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The Huron Expositor, 1985-12-25, Page 2Huron E,11.xpositor SINCE 1860, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FIRST +CNA BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1985 Incorporating BPll.btil'�4 PtDSt 10 Main Street 527-0240 Published in SEAFORTH, ONTARIO Every Wednesday morning ED BYRSKI, General Manager HEATHER McILWRAITH, Editor The Expositor is brought to you each week by the efforts of: Pat Armes, Bessie Broome, Marlene Charters, Joan Guichelaar, Anne Huff, Joanne Jewitt, Stephanie Levesque, Dianne McGrath, Lois McElwain, Bob McMillan, Cathy Malady and Patrick Raftis. Member Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc. Ontario Community Newspaper Association Ontario Press Council Commonwealth Press Union International Press Institute Subscription rates: Canada $20.00 a year (in advance) Outside Canada $60.00 a year (In advance) Single Copies - 50 cents each SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1985 Second. class mail registration Number 0696 Judicial responsibility In this day of multi-million dollar damage suits resulting in exorbitant awards to claimants, insurance, particularly liability insurance, is an absolute necessity. It is therefore ironic these same claims and awards which insurance policies are set up to cover, have driven the cost of obtaining liability coverage, if it can be obtained at all, to prohibitive levels. Still reeling from a staggering 98 per cent increase in their insurance premiums, the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic separate school board has responded with a resolution protesting the situation and has solicited support from other school boards and municipalities. Judging from the response they have received, it would appear most 1 such bodies are also feeling the pinch of sky-high insurance costs. Locally, Seaforth Town Council, as well as the townships of Hibbert, McKillop and Fullerton, have joined other municipalities and school boards from across Ontario in supporting the Huron -Perth Catholic board's resolution. The one member of Seaforth Council who did not fully support the resolution, objected to a paragraph suggesting the judicial system bear some responsibility for creating this untenable situation. Onfortunately, it is only with the judicial system, that the power to completely overcome the problem rests. Despite popular misconception, insurance companies do not possess unlimited funds with which to pay out massive claims, while at the same time subsidizing low customer premiums. They are a business, and as such must strive to raise their cash intake, in direct proportion to their outflow. It took a great many years, and much attitude modification, before awards in civil or personal liability claims cases reached a point where they adequately compensated a victim who may have been severely disabled due to the actions or negligence of others. However, this point was reached, probably about 10 years ago. Unfortunately the awards granted by judges did not level off. They continued to increase in dollar value and attempted to include more and more intangibles until they reached today's levels, which often far exceed justifiable compensation. Bereavement claims by relatives have expanded to include far more than the immediate family, directly affected by a death. However adversely affected by the death of a youngster, grandparents, aunts and uncles are hardly entitled to the large cash remuneration they are sometimes awarded in today's courtrooms. Awards to those severely disabled in accidents often total millions of dollarsyy where hundreds of thousands might be more than enough to suppty'the injured party's needs for a lifetime. Surely much of this excess award money is passed on to the descendants of the original claimant. Providing a large estate for a claimant is not the intended purpose of just compensation and hardly the responsibility of the insured. It is these excessive awards, not the legitimate ones, which are forcing insurance companies to raise their prices for an essential service, beyond realistic and affordable means. The predicament of the insurance industry can be likened to a high stakes poker game. When the pot is broke the game is over -- no matter who's ahead at the time. — P.R. OPINION SWEAT SOCKS _- —_ by Heather Mcllwraith Christmas has meaning ft seems only fitting when this paper is dater) December 25. that this column be written about Christmas Somehow to write about anything but seems almost a sacrilege Christmas means a lot of different things to different people For some it's the highlight of the year. yet for others it is the time of year they dread the most, the time of year that bongs hack memories, some toe painful to be remembered i guess I've been lucky We has been a series of ups and downs for me and my family, we've gone through some had times times we thought would never end. times we knew there would never he a happy ending to. hut in retrospect there hasn't been a great deal of grief in our lives Through it all we've managed to hang together, and perhaps in a big way our family relationship has been strengthened by whatever life has put us through i guess that's why Christmas has always been such a special time of the year for me. Instead of being just Christmas, in many