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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-12-02, Page 5PAGE 4---GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2; 1987 The Christmas season is fast ap- proaching. In fact, I believe itis already here in many ways. Just look around you. The windows of local businesses are decorated in all their Chris as splen- dour, attracting shoppers inside to see their wares. The Square is ablaze with thousands of lights, turned on in one magical moment Friday evening accompanied by the rous- ing sound of cannon fire and a breathless display of fireworks. Residents have been busy decorating their homes with Christmas lights, nativi- ty scenes, even Rudolph and Santa inhis sleigh. It won't be long before children start decorating the family's Christmas tree and hanging their "stockings by the chimney with care." Children have been writing their Christmas wish letters to Santa in hopes of receiving a present under the tree. Even the jolly old man with apple red cheeks, little round tummy, white beard, red suit. and known for hie ability to fly Lou Ann DeBruyn through the air in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer has appeared in town. Yes, San- ta Claus has met with hundreds of Goderich children to see if they have been good little children. And while many parents will be out braving the crowds in an effort to pur- chase Christmas gifta,tor' eh'tehildre>t,, there are some famthea W Q Calling help but look towards Chriabtai With sone • apprehension, wondering how they can make Christmas a happy time for their children. For some families, the Christmas season is not always a time of merri- ment. There are some people who cannot have a Christmas as do the more for- tunate families, who cannot afford to give their children that special gift. This is where the Huron Country Christmas Bureau comes, into play. The Christmas Bureau, which is spon- sored and operated by Family and Children's Services of Huron County and has been in operation for the past 25 years, helps needy families with children have a merry Christmas. Each year, about two weeks before Christmas, dona- tions of new toys, clothing, and canned goods are distributed to families who would otherwise not have a Christmas celebration. With bureaus located in five Huron towns, namely Clinton, Exeter, Goderich, Seaforth and Wingham, the entire project is centrally co-ordinated by volunteer Pauline Lingard who works out of the Family and Children's Services office in Goderich. The goal of each bureau is to provide each child under the age of 16 with a new toy, a pair of hand-knitte mittens, and a Christmas dinner. Names of Huron County families who need help at Christmas are supplied to Lingard through social workers, public health nurses, the clergy, etc. Lists of families in their area are supplied to the local group who is looking after that town's bureau. For example, the Salva- tion Army is operating the Goderich Christmas Bureau. It is that group's responsibility to then see that each fami- ly on their list is able to select gifts for their children. Each year, the Bureaus require dona- tions to make their project successful. This year, the week of December 7 to the 14 has been set aside as the donation week. This is the time when gifts, ar- ticles of clothing and canned goods can be dropped,off at a fey select drop-off sites in the towns. The primary drop-off site in Goderich is at The Salvation Army, 18 Waterloo Street, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Dec. 7-11. McDonald's Restaurants ° are also getting into the spirit of things again this year and having a drop-off box for toys at their Goderich location. Other drop-off points may be located throughout the town, so keep your eyes open. Last year the Christmas Bureau helped 300 families throughout Huron County, in- cluding providing a gift and mittens to 627 children. Lingard is expecting to help at least this many people again this year. Helping families and children celebrate a merry Christmas can only happen if the community helps by donating to the Bureau. It is important to remember, Christmas is a time of caring, a time of sharing and a time of giving. inion THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 P.O. BOX 220 HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK GOoE 1ICH, ONT. N7A 486 1 `he OUT AU. ROUND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN 6ANANA (C. Jeuon Cleo 3500.4500) C C N.A Better Nen/wooer Compeuuon 1984 �erir SIGNAL -STAR ismomememiamIENEIN PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded in 1848 and published every Wednesday at Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA, Subscrip- tions payable in advance 523.00, (Senior Citizens 820.00 privilege card number required) in Canada, 860.00 to U.S.A., 860.00 to all other countries, Single copies 6Oc. Display, National and Classified advertising rates available on re- quest. Please ask for Rate Card No. 10 effective October 1, 1987. