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Clinton News-Record, 1984-04-04, Page 6„4 PAW moll* Owe in 2th* who IM1, w otwO - incorporating THE BERTH STANDARD .18 IlIQWARlt1 AITKEN Publisher SHE ie�,.fi ACP.HEE = Editor GARY HAST Advertising Mummer Nouns or HOLL,EN BEfyK - Office Manager Thanks Doig A MEMBER MEMBER Disobey advertising ream available an retaest. Ask for Rate Card. No. 14 effective October 1, 1983. Doug Coventry was more than an administrator at the Clinton Public Hospital. In the 10'years that Doug served at the hospital he clearly proved that he was also ---a friend'to-the-community;._ .. — Our good' humored hospital administrator, who took more than his share of "short jokes" officially retired on March 30. Close to 200 associates and friends showed their appreciation for this little man at a dinner party in his honor the next evening. Like most retirement parties, the evening included its share of complimentary speeches and presentations. Special to this retirement dinner, was the constant reminder that Doug Coventry was more than just an employee at the Clinton Public Hospital. He was dedicated worker and a good friend to the staff. Doug Coventry saw the Clinton Hospital through the dark days of 1976 when the government threatened closure. Doug, former hospital hoard chairman Art Aiken and the community formed-a.,united front to fight for the hospital. The bat- tle was a tough one, but they won. Clintoni.ans still remember that time vividly and they still applaude the efforts of Doug Coventry and the community leaders who fought to keep our hospital alive. . With that major battle under his belt, Doug went on to ensure the continued --- —• success -of Che "CI-iii'ton Publi�c--Hosprtal---by--car-eying- out --plana-_ta-,.kzu.IJ.d_._q_,new ._ emergency out-patient wing. This impressive Targe addition opened last year. Huron -Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell recalled those years. of extremes at the Clinton Hospital. He noted, "Doug is a person who has dedicated well over 10 years of service to the Clinton Public Hospital. We've come through come tough times, but we've come through some good times. The hospital's successwas largely duetoDoug." Leen Rehorst, chairman of the hospital board echoed Ridell's words in describ- ing the former hospital administrator. "It's been a great privilege to work with Doug. We worked together in good spirit and harmony with the community, staff and doctors." Doug's final accomplishment at the hospital is still in the' works. His one, ambi- tion before retirement Was, to see the h'ospltal accredits js --a-40O quality facility. This recognition is one of the highest awards a medical ,institution can e amand our hospital has recently be been surveyed for accreditation, Initial the studylook romisin and final word on the rating will be results of p 9.• announced in''fhe'near fiuture. • Doug Coventry spent over 10 years at the•Clinton Public Hospital. He was hired without an interview and started work on April Fool's Day 1973. Hospital board members and staff agree that hiring this little Scot was a gam- ble well worth taking. As Jack Riddell fondly joked, "Staff both looked. up and looked down to Doug." -by S. McPhee -4004 Behind The Scenes By Keith Roulston No fast food here It wasn't the kind of place you'd belikely to pick out to stop to eat if you were just driving down the highway butsince it was right next door to the, motel we were staying at and the next restaurantwas miles away we tried it. From the outside, it wasn't much. Its ear- ly 1950s packing -crate architecture didn't make the kind of impression that would stop you from passing on to the nearest golden arches if you were a stranger to the city. Neither did the appearance that sales of paint weren't soaring in this town because of this restaurant owner. It was a bleak building behind a bleak parking lot on a bleak urban sprawl strip on the outskirts of a southern Ontario city. Inside wasn't encouraging either. The floor had tiles missing. The benches looked like they'd been reclaimed from a junked school bus. The wall decoration was mostly calendars and posters for hockey games. But it must have something going for it: The parking lot was full of pickup trucks and the vans of local carpenters and electri- cians. The stream of people coming in the door was constant. The booths •were:mostly full. The food? It was . good solid, Canadian fare. Nothing great. Not even incredibly cheap: But. after 10 minutes sitting at a table by the door it became evident why this place was popular. The owner exchanged a teas- ing banter with customers when they paid their bills. He poured' a cup of coffee and took a muffin from the jar and went over and sat down with one customer, then wav- ed a sign to the waitress not to charge another. customer who he owed a favour to. An old tractor pulled up in the parking lot and the owner hobbled in to the . restaurant on crutches. By the .'time . he 'arrived the waitress•had a table set and: a coffee_ waiting for him then scolded him good-naturedly when hepicked another table• than the one -she'd prepared: ' People here on the edge of the city came .here more for, the sense of community than , for the food. That was the secret. There is an instinct in people that is as strong as the in- stinct.to eat: an instinct to relax with people we know and enjoy being with. It's an instinct that seems almost alien in the modern world. The 'specialists