HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1984-12-19, Page 17' NEWS AND FEATURES
Good news of Great Joy
TO THE EDITOR
The Angel said: "I bring you good news
of great joy," Luke 2:10.
Dear Fellow Pilgrim:
During this advent season, may we hear
the angelic message; "I bring you good'
news of great joy." However, evidence for
joy is often lacking. Millions of people who
are unemployed have little or no hope of
finding a job. The news media has
sensitized us to famine in Ethiopia and in
other places.
"The Haves" face the responsibility to
respond generously, and to give liberally to
famine relief and need. The cause is
humane, the challenge is both personal and
corporate. The time is now. Remember the
words of Jesus, "As you have done it unto
one of the least of these, you have done it
unto me." (Matthew 25:40) Failure to
respond means inviting the judgement of
God.
After my duties were over as a
Commissioner to the 30th General Council
of the United Church meeting in Morden.
Museu
Dear Sir:
As a volunteer group supporting the
Huron County Pioneer Museum we would
like to express our hope that the Feasibility
Study will be accepted by County Council.
A large expense such as the one needed
to restore our museum indeed needs much
consideration and study. But, 1 hope that
the costs do not overwhelm the council
members and cause them to forget the great
value that we glean as a county from this
institution, Our museum houses the history
of this county, with a collection that is far
more comprehensive than most county
museums. In this we are fortunate.
Strong community support is evidenced
by the fact that we have not bought any of
the artifacts in this large collection; they
have all been donated by the citizens of this
county. This is exceptional in museums,
and makes us the envy of all other
museums.
Our own Volunteer Group is another
indication of the support the community
gives to our museum. We are newly
formed --not yet two years old --but we are
growing fast; from an original membership
of 10 people, we now number 45. The
volunteers help in many different areas --re-
pairs, displays, special events. art work,
research. and school tours. We find that the
community is very supportive of our efforts.
The museum has travelled to schools with
special exhibits. and has added to many
bicentennial celebrations with store -front
displays and parade floats i the past years.
It is a tourist attraction for t 's area, and our
research shows that more eople make
return visits to our museum an to other
such institutions,
If the feasibility study is a opted, we will •
be able to serve the community in a much
Manitoba, I travelled 120 miles to Delor-
eine, Manitoba. I saw the drought condi-
tions in that area. 1 reflected; what if the
famine situation were reversed? Let us
share as we have the opportunity.
For the victims of murder, joy is clouded.
I think in particular of the nine policenlen
murdered in Canada this year. Consequent-
ly, there is a renewed s'ry for capital
punishment. This represents a call for
revenge. Capital punishment is contrary to
the spirit and 'teachings of Christ. The
causes of violence must be treated, and we
must find ways to prevent violence.
There are many people lacking joy. Life is
so constituted that we cannot always expect
it to be smooth. All of us face problems,
anxieties, and fears. At some time sorrows
and misfortunes come our way. Cardinal
Newman said "You must make up your
mind to the prospect of sustaining a certain
measure of pain and trouble in your passage
through life." John Burroughs eloquently
pointed out "We cannot walk through life
as
on mountain peaks."
However, Christmas says to us "1 bring
you good news of great joy." A spirit Of joy
enriches life. Joy can be experienced no
matter how many unsolved problems we
face, or how hard the times. "Rejoice, for to
you is born a Saviour, who is Christ the
Lord." The birth of Jesus brings joy, new
meaning, and richness for our lives, if we
are willing to live by His teaching, to love
God, our neighbor, and ourselves. Like the
Psalmist we can "...sing for Joy to God.
who protects us." (Psalm 95).
We can maintain our morale by singing
unto the Lord, and make a joyful noise 10
God. With the Scottish Preacher Peter
Marshall, we can evert sing in the rain. Let
us join Isaac Watts in singing joyfully:
Joy to the world, The Lord is come; Let
earth receive her King; Let every heart
prepare Him room, And heaven and nature
sing.
May you, and all yours. experience joy as
you celebrate meaningfully the birth of
Jesus. May you hear the angel sing: "1
bring you good news of great joy."
Fraternally yours,
Charles A: Swan
Rcv. Charles A. Swan.
story of Huron
more comprehensive way. The hiring of a
project director would create a whole new
aspect for our museum: he/she would be in
charge of new displays and special events
such as the Pioneer Craft Weekend 'we had
last summer and provide for a greater
variety of programs. This in turn would
attract more people to the museum and
could increase tourism in this area. This
would benefit us all --the schools could make
better use of the museum facilities, and we
all would have the chance for added
recreation and education.
This project director would also be in
charge of finding grant monies --money that
is now not available to us as it has been
stipulated for specific programs that we
have not been able to implement as yet.
