Loading...
The Huron Expositor, 1989-12-27, Page 2Faliimposnor SINCE 1860, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FIRST Incorporating The Brussels Post Published in Seaforth, Ontario Every Wednesday Morning • .l• tt L The Expositor is brought to you each week by the efforts of: Pat Armes. Paula Elliott, Terri -Lynn Dale, Dianne McGrath and Bob McMillan. ED BYRSKI, General Manager HEATHER ROBINET, Editor Member Canadian Community Newspaper Asspc. Ontario Community Newspaper Association Ontario Press Council Commonwealth Press Union International Press Institute Subscription Rotes Canada '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, :113ecernbet .27, 1939 Editorial and Business Offices - 10 Main Street, Seaforth Telephone (519) 527-0240 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario. NOK TWO Happy New Afear New Year's Day is usually welcomed in with a raucous din. Noise- . making on 'this holiday is one of the earliest and longest continued customs known to man. And the idea of all the noise and hilarity is said to have come from India and Babylon. Our modern New Year's is also filled with noise. In Times •Square, in New York City, there is the noise of wailing sirens, pealing of bells, blow- ing of car horns and tooting of whistles and of course, the shooting off • of fire crackers.. Many noises were made in earlier years in the thought that evil spirits were being driven away for the new yea,, Today's firecrackers are bought . just for the. sake of excitedly .welcoming a new year - something different to do other than the usual' hum -drum of work and study. Whatever type of celebration you intend to employ on New Year's Eve, be it the traditional boisterous kind, or a more subdued version, our wish is that it bring you all good things for 1990. Happy New Year Add safe to happy In recent years, lobby groups, businesses, producers of alcoholic beverages and various levels of government have spent huge sums of money on public -education advertising campaigns using a variety of means to get across a single, simple message .- "Don't Drink and Drive". It is now beginning to appear that such efforts have not been wasted. The message is finally sinking in. It appears to have been an excellent holiday season in Seaforth. There have been few incidents of vehicle accidents, and few motorists found to be in violation of laws prohibiting drunk driving. Perhaps this indicates a heartening trend toward sobriety on the highways. People are at last learning that the consequences of drunk driv- ing far outweigh the convenience of travelling home from a party in their own vehicle. It's just not worth it. Of course it never has been worth the risk, in terms of the potential danger to the impaired driver, not to mention the innocent motorists who must share the road with him. Yet, it seems, it took the instigation of con- stant random spot checks and ever -stiffer penalties to get the message through. The spectre of highway tragedy should have been enough. Impaired driving, while drastically reduced in recent years, is far from obliterated. It's up to everyone to drink responsibly, use designated drivers or taxi service when there is question of impairment and make sure the trend toward safe motoring continues. Let's start this holiday season. Let's have a happy, and safe, New Year! Health, happiness and love As always this post Christmas column is a difficult one to write, most probably because it has to be written in actual fact, prior to the big event itself. Because Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on those two days that the staff at The n Expositor puts the paper to bed each week, this column and ultimately the paper pelf, are being tucked m a lit- tle earlier than usual - on December 22 to be exact. However... Since I am unable to read the future, I cannot regale you with stories of the Christmas morning frenzy at mom and dad's place. I can't lapse into lengthy descriptions of sleepy-eyed adults, clad in last year's fast fading flannels, collapsed in front of the fireplace at the crack of dawn, and tearing into brightly -colored parcels hike over -activated children. Nor can I deny or confirm the annual ritual of my "supposedly adult" sister, who finds it difficult to sleep through the night on Christmas eve, and therefore launches an invasion on the bedrooms of all residing at the house - usually at some inconceivable hour of the morning. I can't expound on the wake-up call that will be placed to my brother and sister-in-law, urging them to cast off the warm blankets of their bed, and get their SWEATSOCKS bodies over to the house, so the December 25th festivities can begin. Again at a rather inconceivable hour of the a.m. I can't detail the breakfast that usual- ly follows that happy chaos, the one that will more than likely, despite protesta- tions from mom, be replaced by the ma- jority of us with the chocolate treats and clementine oranges found at the bottom of our stockings. I can't provide a commentary on the fashion show that usually ensues, as each of us present, fords it necessary to donn all of the attire we have just released from its wrappings. I can't tell you about the games that will be played, the puzzle that will be undertaken, and the enticing aroma of turkey and all the fixings that will sift through the air. However, I have no doubts that all of the above will happen - in some form or another• it usually rtnn-•fnr 1" reason, I am thanktui. 