from big businessmen sitting in front of computers figuring where the population trends say a new fast food restaurant should go to the government tax people who want to be 'able to reduce everything to a computer ,code, seem to rid us of this unfortunate need but people find . a way to find 'a community anyway. It's almost like an underground society today. Thechamber of commerce of that city won't pant int withpride to that shabby restaurant on the edge of town. It will point instead at the shiningnew downtown shopp- ing mall, the huge hotel complex on the other side of town, the strip where McDonald's and Burger King and Mother's flash their beckoning lights at potential customers: But in that dilapidated little restaurant humanity goes on. And in a way, that's more important than anything the fancy places can offer. Genealogists can help find your heritage roots Dear Editor, It has been with great pleasure that I have seen the number of 'Letters to the Editor' m your paper from people seeking help in locating 'lost' families. Many of your readers are already aware of the increasing "addiction" to searching for one's roots. But how often one reaches a dead end in trying to ferret out their ancestors from piles of dusty records or from the memories of elderly relatives. How often I have heard, "How do I start?", "Where do I look?", "What do I do now?". So all you new "addicts" take heart! Help has arrived! The Huron County Genealogical Society is sponsoring a' "Beginners Workshop" April 7 from 2-5 p.m. at the Brussels Arena. There is no charge for this workshop and anyone wan - tin the answers to the above questions should come with pencil and paper in hand and bring all their genealogical problems. The learning experience will be unique! Thank you. Sincerely, Carole Robinson, Press Secretary and Past Chairman Young Einsteins agar and Spice by Shelley McPhee My kid brother HAVE TO go and see my kid brother this week. I don't have. to. Nobody in his right mind has to have anything to .do with his relatives. From birth to death they are a pain in the arm. When a baby is born, all the eyebrows go up at the choice of name, unless it hap- pens to be one of theirs, or that of a rich un- cle. Asked my grandboys the other day what their second name was. Balind, who sometimes doesn't know his anus from his• elbow, promptlyretored, "William." His se- cond name was the same as mine, in case I'd be pleased and leave him something. Asked the other guy who knows everything, from why Gran's crying to why Grandad is in a tearing rage. He muttered, "Chen." I'd forgotten. His parents named him that, don't ask me why, because, they were on an international kick, and Chen means "first-born." Poor little devil. His full name in Nikov Chen. Imagine what the CIA will do with that when they take- over Canadian: intelligence. Notice I spelled the last word without a capital. Next time the relatives act like Little Jack Horner is when your kids get married. Despite the fact that the couple has been liv- ing together for nine months, your blasted " relatives want a church wedding, with the bride in white, . a big reception where everybody pretends that the newlyweds are virgin, there are some adolescent speeches right out of the age of Victoria, and somebody cuts a cake that nobody would eat with a 10 -foot pole. This costs roughly $5,000 to $19,000 so that the couple can go on living in sin, but with a paper to prove that they're not. And the third occasion on which the By Sill Smiley relatives get their arms into it, right up to the elbows, is when somebody dies. This is • when the real Christians emerge.. _. "Mom always said I could have that tea service." "Well, that's what you think. I was there the day she died and she distinctly stated (arm twisted behind her back) that I could have. not only the tea service but all the linen." And so on. I've seen all this, but no experienced it. . After my mother's death, my elder sister was mutually appointed arbitrator. And she arbitrated: "Two sheets for you, two for you. Two blankets for you, two for you. Two linen tablecloths for you, two for you. Two beds for you, a dining -room table for you. Everyday china for you, plus the silver cof- fee pot. Good china for you, plus the chamber -pot." And so on. It was like being at an auction, without any bids, and we all went away'rather daz- ed, enriched beyond our dreams, and with only a few grudges. We were all so young and unsophisticated that we let an aunt,have a beautiful chaise longue, which wound up as a period piece in, of all places, Australia. My aunt didn't want it. This hasn't much to do with going to see my kid brother, but I still think that he thinks he got screwed (he was in Paris at the tune) on the family split-up, and covets the hand=carved -stool my -Dad made, which -I traded off for an upright piano of dubious vintage. Maybe not. Maybe he just wants to see me. Maybe he wants to apologize for all the times he trail- ed me all over town when I was seven and he was five. I would first hiss at him, then shout at him, to go home. He'd hang on, a block. behind, crying like a fire siren, stubborn as K�Ieidosco.PQ NW rein Dear Editor Displeased taxpayer Dear Editor: As a taxpayer in the township of Goderich ° I am writing to express my displeasure in the new zoning By-law for Goderich Township, and how it is being handled. Over 30 percent of the taxpayers affected by the new By-law are cottage owners who are only here seasonally, there