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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1974-01-31, Page 4Phone 235.1331 +CNA TODAY'S CHILD BY HELEN ALLEN THE TORONTOITA SYNDICATE Fred, 4, is small for his age but healthy,'lively and actiVe.liel" has dark hair, dancing brown eyes and olive skin. Tiny at birth, Fred was diagnosed at three months as having Pierre-Robin Syndrome. Children with this condition usually have small mouths, cleft palates and very small chins. Sometimes they are retarded. Fred is not retarded. In fact he is considered an average child. Though he had some early feeding difficulties, he did not need an operation for his palate and he now eats whatever his foster family is having. He will probably need orthodontic work later because his jaws may riot be big enough for his second teeth, though his baby teeth are fine as you can see in the picture. He may also need speech therapy. Fred is alert, quick to learn and well co-ordinated. He runs and climbs with agility. He can turn somersaults and stand on his head. He is hyperactive and sometimes it is hard to slow him but he will usually settle down if somebody will read him a story or play records for him. He also likes drawing and coloring. This young fellow will be a delight to parents who are young; energetic and have lots of patience. Since Fred is used to other children, he will probably do best with brothers and sisters in his adoption home. To inquire about adopting Fred, please write to Today's Child, Ministry of Community and Social Services, Box 888, Station K, Toronto M4P 2H2. For general adoption information, please contact your local Children's Aid Society. • •••••,,'.0":',.:if?i" • LIKES OTHER CHILDREN. • Rural • Industrial • Residential FREE ESTIMATES Call Exeter 235-0909 Valuable exercise Ted Wright's suggestion to have members of Exeter council outline their in- dividual priorities for 1974 turned out to be a most valuable exercise, While some of the projects cited were expected, such as sewers, the discussion did lead to many other suggestions which council members would do well to follow-up in the coming months, The suggestion made by Ted prompted members to see beyond some of the im- mediate needs and this is a necessary part of their administration. It tends to bring into consideration some topics that can be given consideration before they turn into problems. To an extent, the exercise resulted in a bit of a review for members, such as Deputy-Reeve Helen Jermyn's notation that members had been procrastinating on such matters as mobile or modular homes. A look back to see what has been left undone is of equal importance to looking ahead to see what has to be done, However,the whole matter will be of no value if members fail to take action on the suggestions presented. A periodic review of action being taken in some of the priority situations is necessary. Homesick On the right track It's still too early to know whether any positive action will come from the move by Exeter recreation officials to get area communities involved in forming a central recreational committee. Obviously it is not something which can be organized in a short period and the complexities of the project would appear to dictate that it be moved forward at a cautious pace. There are naturally pitfalls as well as benefits, but there is no question but what some programs could be operated on a co- operative basis while they would be im- practical for any one community to under- take alone from the standpoint of cost, facilities or numbers of people involved. Many activities in small communities can not be considered because of the pop- ulation limitations and where this can be overcome by amalgamating services, the residents of all communities involved are the winners: With the populace being given more leisure time, recreation in its broadest con- text must be given more emphasis by all communities, regardless of size. However, those involved would be well advised to dismiss the idea that con- siderable savings are involved, That just won't be the case and any organization founded on economies alone would appear doomed. The benefits to be derived in improved programs and facilities, should be the ma- jor consideration. .. and this is our latest and most expensive line—it smells like gasoline." Injuries prompt questions Straight priorities The problem of the shopping mall in Chatham has simply pointed up the ques- tion that has become acute during the past few years, how to justify urban expansion using farm land. Prince Edward Island has followed the example of Denmark in deciding that agricultural land owned by people not using it to produce food must be made available after one year to persons who will produce food on it. We have watched the best farm land in Ontario, around Toronto, Niagara Falls and now in our own area, covered by asphalt and concrete. In our belated concern about ex- hausting our oil and mineral resources we should not forget that arable soil is also an exhaustible resource. People who can af- ford to buy farms should be forced to use them for something more than a tax deduc- tion, a summer retreat, or a site for winter snowmobiling. — Ridgetown