The Brussels Post, 1974-05-15, Page 5video write
What my weekly. paper means to me
A number Af readers of this paper have
written entries in the ",What my local
weekly paper means to me" contest which
is sponsored by the Canadian Community
N ewspaper Association. The entries have
A n opportunity to win a $400 prize and will
be judged, with other entries from across
the country, at the CCNA Annual
Convention in July. Contest judges are
looking for originality, clarity and an
understanding of the role of the weekly
paper. Winners will be announced at the
July convention. 'The local essays are
published below.
ornetown
aper is
elcome
uest
r hometown paper is a
omed guest into our house
y week. There is something
i for everyone. Something
rtant that we do not want to
so we read every word. It
ides us with ideas and
mation. It is a market place,
re we discover our best buys
we stretch our dollars. It
amly makes a difference in
home by keeping us abreast
e news.
r hometown paper is where
problems of our small
wilily are discussed and
Med. We are told of the
ced planning of our village,
ng up to date and looking for
oming improvements in the
e new' buildings and new
esses.
Is is where the news is
red from our village and
unding district to be
ully put together by our
e, friendly editor.
etimes their errors in printing
rather amusing giving us a
and a little embarrassment
emselves.
wever written words are
reliable than those spoken
annot be debated as it can
silt' searched. More accurate
cation being obtained by
ng than listening.
r paper is the ideal place to
vhen comparing prices and
ore when the opportunity of
purchases come along you
ady to buy you are almost
a to see what you want in
ant ads. Selling "your for
',in the paper can be also
hie.
tures and information are of
st to everyone of the family,
lag mom who dabbles a bit
and loves to see the familiar
s of the surrounding
et. No need to hunt farther if
fishes a picture to paint.
tern problems for the ladies
io problem. Anything you
to sew for the family or a gift
rt, Spend a happy
htful hour or so choosing
our hometown papers,
king problems are also
solved. Something
ent and appetizing to try
you scan the cooking
ts, The grocery ads show us
argains in these complaining
of rising costs. Where td buy
Where to buy that. ConSult
nietown paper, What can
ore handy,
it to go somewhere? Dead
ports column or coming
g, Keep a calendar of your
om our hometown paper. It
Of chtitch events,: school
te$, cOthicil meetings and
reports.
school Children are
ng up and moving. to
er !O*11.. Whets have they
11(, is ineving where?' Old
drift baek, Mem'or 'ies for
us all happy and sad. We are
informed of deaths so we can
extend sympathy in some small
way, The new baby has arrived,
auction sales coming up, who is
the new dog catcher.
In our hometown paper there is
something for everyone. A quiet
relaxed time for the weary and a
cheery hello! Personal news,
accomplishments of students. A
meeting we may have forgotten (a
place to be remembered) a feeling
of togetherness.
Do not grow old) keep in touch
with the times and your friends by
reading our hometown papers.
To the merchants our
hometown paper is the most
effective and most economical
way to promote business.
Renew your hometown paper
today. I think it is the best. It
makes a big difference in our
house.
Juanita Smith
Box 95, Brussels, Ont.
Weekly is
a link to
the past
A clear and definite
meaning when thinking of a local
weekly paper, enters directly into
my mind: "A Link To The Past".
A 'Weekly Paper' is usually
found. to be governed by a small
firm in a fairly small' community.
You usually find in communities
as such, that everybody knows
everybody or if they don't they
know something about them. This
is where the weekly has played its
part.
Someone moves to this
community ' from afar and the
weekly plays host to them in
print. Sort of an informal
introduction.
When a tragedy occurs in the
community, you n of only learn
the facts about what happened,
but also are mentioned ways to
help, whether through
committees, donations or what-
ever. People involved in activities
whether church, social clubs or
sports, are given an honourary
seat in the weekly when they have
performed their duties well.
Forthcoming events in the
community are listed. In fact it
sometimes looks like a community
bulletin board.
"A Link to the Past" in the
same • style as when it was
published for your forefathers.
Its true meaning is often taken
for granted.
Pick up a large daily paper,
Any one will do as they are
usually based on the same
Material, The day's events; War,
killing, tragedies and a few
smiles, I am not trying to suggest
by any means that it` s not good to
be knowledgeable on world
affairs, In fact with all the media
available one would have to be
quite ignorant net toknow
something. What I anl trying to
point out is the contrasting
picture that Must be painted in
the 'hinds of to many in the urban
areas who have no access to a
personal reference Of events such
as 'The Weekly', What can be
personal about anything that
happened to someone you've
never met; somewhere you've
never beep; or something you've
never heard of?
1$ it not A nice feeling to sit and
let the weekly subdue your mind
with it's rustic flair? To Withdraw
into something whose antique
atmosphere makes you feel you
are reliving bygone days? To
read about people, places and
things you know and love? We
the people of the community must
not let this tradition become
extinct. It must be supported so
that 'these small independent
operators are not taken over by
the impersonalized hands of large
companies. Yes, the weekly is
something which is very much
taken for granted.
If it is ever stopped being
published there would be a lot of
hurt, uninformed people.
Richard Clarke
Wroxeter,Orit.
Weekly -
human
touch
The 'Hometown Paper' exists
truly as the human, personal
touch to our daily lives. It
contains only a few pages. But
spread over those pages is the
very heartbeat of each community
that the paper represents.
