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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1982-10-13, Page 2ijhi'inron fxpositor Since 1860, Serving the Community first Incorporating -Brussels Post founded 1872 12 Main St, 5Z7-0240 Published at SEAFORTH, ONTARIO every Wednesday afternoon by Signal -Star Publishing Limited Jocelyn A. Shrler, Publisher Susan White, Editor H.W. (Herb) Turkheim, Advertising Manager Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspaper Association and Audit Bureau of Circulation A member of the Ontario Press Council itzializzaatz, Subscription rates: Canada $17 a year (In advance) outside Canada $50. a year (In advance) Single Copies - 50 cents each Second class mail registration number 0696 . SEAFORTH,'®NTARIIO, OCTO ER 13, 1982 Your s%'ate with history The upcoming weekend could be a crucial one in the history of Seaforth and surrounding municipalities. That's because Monday, October 18 05 p.m. is the deadline for filing nomination papers to run for council, PUC and the school boards. And we sincerely hope a good number of the area's competent, thoughtful people, people who have a lot to contribute to local government, will mull things over this weekend and then decide to put their names on the ballot. To date there hasn't been a heck of a lot of interest in the Nov. 8 election here in town. Some say a three year term, scares prospective candidates who honestlydoubt they can handle three years of meetings, criticism, and hard work and still keep some semblance ora private life and a job. We can't blame anyone who feels that way. Serving in elected office is often a thankless task...you've got to have ideas, ability and a very thick hide. You've got to have enough enthusiasm to carry you over nights of endless argument, petty disagreement and just plain bullheadedness on the part of fellow councillors or citizens with a complaint. (If It's your bullheadedness, it's called sticking to your principles). But thank heavens, in recent years there has been no scarcity of dedicated people willing to stand for election. We hope Nov. 1982 will again see healthy contests. 'Right, you say, so long as 1"m not involved. But you are, because you help pay the bills. But there are big challenges ahead for our elected people. There are issues that the voters feel pretty strongly about. As the economy stays stagnate, grants from other levels of government are cut and towns and school boards must cut too. As long as times are tough voters simply cannot afford ever-increasing municipal and education tax bills. What gets sacrificed? That's what we elect councils and school boards for, to make those decisions. The new community centre will be in operation and the wisdom of elected councils will be needed by its management committee. A firehall for Seaforth is in the works; those we elect next month will decide where it goes and hot much we pay for it. How much councillors are paid is an issue that's oft interest to some. On the school board 'front, pay raises for administrators and trustees had a lot of people yelling "just wait for election time" earlier this year. Election time is here. If any of the issues we've mentioned concern you, if you are willing to work hard for the good -of all the ratepayers you'll represent and if, as we've said, you've said, you've got the Patience of Job and the hide of a rhinocerus, think about getting 'involved with 'history this weekend. Then file those nomination papers (signed by at least 10 people who are qualified to vote) and let the voters decide. It'll be, at worst, a terrific learning experience. Wanted: a contest It's fair to say that one of the most important things any of us can be concerned about is the education of children. Even if we aren't parents, or if\we are parents of grown-ups, how we educate the coming generation is crucial to the community's future, indeed to its survival. And It's also fair to say that the Huron County Board of Education is probably the elected body In the county which gets the most flack. From small issues like the number of pa days when chttdren aren't in school to bigger ones such as the 33t/3 per cent raise Huron trustees voted themselves last winter, the public has strong opinions about what the board of education decides. They aren't afraid to make those opinions known to board members in conversations and letters either. But that Interest tends to evaporate at the one time it should be strongest...election time. Residents in Seaforth and area are in 'the enviable position of