Dominion Should have filmed it for TV You'd think the Smileys could have one tiny grandchild with no more than the usual anxiety and expectancy. Not a chance. They had to turn it into a three-ring circus. Just about the time the wee lad was due to arrive, I provided the first ring. I racked up my car. Not seriously. Just enough so it couldn't be driven. It was during the holidays, and between these and relentless storms, day after day, the repairs took twice as long as they would have nor- mally. No transport. But we had to be there when his nibs arrived. It's a hundred miles away. Result was a nightmare of taxis and buses. There's nothing more dismal than riding a bus in mid-winter. It's either a super-modern one, with the heat turned up so that you are gasping for breath and sweating like a wrestler, or it's an old-timer, with no heat and a draft,that would freeze the brains of a brass monkey, coming in around the window. There's nothing more frustrating than waiting for a cab. It's no problem down town in the city. You can flag one down on the street. But when you are in a remote suburb, you'd be better off with a dog team. We waited 55 minutes for a cab one night, after five phone calls, on each of which I was assured "He's on the way", a pure and downright lie. My daughter, true to family form, provided ring two of the circus. I'm only glad I wasn't there, or you'd be reading my Times Established 1873 obituary instead of a column this week. She began getting signs that the little stranger was developing claustrophobia and wanted to see the light of day. Nothing violent, but enough to send my wife into action, with all guns. "Hang on..We'll be right up." Up meant up to the university apartment where she and her husband are living. It's right out in the country and a brute to get at, unless you have a car. My wife commandeered my 'brother-in-law, and he drove her there. Naturally, the young couple doesn't have a car.' Potential Granny dashed into the building, and was just star- ting up on the elevator, when she heard a disembodied voice asking, "Is there anyone there?" She was more than a little startled. It was the voice of her son-in-law, and it seemed to be coming out of the walls. It was. He and my daughter, the pregnant kid, were stuck in the adjoining elevator, between floors. They weren't stuck because she was pregnant, but because the elevator had ceased to descend. They'd been on their way down. Well, how does that grab you, as melodrama? It's like something you'd see on one of those medical series on TV. If I'd been there, I'd have fainted dead away and been carted off. My wife is made of sterner stuff. She can get hysterical about a cat crapping on a carpet. But when it comes down to real trouble, she's right on, And my brother-in-law is a great man in a crisis. He posted my wife where she could talk to the two kids trapped in the elevator. Then he rounded up the troops: security guards, superintendents, and elec- trician. They tried everything. A half hour passed. Nothing. An hour. Nothing worked. They called the elevator company. It was New Year's Day. A recorded message. Tension grew. It was like a wake. Pregnant woman trapped in stalled elevator. After nearly an hour and a half, my son-in-law, one of the trappees, had an idea. There was a small space at the bottom of their elevator car, but Kim, with her bulging belly, couldn't get through it. There was a little more room at the top. If they could get through, from one elevator car to the other, maybe .. . The rescuers found a panel between the elevator cars. It was removed. The electrician was skinny. He was hoisted up and crawled through the hole. A ladder was hoisted and passed to him. Silence, After a few minutes of this, the rescuers started pounding the wall and shouting. No answer. Panic. They were just about to call the fire department when the kids and the electrician walked Recent events in hockey circles must have some people con- cerned about the dangers, inherent in the sport. Within the last couple of weeks, we've read about two players being killed in accidents on the ice. A youth from Goderich died after being hit by a puck and in Western Canada a 14-year-old died after being struck ac- cidentally on the chest by a stick. Just a short time ago, a young man playing in the local arena lost an eye and during Minor Hockey Days in Exeter over the past weekend, two young players were injured and had to stay in hospital over night. The situation brings a few questions to the fore. First and foremost is quite naturally whether the equipment being worn is being improved to keep pace with the skills and the brawn being exhibited by today's, hockey players. When players start shooting pucks at speeds of up to 120 m.p.h. it is evident that the; average player may not have adequate protection on parts .of his body to prevent serious in- jury. Many players have little control of the path to be followed by the puck once it leaves their stick and this adds to a problem that may not have been evident when hockey equipment was developed. New regulations are being put into effect regarding helmets, and while they're too late for many players who have