It recommends the implementation of
satellite museums around the county; these
displays could be set up in schools or stores,
or in a permanent place in the various areas
of our county; they would be administered
by the Museum staff and changed period-
ically. This would bring the Museum closer
to each community as the displays could be
tailored for specific topics.
Another recommendation is that the
archives be housed at the museum. This
would greatly facilitate research that is
done on this area, and would consolidate
our historical documents all in one place.
As 1 have noted, the amount of money
involved is large, but when we break it down
into the different shares for different areas,
we feel it is certainly a very manageable
amount.
Our museum occupies a very special
place in Huron County. It truely houses a
treasure trove of our history, and as such we
should do all we can to preserve it. •
We are a relatively young county and
sometimes are tempted to discount the
value of some of our Pioneer artifacts.
These pieces will be treasured by our
descendants, Let us not be remembered as
the generation who threw away our
heritage. Sincerely
Bonnie Dunn
Chairman of the Volunteers
Goderich
Expositor is
interesting
Dear Sir:
Enclosed please find my cheque (S18.75)
for renewal of my Expositor subscription for
another year.
We find the Expositor still very interest-
ing. Yours truly,
John F. Morris
Hamilton
Disappointed with
lack of news
Dear Sir:
Please renew our subscription to the
Huron Expositor.
I am very disappointed with the amount
of Brussels news in your paper. If it does not
develop more Brussels news we will
discontinue it next year.
We do have a good arena and lots going
on, but it never is seen in the paper. How
about a schedule of what is going on in
Brussels?
Yours truly.
Bill Turnbull
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, DECEMBER 19, 1984 — 83
Frayne acclaimed chairman in Huron
Eugene Frayne of RR 3, Goderich has
been acclaimed chairman of the Huron
County Board of Education for another year.
Mr. Frayne follows a tradition whereby the
chairman of the board, although named each
year, stays on for a two-year term. He is the
Catholic representative forYthe northern part
of Huron County.
The past year was a "taskful" one "but we
have achieved many things," said Mr.
Frayne.
The vice-chairman and chairmen of the
three standing committees are also prac-
tically a repeat of the 1984 chairmen. Only the
personnel committee has a new chairman.
Graeme Craig of RR 4, Walton was named
as personnel committee chairman. He
succeeds John Jewitt of Londesboro. Art
Clark of Wingham continues to be the board's
vice-chairman and as such, chairs the board's
in -camera sessions.
The only election held was for the
chairmanship of the board's management
committee. Dennis Rau of RR 2, Zunch and
Joan VandenBroeck of Saltford were both
nominated for the position.
Mr. Rau. the 1984 chairman, was re-elect•
ed as management committee chairman,
Frank Falconer of RR 5, Clinton will continue
to head the education committee.
The heads of the three committees as well
as the chairman, vice-chairman and past
chairman make up the board's executive
committee. The past chairman is Dorothy
Wallace of Goderich.
Some local politicians were on hand for the
board's inaugural meeting.
Huron County Warden Toni Cunningham
expressed the hope that the lines of
communication built up between county
council and the boald of education remain
"bet,
Huron -Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell said
he wanted to do more than just bring
greetings from the provincial legislature so
he took a few swipes at programs introduced
by the provincial government.
He said that while the provincial opposition
Liberals supported in principal the introduc-
tion of special education the government has
put grant money originally to be earmarked
for special education into general grant
MUSEUM /FROM PAGE ONE
all the artifacts, we could move them around.
even out of the county on loan," said Mr.
Martin.
Councillor Wayne Ellis said he agreed with
Mr. Martin. He said Seaforth can t afford a
great increase in the tax burden.
DRAW THE LiNE
"I love to have antiques, but we have to
' draw the line somewhere," said Mr. Ellis.
Though a study was done and option three
was the least expensive, councillor Hazel
Hildebrand said there should be a way to
build and lower the cost.
"The cost of option three is twice as much
as what our new arena cost," she said. "The
study cost $20,000. Didn't they have any
other solutions?"
"What happens if no one approves option
three. will they close the museum?" asked
councillor Irwin Johnston.
"it's closed right now," replied Mr.
Campbell. "The county wants feedback from
the people of the county. And they realize
they may have to go back to the drawing
board."
Only one councillor, Paul Ross voted in
favor of the county proposal to go with option
three. Those who opposed the motion were:
Mayor Alf Ross. Reeve Bill Campbell,
Deputy•reeve Bill Bennett, Councillors
Wayne Ellis, Hazel Hildehrend. Irwin
Johnston, Bill Martin and Henry Mero.
THANKS / FROM PAGE TWO
back. They had also discovered, during the
confrontation with Joe that he had never
cashed any of his pay cheques.
