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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1977-06-20, Page 4Page 4 Citizens News, April 20, 1977 "Think you've got troubles — I'm an English teacher in New Radar There was some good and bad news for motorists in the announcement recently that the Ontario Provincial Police have acquired several new gadgets to help nab traffic offenders. The bad news was for speeders and those who drink and drive. The OPP now have a radar unit that can be attached to a moving cruiser to record the speed of cars that are travelling in the opposite direction to the police officer. The other, is the por- table breathalizer that can be used to quickly record the sobriety of drivers along our highways. The new radar unit should serve to slow down motorists because now they will never know when they may be having their speeds recorded. Oncoming drivers won't be able to advise them in time as they do in Dear Reader: uebec!" some of the more conventional radar setups. Drivers who drink will also be under more scrutiny and the ease of taking a roadside test as compared to driving a suspect several miles to a detachment of- fice will no doubt prompt officers to be even more watchful for potential offenders. The good news is that both these gadgets should make our highways safer for those who do obey the law and it should reduce the carnage attributed to speed and alcohol. While some people may complain about the new surveillance, they are ob- viously only those who fear being caught because they do not obey the laws and they are the people who are generally responsi- ble for the accidents and for whom there can be little sympathy. We are disturbed by discussions of the possible break- up of our country, Canada. How can we express our goodwill to our French speaking fellow Canadians? Families quarrel but with love and willing hearts the quarrels are resolved, because the family is important. So it is with our country with its beauty, freedom and diversity. With one of its members gone Canada is in- complete. It was a French Canadian, born in Quebec, who composed "0 Canada". Are you searching for a way to express your friendship towards the people in Quebec? Please write a note or postcard ex- pressing your feelings about this important matter, in French or English, to: Citizens of Quebec c!o Council of Canadian Union 1470 Peel St., Suite 925 Montreal, Quebec H3A 1T1 Dear Editor: I'm sure that many of your readers know that in addition to Zurich, Ontario, there is a Zurich in Switzerland. I recently learned that there are at least three other Zurich's in the world. One of these is in the United States, one is in Algeria in Africa, and the third is in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. I was recently a visitor in the home of Douwe Nadema, who lives in Zurich in Friesland. He publishes a monthly newsletter along with two other residents of the village, J. van der Ems and H. Waterlander. Mr. Nadema would be very interested in contacting someone in Zurich, Ontario, to obtain, more in- formation about its history, the people who live there and in the surrounding area. As a former resident of the Zurich Ontario area, I was able to tell him a little bit about the village. However, I would appreciate it very much if you could send him a recent copy of the Zurich Citizen's News. In addition, if you know from whom he could obtain more information about Zurich, Ontario, could you please send him the name and address. His address is: Douwe Nadema Kerkstraat 2 Zurich 9440 Friesland (Post Bolsward). The Netherlands Zurich in Holland is a small village which is situated along the Wadden Sea, justnorthof the dike which separates the Ijssel Meer (former Zuider Sea) from the North Sea. The village dates back to the 1400's and at present has a population of ap- proximately 200. If you would like more in- formation about Zurich in Friesland you could write to me or to Mr. Nadema. Thank you in advance. Yours truly, Johanna Lansbergen P'A W. van Dijk Prunuslaan 34 Oudorp Alkmaar The Netherlands Rainy Mondays There is something about a rainy Monday that defies even the most optimistic among us. If you don't believe me, just ask the teachers and students at the Zurich Public school. With the opening date of their musical presentation just over a week away, a rainy Monday struck and everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Teachers held their heads as students forgot lines that only a week ago they had down pat. Notes that were a cinch on Friday were coming out rather squeaky on Monday and everywhere there seemed to be a general lack of attention. Even the curtains decided they had had enough refusing to open and close properly. One teacher groaned and said every other year they have extra staff to take over some of the classes so the other teachers can be free to coach the production. But not this year, no sir this year they are trying to direct a musical with close to three classes in the gym at the same time. Hectic is too mild a word. But to say the teachers were fazed would not be entirely true. After several members of the chorus jumped off the front of the stage to make their exit, one teacher just shook his head and sighed, "You can sure tell it's Monday," and the show went on. * * Watching the Toronto Maple Leafs play hockey on home ice is like watching someone slowly drown even though they have all the life preservers they could ever want around them. After close to four hours of watching the Leafs play on Sunday I was so frustrated I could have thrown something at them—and I might have if I had thought I could hit them. It's a good job the Flyers -Leaf series is almost over—neither I nor the cushions on the couch can take much more. * * * Some weeks it is very difficult to write a column. Nothing springs to mind when you sit down to type and try as you might nothing appears on the paper but gibberish. One of these fine sunny days when the temperature rises to the twenties and there isn't a cloud in the sky, I would just like to spend the entire day basking in the sun, walking on the beach, having a cold beer with some friends and not giving even one tiny thought to a column or an editorial. You'll know if I manage to accomplish this some fine day. That will be the week you turn to page four and see nothing but a "sorry, no comment". Just laugh and throw the paper away as usual; everyone deserves a "no com- ment" at least once in their lives. FIRST VI1114 IOCAl NEVIS Published Each Wednesday By J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. 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