Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1983-04-27, Page 2r- A'�Ir 3:'huoii: LT. tf4i1t Slnc* t86d,. Servlpp t ,e Qotgin nFty first 'immolating B ruiNgIsTtlist i founded 1Sy2 12 MelnS! • 527-0240 Published at:SEAFORTH, ONTARib every Wednesday morning Susan White, Managing Editor C.D. "Doug" Worrall, Advertising Manager c:›n Jocelyn A. Shrler, Publisher Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspaper Association and Audit Bureau of Girculatlon A member of Me Ontario Press Council Subscription rates: Canada St 7.75 a year (in advance) outside Canada S50. a year (in advance) Single Copies • 50 cents each • • SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY{ APRIL 27, 1983 Second class mall registration number 0696 Understandingneeded It's niceand liberal and•humane; it's even official provincial government policy that both ex -psychiatric patients and mentally handicapped adults should be out In the community, fully integrated into ordinary daily life. Trouble is the community, the ordinary public doesn't want people with • problems taking part in ordinary life. Because we are, scared, we aren't educated about the problems either group faces and we fear for the worst. If you doubt this, announce that a group home for mentally retarded adults or for ex -psychiatric patients is coming to your neighbourhood. Then watch the fur fly. • It's a subject that's of particular interest to Huron County. A number of elderly former psychiatric patients were removed last week from Heather Gardens in Vanastra. Although most concerned health care professionals appear to feel the accommodation was not good, the patients were there because there wasn't much in the way of an alternative. A large number of mentally retarded people will also face an uncertain future when the Bluewater Centre in Goderich is closed at the end of October. The province wants to close institutions like this, because integration of the • retarded is felt to be the best way of life for them in the long run, And of course, to cut costs. Both are admirable goals, but we've felt for some time that the province isn't being fair with institutio altzed people and their families or with the general public. That's becaus at the same time as it's closing institutions, the government is doing noth' g to educate the public about the community's responsibility to the peoples 's.ynceremoniously dumping out into the real world. ) Finally the province has begun the massive public education campaign that will be necessary before most people will acknowledge that citizens who are "permanently or temporarily disabled deserve as much community participation as they can handle, rather than being out of sight, out of mind, in big institutions. Ontario's health ministry has announced a $1.5 million information program, aimed at public acceptance of psychiatric outpatients in their communities. it's long overdue. For 20 years it's been policy here to get people out of hospitals and back intothe community. Ontario ctbsed 75 per cent of its psychiatric beds and claimed the money was put into community care. That community care, from support for ex -patients, to educating the public to accept them, has been inadequate. Health Minister Larry Grossman acknowledged this, saying "All the (community) facilities we could put in place won't be any good if they are in a hostile environment." The information program, called "A Caring Community is the Answer", hopes to raise community awareness about mental health and mental illness and to help patients return to live in their own communities. Workshops, public speaking avid advertising on the theme are planned by the -Canadian Mental Health Association. Similar programs are needed to been de -institutionalized. For glowing promises of fuller live want them, is a cruel joke. - S.W. plain the needs of other groups who have move them out of hospitals and centres with , into communities which don't understand or The dam and the .future The Brussels dam, whether to repair or let it crumble, has become a major topic. The booming village of 1879 has made a turn -around 100. years later. Brussels has lost all its industry. Service clubs, with the co-operation of the public are attempting to make Brussels a viable village by concentrating on recreation. Over the past five years, over $800,000 was spent constructing a new community centre; approximately $30,000 has been used to upgrade the ball diamond, install a recreational playgrouil'd and build new tennis courts. Brussels is unique because of its location along the Maitland River. The former grist mill, dam and mill pond remain, providing a historic landmark. Unfortunately, part of this history is slowly eroding. The following is a quotation from the 1879 Historical Atlas of Huron County, "The location of Brussels is favourable, located