The explanation was simple enough. Joe
was illiterate. No one ever told him they could
be cashed. He felt he was living comfortably
enough in his tar paper shack. He "borrow-
ed" the food he needed from family and
friends. They had to get the local RCMP to set
up and administer a trust fund in the local
bank for Joe. They could not give it to him all
at once. He would give it to anyone who
asked, or go into a bar and pay for all drinks
until the money was gone.
The man did not keep himself as clean as
we would have liked. The fact that his home
was Pone room shack in an area where the
temperature was often 30 degrees below zero
may have had some bearing on his habits.
Any water in that home had to be hauled in
and melted on the stove.
Joe's knuckles were huge like misshapen
walnuts bulging out of his fingers. 1
commented on them once, wondering if his
arthritis bothered him touch.
Joe was amazed that 1 would even think
that. He was proud of his knuckles. He called
it "seal finger". When a hunter catches and
skins a seal, he explained, if he happens to
cut himself and a seal hair gets into the cut.
the knuckle nearest the cut will infect and
become permanently enlarged. if a person
had as many "seal fingers" as he did. it
meant he was a great hunter,
That man was happy about everything in
his life. He lived under hardships that most of
us would have found severe. But he enjoyed
it. He smiled at every person he met and tried
to share his joy with them.
Joe was dirty and ugly and perhaps not the
brightest person on the base. But he was a
friend. He helped me learn to look at life from
emote positive viewpoint. Even today, over
20 years since 1 last saw him, I have a better
opinion of the people around me and of
myself because of the things Joe taught me.
1 try to remember to share that smile of
Joe's as often as 1 can. He made my life
richer. l hope I can pass some of those good
feelings on to the people around me. Thanks
Joe.
money, He also made criticism on the new
changes in the secondary education system.
These changes will reduce the students
numbers in technical programs.
Individual committees were named at the
inaugural meeting. On the management
committee are Dr. John Goddard of Hensall,
Clarence McDonald of Exeter, Don McDon•
ald of RR 3. Brussels and Tony McQuail of RR
2, Lucknow.
JINGLE BELLS—Janelle Wood loves singing
especially at Christmas time. Janelle and
fellow students of the Seaforrh Pre-school
Learning Centre sang carols for residents ,f
Kllbarchan Nursing Home on Friday
(Wassink pho't,)
• • •
Board investigates grading
The use of classrooms by up to three grades
at three Catholic schools in Huron -Perth will
be investigated by the separate sehoel board.
The approval to investigate was made by
the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate
School Board after it received 17 letters from
parents whose children attend St. Joseph's
Catholic school in Kingsbridge.
The parents were speaking against having
three grades put into one classroom. At the
Kingsbridge school, kindergarten and grade
one students are in the same classroom,
grade two and three students share a
classroom, grade four, five and six students
share one classroom and so do grades seven
and eight. There are five classrooms in the
rural school but only four arc used.
There is also triple grading at Ecole Ste.
Marie and St. Cotumban schools,
Director of education William Eckert said
the board's accommodation review commit•
tee would look at the concerns of the parents.
"it's a school accommodation organization
problem and that's why it has been referred
to that committee," said Mr.'Eckcrt.
Earlier this year, it was the board's
accommodation review committee, more
commonly known as the BAR committee that
looked at the possibility of closing Ecole Ste.
Marie or consolidating schools in Stratford.
This is the same committee that will meet
with representatives of both the Perth and
Huron boards of education regarding the
Catholic board's plans for setting up a
Catholic secondary school.
APPROVE SALARY
The board approved thc salary of thc
superintendent of education (French lmmer
sion) for the coming years. The new position
will have a maximum principal's salan plus
53.000 for the first year and maximum
principal's salary plus 56.000 for the sc.,,nd
year and beyond. The current mhximum
principal's salary is 549,130.
The position is now being advertised across
the province. The position was first adscr
tiscd among the hoard's current staff
• • •
PUC approve inspection of electrical system
The Seaforth Public Utilities Commission
(PUC) passed a motion recently approving a
complete infrared inspection of the PUC
electrical distribution system at a cost of
5475.
The inspection, which will be conducted by
Rondar lnfra•rcd inspection, will cover all
pole line terminations, fuse cutouts. cable
terminations, transformer bushings. and
insulators. if there is a potential problem area
anywhere in the system the commission says
the inspection should reveal it, An aerial
infrared inspection was done a few years ago
and turned up three areas of concern which
were repaired before any problems were
encountered.
"It will act as a cost prevention type
service." said PUC manager. Toni Phillips.
"It wilt turn up any potential hazard areas
in the system and allow' them to be repaired
before rather than after something hap.
pens."
By locating the problem before it occurs.
Mr. Phillips said PUC crews will be able to do
repairs during normal working hours and
Shoplifting is a
constant problem
A Seaforth business was the victim of a
break and enter over the weekend.
