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Times-Advocate, 1988-05-25, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, May 25,. 1988 tunes Established 1871 Adsocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1985 Imes dvocate Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario, NOM ISO Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386. Phone 519-235-1331 ROSS HAUGH tddor PCNA CC' P I1/M BECkf T T Publisher & Adsertising Manager RARRi OfYRIfS DON SMITH Composition Manager Business Manager SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada: $25.00 Per year; U.S.A. $65.00 Green it up The week of May 30 to June 5 is being celebrated as Environment Week across Canada. All of us should do at least one thing to make our environment brighter and bet- ter. How about using the theme, "Green it up" Sow the seeds that will make our world a healthy, green place to be, for people land 'for our feathered and four -legged friends. Plant trees, shrubs or wildflow- ers on your own property and help pro- tect our environment. One of the greatest concerns of the World Commission on Environment and Development is the speed at which plant life is becoming extinct. Over. one mil- lion species of plants and animals will be -- come extinct by the year 2000 due to de- forestration, agriculture and other s human activity. ,That is only 12 years from now. Twenty seven million acres of forest are stripped from the earth every single year and the pace is accelerating. Loss of forests have an impact on global climate, on soil erosion and wildlife habitat. Most of us can do one thing to help the environment and it won't take long and won't cost very .much money and that's plant a tree. By planting a tree you can create a home for birds and other wildlife. Trees and shrubs are natural shades and wind- breaks and also absorb and filter polu- tants. By planting them, you can help create a more pleasant environment. Get out the shovel and get to work. The exercise will also help. By Ross Haugh Changes not necessary Some of the changes which are includ- ed in Bill 106 to amend the Municipal Elections Act appear aimed at large ur- ban municipalities. Three of the amendments don't_seem to be feasible in Exeter or any of the sur- rounding villages and townships. They call for two advance polling` Lays, disclo- sure of expenses for candidates and ac- cessibility for the handicapped at ad- vance polls for this -coming November's election and at all polling stations by '1991. • The amendments as they now stand call for advance polls o.n Saturday, Novem- ber 5 and Thursday, .November 10 be- fore the regular election day set for Monday, November 14:. Nominations cease on October 17. In this area, one advance polling day is more than sufficient. In previous years, less than 40 electors have voted at ad- vance polls in Exeter. We certainly agree that all eligible vot- ers including the handicapped should U have the opportunity to vote. There will be no •problem in Exeter as all polling stations will be located in the South I-Iu- ton Rec Gentr-� . The problem would arise in the town- ships where many of the polls are held in private residences and they are only used once every three years. At Thursday's Zone 2 meeting of the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers in Exeter , it was suggested floating polls be organized for the handi- capped. The portion of the Act amendment on revealing election expenses also docs not seem to be practical, locally. Each candi- date will be required to reveal the amount of his expenditures up to $1,000 and over that a financial statement must be prepared. The monies spent by local candidates up to this point at least has been minimal with newspaper advertising for two weeks at the most and a few signs. by Ross !laugh Laid back in the country "I envy you living in the country," a city friend told me. "Country people are so laid back. That's why they live longer." 1 believed him, although - or because - he didn't offer any scientific explanations. 1 believed him until last Saturday. "You'll have to help me a bit with the children tomorrow," Elizabeth told me on Friday night. "Sure,'' i said absent- mindedly, notrealizing what I was assuring her about. On Saturday morning the alarm rang at 6 a.m. Without saying good morning, Elizabeth said: "You'll have to get up right away, or we won't be ready in time." Naturally I replied: "Ready for what?" And this reply of mint - made in all innocence - seemed to set the tone for the rest of the day. When 1 emerged from the shower, all hell was breaking lose. Kids came scampering from every bedroom in various states of undress. Elizabeth was running up and down thc stairs, and the telephone rang without anybody answering, a highly unusual occurrence at our house. "Let it ring," Elizabeth shouted from downstairs, "wc have no time to talk to anyone." PETER'S POINT • "What on earth is going on?" 1 inquired as I put on my comfortable track suit. "1 don't know either," Alexander shrugged, "but Mom is having a conniption." When 1 got to the kitchen, there was no breakfast, not even a coffee. "What arc you doing in your track suit? Don't you know we have to be out of here in less than five minutes?" Elizabeth was upset about something. "No, 1 didn't know," i said, "Where arc we going? it's only a quarter to seven." "Yes, and I have to be at the Wilsons al'even. I asked you to give me tai hand today, but it seems that I have to do everything myself ...". 