The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-01-04, Page 4pAeg 4 -GODERICH SIGNAL,STAR, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4 , 1979
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'Gderich , • •••• •
SIGNAL -7 TAR
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Business and Editorial Office
TEL E PHON E 52-4-8331 1.
area code 519-
-Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ikd.
ROBERT G. SHRIER - president and isher
SHIRLEY J. KELLER - editor
DONALD M. HUBICK - advertising manager
Mailing Address:
P.O. BOX 220, Industrial Park, Goderich
Second class mail registration number - 0716
The drinking crowd
In time for the holiday season when people to reduce the risk of alcohol-related 'traffic ac-
cidents.
"Guests can limit themselves to ope alcoholic
drink per hour by making every other drink a non-
alcoholic beverage or by engaging in other ac-
tivities.
"Hosts and hostesses can lessen the danger of
impairment by taking a few practical before
the party begins. Food should always be served
with alcohol, as it can help to -slow the rate at which
intoxication begins. Lots of soft drinks, coffee, tea
or fruit juices should be on hand throughout t
party.
"Shot glasses -should be provided so that the
guests can measure whatthey are pouring. Durifig
the party, there is no need to refill guests' glasses
• the minute they becomeempty. Many people will
accept drinks they don't want to avoid appearing
rude or out of step.
,
"Well"before the party is to end, hosts should stop
serving alcohol and offer snacks with tea or coffee
instead. This will give the effects of alcohol time to
wear -off before guests drive home:
"In spite of the precautions taken, thee are often
guests who will drink too much. Rather than
allowing them to -drive, you should offer them a
Adet invite them to stay overnight or call a taxi to
take them.bonie.
- "We all help to lower the statistics on alcohol-
------everyWhere--Were dtin-king Too mucldiig
celebrations at Christmas and New Year's Day, the
Hon. lg. Roy McMurtry, Attorney General for
Ontario, launched an attack of drinking and
driving. Posters with a police photo of an accident
in Toronto involving two cars and a motorcycle in
which Oath was the- result, was used with this
slogan: Chalk Up Another One to Drinking.
Last year, 95,644 persons _were injured on Ontario
roads and higlawsags. Of t se, 1,420 were killed.
Drinking drivers were i,. olved in 28 per cent of all
motor vehicle, accide s that resulted in fatalities.
Of the total nu of drivers killed, 58 per cent
were form' o. have been impaired or drinking.
Tragically, y ung people between the ages of 16 and
20 accounted for a large proportion of the fatalities.
McMurtry feels so,strongly about this problem
• that he at down and wrote his ideas concerning it
... and suggested some solutions. In the interest of
'''fer roads and fewer traffic deaths as a result of
drinking and drivirig, McMurtry's Viewpoint .is
sented here verbatim.
everyonedo eS his part, a lot can be done to
lower these alarming statistics. But first, we need a
ear understanding of how alcohol affects us. Our
bodies burn up alcohol very slowly. It takes at least
• an hour,end longrip some persons, for the liver to
burn up one stand ri drink. (12' ounces Of beer,
ounces of wine or 11 nces of distilled spirits).
Alcohol at‘cks t central nervous system, a
fact that i, especiaIyfcritica1 for drivers. The nerve
impulses to the le and feet are usually affected
first -and may re4ond slowly to stimuli which tell
r the -driver 'to brake or accelerate. The outcome in
-terms of human suffering -can be disastrous.
'Why then do people drink and •
test survey conducted in EtObicifitke, this
• qu tiori-was posed triziast‘year's convietedArivers.
Some of them simply thought they'd take a chance
on 'not getting caught. Others felt they had a legal
• right to drink and drive, forgetting that to drive is a
privilege. that entails substantial responsibilities to
.L fellow citizens. Then, there are those who feel they'
cari drive as well after drinking as when they are
sober.
% "Ott-hp/latter 'group, many believe in the myths
that surround drinking. Myths thht suggest that•
coffee, resh air, exercise, a large meal or a steam
bath n undo in a moment, the.tffects of steady
dritik g over several hour. UnfOrtunatelY none of/
the's, myths isfrue.
oth guests and, hosts alike can do a great deal
related accidents."