suffered severe head injuries, it is evidence that those in charge are becoming aware of the dangers. One has only to look at the new head gear to realize just how inadequate the present ones really are. It's unfortunate for some that they're so expensive, but the new helmets are still cheap hospitalization insurance. + + + The second question that has to be aired regarding some hockey injuries is whether or not the game is being played too roughly. Some of the checks we saw youngsters hand out over the weekend made us shudder and in minor hockey the danger is often heightened because of the size difference in players as well as their abilities. One of the questionable aspects of hockey rules is the fact they down the stairs, into the lobby. Using the ladder, they had climbed out of the elevator and crawled through that just-big- enough hole, on to the second floor. Needless to say, joy reigned supreme. ,Laughing and hugging and kissing. Nobody had gone haywire in a nasty situation. The kids had not panicked. In fact, Kim sat on the floor and almost went to sleep. My wife'kept her head, through an hour and a half of mental anguish. My brother-in-law came out feeling like Horatius at the bridge. Well, all turned out fine, But the third ring of the circus was supplied to my wife. First day the baby was home, she was going up to see him, and her own child. A young woman had thrown herself in front of a subway train, and it took my wife three hours to get there. ' Why can't we have a grand- child without all this fooferaw? Oh, well. At least, the first time he crosses the border into the StateS, when he's about sixteen, and one of those Snarly U.S. immigration officers says, "Where were you born?", he won't have to answer, "Duh, in an elevator." tend to penalize players who hinder the progress of an op- ponent and have little regard for practices that can lead to in- juries. For instance, you can get a two- minute penalty for grabbing an opponent's stick to keep him from taking a good shot, while many referees will look the other way when kids fly into the corners to knock an opposing player into the boards. The writer is certainly not in favor of removing all of the "physical" aspect from the game of hockey, but it's high time that minor hockey officials started to crack down on some of the rough and tumble antics that lead to serious injuries. + + + The third major question arising from the recent incidence of serious injuries is whether people involved' are in fact qualified to handle emergency situations. You hockey fans know what, happens when a youngster is hurt? The referee skates over to the fallen player and if the latter does not get up immediately, the referee will generally wave to the bench and beckon help. So, what type of help arrives? In the case of the writer (a minor hockey coach) the help that arrives is useless, although we do feel our team is adequately 50 Yers Ago The S.M. Sanders Manufac- turing Co. have made very marked progress since taking over the Jackson Manufacturing Co. The output has been steadily increasing and new equipment is being installed to add to the ef- ficiency of the factory. The latest addition is a new cloth laying machine. A defective coal oil heater in the north show window of J.A. Stewart made a very bad mess of the window and the articles on display. The heater had been placed in the window to melt the frost from the glass. The heater began to smoke making everything one black mass. An instructive and practical demonstration on shearing, slaughtering and dressing of sheep was given in Exeter Tuesday and Wednesday by W.S. McMullen and W.J. Howard representing the livestock branch of the Dom. Dept. of Agriculture. The demonstration was given in connection with the short courses in agriculture now being con- ducted in town. 25 Years Ago Fred Darling, Jack Doerr, Norman Walper were initiated as members of the Lions Club, Friday evening. Dr. Stuart Stanbury, a native of Exeter, was named national commissioner of the Canadian Red Cross Society, Mr. & Mrs. A.E. Wuerth left Saturday for an extended trip to California. Miss Maude Horton, former principal of Exeter Public School, died suddenly at her brother's home in Oshawa. Ethelene and Eilene Johns who have been employed with the Times-Advocate were married in a double ceremony at Elimville United Church. During the windstorm, Tuesday, the tall flag-pole at the school developed quite a slant. It waS found that the bottom sup- ports had rotted, protected in that regard in that two of our associates have passed St. John Ambulance courses. Other teams are equally blessed, with personnel possessing this valuable training, but all are not as fortunate. The conclusion we have reached after some thought is that the person in charge of the arena should be qualified to some degree and that his service be enlisted when the need arises. This requires training for only three or four people in com- parison to one or two from each team playing at the arena. It should be understood that only a person qualified would make decisions regarding an injured player, a point that becomes important in situations where back injuries are involved. The arena management's responsibility should also include the proper supplies to treat emergency situations. • In addition, we think hockey leagues would do well to enlist the services of a qualified person to teach them a few basics about first aid treatment as it is most applicable for hockey players. After all, prompt and proper attention to an injured player is the most important thing next to preventing that injury in the first place. 