gaining an extra seat on the Huron board, starting this year. What we've heard as of press time points to two people, one of them an incumbent, running for the two seats. That's not the way to make Seafoth and area's opinions heard at the county school board. A goodlively contest with lots of debate and questions is. Were are the Seaforthites with a healthy Interest in how all our children are educated? We hope some of them will come forward before nominations close Oct. 18 and stand for election as trustees. The pay is good; the work is interesting, at times demanding and always crucially important. At the very least, let's see some concerned parents and others at Seaforth's ratepayers' meeting on Monday, Oct. 25 to quiz trustee candidates. How, for example, do they feel about the village of Zurich's request that Huron's education costs hold to the provincial five per cent ceiling in next year's budget. There's absolutely no point in criticizing a school board's actions for most of term and then copping out when elections are -held for a new term. If we don't run, if we don't ask questions, we have no-one but ourselves to blame when a school board makes decisions we don't like, l(O tell@ @dot OP We' are former residents of the Brussels arca and wish to tell you that we enjoy receiving your paper. Whether we should give some credit to George Michie's letter to your editor or not we have been getting your paper usually on Thursday but at least by Friday. Before then we would get it the following Tuesday or Wednesday. The Brussels Post used to come In somewhat the same fashion. My wife was Lydia Reid from Hullett Township and attended Seafo,th H.S. She knos Than, of the older residents and we know quite a lei. members of the Seaforth Lawn Bowling C'luh, I have also seen many farmers from your area at the Brussels sales. We hear quite a number making the remark that they aren't going to renew their subscription. We believe if Brussels had someone of the calibre of the Belgrave or Walton correspondents they would enjoy their paper. It takes co-operation on the part of many. Last winter's coverage of hockey games was about nil but before that was pretty good. Lydia and Jim Turnbull, Hanover. opOwoort firemen win in 1882 OCTOBER 29, 1882 John McMillan. MP for Huron South sold a pair of heavy draught mares for $800, including the harness. The horses took first prize at the Western Fair in London. A Chatham farmer purchased the pair for breeding purposes. ' The Seaforth Fire Brigade carried off first prize of $50 at a tournament in Mitchell. The test included running'300 yards with a hose cart, laying 300 feet of hose, attaching to a fire hydrant and procuring water. The winning time was one minute, 21 seconds. A $1000 reward is being offered, for information leading to the detection and conviction of persons involved in the incendiary tires in McKillop. The council offers $400, McKillop insurance Company 5400. and Thomas Govenlock, 5200. Andrew McLellan of Hibbert has pur- chased a ball calf which took first prize at the Seaforth show for. 5125 from Thomas Govenlock. The calf is said to be the best in Huron County. A. Scott. the Brussels athlete, took eight gin dilc@ y*can ©gam @ prizesyat the St, Thomas Caledonian games. He received Live firsts and three seconds: Unmarried men in Clinton intend to form an association that shall be calculated to promote marriage. Upon the marriage of a member. others in the group shall contribute from 51 to 55 to go towards housekeeping. OCTOBER 11, 1907 Driving into Seaforth, horses driven by J. Alexander of Tuckersmith, took fright and jumped into a ditch. Thrown from the rig, hel held onto the reins and was dragged for some distance before letting go. Mr. Alexander Was only stunned and suffered scratches. A well-known and highly respected Sea - forth residents, Mrs. John Crich died. A daughter of the late John Grant of Grey township, she was a resident for 30 years. She was predeceased by her husband, 14 years. ago and is survived by four daughters and four sons, Messrs. Edze nd Gutteridge have secured the contract- for the new C.P.R. station buildings at Listowel. They are to be about on same scale as at Goderich. Deputy. game warden of Seaforth Mar Anderson is champion no longer. The title was wrestled from him by Harry Speare when he landed home with a fox, ope partridge and five rabbits. Robert Thuell has returned to Brussels from Berlin and will, assist at the Brussels Electric Light Post. - Wm. J. Welsh of McKillop recently shot a bear, The bear was "a good big fellow": Bears,seem common in McKillop as this is the second report in as many weeks. SEPTEMi:,ER30,1932 Over 2,000 people attended the Seaforth fair where the largest indoor exhibit in years was shown. Every class was well filled; cattle displays above. average and races and other track events were interesting. Two gentlemen attending a softball dance at Cardno's Hall, returned to the cloak room to discover some person unknown had stolen their hats. Both hats were brand new and were a rare bargain for whoever took them, Five cars of gypsies paid an official visit to Seaforth. The ladies of the band paraded down main street, canvassing each store as they went. In half an hour they were on their way again. What the "take" was. no one seems to know. Janet Doig, daughter of Mr. and Mrs, W.L.M. Doig of Tuckersmith, near Kippen, found an odd shaped apple. The apple had two distinct eyes, two inches apart, at the bottom and two stems which merged into one stem about. an inch long. It looked like the apple had grown as if glued together. A car accident occurred between Brussels and Walton when Miller McCarter and W. 'Love of Ethel sideswiped, No one was injured, but the cars suffered considerable damage. All the tires blew out on the McCarter car. No charges have been laid. NOVEIbirlER8,1957 Seaforth firemen found Hallowe'en to be a busy time as they answered four calls in 36. hours. An alarm was phoned in from McKillop near Slabtown, but there was no sign of fire. A storage barn on the farm of Warden Haney was destroyed several hours later, Dense smoke resulted when fumes ignited in a pit in Rowcliffe Motors. A large tire was bursted in the centre of the Egmondville bridge. The asphalt melted, resulting in a hole, the size of the tire, Special services marked the re -opening of Zion Church, McKillop. Months of work by congregation members was reflected in a completely renovated building. Minister of the church is Rev, A.M. Amacher, Morris township will honour its war dead of two wars and former township officials, from 1856 to 1956, when plaques bearing their names will be unveiled at the township hall. Five Huron County students attending the University of Western Ontario were awarded bursaries by the county scholarship commit- tee. They include Donald Deering, RRI. Staffa, Jdhn D. Hoover, RR3, Brussels and" - George Wright, Auburn. A report presented to Hensall council noted that four per cent of taxes are still outstanding. Of a total tax roll of 552,868,05 only 52,546.74 remains to be collected, A dejegatin from the Legion rqucsted a rebate on their taxes. Rest and recreation while she's away In a war, front-line troops who have been o particularly hard pressed for some time by qiigciQ o p[Vg@" the enemy, are occasionally given a spell orU ll 11 R & R behind the lines Rest and Recreation 5 sa• It gives them a chance to get clean„ to - Jgyo6D ' sleep a decent sleep, to eat some real food instead of something resembling dog -food out of a can, and perhaps even get a fcw cold beers or watch an old movie. Then, supposedly rested. they go back to the front lines, the fear. the filth, the lousy grub. and the physical effort and indignities involved. Well. I've just had 12 days R & R. and it was great. Now I'm back in the front lines again. and as General Sherman said, "War is hell," My wife was away for 12 whole days. which I devoted to Rest and Recreation. My kind. But mine was a little different from the typical R & R of an army unit. Normally. while serving in•the front lines of the domestic war. I'm clean. I sleep decently. the grub is excellent. there is no filth. and the only problem is the constant harassment of the Top Sergeant. my old lady. During my R & R days, I did the opposite to what soldiers do. Let myself get dirty (i didn't shave. wore old, shabby but comfortable clothes. didn't make the bed once, slept in ms underwear. I slept like a Ing. but on my own terms, from about 4 a.m. until noon, or 6 a.m. until afternoon. Or whenever I felt like it. • I ate well, but not in the same manner in which 1 cat pn the frond lines: Meat, potatoes, vegetables and dessert tor dinner; a simple breakfast of a boiled egg or a banana and tea. "And don't forget your vitamin pills." Nope. I had bacon and eggs for dinner. I had ice cream and peaches for breakfast. if 1 felt like it. If I didn't 1 had apple strudel and pears. or maybe just a hunk of cheese and a glass of beer. None of this noon•hour for lunch, At three in the afternoon. I night settle down to a good book, and a big plate of headcheese, a huge dollop of cottage cheese. a dill pickle. a rosy tomato, right out of a friend's garden, cut into chunks (my wife likes them sliced) and half a can of cold pork and beans. A good protein diet, Occasionally. I'd splurge on a frozen food meal, but they're generally pretty lousy and very expensive. And another trouble is that I read the directions. and forget them. or get engrossed in a hook or newspaper. As a result they were overcooked and overflowing into the oven. la cardinal sin). or they were half -raw and 1 threw them out. And another difference from the soldiers hat I didn't watch any old movies. 