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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1986-12-17, Page 2X r OSItOr p SINCE 1860, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FIRST Incorporating Brtir.....cis Post 10 Main Street 52.7-0240 Published in SEAFORTH, ONTARIO Every Wednesday morning i ED BYRSKI, General Manager HEATHER McILWRAITH, Editor The Expositor is brought to you each week by the efforts of: • Pal Armes Bessie Broome, Marlene Charters Joan Gwchelaar• Anne Hull. Joanne Jewitt. Dianne McGrath Lois McLlwain, Bob McMillan and Cathy Malady •CNA BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1985 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 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1986 Second class mail registration Number 0696 Then they shopped Christmas lists a literary ritual Since early November, everyone and their brother have been busily preparing that annual literary ritual known as sarousthe The Christmas list. The results began to go public beginning of December, because, as every- one knows, it is rather gauche to start campaigning for Yuletide booty more than a month in advance. Here at the paper we have recently received what seems like several truckloads of such lists, which the Signal -Star has traditionally published in its annual Christ- mas special edition. The kids ant Santa k nta tHogao bring them things like Popp or Rambo dolls (it's hard to imagine the belligerent Hulkster or warlike Rambo being anyone's idea of a doll), or M.A.S.K. vehicles. Some of them even want something called D'Compose, an article I would be hesitant to allow into my home, let alone play with -- but go figure kids, eh? Young children however, are not the only ones preparing such lists. Older (but not necessarily more mature) children, such as those running our country or employed by professional sports teams, have also corn- : piled their wish lists, which some of them have sent to me for publication (probably because i have a beard and a merry twinkle in my eye which leads them to believe I am either Santa Claus, or completely off my rocker). Anyway, from little Brian Mulroney out in Ottawa, comes a request 'for "fweee twade wif the amerikans. " Brian says if he gets this, he won't bother Santa with any requests for playthings next year because he knows the old gent will be busy, locked in a life -or -death struggle with the giant U.S. toy manufactur- i FROM THIS ANGLE , by Patrick Raftis ers. Little -Brian promises to leave Santa some milk and cookies if he grants his request; and some cod liver oil and rancid tuna if he doesn't. Brian's favorite playmate, little Johnny Turner, has an unusual request. He doesn't want Santa to bring him anything• this year. "Especially not a set of knives, like I received this past year. I've got a whole back full of them." writes Johnny. "If you must bring me something, make it a hidebound copy of "The Rainmaker", bound, of course, with the hide of a certain soggy senator." Meanwhile Jean Chretian has also asked fora copy of Keith Davey's book to give him something to read while he goes back to waiting in the wmg,s for the next few years. From south of the border comes a letter from little Ronnie Ray Gun, who wants the complete line of Star W ars accessories, but is in no hurry. He only wants to have it in place by the end of the next decade.. Strangely enough, Ronnie makes no mention of Hans Solo or Luke Skywalker in his letter, which leads me to believe he may be talking about something which could prove far more costly than a Chewbacca doll or a plastic Darth Vader mask. Coincidentally, Ronnie also makes passing mention of little Brian's "t'weee twade" idea, but insists that Brian must wear a Santa Claus suit to the negotiating table if he expects to get any action, Also from the Washington area, but not on White House stationery, conies a letter from young, Bobby Carpenter, who would like Santa Claus to bring him either a new attitude, or a one-way plane ticket to any city with a National Hockey League team, preferably the latter. Bobby should be warned that travel to another NHL city will be hampered by the necessity of moving his contract, which must be loaded in the "heavy baggage" section. A fellow who simply signs himself "Happy Hal" from 'l'oronto, sends a badly handwrit- ten letter that is hard to read. Hal must be a heavy drinker because although he says he already has a grey cup, he is now trying to lay claim to a cup that apparently belongs to someone named Stanley. Maybe he should try and get together with this Carpenter fellow? 1 have a feeling they could help each other out And finally, how about something for moi? I'm hoping Santa will bring me an early Christmas gift - namely a fresh column idea for next week as I used this one up one issue earlier than i had intended. If you bring it Santa, just drop it by my' desk. I'll leave a half -cup of cold coffee and a partly -smoked cigarette there for you. I usually do anyway. And on the seventh day they shopped. Retailers across the province are embroiled in a dispute with the government over Sunday shopping and many stores have openly defied the controversial Retail Business Holidays Act. Many grocery stores in major centres have opted to open Sunday in defiance of the Sunday closing law and while the province's major department stores had geared for Sunday openings this past week, they cautiously adopted a wait-and-see attitude. Ontario's Sunday closing laws have been unanimously upheld already by the Ontario court of appeals. However, Toronto furrier Paul. Magder launched