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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1984-05-16, Page 1i• FIV ' ng the communities and areas of ;els, Dublin, Hensall arid Walton SEAFpRTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1984 — 22 PAGES orn isn't a problem Seaforth, says council PITCH IN—Seatorth got a taco-IIft Friday' when elementary school students scoured the town for garbage on Pitch In day. Orte way to 1111 a bag Is to tramp the garbage down with both feet as shown In the photo. Students Include Connie McClure, Sarah Johnston, Allan Hopper, Angle Jervis and Katrina Lindemann. (Wasslrtk photo) Heritage conservation Heritage conservation of several 19th century Main Street buildings in Seaforth is well underway, Several plans have been completed and at lea two buildings will he restored this summer. Plans to reinstall tl c front porch to the municipal building will letcd by Nick Hill. architect. as Instructed v Seaforth council at their regular meeting on May 8. "We have good documentary evidence of what the porch looked like in the late IROOs The only change to the new porch will he a different floor level -• the steps won't he as sleep as in the original and it's the only difference from the original design." said Mr. Hill. He said the Local Architectural Conserva tion Advisory Committee (LACAC) reviewed the plans and as a result. pointed out other features that were changed to the town hall. The original fire hall doors were replaced with a picture window. LACAC also requested that the property be landscaped to compliment proposed landscaping for the Commercial Hotel, The cost of the initial town hall restoration plans is 3636 and Mr. Hill estimates the total cost including the completion of the underway drawings will be under SI.000. Cost of the project, including construction and material costs is estimated to be 512,000. "What is the structural soundness of the building?" asked councillor Wayne Ellis "Will we be looking at closing the town hall 10 years down the road?" "It depends on what use the building is put to," replied Mr. Hill. "Some municipali- ties have closed off their second floors because they didn't have the proper fire escape. The shell of the structure seems HERITAGE/ ON PAGE THREE 50c a Copy The availability of pornographic material in Seaferth isn't a .problem as far as the majority of town council are concerned. letter,A from Rev. Susan Eagle of the United Chrch of Canada asking that council passe a bylaw which would include height restrictions on display racks of 1.5 metres and that all pornographic material sold in stores be placed behind opaque barriers, was fled on the recommendation of council. suggest the letter be forwarded to the protetion to persons and property commit- tee," said councillor Hazel Hildebrand. In part, the letter said, "Many com- munities have responded with alarm to the issue of pornography, and its aYailability in local stores. Its defenders argue that any Iiifiiting of access to pornographic literature would be a threat to the fundamental freedoms of thought and expression. "We do not see the easy access to pornographic Material as any exercise in freedom of speech, but rather as a dangerous step into the field of hate literature. We believe the distribution and sale of pornographic material ptomotes and celebrates an exploitation that ultimately results in the denial of the basic human rights of dignity•and freedom. 'We hope your will notify the public and allow for community participation when you consider this atter,' said Rev. Eagle in her letter. Enclosed'With the letter was a copy of a bylaw passed by London City Council which limited height restrictions and opaque barriers. NQT POLICE MATTER "1 don't think it's a police matter until it's asked of the police to enforce a bylaw. Perhaps we should hold a public meeting. It's not fpr the chief of police to determine communitt'standards -- it's ours with imput of the c9,tnrnunity," said councillor Paul Ross. "Are there any government guidelines on what's pornographic and what isn't?" asked councillor Wayne Ellis. "To my knowledge there are no 'guidelines. It's easy for a municipality to decide what is and isn't pornographic, but when we come right down to it, who says it is or isn't." "I go to two places in -town that sell pornographic material and it's well out of the reach of kids," said councillor Henry Mero. "As far as 1 know, there's never been a complaint of the availability of pornographic material in Seaforth. And if we hold public meetings, we could argue about the issue for a year at great expense." A member of the'llnited Church, Mr. Ellis said he didn't think the' church is in a position to say what is or isn't pornographic. "Now they're recommending that there be homosexual ministers and I don't put much credence in this pornographic issue until the church gets its act and