ways it's been a second day of thanksgiving for our family, because it is on that day more than on the conventional day in October. that we, as a family, truly give thanks for all we've been blessed with in life, and not just the material things, but each other That doesn't mean our Christmas is any different than anybody elses, hut there is a special feeling about it, that makes it a wonderful time to be at home. But even now when none of the kids are home for more than a day or so at a time, I've found the feeling still exists, and in a great many ways that is because of my parents. In previous columns i've poked fun at mom and dad, laughing at some of the crazy situations they get themselves into, and wondering if they'd ever settle down to be the conventional parents. in all truthfulness I love them just the way they are. Their crazy antics, love of a good time and open natures are the basis for all the good and warm feelings I have about my home. No matter I what the circumstance, it is always a pleasure to come home. never a chore, and I admire the way my parents have managed to create that feeling Our Christmas generally takes the tradi- tional route in the past Dad and I have been responsible for picking out our Christmas tree. 'I tag along because the rest of the family fear dad will opt for an artificial tree sooner or later i also get the job of holding the tree while dad makes the ultimate, and oftentimes much procrastinated final deci- sion I Mom is in charge of the Christmas baking. although when all the kids arrive home we usually try our hands at some gingerbread creations which inevitably end up in the hands of the neighborhood children, or all over the kitchen floor Our house. always open to anyone who wants to drop in, becomes by December a bit of a roadhouse And, if I manage to make it home much in advance of the actual holiday, often find myself sitting at the piano accompanying some pretty hazardous rendi- tions of Christmas carols. But it's all a lot of fun Not until everyone gets home for the holidays does the Christmas tree go up. Dad strings the lights on the tree, then leaves the decorating up to the rest of us. Oftentimes we make it a party. inviting neighbors and friends to drop by and help out. After the decorations are finally on, and the icicles hung strand by individual strand, on the tree, dad surrounds each light with a web of angel hair. Although by this time our tree is a masterpeice. it is not complete. Every year as an extension of a childhood tradition, my dad creates a scene underneath the Christmas tree (there are no gifts under the tree at our house) Instead wads of cotton batting get mounded into hills and vales, lakes and streams created, balsa wood houses and (Continued on Page -84) SANTA'S STORY — The Walton Public School held its Christmas presentation. These students told the story of Santa's toy collection. concert Thursday and students told a number of stories during the Mcllwraith photo . Droppingout of the loser's club I have officially torn up my charter membership to the sports loser's club. It took me 21 years, mind you, but yes, i finally did it. i have paid my dues and more. Now this is an exclusive club that has some pretty stiff entrance requirements. To hegin, you have to cheer for a team that most other people don't like. Your favorite club's idea of a good season is one that almost produces a .500 record. The leading scorer isn't among the league's top 50. Yours is a team that has had at least one player run back an interception into his own end zone. Your quarterback passes for more inter- ceptions than yards and the waterboy is called on to play wide receiver because the coach has cut the others. Your team is the one that teeters on the brink of bankruptcy each year. It is your squad that sneaks out of town by cover of darkness to another city. Your boys have the goalie with the double figure goals against average. Your pack of losers are the ones the media often describes as mediocre, sadsack, bad, lousy, inept, talentless, hopeless, cellar dwellers, rotten, bunglers, messy, a blot on the sport, a fauxpas, a victim, a mistake, a disaster, a wreck, a Shakey franchise, easy pickings, unlucky, fruitless, conquered, silenced, befooled, futile, impotent, dull, flops and undisciplined. Your team is the one that raises the ultimate question among your peers, "Do they still play?" Or the statement, "i thought they folded!" CORNUCOPIA by David Broome Your team is the one that 'always gets the first draft choices and the only time you ever hear of them again is when reading about them in the "Where are they now", column of the newspaper. If your favorites happen to land a good prospect he usually demands to be traded. Or hem akes the team but has a bad first season. The management then ships him off somewhere else for a fifth round draft pick and he immediately blossoms into a super star for the other team. Your team usually has the ugliest uni- forms. When your club gets hammered, the results are often printed in three inch headlines. But when your team wins there is no coverage. If they happen to put together one decent season, everyone calls it a fluke or flash in the pan. Your players are never guests at urlernus• cion. People phone you to rnakce bets You walk into a sports store looking for your clubs ,jersey, and the