1 have uer . w blessed over the years, and T preciate it- And at Chrlsuua-,.unm than any other I suppose, I realize it that much more. This year, in view of the suffering worldwide - the farm i lies conflict and wa • • a ❑ defense of dif! senseless slaughte, ticularly thanF-' 1, - l , L' , - I Ii warmth of he ,e, for ht. li - laness, for peace, and ^,o • c: ability to gather as a family on such rasions as Christmas, enjoy one an, presence, and experience a love that goes beyond the season. Mywish for everyone, is that the deaf of Christmas runs ove- i- ' me new year, and that the 1990s . , .g all the can in the way of health, happiness, an.: love - on a daily basis. - ,' L✓ET`(Ell AVE YOUR EtJER&Y, 130Y 1 WHEN TalEt cut THE RAIL.5 ANY JArII THE HI&HLUPIYi YOU'LL GET WRUNG Oire BEFORE YOUR TIME .:d Paws to consider... The zoo expandeth. A little .while ago, I was bemoaning the fate of my houseplants. "Good Grief," you were probably thinking, "she doesn't seem to have much luck with living things. I hope she doesn't have pets." Well, for about three years now a cat by the name of Fracas has put up with me. She's a very tolerant beast,, and small for a cat. I always thought that she was just that way naturally, but after considering the nil growth rate of my plants, I'm starting to get a little worried. But now we are three. This year, I was given a puppy for Christmas. I wanted a smallish dog, and if the mass of any other living things that I've nurtured is any in- dication I might get my wish. But with my Continue to strive for communism fall Dear Editor: Hope for the "Captive Nations" of Eastern Europe, who have, for so many years, suffered Soviet domination, rose this past week as East Germans, - literally with their bare hands, - tore down that symbol of Soviet oppression: "The Berlin Wall." And, - across the free world men and women who, for close to half a century, have lived through the long days and devastating nights of exile allowed their hearts to lift in hope: - hope that now ... finally ..- at long last ,.. their homelands would be free: - free of. Soviet domination ..- free of the heavy yoke of communism. Now, as the Free World turns, in con- cern and generosity, toward the captive nations behind the Iron Curtain, let us remember, that, it is not enough that a few holes be punched in the Berlin Wall; nor, that Hungary opens its "Iron Curtain" to allow free access to the West; or, that the Communist Party falls from power in Poland; we, in the free world must con- tinue to strive for the fall of communism and for a free, democratic Eastern Europe with the right of total independence from Soviet rule; and with self-determination and economic freedom. Julia Eckert -MacLean President "Canadian Friends of the Baltics" Sudbury, Ont. To the Editor: NOTE: A native of Seaforth, Julia is a poet, teacher and free lance writer living in Sudbury, Ont. She is recipient of the "Pro Merito Award" presented by the "Latvian Free World Federation" for her efforts, through her writings for the past 26 years, to help free the Baltic States from "Occupation and Foreign Domination" • by Moscow. Author of "I Hear The Call of Latvia" and "Baltic Martyrs Remembered" Julie leaves next fall for Latvia :to:see the little Baltic county. :which 26 years Ago stole:her heart- and iabout Which she has ,written -so much. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Stand All Ye Who Honour Truth .. By Julie Eckert -MacLean 1989 There is no person: nay, not one, Who truthfully can say, "T'is done!" "Our job is past: there is no need Of any further goodly deed;" For, far across the ocean wide, - Behind a "curtain" tall, - Of "iron" made - for freedom, wage, Our brothers; - sisters; - all! All those who fight for freedom, In their brave and valiant land, - Are still beneath the heavy yoke r.® Of communism chained. So! Stand - all ye who honour truth! Stand up! And loud demand: Freedom for our "brothers" In the "Iron Curtain" lands! Then, - though this earth may crumble And the ages pass away, The heroes of democracy Will still have bad their say: And, - generations, yet unborn, In centuries - still to come, Will know that "man" Once stood for truth: Regardless of outcome ... Investigate credientials Dear editor: It has come to our attention that therapeutic massage, soft tissue manipulation, or deep muscle therapy is being practised in the Huron County area by people who are illegally representing themselves as accredited therapists in this field, and making false and misleading claims as to the benefits of these "treatments". Serious negative after-effects, such as rectal :bleeding, have been reported. We would like to inform the general public that any person practising these, or any •other similar treatments in the province of Ontario MUST, under the