HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-06-25, Page 22PAGE 2A —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1986
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Comunit New
'Last Season's ronuse is a
play about farm banli.ruptcie
, LQO' fr29
Dungannon 5,29.3147
CONTRACT SALES & INSTALLATIONS
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Notice
Re Passing Tree Cutting By-law,
The new County of Huron tree cutting by-law, being By-law No. 23,
1986, became effective April 4, 1986.
The, main changes from the previous by-law are --
1) clarification of the measurement provisions in determining
whether a tree has been cut undersized; and
2) a requirement that every person, logger or fuelwood cutter
who is planning to cut trees for purchase or sale shall notify the
County Clerk's office in the prescribed form at least five (5) work-
ing days prior to any cutting.
Copies of the by-law may be obtained, free of charge, from the Clerk's
office or the Tree Commissioner.
Leona Armstrong,
Warden.
B.G. Hanly,
Clerk -Treasurer.. & Administrator,
County of Hurons
Court House, Goderich, Ontario
N7A 1M2
Tel. 519-524-8394
BY SUSAN RUNDERTMARK
The poignant.story behind the increasing
numbers of "Foir j Sale" signs on ,area
farms is told with ager and compassion!
the powerful' drama "Another Season S
Promise," which opened the Blyth
Festival's 12th season Friday night.
Co -written by Anne Chislett and Keith
Roulston, "Another Season's Prornise" is
sure to touch the hearts of both farmers
and non -farmers alike with its Moving, ac-
count of the human costsof farm
bankruptcies. It also promises to provide
the Festival with another home-grown
smash hit.
`The Purves farm, once the "bonniest 100
acres in Huron County," is struggling to
survive. Ken Purges, played magnificent-
ly by David Fox, is a proud and stubborn
farmer who's determined to keep the farm
in the family at any cost, at least as long as
his 89 -year-old mother is alive.
Because he's sure a feed lot will solve his
problems, if only the bank will give him
one more loan, Ken will have no part with
the Farm Survivalists' penny auctions or
farm gate defence. He says he'd choose
starvation over the Survivalists' union
tactics.
But, as corn prices fall and the bank puts
more and more pressure on Purves to pay
back his loans, his situation grows more
desperate. And, the financial pressures
threaten. the emtiional, psychological and
physical health of the whole family.
His loyal wife Helen (Araby Lockhart),
once the head nurse of a hospital operating
room, goes back to work as a nurse's aid to
help keep the farm afloat. When she
notices Ken fingering his insurance policy,
she begins popping Valium to combat her
fear of his committing suicide like other
desperate farmers have done. Lockhart's
portrayal of Helen is believable and
moving.
Margaret Barton does a great- job play-
ing the feisty but lovable Granny Purves
who's sure the farm's financial problems
began when her daughter-in-law Helen got
rid of the chickens and the resulting "egg
.i h chain
st Iink nt ees,the le Sometlm:5...
irnportan...he mostist
You can help us salute our boys and girlsfor
1
CARRIE
DAY
JULY 3,
Marc Mellck
Martin Papple
Aaron Duckworth Nancy Kingsley
Leslie Meyers
Farm woman Helen Purves (played by Araby Lockhart) and her mother-in-law, Granny
Purves (played by Margaret Barton) -are devastated, when the farm accounts are seized by
the police. They appear in the Blyth Festival's "Last Season's Promise", a moving play
about the human costs of farm bankruptcies. (photo by James Hockings)
money." . whose farmer husband drowned himself to
Granny's warm memories of her 70 provide for his family out of theinsurance.
years 'on the farm and her' inability to While she profits from farm bankruptcies
understand the modern financial dif- by working for a foreign investor, her ad-
ficulties illustrate the family's deep roots vice to farmers to stop being so pig-headed
in agriculture and their ensuing confusion and get out of the business is based on her
and distress when that lifestyle and history own suffering and bitter experience. ,
is threatened. The play makes well -aimed barbs at
Pecause their son Robert (Ric Reid) . banks who encourage farmers to borrow'
went into the perfume business in Van- big money, the police who use strong-arm
couver instead of farming, the financial tactics to seize the farm accounts and
struggle :becomes even more passionate businessmen whose advice is so plentiful
when their grandson Sandy (Jason Lee) and contradictory it could be spread on the
shows an interest in the farm and following fields instead of fertilizer.