The latest hreak•in at United Trails was
reported on Sunday. Police say entry to the
building was gained by forcing the door to the
licence bureau A small quantity of change
amounting to 58 was taken.
Police Chief Hal Claus says the incident
does not appear to he connected to others that
have occurred in town in recents weeks,
SHOPLIFTING A PROBLEM
Shoplifting is becoming a problem in
Seaforth during the holiday season.
Early Saturday morning. police were called
to the Mac's Milk Variety Store on Goderich
Street East because of a complaint. Chief
Claus says the incident was solved without
any charges being laid but said he is
concerned about the amount of shoplifting
that goes on.
"A lot of people still don't believe
shoplifting is considered theft•" he said.
"People don't realize that you can get a
criminal record for life if you're caught
shoplifting. "
LOCAL ACCIDENT
Only one accident was reported in Seaforth
during the week,
Joan Parkinson struck the fire hydrant in
front of Lyon's Food Market on Friday when
she was driving into the parking lot.
No damage was done to the fire hydrant
and the cat received minor damage.
without interrupting the public. He said it will
also save the PUC and ultimately, its
customers. money,
"All we need is one interruption and it
7ould cost 51,500 or more." he said. "With
this repair we could save everyone a lot of
inconvenience."
Mr. Phillips
added
that
with all the
upgrading of the system in Seaforth, the tow n
has been very fortunate that they haven't had
any interruptions for awhile. especially at this
time of year.
"it's nice to look outdoors in a storm. when
you know just how bad it is nut there. and to
he standing in a t•shirt enjoying the warmth
of a home. It's a different story when the heat
goes off."
• •
Hibbert approves pit licence
Hibbert council approved a request by
Ross Riley for one Wayside Pit Licence at Int
22, conc. 12 at its Dec. meeting
The pit. which is only the second one in the
township. is for municipal use nnl
Approval for the pit is suhjci t to thc
conditions that the reads he returned to the
same condition prior to the opening.
adequate dust control on the roads and the
issuing of a licence by the Mintsin of 'stature!
Resources
TiLE LOANS
Hibbert Township has had a gond year for
tile loans said tins nship clerk ( had,
Friend
In 1984. the tnenshipreceisedSltth Uxifor
rile allocations slightly higher than the IWO
figure of S1RS.'00 Mr Friend sail al rti,
money has been allocated
"There is a possibility. based on •i,
number of applications that wr will e•' a!
least as much as this scar I hope e, tine ,,., •
less." he said
During 1984. the rnwnship appn,s,.1 .'.'
applications for Zile loans ,omparc,i ,,. 21 .-
1983
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
If you're organizing a non-profit event of Interest to other Seaforth area res,derrs
phone the recreation office at 527-0882 or the Expositor at 527-0240 or ma,' the
information to Community Calendar, The Huron Expositor, Box 89, Seaforth Ontario
NOK IWO well In advance of the scheduled date.
Wednesday, December 19
1:30.4:30 p.m. Shuffleboard at Arena
1-3 p.m. Parents & Tots Skating
8:45 p.m, Jr. Farmers vs Parr Line
9:35 p.m. Commercial vs Chiselhurst
10:25 p.m. Queens vs Perth
11:15 p.m. Winthrop vs CCAT
Saturday, December 22
1,30 p.m "Mickey's Christmas Carol'. at
Library ---
Sunday, December 23
yr
1:30.3 p m. Public Skating
3:30 p.m. Brussels vs Bantam 2
7 p.m. Hawks vs Bruins
8:30 p.m. Penguins 'vs Flyers
Thursday, December 20
7:30 p.m. Kinkora vs Winthrop
8:20 p.m. Easy Riders vs Chiselhurst
9:10 p.m. Bendix vs A's
10:00 p.m, B's vs Grads
10:50 p.m. Jr. Farmers vs Parr Line
11:40 p.m. CCAT vs Slabtown
onlay, December 24
8:30 a.m. Bruins vs Kings
9:25 a.m. Oilers vs North Stars
10:30 a.m. Leafs vs Jets
11:25 a.m. Flames vs Penguins
3.4 p.m. Mites
'...
Friday, December 21
8:30 p.m. Thamesford vs Centenaires
Tuesday, December 25
1 ((1 , `1 �� `10 t.
\\�
Saturday, December 22
8:30 a.m. Kings vs Oilers ori
9:25 a.m. Bruins vs North Stars 4; •
10:30 a.m. Flames vs Jets a': j
11:25 a.m. Leafs vs Penguins f~`1'*
1:30-3 p.m. Public Skating k►r/
5:15 p.m. Elma Logan vs Atoms
Space for the Community Calendar
Is donated by The Huron Expositor.
i