Times-Advocate, 1988-10-19, Page 5n
the
Street
By Jim Beckett
The T -A is blessed???? with having the responsibility of covering
three federal electoral ridings, namely: Huron -Bruce, London -
Middlesex and Lambton-Middlesex.
During the last election the Conservatives took all three ridings
and at the moment they're fighting to hold on to their seats. Many
political observers believe it's never any party winning election, it's
a matter of which one manages to lose it.
Coffee shop conversations indicates the general attitude seems to
be "who cares?" If you think I'm kidding, it should be no problem
for you to quickly write down the names of the federal members in
the local ridings. Get out a pencil or a pen and see if you can fill in
the blanks in thirty seconds or Tess. Huron -Bruce
London -Middlesex • and Lambton-Middlesex
A correct answer in all three blank spaces showing Murray Cardiff,
Terry Clifford and Sid Fraleigh respectively, qualifies you as an as-
tute political observer. Consider yourself well-informed if you an-
swered two out of three. If you managed to only identify the repre-
sentative in your area, don't feel too badly, you're probably average.
Let's face it, most Canadians don't know ahy more about politics
than what they see on the six o'clock news. Brian's for free trade and
no free lunch, John's for freebies for first time home buyers and Ed's
for just about free everything. Unless Brian stumbles or deviates
from his scripted answers, we already know who's going to win. All
you have to do is read the polls.
Wouldn't it be nice to find a pollster all three parties trust? It
would save us millions by eliminating the expense within five
years...but unlike the American system the date of the election is not
specified. All you have to do in Canada is wait until the pollsters
tell you victory is at hand and call the election immediately;
* * * * * * * * * *
Dinney Furniture is recipient of an award from CKNX radio
for having the most effective commercial of the month during their
"Fabulous Furniture Sale" promotion which was held recently.
* * * * * * * * * • *
The powers that be at South Huron District High School have
turned thumbs -down to a proposal from a city -based company to get
the school to promote a "Condoms By Mail" business.
* * * * * * * * * *
Stew Taylor of Stew's Rec-Vee Service Centre in Kippen might
be staying at home more these days after winning a beautiful 42" tel-
evision in a draw recently.
* * * * * * * * * *
Betty Johnson of the Flower Pedlar in town took home a tro-
phy and cash on the weekend after placing first in the FM junior de-
sign competitions in Woodstock. Betty's party arrangement was 4'
X 4' X 4' and was made entirely of fresh flowers.
* *.* * * * * * * *
The chocolate manufacturing business in Exeter is turning into
more than a success story for the Seldon family. It could become a
tourist attraction as well as approximately 5,000 people visited the
new Sugar N'Spice outlet on Hwy. 83, Saturday and Sunday.
* * * * * * * * * *
Back
in time
10 years ago
'Veteran Exeter council member Derry Boyleannounced his candi-
dacy for the 1978 municipal elections at the last minute.
'Exeter was threatened with a half -million dollar lawsuit unless it
withdrew a stopwork order on the plaza at the north end of town.
•Mayor Bruce Shaw suggested council should consider holding
public meetings on the local cable television channel with an open
telephone line for ratepayers questions.
20 years ago
'South Huron District High School's football teams ren fined unde-
feated in Huron Perth conference play.
•Six members of the Exeter Rovers. lost personal belongings in an
accidental fire caused by a hurricane lamp left burning in a tent. For-
tunately they were able to continue camping as their food supply was
safe.
•The Dashwood Tigers won the Ontario Intermediate Baseball D
champion hip.
•Gchci .ibinets opened their manufacturing business in Clande-
boyk' .
50 years ago
'Ail inquest was called into the death of five area people who were
killed when their car crashed into a train near Clandcboyc.
'Legislation for the compulsory pasteurization of milk was slated
come into effect in December..
'October weather records were broken when the temperature ex-
ceeded 80 degrees fahrenheit.
•Ontario was reducing the number of exams required for entrance to
the province's high schools.
70 years ago
•Canadians were said to be the first to enter the city of Cambrai.
"Enemy in Full Flight on 20 -mile front with British Cavalry in Hot
Pursuit- Defense System between Camhrai and St. Quentin Shattered."
•The allies had a new model.of tank for the war effort. "Whippet is
Term applied to New Development, Which is a Purely Killing Ma --
chine." •
•"The epidemic of influenza throughout Ontario has caused the of-
ficials to cancel all public entertainments in Hensall for October."
- Grand Opening -
r
October 19th to November 2nd
2
43/0 Storewide
Savings
Except repairs and custom design
dour Seasons
Yewet(ery Design
Main St., Centre Malt
Exeter 235-2666
VISA
Times -Advocate, October 19, 1988
Page 5
Farm toys more popular than the real thing
By Adrian Harte
EXETER - Huron Tractor wants
to be known as more than just a
place to buy farm equipment.. Plans
are under way to give more empha-
sis to a product line they have been
selling for the past 25 years: toys.
"We're really trying to get the
market uptown," said parts manager
Gary Sararas, adding that while
many farmers arc aware of Huron
Tractor's metal replicas of John
Deere tractors and other farm imple-
ments, other people never consider
shopping.at the dealership for either
It's Your Business
THREE SCALES - Diane Finkbeiner displays the three sizes of farm toys
Huron Tractor is offering shoppers this year. On the floor are the 1/16 and
1/32 scale toys, and in her hand is a 1/64 scale tractor.