an appeal with the Supreme Court of Canada and a decision should be rendered on the matter by December 18. The province's major department stores are waiting to see if the Supreme Court rules that the Sunday closing law is in violation of the Charter of Rights. The Ontairo court of appeal ruled it didn't violate the Charter because it was based on the "pause day" rather than a day of religious significance. While retailers wait for the courts to judge the constitutionality of the law, they continue to open and police continue to lay charges. Over the past weekend, more stores defiantly opened for business and more charges were laid. Retailers are taking advantage of the pre -Christmas rush, Just as they take advantage of the lure of Boxing Day sales. To get around the law, The Bay opened only for employees and invited guests, which seemed to fall in the fringe areas of the law. As a result, no charges were laid. No doubt, people would readily welcome the extra day of shopping this time of year but It is incohceivable that Sunday shoppers would be out in force the rest of the yaar.''lt l'd, In some Cases, provide a convenient alternative but It's difficult to speculate on the success of the venture over a 12 -month period. A recent Gallup poll suggests that 53 per cent of Canadians would favor Sunday shopping. The numbers favoring the removal of Sunday closing laws ranged from a high of 70 per cent In British Columbia to 45 per cent in Quebec. Ontario respondents were close to the national average at 54 per cent. The poll indicates that a slight majority favors Sunday store openings which is up four points from a similar poll conducted three years ago. As the law stands, Ontarians are now able to buy milk, bread, tobacco and magazines at convenience stores and drug stores are open In all communities. People can buy a pizza or go out to eat, Irrespective of the day of the week. You have to wonder If provincial law should distinguish between allowing its residents to buy a bag of milk on Sundays while it is against the law to purchase a Pierre Cardin at a major department store. But the rationale behind the 'pause day' law makes good sense, It's Important for people to have a day to recharge or to regenerate. Sunday has traditionally been respected as that day of rest and a day one spent In quiet pursuit of family and personal interests. As is the case now, when one major store makes the decision to stay open on Sundays, the others feel compelled to follow suit or face the loss of substantial, potential business. If stores were allowed to remain open, it would mean that many more people would be working and it would create a sameness to each day of the week. Is it hypocritical on our part to expect to be able to buy cigarettes, milk, pizza, etc. on Sunday while denying others the opportunity to shop for clothes or groceries? LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Georgetown. Ontario, High School is celebrating its 100th anniversary on July 3, 4 and 5. 1987 All former staff and students are cordially invited to help celebrate the anniversary, to reminisce. and to enjoy the festivities planned. Registration brochures are already in the mail U you haven't received one, or if you • • • • • need further information about the Reunion plans, please contact: Tom Beer, P.O. Box 1887. Georgetown, Ontario, 1.G 4T1 or phone (416 ) 877-6966 (day) or (416) 877.4740 (evenings). We hope to see you in Georgetown on July 3. 4 and 5. 1987. Yours truly, J. Ruddell, G. D.H.S. Reunion Committee Christmas food for thought The customs of the Christmas season provide much food for thought as well as HERE'S THE BEEF laughter. Looking back over the years [ j`J LJ by Carolanne Doig rememher the antics my parents. went through hoping to make our Christmas memorable. The tree was always the focal point of any decorations declaring the yuletide season. in Grandpa's day families would wander through the countryside in search of the perfect tree. After felling it with an axe the tree would be dragged home through the snowy fields. When i was a child Dad would dash around in the station wagon from place to place where pregmwn, precut, Christmas trees were leaning one upon the other in states of frozen perfection. The vendor would balance the tree for our perusal and settling on the one with the most branches and fullest figure we'd return home. invariably the tree would be too tall for the ceilings. Off would come a major chunk of the base as well as a few lower branches. This would bring moans from all us kids and a few from Muni who had just cleaned the living room for the trees arrival and now had the vacuum at the ready. At last the tree was the right height...and what a handsome tree, if we could just get it to stand up straight. Dad would try to force it into the little tree stand but the tightening screws were rusty and it was no small feat to get this tree perpendicular. Mum would stand back volunteering "more to the left. That's better. No now it's too far right." Patience would be wearing thin. We wanted to get on with the decorating and all our parents cared about was whether the tree stood tall and straight. The time for decorating had comet Each of us held our favorite decorations clutched in our little hands. Alas, as any tree decorator well knows, it's the lights that go on first. "Well kids you may as well go outside for awhile and make snow angels, while your Dad and I sort out these lights." Hours later, toes frozen we'd return to see a tangle of lights and wires in the middle of the floor. Dad had been uptown twice and bought