HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-10-07, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1987
I am despondent.
I've been in that condition for several
days and there's no indication the pain
will ease.
If I had a dog, I would bite it. I kicked
mercilessly at fallen leaves and barked
at the kids. The evidence suggests my
anger was real.
I've been spitting Blue Jay feathers out
of my mouth all week while putting up
with the haughty, self -satisfying smiles of
Tiger fans. Geez, I hate poor, self-
righteous winners.
I think I could be a good winner. So far,
I've been the consummate loser. Take
things in stride, smile back at the Tiger
fans and simply take, the lumps. For now,
the good times are over.
I think Blue Jay fans in general would
empathize with Tiger fans if the situation
were reversed and take the win with
,,humility. That's the kind of people we
are.
There would not be any rude and indig-
DAVE SYKES
nant jabs. 'There would .be no ridiculing of
players and their talent and profes-
sionalism. We're above that.
So, in the face of that ridicule, especial-
ly when sport and team loyalties are4n-
volved, the best approach for losers is to
pretend that the loss doesn't matter. That
it wasn't life-threatening in any way.
Don't divulge the fact that because of
the loss you haven't slept, eaten or been
able. to cope with life in general. Losers
learn to disguise their true feelings and
toss off the big loss as "no big deal."
So in the wake of the loss, I simply say
to 'Tiger fans, Did the Jays lose the pen-
nant'.' Really? Oh, that's too bad."
The key is to be nonchalant in the face
of adversity. Pretend it doesn't hurt, and,
above all else, pretend it doesn't matter
and that you were involved in more
meaningful activity and couldn't be
bothered with something as trite as a ball
game.
"No, I didn't have time to watch the
ball game, I was in the basement work-
ing on a cure for cancer and then I did a
little reading with the kids about advanc-
ed techniques in neurosurgery," I offer in
response to'the taunts of Tigers. "On
Sundays the family likes to engage in ac-
tivity that is meaninful to mankind.
Something that will elevate the state of
man and, perhaps, alleviate man's in-
hurnanity to man."
Believe me, it's difficult to spit all that
out while there's turmoil in your
stomach. My insides could have been
mistaken for an NFL picket line. There
was much animosity, anger, frustration
and a few other emotions churning
around.
Why is it that sports becomes such a
life and death struggle? Why do I take
this whole thing personally?
A man's team is almost like an exten-
sion of the family. Just as a man is often
identified by profession, so is he iden-
tified by his team affiliation.
"So, you're a Blue Jay fan eh?" I
didn't know it was noticeable. Perhaps
the feathers give it,away.
My attachment, or my desire to have
the team do well, has reached the point
where it's difficult to watch those impor-
tant and season -winning games. Rather,
when things are going badly, I tend to
wander from the television, and return
several minutes later, hoping that by
some divine intervention, the trouble wal•
taken care of in my absence.
It doesn't always work out that way. I
hardly watched any of the game Sunday,
prefering to simply check the score now
and again. On Friday evening, I had the
audacity to watch the Jays lose in the
company of three avid and rabid Tiger
fans.
One of those colleagues has a dog nam-
ed Sparky, and I fully expected to see the
dog in my office Monday morning.
Maybe the idea just never occured to
him.
If the loss wasn't bad enough. On Mon
day morning I discovered a skunk trap-
ped in one of my window wells. I know a
Tiger fan is responsible.
-minion
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ember: ie
PAW
The gift of sight
For the visually -impaired, obtaining the services of a fully -trained guide dog can mean
even niore-in terms of freedom and independence -than obtaining a drivers licence does to a
person gifted with full vision.
'l'o the blind, a guide dog is a license to live a more normal life. With the aid of a dog, the
visually -handicapped person can go shopping, visiting, or just for a walk, without having to
enlist the aid of a friend or relative. To determine the full impact such a measure of in-
dependence can have on a lifestyle -just imagine' how often you would go out, if you.had-to
ask for assistance.
Although some visually impaired people are proficient enough with the traditional white
cane a guide dog could enhance the lifestyle of many more.
With the total cost of training both dog and owner to work in harmony coming in at about
$6,000, most blind Canadians need some financial assistance to obtain a dog.
The Lions Foundation of Canada provides that assistance for many, through the Canine
Vision Canada i CVC I program. Funded. largely through the Lions annual Waik-A-Dog-A-
"l'hon, ('V(' provides trained guide dogs and educates prospective owners on how to work
with them. It is a valuable contribution. -
Valerie Anderson, through the efforts of the local Lions Club, recently became the first
(;oderich•resident to obtain a guide dog through CVC..On the weekend, Valerie arida host of
others from the area, helped raise funds for this valuable program.