has been no effort made by our council members to give proper notice to out-of-town residents so that we might be included in the open houses which have been held to discuss the impact of such a By-law. It seems clear to me that the council trust see us as second class citizens because little effort has been made in order to accom- modate us, for example; After receiving in the mail a 163 page document, which would take a law degree to understand on Tues- day, we are expected to drop everything and drive to a open house in Holmesville that following -Saturday. The second meeting that was held on Wednesday Feb. 21, 1984 at 9:00 PM, notified taxpayers on page 9 of the Clinton News - Record six days; prior to its meeting. Contrary towhat our council members must think, a couple days notice to drive to a meeting held on a wintery Wednesday night from London, Sarnia or Toronto takes a bit more -planning. It seems clear to me that the council must have something to hide because they insist on having meetings without giving sufficient notice, thus preventing the chance for assembly, the council must be trying to pass' something that the majority of people do not want! Emily Nielsen London, Ontario Immersion costs Dear Editor: I would like to express my views on French Immersion schools being set up in Huron County, and the committee for learn - Ing opportunities ii► tench only. -The--comY_.. mittee says it won't cost the people too much as the Federal and the Provincial Govern- ments supply considerable funding, they are really right there. It cost the Davis Government $88 million last year for French schools, then we have the French law courts and other French ser- vices which I'll bet will put itup over the $100 million: This is a Province 95 or 94 per He's challenged me to a game of golf. cent English, 1 percent of the French that a hound following a fox., This cant speak English. I would say that is d d bl I f is th tt I stupid. English taxpayer paying 95 percent is qunte.un erstan a e. t I. e,pa ern.- a is another reason could always beat him' at everything, and he: of the- cost. Her th why wants the masochistic satisfaction of being English Canada should not be teaching trounced once more, before he retires to ;French period. that wonderland of golf where everyllody ,, Ae year ago Tast`Astovelxil5ar13, 4982 aur • takes a Mulligan, everybody rides an eIec- Secretary of State Serge Joyal made a big tris cart to the next hole, and everybody discusses every shot at the 19th hole. On the other hand, maybe he wants to talk about all that money I borrowed from him when he had a paper route and I -was a -- well, a sort of freelancer. • Every Saturday night, I used to lock him in the bathroom and freelance about two- thirds of his weekly take, so I could go to the movies. ., Saw him in Germany a few years ago, and; he was still keeping track. He figures I owe him $28,500. and . some dollars, with com- pound interest. . Perhapshe just wants to remind me of all the girls he has taken away from me, over the years. He never took anyone of any real consequence, but he took some very fine prospectives. On the fourth hand, maybe he just wants to rub it in to me that I'm a. failure: He retired as a Colonel with a chestful of .medals: I quit as a Flight -Loot with four or five medals mouldering m the basement. - Re has- -been -alt...the -..•beck and--•call..of _ ....._ .... m generals, ambassadors, -and such.. He is amounted to $14,457;703. for only 941,995 g�oa divorced — fashionable. I am married — un- Ple or $15.35 per person that has been going fashionable. He in charming, multilingual, has tasted the fleshpots of Europe. I am a on for years. typical suburban slob. • : Here is another good reason why Quebec we maybe the poor little fella just wants to your mother tongue has got to be English or seee should not be teaching French: 4n Quebec the brother he used to pillowfight with, you cansend your children to an English every Saturday morning. school, you can't put up an English sign even on your own property or you will be fin- ed if you don't take it down, not even a Bil- ingual sign, they got rid of English being of- ficial you can't see any English any place in Quebec. They got rid of our English as being official, can't see an Englishsign any place with the blessing of the Federal Govern- ment, no complaints from our English speech to a big gathering of French m Halifax, after thanking all the people for be- ing responsible for the meeting he starts off with telling them that this is their country and not to forget that, he went on to tell them' that he was going to make Canada a French state not only in Quebec but all across Canada, he also said that he was talking to Ontario . Minister of Education, Betty Stevenson and he was going to take a good look at French College and Universities. When he was first elected to his job reporters asked him what he was going to do now that he was Secretary of State he replied to strengthen the status of Fran- cophoner. Our, English members didn't • complain. Here is another reason why we shouldn't be teaching Frenchat all. The minister of State Serge Joyal sent out his minority rights granted to the minority groups across the country. The French speaking people in Quebec amounted to only $1,520,070. for 1,131,390 or $1.34 per person, while grants to mother tongue, French outside Quebec This is fund raising time of year, when it seems that someone's always at the door