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Clinton News-Record, 1985-5-15, Page 4Page 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, MAY b5,1985 The Clinton News -Record is published each Wednesday et P.O. Bolt 39. Clinton, Ontario. iCanada, NOM 11.0. Tel.: 482.3443. Subscription Rate: Canada .019.73 Sr. Citizen • 516.75 per year U.S.A. foreign • 555.00 per year It is registered as second class mall by the post office under the permit number 0817. Tho News -Record incorporated in 1924 the Huron News -Record, founded In 1881, and Tho Clinton News Ero, founded in 1865. Total pros$ runs 3,700. Incorporating THE BLYTH STANDARD CCNA J. HOWARD AITKEN - Publisher SHELLEY McPHEE - Editor GARY HAIST - Advertising Manager MARY ANN I4OLLENBECK - Office Manager A MEMBER Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rate Card No. 13 effective October 1, 1984. Community loss Katimavik is leaving Clinton. It is only tentative, but group leader Dwight Morley admitted the list of eight possible regional projects he recently received in a letter will pro- bably be confirmed for the next cycle of Katimavik. The project for the region in which Clinton is included is at Turkey Point on Lake Erie. The Katimavik house in Clinton has been well received by the com- munity and its volunteer residents have contributed to improving Clinton and area. Katimavik people have been involved in our schools, working with ex- ceptional students and doing special projects, in Huronview, the Town Hall re -opening, Klompen Feest, have sponsored town clean up days, have always been available to help senior citizens with projects, and worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources office inWingham. They have also lived with town residents during the two week billeting portion of the program and have often become fast friends with those they live with, each side writing and even planning visits. And the interest hasn't been one-sided. The group's open houses have always attracted more visitors than expected, to the delight of those cook- ing and baking special treats for guests. "I think• you'll find people will miss them if they leave," said Jarle Fisher, a carpenter and billeter in town. "The program is good for the participants, it's good for me and I think it's good for the economy. It's kind of unique because it appears to help everyone in the general, public. "It's a reciprocal type of system - what we should be doing in the world." - J. Friel Abortion vs. adoption Dear Editor: During a recent all -candidates women's debate in the Huron -Middlesex riding, the three candidates • debated such women's issues as equal pay, day care and abortion. Jack Riddell's 'position on abortion dif- fered from that of the PC and NDP can- didates. As recorded in the Clinton News - Record ( May 1, 1985 ), Mr. Riddell's per- sonal experiences favor adoption instead of abortion. - Mr, Riddell's position is no doubt echoed by many childless couples who are trying or have tried to adopt a baby: Also there are not to my knowledge,. adopted children who wish that they had been aborted. An unwanted pregnancy is an emotional trauma for any woman. Yet I believe that trauma could be greatly relieved by a car- ing community and the knowledge by the ex- pectant mother that her baby is desperately wanted by childless couples. Only a childless couple can tell of the aching void in their lives, the long, anxious wait and disap- pointments. It would be interesting to hear from various people such as childless couples, distressed pregnant women and adopted children. These people could share their ex- . perience and prevent a lot of grief and guilt. John Van Den Assem, R.R. 4, Brussels. iahetes group appreciates help i)car Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those local businesses and ind1vduais Nvho contributed generously, making our recent campaign 0 success. The Canadian Diabetes Association raised over $2,000 locally. Diabetes' affects over one million Canadians. The Canadian Diabetes Association's goal is to find the cause and eventual cure for Diabetes, while supplying • the diabetic lkith information and educational material to aid in day to day control. '1'o this end, 1,5e are having an open information evening at the Kincardine Hospital, Thursday May 16, at 8:00. We will be having demonstrations of, exciting new aids for diabetics, including a "syringeless" insulin injector, insulin purnp, blood glucose monitor, and sleep sensor. With the support of all the community we will reach our goals. Lastly, i would like to thank this paper for - their support. It is appreciated. Sincerely, Rick Payne, President Huron -Bruce Chapter (Canadian Diabetes Association. Behind The Scones By Faith Roulston Dien; reject 1)lattie-politics Political analysis has become 0 growth in- dustry in Ontario since the stunning results of the May 2 election as people try to grasp what happened but it seems that above all, the people of the province voted against political cynicism. Explanations of the near -upset of the Pro- gressive Conservative dynasty have been almost as plentiful as the number of people writing the explanations. Premier Miller said he felt it was a backlash over the pledge to fund separate schools that cost him with Tory voters staying horse. Yet the figures show that the number of voters was way up over the 1981 election and that even in ridings they lost, often the P('s didn't drop much in their vote total but the other parties picked up alrnostall the new vote. . Urban commentators have said the results were a rejection of a reactionary rural conservatism by the young urban voter