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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-08-12, Page 40 PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1981 dave sykes etee BLUE RIBBON AWARD Second class Mail registration number -0716 life is tough enough as it is. What with everyone concerned about inflation, astronomical interest rates, a dollar that's up and down bate a Maple Leaf goaltender on a bad night and horrendous mortgage rates. Everyone has their problems and economics can always be blamed as the source of the malaise. And while our Canadian egos may have taken a battering recently, they were bolstered by a recognized world first recently. Canada leads all industrialized nations in time lost to strikes. We used to dabble in a fair game of shinny before soem foreigners got involved but at least we have -saved face with another first. When it coons to straws canny Canucks, there just ain't anyone better. And in these troubled times, I would suspect t&et fellow countrymen are willing . to cling to hint of accomplishment of a global scale. Our winning percentage may slip badly, however, with the recent set- SINCE 1848 THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT , Founded In 11143 and punished every Wednesday et Gatwick, Ontario. Mennber of the Cafe and OWNA. Adver- thing..tae on request. Suiawfptlonv payable In advance •17.Se In Canada, °33.M to U.S.A., °33.M to all other coun- tries, single copies 51r. DIsplay advertising notes avelleMe on request. Flame ask for Rate turd No. 111 affective Oc- tober 1. 19111. Second data wash teglsfratioe Number 57116. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that In the event of typographical error. the advertising space oocupled by the erroneous Item, together with reasonable allowance for signature,}�. not be "chi ged for but that belence of the .w drtleew .noam t .111 be id for .s ti...a ;Amble reteln the evenip'#'• typographical error advertising goods or services at a bng roprice. goods or services nary not M said. Advertising Is merely en offer to ell. end, may be withdrawn at any those. The Signal -Star is not responsible for the low or damage of unsolicited manuscripts. photos or other m ferieh used for reproducing pur- poses- PUBLISHED BY:SIGNAL-STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT G. SHRIER-President and Publisher DONALD M. HUBICK-Advertising Manager DAVID SYKES-Editor P.O. BOX 220, HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH N7A 486 tlement to the postal strike. Our postal service is hastily returning to semblance of normality after a 42 -day hiatus. So the mail will be moving again,. unless you want to send something to the United States by air mail. Our controllers may not give clearance because the air space in unsafe or soemthing to that effect. As evidenced by the above propogation of gloom and doom, times are tough in the colonies. Even if a person wanted to drink his troubles away, if one was so inclined, the prospect was risky considering that beer contained :a host of little critters scien- tifically referred to as ritrosamines. Ingest much beer, scientists warned, and it's game over. ° What comfort science and medicine provide in time of need. But our fortunes may have taken a slight turn for the better, researches say, and the general populace can drink up and live longer. The ten-year study invloved more than 8,000 people and found that people who had two drinks or less a day actually had lower death rates than abstainers. Isn't it absolutely wonderful the interest and initiative science shows m prolonging and preserving life. But do not get carried away with the generalization. Although two drinks per day may help you live a longer and fuller life, people who insisted on par- taking of six drinks plus per day, are ire finitely -more likely to wind up in the brewery in the sky. Life offers no guarantees. In essence, research has substantiated and reinforced the fact that moderate alcohol consumption may have a protective effect against heart disease. Even the old ticker has a penchant for the odd beer. The research studied four groups -those who didn't drink, those who had two or less drinks a day, those who indulged in three to five drinks daily and the final group of winos, who' were partial to six or more drinks on adaily basis" . The lowest mortality rate was among the group taking twodrinks a day. Death rates for non-drinkers were 40 -per -cent higher and the three -to -five drink -a -day group was falling off at a rate of 50 per cent. Naturally the final group, indulging in more than six drinks per day, didn't live long enough to be interviewed by the research group. But in this world of economicand personal woes, it is somewhat reassuring and easing to the psyche, knowing. that _a moderate sampling of comforting beverages will prolong the miserya few years. 1'am confident that my own life has been granted a stay of execution, in light of the research. But 1 could probably lay off for a few years and still maintain the acceptable quota. FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES please phone (519) 524-8331 Is relocation fair to all? A public forum on beer, tents, music festivals and related matters held last Thursday was fairly successful in soliciting a smattering of comments on what has become the most salient issue in town. The issue .of beer tents and music festivals has been bantered about for more than a year without any concrete moves towards a settlement or compromise, if one can be reached. At least now, Council • has probably. come to the realization that beer tents and music festivals are not compatible with residential surroundings.. Residents in the Harbour Park area have made their point clear. . Naturally, •what is music to • one person is noise to another and it is difficult to differentiate between the.two. All the complaints 'about the recent Optimist Club Music Festival, according toChief