'1'o all those who participated, and to the Lions Club who offered their untiring support to
this program, we salute you for a job well done.
Just a setback
,The Aquatic Centre Committee presented its final. recommendations to council Monday
and nl view of the fact council chose to simply' receive the report, they probably feel
deflated.
It is most difficult to work diligently on a project, only to have it tossed aside for' its defi-
ciencies or inadequacies. The report contained months of analysis, preparatory. work, en-
thusiasm, hopes and dreams.
The committee can be proud of its effort on behalf of the citizenry of this town. They gave
of themselves unselfishly for something they believed in. They wanted to contribute to the
quality of life in,Goderich and had their hopes momentarily dashed.
Council argued that it is fiscally responsible to every taxpayer and further suggested it
could not support a project that demands $1.3 million in contributions from the municipality
and another $1 million from the town's service groups, industrial sector and citizens in the
form of donations. That's their job and they feel they acted responsibly for everyone.
So what happens now'? Does the issue simply die because council felt it could not respon-
sibly commit the taxpayer to that kind of financial burden now.
Let's hope not. Every endeavor, every worthwhile project, runs into obstacles, insur-
mountable odds and detractors who are more willing to say it can't be done than to do
anything.
The committee has put too much work into this proposal to simply let it sit idle and die. No
doubt, they feel their efforts were useless and wasted. No doubt, they sense the futility of
pursuing the dream.
Monday's council meeting may have represented just one of many obstacles thay may
jump and stall a project of this magnitude. It will take courage, it will take leadership and it
will. ultimately, take a lot of effort.
There is definite support out there for a recreation complex. Whether or not the pieces are
picked up and rearranged may depend on the determination of those involved. D.S.
J
Si�n.6c�nne,L
•
' .. :: •ems It �•��1:�•
geRr—
In 1962, fire chief urged residents
to keep fire number near telephone
25 YEARS AGO
October 11, 1962
This week, October 7 to 13; 'is Fire
Prevention Week. Asked if he had any per-
tinent cautions to give Goderich citizens,
Fire Chief John Hoggarth stated,"The
main one is to urge every citizen to mark
down the Firecall number, 7211, near his
own telephone. In an emergency, there is
little time to look up in the directory and
valuable time could be lost due to the delay
in the call." Goderich is particularily for-
tunate in its low rate of fire losses -38 cents
per capita during 1961. Chief Hoggarth
stated that the Ontario Fire Marshall gives
a high rating to the Goderich Fire Brigade,
Iboth ,for promptness and for efficiency.
Following the brigade's acquisition of the
new fire truck, early in November, there is
the likelihood that insurance rates in
Goderich will show a marked reduction.
Discussion of plans for the proposed con-
struction of the new public school occupied
the attention of the Public School Board at
a meeting held October 1st. Representing
the architectural firm of Riddle, Connor
and Associates of London were H.D. Falls
and J.D. Green. After some debate, it was
agreed that a one -storey school would be
built and that the sketch plans, subject to
revision by the board would be submitted
at an early date. Total public school enroll-
ment to the end of September, shows 683
pupils at Victoria School and 307 at Victor
Laurison. Average daily attendance
figures credited 606.89 at Victoria, a
percentage of 97.79.
LOOKING BACK
50 YEARS AGO
October 13, 1937 .
A large number of passengers returning
from Goderich to their homes after the
holiday weekend were rudely shaken up on
Monday afternoon when the 2:30 train out
of Goderich was partially derailed and
crashed into a Wingham-London train on a
siding at Clinton. The only injury was suf-
fered by Howard Muna, brakeman on the
Goderich-Stratford train, who received a
fractured arm when he was thrown
against a guard rail. The Goderich-
Stratford train was broken behind the ex-
press car when it is believed the rail"switch
swung open. The passenger cars crashed
into the rear of the Wingham-London train
but did little damage. The train from
Goderich was held up two hours, finally be-
ing cleared by an auxiliary from Stratford.
The newest and one of the smartest radio
shops in town announces its opening this
week. Mr. G. E. Holmes has remodelled
the garage adjoining his home on Church
Street and is now ready to serve radio
users of Goderich and vicinity with a
guaranteed service and the finest equip-
ment possible. His new store, just around
the corner from Colborne Street, is well
lighted and cheery with its comfortable
wickerware furniture for the convenience
of patrons. All models of Philco radios are
on display at the store. Westinghouse
lamps and electric irons are included in
the stock. Mr. Holmes, who has had a long
experience in radio work in Goderich, in-
tends to erect new all wave antennae in
order to demonstrate to the public how
much static can be eliminated by the use of
this new type aerial.