on the Maitland River, everywherea magnificant stream. The magnificent water power and general favourable surroundings, including a rich soil, gave William Ainley, pioneer of the village, faith in the "manifest destiny" of his choice. "In addition to the Brussels Steam Fire Engine and Agricultural Works which employs 50, other industries include: two steam and water gristing and flouring mills; custom foundry; one water and one steam sawmill; Steam planing mill; steam carding mill; furniture factory; six blacksmith and 10 carriage shops; two pump factories; a tannery; steam flax mill; three merchant tailor establishments; a number of boot and shoe shops; millinery and dre3s making establishments and a corset factory. "Brussels is classed as alive railroad town of substantial present resources and great future promise. The character and enterprise of its citizens is such as will not allow it to retrograde, but keep it even in advance of the spirit of the times, and in the race for empire bring it out second to none." Unfortunately, Brussels was slowly becoming none a few years ago. The residents and service clubs realized if Brussels was to be, the asset to stress was recreation. The village now boasts recreational facilities which are "second to none." At a recent public meeting concerning Its fate, 90 per cent wanted to keep the dam, but cost of the project and payment of the village portion was vague; Concern was voiced that costs should not be applied to the tax roll if the repairs were to be made. Some feel the issue was cut and dried before the public meeting. In fact, council was leery about giving the go-ahead on a project of such magnitude and went to the grassroots for an answer to a $60,000 question. Residents seemed to favor a donation -style approach if service clubs undertook the task of raising funds. Others felt the dam served no purpose other than being something to look at. The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority does not consider the dam of benefit for flood control. The dam would only benefit recreation If repaired. It seems unlikely Brussels will attract any major industry In the next several years. Recreation should be considered an alternative and should be used to the fullest advantage. The dam, located close to most recreational facilities, would be the Icing on t OplOcx1 • fi DOG OBEDIENCE CLASSES are being held at the Seaforth and district community centres every Wednesday evening for a 10 week period. Instructors are Joe and Janet Lobb, Hrucefleld and Philip and Nola Bradley, Clinton. Approximately 30 dogs and their owners attend the class which started April 13. The dogs evert had a go al posing for the camera, although some were offended by the click of the shutter. Shown from the top left is Marshall owned by Bonnie Westlake; Tara, a German Shepherd owned by Rick Snell and Lou Bundy with fluffy faced Maggie. Bottom, from left are the Great Dane Cl-gi owned by Jack ColquI oun; Rick Snell and Tara; and Bonnie Westlake with her friendly sheepdog, Marshall. (Wasslnk photos) Is your life too busy? There The people who say there's nothing to do in small towns have never lived in ane. It's getting so busy around here that you hae, to wonder (or'somegne, who needs Solitude as often as I do h'as to wonder) what we're all up to. I mean. the other night a friend said he was considering playing floor hockey at the arena. "But that would mean I'm out five nights out of seven...", so he'd reluctantly filed that away for another year. And lately our social calendar has looked - like the Christmas rush. Old friends, surprise parties. people moving, graduations. all of it fun. hut it's starting to wear. When you're in the newspaper business and start talking about getting back t'o work so you can have a rest, you know you're in trouble. Summer looks like more of the same. Two family reunions. both of them weekend -long affairs. visits from friends who will only venture into Western Ontario in the summer- time (they've been snowed in before); the arena opening which oughta be the biggest bash this town has • seen in a long time; a fascinating theatre season at Blyth and on and op. You know all about it, your calendar likely Wks about the same. There arc all the personal activities, hut, a good number of the communitywide things we're all involved with are fund raisers. The whole community gets together to Remeniber This is neither an Old Home Week nor a Remembrance Day column. It is merely a desperate attempt to catch up with my correspondence. triggered by a week'; holiday. in which 1, at first tentatively. then frantically. pawed through the unanswered letters on my desk. Oh. yes,'.have a secretary. But she's not worth a diddle. She's great on emptying ashtrays. sorting my desk until 1 can t find anything. and telling me 1'11 never be