk or dumped the entire contents of your plate on a return trip from the buffet table? Have you ever attended a social function and discovered your zipper in the down position without knowing how long the condition has existed and if people are talking about it? While such endearing moments are magnified in the presence of others, have you ever done something entirely silly, and out of character in the privacy of your home that made you stop and say. "Boy, am I glad nobody saw what I was just doing." It happens to everyone. Maybe it was while you were singing away to yourself and wiggling in time to the music in the front seat of the ear while waiting for the light to turn. Or perhaps it was Just a simple conversation with yourself alone at home. People with children are prime candidates. Children, I would submit, have the ability to reduce humans to slobbering idiots. I should know. Until the children came along, I was only prone to slobbering. But now I find myself engaging in all manner of craziness while dispensing with much mirth and merriment. If, however, any reasonably sane adults witnessed the obscure and crazy play tactics I have employed with the kids, they would tend to assume that I lacked functioning cerebral parts. Take yesterday for example. Never really sure what dangers lurk' behind the front door, I tend to enter the household surreptitiously at lunch time. If I don't keep my guard up, I end up getting bowled over by kids running and screaming from different directions. I assume they are somewhat glad to see their father, but one is never really sure. Regardless, on Monday, the fact that my sandwiches had tell-tale little bites out of the middle should have tipped me off to the fact that erazines$ was in the air. Bradley's infectious giggle laid bare his guilt in the `matter and we almost made it through lunch without incident. During the repast, number one son entered the broom and vacuum closet and emerged with a 10 - foot vacuum hose, He begin talking through the hose and the fact his voice could be heard through the tube 10 feet away enticed bouts of riotous laughter from the rest of the family. Daughter Laura wasn't about to left out and soon the twosome engaged in conversation and noise making through the vacuum hose. Never one to pass up a good time, father abandoned his lunch and joined in the fun. Watching her husband on the floor talking to the children through a vacuum hose reduced the mother of the children to tears. "Why don't you take your end into the other room and talk," she blurted out between gigies. Back at work it occurred,to me that the sight of a father and his children talking through a vacuum hose during lunch, might be considered a touch odd. I wonder if anyone else talks through a vacuum hose at lunch? THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 Founded in 1848 and published every Wednesday at Gederich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA. Subscription! payable in advance '20.95, (Senior Citizens '17.95 privilege card number required) in Canada, '55. to U.S.A., '55. to all other countries, Single copies 506. Display, National and Classified advertising rates available on request. Please ask for Rate Card No. 15 affective October 1, 1884. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising apace occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but that balance of the advertlaement will he paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrongprice, goods or services may not bo Bold. Advertising is merely an offer to Bell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Star is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproducing purposes. PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT G. SHRIER - President and Publisher DON HUBICK - Advertising Manager DAVE SYKES - Editor the P.O. BOX 220 1 HUCKINS ST. GO^ INDUSTRIAL PARK eV.00.1 134..1..1 raj ©ODERICH, ONT. N7A ABS Member: Sebond class mail registration number 0716 FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...pleeee phone [519)624-2614 Sign all letters Every so often, it is necessary to reinforce the position of this newspaper with respect to letters to the editor. Newspapers welcgtne,;esponsjbte comment on the issues affecting the community and residents. Or issues of a provincial or national nature that have impact on our social and political structure. Diverse and responsible opinions are most welcome but with each viewpoint comes the responsibility of letting your name stand with your opinions. All letters to the editor must have a signature and phone number. In some cases, the writer requests anonymity, and letters can be published under a pseudonym on the pro- viso that the writer's name and phone number be available and given out on request. Any letters to the editor either mailed or dropped off at the office without any iden- tification are simply filed and not considered for publication. Writers should have the conviction to stand by their opinions and comments. Dialogue, expression and even criticism is an integral and vital component of freedom of speech, but that freedom brings with it the responsibility to stand by one's convictions. Tradition is needed The Christmas season, perhaps more than any other time of the year, reinforces the need and security of tradition. Tradition plays an important role in the way we celebrate the festive season and often adds more meaning to the event. Tradition provides a continuing chain of memories to be preserved and enhanced over the years. One tradition with a history of fun and excellence is the local parade and Santa's Court. No doubt, people of this community have many fond memories of former parades and visits with Santa. There were more than 40 entries in this year's rendition of the Santa Claus Parade and judging by the comments along the route, it was enjoyed by children and adults alike. It was evident that the participants put much thought and effort into their float selection and design and all entries should be congratulated. The recreation department has taken over the organization of the parade and Santa's Court and the task is accomplished in an orderly manner. Taking pictures of the parade and santa year after year, it is evident from the looks on the faces of the hundreds of youngsters in attendance, that it is a tradition worth preserv- ing. It is a tradition that delights the senses and stirs an unparalleled enthusiasm in each and every child. It is traditions like the Santa Claus Parade and Court that makes Christmas something something special, something worth remembering. Hopefully, it is a tradition that will not be lost. D.S. ` J You might wish to mark December 10th on your calendar, for attending the Goderich town council meeting at 7:30 p.m. .,, the town hall. It would be of importance to persons interested in the fate of the Huron County Pioneer Museum as part of our heritage, development and tourism industry concerns within the county. The county property committee chair- man, Reeve David Johnston of Bayfield, will address the town council. The town council's response to the county's recom- mendation will be discussed and formulated at the same meeting. The museum being a county property, the complete final decision will be made by the county council. In this case the county council goes about the derision -making process in such an outlandish manner that it is most in- teresting to see how a