15 Years Ago The new Hensall post office on Wellington Street, opened Thursday. Cecil Kipfer is the postmaster. Harry Strang, RR 1, Hensall, president of Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association is presiding at the annual con- vention of the organization iy Toronto this week, Wesley Callcott, Mooresville general store owner, warded off a wild fox with a shovel when the animal attacked him. Earl Greenlee came to his assistance and shot the fox. It was shipped to Hull for rabies tests. This winter is breaking the record nearly every day for snowfall, according to RCAF Station Centralia met. section. Already, over 150 inches of snow has been recorded. , Huron's new MPP C.S. Mac- Naughton took his seat in the Ontario Legislature Wednesday after being introduced to the speaker and members by Premier Leslie Frost. 10 Years Ago Rev. John Boyne told his Presbyterian congregation Sunday there is ample evidence for the cynic to shout that public morality 'is going to hell'. He cited examples of political, business and moral corruption supported by the people. Campbell Chapman has been appointed chairman for the Grand Bend Public Utilities Commission, R. G. Seldon, local 'motor vehicle licence issuer, was rescued by fireman Gary Mid- Alleton from his burning house just as he was overcome by smoke. J.A.D. McCurdy School at RCAF Station Centralia has ap- plied for approval to provide French instruction for its students. David Robinson won the Horne and School Assoc. prize for the best designed crest for Exeter Public School, The other night we got a phone call, from one of our children living 1200 miles away, After we'd exchanged the usual 'how are you', what are you doing? and how's the weather? we asked, "Are you calling for any special reason?" Silence at the other end. "Are you homesick? we inquired further. "Yeah, a little", came the somewhat faltering reply, Homesick! Have you ever been homesick? I have. When I was about 12 my family left me with some relatives for a week and although they showered me with kindness I became so homesick I thought I would die and even now I cannot look back on that holiday dispassionately. One other time, when I was 17 and off at school in a strange city I was almost flattened by waves of homesickness that I could no more control than a tidal wave. Yes, I know about homesickness. Wiser people than I, say it's not all bad. It makes us stop short and revalue the things and the people we've always taken for granted and it can bring from within us deep feelings and resources we didn't know were there. At any rate, H.V. Morton says he came to write one of his best stories out of the black depths of this misery. "I gave way to such a wave of home-sickness as almost shames me now," he says, "and I swore if I ever saw my home again I would never leave it." From out of his memories of things dear to him he set down a beautiful story. Nansen, Norwegian polar explorer, confessed that his party to the Arctic 'conquered everything.., except homesickness'. Homesickness, then, is not something of which to be ashamed. But it is something most of us have to reckon with young, old, poor and rich. We get a hint of this wistful thing in First Kings in the Bible when Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Let me depart that I may go to my own country". Pharaoh said, "But what have you lacked with me that you would want to go to • your own country?" And Hadad answered, "Nothing, never- theless, let me go anyway." It seems he can give no reason ... admits he lacks nothing, yet there must have been an unquenchable yearning for his own in a country where he felt he didn't belong. Someone has said when the prodigal was in the far country, it wasn't' a brilliant oration or A powerful argument that caused him to come to himself and turn for home. It was an over- whelming rush of memories. Man may sink to the pig pen but he's not at home there; he doesn't belong. On the other hand, we may have everything we desire . beauty, company, gay times, food and possessions. We may lack nothing yet our hearts tell us we are not where we belong we are not at home. We are spiritually homesick. St. Augustine said, "Thou hast made me for Thyself, 0 God, and my heart is restless until it finds rest in Thee'. In our restlessness, we need to look into our hearts and listen to them if we are to find the answer to our spiritual homesickness . . . God. SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC Editor — Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh 4WIEMINOSINISNINNIMMEMONEZWIR Advocate Established 1881 Amalg'amated 1924 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation, March 31, 1972,.5,037 SUBSCRIPTION RATES:* Canada $9.00 Per Year; USA $1 1.00 0Marig.0,601ffinpAfa ffiar.4',,7