_• _ ..•.. _
.•.
Agreed
,This newspaper is particularly grateful_to the
board of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital
this week because members have agreed to keep
their meetings operi to the "public and the press
following a trial period of four months. -
Board meetings at AM&G ha4 , een closed for a
0
number of years bvesolution oNthe board. Last
fall though, after a series of requests by this
newspaper through its editorial column, the
meetings were opened. Since that time, the once
monthly meetings have been covered extensively
much to the edification and the enjoyment of a good
many Signal -Star readers.
The board of AM&G is to be congratulated for its
decision. Much is to be gained by an open door
policy at this community hospital that is much
respected and widely used in Goderich and area.-
SJK
Some good, some bad
First the good news. The Canadian economy
during 1979 should achieve further moderate ex-
pansion in output and employment, according to
Gordon Bell, president of the Canadian Bankers'
There doesn't seem to be much doubt that for
1979, as for 1978, the 'Canadian economy will be
having to chart a pretty difficult course. A slower
• United States economy and persistent international
Association
strains, perhaps further complicated by political
.
But'here's the ba'd news. Bell is also forecasting a and -region -a-1 differencesi-wilimare it a struggle tO
possible reduction in cost -of -living increases but a re-establish. a healthy growth -pattern while at the
somewhat -higher -Crit, re-14511mile= rare: —sarrreTtiirttrol ling inflation.
In a -year-end economic forecast, Bell suggests
that the country's real gross national product - the But still, Gordon Bell' and member of the '
sum of all goods and services - likely will rise by Canadian Bankers' Association ' are optimistic.
three per cent or a bit more, compared with an They say there are a good many constructive forces
estimatedgrowth of close to four per cent for 1578. at work both in Canada and abroad, and while the
Bell, who is the executive vice-president and economic trends in 1579 may still fall short of what
chief general manager of The Bank of Nova Scotia, one would ideally like to see, the real challenge will
said this mightpush the unemployment rate higher. be to keep moving soundly ahead into the new'
But the biggest part of the problem would lie in its decade of the 80s.
regional distribution ... and in.the other structural .
frapticati9s__tfit___a___rising____proportion-a---womerr-----So-take--heart, deal-Ts-ado...SI -All may not be the
workers and of new youthful entrants to the labor doom and gloom that some would have yOU
,„..,..„.„..._...._ ..... ,...._.......,_. , „ , „ -------------------.
Dear Editor,
You often publish old photographs of local interest so I thought
you may be able to print this one.
Mr. Earl Shea 'down gave me the photograph and it shows the
work crew and their horsepower when the basement to the old
cinema theatre (no yv the police station) was being dug at West
and Waterloo Streets.
-• Mr. Harry Sheardown is the third from the left. The identities
Thanks
of the others are not known. Including the sidewalk superin-
tendents. I intend to put the picture on display in the police
station so if any readers can supply the other names and an
approximate date I would appreciate having the inforthation.
DEAR
Christmas. articles as
interesting and enjoyable
to read as they were to
near Editor, • prepare.
All the teachers and - We are also par -
students at Victoria titularly grateful for your
Public School extend to ---co-operation -and-willing,
you our sincerest thanks support of our program
for providing us with and special events
individual copies of -the _. throughout the year.
special Christnias e,dition ,,, Please extend our thankS
of the Signal Star. to your staff in- this
It --is- --a-tw-ays,'- a p. regard.
preciated when we are Thanks, again, for your
able to provide reading , thoughtfulness and
material that, -'really in- Season's •Greetings to
"all of you" from "all of
US" .• • Sincerely,
• DL O'Brien,
terests our students. In
this respect we are
certain they will find the
BOOST?
Your -s truly,
Patrick D. King
Chief of Police
EDITOR
Dear Editor,
• For 60 years, Canada
has entrusted services for
th blind and pa`rtially-
si ted to the' Canadian
National Institute for the
Blind (CNIB).