family: tradition. It also takes aim at the foreign investor
Ironically, Robert considers joining his " whose only concern is making big profits
father only when the farm no longer from .sucking. all the goodness out of the
belongs to his family. land while destroying the lifestyle of the
Because of Ken's fierce pride, no one ex- small farmer.
cept the immediate family knows about The setting could have been one of any
the farm's bankruptcy until it's been sold A number of century farm houses in Huron
to a foreign investor. By then, his brother- County with its roomy farm kitchen, and
in-law's boasting about the skill and nerve large windows complete with several pots
required to win big on the futures market of geraniums.
is particularly hurtful. The mood music with its pulsing piano
The ignorance of city people is also il- chords also helped to build the tension and
lustrated by Ken's affluent sister com- . drama of the play.
plaining about food prices in one breath "Another Season's Promise". hits ebbe
and making Ken responsible for the, farm's to home with a Huron County audience of
financial stability in the next. farmers and small business people. It'p a
It's. easy to sympathize with Ken's ac- story our family, friends .or neighbors .
countant Jane Noonan (Lynn Woodman) could be living. -
s • birthda y,
Martha
We depend them a week, weeks a year_ to
C1G(J�iiU V1� once rss 52 � ----�
deliver our newspapers. And so do you. They're our
carriers, boys and girls making. sure your paper reaches
you. It's not often we take time from our daily concerns
to say "Thanks for a job well done," but for Carrier Day
we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all
of you who complete the final link—weekly.
Sandy Chambers,
Norman MacLennan
Chuck MacLennan
Tina Hamilton Michas .piggin
Plchire Not Available...
Andrew McLarty
Ian McKinnon
Nicole Anderson
Chris Colbourne
Jason Jeffrey.
Doug Rivers >
Steve Sturdy Jackie Chambers
er the next few weeks, our carriers will be participating In a drive of ,
,elling,NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS to the Gcderich area, .until JUIy 3, 1986.
Prizes will be awarded based on the amount of NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS
sold
PRIZES FOR SUBSCRIPTION DRIVE
1 • 3, Double Pass to Park Theatre
4 - 6, Cassette or Album from Sam the Record Man
a division of Carman Electronics (010. Value)
7 • 10, Kodak Instamatic Camera from Campbell's 'Cornered
7824. Value)
Over 90, Wrist Watch by Lorus from Anstett Jewellers (WAS Value)
GRAN® PRIZE TO HIGHEST NEW SUBSCRIPTION, SELLER
A J.V.C. RC -20C Stereo Radio Cassette Recorder from Cloak im'e
($159;ee Value)
1, Mein prize of JVC ghettoblaster will not be awarded' td any carrier •
selling under 5 subscriptions
2. In case of a tie for Mt place, there will be a draw of names
Godericn_-
S1GNAL
t
The Newapert for GodSriCh &
ietrict Shea 1048
1�)
I
SAVE 89.20 off
$22°°newifland prlr ee
•
Mi I for 1 yea subsdriptiori
819.90 for senior with a privilege card numbei
Note: to save time for our carriers, payment by cheque would be greatly
aprheclated,
Pralines Will be awarded
Thursday, July 3 1986
We will be honouring' our barriers With a
complete tour of the Signtli4tar r upli$hir►i :plena wheal
they will be able to meet car stathihtfoo
a ii . litlu C11,_,.., , i .. .
reminds her that age
�c I>tilln1ity of niin 1.00
_ ..
