HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-04-30, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1986
Having plied my trade in this community
for over a decade means that (a) I've been
here too long and (b) I have acquired,
through the osmotic process, a working
knowledge of the community while becom-
ing acquainted with many people.
in short, I know a mess of folk.
And by virtue of the fact that I have
covered, or at least photographed, just
about every single event in this community
at least once, means that my mug is
recognizable. Having noticed my presence
at countless of these events, people suspect I
work, perhaps work is too strong a word, or
at least people suspect that I am associated
with your favorite weekly newspaper..,
While' the nature of my toil is prone to
vague interpretation, the association with
this paper is solid.
While working in the Signal -Star booth at
the Home and Garden Show on the weekend,
many people took the time to convey exactly
DAVE SYKES
those thoughts and sentiments. A typical en-
counter unfolded like this.
"You're the guy who works for the paper
aren't you?" they invariably would ask. The
fact that I was working in the Signal -Star
booth seemed to give it away. Yeah, I knew
I had seen you around somewhere before.
You take pictures don't you."
"Well, that's my job. To get around, I
mean," I offer weakly. "It's just that Is well,
have to get around."
"I suppose you have to get around to most
of these events in town?" they would ques-
tion further while lustily munching free
popcorn.
"Oh, I suppose I get around to most of
them," I respond while nodding. "It's part
off the job."
"So does it keep you pretty busy?" they
would inquire.
"Well," I start, screwing up my face for
impact and effect while leaning on the pop-
corn stand. "It keeps me pretty busy getting
around to these things. But, it's part of the
job, you know."
While the above scenario may have been
embellished, to a point, participation in an
event like the Home and Garden Show, the
first sponsored by the,, Goderich Figure
Skating Club, is always a good bit of fun. It
gives you a chance to talk to people that
wouldn't necessarily approach you under
ordinary circumstances.
However, offer some free popcorn and
throw in the prospect of a draw for an ornate
prize, and people will gather and engage in
idle chatter. Suddenly they become rather
talkative.
During my six -hour stint in the booth,
spread over Saturday evening and Sunday
afternoon, I was solely responsible for the
popping of 3,482,691,385 ,kernels of corn.
Those same kernels were bagged and of-
fered free for human consumption. The
arena staff has evidence to prove that many
people missed their mouths in the process.
And I would suggest to you, as evidenced
by the hundreds of comments lauding my
culinary abilities, that the popcorn was the
best produced in the history of the Goderich
Home and Garden Show.
The recipe was my very own. and the
technique was one developed over a hot
stove over a period of years.
Should the public become demanding and
clamorous, I may have to consent to a
return engagement next year. In the mean-
time, I will seek insurance on my fingers.
Offering something free to the general
public solicits one of two responses. Many
people rather welcomed the prospect of a
bag of popcorn. Upon learning it was free,
they were reduced to smiling but thankful
idiots.
Others, were suspicious of my motives
and offered furtive, questioning glances.
These people had to be assured two and
three times that it was indeed free before
they would consent. I'm certain they check-
ed the bag out carefully before consuming
any popcorn.
But once my corn was tasted, I made hun-
dreds of friends.
Opinion
THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT
SINCE 1848
hefE9T ALL ROUND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA
It RRR--- 111�f.r martv�pn.f 350n aSnni r rPoiur N. rpnper Co,peufon 1994
SIGNAL -STAR
P.O. BOX 220 HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK OODERICH, ONT. N7A 496
PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED
Founded in 1848 end published every Wednesday et Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA.
Bubscriptlons payable In advance 588.00, (Senior Citizens 819.00 privilege card number required] In
Canada, 660.00 to U.S.A., 960.00 to all other countries, Bingle copies O0C. Display, National and
Classified advertising rates evellelile on request. Please ask for Rats Card No. 16 effective October 1,
1985. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the edvertleing
space occupied by the erronsoua Item, together with the reasonable allowance for signature, will not be
charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for et the applicable rate. In the event of a
typographical error advertising goods or services et a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold.
Advertising is merely an offer to soli, and may be withdrawn et any time. The Blgnei-Bter Is not responsible
for the,loss or damage of unsolicited menusoripte, photos or other materials used for reproducing
purposes.
General Manager
SHIRLEY J. KELLER
Editor
DAVE SYKES
Advertising Manager
DON HUBICK
FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...please phone (6191624-2614
Secondclass
mail registration . Member: CNA
number 0716
Follow safety rules
On Tuesday a young person fell . while riding a bicycle at an intersection in town.