law, receive training, examination, licen- sing and registration according' to the re- quirements of the Drugless'Frractitioners Act and the regulations set out by the Ministry of Health of this ,province. Certification from ,another ,province or country is ,net transferable without ex- plicit .approval Tortpractise. era y'.of this nature;without-proper acereditatiion is an offence, ;puidshablei on conviction,bv fine and prison sentence. Therapists having received proper ac- creditation are given only ONE title — that of REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPIST. They are required to pre- sent identification as such, upon request, at any time. Registered Massage Therapists are in no way connected to those people advertising "guaranteed" therapeutic treatments through the use of a variety of precarious techniques. We urge the public, for its own protec- tion, roteation, to investigate the credentials of anyone providing treatments of this nature, before risking their health. Any serious after-effects of such treatments should be reported immediately. Please direct any inquiries ;or reports concerning this matter to: The Board of Directors of Masseurs 'rovince ,of Ontario X27 Egtuiton-Ave. c• W., uS.uite 2, 'Toronto, .Ontario M5N • 1A4 (4161 .489-2626 +lv ROUGH NOTES by Paula Elliott luck, Murphy's Law will kick in and some Great Dane or Malamute genes stewing in- side of this cross -breed will stir to life, ex- panding her to the size of my car within seven months. She's already fooled me once. We went to pick out the puppy, and my eye was im- mediately drawn to the smallest of three beagle -cross babies, being mauled and harassed by two bigger brothers. She seemed so quiet and even-tempered, not nearly as big and rambunctious as the two squirrelly males. She even lived up to her promise on the ride home in the car, lying serenely in my lap and waking up once or twice to lick my hand and smile up at me. "What a mellow little dog," I marvelled. My friend and I tossed names back and forth, making horrible faces at each other's suggestions, before Beatrice was settled -on. Bea for short She seemed quiet and Bea -like at the time,. and besides, it doesn't rhyme with "No!" or "Down!". Well, she is marvellous in her own right - she's already 99.8% housebroken after one week - but she's not the placid pup that I brought home. What's the kindest way to describe her? Energetic isn't strong enough. Boisterous? Cheeky. probably a tad conniving, and def nitel_y full of herself. We're having the battle of the bed right now. She wants to be in mine and I want her to be in hers. Stuffed animals are another sore point. I've given Bea four or five of her own t0 %resile with, Out it's no New Year's Da Regardless of race or religion New Year's Day is the only holiday observed by the whole wide world. It is a legal holiday in all the states, and it is the holiday that has often been the day when quarrels were settled, friendships renew- ed, and rich and poor greeted each other the same. New Year's Day is the oldest holiday of all. Many celebrate New Year's Eve with a hilarious note, while others consider the coming year more seriously "taking fun to be given permissio: : • angle something. It's much more sporting to grab my Gund dor '4' pet. It's fresh m mem chase thrown into ue +lust IDL chagrin, I've been for, t - .te all of my own stuffed bee<. ,p - the closet, and I've caug'L. . . aeueung at me. Fracas is a bit ruffled about the set-up, although she's doing her best tr ippear nonplused. She probably figures thw Jne ignores Bea, the silly pest wonder what the dog ano not at home, though. I have a s—sing suspicion that they drop Le , u rade and curl up on the couch together to watch Oprah and a few soaps as soon as I close the the door. I'm consoling myself with the knowledge that Bea won't be a puppy for the rest of her life. In the meantime, I've been follow- ing her around the .apartment with two or three "How to Train Your Puppy" books in hand, like the world's most nervous mother. So far we've aced housebreaking, feeding schedule, chewy bones, shots and baths. There's just one chapter that I can never find in any of these books, though, and that's the one entitled "How to Say No to a Big Pair of Liquid Brown Eyes At- tached to a Small, Furry Body with Flop- py Ears and Soft Paws". If anyone knows the secret, fill me in. y oldest holiday stock" - reviewing mistakes of the past months. Sara C. Woolsey had some good advice when she said, "Yesterdays errors let yesterday cover." Some scoff at New Year's resolutions. We may not keep them all but Alfred Tennyson encourages us: "I hold it truth with him who sings To one dear harp on divers tones That men may rise on stepping stones of their dead selves to higher things." Have an opinion? The Huron Expositor welcomes letters to the editor. They must be signed and accompanied by a telephone number should we need to clarify any information. The .Huron Expositor also reserves the right to edit letters. Letters can be dropped off, at the Huron Expositor office or mail to: The Huron Expositor Box 69, Seaforth, 'Ontario NOK IWO