Nevertheless, a recent
government study
documents ,that more
than 50 percent of blind
people in Canada live
below the accepted
poverty line, and more
than three-quarters ef
employable -aged blind
people are unemployed,
which is almost ten times
the national unem-
ployment rate.
"I believe the major
cause of the deplorable
conditions which face
most blind Xanadians,"
says John Rae, President
of BOOST, (Blind
Organization of Ontario
with Selfhelp Tactics) "is
our-laak of ' control over
decisions which affect
our lives, and the
unrepresentative nature
of CNIB's National and
Divisional Boards."
Fewer than one-third of
CNIB's National Council
are blind, and figures for
Ontario's Board are even
worse. But even these few
blind members are ap-
pointed by the Agency,
and none have been
elected by the blind men
apd women whom they
pia -port to represent.
BOOST, an in-
dependent, selfhelp
movement "of" blind
people based in Toronto,
believes. that CNIB could -
More effectively, address
the present-day concerns
of Ontario's blind
Turn to page 5 •
75 YEARS AGO
The railroad track
along the commercial
dock is almost blocked
with snow, making it
unpleasant for
pedestrians to pass along
and almost dangerous for
vehicle traffic. The zero
snap early in the week
LOOKING BACK
be made until a certain 4:15 a.m. A baby boy
proportion of the total' weighing nine pounds,
cost of the building is one ounce was born to
guaranteed. Mr. and Mrs. John W..
Thorias- Gundry sold Pritchard of R.R. 2
t1e brick veneered cot- Bayfeici. .
tage and halra lot known Five new reeves will be
as the Munro property on among the newcomers to
St, Patrick's Street to Huron County Council
Chas Blake for $900. • when the first session for
A charter has been 1954 is held next week.
curtailed-- outaide-'-'work -applied - for, - for -the - Theyare Cecil Blake of
considerably but Goderich Planning Ashfield, Terence Hunter
Company with a capital of Colborne,- Bailey
of $40,000. The company Parrett Of -Morris, James
will own the mill now
yesterday the men were
working on the repairs at
the south pier and a full
staff was employed at
Marlton's shipyard on the
island.
Mechanics are still
working at the new Bank
of Montreal and the cold
spell is against rapid
known as Buchanans and'
Lawson's and the brick
planing mill known as
Smeeth's on Nelson
Street.
25 YEARS A'GO
Doig of Tuckersmith and
John Durnin of East
Wawanosh.
Excavation work for
the new elevators being
built beside the present
Purity Elevators will be
about half completed by
/
progress. early next week.
The ()west. tenders for First baby to arrive Three members Of the
the new Methodist the Alexandra- ,Marine new Goderich Police
Churc1rifilrNortE'Sli•eet--a1i.c.173-en-eral Hospital'irr-Force took the- oithCof world, at 12 : 35 , am.
,have been`notified of the ,194 wa's born on allegiance and the oath of January 1. The . eight
feet -b ut-- or:1114r act -s -co an ot- ' Saturday; -Januar y---2--at---off ice---i-n- -a-I-we-a-ring-ft-1=pound; -127-ounce--- gill is.
at
ceremony conducted by
County Court Judge T.M.
Costello last Thursday.
The police officers sworn
in were 'Chief Constable
F.M. Hill and Constables
Howard -Watson and
Albert South.
5 YEARS AGO
Bermingham Con-
struction Limited of
Hamilton was awarded a
contract on Monday for
the construction -of a new
303 ;--foot long retaining
wall across the north-east
end of the local harbor.
The contract, valued at
$159,111, was announced
by the Federal Depart-
ment of Public Works.
Goderich's New Year's
baby was right on tittle to
greet 1974 coming into the
Connie Marie O'Neill, a
daughter for Marie and
Joseph O'Neill of R.R. 3
Auburn and she brings
the O'Neillfamily to a
total of three girls.
In ,a combined an-
nouncement late Wed-
nesday, Bill Oltman,
representing Maitland
Manor Limited, and John
Bakker, ' owner of the
Goderich Nursing Home,
announced Mr. Oltman's
Purchase of the Goderich
Nursing Home effective
March 1, 1974.
