The Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-10-27, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1982
DAVE
SYKES
I have the greatest respect and admira-
tion for people who have the ability and in-
genuity to create things with their hands.
That is in direct reference to the han-
dyman and craftsman sort. People who
build, fix and create on instinct, without
., casting the least bit of doubt on their
capabilities or experience.
I am not such a person. What few han-
dyman skills I have acquired since owning a
home, have been nurtured in a painfully
slow process and usually with the assistance
of people much more knowledgable about
these things.
Experience may weel be painful, but it
G \ has proven to be an adequate teacher.
But there are certain things this feeble
mind rejects with increasing regularity.
Things of a mechanical nature, to be honest.
My knowledge of the mechanical work-
ings and intricasies of automobiles, and
sk,—� especially''my own modest vehicle, is vir-
tually non-existant. I am cognizant of the
basic fact, as is my banker, that gas and oil
are required on a regular basis to make the
thing run. Other than that the car is on its
own.
But, while I plead ingorance with respect
to the mechanical workings of the car, I
must also confess to participation in a long;
standing tradition of male car owners.
And that tradition, regardless of exper-
tise, is gazing under the hood.
If, for whatever reason, the family vehicle
refuses to sputter and cough into a start, like
all amateur mechanics I immediately lift up
the hood and have a look. I have absolutely
no inclination or idea what I'm actually
looking for. But, any self-respecting car
owner must look under the hood.
My first random visual inspection under
the hood usually solicits a comment in the
nature of,"Well, the engine is still there, I
wonder what could be wrong."
Of course, I haven't the foggies notion of
what could be wrong or where. But the male
ego is a fragile animal and I feel a compul-
sion, as a test of manhood, to gaze under the
hood and formulate a prognosis. Macho
men, at the very least, should be capable of
diagnosing and repairing mechanical dif-
ficulties at a glance.
As is the custom, whenever my car won't
start, I put my tail between my legs and
trudge up the road to summon Don. Don
°knows everything about mechanical
doodads and is always eager to help.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries,
Don invariably inquires as to the nature of
the mechanical failure. "I don't know Don,
the darn thing won't start," I offer in
response.
After a brief visual inspection, Don
ultimately gets the car sputtering and
casually announces that the problem has
something to do with the ramificator or
some other such animal.
"You better set that ramificator looked
at," he offers by way of explanation.
I have the same explanatory problems
when I take the beast to the garage. The
mechanics generally want to know why you
are bringing the car in for service and what
specifically they should look at.
"I don't know, the darn thing doesn't run.
You guys are the experts, have a look at it."
is about all the advice I can offer. "Better
• have a look at the ramificator while you're
in there too. I think it's been acting up late-
ly.„ •
The ramificator could have fa11 n out of
the car for all I know, but I feel better relay-
ing Don's message. Then the guys at the
shop think I'm knowledgable about
ramificators. •
The old girl is acting up again lately and I
fear a trip to the shop is in the offing. I'm not
sure what to tell the••mechanic, I don't the
guys at the shop have stopped. laughing from
my last trip.
BLUE
RIBBON
AWARD
1979
Second class
mail registration
number -0716
SINCE 1848
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Get the information
The November 8 municipal election will be a hotly
contested one in Goderich.
It has been several years since an election has attracted
the number of. candidates as the election of 1982. Four
worthy candidates, all with previous experience at the
municipal and county government level, are seeking
election as mayor.
The race for six council seats has attracted a dist of 11
candidates and the four seatson the Public Utilities
Commissionwill be contested by five. hopefuls. Three
local taxpayers are fighting to represent the town of
Goderich on the Huron County Board of Education and
two separate school supporters are seeking one seat on the
Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board.
Everyone has a democratic right to exercise a vote. in
the November 8 election but along with that right comes
the responsibility of making. a judicious and educated
selection. Voting for the sake of voting is little more than
doing a poor job to get a problem out of the way.
Candidates, no doubt will take every opportunity to get
their personal message across to the taxpayers of the
town, Evaluate those messages and find out how the
candidates planto handle certain' issues.
On Wednesday November 3, all candidates have been
invited to a catididatOs meeting' at Robertson School at
7.30 p.m. Each candidate will be allowed two Or three'
minutes speaking time and then the meeting will be open
to your questions, suggestions and comments.
It is important that as many taxpayers as possible at-
tend such a meeting, to meet and evaluate the candidates
• in the November 8 municipal 'election. Seek their opinions
on matters that concern you as a taxpayer.
This election is of great importance considering that the
incoming councillors, mayor, PUC members and board of
education trustees will be serving the needs and concerns
• of,the citizens for three years. This new three-year term
can be significant to the municipality and much of what.
the councils, commissions and boards do. in the next 'term
will reflect on the future of the area. .
So take the time to speak to the local candidates and get
a feeling for their aspirations and ambitions. It's your
decision. Make it an informed one. D.S.
