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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1989-10-18, Page 241 Huron ta'`�� � ° 'O SINCE 1860, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FIRST Incorporating The Brussels Post Published In Seaforth. Ontario Every Werinesdcty Morning The Expositor Is brought to you each week by the efforts of: Pat Armes, Paula Elliott, Terri -Lynn Dale, ®Benne McGrath and Bob McMillan. ED iBYRSICI, General Manager HEATHER R®BINET, Editor Member Canadian Community. Newspaper Assoc, Ontario Community Newspaper Association Ontario Press Council Commonwealth Press Union International Press Institute Subscription Rates: Canado '20.00 a year. in advance Senior Citizens • '17.00 a year in advance Outside Canada '60.00 a year. in advance Single Copies - .50 cents each Second class mail registration Number 0696 Wednesday, October 18, 1989 Editorial and Business Offices - 10 Main Street, Seaforth Telephone (519) 527-0240 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK TWO Forward to the past The federal government's decision to slash VIA Rail service has probably done more to shake up the public than anything since Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's hastily aborted proposal to de -index old age pensions some years ago. Whether people are angry enough to force a confrontation with the government is another question. It's doubtful if the magnitude of the cuts has really hit home yet. Estimates are that the cuts will cost the jobs of 3,500 VIA Rail employee's and the severance benefits will total about $1 billion. And for people who depend on VIA Rail to get around, it's going to cost them a lot of their mobility. Older people who can't• drive (or prefer not to when it's a lengthy trip), post -secondary students who don't have cars, lone parents travelling with children - for many of these, the trains pro- vide a convenient, comfortable way to get around. Air travel may not be a viable alternative for many of them, for a varie- ty of reasons: the cost, health 'considerations or just the fact that planes don't go to the vast majority of small communities and that's just where many travellers - although certainly not all - are headed. Buses are inexpensive, and do hit many "one-horse" towns, but nobody can deny that buses don't have the space that trains do. For the travellers who depend on - or prefer- rail travel, the governmeht cuts a step backwards, to a time when those who couldn't get somewhere on their own simply didn't go - the days before the railroad knit this coun- try together. . And at a time when environmental concerns necessitate the encourage- ment of public transportation, this is possibly one of the government's worst blunders. To a large extent VIA Rail can be said to have brought this on itself. For many years, the compnay had the dubious honor of being widely renowned for surly and unhelpful employees, unexplained delays and general unreliability. Recent PR problems - including allegations that a VIA Rail crew threw a blind veteran off the train by the side of a busy road because he slept past his stop - haven't helped. But it's hard to believe that Ottawa's hack -and -slash response is any kind of solution. GSS. I LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MEA urges feasible approach Dear Editor: RE: 1990 Hydro Rate At its October 16 meeting, the Ontario Hydro Board is expected to decide its rate increase for 1990. The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has recommended a 3.6 per cent increase in HAssMunicipal Association (M.E.A.) urges HydroEto NOT support the OEB's short-sighted approach. The Association has recommended a 5,3 per cent rate increase plus the 2.2 per .cent "government tax" on Hydro's debt, resulting in a 7.5 per cent increase. The M.E.A. argues that the OEB recom- mendation is based on a narrow interpreta- tion of its mandate from the Ministry of Energy to suggest "as low a rate as feasibly possible for 1990." It also does not account for future costs Hydro will incur and that will result in extreme instability. Factors affecting Ontario Hydro's future rates include the - estimated 5 per cent inflation rate; - costs related to delays at Darlington; and the - cost of updating Hydro's aging. transmission and generating facilities. The OEB is on record for its support of rate stability from year to year. But its recommendation proves otherwise. Their 3.6 per cent recommendation for 1990 could mean a 20 per cent rate increase for 1991, The OEB approach could also leave the utility without enough funds to meet its legal debt retirement requirements by 1991. The higher rate suggested by the M.E.A. will allow Hydro to tackle its debt while promoting rate stability. The M.E.A. recommendation does not pass the buck to future electricity users; the OEB recommendation does! The M.E.A. publicly urges Hydro to adopt a long-term and feasible approach in setting its rate. To not do so could jeopar- irripending 9 dine the reliable and cost-effective hydro per cent federal goods and system customers currently benefit from. services tax on electricity, (currently, tax-exempt) ; - 2.2 per cent debt guarantee "tax" the On- tario government has imposed on Hydro's debt: Sincerely, D. Carl Anderson Chairman -Municipal Electric Association Day centre .says thank you Dear editor: The staff at the Huron Day Centre for the Homebound would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank each and every one of our wonderful volunteers for all they have done for us in -the past year. The Huron Day Centre .is an organiza- tion run largely by volunteers. The .peo- ple that volunteer at the '(Centre are very special .people! 