1 don't think the TV set was on more than twice during this golden period. Thus, 1 didn't quibble with anyone about what we'd watch, which I do on the home front. I didn't watch nuthin', and I'm sural missed nuthin'. What 1 did do was gout a couple of movies at the local cinema, all by myself. My wife just won't go because she falls asleep after 10 minutes. She suffers from insomnia. and can sleep only in movies, on boats, trains, buses, or aircraft. on none of which 1 can close my eyes. One of the most restful parts of my R & R period was sitting in the backyard, feet up, reading a good escape novel. No guilt feeling, nothing to do hut bat away the odd wasp. Another was reading the morning paper, perhaps at three in the afternoon. without just sitting there with the thing on my knees, listening to all the troubles about our children, her father, the upcoming wedding, her lack of sleep, and my general shortcomings as a husband and father. Another was forgetting about money. I just piled all the bills on thc counter in the kitchen, and 'put them out of my mind. She likes paving hills, I abhor it, Another was thc telephone. If I felt like answering it. I did. If !didn't I didn't. For me. the telephone is one of the great sores in modern society, Every time it rings. some body wants something. It never rings to bring you good news. I answered•it a few times found the caller had a wrong number and quit. All in all, it was Elysium. A quiet trip to thc library to pick up four more books, a coffee in my favorite place. a little shopping. a quiet dinner of cucumbers, ham and tomatoes and a couple of hard•boiled eggs, a quiet read until four in the morning. Rut paradise were not cnow, Despite the fact that 1 washed four days of dishes. ran the vacuum over the Floor, and made the bed, 1 was caught in the act. I knew exactly when her bus was coming in. 1 was to meet it. Despite this, and due to my sleeping habits (I'd had one hour the night before), 1 had a fine dinner. Caen fell deep into the arms of Morpheus, and missed the bus. She was, shall we say. purple with rage. Then she checked the garbage pail. and found there were only rwo little hags in it. It's usually full. This convinced her that I'd been too lazy to cook a meal and had hcen eating out all the time. All hell broke loose. Imagine being subjected to a tirade because you haven't filled the garbage pail. Next time she's away, I'll have three garbage bags full of empty mickeys, frozen food boxes. and great bundles of corn husks Canada is blessed by its diversity 3c@J6hd • h @ Tcc@nw It was an exhausting. exciting, exilerat ing weekend for about 400 people from across Canada who took part in the Ontario Arts Council's ( (intact conference. Pcoplc from cities and towns and villages from every corner of the province were at the convention looking at dozens of talented groups of performers which sill he turning up on the hundreds of entertainment series in the province that have changed the face of 'small town entertainment in thc last decade While it was hard work for those of us ss ho were Iry ing to figure out just which of the many talented artists would hest fit Um) the needs of the local community, it was also an exciting and broadening experience Otic utn't help but get a feeling of confidence in the future of the country when you can see s„ many talented young people in one place HOW DiVERSE The four days and nights of work also gave all of us a glimpse at just how diverse our country is. We saw performers from Ontario who performed ancient Celtic music 411 bagpipes and drums, saw puppets telling ancient Hebrew legends performed by puppeteer who immigrated to Canada from Israel. heard traditional French Canadian music from northern Ontario and Ouebe. stomped our feet to Maritime fiddle musi and heard tales of loggers and fur traders Ill frontier Canada, Few countries have set out so detcrminedls to cultivate diversity