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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-10-29, Page 4Unless votin That bouquet goes to Dr. Jim Peters! It should be presented to him every fall. I am referring to last week's editorial comments entitled "Good clean fall air". The observation expressed so well the residents' sentiments who appreciate the a smoke-free autumn we can enjoy in our town, instead of groping, coughing and wheezing, through clouds of choking smoke and zero visibility. Bylaw 30 of 1975 did away with the burn— ing of leaves in town. That bylaw was Dr. Peters' special baby, his municipal legacy from his term on town council. Dr. Peters is now a member of Goderich Public Utilities Commission. At present he is the chairman of that body. If only we could persuade Dr. Peters now that as his P.U.C. legacy he should eliminate the invitation, preview should be public watering restrictions next summer! That evening when they and their guests will would be another very nice gift. preview the show." And we could do with some attention and I am sure that the attitude was not in - encouragement from our representative tended o be offensive, ffer iv ,municipalutit didmake one bodies! The present and growing tendency question It musta have seems to be to ignore the public as much as perspectives. and judgment. possible, the local elections 4ieing two occurred formal invitations ons to ansomeone aexcluthe sive prey ew yearstone of away. at There are handy examples. Last week I "" comof a e ac oss as intolerably and out of place elitist. Would it not have been more to the P Bold int to use the occasion, and the money, an open house with public viewing of the program as a real celebration of our town? It appears that most council members l not to the hadfor allinvited kindsofs. While they probablyI am sure that reasons for staying away, was struck by a front item in this paper. The announcement described the pertinent data concerning the "Sketches of Our Town" television show featuring Goderich last weekend. It gave the times and chan- nels on which the program could be seen on Saturday and Sunday. And then it read as follows; "Mayor Eileen Palmer and Goderich Town Council are hosting an invited reception Friday upimon some of them felt the same way. They wat- ched the show at home, when it was ac- cessible to the public. Yet is was stated that they were hosting the invited recep- tion and party. Andno protests were heard. How does that add up? The episode itself is not really a big deal. However, ft is a symptom of'what can be regarded as an ailment in public offices, an ailment I have always fought to eliminate or at least to reduce as much as possible. Those who have promised to represent us, often build their own little castles on our territory and, by design or out of indifference, keep us out. The public ought to be the first and main thing on the council's municipal mind at all times. Or is the next election by invita- .. only and are ��... public Mlle paid by tion the public bills a chosen group? Close observers of the municipal scene (local and including the county) would agree that much in our public offices is ideal material for a cartoonist and satirist. All this exclusive "control" under dif- ferent names and in various disguises needs to be laughed at by the public, in public, so that the representatives and the represented could come -together on the same level in a relaxed and friendly mood. Any chance that the Signal -Star might find an artist with such a talent? 0 yes, the "Sketches of Our Town" was great. It conveyed the town's beauty and heritage message very well and with a good feeling. 411.111 THE NEWS PORT FOR GOOERICH & DISTRICT SINCE theEBT ALL ROUND COMMUNITY Better NEWSPAPER 1964ANADA e r is Gmibuo usss3500 4500ICC Go _ R; SI G N AL T R.O. BOX' `80 HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK . OODERICH, ONT. N7A 426. PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded in 1946 and publlehed every Wednesday et Ooderlch, Ontario. Member of the CCNA end OCNA. 9ubscriptiona payable in advance 922.00, (Senior Citizens 619.00 privilege card number required) In Concede, MM60.00 to U.S.A., $60.00 to ell other countries., Single copies BOG. Olepley, National end Claseified advertising rates eveilable on request. Pleeee ask for Rete CardNo. 16 of fee, the advert Octobertive 1, 1986. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographicalnot be apace occupied by the erroneous item, the charged for but that balance of the adver togetherg with willreasonable e pod for etthe epp� able rete. In the vfor signature,ie t of e typographical error edvertising goods or earvicee at a wrong price, good. or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn t any y timere. Tha 919ernada Star%Jelleis fnotre responsible o for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos purposes. General Manager SHIRLEY J. KELLER Editor DAVE SYKES DON HUBICK Advertising Manager FOR 'BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...pleaee phone [5191524-2614 Second class mail registration number 0716 Member: GNA CCNA About that board Last Thursday evening was the beginning of something that could be very exciting for all persons who read The Goderich Signal -Star each week. Last Thursday evening was the in- augural meeting of the new Advisory Board which is made up of volunteers from the com- munity who have agreed to serve as a sounding board for the staff at this newspaper. The idea for the board isn't all that new. Much has been written in recent years about the more progressive entrepreneurs in business