1 did remember that i was supposed to help with something, but the exact details had escaped me. Elizabeth lost no time filling me in: "t have to deliver Stcphanic at the Wilsons' farm for a Brownie Revel at seven o'clock." "Who and where arc the Wilsons, what on earth is a Revel, and what docs it all have to do with my track suit?" Elizabeth claimed she told me the day before, but 1 swear that she didn't. i mean, I'm not deaf. All she asked me to do was to give her a hand with something. Now she told me that while she was delivering Stephanie, 1 had to drop Alexander off for his swimming lesson at the Civic Centre. Then Elizabeth and 1 were to meet at the church to help set up a white elephant salt, after which 1 would go to get one car serviced, while she would take the other car to pick up Alexander from swimming lessons, take Duncan to his piano lesson and return to thc church to help with the salt. "That explains the rush," I said, "bot, why can't I wear my track Please turn to page 9 Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited THEY SAY I CONSULT YOU FOR DECtS10 t45 - MAT StIOULO190 ABOUT IT? IMMIL Great academic efforts Thursday we had the pleasure of attending the 20th annual graduation exercises at Centralia College of Agricultural Technol- ogy and they. were memorable in a number of ways. • First of all principal Bill Allen and his teaching stafff are to be congratulated for moulding an excellent group of graduates. Although • it was one of the smallest groups to ever complete the two-year classes at CCAT since the college was established in 1968, 39 of the 85 graduates reached honours status. At Centralia, to reach the hon- ours plateau, a student must maintain an average of at least 75 percent in the last two terms. Animal I lcalth Technology students held the distinction of having hitting that mark. In the Food Service Manage- ment course, 17 of the 34 stu-. dents achieved the goal of 75 percent average. On an individual basis, seven students from the immediate coverage area of this newspaper took home 19 of the 25 special awanis (Ilio d. Special Congratulations go out to Adrian Arnold Kestcr. The young man from the Dashwood arca literally needed a truck to take home his silverware. Ile won no Icss than eight plaques and'trophies in the Agricultural Business Management course. Marlow Gingcrich of Zurich was also prominent in the same course with tour individual priz- es. Marlync Denham of Kirkton was named all round student and Peggy O'Neill of Denfield was runncrup. Denham also won two Food Service Management awards. The other area winenrs were fr, , From the : editor's disk by Ej Ross Haugh also in Food Services. Suzanne Finkbciner of Crediton was dou- ble winner and Deanne Marie Smith of Denfield took home one special prize. - Good news for the graduating students was delivered by guest speaker Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell when he indicated there would be anywhere from five to eight jobs available in the agricul- ture industry for each graduate. We were one of four individu- als as far as we know at Thurs- day's graduation who have at- tended all 20 of these events. The others were former ag minister Dr. W.A.. Stewart, staff member Vic Hodgins and Don Orth who recently retired as Dean of Stu- dents. Stewart who is known to us as just plain Bill was instrumental in establishing the college almost 22 years ago along with the late Charlie MacNaughton. During the past 20 years, many area.farmcrs, veterinarians, busi- nesses and organizations have as- sisted college students with off - campus and on-the-job training.. For a number of years, Cooks' Division of Gcrbro Corporation have presented awards to the farm project group winners. Par- ticipating farmers for the top pro- jects this time around wcrc Larry Rundle and Thomsvuc Farm. Congratulations again to those students who have decided to make the farming industry their life goal. Less than three percent of our population arc involved in farming and related occupations. They are doing a great job in pro- ducing food for the rest of us not only in Canada, but throughout the world. * * * * Last week we missed reporting on one item gleaned on our recent trip to Sudbury. Officials of the Sudbury arca Crime Stoppers program have come up with a novel idea to raise additional funds. They are beginning a Jailathon program. For a donation of one dollar per minute you can have your boss, relative, friend or ene- my tossed into the hooscgow for as long as your money lasts. We better not let our editorial colleagues know about this pro- ject or we may be missing for some time. * * * * Just a quick word on our gar- dening activities. Three of the plants which arc supposed to pro- duce pumpkins in the range of 3(X) pounds have been transplant - cd into the garden. Right now it looks as if someone like Jack from the famous beanstalk story needs to wave his magic wand over our pumpkins.. House prices go wild 'About lb or 17 years ago I bought a house in Ingersoll atxnit two miles away from the site of the huge CAMI car plant which is presently being built in that town. The house was brand-new. a neat little raised - ranch bungalow with an at- tached garage. b paid $25,000 for it. About two years later I sold it to a teacher on my staff for two thousand more and thought 1 was doing pretty well. That paid for my real estate and lawyer's fees and gave me a couple hun- dred profit. Get this though. A year and a half'Iater, my friend sold the same house for $51,000. interestingly enough, houses in that same sub -division now arc selling for about three times that amount. i was reading a survey done by a major real estate company which has offices across Cana- da. Executive houses in Toron- to, London and Vancouver had risen in price in those cities by as much as $50.000 in an eight - By the Way Ssd Fletcher cep month period. in Sarnia, during the same period, the pric- es had only gone up by $5,000, although I know that that situa- tion has considerably changed during the last few months. As you !Tray realize. the actual cost of building a home has not changed that drastically in the last few years. What has changed though is the price of land in areas where the demand is high. i visited a new subdivision in a heavily -wooded attractive area. Lots began at $39,(00 and went almost as high as $120,(X)0! And they were al- most all solei! What interests me is who is buying thew expensive lots and host do they have enough mon- ey left to put an equal amount into the building of a house. One home which we visited in the suhdivi ;ion was listed at just under a cool $300,000. At cur- rent interest rates that would cost the buyer about three thousand a month for principal, interest and taxes. Whew! That sure wouldn't leave much out of most people's pocketbooks to pay for the nice little things of lift, like food and heat. would it?