morals together." "That shouldn't detract from the porno- graphy issue. The things we disagree with don't make it any less valid," said Councillor Ross. RIGHTS OF WOMEN The issue of pornography is more public as to the rights of women. Women are generally the subject of pornography. People in general, realize women are the subject of sexuality and aren't treated as human beings.' "The problem will not go away as long as women are depicted as sex objects. It's an issue that's going to be dealt with and we either deal with it now or someone else will deal with it for us, but it will be addressed," he said, The United Church Pornography Task Force has provided a working definition of pornography to help- people identify porno- graphic material in their community. It PLJC.discussE... budgel installing water main on Centre Street to continue the upgrading of Seaforth's water system should be a priority budgeted for 1984, commissioners told the PUC manager at their May 9 meeting. Projects two and three in the proposed budget for Waterworks in the corning year should be finished as soon as possible, said commissioner Jim Sills. The projects involve installing 10 inch water main from Church St. to West on Centre Street and from West to Wilson Streets on Centre Street to provide better supply and fire protection to the area and to loop the area into the system. "It seems to me we're making It rough for people in that end of town by doing a block and then another block. We should budget for it and get it done. i don't think these citizens should have to go through another two or three years while we finish the street." he said. The projects, which will cost approximately S21, tt I, will also upgrade the system so that any expansion to the west or the north of Seaforth could be serviced. The commissioners also agreed to meet with well driller. W.D. Hopper and Sons before deciding whether to budget 55000 to test the Brantford St, well, last tested in 1974. "Do we want to spend 55000 to test it again or should we cap it now?" naked Mayor Ali Ross. "Last time we heard it was a good little well and not a good big well and i don't feel like ,spending money to hear the same thing we ' heard before,' said commissioner Gerd Pullman. Manager Toni Phillips said the recent engineering study done by B.M. Ross and Associates showed that in time. Seaforth would need to look for a new well. although that may not be for 10 or 15 years. if the Brantford St. well is adequate, a new well would not have to be drilled. especially since about S17,000 has already been spent on the well, he said. "A conference with Hopper would tell us whether we'd be putting good money after the bad," said Mr. Sills. Another way to upgrade the system would be to Install another water main under the railway tracks. "We should be negotiating with the CNR to cross the tracks at either Jarvis or Spading St. Right now, we only have one line across the tracks and could be leaving customers high and dry," said Mr. Sills SEE PUC/ ON PAGE THREE Sign language puts communication into fingers Their faces lined with concentration, a small group of adults wave and position their hands in response to words dictated by their teacher. During a 10 week sign language course held every Wednesday afternoon at the Seaforth and District Pre -School Learn ing Centre. five adults are learning to translate verbal speech into hand motion so they can communicate with the deaf. "it's hard to get your fingers and your mind working at the same time," says Judy Hamon. one of the students. "1 reall have to think hut 1 think I'm picking it up all right it's not that difficult if you put your mind to it." Now in its fourth week, the course was initiated so that parents who work at the preschool centre would be able to rnmmuni tate with 2'/2 year-old Alysha Somerville. the centre's only deaf student. "I know some of the mothers are working really frantically at the sign language. I heard one mother practices an hour ever\ night. And, it pleases me so much to hear that." says Alysha's mother Debbie Because both Bryan and Debbie Somerville work during the day, they are learning sign language at evening classes in Hensall Sign language courses for parents outside of London are new this year. says teacher Rick Enright, of the Robarts School in London. The courses are aimed at those who have direct involvement with deaf people rather than those who are just interested in learning how to sign. And by teaching parents, he hopes he will be training them to teach sign language to others in the community. During the 10 week course, students should learn a 300 word vocabulary which th"y will be able to add to with a sign dictionary, "Once you know the basics, it's pretty well self -teachable," he says. The basic sign vocabulary includes approximately 65 per cent of all simple object nouns and verbs of Spoken and written English. Students