70 YEARS AGO
October 11, 1917
Friday was appointed as the day for the
annual GCI sports but, as the weather was
very unfavourable, they were postponed to
Wednesday of this week, when a long pro-
gram was carried out at -the Agricultural
grounds. The program was completed to-
day. The boys senior championship was
won by Leonard Macklin, the intermediate
by Ted Johnston and the junior by Lionel
Macklin. The girls senior championship
was won by Jean MacEwan and the girls
junior championship by Alice Nairn.
The Dungannon Fair usually very for-
tunate in respect of weather, this year ran
into hard luck. Thursday and Friday were
the,days of the fair. Thursday was wet and
Friday was raw. However, Dungannon is
too firmly rooted to be knocked out by little
things like the barometer and the ther-
mometer and although a good many peo-
ple who in better weather would have been
there stayed at home and those who did go
found themselves shivering with the cold,
the fair went on and was very far from a
failure.
As most of you probably gathered from
the smattering of stories, pictures,
editorials and columns in last week's
issue, The Goderich Signal -Star and the
other publications in the SSP organiza-
tion, are all now under new ownership.
This column was written on Oct. 1, the
day the ownership change came into ef-
feet, and I can't say, yet, that I've notic-
ed any large difference.
Editor Dave Sykes is still hovering
around the newsroom cracking jokes, of-
fering advice and criticism, and making
pot after pot of a seething brew which
bears a passing resemblance to coffee.
Sports Editor Ted Spooner is still scann-
ing the jock journals rind offering ex-
planations ( excuses?) about his dismal
showing in the office football pool. Pro-
lific reporter Lou -Ann DeBruyn appears
to he working hard on another of her
epic -length articles, which often rival the
Old Testament in both length and depth
of coverage.
As for me, I'm working on this silly col-
umn again.
Though on weeks when the muse •
declines to sit on one's head, columnizing
can be the most dreaded of chores, it is,
for the most, my favorite aspect of the
job. I think one of the reasons I enjoy
writing a column, is that this publication
allows its writers to express their opi-
nions (however controversial),
whatever form ( however unorthodox 1
that we choose.
To be sure, we are limitid by the laws
of libel and are expected -td remain at
least within the outer boundaries of
reason and the realm of good taste – but
these limitations are only reasonable and
responsible. However, the sort of
editorial freedom many journalists can
only imagine, is generally a reality here.
In fact, under the management of Bob
and Jo Shrier, excercising creative
freedom has not only been allowed of
employees, it has been expected of them.
How else would a man whose high school
art teacher referred to his efforts as the
"Work of a philistine,'.' a man who
could not draw a straight line with a
ruler – end upibeing responsible for the
design and phy'kical paste-up of the front
page of a major weekly newspaper? And
yet, I am.
I remember an incident from my first
week on the job here, which helped set
the tone for the relaxed,.yet productive
atmosphere in which we work here.
One Wednesday morning, after the
usual hectic Monday and Tuesday pr'o-
duction schedule had been completed, I
was indulging in my perogative as head
(actually, sole occupant) Of the sports
department, to sit with my feet up, scan-
ning the daily sports pages.
My reverie was interrupted when the
--paper was slapped from my hand and a
voice boomed "Nice work if you can get
it, eh?" The owner of this voice turned
out to be a man, of medium age, large
enough to be the firm's arm -buster and
yet well-dressed enough to be this coun-
try's prime minister.
In my normal flippant manner, I
replied indignantly that I was the,
"Sports Editor,” here and that the
from
this
angle
Patrick Raftis.
perusal of the day's athletic results con-
stituted "research," thank you very
much (and mind your own darn
business). This remark elicited first rais-
ed eyebrows, than a sly smile from the
interloper, as he walked away.
When later that day, I was formally in-
troduced to this same man as "the guy
that owns this joint," my normal flippant
manner turned to instant humility as I
said hello to "Mr. Shrier".
The big guy made me contemplate life
as a "freelance" (read unemployed)
journalist for only a few long seconds
before, chuckling at my discomfort, he
welcomed me aboard and even went so
far as to say that I could drop the "Mr."
stuff.
Since then, I have always enjoyed the
feeling that as long as the work was be-
ing performed professionally, I could
always be myself and speak my mind to
my employer. .
I believe I have learned and grown
substantially through the opportunities I
have had here and I'm confident those
opportunities will continue to be available
under the new management.
And although the answer to this ques-
tion is over three years late in coming, I
would like to take this opportunity to say,
yes Bob, it is, "nice work, if you can get
it". Thanks!
li