but this fails to take into account that the Conservatives were rejected as strongly in most rural areas as in the cities. In fact, the knock on the Liberals before the election was that they were too rural. The one explanation that seem, to hold water, and the one that is most complimen- tary to the Ontario voter, is that the people are tired of being manoeuvred by politi- cians. We had hints of this last fall when the peole soundly rejected the bill of goods they were being sold by the manipulators in the Liberal backrooms for the federal election. While it was comfortable for some Liberals to blame the memory of Pierre Trudeau for their defeat, the fact was, the i.iberals were in the lead when the election was called. John Turner was held up as a hero, sold as KaIeidoscopa With the approach of summer comes the annual trouble with vandalism. Again this year private and public proper- ty is being hit by some irresponsible young people, whose greatest joy seems to be the destruction of property. Vandalism is a senseless crime. The OPP describe it as an act of defiance against a society that the individual neither understands or approves (and which he may feel already disapproves of him). In other cases it is simply the result of hi -jinx and playfulness that get out of hand. The very name vandalism is derived from a race of semi -savages who sacked Rome in 455 A.D. and destroyed all evidence of culture and refinement. Today, not only the name of the savage tribe remains, but the ignorant and irresponsible actions that were associated with those early acts of wilful damage. At this time of year the main targets for vandalism in Clinton are the gardens. Downtown planter boxes have been burnt, trees ripped out, flower heads torn off, grass and gardens destroyed by bicycles and cars. The vandalism reached serious proportions recently when some thoughtless teenagers set off the fire alarm at the town hall com- plex during business hours. The OPP report that vandalism may be perpetrated wherever the opportunity exists - often in schools after hours, in public parks after dark, and on premises which are not occupied. Most acts of vandalism involve male juveniles or young adults, but since fewer than 10. per cent of all vandals are ap- prehended, it has not been possible to derive a well defined pattern of distinctive characteristics. It is difficult for police to catch vandals. Usually vandals do their mischief and wilful damage when they think nobody will see them, particularly the police. They can cause serious damage in a matter of minutes and quickly flee. A major portion of responsibility against vandalism lies in the hands of the public and parents. Anyone who witnesses an act of vandalism should contact' police im- mediately. As a preventative measure greater personal concern and informal surveillance for public property should be encouraged. Contact the parents if you happen to know the children who are causing the damage. A hard -learned lesson about respect for other property and repair of the damages would quickly end any further vandalism attempts for young children. The OPP explain that when a child is very young, he or she does not recognize private the silver -haired wise man of the party. He was chosen by the Liberals, not because he was the favorite, but because they thought he could win. But the people saw that the emperor had no clothes and turfed him out. Frank Miller carne in as leader of the Pro- gressive Conservatives as one sort of person with one set of ideas. The managers of the party figured that his manner, his clothes, his ideas were all a hindrance to getting elected in what they perceived as a modern, urban society. They tried to change hirn. If this change could have taken place over months or years; perhaps the people would have Nought it but the transition was so fast it rang phony. It was too obvious that people were being sold a package, being given a fancy wrapping so they would buy one thing, then discover that they got something en- tirely different. Perhaps politicians will finally get the message that people, as illogical as they may seem at times, don't like to feel they've been taken for granted or manipulated. Perhaps the message might sink in with Prime Minister Mulroney that he too could be a victim of the people if he doesn't curb his own political cynicism. People have been willing to give him a chance, to believe that things couldn't be worse than the Liberals but with Mulroney trying to catch up for 20 years of Liberal patronage in his first year of office, the people may once again feel they've been sold a bill of goods and turn on him by the next election. If the election results last fall and again this spr- ing can bring a little honesty in advertising to politics, we'd have won a great victory for the voters. By Shelley McPhee property rights, The whole neighbourhood is their playground, the neighbor's flowers are there to be picked or uprooted, their apples or cherries are there to be eaten, their garages, trees, shrubs and garbage pails are made for games of hide and seek. It comes as a rude shock when the child is told in no uncertain terms to stay off other peo- ple's property. The majority of children soon learn to distinguish their parent's property from that which belongs to other people. They readily see the desirability of treating other people's property the way they would like others to treat theirs. The OPP point out that the majority of people learn this lesson well and easily, otherwise there would be a great deal more vandalism threatening us from all sides. This line of reasoning concludes that