Yourvote counts
When you vote November 8th, yozi will give your local
government candidates a mandate too act on your behalf
and spend your tax dollars on. services for your communi-
ty. This is direct election and it concerns you - the voter.
Once your representatives are in munidipal office, or on
your local school board, they too have the democratic
right to vote to make things happen at full council or board
meetings or on committees — to provide recreation pro-
grams and school services, arrange for bus service,
prepare long-range plans for the municipality's develop-
ment, schedule the improvement of roads and the
removal of snow, and the many other local services.
At the local, municipal, level this "democracy within
democracy” reflects a basic management need for the
division of labor to deal with the running of the whole com-
munity. Budgeting, planning, policy making, representa-
tion on local boards and at the county or regional level - all
require the work of many hands.
It is an often overlooked fact that a simple, direct vote
has this kind of hidden power. It is an extension of your
mandate, your right to get things done.
-"..When donne -Mors dhoti the .ineni'btrs Of their• finance
or executive committees, they often do so on the basis of
r
Safetycomes firs
your original vote. The councillor who got the highest
direct vote is sometimes appointed to a key position. In
this way, your original vote goes on working for you every
day. .
Council members are selected by their. council col-
leagues to other positions, based on ability, seniority; or
experience. Senior among councillors, mayors have ex-
tra responsibilities. As key representatives some mayors
sit on commissions dealing with hydro and police. They
and others sit on library boards, conservation authorities,
health boards and a number of other local bodies. All this
because they were chosen to lead by you, the voter, in the
first place.
There are other examples of this extended power of the
public vote. Most Ontario municipalities are part of a
two-tier system with villages, towns, boroughs and the
like federated into counties and regions and metropolitan
areas, to make representation equitable and to handle
policies and programs for the wider community.
Not only does your vote affect the type and quality of
local services and amenities, visible down the street or
across town, it also helps you to get your fair share of
roads -:and -hospitals, conservation areas' and social ser-
vices in your county or regional municipality.
Regardless whether your children celebrate Hallowe'en
Saturday or Sunday evening, take precautions to ensure
their trick -or -treating escapades are safe. -
Be ovary of costumes that are too constricting as ease of
movement is essential. Also, be sure that the mask your
child wears, does not inhibit his or her line of sight in the
least. Impaired vision can lead to disaster when the anx-
ious youngsters are crossing streets at night.
Drivers will also have to exercise extra caution on the
weekend considering that many children, many with dark
coloured costumes, will be out in full force. If possible, in-
corporate bright colours in your child's costume, it will
help make the motorist's task that much easier.
Hallowe'en is a celebration for children and while they
R„niay lustily munch their loot on the way, encourage your
Children not to indulge until the candy has been inspected.
Your demands will undoubtedly meet with disapproval,
but insist on safe practices.
It is wise for children to make their rounds in small
groups and if possible, parents should accompany small
children.
The Goderich Police Department will have all men on
patrol this weekend and hopefully it will be a safe
Hallowe'en. D.S.
Moonsee
By Dave Sykes
DEAR READERS
SHIRLEY KELLEFR
Everyone I know is sickened by the story, from
Ottawa concerning the poisoned Hallowe'en
treats.
It shouldn't surprise . anyone that some tor-
tured soul would try such a stunt, after reading
so much about the pills and the mouthwash that
were teinted with deadly substances. But tdprey
on small children is a most despicable act, and
the average citizen would have little compassion
for anyone caught in. the crime.
I was relieved to hear that the Ottawa police
issued a warning to parents in ,Ottawa to keep
their children at home this Hallowe'en. And I
wonder if that edict should not be repeated all
across this country.
Even •in small towns like Goderich, children
have been the victims of some dangerous pranks
at Hallowe'en...We've heard of apples.shot...wath__
this or that drug; bits of glass in popcorn balls;
razor blades in candy; and a range of lesser evils
that were designed to make innocent children
suffer.
I was talking to one young lady this week who
told me that she and her brother and sister often
wondered why they bothered to go from house to
house on Hallowe'en in their village. For when
the kids got home, the mother went through the
loot and tossed out anything that was not in-
dividually sealed in tamper -proof packages - ap,
pies, homemade treats, loose carmels and
licorice, on and on, all went straight W the gar-
' bage.
When one imagines the cost to honest, fun -
loving citizens who supplied harmless treats, one
can easily estimate - that my young friend's
mother tossed out many dollars worth of safe -to -
eat goodies. What a senseless waste of hard earn-
ed money on the off -chance there is a psychopath
in the neighborhood?
Maybe Hallowe'en has gotten out of hand after
•
all. It's true that some children leave home as
early as possible on Hallowe'en to make the
rounds of as many homes as possible in the even-
ing. The challenge is to collect more booty than
anyone else in your block; the fact is that eating
the stuff is hardly even important.
But even if it were important, would it be passi-
ble for an individual child to consume a
pillowcase - or more - of shelled out sweets? For
that matter, would it be wise?'