and comfnerce who have put together a group of advisors from the community who will help them guage just how well their organization is doing in the eyes of the ordinary man -on -the -street- the customers. And the idea isn't ail that surprising. It should come as no surprise to any businessman that the way the business functions and the way it is perceived by the community to func- tion, can be worlds apart ... and that business is always better when the business and the customers that business serves share some common .understanding of needs and some general agreement concerning future goals. The first meeting of The Goderich Signal -Star Advisory Board with staff members took the form of a get -acquainted meeting. It was much as expected - those who attended the meeting, many of whom are in and out of the plant on Huckins St" -vet on a regular basis, were really quite amazed to see a little more of what goes on week after week within the familiar beige building with the big SSP sign. They were unaware of the Variety of jobs done at this newspaper and in this location, and they were suitably impressed when they, saw first-hand the efforts made here to keep pace in a multi -faceted industry where technology is changing faster than ever before and where customers often consider the newspaper to be more of a mystical service that is the right of a community, rather than a business like any other, which must be kept in the black to survive. Over the next year or two, the board members will be reading their Signal -Star with a new attitude. They will be looking for more than news and information. They will be perusing it with an eye to suggesting ways it can be expanded and improved for the enjoyment of the entire community, but still within the framework of the company's ability to provide suer expansion and improvements. Board members will be looking at the front page - analysing it and, out of necessity becoming more and more familiar with the various boards and committers and events it the community from which comes the bulk of the news each week. They will be studying the editorial page, the inside news columns, the sports content, the advertising, the e circulation literally every part of the photography, in an effort to learn how things are done newewspapaperdone and why, and perhaps to work with stafl towards new ideas born of fresh thinking. The community newspaper has always been a joint effort between the newspaper and the people in the community. Starting last Thursday at The Goderich Signal -Star, we've put t• mechanism in place through which the communication can flow in and out more freely. 11 should result in a better -newspaper in every way for all of us. , And that's good news fat Goderich and area to be sure. - SJK Two friendly faces Photo by Pat Raftis Think of children before beach Keep Halloween safe Letter to the editor: For the past three weeks I have been reading this column faithfully. We've heard from concerned taxpayers, to former members of council and, to tell you the truth, it's wearing a little thin. I'm reading how some people can judge what went on at the meeting or how our tax dollars should be spent. This is not.the issue here, our children, are, andrtheir happiness and well-being. Not in any one of the letters i•ead,.has it mentioned what a terrific job the teachers Shelley, Cindy and Marylou do, and how they care for each child in- dividually. They do a fantastic job and ay should be congratulated, not condemned. My children are happy and fulfulled when I pick them up. They've had two nutritious snacks and a full course hot meal, daily walks, book reading, crafts, playtime and a sleep. I don't think anyone has the right to judge me for giving them this kind of care and at- tention. When I pick them up they are quite content to sit and just enjoy each other's company. I know that some people have nothing better to do but sit and criticize, so be it. But I'm a taxpayer too., I own a business and a home and I feel that I pay more than my share. If town council would have okayed the day care issue our taxes might have seen a $5.00 increase a year. But has anybody thought how our taxes are going to be affected by the heavy winds and waters destroying all the sod on St. Christopher's Beach for the third time or the paving of the Square or planting thousands of flowers next year? I could go on but I doubt if anybody really has thought about it. All people can do is think about themselves. If you people have nothing bet- ter to do, think of the children. Angry and disappointed in our town K. Koestler care has positive points Dear Editor: I would like to speak out on the positive points of day care. It provides stimuli for active, growing minds - example crafts, stories, and songs; instead of T.V. It develops social standards for children - how to share, meeting new children, in- teraction with their own age group. Trick or treat! That salutation will be repeated millions of times around the world Thursday evening as children go door-to-door, dressed in a myriad of costumes, in search of free goodies. It is tradition that, for the most part, has withstood the test of time in most communities in North America. It is a tradition that is worth preserving. Some children simply can't enjoy Hallowe'en in the same manner, as it is celebrated in this area and must be content with neighbourhood or school parties instead. The reason is that candy is tampered with and some unfortunate incidences have resulted. It is a sad fact of live. Therefore, parents should remind children that their haul of candy, apples and assorted treats should be