society and individual parents must rein- force this learning process. It is not enough merely to correct the minority who fail to learn respect for other people's property and responsibility for their own. Positive, preventative steps should be taken. Greater respect and maturity on the part of the young vandals will best come through their apprehension and their retribution through community service, instead of fines or jail sentences. Awareness is the key factor in the reduc- tion of vandalism. Awareness on the part of everyone that vandalism can take place wherever the circumstances invite it and make it easy. Every citizen has a part to• play in it s prevention. On a more lighthearted note, be sure to in- clude Klompen Feest in your weekend plans. The weatherman is forecasting sunny skies and the Klompen Feest committee promises a top notch event. Now all that is needed are the people to make the celebra- tion a great success. You'll note in the Klompen Feest souvenir booklet in last week's News -Record (May 8) that the parade route has been altered this year. The parade will begin and end at the community park, travelling, via downtown and the hospital. Clinton Police request. that there be no parking along the parade route. No parking signs will be placed along the route by 8 a.m. on May 18. Please obey them and problems will be avoided. Ample parking is being made available for Kldmpen Feest. All the events are within a short walking distance of the town hall parking lot on Rattenbury St. E., . the municipal lot off Albert Street, behind Ball Sugar andSpice The convention LET'S have a convention! In what primeval swamp, by what hairy ancestor, was that suggestion first offered 60 million years ago? Wherever it was, and whoever it was, an institution was born that hags proliferated in- to a countless -billion -dollar business, a source of pleasure for millions, and a, mountain -sized headache for hundreds of thousands, each year: the convention. Can't you see them sitting around on their haunches, chewing a morsel of mammoth, and sweating out the details? Where to have it, the big cave or several smaller ones. Size of the convention fee -two round stones or three? Women allowed? Unanimous NO. Door prizes? Entertain- ment? Keynote speaker? Agenda? Little did they know what they were let- ting their descendants in for. Dragooning into service a Convention Committee: Burp, Yob, and Gunk. Setting up sub -committees: the Round Wheel Com- mittee.; the Fire Without Lightning Commit- tee; the Bigger Slingshot Committee. Forgive them, Father, they knew not what they did. Like many another great, simple idea, that of The Convention has grown in scope and complexity until it employs a stagger- ing amount of time, money and nervous energy in the 20th century. In today's society, and especially in the western world, The Convention is a fact of life. Everybody from librarians to lawyers, from postal workers to politicians, from hairdressers to hustlers, is into the•conven- tion syndrome. Housewives are nervously planning their wardrobeQr the newspaper convention. and Mutch Furniture and the parking area, north of the PUC building. As well permis- sion has been granted from the Royal Bank, the Credit Union, Mother's Day Laun- dromat, the Board of Education, Mason Bailey's lot on main street and the Petro Can Station, for free parking. You're advised to find a parking space early in the day. Klompen Feest events run from Friday night, through to Saturday night. Tickets and event information are available at several outlets in town, or at the Klompen Feest booth at Library Park. The booth is easy to find, just look for the giant wooden shoe. A special addition to the Dutch celebra- tion will be held on Sunday night when an evening of song and praise is held at the Clinton Christian Reformed Church. All are welcome to attend this community service, starting at7:30 p.m. After a week's breathing time, Clinton will be ready to host another big event of the year - the annual spring fair on May 31 and June 1. Fair Queen organizers are looking for con- testants. Businesses, clubs, service groups are invited to sponsor a young woman in this popular event. Please contact Marie Jeffer- son at the town office 482-3997 by May 29 for entry information. A dollar bill can go a long way to your sup- port of the Clinton: Public Hospital. (CPH). The CPH, Auxiliary membership drive is in full swing and for the donation of $1 you can show your appreciation and support to this devoted group of men and women. A door-to-door campaign is underway locally. In Clinton organizer Evelyn Holmes, Roberta Plumsteel, Betty Young and Joyce Hilderley are canvassing the four wards of town. Dawna Westlake is heading the Bayfield campaign. The CPH Auxiliary hasmore than 600 members. Of that some 25 to 50 are active in the work of the group. More men and women are invited to join, and take part in the ser- vices of the auxiliary. Teenagers and senior citizens are welcome. A special invitation goes out to the men in the community for their support. Last year the membership drive raised $1,029 for hospital work. Canvassers hope to better that figure this year. If a volunteer hasn't called on you in the next few weeks, be sure to contact them and give a buck for a good cause. By Bill Smiley Doctors are putting the final touches to their cure -for -cancer paper for the medical con- vention. Writers are polishing their latest creative explosion for the authors' conven- tion. Politicians are frantically reinforcing their ramparts for the party convention. Reeves and deputy -reeves are wangling a pass to the Good Roads