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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-12-03, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH. SI N AL -ST AR, WI t )'\I ;'.AY, DECEMBER 3, 1986 This is the season fair folks. Jungle warfare tactics have been detected in the toy aisles of major, and respected, department stores across the nation as parents grapple for position and the right to purchase alien creatures for -their loved ones at Christmas. This is the season when a well-placed elbow could mean the difference between getting your child that coveted Cabbage Patch Kid or going home empty handed. It's the Christmas season, shoppers, the aisles of your favorite department stores have turned into battlefields. It's the season when normally staid shoppers are suddenly transformed into maniacal grabbers and biters. This is not the season for the timid or faint of heart. I have learned that Chi remaining tmas, to few weeks preceeding ac- complish any type of productive shopping, Opinion imiiimmummainiams DAVE YKES the average shopper has to approach the task in the manner of a motorboat that is out of control. Friendships, fellowships, good manners and even a hint of breeding quickly dissipate during the shopping season. It's every man for himself these days. This is the season when elbow smashes, tackling, swift kicks to innocent shins, deft punches to exposed fleshy parts and even the odd knee application to a groin, is com- mon fare in store aisles everywhere. Without proper combat gear and a mat- ching attitude, the weak and timid are'left defenseless. Some are trampled unmercilessly and left to die in bargain aisles, clutching the latest 15 -minute special sale itenipthers, less intimidating in demeanor, rarely reach the checkout with an item of any substance. I've learned these valuable Who often sons the hard way. An innocent shopper deferred to the rancorous ways of others, I have discovered that shoppers with good manners have teary-eyed children at home who never get the toys they asked for. What's because their parents get bulldoz- ed in store aisles by professional shoppers, the Tiger Williams and Wendel Clarks of the Eatons and Simpsons set. But sometimes just getting the item is only half the battle. The other half involves getting the item out of the store and safely into the trunk. While the degree of difficulty seems minimal, the task should not be shrugged off lightly. Trying to get your items through the checkout counter in December is as demanding a task as buying the goods in the first place. People get impatient in lineups and with the added weight of winter garb, they tend to get pretty steamed. Add several thousand screaming, hungry children and it's easy to unders- tand why salespeople develop nervous tics and slobber uncontrollably. I'd like to give myself credit for being a thinking shopper. Checkouts invariably have special lights which, if turned on, in- dicate the cashier is open for business. I've stood in line for hours only to discover that my cashier has been on an extended lunch break. Or, as I get within spitting distance of the cash register, my cashier closes up shop and heads south for Christmas with the family. In a store with several checkout lanes, the activity resembles a game of musical chairs at a kid's birthday party. People scramble from one lane to another, often knocking over little old ladies and unsuspecting rookie shoppers. But then, life in the big leagues isn't always pretty. The action is really starting to get heated and intense now as the Christmas deadline approaches. And since I still have a few items to purchase, I may have togo into training or put on the hockey gear. THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 a e • cto SIGNAL-STA9EALLPOUNDCOMMTBC ANADA cfH,,emuonDoss ieno4soal,t^a Better Newa,nneren e4Lm)9B4 P.O. BOX IZ2O HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK OODERICH, ONT. NTA 456. PUB; ISrD scsvNIA STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded in 184E1 end published every Wednesday at Ooderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA., Bubseriptlons payable in advance See.00, [Senior Citizens 519.00 privilege card number required] In Single coplee 130. Display, National and CCanade, 850.0 tolassified adverttising rat s' available on request. Pleeaa8360.00 to all other t alek•for Rate Card NoC11 effective October 1, 1906. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that In the event of a typographical , the advertising space occupied by the erroneous Item, together with the reasonable allowance for sIgneturs, will not be event of a charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the ap licaorble rate e. In the not be sold. typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong pr Advertising le merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Etter Is not responsible for the loss or damage of ,1nsoliclted menusoripts, photos or Other materiels used for reproducing. purposes• General Manager Editor SHIRLEY J. KELLER - DAVE SYKES DON HUBICK " FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...please phone [519)5242614 Advertising Manager Second class . mail registration number 0716 Member:►CNA Traffic lights welcomed After almost six years of discussion, debate and several near accidents, a set of traffic lights will be installed on Bayfield Road. At its last regular meeting, Goderich council learned that the Ministry of Transportation and Communication will fund up to 90 per cent of the cost of the installation of the lights. The traffic signals will be installed at the corner of Bayfield Road and Suncoast Drive, a corner that has turned into a rather busy intersection with the addition of stores and restaurants along the strip. Council'has always recognized the need for some kind of traffic signal on Bayfield Road e Bennett and its original elementary schools nearby, t a pedestrian traffic .was t oheavy,St.n. With intention was to place it at also h ch and Robertson created problems on the busy highway. Vehicular traffic travelling either east or west on Bennett Street was often stacked up and many times impatient drivers took daring chances to cross Bayfield Road or turn onto it. There have been several accidents and several near misses on the highway. The lights will be welcomed by both drivers and pedestrians. Admittedly, the opening of Suncoast Drive between Bayfield Road and Huron Road has alleviated some of the traffic problems and impacted on the intersection at Bennett Street, However, with more traffic using Suncoast Drive and with the addition of several' new, one block away. commercial ventures in the area, including Home Hardware, Becker's and McDonald's, the traffic at the intersection has increased substantially. No doubt, drivers who have ventured a left-hand turn from Suncoast Drive at lunch time will welcome the safety of a traffic signal. Previously, the ministry failed to recognize council's plea for a traffic signal at Bennettnt ed that claiming there link't sufficient Highways 11 andc to r21,tthe wouldsubstantianal and lly allevher iate the that Suncoast Drive, a link between volume of traffic at Bennett Street. the ministry wouldn't Council was initially willing to spend $50,000 of its own money, sub- sidize a light it said wasn't required, to install lights at the intersection. It opted, instead, for a flashing beacon of dubious merit and much less expense. Town works commissioner, Ken Hunter, says the opening of the Suncoast extension has helped the traffic situation immeasurably and that the problem at Bennett Street has been improved. While the ministry will subsidize 90 per cent of the installation costs of the traffic signal, it will not commit the funds for the project until 1987. The provincial fiscal year runs to March 31 so the project could get underway as soon as April of 1987. A traffic signal won't solve all the problems that have existed along the highway but it will go a long "way toward slowing down traffic and creating safer conditions at the two intersections. The sooner the traffic lights can be installed the better. Ocean Voyageur RRSP contribution n limits vary reader says by Patrick Raftis Dear Editor; 1 was somewhat concerned that a com- ment attributed to Federal Finance Minister Michael Wilson (Minister Pro- motes Tax Nov Reform 19, 1986) might prove to be deceptive to some readers. The gist of the comment was that the government did not plan to in- crease the $3,500 annual limit on RRSP contributions. The fact is that the contribution limits for RRSP's vary depending upon whether the planholder is also a member of an employer-sponsored registered pension plan (RPP) and I suspect that the com- ment may have been taken out of context since a Notice of Ways and Means Motion tabled by the Hon. Minister Oct. 9, 1986 in- troduces increased contribution limits for all RRSP planholders. For those who are not also members of an employer-sponsored RPP the proposed contribution limits are $7,500 for 1986 and 8 9 1987, $9,500 for 1 r 1988, (11500 for 1989, $13,500 for LETTERS For planholders who are also members of employer-sponsored RPP's, the 1986 and 1987 RRSP contributions are indeed limited to $3,500 less employee contribu- tions to the RPP. For years subsequent to 1987, however, the intent is to raise the limits on the total combined contribution a planholder may make to his or her RRSP and RPP so that he or she will be able to enjoy tax advantages and to generate retirement income comparable to those who have only RRSP's. Yours