learhow to sign exact English using speech and signs simultaneously so that they can encourage speech in someone who is only partially deaf With a limited vocabulary, unknown words can he spelled using the sign alphabet "Right now, we're using the signs that the parents will be using most frequently with Alysha so that they'll remember them Netter." he says. The basic vocabulary inctudes common household signs and personal signs such as apple, chair, cup. do, go, come, milk. mother, father, water, door, window, is, and are t ompared to learning any other foreign language. sign language can be a little more difficult because it involves switching the verhal into the non-verbal, says Mr. Enright. You're translating the sign in your head and it take's a little longer to think in signs but eventually it's just second nature.' Those people who are natural gesturers when they speak usually find sign language easier to learn, he says. One advantage those fluent in sign language may have is being able to communicate with people of any nationality. "It hasn't been tested enough to prove it hut I've seen people at the deaf Olympics be able to convey simple information in sign language between different languages. There are common signs that run across all languages but abstract signs such as the sign for hope are different even in different areas of Canada. Universally, you'd be able to ask where the hotel is but you wouldn't be able to have a discussion about politics using sign language," he says. Of course, the most important reason for the sign language classes is to give as much exposure as possible to the deaf child. "Since a deaf person's only source of information is through sign language, they're getting that feeling of connection when somebody signs to them," he says, in Alysha's case, the.supervising mothers reads, "Pornography is material that represents or describes degrading, abusive or violent behavidr for sexual gratification so as to endorse and/or recommend the behavior as depicted". Rev. Eagle said in her letter that United Church Women's organizations in South- western Ontario "have been alerted to the fact that you will be receiving this request. They are anxious to be present at your meeting and even to make presentations in favor of this bylaw request. We hope you will notify the public and allow for community participation when you consider this mat- ter." "1 think it's best to file' the letter," said councillor Bill Martin, "1 don't think we have a problem and if we do have a bylaw, then we may have problems." "I hope Seaforth stores have better• judgement," said Mrs. Hildebrand. "File The Seaforth UCW will hold their general meeting on May 28 and UCW president Joan Campbell said the issue may be discussed then. She said she didn't think a public meeting would do any good. INSIDE ( Junior volunteers get pins/ A10, 13 Hospital Auxiliary penny sale winners/ A9 Brussels Royal Bank closes/ B2 CHEESE!—\Only those who know sign language win --know that these people are saying "cheese Judy Hamon, Wanda Moran. Joanne Holland and Kelly Laycox are taking the 10 week sign language course at the Seaforth and District Preschool Learning Centre from teacher, Rick Enright, of Roberts School, London. (Hundertmark photo) who are learning sign language are helping her to learn faster and easier. "She's always really impressed when someone signs to her: it's one more person she can communicate with," says preschool teacher, Joanne Holland. Judy Hamon, who works as a volunteer at the centre, says Alysha appreciates her attempts at sign language. "She just brightens right up when i sign back to her." "Before 1 knew any signs, 1 just pointed Alysha in the right direction but it's nicer to communicate with her." And, when Mrs. Hamon does her homework at night. her three-year-old daughter who goes to the centre with Alysha sometimes crawls up on her lap and tries to talk with her fingers. That way, her daughter is also learning some signs. Wanda Moran, another supervising mom, says learning sign language is like learning to speak all over again. "it's hard but I find it really -interesting," she says. Because her brbther went partially deaf for a period of time, Mrs. Moran decided she wanted to learn sign language so she could communicate with anyone who was hearing impaired as well as communicating with Alysha. "We're just learning the basic words but a lot of them make a lot of sense. The sign for book is putting your hands open. Of course, if 1 was with a group of adults, I'd have a boring conversation since I'm still learn• ing." she says. Ringette fashion show is fantastic/ B1 Ken Doig is Champion of Champions/ All DIDEX- Births /A8 Brussels /82 Classified /A14, 15, 16 Community Calendar /A3 Dublin /A4, 5 Entertainment /Al2. 16 Family /A8, 9, 10 Farm /B4 Hensel! /86 Kids /A13 Legion /Al2 Obituaries /A8, 9 Sports /A10, 11 Walton /83