'They are -kind:ltearted, thoughtful, caring ,peaple that -constantly give of themselves to make ^the lives of others happier. Their duties are many. Volunteers assist with whirlpool baths, socialize with our .homebound participants, ,Iteelp with exercises, assist in,games ,and -crafts, help with our water :therapy and .bowling programs, serve on our board of ,direc- tors, drive clients to and from the Cen- tre, help to prepare and clean up after meals as well as countless other duties all carried out in a cheerful manner. Our volunteers are always available when needed and are a dedicated group with a sense of commitment, and loyalty, some having voluntered at the Centre for almost the ,entire 12 years we have been open. There ,would ;not be a Baron Day 'Centre ;for the ;Homebound as ,it ,now ex- ists without. our volunteers. As our annual volunteer appreciation night approaches all ;the staff would like to say thank you to all the Huron Day Centre volunteers. You are the ,best! ,Lois 'Fitzgerald Assistant Director Huron Day 'Centre Parents deserve brief respite Welt it appears 'the McIlwraith clan is going to have another wedding. Finally after much harphrg on the sub- ject my "hab' " sister is going to tie the knot Final', after 24 years with mom and dad (with the exception of those university so- journs) my little sister will he leaving the nest. Allison will be living with someone else. (And heaven help him!). I wonder if he realizes what he is getting into. After all, being the youngest and all Allison has had the last few years to grow accustomed to having a bathroom virtual- ly to herself. I'd love to be a bug on the wall, when she attempts to move in her somewhat wide assortment of hair care products. In all seriousness though, this decision of my sister to "marry" couldn't make me happier. (Except that it came so quickly that it didn't allow the rest of us to get in our fair shot of teasing as to that potential outcome). I've never seen my sister more contented or more thrilled with life. She is what one would call truly in love (and she will be most certainly embarrassed by the fact that I commented on it in this newspaper). And as for her fiance, it ap- pears he is every bit as enthralled with my sister, as she is with hire. And per- sonally, I feel he has every reason to be. SWEATSOCKS by Heather Robinet My sister is after all, quite a special per- son, and I can say that, despite the fact that we shared a roof, and a great many other things, for quite a number of years - and some of those things while we were probably least in tune with one another. It's funny how certain announcements make you feel. In one very great sense, I'm thrilled by my sister's impending wed- ding. Yet, in another, it feels quite strange. Suddenly I feel incredibly old, despite the fact that 1, myself, just recently married. Suddenly I've come to the realization that the baby has grown up, and if the baby has grown up, then "what on earth" is happening to the eldest sibling. Certainly I can't just be antiquating in some remote corner of the universe. I wrote already this year on my discovery of grey hair, but this discovery has far more devastating effects, for it can't be colored with a bottle of hair dye. There's no slowing down the growing up process. And if I feel this way, then I can only imagine what kinds of, thoughts and feel - ings are being experiences oy my parents. As thrilled as I am about the news of the youngest's wedding, I'm sure that this news must bring mixed emotions to mom and dad. As the oldest of my family, I have always known that a special bond existed between myself and my parents - after all I had been the one to change their lives, to transform them from a couple to a family. Now, as their third,and final child prepares to leave the nes, it's got to be a difficult time, no matter how joyous. There's no one left, and once full time parents, mom and dad will suddenly find themselves a couple again. (But maybe they've been living for that day all along!) None the less, it is my hope that my parents take advantage of the freedom that will be theirs once Allison is married. Despite the fact that their children will always love and need them, they've earn- ed the right to revert to parenting on a part time basis only. Happy life. LET ME 'GUESS ... SMEEALL (D YARD ARK R► ? YeioilCCrrrtorl OF l*HE NThin=1 Read your face off! I've been reading ever since I can remember, and reading everything that I could get my grubby little mitts on. A good thing, you say? It was debatable at times. I remember having a fit when I was a preschooler and couldn't figure out how to pronounce the word `glass'. I threw the book across the room in a fit of four-year- old rage and broke my mother's best vase. I also remember my frazzled mother reaming out my 16 -year-old brother after I came upstairs blithely chanting the words to the latest Rolling Stones offering. I mean, gee, the lyrics on record album covers were so much fun to read. The printing was small and challenging, and all those nifty words rhymed. What they meant was another story, but they rhym- ed, and it was sure fun to watch Mom's face pinch up like that when I recited them at the dinner table. But on another note, I also remember getting weird looks from the kids in my fifth grade class when I pulled out a copy of 'Oliver Twist'. I felt like some sort of a science project that had gone horribly wrong. "What is she reading?" "She must be a browner!" "What are you, a teacher's pet?" . "Why