Pat King, were noise related: But the Optimist Cub has taken some positive steps and . initiative towards alleviating the -discomfort of residents. They. have offered both labor and funds: to create a. new park at the' old dump site on the Maitland River flats. The music festival is the club's ,major fund-raising project and it two years it has established a definite market for such music in the area. Specifically, the club has offered the town $2,000 (profit from the 1981,festival) towards the new park project. In addition the club is willing to commit $2,000 each year. or 30 per cent of the net profit from the festival. The town had intended to make use of the site for park purposes and plans included a ski. hill. The connmitment from the:Optimist Club will at least serve to inject im- mediacy to those plans. . Many people at the public meeting were appeased with the relocation proposal of the music festival and beer tent. For one group, the relocation proposal will at least serve to isolate the, problem. For the Optimist Club, relocation will disrupt continuity of the festival; and they want only one move to a per- manent site. If the park can be whipped into some sem- blance of shape for next year, they are willing to move. In the case of the Optimist Club, the relocation seems to be a ' popular decision. It would provide them with a permanent location that is somewhat, isolated, yet close enough to town. But the decision facing council is still not an easy one. If one group relocates, will all beer tents be confined to the new park? The Kinsmen Club has been running a successful beer tent in Court House Park for many years in conjunction with the club's carnival that features rides and games for children. Moving the Kinsmen to the park may not be entirely feasible and could put an end to the carnival. As mentioned at the meeting, the Kinsmen function attracts people to the Square. if tents are confined to one area, it would mean an end to the beer garden at the race track which generates funds for the Trotting Association. Racing runs nine nights during the summer and residents in the McDonald Street area are also seeking relief from the outdoor tent. A move isn't going to be beneficial to all concerned but council may limit the relocation to the Optimist Club. That decision may not be a fair one but could work if the club is willing to establish a permanent festival site at the old dumping grounds. D.S. A hefty price tag There are two things of which one can be absolutely certain in life, death and taxes. And perhaps now we can add the Canadian postal service to the list. Our postal service, is back in operation again as the 23,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers ratified a new twb-year contract with the Government. While there was some obvious and strong rejection of the proposal in many regions, 83 per cent voted in favor of ending the 42 -day national strike. Monetary issues were never in evidence during the negotiation and the new contract retroactive to January 1 gives the workers a 70 cent an hour increase in each year \\ plus a cost of living clause. But the main source of contention was benefits and the contract will give the employee the right to refuse work considered dangerous, four weeks' vacation after eight years' service and 17 weeks of paid maternity leave. Cottage (kot ag)- A dwelling, usually situated near a lake or river, comprised of rooms with old couches, bunkbeds, refridgerators, and cold -running water. Used mainly for purposes of summer rest and relaxation, and the odd party. My love of the lazy lake life, has been rekindled with a weekend spent at a friend's cottage on wonderful Lake Erie. The weekend provided much in the way of therapy to ease the pain and worry inflicted by one severely wounded automobile, and other drawbacks connected with life in the fast lane. On Friday afternoon, five frazzled friends filled up a van with all sorts of cottage -type stuff like sleeping bags and beer and headed, off to a summer haven. We were welcomed by about 15 other frazzled friends who had already unloaded their sleeping bags and beer. The cottage was equipped with four refrirlaeretnrrr lnte of lawn rhelie. two The strike has cost Canadians dearly and the losses on the Government side are between $300,000 and $500,000. Postal workers will earn an average $25,000 at the con- clusion of the contract and the strike cost the employees about $2,500. The settlement could have far reaching implications and ramifications for unions negotiating in the future. It has undoubtedly set new precedents in maternity leave benefits, benefits that other unions will surely fight for in negotiations. ,..; Are Canadians now bourpi%i to contribute to paid maternity leave. It will mean a whole new ball game in social benefits. Undoubtedly there is relief that strike has ended and mail will be. moving in its normal manner soon. But what are we willing to pay for relief?D. S. friendly dogs, and one big inner tube. I was equipped witha bottle of Newfie Screech and a tent. I became unfrazzled in about 15 minutes after arrival. The weekend continued as cottage weekends do. Nobody went to bed much before dawn, the lake breeze, good com- pany, and the Screech all making for utter happiness. I vaguely remember sitting about singing dirty songs with everyone until I finally crashed in my tent. Memories of wounded automibiles were nonexistent. The morning came and I laid there all snuggly and warm, remembering all the good times 1 had at cottages when I was a little kid. Having a father in the educational field had its merits, especially in the summer time. We would spend about three weeks at a cottage near Parry Sound. When you're a kid, three weeks is forever. ' It was a little red cottage on a little lake Prosperity By Cath Wooden EAR REA Stating one's opinion in a column of this soft week after week, year after year, has its pitfalls and problems. For one