The Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-12-01, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1977
A
ANAQIAN "1"1"4„k�CIA
Goderich
SIGNAL -STAR
The County Town Newspaper of Huron
Founded In 1040 and published ovary Thursday et Ooderlch, Ontario. Member of the CWNA
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Business and Editorial Office
TELEPHONE 524-8331
area code 519
P.O.
Second
Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd.
ROBERT G. SHRIER — president and publisher
SHIRLEY J. KELLER — editor
EDWARD J. BYRSKI — advertising manager
Mailing Address:
BOX 220, Industrial Park, Goderich
class mail registration number — 0716
Lights on... ani off
It won't be long now before the Christmas
lights will dot the landscape in and around
Goderich: What would Christmas be
without lights? There's nothing like a
twinkling tree by a fireside or a string of
illuminated reindeer galloping over the
snow to put people in the Christmas mood.
Ontario Hydro does not want to
discourage this kind oaf decorating this
Christmas time, but the warning comes
once more in 1977 to keep lighting displays
modest to conserve electricity. Hydro does
not anticipate problems in meeting power
needs this winter, but since electric power
consumption does grow each year, Hydro is
urging . its customers to co-operate by
registering only moderate increases. One
way to accomplish this is by cutting back
un the use of electrical energy wherever
possible, such as with Christmas displays.
Once again, Hydro is using the slogan
"Off until 7 p.m., off again at bedtime" for
the use of indoor and outdoor Christmas
lighting displays for homes, stores and
offices. As well, Ontario Hydro is urging
everyone to limit the size and the use of
lighited decorations. Perhaps a good rule of
thumb' would be to add .no new lighting
displays this Christmas (unless there were
none used at all last Christmas) and in the
case of large impressive displays, to
eliminate at least a small portion of the
bulbs used in 1976.
Or what about removing every third or
fourth light to cut your energy consumption
this Christmas by one-third or one-quarter?
—SJK
A touch of class
It is very easy for a Goderich citizen who
has water in his basement due to the lack of
a storm sewer to call the $2,000 (or more!)
spent on a coat of arms unnecessary. But
all things considered, the new coat of arms,
a drawing of which is currently on display
in the town hall, is quite a worthwhile ex-
pense. And Mayor Deb Shewfelt is right.
The coat of arms does "grow on you".
The coat of -arms really is distinctive with
its tigers and its Goderich shield and its
naval crown and its symbols of the salt
mine, the industries and the town's ties
with England and Scotland. Even
Goderich's location in the Dominion of
Canada is clearly shown by the red maple
leaf on the coat of arms.
At first glimpse of the drawing by Rick
Banks of the coat of arms, Councillor Elsa
Haydon exclaimed, "That's very un-
friendly looking."" To be sure, the people in
the entire council chamber seemed to be
collectively taken aback by the over-
whelming impact of the drawing. But as
Banks took the time to explain the meaning
of the coat of arms and stressed the fact
that the finished product could be on a
slightly different scale than he had
depicted, the reaction of the council and the
audience seemed to mellow.
As such things go, Goderich's coat of
arms is most impressive. It really is a
fitting tribute to the Port of Goderich on its
Sesquicentennial and should be displayed
with pride along with the town's flag.
As for the cost, there's no way to tell just
how much more (or Tess) than $2,000 the
coat of arms will cost, But looking at the
expense in relation to, the entire municipal
budget, this one time item doesn't appear
to be a real burden for the taxpayers of
Goderich to bear. And it just may give
Goderich and her citizens- an extra bit of
class for the years to come. — SJK
The question
Education Minister Thomas Wells sees
the handwriting on the wall - or should that
be the blackboard. In any casei Mr. Wells
has appointed a one-man commission to
study the effects and implications of
declining school enrolments in Qntario.
That one man is Dr. Robert Jackson who
was most recently with the. Atlantic
Institute of Education in Halifax where he
was primarily occupied with studies
related to falling birth rates and declining
school enrolments in the Atlantic provin-
ces. He will be working immediately in
Ontario and is expected to have an interim
report ready by the end of February, 1978,
and a final report - with recommendations -
as soon after that as practicable.
Dr. Jackson will co-ordinate a full public
discussion of the problems related to falling
enrolments. It is believed that there is
great importance for people to understand
the full dimensions of the situation, so that
solutions can be found that will be sup-
ported by the people. One of the first things
to be examined is the whole question of
education costs in this period when fewer
Moonlight
BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER
A story on the front page of
last week's Signal -Star and
one in this week's issue
should help to make people in
Huron County feel better.