do you read big books like that? You must be wierd." "Betcha think you're good, dontcha? Keener!" I was crestfallen. And Unbelievable as it may seem, things ROUGH NOTES by Paula Elliott didn't get much better m high school. Because I read so voraciously, I picked up a bit more information on things than class curriculums stated was absolutley necessary. This, of course, was anathema to fitting into the upper echelons of the secondary school social structure. Better to barely pass your, classes` and be invited to the prom than to spend some spare time' doing extra reading on a subject. The label "keener" stuck and stung. And it didn't have to be educational reading, either. When a friend and I began to take the bus into London occasionally to go and scout used book stores for bargains and science fiction tomes, teachers stopped me in the hall and neighbours waylaid my mother on the street, asking if I had begun dating "the Mitchell boy." if I I i "Going into Lon- don to buy BOOKS? Oh, come on...nobody does that!" But I persevered, and read, and read and read. The university library built an entire wing from the proceeds of my library fines. My accumulated books weigh more than all of my furniture put together. I've been blacklisted by book clubs worldwide, and I regularly have at least five books on the go at any given point in time: one in the kitchen, one in the bedroom, one in the living room and two in the can. A drama and a comedy. I can never predict what kind of mood I'm go- ing to be in on the toilet, so I play it safe and wait for the moment to move me. I happened into the Seaforth Library the other night to get my library card, They don't know me very well yet, so they gave me one. I was impressed with the place, let me tell you. Not only will the branch be getting their second computer within the next week, but they have a subscrip- tion to Rolling Stone magazine! The com- puter is exciting, but Holy Cow!!! If it's been a while since you stepped in- to the library, do yourself a favour and stop by. In fact, now would be a great time since October 16-22 has been declared Ontario Public Library week. The Seaforth Branch is holding a "Best Overdue Book Excuse" contest for the kids, and Library Fine Cancellation coupons are being hand- ed out all week. I think I'll go down there incognito about 17 dozen times. I'll be needing all of those that I can get my paws on. Goderich clerk earns $400 in 1889 OCTOBER 18, 1689 Mr. Wm. Mitchell has been appointed town clerk of Goderich in place of Mr. Wm. Campbell, resigned, at a salary of $400 a year. A number of young lads in St. Thomas recently rented a room over Pocock's store with the intention of using it as a rendez- vous for the .winter to smoke and read dime novels. The urchins were short of furniture and raided the barn sof the Methodist church parsonage, and carried off twelve yards of carpet, some stove pipes and a lot of other articles. The .police arrested six of the boys, and the magistrate after severely lecturing them, allowed them to go suspended sentence. Duncan and Duncan clothiers of ;Seaforth announced their Third Special Sale. Items of note: 15 cent dress goods ,at 10 1/2 cents; fine Cashmere jerseys ,at 75 •cents each; heavy ,all -wool grey flannel ,at 19 .eentsiper- yard, .and 'another big lot ,ofline neckties going ,this :tune ;at ,cents each (these are ;worth from 50 to 75 .cents).' OCTOBER 23, 1914 There are still, people ,who figure Ion the war; being 'short, amoug!them,officials;con- ,nected .the iforeign ,etnbassies an I+o11d911, but :those ,who ;seem ;to;.knowlin4 albout.it are not among :these .ntunbers, ,No'doubt the more mien that Britain .and ,her ,suites $ IN THE YEARS AGONE from the Expositor Archives can put in the field the sooner it will come to a termination, but the War Office in London does not seem to expect, that it will be finished before the end of next year. It is expected that work on the Toronto - Hamilton .concrete paved road will be com- menced shortly. The object of this is to establish a 28 mile strectch of road bet- ween the cities upon :whish automobiles can be driven .at the :greatest possible speed and with the least ;possible ,danger, The .Misses (Barker of Goderich have ,a squash grown in their garden ;Which wwieigha 120. pounds. CTot ^20, :1969 From :the ;Seafot 'Golegiate Institute news: The !Girls Athletic ;So iety is ;holding a huge party ,While this .column is ,goitwg to ,press. Although the boys were :not ,agowed ;inside, .a ;large audience of boys ;fought for rpttions ,on :the; fire .escape to ,wdtAess ;this OPPetacle. 'Toronto's -.Waverley !Hotel, ,pt-Spadiha and College, was ,advertising single •room rates of 11.50 ,and up, Northside United Church; Seaforth, celebrated its 62nd Anniversary with a ser- vice and a guest appearance by Rev. R.B. Cochrane, Home Mission Secretary of the United Church of Canada. Stewart Bros. was advertising their new fall fashions, including dresses for $6.95, Angora gloves for $1.00 and winter underwear ging from .39 cents to $1475. OCTOBER 22, 1964 Mrs. Donna Boyes, former Secretary - Treasurer of Seaforth PUC, .will be tried by judge and jury ,at the Huron County eoUrt .on an aa'ientled charge that she stole $4;910.09 from the connission from 1982'84. Mrs, .J.1, IYiclntosh of Tuckers:111th was crowned runner-up in the (inion County Plowmen's Queen of the Furrow contest. Two Seaforth Women, Mrs, Nora Larone and ;Mrs Velma Talbot, were Allied As the reult ,pf ,a two -car Crash seutfh of xvtr. .Pleas are Rdertiwi v in Walton fp „preparation for the 1000 Anniversary of the Duff United Church.