It is rather unfortunate that an incident such as this has to serve as a reminder that safety
and caution must be standard tools for drivers, cyclists and even pedestrians.
And it also serves as a valuable. lesson that parents can pass on to their children when
reiterating the fundamentals of bicycle safety this spring..
With the return of warmer weather, cyclists are out in full force on the highways and town
streets and bikes are much in evidence on town streets as children now ride to and from
school.
If your children are riding bikes to school, take the time to instruct the child on his respon-
sibility as a cyclist. Make sureThil-d`ren icnnW tri— alias oiti a road "Cite required signals.
Children.should ride their bikes on the edge of the road, but far too often, they are seen
riding several abreast, as they race home for lunch or after school. In the exuberance of
youth, children often slip into bad habits or want to be one of the group. But, riding in
groups, and showing off, can only lead to stressfull situations for drivers and perhaps a
• tragic accident.
Motor vehicle drivers certainly must respect the rights of cyclists but cyclists, in turn,
must be fully aware of vehicular traffic in front of and behind them.
With hundreds of children now riding their bikes to and from sdhool, drivers must exer-
cise special caution and be ever vigilant. Children tend to lose sight of the safety aspect of
riding their bikes, especially when they are with friends and heading away from the routine
of the classroom.
Freedom, unfortunately, often means they are less cognizant of their surroundings and
the dangers that can innocently arise.
Safety pays off in the long run and parents should go over rules with their children. By the
same token, drivers have to respect cyclists' rights and be ready to react to the unpredic-
tability of youth.
Me and my shadow
by Susan Hundertmark
Health. project is in jeopardy
Dear Editor,
Your readers may be interested in know-
ing about a health promotion project design-
ed to promote the establishment of self help
groups that is being placed in jeopardy by
federal governments cutbacks. Remember
wnen the fed""eral budget came out a couple—
of
oupleof months ago? The conservative govern-
ment talked about getting tough! They talk-
ed of cutting back of civil service jobs 'and
putting freezes on, spending.
The Women Being Well project is being
directly affected by these measures. Having
completed a very successful first year, we
have proposed to continue our work for two
more years. We have been applauded and
encouraged by Health and Welfare and by
those with whom we work directly and
supervise our project.
LETT;E,R
There is no question of this project's suc-
cess. Our results are being shared with
health educators at a national conference
next month. The training program , we
designed is being duplicated and offered
elsewhere. There is a demand for training
as the courses continue and more people
have the desire to promote their own health
and wellbeing by forming or joining self
help groups.
Too many errors
One of the favorite exercises employed by some people to belittle the expertise of friends
-
is to ask them for a prediction on the outcome of forthcoming events and then to respond by
suggesting they'll make the opposite prediction, because it will undoubtedly be more
accurate.
That usually results in a good chuckle and no harsh done to the friendship.
However, that is not the case when people ask for serious advice or information and that's
why Revenue Minister Elmer MacKay had few smiles this week after being taunted by op-
position members regarding the expert advice being given out by tax department officers.
The Toronto Star annually has a reporter assigned to test the accuracy of the information
received from the information lines which Revenue Canada promotes as an aid to taxpayers
needing help with their income tax` returns.
The reporter presented a list of 55 questions this year. The information officers provided
him with incorrect answers' for 43 percent of those.
Replyingto questions from a Liberal MP about the incredibly poor results, MacKay told
the Comtnons "the department and myself are deeply disappointed and puzzled by this
rather poor performanceby our people."
The Minister should be disappointed, of course, but perhaps not so puzzled. It turns out
that the 43 percent error factor was only slightly above the 40 percent figure in 1984,
althougifsome improvement had been notcd in 1985 when erroneous answers were only
given out on 31 percent of the questions relayed by the newspaper.
Despiteassurances from MacKay that some remedial action will be taken, the opposition
spokesman noted that with about two weeks left before the deadline for filing returns, Cana-
dians now know they have no one to turn for help in preparing the documents since
"Revenue Canada doesn't know its own laws". 1
Each year, millions of Canadians have refunds delayed because the department note
there are errors on the returns.
That now appears to be a case of the pot calling the kettle black and taxpayers should de-
mand some assurance that the people checking their returns in fact know the difference bet-
ween right and wrong.
A 43 percent error margin is just not tolerable..unless, of course, it works to the advantage
of the taxpayer.