Last week's front page
headline was "Unem-
ployment low in Huron" and
this week's headline is
"population on the increase in
Huron". •
Now if that isn't good news'
in the face of the gloom and
doom which leaks out of the
nation's capital from time to
time, I don't know what is.
More people and still lots of
jobs. That's quite a record in°
these times.
According to Ben : Hey,
manager of the Canada
Manpower Centre in
Goderich, the economic
picture in Huron County right
now is good. If people are
and fewer students are enrolling in
provincial schools. Other issues for study
will be school closings, pupil tran-
sportation, community use of schools, and
teacher supply and demand.
Public meetings will be held throughout
Ontario and the customary briefs and
submissions will be invited. It is to be hoped
that taxpayers and interested citizens from
Goderich and area will accept teals
challenge to present their views' and to
become part of the decision-making
process regarding the future of education
in this province.
From an educator's standpoint, reduced
enrolment could be turned into an ad-
vantage by maintaining current standards
of education and keeping classes small. But
the cost to educate one student in such a
system would soar. The question to be
answered, perhaps, is whether or not
Ontario citizens want to foot the bill for that
kind of educational system.
Don't stand on the sidelines this time. Get
ready to have your say.-SJK
Great opportunity
One of the nicest things about living in a
small town is the friendliness and the
genuine concern of people for people. This
kind of caring shows up in hundreds of
ways, but particularly during the winter
months the community is fortunate to have
the interest and support of the Sully
Foundation in the Rotary's symphony
season.
Each year the Sully Foundation
demonstrates its respect for the people of
this area by generously providing funds to
the Rotary Club so that a symphony con -
Cert season can be enjoyed here. It isn't
often a town the size of Goderich can boast
such a marvellous musical freat within its
boundaries. Symphony orchestras do not
perforin cheaply and in most cases, the
sheer Bost of bringing a symphony to the
community would make the price of tickets
too high for the average citizen to consider.
Not so in Goderich. Here. adults can
attend three symphony concerts for a very
reasonable $9. A whole family can attend
all three concerts for $20. and that has to be
one of the hest ,entertainment bargains
going in these days of inflated hills.
Handel's Messiah is the first concert on
December 17 to he conducted by Brian
Jackson. it will he staged in North Street
United Church where the Setting is very
appropriate for this most popular work
which was first performed in 1742. Two
other concerts, one in January and one in
February, are equally exciting.
The Rotary Club hopes you will take
advantage of this ,splendid opportunity to
hear some of the world's greatest music
performed by truly professional musicians.
Certainly the price is right. And its hap-
pening on your doorstep, too. GO yrtur
tickets today. —SJK
By Jeff Seddon
DEAR READERS
down in the mouth, suggests
Hey, it is because of the
national scene and the con-
stantly depressing tales from
here and there across the
country •
Actually, the number,. of
unemployed in Huron County
is up a little from last year at
this time - about 62 more - but
this still isn't a cause for
alarm. The situation's been
worse, claims Hey. We're still
well below the average
statistics.
And when you consider that
we have 568 more people in
Huron County this year than
last year, the situation looks
even brighter. We probably
still have more people at
work this year than last year,
despite the increase in
unemployment,
•••
If you are one of those who
One taxpayer
Dear Editor,
The following is part of a
Goderich report in. Saturday's
Free Press:
"County planning director
Gary Davidson argued that
the increase in the budget
really wasn't 36 per cent. He
said provincial grants would
cover part of the increase, but
the county would not receive
the grants until the projects
are completed."
To which should be added:
"Nor until the province
has been psychologically
down in .recent weeks, take
heart. Things are really quite
encouraging in Huron
County.
In our own area, things are
about as good as they are
anywhere. While the town of
Goderich has lost 12 persons
(three households perhaps)
the communities around
Goderich are booming.
Goderich Township grew by
101 persons last year;
Colborne Township grew by
84; Blyth , grew by 43;
Bayfield grew by 51; Ashfield
Township grew by 36; West
Wawanosh grew by 43; and
the Town of Clinton grew by
14. Tuckersmith Township
isn't thatfar away either. It
experienced by far the best
growth in 1976-1977 with 110
persons moving in.
There is real evidence that
the major growth is in the
rural areas and the in-
corporated villages. The five
towns in Huron together had a
net gain of 20 people. The
incorporated villages, on the
other, hand, showed a net gain
of 102! That leaves 446 new
people in the townships with
374 of those people locating in
townships right around
Goderich,
Of course, Goderich Town
Council has recognized for a
long time that increased tax
load in the urban centres is
discouraging people from
taking up residence in town.
But they aren't moving away
from the area. Far from it.
They are settling in the neigh-
bo"ring communities and are
still very evident in the towns
to do their shopping, to get
their medical needs filled, to
attend church, to participate
in recreation etc.