salesperson says. "I'm sorry, but the manufacturer has quit making them." When you flip through a record hook, your losers hold virtually all the marks fro- futility Your friends invite you over to watch when your team is on T. V. only because they like a real good laugh. Scalpers pay to get rid of your teams tickets. The opposition drools when playing your club because they know their own stats will grow much fatter. The hest player on your team is someone with a name like Zigbrownnffonitwits When your club talks trade, the other learns often laugh very hard Tough criteria ehWell. I met most of it and then 'some. However, when the B C lions won the Grey Cup I quit the club I have. you see, been a long suffering lions Ian and when they won the big one. I was a little shocked. Not becaus ' ,hey actually won. because they are the best in Canada. but for the reason I finally had a winner which didn't seem quite real Now my Chicago Bears are munching their way In a possible Super Bowl and I lust don't knriw if my system can stand the success Things have a way of going full circle They do. Ihat is. if you live long enough Jim Taylor. of the Conduct Free Press, called the B C Lions mediocre, despite their overall 15-3 von•loss record bawd Soinehmes, you just can't win Confessions of a closet chocoholic Christmas is here and it's confession time for us closet chocoholics. Why is Christmas so hard on the sweet tooth? I manage to get through Thanksgiving. Valentine's Day, my birthday and St Pat's without stuffing myself with sweets Even Easter with its chocolate bunnies and eggs seems to he over in a flash and I can survive by devouring just the ears of those delirious little bunnies. .but Christ- mas" It's a chocoholirs dream come true and nightmare ail roiled into one jolly old time Even the words jolly, and ho -ho -ho conjure up images of round little bodies, and round little faces, both the results of too many round, little chocolates The worst of the battle is that it is such a lengthy one it began right after f ate the last of those little aero Kars left over from Halloween I remember them well, in fact they are still with me. All of a sudden it was November and the stores began to prepare for the Christmas season. Shelves were laden with chocolates and all manner of goodies. Television commercials reminded me that i was a nut choes nut and that i couldn't rush a turtle Magazines had full color pull out sections showing all those delicious squares like Nanaimo Bars. Chipits Dreams, and Hello Dollies (Now that's my kind of centre -fold r I'm sure i gain pounds just saying Eagle Brand Milk. It's always good planning and the sign of a well organized home -maker to get all those goodies made well in advance of the holiday season After all once the festivities start rm much too busy eating squares to take time to make them Alas, the making of goodies in advance is of no advantage to this chocoholic There's something about chocolate. The recipes are wonderful, calling for all kinds of delicious ingredients that are just about as HERE'S THE BEEF by Carolanne Doig good before you mix them together as after The squares are prepared, cooled. cut and wrapped. before being placed in an old "Quality Street" tin. (there's another three pounds just saying "quality street" I I pat myself on the hack because I've only sampled one Mind you that's one of each kind and also licked the howl, the utensils. and the lid of the condensed milk tin i quickly stack the tempting treats in the freezer well behind all that boring but healthy stuff like frozen haddock. green beans and brussel sprouts in go the squares out of sight and out of mind until Christmas Eve I'm all set In case someone drops in unexpectedly Then why do f have to run tap town to get more goodies during the holiday' i told you there was something about chocolate. The house is haunted when there's chocolate in it I know it's there I become restless I can't sleep I try to resist but the power is too much f decide to just have one. After all one won't hurl will it' 1 remove the fish, the beans the sprouts, root around and without even taking the tin out cit the freezer i have a couple of squares There's really not much point in going to all that trouble for just one Back go the squares and once again they're hidden by real food This goes on for two or three days until finally there are so few left i decide I might as aril finish them off and put myself and the squares nut of their misery I have done this man. times over the years I nn longer prepare in advance i wait until She last possible moment before filling in house with Christmas treats A house empty of temptation is fine but at Christmas it is a time to visit friends and relatives This is the time the closet chocoholic realizes they can no longer fool themselves or society I become a roving and raving chocoholic it dnesnt matter where 1 go nr where i sit when I get there, there rs sum to he something edible within easy reach It s usually chocolate Vegetables and dip, chips and pretzels. sandwiches and cookies are all tempting but I can often resist them but no chocolate When It comes down to the wire I can't say no to rhocolale until my tummy tells me (should have said no hilt an hour ago Christmas Eve, Christmas i)a% and Boxing Dm seem to melt min one plant chocolate. hazelnut swirl, and