the wrong bulbs while Mom removed the other ones and now no one knew which bulbs worked and which ones didn't. When they finally got the string unravelled and started putting in new bulbs Mom had complained that Dad had too many red ones in a row. i guess that was the last straw • because D'ad went out to shovel the driveway. The bulbs were finally strung around the tree and our job had begun. The little ones decorated the lower branches with unbreak- able balls...well mostly. The older kids reached higher and Dad returned to place the star at the top. it didn't look half bad but by this time that frozen picture of perfection we had picked out was beginning to thaw and sag. Soon there were gaping holes that had to be filled with cotton batting, angels' hair and tinsel. Adjustments were made to even out the "look." It wasn't perfect but when the livingroom lights went out and the tree lights came on our tree was just what the doctor ordered. Along with the tree, other decorations went up. Streamers were cked from corner to • (Continued on Page A17I Two-year-old stallion tips scales at 1,625 lbs. in 1886 DEC1 BER 17, 1 886 Walton Presbyterian Church last week was a John Wells of Hullett had a two-year-old grand success. The ladies had a good crowd, stallion weighed en the scales in Blyth a few the weatherman favored them, and the days ago and which brought down the beatn proceedsonnted to $225endance at the at 1.625 lbs. He was sired by `There Welcome". and is one of the best colts of his eveningg intothe oua it ham the amber yd of age in the township. Large numbers in the Brucefield area are organizing a Canadian Club in Seaforth. talking of taking in J. ft Clark's lecture on Afmoterlconsiderable y nsidedbleo discrgassionthitlubt was andthe unani- •'Gough" on Saturday evening. Mr. Archibald Bishop opened a campaign following officers were appointed: G.F. in South Huron. at Brucefield, in Dixon's Hall Rogers, president; J. M. Best, secretary and on Monday evening last. The meeting was treasurer; executive committee, Rev. P. well attended and was composed largely of Corocoran. Rev. N. Shaw and Messrs. M.Y. Reformers. Mr. Bishop was assisted by Mr. McLean, J J Cuff. William Hartry, A.D. M.Y. McLean, of Seaforth, and Mr. Swiner- Sutherland and J.T. Curtis. It was decided to Wn, e.whobanister was er of St. Mas assisted by Mr. fix the season each memberp ee at one dollar for the to have free admiss on Mr.uhl St. fMarys. Mr. J. Sutherland, of the Post Office to the first two lectures of the course. Bookstore, has this week purchased Mr. A. Mr: J. B. Thompson was digging a flower Kelly s large and complete stock of fancy bed in front of the Methodibt church on goods. stationery and Christmas goods, Tuesday morning last, December 12. How is which together with his own present large this for weather. Farmers might have been assortment in those lines, will make his stock plowing only they were forehanded enough to one of the largest and best in the county. get it all done last fallcnBy booming in the DE('EM BER 15, 1911 Real estate is apparently The bazaar held by the Ladies' Aid of the west end of Tuckersmith Township. Mr. IN THE YEARS AGONE from— the Archives Amos Townsend, Mas sold his farm to Mr. not do any more good deeds. Thomas Townsend, who has had it leased for Letting the hitch -hiker off in town, the some years. As this farm adjoins his own it trucker went into a garage for a few moments makes it more convenient for work. and returned to find that two bottles of DECEMBER 18, 1936 Christmas cheer, which he had left in the While he played badminton in the Town truck, had disappeared. Hall, a daring thief stole the car of Mr. 1.H. Cromarty district was well and successfully Weedmark, which he had parked on Market represented at both the Royal at Toronto and Street directly opposite the hall, on Tuesday the Winter Fair at Guelph. At Guelph evening. William Hamilton and son took second and Mr. Weedmarkparkedhis caraboutp . . third third for on them draughts on the halter and and neglected to remove his keys. returned about 11 he noticed the car had At the same fair James Scott and son took gone, but thought possibly his wife had first and second for draughts on the halter driven it home. This was not the case, and the and first on team. With their other team they loss was then reported to Chief Snell about took second and seventh on the halter and midnight. second on team. A trucker from Hensall district who kindly At the Royal in Toronto, the Messrs. Scott gave a hitchhiker a ride from Stratford to Seaforth 011 Tuesday, has about decided to took one third, two fourths and two sevenths. DE('EMHER 21, 1961 In what was the smallest vote here in many years, Seaforth electors Monday chose Richard S. Box as a member of the Public Utility Commission. His opponent was J.F. (Terry) Atkinson. A feature each September in' McKillop since it was revived about 15 years ago. the McKillop School Fair will not be held next year. Announcement was made this week of the sale of the W ilson Oke insurance Agency to Donald Eaton. W hile the sale is effective as of January 1, 1962. Mr. Eaton is servicing agency accounts as of this week. Legion Saturday morning hockey began its loth year last week, when 146 boys were registered for play. Sponsored by Branch 156 Royal Canadian Legion, the hockey activity is organized by Legion sports officer Jack Eisler. Police are investigating a rash of com- plaints from Seaforth residents who report theft of decorative tree bulbs. In some cases', complete strings of lights and other decora- tions have been removed. ?PP A