HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1976-10-27, Page 4Page 4 -Citizens News, October 27, 1976
"Good n7e11's, Margaret— nobody deserted me today ...Marg? ... Yoo-hoo!
Nailowe n
Hallowe'en is a time for fun and excite-
ment for Canadian Children, as they go
from house to house, collecting candies and
calling "Shellout, Shellout, the witches are
out", or whatever kids call in your
neighbourhood at Hallowe'en.
But it is also a time for caring and
sharing with destitute children around the
world, through UNICEF, the United
Nations Children's Fund. Millions of the
world's children live in conditions which
we could not even imagine. An Italian jour-
nalist, Virgilio Lille, gives a first hand
description of the plight of many of these
children, in the following article:
"Throughout my life I have witnessed
devastation, slaughter, epidemics, fires,
revolutions, wars and floods. But what
struck me most was children's hunger.
Hungry children are identical in Asia,
Africa and Latin America; they all have
the same big heads of hollow bone, the
same frail and flabby necks of the hanged,
the same thin chests of monkey skeletons,
the same scrap -iron feet and hands, the
same skin covered with red, purple, yellow
pustules, the same drum -shaped bellies,
ready to burst; the same enormous eyes,
full of a mournful seriousness that flames
the universe — they are the curse of crea-
tion, the appalling. fault of the "laziness of
heart" of the developed peoples and coun-
tries and they can, with amazing power, re-
mind the developed countries of the ex-
istence of starving people, in particular, of
starving children, all over the world".
A few coins in the orange and black
UNICEF boxes which will be at your door
soon can do so much. Six cents buys
penicillin to cure infections, twenty-seven
cents buys a thermometer which could
save a child's life — so little for us but so
much for them!
Thin-a-thon
There have been all kinds of crazy things
done in an attempt by local communities to
raise money for arena funds; but this one
tops the cake. In Plattsville they held a thin-
a-thon with pledges made on the amount of
weight lost.
Nineteen residents took part in the Chin-
a -thou which extended over a six week
period and they managed to raise $2.000.
One resident lost 29 pounds in the six weeks
which is no mean feat you must admit.
Perhaps the Zurich community centre
fund-raising committee could try something
like this in their attempts to raise money
for the community centre here in town. It
would not only help the arena, it just might
be the stimulus some of the pleasingly
plump people around town need to get their
bodies back to a slim trine shape.
Hydro rates
The Association of Major Power Consum-
ers in Ontario says it is concerned the
government may support a 30.3 per cent
increase in the 1977 hydro rates in a one-
step hike.
The association has called for the aver-
aging of the hydro costs over the next
three years to bring the 1977 rate increase
down to 22.7 per cent.
However, Ontario treasurer Darcy Mc-
Kcough indicated on Friday he supports
the one-step increase and we admit we
must agree with him.
Averaging the price hike over three years
may cut the cost for the consumer in the
first year, but it will also make it necessary
fin• Hydro to borrow more money and
interest rates will add a good deal to the
bill. In the long run, by averaging the
increases, it is going to end up costing the
consumer a lot more than it would if the
one-step hike is adopted.
The proposed 30.3 per cent increase
would mean an extra $3.43 per nonth.for the
average residential consumer. If the raise is
kept to 22.7 per cent as the Association of
Major Power Consumers is suggesting, the
increase would be $2.53 per month, a sav-
ing of only 90ct. If the average consumer was
a little more energy minded, they could
probably cut more than that off their bill
anyway.
For the sake of 90ct a month now. we do
not' believe averaging of the hike rise is a
very good idea. Perhaps the average con -
SU MCI' will no„ become n1Ore energy
conscious and take greater care to use
their hydro wisely. They should not be asked
to pay the increase over three. years as then
they will be forced to come up with more
111OI1ey to pay the interest on any other
money Hydro would have to borrow. 'l'hc
consumer may save now, but he or she \vile
have to pay even more later.
by Cathy McKinley
Hallowe'en—it's almost here. Time for all the kids to start
bugging 1110111 about costumes; tinge for 1110111 to dig deep into
her purse for the extra cash needed to buy the trick -or -treat
goodies; time for parties and prizes for costumes and finding
Hallowe'en candy wrappers everywhere you go.
Yes, it's time for all that, but there is one problem this
'car. With Hallowe'en on a Sunday, when do all the goblins
go trick -or -treating. Some places arc celebrating Friday
night, some Saturday night and I daresay some will go out
haunting on Sunday night. However, in Zurich, the official
night for haunting is Saturday night.
Hallowe'en isn't the only thing that's getting closer, so
is the deadline for municipal council nominations.
Don't be shy, just head over to the Clerk's office in the
new municipal building and you'll soon discover how easy it
is to nominate someone you think would do a good job—of
course the person you nominate has to agree with you.
1 -have attended many of the Zurich council meetings in
the past while, and it isn't hard to notice that usually I and the
only spectator. This would seem to me to indicate that
either the council is doing an excellent job so everyone in
town iS confidenit they will do the right thing, or there is such
apathy in town that nobody cares whether they do the right
thing or not.
I have been at enough meetings to take an educated guess
at which reason is most likely to be true and I would bet
my money on the first one. In my opinion the present Zurich
council has done a lot of work and done it efficiently.
Look around town at the new streets and buildings being
built and the sewers and storm drains functioning all over
town. This council deserves a vote of thanks.
One more thing, -since this is election year and since all
the seats on council are open to anyone interested, I think
there is one more thing the people of not only this village but
all municipalities should consider. Too often the people who
run our municipalities become discouraged. The only atten-
tion they seem to get is attention which comes from a mis-
take they made, or an expenditure which seemed too extrava-
gant for some people in the municipality.
Or, they go to the meetings of council regularly and do
their best only to discover that no one really seems to care
unless they have a complaint. So, they become disillusioned
and get out of local politics.
In Zurich at least, I hope this hasn't -happened to the pre-
sent members of council. I realize some of then have said
they will not be running, but personally, 1 believe if enough
people who thought these members of council had done a
good job went and told then they had done a good job, they
just might reconsider. They leadership this council has given
to the community should not be lost so soon, and a few en-
couraging words to the right people might make all the dif-
ference in the world. At the very least, it will let those pre-
sently in council know their work was not in vain—somebody
appreciates it.
Well, the work is going well over at the community centre,
but if you plan to go over and .help remember to keep your
\Nits about you—it's a dangerous place. Believe me, 1 know.
Last week I went over to get a picture of some of the volun-
teer workers digging the holes around the base of the arena.
The holes are deep and situated at every 16 feet on both sides
You can guess what happened. While trying to take a picture
of the men working at one of the holes, 1 backed up a little
too far and fell into the next hole. Well, needless to say the
people in the picture were more than a little started when I
cxmlpletely disappeared from sight. (The - holes are about
3 1/2 - 4 feet deep.) and i must admit it did have a rather
humorous 'aspect to it. i didn't hurt myself and after a good
naught and a little mud scraping 1 was on. may way. There's
just one thing. 1 can't for the life of me figure out why none
of the people in the picture noticed how close I was getting
to the hole and warned ale. It does slake one wonder, doesn't
it?
Nacraocoh Mczo
Published Each Wednesday By J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd.
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Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association
Manager - Betty O'Brien
News Editor - Cathy McKinley
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