Certainly it has to be ' up to the parents to
retrain their children 'concerning how to enjoy
Hallowe'en. Or maybe - in some small part - it is
the responsibility of homeowners and all think-
ing adults, to 'suggest alternate, more produc-
tive, less treacherous ways to celebrate the an-
nual spook festival.
The UN CEIr...canvass._.on.•.Hallawe'en.�s....the......
closest thing to combining fun with good sense on
Hallowe'en. The enjoyment of dressing up and
going from house to house is still there - but the
selfishness of collecting a basketful' of non -
nutritious snacks is gone. In its place is an,ap-
preciated opportunity to raise thousands - yes,
millions - of dollars for a worthwhile cause
benefitting needy children.
What has been happening is the UNICEF
boxes are handled as an "extra" by most
children. And the householder is expected to
hand out a treat as well as a donation for the in-
ternational agency. Think how effective it could
be if the, emphasis was on the UNICEF dona-
tion...and the treat became the bonus.
Maybe a community like Goderich would do
well to select a local cause - let's say a
skateboard park for the kids or an outdoor roller
rink for the beach area.
A few weeks before Hallowe'en, the communi-
ty organizers would start the hype on the project.
All the kids' clubs in town as well as the schools
and the sporting teams would be made aware of
this Hallowe'en project.
At the same time, all homeowners would been-
couraged to donate in pennies, 'nickles, dimes.
. and quarters an equal amount to that usually
forked over at the store for Hallowe'en candy:
The kids would set out with specially marked
boxes to make their rounds. The youngster who
collected the most money for the cause would
win a new 10 -speed bike; ten runnersup would
each receive a calculator.
There could be a central depot in the communi-
ty where the children would congregate follow-
ing the trick -'n' -treat hours. where each
youngster would get a hotdog and a pop ... and, of
course; turn over his box of change.
A really energetic committee might also plan
..to judge costumes ... or to run some Hallowe'en
games and contests:
These ideas are my own and they aren't born,
of any great depth of thought. They aren't even
useful perhaps, other than to start communities
thinking about alternative ways to help kids en-
joy themselves while doing something truly'
meaningful for the community.
It's a whole lot better than spending $10 on
goodies that end up on the ,heap at Holmesville ...
or risking the illness or painful death of some lit-
tle one because some lunatic wants to get his
sicko jollies.
But for this year, I think parents would do well
to closely supervise their children's Hallowe'en.
Take your kids out yourself - and make sure they
call only at the homes where the residents are
known to you:
Or better yet, bny your children a pizza and
keep them at home to play Monopoly with you ...
or with their neighbourhood buddies. It will be
just as much fun ... and a whole lot safer for
everybody.
Founder wanted museum to stay here
Dent' Editor,
I see from your October 6
paper the County council is
--thinking—sof -moving—the
Huron County Pioneer.
Museum,
As- the granddaughter of
the late J.H. Neilh I feel it -is
an injustice to the Memory
and work of a man, who
worked so hard to make a
landmark for the emnmunity
of Goderich.
My Grandfather's whole
life went into your museum.
All of his personal
belongings And antiques are
in the museum. No member
of the family received one
thing. I do not even have a
picture of him to show my
children, we have to go to the
museum for that.
In grandfather's will, it
said that my father and
uncle were to be given what
the museum did not want.
They did not receive
anything.
How many of the exhibit's
would be lost, broken or
misplaced in the wrong
hands in a move like this?
Would the cottage, the floral
clock be moved too? How
would you move the engine
that grandfather worked so
hard to put there?
Thirteen years after the
man passes away you would
like to forget he was the man
who put the county and town
on the map.
In Florida my dad was
asked if he knew where
Goderich was and had heard
of the museum as ,the
founder had the same name
as he did.
My dad was going to have
a book written on the life and
history of the man and his
museum at no expense to the
county or town in memory of
a father and grandfather.
He also was going to
donate a 1937 John Deere M.
tractor with a plow and
scorner to -the museum.
Now, he will not do
anything for the County.
The family would like to
thank Friedel Nanz very
much for the help and
support, she gavemy..
grandfather in his years with
the museum and during his
illness.
So as a member of the next
generation, I wobld like tO be'
able to bring my grand-
children up to Goderich to
the museum and say this is
what your great great
grandfather founded.
On Sunday Oct. 17 I had the
opportunity to go to
Vanastra to see the possible
new location for the
museum: There-. was one .
display that was missing
which is the two headed calf.
diene was not as many
displays working as there
were when grandfather was
there. In the hallway is a
large music box that was
always working when
grandfather was there.
I also learned that gran-
dfather had a workshop at
Huronview County Home in
e ----Clinton and from what I
understand the tools are not
on display in the museum or
in the workshop at the
museum. It is a dump and we
had a hard time to find our
way out of there.
Also what would happen if
we had another war, and the
base was needed to train
men for a wad? Would they
not have to move it again?
We went on up to see the
museum.
In the early days, gran-
dfather would go to the dump
to find wood for his working
displays, with a hammer he
would straighten nails,
because there was no money
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