As I write you today, it is Monday, June - everywhere until he was able to fly. •
23, my birthday! It is magic how it sneaks When the dog ran the duck was flying low
up on you.- and it will pass just asquickly as behind. him. One time the dog got loose and
any other day. . ran away for many nights and the duck tried
Sonfehow, it doesn't bother me too much . to keep up to him, However, he got himself
except that the age surprises me. I have a lost and some people many, many blocks
favorite little poem that stands by - reassur- away fed him and brought him back to the
ingly - so I'll share it with you - even if you MacPherson's.
too know it by heart. They had seen the only duck in that end of
"Age is a quality of mind — if you have the city at that house so luckily were able to -
left your dreams behind, if hope is lost, then return him. Mr. Duck waslucky he was
you are old. But, if from life you take the, home again arid so was the whole
• ,. best and if in life you keep your zest — no neighborhood. -
matter how the years go by; no matter how Small children are interesting, amazing
the birthdays fly - Y=ou are not old. and smart! A wise old gentleman said it is
How about that? Here is another that our responsiblity to ,Flake themkinderstand
helped me over the years - We are willingly value and love for books, ,a thirst for
fed by the unknowing, are doing the impossi- knowledge, a hunger fouright in all things,
ble for the ungrateful. We have. done so an awareness of beauty, a memory of kind- •
much, for so long, with so•littie we are now ness, and understanding of loyalty, a vision
qualified to do anything — with nothing! of greatness. and a good name.
That was in war years. I have seriously thought of each and every
During the war years, I worked in Gauge , onchiof ldren nhese wise w theyhivee words - d them up to all
Control in a gun plant in Windsor. I would
check the gauges from the job or on the job - of them and they have passedthis on to their
correct and re -set them. A very interesting children - who will pass it on again and
job and I loved it, but it was a case of - the again! ood books and the. olden rule are impor-
adifficult we do at once, the impossible takes g
tant while they are young. We can only hope
little longer. h the Young Peoples' Groups, Scouts and
I have g
But often I feel. I can safely say
done so much. for so,long, with, so little that 1 • teachers keep on trying y g to reach them.
am ,qualified to do anything with nothing! There is.so much violence, stealing, pro -
Confusing? Yes! Somehow it seems to fit the p em Y stupid stuff they see on T.V.
damage -
way I operate. including how to do it, that they need help to
•
Things:happen so quickly, any more, that utiderstand,right from wrong. Most of the
it makes me .think of one of my "greats",' young parents I meet are good responsible
who was growing up quickly, saying to his people, doing a good job - with the world in
Grandpa, "I can'tfind the° little duck,4 such a mess I just hopethey keep up to
Gram a - where did this big one, .come them. •
from? �' That Easter duckling really grew Well, I'm just a worrier at heart. If we
Very fast.help each other, help the groups now work-
. AS most ducks without his mother it will, in li.understandn, weand re to out find
the children
adopt anyone handy - especially if you feed So,ted the ndegoingand "Buckle of t with love,
dog.' or No fooling little
simply walked after him Martha
� e
Family ftrn.at <i cn.Farm
Point Farms Provincial Park's visitor '.'he River"starring Mel Gibson and Sissy
services program begins another summer •Spacek will be shown. "Coal Miner's
of family fun this weekend to celebrate Daughter" is playing on July 6.
Canada Day weekend. - ' At 10:00 a.m. on Monday there is a special
All are welcome to an evening of music program for children up to 10 years old.
and dancingat the park's annual barn dance There will be games, stories and songs ex-
on Saturday, June 28. Tiffen's Hand will be ploring the world of cottontail rabbits. '
providing music for polkas, waltzes and Visitors can then enjoy the beach in the
square dances from 0:30 p.m. to 11:00 p m. afternoon, or go for a guided wall, to some of
A new event at the park this year is the the park's historic sites. In the evening;'
Sunday night Film Festival. Each week there will be horse-drawn hay rides.
faintly style movies will be shown at 8:00 On Tuesday evening, there Will be a "Hap -
p i poet forgeta" campfire at 8:30 p.m.
,m. n the activity centre. A variety of coin py Hi!�t'hday Canal
edies, classics, westerns and dramas will D your marshmallows!
. et - Admission ;...pro-
;
: o -
ensure that there will a �ometliin of in Admission to all visitor services pr
i t ionic
arksports e a czi
ra silorel
of
July andp
h t•g . r
throughout p
o,
est tor aVfi o.
ter „ �` � . �
MOW., AdMI s sion`to the movies is lnc�lnded areas andi leach is included in the $3,00 per 4
g
in the park day pass. On Sunday)' June 39 nay park day We pertain