as Canada has. In thc last decade and a half our governments have encouraged the celebration not just of the English and French culture of thc founding races but the multiculturalism of the dozens of nationalities who have brought their skills and traditions to Canada. We have come to terms with the immense size of Canada hs promoting regionalism. telling people of v X( jqh Cape Breton Island not to try to he more like i orontonians but to res el in their differences. BROADENING The value of al: this is the broadening effect it has on us living in s,'4fi a country, Fear of the unknown is 4114 of the I•irgcst reasons Iordistrust. bigots. hate and cnntue,. closed societies living orals w rah their own kind, hegin to fear anything Hess and unknown to them. Will it threaten the comfortable stability of their Itfcstsle? That kind of fear is esi(knccd every time there is a new wave of immigration to a country Irish immigrants. driven from their homeland by the potato famine in the mid 1800s arrived in ( anacla to signs that read "No dogs or Irish allowed". The sign staved the same and only the nationality was changed for Chinese, llkranians and more. the sign may have gent hit the sentiment was still there on the part 4f many when the Pakistanis or the Vietnamese hoar people arrived in our own day. Remember when the words Displaced Portion were shortened to IIP and become a derogatory term following World War II? But the opposite of diversity was experi• cnced by those of us watching those entertainers perform in Toronto. We could sec the similarities in people from different parts of the country. in the traditions from different parts of the globe. Clapping hands to the heats of various kinds of music, wiping tears away because of the sad parts of stories made us see. not how different people were, hot how much alike they are. In many ways one can use the same example as is c"metimcs used to differentiate the optimist from the pessimist when one talks about cultures. Pic optimist looks at a glass halifilled with water and says it's half full while the pessimist says it's half empty. I'he broadminded person lodks al people around the world and sees hoss Mitch alike Iho are. the bigot hooks and secs only the diff -I -owes and fears the•nt So it has been a brave and challenging path our leaders hcoc taken in truing to keep alive the traditions of the culture's and the regions that made Canada. Ifni experiment. if it works. can stake ( anada one of the most exciting and understanding countries in thc world. Yet there arc also dangers. There arc dangers that in seeking to encourage diversity in order to hrnaden peoples' minds. our governments may also promote closed mindedness on the part of sonic The culture of our ancestors was no hettcr than our ms n Pcoplc in the closed societies of the old worlds could he lust as bigoted and prep.' diced as any bigot sxe have ill Canada Codas Irish hated English to the point of fanaticism. Pakistans arc just as prejudiced in their old country as they accuse Canadians of hetng here. The danger of what can happen can he seen in the encouragement of rcgtonalism in Canada. tinder gocrnment blessing. re• gions from Newfoundland to the West has (- turned inward to the point they now think of themselves by their region before their nation. The very diversity the government sought to encourage has turned into wall building and resentment. It's a tricky course to follow but if Canada can pull it off it swill he an even more blessed land. --`Grants follow child? 7© t IC@ @'J©' Once again the yellow buses swarm all over Ontario daily to transport 500,000 students to and from schools that offer a wide variety of learning opportunities. Despite the high cost of education and occasional criticism of the system, we do appreciate the fact that schools arc becoming increasingly more sensitive to the needs of individual students. Bill 82 is a good example. We should also he thankful that we live in a country that allows parents a choice in the education of their children. Canada ascribes to a United Nations declaration that "parents have a prior right to choose the education they deem best for their children " In Ontario, for instance parents have the right to decide whether their child (rent shall attend public. Roman ( atholic, .lowish. Baptist. or other parentally controlled schools. Most of us arc familiar enough with the public schools, since that is where most of us send our children. We arc also well aware of the Roman Catholic "separate" schools Please turn to page 1