brought home for inspection before being eaten. Parents should make a point of checking and examining the contents of their children's Hallowe'en bags. Children tend to get caught up in the excitement of the celebration and one caw hardly " blame them. But they should be cautioned about making Hallowe'en csi .fe and es ndn ap y n ghtt to remember. It's dark on the streets at night and children i dark to detect crossing streets in search of treats. Not only can dark colored .costume's present problems, bat a child's vision can be hindered by a mask or wig, making it difficult to see traffic. il• ' laic^ is not obstructed in any way by a mask and also ensure Be sure that your chd s v that your child's costume does not restrict movement. A lengthy esttune could get caught up in a child's feet resulting in an untimely fall while crossing the road. Children should gather treats in groups or, if necessary, with parents. Children should not runt back and forth across the road but rather cover one side of the block and cross at corner. t an extra measure of caution on Friday ;vetting as Of course, drivers will have to exercise the streets and roadways s wall be busy with-gho ts, goblins, witches and assorted aliens in y search of treats. . Hallowe'en is a special evening for children and with a little. Uilrnnon sense and a dose of caution, it can also be a safe evening for everyone involved. b,S, It prepares children for school - an to stay home with my children but, organized day and qualified instructors that made sure that they understand they come give a schedule to followed. first with me and they are to feel whenever It provides . nourishing meals. and two they need me that I am available. Soon wholesome snacks every day. enough children grow up and are in school; The hours are more than adequate for • are women to enter the work force at that working parents. time, • unprepared and not up-to-date with There are day trips to the library, police skills and standards. station, fire hall, and to the park to play. It issues receipts so that fees can be I hope I am not putting down anyone else. claimed' on income tax I have to pay in- I have my opinion and am open-minded come tax, why shouldn't everyone else enough to realize not everyone will agree; receiving a salary have to? • • but that doesn' t mean I am right and you Y are wrong. BUT - the issue here is children These are the reasons I enrolled m of working parents. These parents are not daughter in Day Care. She has developed greatly since she started going. I can't til of an alternative that will provide all of the above if the Town of Goderich won't help with a Municipal Day Care Centre. I am not a greedy person. I am not asking for anyone to pay my babysitting fees. I am willing to pay for the wonderful service that i5 being provided. I have to work - I have my priorities straight. I do feel that there are days when I would love nothing better than T have .. _'_ _..,....__..r a nom., Care Centre ink going to quit work if a Day is not municipally funded - it just means that these children won't get the quality of care they have come"to love. Money can't really be the most important issue when if there is a deficit; it could be worked out among the parentsso.what is the problem? Aren't we a progressing society? Sharon Steep So long, dependable Just thought your rural readers should know that Canada Post Corporation has brought out a new ruling. All rural mail courier contracts will go up for tender at the end of every five year contract. So, a new rural courier will be given five years. Good -bye -dependable, friend -of -the - family, through rain, sleet or snow rural mail courier. Yours truly, Mrs. Anne I. Pritchard (Mail Box Mamma) teachers say PD day was great Dear Editor, The Ontario Public School Teachers' Federation - Huron wants the residents of Huron County to know of the tremendous Oc- toberProfessional Development Day held 24 in Exeter. The theme was "Agriculture in the Classroom". It dealt with the easily'obtained resources vale oly for teachers to use with theirag _ related curriculum topics. Many nudi- ty groups participated to answer questions from teachers wishing current information. the Ontario Jack Wilkinson, representing i federation of Agriculture, of stress onle the farm. and of what teachers aware and how they can help their students. A Huron County bountiful lunch was prepared by the Huron South • District Women's Institute to illustrate the quantity and'wfidevariety of crops grown by our far- ming neighbours. Thissame group presented four Agri -Kits to the Huron Coun- ty Board of Education. These materials are fully prepared to be used in classrooms and were well received by teachers. Jack Rid- dell, Ontario Agriculture Minister spoke of the impact agriculture has on our world and addressed the challenges facing the farming sector. He did feel there is a future in farm- ing and f it teachers with the task of making out ,^ext generation more aware of the food industry attd beeoining infordied consumers of fond products,. The teachers' &ederations supported and helped organize the day along with the Huron County Federation of Agriculture, Huron South District Women's Institute, On- tario Ministry of Agriculture and Food - Huron County Office and the Huron County Board of Education. OPSTF Huron as one of those sponsors feels special recognition must be puclically paid to numerous donors and exhibitors who made ' the day so successful. A hearty thank you is extended to: Norm Alexander -Londesborough Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority Jim and Pat Barnes '-Freezer Lambs