a writer until 1 learn to change a typewriter ribbon. She also serves a great cup of tea when I am scriptorially constipated, and fending off phone calls when 1 sit before the infernal machine in a catatonic state, But she simply won't get down to it, and write my column for me. What's the point of having a secretary if you have to do the dirty work yourself? Especially when she's practically a blood relative! your wife? Back to the letters. We'll work from about now hack through a year or two. A letter from Orest Woychuk of Wain. wright. Alta•, hit me where it hurts. He'd read a column in which I referred to his brother, Roman, "Chuck", an old P.O.W. buddy. Chuck is dead; flew into a hill down in Quebec in 1957. We'd planned, in our young romanticism, to go to Yucatan. Mexico, when we got nut of prison.camp. are solutions RO nClr c@t hops 'eO gay by Sugc3n WM have a good time, and incidentally. raise a feW bucks. And yqu know that recent cliche around here about a liquor licence being absolutely essential for a local event...the money that's raised from the bar is the money the sponsoring organization counts on to finance their year's good work. EXCHANGE CHEQUES Exhaustion and a rapidly filling calendar prompts me to suggest that those who buy tickets and attend annual fund raising events simplify things a lot by simply exchanging cheques at the beginning of each year. You know, the Lions will cancel one of their special events and all the Optimists who usually attend will give them the price of a ticket plus the estimated profit on what they'd probably drink: And vice -versa. It's simpler, yes, but those events that the service clubs and other Seaforth and district boosters organize are a lot of fun. The solitude and downturn in community spirit that would result fron an exchange of cheques could be fatal. More than just dollars are raised at these special events, and we all know it. Another possibility that a couple of us discussed -at a weekend get-together is dividing up a bit. There'd be a lot more energy per couple, we decided, if sometimes spouses went only to what they were personally interested in, rather than always tagging along, with the partner who has the special interest. That would mean he could stay home from her high school class reunion. She'd go and have a whale of a time, he'd be spared all those conversations about people he never knew and likely never would. GO IT ALONE? He'd save up his energy for his ball league banquet, and he could go to that on his own, because she doesn't know anything about baseball or the team's fortunes, and resists trying to learn. We are a couple oriented society. but at times, you've got to admit. one half the pair is raring to go while the other is a definite drag on the proceedings. 1 think it's a great idea, onh that would probably make us enjoy those events we attend as a couple a whole lot more. But 1 have to sell it at home. If 1 pick the right event, it shouldn't be at all difficult. And then there's the extreme solution. Our family practised it last summer. Completely worn out from personal and business turmoil we made nu wAmmitments, outside of work • ones, all summer long. We didn't,gttenc)what we should attend. We didn t even do -the things that we love to do. We didn't invite anyone over, we missed family reunions and set 'ogethers of long lost friends. A couple of months of social withdrawal seemed essential for our sanity and so, we took them. I'm the first to admit, we missed a heck of a lot. We're a little envious when we hear about the great ball game and barbecue we missed out on, and our one and only chance to see a performance at Blyth that will never be repeated, to give but two examples. 1t was a luxury. and it was a sacrifice too. But we sat in the sun and mended. We went to bed early and cut•. down on our booze consumption. We didn't see people much and . we missed them. Needless to say, we won't do it again this summer. We may not do it again for years. But when the demands of the calendar get you a little more drawn out than what you know is healthy, it's good to know that desperate solution exists. You may have to use it some day too. And as long as everyone doesn't opt out at once, there's no harm (and some personal stock- taking good) done. Chuck? He flew into a Quebec hill Sctgcm ©Ind opkg, by BEM Chuck .was reckless and violent. 1 could have predicted his end. 1 was reminded of him when I read a dedication to a novel; "To the victims of the Great Wear; among whom are the survivors." One of his favorite sayings was, "If you sleep fast enough, you can get five or six hours sleep in two hours." Orest says, in understatement, "He was very restless on his return from overseas — there's no need to explain why — you both were there and went thru it all." Chuck had three wives. and his brother says they, ' a hard time catching up with him", because. "My home is where i hang up my hat for a few moments." Poor girls. Poor Chuck. Here's one from Jack Seeley, Hay River. N. W.T. Yes. Jack I'm guilty. 