Convention. Shriners are refurbishing their fezzes, lawyers tarting up their torts, and labor leaders seeking new slogans, as convention fever slowly but surely seizes them. A convention is many things to many peo- ple. To the organizers, it is a nerve -frazzling ordeal, a labor of love, and a pain in the arm, the pain replaced by exhausted bliss when everything goes well, there are no fist- fights and no heart attacks. To the hard core who attend the business sessions, it is an intense exercise of picking others: brains, discovering new ideas, and working themselves up in the pecking order toward that shining summit - President of the organization. To the casual .convention -goer it's a com- bination of a little business and a lot of pleasure: living it up in a swank hotel; meeting old friends; post-prandial parties; "hospitality suites" with free booze ; plea- sant outings planned by the sweating organizers; a little trade or professional gossip; a once -a -year holiday; making new friends. All in all, a bit like a ship's cruise, without the possibility of mal de mer, although a distinct probability of mal de tete. My first acquaintance with conventions was slightly traumatic. I was a night porter ( cleaning latrines, scrubbing floors, polishing brass) on the old Hamonic, a passenger boat plying the Great Lakes. We'd picked up a load of conventioners at Duluth and taken them to a convention in Detroit, where they used the boat. as a floating hotel. And floating was the word. Many of them were awash by the time we reached Detroit. • About 3 a.m., I was polishing the brass rails leading down from the lobby to the , lower deck. Gruelling, lonely work. Out of nowhere appeared a very drunk lady who felt sorry for me, and offered to remove the brass polish to help me. So saying, she hoisted her skirt, straddled one of the brass rails, and slid down it, vigorously shining with her stockinged legs until collapsing in a crumpled heap at the bottom. • I was a bashful 17. She was an old lady ( at least 35). It was an alarming, fascinating experience. As a weekly editor, I soon discovered that the newspaper convention was the only anodyne to a slavish 60 -hour a week occupa- tion. Turn off the presses, lock the doors, and head off for the convention. In those days, conventions were held at some of the great old railway hotels like the Manoir Richelieu at Murray Bay, on the St. Lawrence. For four or five days, we lived like royalty, before going back, sated, to the old editorial desk, where we lived like peasants. Right now, .I have to decide whether to at- tend a convention of old fighter pilots. I know I should burn the invitation. I don't think I could survive it. But I'll probably go, if they'll just promise to scatter my ashes to the four winds, and let me keep on flying. Calling all girl guides to reunion Dear Editor: Girl Guides of Canada are celebrating their 75th Birthday this year and local girls will join in the fun at a giant Anniversary Rally on ,June 1. The Rally will feature 1000 girls from our Mapleway Area performing songs, dances, skits and drills. The em- phasis of the two hour performance will be a colorful look at Guiding through the years with the theme "Celebrate Yesterday - Look to Tomorrow". Approximately 6000 tickets are expected to be sold for this event. Guiding in Canada has a membership of over a quarter of a million girls and women. In Mapleway Area alone, 7000 girls and women are involved in Guiding. Our Area runs from Tobermory to the North to Cam- bridge in the South, Goderich being the Westerly limit and Wasaga Beach the fur- thest point to the East. Programs are of- fered to girls from six to twenty years teaching leadership, camping, home skills and community and globpl awareness. Put- ting these skills to work in service to others has been the emphasis of Guiding for 75 years. The public is invited to attend the Girl Guide Anniversary Rally and former members would be especially welcome. It will take place June 1, at 2:00 p.m. at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, Kit- chener, Ontario. Tickets are $3.50 each and are available through mail order sale only from: Mrs. Pat Bayes, Box 832, Port Elgin, Ontario. NOH 2C0. This Rally will be an historical event for Mapleway Area and we would appreciate any publicity you can give us to help make it a tremendous success. We would be very pleased if you would consider having a reporter cover this event and will provide a free press ticket in the near future for this purpose. If you require further information, please contact the Division Public Relations Ad- viser in your locality: Mrs. Margaret Stares, Cambridge, 519-653-1337; Mrs. Lisa Wale, Orangeville, 519-941-8833; Mrs. Dor- reta Philips, Chesley, 519-363-2025; Mrs. Lillian Seifried, Palmerston, Box 492, 519- 343-3697; Mrs. Edna Koert, Monkton, 519- 347-2740; Mrs. Linda Spilek, Waterloo. 519- 669-1206. Sincerely, Mrs. Bonnie Brown, Mapleway Area Public, Relations Coordinator. In celebration of spring S is for sunshine that glows on our head, P is for petals in the flower -bed. R is for rain that falls through bees, I is for islands with great big trees N is for the small, nibbling mice, G is for goodness that means Spring is nice. -by Scott Shaddick, Gr. 4, Hallett Central School. Stepping in puddles on the road, i stop to watch a little green toad; Here are some flower that girls love to pick, Here is a ball that boys love to kick. Look at the nest, up in the tree. Look at the flower. Why, it's a bee. I'm glad all the snow is gone, But I'd better go now, 'cause it's almost dawn. - by Kelly Bosman, Gr. 4, Hullett Central School.