Scattered throughout the
pages, one can find out many
basic things about community
life. For instance a project of sorts
is initiated and - all those
interested in helping out may
become involved in various
activities announced in the paper.
Thereby making their own
contribution, a personal
satisfaction.
Here is a chance too, for us to
see and read just how our town
functions as a whole. The pride
contained in every project, no
matter how big or small is evident
in the candid or posed-for photos
of some of our citizens of the
village.
Each and every item is very
personal about. who or whom it is
written. It is sure to bring a
chuckle or two to the ones who
read it or maybe a tear to your
eye. But regardless of its intent
your joy or sorrow is personally
shared.
How about our sick and shut-in
friends, or the elderly? Can you
imagine the excitement they must
have at having an opportunity to
share with everyone by just
reading the paper in their own
homes. It keeps them in touch
with the daily lives of the 'town
even if they can't actively
participate.
Our paper reaches hundreds of
readers surrounding our town. It
lets us know for instance who is
moving in down the street. Or the
new babies born, our citizens of
tomorrow.
We discover the different clubs
and organizations available in the
community, They let us know
their functions and their Social
distinctions. But -most of all it is
Very flattering to see, for
instance, that my neighbour is
named as president of one of the
women's clubs.
It defines a particular pride in
oneself to be able to associate a
name or picture in the paper as
Sotheone you know,
In closing I would like to say
that I've only begun to express all
the advantages of the 'Hometown
Paper'. But rid matter how far or
wide you can travel amongst
strangers there is no better
therapy for homesick blues thaii
'Copy of the 'HoraetOwn Paper',
No piece of Mail dart bring yod
closer to Stranger and proudly
exclaim, "see this paper". "It is,
from my hometown and
everything is all right now".
Mrs, Shirley Magee
Brussels,Ontario,
Life in
miniature
in weeklies
With the growth and spread of
"dailies" in metropolitan areas
as well as in rural areas, the vast
array of other media for fast news
and information delivery, the role
of the weekly is being re-defined.
Evcm at the turn of the ,century
predictions that the weekly
couldn't compete with the "big
city daily" were rampant. The
weekly is generally considered as
a slower method of receiving
news in this fast-paced society.
Information can be obtained at
the flick of a switch or within 24
hours each day • by a daily
newspaper. It is my Intention to
show that the weekly is still a
valuable asset to any community
whether it be large or small.
A "weekly" paper has the
benefits of a daily paper in some
respects. It still has the occasional
upside-down paragraphs, mis-
placed punctuation, repetitious
sentences, incomplete para-
graphs, and a few other things
that add flavor to a person's
reading.
The weekly is community-
orientated and depicts the life,
happenings, and opinions of a
comparatively small grow, of
individuals. This miniature world
is a semblence of the larger world
we all live in. And, of course, the
things that happen to you person-
ally, to your friends, to your
neighbors, to your community as
a whole are the things that matter
most.
Yes, I find jokes that have been
printed before, death, birth and
resurrection notices, as well as
BERG
Sales — Service
Installation
FREE ESTIMATES
• Barn Cleaners
te Bunk Feeders
• Stabling
imilMOMMANIF...111..••••••
Donald G. Ives
E.E. 2, MYTH
Phone: Brussels 887-9024
the ingenious advertisements of
local stores and businesses.
I want to hear of those who died
recently (not decently) in the local
area. For our convenience, this is
found what they call an
obituary column. What this
means is that these fortunate and
very seldom unfortunate people,
go to the other place, went to the
other side, passed away, were put
out of their misery, or else they
went on a trip, So everyone is
kept well-informed, except the
people who have been reported
dead when they were very much
alive.
I also want to know who has
had the unfortunate luck to have
those peculiar creatures summed'
up in one word as babies. Without
the weekly, I would probably be
informed that Rosalino Macroni
just had triplets, twice in a row by
the daily newspaper. Or that
China is expecting an overabun-
dance of babies this year. This
may all be very interesting but I'd
sooner hear about a local birth.
This, and many more roles, the
weekly paper plays in every-
body's life. There is nothing like
it. Let's not take it for granted.
It'ss a priceless heritage.
Linda Knight,
R.R. 3, Brussels, Ont.
The
Blooming
THING
By
ED VAN
GEEST
Somebody figured it out: We
have 35 million laws trying to
'enforce 10 commandments.
•- • •
You never realise how patiost
you can be until the fellow who
is arguing with you happens to
be your boss.
• • •
If we admitted what we really
worship, banks would have stain-
ed-glass windows.
• • •
Wife to husband wateking
"How do you know they aren't
just showing the same bail games
over again every year?"
• •
The ..worid. is „composed.. of
takers and givers. The takers
eat better, the givers sleep better.
• • •
We rdnegtisleopovell at ..„
Listowel Florist
Main, Phone 291-2040
tnnizd open house this earning
Monday, Victoria Day. Open
8 am, till 10 pat.
We are also represented by
Max Watts, Brussels
Jacob's Saddlery & Shoe Repair
• BRUSSELS, ONTARIO
DROP IN AND SEE TOE NEW
E -Z RIDER PLASTIC HOPPLES
The only hopple we know guaranteed for 2
years. Also see the
NEW CHEMCOR HARNESS
wont by Clay Brook Van, highest money Ain..
ning Canadian Bred Trotter,
ttausiittS rioter, litA 1,10-4