1 ani the guy you worked with on the old Hamonic on the upper Great Lakes in 1937-38-39. But 1 am no longer the fellow you recafl as "A handsome and intelligeht young man from Perth. Ontario by the name of Bill Smiley." We were both stupid to be working for one dollar a day, 12 hours a day, 30 days a month. And I am not handsome, tnerely distinguished. You were the handsome onl, with your lean face, blond hair. Remember Peachy diving off the hurricane deck? Remember Capt. Bill t aylor flouncing around like a French gigolo. wooing the lady passengers in an aura of sweat and booze? He wound upas a bartender. after the S.S. Noronic burned. And another from Bob Love. somewhere in Alta. (envelope lost). a long and friendly and warm letter of reminiscences and shared experiences. • And another from Mrs. Jay Webster of Lake Francis, Man.. which tells a lot about the state of Canadian publishing. book -sell- ing. and Winnipeg as a cultural centre. "Would enjoy reading the books you mention, Boys, Bombs and Brussels Sprouts by Doug Harvey. and Terror in the Starboard Scat, by Dave McIntosh. After asking on the average of once a month in the Cole Book Stores in Winnipeg, 1 was told it wasn't on the order form so couldn't be ordered. Somebody must be failing in their job if these books aren't available in Toronto." Somebody i;. lady. Canadian publishers. notoriously timorous, would rather spend money on public relations for their name than pushing books with merit, but without a big -name author. Canadian book sellers are generally subsidiaries of American or British chains. Most them couldn't name ten Canadian writers to savetheir souls. in line with that. i recently received word, via my principal, that the school board wants me to write a "rationale" for two fine Canadian books 1 put on my list: "Lives of Girls and Women '. by Alice Munro, and "The Wars" by Timothy Findley, Both of these have been widely acclaimed. Both are works of art: Both were printed and written in Canada by Canadian writers. And 1 must write a "rationale" for their accept- ance. The Board doesn't have to write a "rationale" for questioning them. 1 do. for suggesting them. So much for supporting Canadian writers. More letters. A card from my daughter, almost three years old. "i was thinking of you a lot as your 60th birthday approached. 1 love you a lot. Always have. Always will. I halls just begun to be aware of the things you have taught me: strength, perseverance, tolerance and humour." Thanks a lot, baby. Just went through the old cheques. Sure enough. And eleventy-seven other letters. 1'1) get at them during the summer holidays, but don't let that stop you. 1 need nourishment. Drop a line and let me know that my secretary is not the only one who reads this column. natural resources and Maitland conservation authority should be approached concerning a fish ladder. Even in its sad state, the dam still offers hours of leisure to the young Brussels fishermen. If repairs are approved, the authority should be asked to build a picnic pavilllon on their park land. The park should be upgraded to attract visitors to the village. If the dam is saved, then council and the authority should look into uses for the tormer grist mill. Some feel the authority should repair the dam without the co-sponsorship the cake. The village must look ahead. If not, it will continIe to die a slow and painful death. A repaired dam would be a connecting link for the recreational facilities and the now little -used conservation park. Picnic tables could be Installed on the proposed artificial Island. There is a possibility of an unsupervised swimming area. The ministry of of the village. Estimated costs show the village will be responsible for $60,000 of the repair bill or 20 per cent bf the cost. The authority cannot receive funding through normal channels because the dam is not considered a flood control area. If the authority did repair or replace the dam, without co-sponsorship, the village would be responsible for 15 per cent of the bill. But, the village portion would likely be more than $60,000. Through a flood control"Orogram, the authority would probably build a completely new structure. The cost would be phenomenal. Brussels now has the opportunity to keep the dam and to promote It as a tourist attraction. The village must do something before it"retrogrades" ally further. If the people come, Industry may follow. Instead of being pessimistic, the village should have an air of exhuberance, vitality and optimism. The service clubs are doing a great Job. The rest of the village should ask, Is Brussels' recreation potential worth saving? 1 r