DEAR EDITOR
collects the money, by and
large in Huron, with which to
pay the grants."
Sales tax, gasoline tax,
income tax . . there is only
once taxpayer. He provides the
"grants
W. E. Elliott
Books here
Dear Editor:
I am delighted to he able to
announce to you and your
readers that the hooks
Memories of Goderich are
finally on their way here from
the publisher. The Jubilee 3
Committee invites all those
who have bought books to go
to the Parish Hall of St.
George's Church on Saturday
evening, December 3, 1977, to
pick up their copies. Anyone
who wishes to see the books is
welcome to come to look at
them and to have a cup of
coffee and a chat with us.
Those who are unable to be
present that night may pick
up their hooks or purchase
them at the Public Library
during the week of December
5th to the 11th between the
hours of 2 to 4 and 7 to 8.
•••
Not long ago in this col
there was encourageme
buy. The suggestion was
to buy more than you
afford but to buy what
need within reason, M
the economic buoyancyi
community depends on
decision whethergrnot't
that new stove.
•Up to now, many
sum ers and business
alike have labored uncle
cloud of doubt. They
assumed that the
economics were just ass
as that nation's economy
it just isn't sit.
While there may no
justification for widesp
jubilation. there is evid
that things are stable
area and that people
money to spend. Fears
generally unfounded
'turn urpag
Tucker
Iding a
yed the
ship are
ckersmit
tion of
g last
to disco'
uncle's in
coun
gin
urvey
alls of.
availat
cillor
rio F
ed th;
ly c
rence
ers ea
ra
au of
Dav
belt(
onto
ting
nd t'�
wit
que i
s s.
We wish to thank all those
who had such faith in the
Committee and me as to
order hooks,, sight unseen, so
long ago and have been so
patient with the long delay in
receiving them. We can only
say that we were all novices
at hook publishing and did not
expect that it would take
more than a year to produce
the history of Goderich.
• We have taken all the
precautions we could to in-
sure that the pictures are of
good quality and the history
as free from error as
possible. We hope the res
acceptable.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Wallace
General Editor
Dragon indee
Dear Editor'.
It i5 mentioned is
description accompan
the "coat of arms" bdo
ra
that the version p
o
Town CounCIlwas somee
different.
Turn taps
75 YEARS AGO
The staff of the G.T.R.
depot had a busy week, the
shipments out being 130,000
bushels of wheat, 15 cars of
apples and over 20 cars of
way freight, inward there
were three cars of hard coal
and considerable mer-
chandise for Goderich and
outside businessmen.
Rev. Fr. West in a note to
The Star complains that our
granolithic sidewalks are
being disfigured and in some
instances used for the spread
of immorality. it would seem
that some public school boys
have been defacing the
LOOKING BACK
sidewalks and injuring public
property,
Mark it down on your
weather record that the first
snow fall for winter of 1902-03
was on Wednesday,
November 26. The
newspapers show that it was
pretty general throughout the
Province and heavy enough
to form a good basis for
sleighing,
The Goderich Harbor
sawmill will start up
tomorrow if the Goderich
Organ Factory loan bylaw
passes, as the directors have
reserved enough logs to cut
up lumber for the proposed
building.
25 YEARS AGO
Having reached
retirement age of 65,
Chief George Beacom is
leaving his post after serving
for 49 years with the Goderich
Fire Department. Also
retiring are William Doak,
who has served almost as
long as Beacom and Charles
Bissett who has been with the
department for 38 years. Jack
Hoggarth succeeds Beacom
as fire chief.
Of the 2,813 citizens of
Goderich eligible to vote this
year, 1,716, about 61 percent
went to the polls to cast their
ballots in Monday's
th'e
Fire
municipal election. This was Goderich industrial
down six perceptage points missionandt
Bruce
ucen A.
S
from last year. �omP
Deputy -Reeve Joseph Machinery w�s anno
Allaire was returned to office Limited, It
the that Dominion
narrow for omargin ther eof 17ar yvotes Machinery Company
over his rival in Monday's agreed to purchase15a
a
municipal election. Coun- in the Goderich five
nda
cillor C.M. Robertson led the Park and haveaddition'
vote for the sik seats on option on an
direct
council which will next year acres.
he filled by three newcomers, Bruce Heat , direct
ct
Ernest Fisher, Frank Galloµ ,HuronSociety hounty od been aPP of
and Reuben Besse. in
: Select Committee
Ontario Association
5 YEARS AGO
Children Aid Societies
present•
In a joint statement issued prepare a major Force of
todayy by Mayor Harry to the Task For
Worsell, Chairman of the provincial
d;
he
ea
en