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertieing space occupied by the erroneous item, together with the reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typotraphical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods 'or services may not be sold. Advertising ie merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal. Star is not responsible for the loos or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduc- ing purposes. General Manager Advertising Manager SHIRLEY J. KELLER DON HUBICK News Editor PATRICK RAFTIS Features Co-ordinator Sports LOU -ANN DE BRUYN TD SPOONER FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICE...please phone (519)524-2614 Second class 'CNA mail registration Member: number 0716 CCNA / 01111110 mAT ON PAID Drinking and driving don't ever mix safely At this time each year, as the cooling temperature and initial snowfalls remind us that the Christmas -New Year holiday season is just around the corner, motorists tend to become in- creasingly careful about chancing the volatile mixture created when alcohol and gasoline are combined. Since the Ontario Provincial Police initiated -their Reduce ImpairedDriving Everywhere. (RIDE) program several years ago, the number of impaired driving incidents has been reduced in all areas where the program was in operation. Due to the random nature of the holiday spot checks, many motorists have been introduced to the apprehension of waiting in their car for the results of a roadside breathalyzer test. Any driver who had imbibed more than a single drink must have taken time to reflect on the hazards of drinking and driving, while waiting for the results of the test. Stiffer penalties (minimum one-year license suspension, possible jail term) introduced last year for drunk drivers, combined with the stepped-up spot checks have made drivers more aware of the legal consequences of climbing behind the wheel of a vehicle while intox- icated. Oddly, it appears that penalties of this nature create a more effective deterrent -than the constant danger of killing or maiming another human being in a traffic accident. This paradox clearly reveals the selfish nature of the drunk driver, who, it appears cares more about preserving his own license than creating a danger to others. However, whatever the reason, the RIDE program has helped decrease the roadside car- nage created by impaired driving — something we should all be thankful for. In last year's Christmas -New Year RIDE bliz, OPP officers checked 357,167 drivers across the province and charged 1,193 people with alcohol related Criminal Code of Canada driving offences. A total of 2,938 motorists were taken off the road with 12 -hour license suspensions and 1,595 people faced Liquor License Act charges for having alcohol readily accessible to the driver. The typo -week extension of the seasonal RIDE blitz, which ran for only six weeks prior to last year's program, has proved effective in screening twice as many motorists and getting hundreds of impaired drivers and liquor law violators off the roads. , This year, the OPP will operate a minimum of 40 RIDE check locations across Ontario every day, stopping more than 20,000 vehicles weekly. Despite the improvements reflected by statistics in recent years, impaired driving is still one of the most significant factors in approximately -half of all fatal motor vehicle accidents investigated by the OPP. Motorists should therefore be aware that the RIDE program is a year-round anti -impaired driving campaign, which is stepped up for eight weeks during the festive season. A conviction for an offence committed in the spring carries the same penalty as one committed in December and the chances of getting caught are nearly as good. The RIDE program in this area and across the province has been in full swing since Nov. 15 and will -continue at the current pace until mid-January. However, just because the seasonal blitz has a definite beginning and end, does not mean drivers need only excersize caution for a two-month period. Driving sober is a year-round responsibility. Spot checks may be perceived as an inconvenience by the vast majority of the motoring public, but surely the benefits far outweigh the disruptions. Still, despite their efforts, the police can only bring impaired drivers to justice. Ending the problem altogether is not within their power. Only a responsible motoring public can ac- complish that. As for you personally? Your role is simple. Drink and drive? Don't do it. — P.R. In 1962., men work through the night to complete second shaft of Salt Mine 25 YEARS AGO December 6, 1962 Santa Claus is coming to Goderich on Saturday afternoon. He will arrive at the Fire Hall at the corner of Waterloo and West Streets at 2:30 pm. At that time, hun- dreds of free bags of candies will be hand- ed out to the children. Rural children as well as those from Goderich are cordially invited to attend the big event. Chairman of the special Town Council committee in charge of the celebration is Bruce Erskine. Nearly a quarter mile straight down through bed after bed of . limestone, dolomite and salt, men are working shifts around the clock to complete shaft number two at Sifto Salt Mine Ltd. Heading for 1,765 feet, the shaft is being sunk by Cementation Company of Canada, with head office in Brampton, Ontario and Doug Smith, an engineer who has travelled widely with the company with similar sinking jobs in many parts of the world, is in charge. So far, more than 10,000 tons of bedded sedimentary rock has been drilled in seven foot deep "rounds" blasted, skip- ped to surface with a 42 -cu foot capacity hoist, and dumped on the south side of the Sifto Salt Mine property as fill. It is likely that before the 1,765 foot level is reached, more than 20,000 tons of material will have been removed. The crews are drilling out a circular shaft with a diameter of 16 feet working in continuous cycles of drill, blast, muck out and cement the walls with steel forms. A select few Goderich men were privileged to hold angels in their arms for a short while last week but from all ac - LOOKING BACK counts not a pulse beat faster. PUC crews gave this opportunity as they went about their annual task of erecting the special Christmas lighting around the Square and Court House Park as in past years. For the past few years, PUC crews have erected special Yule fixtures which include jumbo size candles, angels and many coloured lights. 