rust schen I think there IS on end in sight it's Nee Years Eve and out tomo more goodies I would much rather have II New Year's square than a New y'ear's drink Thank goodness there are no spot checks for chncohoties in one week all the (Name for the sear has cone down the drain it back to lettuce. collage cheese. aerobics. and the dreaded scales IAke any true addict i',c- had my lost weekend. even if it was a week Many woutd sets it's not worth it hut we chncoholtcs know better December can be a trying time December is a trying time. For one thing, it's so dang sudden There you are, tottering along a day at a time, thinking it's still fall and you must get the snow tires and storms on one of these fine Saturdays, and throw some firewood into the cellar, and get some boots and replace the gloves you lost last March. Christmas is away off there. And then -- bang' — you look out one morning, and there's December, in all it's unglory: a bitter east wind driving snow, and a cold chill settles in the very bones of your soul Winter wind as sharp as a witch's tooth sneaks in around uncaulked doors and windows. One's wife complains of the terrible draught from under the basement door. You investigate and find that one of the basement windows has been blown in and has smashed on the woo pile. You clamber up over the wood, knocking pieces off shins and knuck- les, and jam some cardboard in the gap. Creep cautiously outside, and nearly bust your bum. There's ice under that thar snow. Make it to the garage, and find that your car doors are all frozen solid shut. Beat them with your bare fists until the latter are bleeding and your car is full of dents. Finally get them open with a bucket of hot water and a barrel of hotter language. Slither and grease your way to work, arriving in a foul mood and with bare hands crippled into claws, bootless feet cold as a witch's other appendage. Come out of work to go home and find a half-inch of frozen rain and snow covering your car, and no sign of your scraper, and another deep dent where some idiot slid into your car door on the parking lot. i could go on and on. but it's only rubbing salt in the wounds of the average Canadian. Get home from work and find that the furnace is on the blink, and the repairman is tied up for the next two days. And your wife is also fit SUGAR AND SPICE by Bill Smiley to be tied up over your dilatoriness Surely there is some way around this suddeness of December. Ls there not some far-seeing politician Of that is not a contradiction in terms(, who would introduce a bill to provide for an extra month between, let's say, November 25th and December 5th i wouldn't care what he called it it could he Lastember, referring to your fast•dying hope that there wouldn't be a winter this year. Or Last Call, or Final Warning, or She's Acomin' Anything that gave us a good 'pit It would be a good thing for merchants They could have special lastemher sales of gloves and boots and snow tires and ear muffs and caulking guns and weather stripping and antifreeze and nose warmers, before plung- ing into their pre -Christmas sales, which are promptly replaced by their January sales. it would be great for the Post Office, which could start warning us in .tune that all Christmas mail must be posted by the first day of Iastember if we wanted it delivered before the following .June, it would make a nice talking point for all those deserters and traitors and rich people who go south every year. Instead of smirking, "Oh, we're not going south until Boxing Day. Hate to miss an old-fashioned Canadian Christmas," they could really shove it to us by leering, "Yes, we thought we'd wait this year until the last day of Lastember, you know. Avoid the pushing and vulgarity of the holiday rush. if nothing else, it would give us a break from the massive nauseating volume of pre.('hnstmas advertising, which begins toward the end of October and continues. remorselessly. right into Christmas Day Best of all, perhaps it would give dummies like me a chance to avoid looking like such a dummy Procrastinators, who flourish during a sunny November. would have no more excuses. All their wives would have to do is point to the calendar and say "Bill, do you realize it's only three days until Lastember isn't it time you did your Lastember chores'" in fact. if that fearless politician who is going to introduce the Lastember Bill in the house wants some advice, here is a codicil for him. Somewhere in the Bill should he the warning, in bold type "Procrastinators will he Prosecuted!" Jeez, why not'. They prosecute you for everything else. if such a month were added to the calendar maybe we could start it with Grey Cup Day - people like me Wouldn't go on thinking that Christmas is weeks away instead, on the last day of Iastember, with all their winter chores in hand, they'd know that Christmas was practically on top of them. like a big, old horse blanket. and they'd leap into the proper spirit. lining up a Christmas tree, laying in their booze. tuning up their pipes for the carols As it is now, we know that Christmas is like a mirage It's way off their somewhere, and no need to panic. Then. with that startling suddeness, it's December 22nd, all the Christmas trees have been Nought, the only remaining turkeys look like vultures. and the liquor store is bedlam Who's for a Lastember"