very truly, D. James Grant Christmas mail deadlines loom The mailing deadline for Fourth Class ten is now available for many domestic (Parcel Post) parcels and packages going to out-of-town destinations in Canada and the United States is Dec. 8, 1986. , The in -town Fourth Class mailing deadline is Dec. 15. The deadline for First Class items (including parcels, letters and sealed greeting cards) going out-of-town is Dec: 12. The in -town First Class mailing deadline is Dec. 17. A special 29 -cent stamp, sold in booklets of greeting cards mailed between now and t e end of Jan., 1987:' The discount, which represents a savings of five cents off the 34 -cent domestic First Class rate, is part of a joint effort between Canada Post and the greeting card industry. Special envelopes have been produced cc for greeting cards which carry • a pre-coded on which the customer fills in the postal code of the addressee, thus permit- ting machine sorting of the envelopes. Physical fitness is not necessarily good for you Vindication at last! Since the beginning of tfrne, or there about, those of us unfortunate enough to be • addicted to some purportedly unhealthful substance, such as caffIne, tobacco, sugar, or whatever, have endured the scorn of the The physically fit swimmers and weeient, of the 'htlifters The joggers, . " of the world, we were told, would surely outla the smokers, drinkers and Meet' toothed amongus. No more! I eard a radio report recently as I was driving (yes driving, not walking, bicyclingor, Clod forbid, oggis"rg�) to worn k which, ifactual, should ?et lts[' all time the dubious notion thlit phv tietiI fitrstisss I's good fpr you. Researchers, that c.ii 'cirri[ tn' (19 e4 'site ple, have apparently unrl'e,Vtttlid l"oTI4'1j. Stye evidence that oxereige Is atldl(s1R'(, f'htlfi,lss right, addictive! It st'eetrrie Pere, ('lift g 1 hooked on flexing tial Isthlij)rtits OAP, ly as they con nr1 p itfifg (TI (WWlfl, S'' (' hogging out On ollcien'df%, What happens, according to the radio an- nouncer who gave all appearances of being SCHO s, Is that regular physical exertion eau€icirl the brain to release "pleasure caus- ing chemicals'" Into the. body. If, perhaps iser is unable! to workue to an lout for regular extended period, the body Is deprived of its chemical fix. The results "oerioues eating disocan rders,such as anorexia, I don't want to downgrade the efforts [['lido i3those people who attempt to keep thilthge vte0 inelhapl . Exercise after all illiftnilrl V dluR have Itis benefits, not the load of whIfk1 is a tendency to reduce 60/%011104 widttil ilea, I, rllttlpIy want to f,tilflt [lilt to tIIEI cid'k "`dinkiest' they. have Ii f at. I Uiiiii [tiILllletiliri of theiso st own an t (�"TiffJdfigf fl,tfltiit�p ot forulE Inthefgceofa. IlHgl9�ii f �l1i�i of olio tf 1. to (liiiI�y (t'i'ff his mug WV/ When you think about it, it's not`surpris- ing to find that exercise is habit forming. Joggers often describe the feeling they get in full stride on a long run as a "high". During a brief fling with weightlifting, I was told about an experience known as "coaxing out" (doing one more bench press for example, after you've clone all you feel physically capable of doing) which sounds like something only a person with an extremely compulsive personality would do. The social repercussions of this new discovery could be serious and wide rang- ing. Fitness buffs could experience a drastic drop in their self-esteem. The most severely -afflicted habitual exercisers could even begin to think of theffselves as selfabusers and form their own therapy groups, Imagine what the meetings of "Exer- ciSerS Anonymous" would be like. A heiiViirktrOecl individual would take the from this angle Patrick Raftis podium in .front of a group of fellow "exoholics". "I was a mess," he begins. "I used to run five miles a day (sympathetic head shakes from the audience) and rode my bicycle on weekends, I did pushups, sit-ups, chin- ups, (voice begins to tremble) some days I even went swimming "It began to affect my personal life. Things finally came to a head when my wife brought her bridge club home, and there I was—passed out underneath hady Nautilus 500 Home Gymnasia . maxed out! She was so embarassed• "But, I got some help. Today, I'm a new man. I haven't lifted so much as a finger in months. I even moved to a ground floor apartment so 1 wouldn't have to climb any stairs. Look, (wraps his hand around an almost imperceptible belly) I'm even star- ting to form a bit of a pot." (The crowd give the speaker a polite round of applause, the meeting is adjourn- ed and coffee and donuts are served. After- ward, everyone takes a taxi home, sits down in front of the television and watches 20 -Minute Workout --just for old times sake. It's hard to kick the habit completely.)