50 YEARS AGO December 8, 1937 Mayor H.J.A. MacEwan and Clerk L.L. Knox, at a meeting at Town Council on Fri- day night last, were instructed to arrange a joint meeting of the municipalities in- terested in the Ontario Western Shore Railway, to consider having the Toronto General Trust Corporation sell the three and one half per cent Dominion of Canada 1944 bonds held by them in trust to meet the OWSR bonds due July lst, 1938. Mayor Mac Ewan stated Mayor Ellerton of Kincardine and Mr. John H. Reid of Huron Township have been interviewed and were in favour of the proposal. Members of the council were in high spirits at the meeting with the Christmas season drawing nigh, and a pleasant time was had by all, samples of candles sent by a local merchants as suggested for the an- nual committee Christmas tree. There will be a celebration for the kid- dies of course, but this year, there may not be a lighted Christmas tree in Court House Park. The whole square will be a gigantic `Christmas Tree" for it was stated the PUC had offered to light the hundred col- oured bulbs strung around the Square and the Park. These lights will be on each Saturday night before Christmas and each night for a week at Christmas time. 70 YEARS AGO December 6, 1917 Arrivals at the harbour for the past week were Steamer Valcartier on Friday with 250,000 bushels of wheat and oats; America on Monday, with 210,000 bushels of wheat; Mariska on Tuesday with 120,00 bushels of wheat—all for the elevator. At the meeting of the Union of Young People's Societies last week, the Young People undertook to do the canvassing for the Bible Society. St. David's ward was assigned to Victoria Street League and the Baptist Young People's Union; -St. Patrick's ward to North Street League and the Salvation Army; St. George's ward to the Young People and St. Andrew's to Knox Christian Endeavor. It is desired that the canvassing should be made at once and a favourable reception of fhe col- lectors is earnestly requested. No sum in too small to be contributed. No canvassing for the Bible Society bas been made for the past two years in Goderich so there are some arrears to make up. There comes a time in the life of every toddler, when he has to make a decision on` the age-old question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" In years gone by, such worthy profes- sions as firefighter, doctor, lawyer (odd- ly, newspaper reporter seldom makes the top ten on these lists) headed the parade of occupations which youngsters aspired to. Times were simpler then. "Dad, when I grow up, I want to be a Yuppie," 15 becoming the pronouncement most commonly made by career -oriented youth in living rooms across North America these days. Fathers, with their usual keen atten- tiveness have been heard to reply, "No darn way are yo heal of" before resuming teir perusal the evening paper. a little Were Dear Old Dad paying more attention, he might be slightly un- nerved by the expression of such a goal by his offspring. Seems like everyone today wants to be a Yuppie (a silly acronym for Young Ur- ban Professional), which is odd, because over a decade ago, when Yuppies were Hippies, everone simply wanted to get rid of them. Today's Yuppie is everything yester- day's Hippie was not — well-groomed, successful, financially secure and up- wardly mobile. They have their own fully -developed set of status symbols. No Yuppie could be complete without a con- dominium (preferably one here, one in Florida), a closet full of the latest designer fashions and of course, an ap- propriate car. The car is extremely important. What was once considered the hallmark of suc- cess, the large North American automobile (the kind that devoured gasoline with the same vigor you imagine Orsen Wells would have devoured a stack of pancakes), Is but. Today you must own a brand new, sleek, E'iiropean-built driv ing machine to be considered stylish. The car must also be in A-1 shape. While nostalgia buffs can still get away with owning a car horn that goes "Oooh- Gaah," the same sound eminating from your engine block will earn you looks of scorn from today's well-heeled set. I know this from personal experience. Before last month, it was also ad- visable for a Yuppie to have a substantial stock portfolio and the ability to converse in market lingo. Now, it's much wiser to claim you had all your disposable funds tied up in real estate. While it seems like they are everywhere, society has still not reached the point where everyone has the finan- cial capability and the materialistic outlook necessary to become a member of the Yuppie fraternity. Despair not! As one condemned, by lack of fiscal acumen, to remain forever on the entry ramp to Life in the Trendy Lane, I have from this angle Patrick Raftis decided to start my very, own social phenomenon. We will be called Young people who Kouldn't Kare legs about Kondos (or pro- per spelling). For simplicity's sake, we will be known as Yukkkies. The critera for becoming a Yukkkie will be simple and tasteless. We will drive either very old North American automobiles, or newer ones frugally -manufactured in some obsure Asian country. We will live in low -rent apartment buildings — the kind where the doorman is often mistakenly arrested as a vagrant, or con munally owned far- mhouses. We will spurn the lure of the demon Perrier, and instead drink Black Label beer. We shall overcome! Our fashion guru will be Levi Strauss and we will carry placecards questioning the manhood of people like Leo Chevalier and Pierre Cardin. Before the entire western world gets caught up in the Yukkkle craze, before we become the subject of Hollywood movies and TV documentaries — I must admit, I have some reservations. For one thing, my Yukkkies are begin- ning to sound a bit like Hippies — and we all know what they grew up to be.