COLLECTOR'S SERIES - This replica of a historic steel -wheel tractor
is the latest in a series of limited -edition toys. The die cast construction
doesn't come cheap, however.
County council considers
office relocation into
old Huronview building
GODERICH - Although County mature."
Council has agreed to go ahead with "Council'=s aware that the Mini -
the new Huronview building, a dc- stry of Agriculture and Food is in-
cision has yet to be made on wheth- wrested in one whole wing," said
sr to move Huron County offices Bill Ilanfy, county clerk -
into the present Huronview build- administrator. -
mg• Before the vote, Hay Reeve Lio- To the Future
The separate but•related proposal nel Wilder said that the new Huron -
the toys or hardware. •
Assistant sales manager Frank
•Win(ers says it is the same problem
the Co -Op faced a few years ago:
convincing people they sell more
than agricultural products.
Sararas notes their selection of
toys has broadened considerably
since just a few years ago.
"We had a selection, but not near
what we have now," he said.
.Toy,$ cost anywhere from S2.95
up to S50 and come.in three sizes:
a miniature 1/64 scale, a mid-size
1f32 scale. and the sand -box size I/
16 settle.
Winters points out the toys' man-
ufacturer, Ertl, builds them from
the: original John Deere blueprints,
not sketches. -But the best selling
point for the toys is their die-cast
metal construction with only a few
plastic . parts. Winters says
strength, safety and detail still make
-farm toys a good choice at Christ-
mas time.
Huron Tractor now stocks the
complete line of John Deere toys,
which includes tractors, trucks, a
new selection of construction equip-
ment, and books.
"Right now, we would be one of
the largest carriers of toys for John
Deere in Ontario," said Winters.
But toy tractors aren't just for
kids. Three years ago the growing
numbers of serious collectors
.spurred the creation of, a series of
special edition models for historical-
ly -important tractors.
"They only make so many and
you can only order so many. So
when they're gone they're gone,"
said Winters..
The special collectors' editions
cost upwards of S50, and the next
model in the series will be John
Deere's brand-new 8700 four-wheel
drive tractor and will likely cost
S100.
Collectors notwithstanding, Sara-
ras insists kids still enjoy playing
with tractors, even in this era of
plastic space toys. -
"Whether you live in the country
or in the town, there's still a market
for farm toys," said Sararas.
Huron Tractor will be promoting
the toy section more as gift -giving
seasons approach. Advertising and
special events should prevent the
dealership= from being overlooked by
shoppers. A small playground has
been set up on the showroom floor
to encourage parents to bring their
'children when visiting Huron Trac-
tor.
Winters was surprised by the re-
sponse generated by Huron Tractor's
first ever toy display at the Interna-
tional Plowing Match. They ex-
pected to sell S3-5,000 worth of
merchandise, and ended up with re-
ceipts-of-nearly:39,000. -'lhe best-
selling item was "Johnny Tractor",
a bedtime story book.
"11 gives you an indication there
is a demand there," said Winters.
ooking
has generated considerable.contro- :+�ia+dM-rld tak�pcierit '--IMUNIMINIIII!
versy, partly over .the effects of the
Move - both on Godcrich and the
county a whole - but also over the
costs, The present Huronview
building would need renovations be-
fore the county could move in.
"If (the new) Huronview goes
ahcad and it costs too much money
to renovate (the old) Huronview for
the county offices, what arc we go-
ing to do then?" asked Goderich
Township Reeve Grant Stirling at
Thursday's county council session.
The county is already taking_,part
in a multi -million -dollar wasilt
management plan, and daycare will
also be "dumped on our shoulders,
from the way these •politicians
talk," Stirling said.
"The taxpayers can only stand so
much." -
Bayfield Reeve David Johnston
said he was also concerned about
what would become Of the present
Huronview building.
"If we move Huronview and
don't move the .county to (the old)
Huronview, what then?" he asked.
"How valuable will a building be
that will be condemned by then?"
asked Warden Robert Bell.
"Then I think we should indicate
it we're going to tear it down",
Johnston said.
But Bell said that was "a bit pre -
I hope that if a decision (to go
ahead) is made, we do one thing at a
time," Wilder said. -
"Let's,gct Huronview going. If
the courts want to relocate, let them
relocate where the hell they want
fo."
ANNOUNCEMENT 11
DR. J. LONGSTAFF 11
and
DR. L. LA PLANTE
OPTOMETRISTS
Winter Hours
Mon. & Tues. 9:00 to 5:30 p.m.
Thurs. & Fri. 9:00 to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 to 12:00 noon
Closed Wednesday
For an appointment
call
527-1240
87 Main St.,
Seaforth
1
1
1
>r--$N1C�t3C�,
anning or
Comfortable Retirement
Presented by:
Hall, Chartered Life Underwriter
Brian
K.
Topics to include; .
• Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP)
• Investment Funds, GIC's, CSB's
• Income Tax and Estate Planning
• Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIF's)
• Annuities ''c._
This -seminar will be of interest to those planning for or
nearing retirement,
as well as thoe:al.ready retired.
Seating lis limited!
Please call for your free reserv:
238-8892
OAKWOOD INN (NEW BUILDIFFv(;) 1
Grand Bend
Thursday, October 20,
7:15 p.m.
Refreshments served.
i
•