(Exeter Times -Advocate)
We welcome your letters
o�T wever�uture funding has been' delayer(
by the lack of approval from the Minister of
Health, Jake Epp.„ When `staff layoffs were
imminent last month, temporary funds
were found to carry us on for several weeks.
However ,this funding will soon be gone and
still there has been no word of approval.
Our philosophy is current with the Health'
Promotion principles of the World Health
Organization. We wish to empower people to
increase control over and improve their own
health.
As stated in a discussion paper by the
WHO "This perspective is derived from a
conception of `health' "as the extent to which
an individual or group is able, on the one
hand, to realize aspirations and satisfy
needs; and on the other hand, to change or
cope with the environment. Health is,
therefore, seen as a resource for everyday
life, not the objective of living; it is a
positive concept emphasising social and
personal resources, as well as physical
capacities. The concept of health promotion
is positive, dynamic and empowering."
Funding for health promotion and preven-
tion is extremely economical. Our entire
budget last year. which covered two full
time staff ran office, a reso! rcedibrary and
expenses for an active volunteer staff of 30
women, was less et n two-thirds the
average salary of one family physician.
Readers who support the concept of em-
powering people to improve the conditions
of living to promote their .health, to syn-
thesize personal choice and social respon-
sibility, to create a healthier community for
a healthier future are people who support a
new approach to health delivery.
I hope these people will contact our
member of parliament. Murray 'Cardiff
(phone the operator and ask for Zenith
31020) and give him a message to support
such innovative and current approaches to
health care that the Women Being Well pro-
ject is demonstrating.
Valerie Bolton
Women Being Well
Project Coordinator
Health care consumers who accept
responsibility making the right decision
Dear Ms. Hundertmark
Thank you for your article which ap-
peared in last week's paper.... "My health is
my responsibility". I found it to be both con-
temporary and refreshing.
Attitudes about health will dictate our
health practices and although health
technology (i.e. diagnostic evaluation,
surgical techniques) has improved, our at-
titudes have remained virtually unchanged.
Viewing health care as an emergency
response to an immediate problem has
traditionally dominated our health care
system (and still does). People with this at-
titude wait until they have a problem and
then consult a professional for treatment.
Their problems may vary in severity from
colds to terminal cancer, but since they
must rely on symptoms to guide and
motivate them, often they consult a physi-
cian after permanent damage has been
done.
Another attitude towards health is the one
that you mentioned in your article which
considers the importance of preventive
maintenance. People are becoming more
sensitive to their body's needs which
motivates them to eat more wisely, exercise
consistently, avoid nerve altering drugs,
and seek relationship built on honesty and
mutual respect. This attitude has become
the major health care objective of young
adults over the last years.
And finally there is another attitude
towards health. Although not as common as
the other two directions, it is making an ap-
pearance. This attitude addresses itself in
seeking to uncover .or unlock more of one's
personal potential. People with this attitude
are not merely interested in getting by with
fewer problems; rather they work to max-
imize their optimum potential for physical,
mental and social well-being. Sensitivity for
these people goes beyond their own bodies to
encompass their societies and their
environment.
Yes, there is a shift from institutional help
to self-help.... informed and educated
health-care consumers making the right
decisions to accept responsibility.
Yours truly,
Scott B. Macaulay, D.C.
Liberals made every effort to
send representative. to 'forum
Dear Editor, sored by the Huron County Medical Society.
It has never been my intention nor the in- Such is, not the truth. •
tention of the government of David,Peterson My o flee, in concert with Health Minister
to avoid dialogue or open discussion on any Murray .Elston, worked diligently to aecoma
modate the Huron Medical Society. We sug-
gested several dates,: pointing out 'that'
Cabinet would be in Kingston on April. 16 and
neither Mr. Elston nor 1 would be able to
attend.
With only 10 days notice,' we were told of
declined to participate in a public forum on ; the :April. 16 meetirigr As our already over -
the health Care Accessibility Act, spon• worked c'tteola washeavily ;booked' 'vvith
subject at any time. We are proud of our
record of the last ten months of listening to
all the concerns of everyone in Ontario no
matter what their standing in life.
That is why I was upset to see accusations
in a recent edition of your paper that we
ref
•
Committee meetings and prior com-
mitments, another representative couldn't
beound on such short notice.
Should the Medical Society wish to discuss
the Health Care Accessibility Act in a truly
open forum in the" future, I would be glad to
meet them.
Yours sincerely,
Jack Riddell, M.P.P.
Minister of Agriculture
and Food