thing, it permits people you don't even know or necessarily like to get right inside your thoughts. It is bad enough to bare your soul to your closest friends and family, but to tell, all to strangersandaliens is a tough business. , And columnists tend to reveal themselves through their writing: It's a hazard that is ahnost impossible to avoid. . Columnists, you see, have to more choice to avoid.writing a column, on a certain day or week than you do to stay home from work on Monday Morning. It's the job. It pays the bills. It doesn't matter that you have nothing new to say - or that you don't feel like writing anything more thought-provoking than your signature. The plain fact is you are required to fill a specific space in each edition of the publication ... and fill it you will tome hell or high water. It should be clear to you right now, for in- stance, that L didn't have any particular message to convey to you this week. I'm filling space in the summer doldrums. " And I'ni not in the mood to put words to my thoughts in any case. I'm going through one of those dry periods now where I'm uncertain of my ability to understand or my . talent to com- municate: ' Still I must fill my allocated quota. Sometimes it takes nothing more than a simple remark of a reader to put me off. That's what it was this time. A Signal -Star ERS reader commented that my viewpoint' is getting . a little tiresome and a whole lot repetitive: -Big. deal. Readers have been thinking precisely that for quite a while now. So what? So quit writing my column''. No way. Quite a few readers ( bless them ) say they like it. What's more, who elsewould be fool enough to stand up week after week and dependably fill this space with comments pertinent to Goderich and area? 'Would you? And that, my friends, is my point. Until you havewalked a mile in the sandals of a colunniSt, don't brag about how much better you would covert he course. I know an excellent columnist from another publication affiliated with Signal -Star. He's a columnist's columnist. He weaves words like an • artist and he has the wit and wisdom of a sage. But in his own part of the world, he's considered by many to be a fool and he's despised in. the bargain: Every week, the publication for which- he writes is filled with venomous letters to the editor which proclaim this columnist's stupidity, his ignorance, his lack of understanding, his prejudice, his crass inconsiderate boorish journalistic efforts. But he continues to write - and the public continues to read and react. It's a job for him, a regular feature for his paper and a constant challenge for the readers. Advertisers recognize the worth of this man's talents to attract attention to his little corner of the newsnaner They want their merchandising messages placed as dose to this "piece of rub-, bish" as . they can get, because they know ' potential customers will be drawn. to this page like flies just to sere what this jackass -has to say this week. ' , But think about it How would you like to be that columnist? How many of you could stand the heat'.' • Not many I'd wager. Not many readers in any market I've worked in have the strength of their convictions. Not many will actually put all their opinions 4ind ideals into black and white under their own name for close scrutiny by the people with whom they live and work. That takes guts. Some will write blistering attacks on just about everyone and everything so long as they can remain anonymous. But the folks who will sign their nemesia their opinions are few -and far between. They are in a class by :themselves - and they deserve our conunendation whatever their viewpoint may be. To that end, this newspaper prints ALL the opinions of readers - providing they are neither libellous or slanderous. Every reader is given the opportunity every single week to state his enlightening opinions to the entire community. In fact, I'm going on vacation for the last two weeks in August" If there is anyone out there who - would like to take over this spot for one or both of those weeks, you have only to telephone me and make the arrdngcments. Be my guest Be a columnist. with a dock, a rowboat and a canoe. We spent hours diving off that dock and playing in the boat during the day. At night, we'd go to the neighbors and play euchre. Of course, cottage life does present its small crises. ,,,I remember wanting to go back to the cottage one night, but my sisters were still playing cards. It was only about 100 yards through the trees but it was so dark, and I thought about bears. Nobody took my plight seriously, so I got up the courage and ran. I do believe I set a new record for the 100 yard dash that night. Then there was the time rhy friend and I spent the night camping at the other end of the lake: It rained and rained and rained. We decided to canoe home to where it was dry and safe. There we were in the thunder and lightening canoeing across a choppy lake in the dead of night. The flashlight went overboard. Where were we? Somehow we bumped into the dock and made it to saftey. Funny the chances you'll take as a kid. I'd never do it now. Then there was the time -when I was just a toddler. It is one of my earliest memories. My parents were playing catch with me in the lake and somebody missed. I can still see the churning water in front of my eyes for those brief seconds. But the good times far outweighed the bad, and as I lay there in my tent I got the urge to go for a swim in the lake before breakfast - just for old times sake. It was cold, and a lot of green seaweed had washed up overnight, and the stones hurt my feet, and...well, it just wasn't the same as old times. Funny the things we can't do wtlen we grow up. So I let it all go away and joined everyone for coffee and toast, and spent the day reading a book, drinking beer, and listening to music. We laughed a lot, and nobody mentioned any of the old times. I guess there were some old times in the making.