looking for donations.. Some people find it hard to decide which worthy causes to support and which ones to pass up, but by giving a dollar or two to several organizations, you can help many people and many causes. The Clinton Lions Club just completed their first ever Easter Seal Telethon and local organizer Steve Fraser is overwhelmed with the support to the fund raising effort, from Clinton, Bayfield, Blyth and the surrounding areas. Steve says he's exhausted from all the work, but pleased with the results from the weekend telethon and enthusiastically reports that the Clinton Lions will be involved again next year. Local fund raising continues this month with the annual drive for the Canadian Cancer Society. In conjunction with this the Daffodil Tea will be held on April 6 at St. Joseph's ltoman Catholic Church in Clinton. Many area ladies' groups lend a hand to help make this luncheon a yearly success. + + + Anticipated school closures do not only affect our small rural municipalities, they too can occur in Ontario's largest urban centres. In Tuesday's Toronto Star, columnist Frank Jones wrote an article that caught my eye, entitled What's bad about small schools? It looked at a decision made by the North York school board when it recently voted to close the Anthony Street Public School. By Shelley McPhee Enrolment at the school had declined from a high,of 500 students to a Tow of 86. ._. _Parents there areas distressed as our own Vanastra and Aensall parents are `over the prospects of losing their school. One North York mother noted, "...We don't send our Malo Anthony School to get rid of them. We send them thereto learn the same thing they learn at horne. The teachers in that school know the beat of every kid." Frank Jones wrote, "It's not fair to blame school boards for population trends, but here's something I'd like to know: what's so bad about having small schools? "I know school administrators hate them because they don't allow for vice -principals, office staff and all the job padding that makes advancement in the education business possible. And I know the familiar old argument that you can't afford to provide industrial arts, music phys-ed and all the other enriching extras of modern education. `'But for goodness sake, have they never heard of circulating who can move from schoolto sc teachers h of tos provide these subjects? Surely now they have computers in schools that make it all the easier to have schools with only 50 children, or 20, or even 10. Because nothing is moreimportant, not audio-visual' os Stnot ggyms, han makin thosfirst yearsnot swisiinns g pools, o l a friendly, intimate bridge for children between home and the outside world. And nothing contributes more to children making tljat jump successfully than the feeling that the school is part of their community, the place they play hi the evening, where mom and dad go to meetings and where the teachers are people everyone in the neighborhood knows.' • Clintonians - Don't forget to bundle you old newspapers and put them out on the curb Saturday morning. The Londesboro Lions will be out and about for their monthly collection. Over in Bayfield the Lions will be outas well making their regular newspaper pick- up. What happens to all those old newspapers? This week reporter Wendy Somerville takes a look at the recycling business and how you can help the local Lions Club in their fund raising efforts. + + + On March 28 there were 11 tables of euchre in play for the last game of the season at the Knights of Coluifibus match held in St. Joseph's Church Hall, Clinton. Winners included: high scorers, Omerine Watkins and John Van den Elzen; low scorers, Dorothy Fleet and Martin Van Ninhuys; ' lone hands, Elizabeth Medd and Lannie Matthews; lucky chair, Alvin Sharp; lucky draw, Evelyn Christensen. The Clinton IOOF and Rebekah card party was held on March 30. Winners were: high scorers, Marie Gibbhigs and Lloyd Stewart; low scorers, Mrs. Sootheran and Elmer Trick; lone hands, Ernie Brown and Mary Trick; share the wealth, Grace White and Mary Trick. The last party of the season will be held on April 12. members while our English members pass- ed their Bilingual bill forcing the English to learn French or they don't get a good job, discrimates everybody but French, that's all it's good for, they passed the language bill costing millions in translations, they did that for 941,990 people as French Quebec has no English and the worst that they did was get rid of our B.N.A. constitution which had in it one working language English. Equal Rights to all, special privileges to none. If we had all the money that it has cost us for this French stuff and its the English tax- payer has paid at least 90 percent of it, it would sure put a big hole in our deficit, billions and billions of money for a language we did not need at all. With the help of about 90 percent of our English members of government, Serge Joyal won't have much trouble making a French state out of Canada. Our English members have let the English people down badly, a dirty shone. Mr. Asa Deeves, Hensall, Ontario. Thank you Clinton Dear Editor: On behalf of the Clinton Beta Sigma Phi, I would like to thank everyone who hen to make the daffodil campaign for the cer Society a success this year. Special thanks goes to Percy Pugh for storing the daffodils and to all the people who either sold or took orders, Mrs. Marguerite Falconer, Chairperson Service Committee, Xi Epsilon, Beta Sigma Phi. tr