Effective January 1,
John Lyndon of Goderich
assumed the post of
Secretary Manager of the,
Goderich Housing
Authority, replacing
Howard Aitken.
The Goderich Lions,
Pee,es won -the
I watched with interest last Wed-
nesday' evening as members. of the
board of Alexandra Marine and
General Hospital wrestled with the
problem of instituting a no smoking
policy throughout the hospital....with
the exception, 'of course, of a few
definite areas. It never is an easy
question with which to deal, because in
recent years smoking has become very
mUcim part of oureveryday life style.
As a reformed smoker myself
• though, I can very much Veciate
Th
what Dr. Bruce omson sal at the
board Meetingabout the .un-hecessery
discomfort inflicted on non -smoke -is by
thoughtless smokers. In a confined
D -EAR . ' •.
*teen someone's fingers or lips can be
curling from an ashtray or from bet -
office or a stuffy meeting room, smoke
area such as an elevator or a small
- _____.-- ------- most aggravating. .
• Why there are actually times when I
find myself choking on someone else's
„REAIDE i-runs....and I'rn thinking how in-
"STrink.'':..I begin coughing- and
gagging, my eyes water and my nose
considerate the . other fellow is who
inflicts this, Misery on me.
How much more angry I'd be if I was
in hospital,"perhaps with stitches that
are healing or with a respiratory
ailment, that puts me flat on mf' back,
and having to breathe smoke from the
cigarette, cigar'or pipe of a room -mate
who shows littlecoricor-n-for -m-e or my,
welfare.
' And P.cotild imagine that I'd rtnost
CertainlyJeel that in a bospital, of all
places, I should be able to escape from
the curse of inhaling smoke-filled air
that could be detrimental to my health.
So ,r_m. particularly pleased that the
eloctors in Goderich have taken the
initiative to introduce smoking
regulations to AM&G. If I had my way,
smoker g all over the world would have
some restrictions put on
them whether on land, at sea or in
the Eiir.•
But I, don't like to be as harsh as I'
sound. Like Jim Britnell, I really worry
about the smoker who has become
hooked on the weed and really is a
wreck without tobacco. Although I
gave up smoking more than 10 yearS
ago, I can still remember the deep
pleasure it gave Me to smoke. In some.
ways, it was a crutch, a soother, 'a
desperate craving.
It does seem a little sad when two
smokers are together in a hospital
room...and neither can smoke because
of• the regulation although neither
would be inconvenienced if the other
was able to smoke.
Dr. Thomson is right, of course, It is
much better if the patients at AM&G
didn't smoke....and if some smokers'
rooms Were established, there is every
likelihood the smoke would be wafted
into other patient care areas where
someone would be inconvenienced.
But oh what a joy to be able to settle
back with a good book and a cup of
coffee, e,erhaps, and a cigaret-
te...espelcially if the pergin in the next
bed is a consenting fellow -smoker. And
surely there could be a corner of the ,
hospital reserved for such folk's. who
are slaves of nicotine even though they
know the risks- and are aware of the
dangers.
Maybe doors- eould be kept closed to
confine the smoke within the area....or
fn installed to carr the haze
championship at the
Kincardine Winter'
Games on Saturday.
away„...or time limits established when
windows could be opened to altquately
ventilate the rooms.
There should be no argument thdt
staff should refrain from smoking
while in the patient care areas. Nor
should any visitors complain because
they are unable to smoke during the
few minutes they spend with the
patient each day.
When you get right down to it, staff
and visitors can easily get away to the -
smoking areas and puff until their
hearts are content. What's even better,
they can gp home after a given number
of hours to the privacy of. their own
rooms and their own regulations.
But maybe.,..just maybe.... there
could be a corner of the hospital,
reserved for the hardened smoking
crowd. Call it the vice department if
you will .... the weed ward...the stnoked
herrings. As long as they were all
isolated together as though they had
measles or chicken pox, how much
harm wouldit do?
Surely hospitals should be as in-
terested in humane patient treatment
as in health.
re