municipal council makes sense out of the possible con- sequences one way or another. Al its November meeting the county coun- cil already adopted the museum study's recommendation which proposes the restoration of the school building and substantial reconstruction of the additions "in a phased project lasting 5 years with the estimated cost to be $2,137,520." Gettin' the goods by Dave Sykes POSTSCRIPT JOANNE BUCHANAN I just bought yet another raffle ticket from a co-worker. When will I ever learn? Presently, in my wallet, I have a Knights of Columbus ticket on a draw for a car; two Clinton Minor Hockey tickets on a draw for some groceries; two Beta Sigma Phi Soroity tickets on a draw for more groceries; and of course, my trusty old Wintario ticket. But I can guarantee you that I won't win a thing. I am not a lucky person. It's a fact of life that I've learned to accept. If there were 10 door prizes offered at an event and 11 peo- ple attended, I'd be the odd man out. That's just the way it is for me. I'm not saying that I've never won anything in my entire life. In fact, just a few years ago at a newspaper convention, I won a call-back message holder. Now, what you may ask, is a call-back message holder? Well, it's a little hunk of clear curved plastic which you can attach to your phone to stick messages on. Sure, it's a cheap piece of junk but winn- ing it gave me a thrill at the time. As I recall, a group of us were sitting at a table, having just finished our supper, and a man at the front of the room•was calling out door prize winners' names. Some people at our table were getting their names called, claiming their prizes, and coming back to the table with pretty nifty stuff—bottles of wine, boxes of chocolates, pen and pencil sets, gift certificates, etc. All of a sudden, I heard my own name call- ed. I was in a state of shock. People at our table were whispering, "That's YOU!" and began pushing me toward the front of the room on shakey legs to collect my prize. "Thank -you," I managed to say to the smiling emcee as he handed me a gaily wrapped box. When I got back to my table, I began tear- ing the wrapping off as everyone leaned over my shoulder asking in unison, "What is it? What is it?" I knew it was too small to be a car and it wasn't the right shape to even be a bottle of wine. But really—a call-back message holder! I couldn't conceal my disappoint- ment. The gift wrapping was worth more than the prize itself! The other people at our table sort of shrunk away from me then. I guess they didn't want to be associated with such a loser. I wasn't too depressed though. I attached my prize to my phone at the office and I thought of the whole incident as a sign from the Gods. Perhaps this one small win meant the end of my losing streak forever. The lit- tle call-back message holder might just be a symbol of bigger prizes to come in future draws. "I'll enter everything! I'll go to Vegas! I'll go to game show contestants' school! I'm on a roll. I'll win, win, win ! " I guess I got carried away by my thoughts because I haven't won another thing since the call-back message holder—except for $2 here and there on those 'scratch and win' lottery tickets. To be completely honest though, I must tell you I did win something else prior to the call-back message holder, and that was a beautiful hand -made quilt which I still own. At the time of this win, I was quite young and didn't really appreciate the quilt ( I would have preferred a bicycle) but I now realize its value even if it is bright pink and green and doesn't match another single thing I own. I can't really count the quilt as my very own win though because my mother bought the draw tickets and put my name on them. So it was her luck, not mine, that brought me the quilt. To make a further confession, I also won a camera once. Now hold on a minute. It's not as exciting as it sounds. I entered an essay contest through elementary school and the camera was second prize (a much -admired bicycle was the first). I reniember feeling terribly guilty about winning because I had copied a lot of the material for my essay right from an encyclopedia. But I soon got over this feeling when I realized that the camera was cheap plastic and wouldn't take good pictures. It broke in about a week's time and got put away, never to be seen again. You'd think with all these pa ex- -- periences, I'd have -learned a lesson by now. But I continue to be`ddicted to t.v. game shows and I keep buying ticket after ticket on everything going—even if the grand prize is a week's supply of pantyhose or dinner for two at McDonald's (I'm usually supporting a good cause I reason) . I clearly fit the description in the song that says, "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." Still, I'm going to keep rehears- ing the speech which I plan to give to the press aftetmy big lottery windfall. I want to be as witty as the lady I heard on t.v. the other night. When asked by reporters what she planned. to do with the $10 million she had just won in a Michigan lottery, she replied. "Anything I want to." Then she said, "No, but seriously, I plan to buy Tom Selleck." I really liked that. A millionaire who still had a sense of humor. The second part of the recommendation says that "the total county contribution to the project be $300,000. a year for 5 years. The balance of the funding would be made up from grants, donations and other fun- draising sources". It was this second part which was referred to the municipal councils for response. I have yet to figure out how a local council can take a meaningful stand on this second item after the commitment for the total pro- ject, including the total expenditures, has been made by the county council. Were the county members clear about what they were actually doing? As the discussion took place behind closed doors, the public has no knowledge of the logic and intentions leading to this remarkable state of affairs. Is the direction an indication of a new trend of prior con- sultations with the municipalities on the county budget items in the future? After ignoring local councils' views on in- creased road expenditures earlier in the year, the county council is now embarking, through picking and choosing, on an unstable path to muddied fields of indeci- sion, discrimination and local g,randstan- ding. There are local responsibilities and 1 f there are county responsibilities. If it makes sense to have the two levels of government, it makes very good sense to stay on a high, clear and fair course. The museum study is an extensive docu- ment, with reasoned alternatives and costs. Without the benefit of this remit. how are the municipal councils making an informed decision? Are the members familiar with the costs of a possible relocation and the dif- ference it makes in grants? If a municipali- ty rejects the recommendation, what alter- natives is it suggesting for the property in question? As to the view that a municipality in�� hh a county property is located, must greater financial regponsibility, it is not a bad idea. Of course, after applying it to the museum it must be applied to all county pro- perties, facilities and services in all the municipalities within the county. Where does this leave the county's purpose and meaning? I think that the county councillors made a mistake in the handling of this case. It can happen to all of us. What counts is mending the fences in good time. ELSA HAYDON