The Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-03-23, Page 4r
You can always trust the first day of
spring to signal a cruel and'unsuspecting
turn in the weather.
This Year wasno exception.
I was:tndy enjoying welter, or the definite
lack thereof, for the first tune in a long time.
And then along came spring and in one
metedrologicai swipe, all my dreams and
illusions were shattered.
Historically, spring is heralded as a time
of rebirth and reawakening. A time when
leafy, green things poke their heads through
the soil, a time when the din of skipping
rhymes can be heard around the neigh-
bourhood, a time when little boys play road
hockey and get their bikes out for trial runs,
a time when boots and shovels are returned
to the basement and a time when the car
window, can be rolled down without
snowflakes wafting into the front seat.
Spring has always been a special season
for those reasons and many others.
However,. en Monday, mother nature
like myself. and It seems as if idiots
layed a cruel Jobe o i =impeding
latest
spring storm is fair retribution for themild
winter enjoyed in these parts. Somehow, I
have never associated raging blizzards with
spring. _
At least not untilbl carne to live in Huron
County several years ago. After enduring
my first winter in this forsaken land, I
learned not to put the boots, shovels and
overcoats away until the end of April.
Everyone is taking this storm in stride,
talking as if it deserved in consideration of
the mild winter. That's a poor attitude.
Regardless of the weather over the past
three months Canadians should be able to
complain to the Liberal government or some
other self-serving agency about the lousy
spring weather. Perhaps Pierre could call
for a royal commission into the thing. Or at
the very least,, we Could have ,a gallop 40 to
determine. how the country views spring
storms.
I didn't put the shovel away al f fear it
will be put to good use *the; neat:fewdays
Poor Mrs. Sykes, She does hate shovelling
so.
+++
And speaking of cruel ironies I wouldbe
remiss if the faux pas which appeared the
front section of the Signal-Stir,•dated March
9f 1083. was not meentionedt'-In fact, I had
intended to point out same last week.
On the front page of the March 9 the
lead story in the right hand box glowingly '
informed readers that. the Signal -Star had;
won a provincial award for best'front page
in its circulation category. 'The competition
featured 35 papers in the category.,
In that very same issue, in which this
editor proudly delivered the news con-
cerning the provincial award, the date on
March; the front. page erroneously prone1afrlied the
wekae ohs,
Several readers and -Signal-Star
Pi/segues took the time to make mention of
the fact that I had screwed up. Mee oulpe,
mea culpe. Iappreciate your genuine -
concern and should it happen again may the
seagull on my shoulder soil my clothes.
+++
By now yell may hate noticed that once
again, I have a playmate on Page: 4. In
editorial vernacular this is lovingly referred
to as the editorial or genion page' and we
suggest that columnist Elsa 'Haydon will
offer some stirring reflections, opinions and
viewson municipal and general affairs.,
The former councillor addressed readers
through the letters to the .editor section of
this paper on a regular basis and it seemed
to be a natural progression to offer her
reserved weekly space. Just kidding.
*CNA
czi
C n
BLUE
RIBBON
AWARD
1979
--"---"Second class
moil registration
number -0716
SINCE 1848
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Service needed here
There should be some measure of praise offered' to the
hospital • administrators,volunteers and resource per-
sonnel across the county who signed a letter of agreement
last week to provide a Council for Action on Alcohol and
other Drugs (CAAD).
The letter of agreement was signed last week in
Goderich and with the co-operation of hospitals in the five
major county municipalities, assessment and treatment
of alcohol and drug abuse will. be available to any in-
dividual.
The main merit of the program is that it is accessible to,
all county residents. While Alexandra Marine and
General Hospital in Goderich will provide a central phone
number, which anyone can phone if they require in-
formation, all county hospitals will provide assessment
and treatment for inquiring individuals.
Each -hospital will act as -an assessment centre and the
s - ff has agreed to take on the extra work voluntarily. The
t atment and referral service is a new project, but it is a
service that is needed in Huron County.
Co-operation is the key word in describing the service
considering it depends on using existing services and
personnel in the county. •
Now that professionals have identified a need for, and
established, the assessment and referral program, it is
hoped that county residents will seek the expertise
available. Those with alcohol and drug-related problems
can seek expert advice and treatment in their own area.
• To suggest that -the service is not required in Huron
County is folly.
The number of alcohol-related accidents in the county is
on the increase. In fact, according to figures released by
the OPP, Huron County registered more alcohol-related
accidents per capita than any other county in the
province. Startling statistics.
The facts indicate there is a serious problem in this
county and about 60 per cent of the accidents are alcohol
related. The big offenders are ypung people between the
ages of 14 and 25.
While programs and other preventative measures are
established by police and concerned groups, the user must
first recognize the problem before it can be corrected.
D.S.
Computers for farmers
The computer age has touched all our lives. Even in far-
ming the latest technology is being put to work, says The
Glengarry News.
Ontario is one. of the few places world-wide where a
newsletter is published specifically for farmers who own
computers.
The Agricultural Microcomputer Newsletteris a free,
five-page newsletter produced quarterly by the
Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology.
The publication contains general information about
computers and agriculture, articles about.on-farm com-
puter use and the types of programs, already on the
market. It also features a list of other computer
magazines and newsletters for more information.
Editorial Randy Ross is a- lecturer in the farm
economics section at the college: He says the popularity of
the first issue, released in February, exceeded all expec-
tations. He received about 1,500 requests for
subscriptions. He had projected for only 300 to500.
The majority of subscribers are from Ontario, but other
requests came from farmers across Canada, the United
States, South America and overseas.
Ross says he decided to produce a newsletter because
he was receiving, a lot of calls from farmers who wanted
information about computers. Callers wanted to know the
names of other farmers who own computers and where
they could purchase programs.
The college has done a.lot of work in the computer field
and Ross was inierested' in getting this information out to
the farming community..
There is little doubt that computers will one day become
a central part of every farm operation. As a result com-
puter courses are becoming part of college agricultural
programs. All of this technology means labor is saved and
farms are more productive.
It has been said that Canada could make a major export
industry out of food, particularly as it becomes more
scarce in other parts of the world. 4
Technology can food are the future. Canada can be a
leader in both.
Welcome to spring
By Dave Sykes
DEAR REA
E
HIRL Y ll LL R
Don't get me wrong now. I love Canada. And I
am proud and happy to be a Canadian. I can't
think of a better place to live than Huron County
.... and the town of Goderichhas been very, very
good to me and to mine.
But sometimes I wish we could change just a
little. Do you know what I mean?
You guessed it. I went to the United States last
weekend and I ' found . myself wishing we
Canadians could adoptsome of the better things
I always find when I travel there.
µ
The Americans (yes, -yes, I know that in a
sense we are all Americans but for the purposes
of this column, Americans refers specifically to
the citizens of the USA)... The Americans sure
know how to provide services for the customers
who spend their dollars in their establishments.
At least those Americans with whom I came in
contact on this little trip.
And in the little tourist town where I spent my
weekend - Frankenmuth, Michigan - service is
the key to that community's success.
That little town absolutely amazes me,
although it really shouldn't. I know what makes
that community unique - it is that the people
there are dedicated to a common purpose.
A huge cross at the entrance to the town tells
the whole story. A sign proclaims the cross was
erected during the bi-Centennial by "a grateful
community"-.... and the landmark stands as a
shining beacon which states unequivocally,
"These people are different."
And that difference shows in just about
everything.
The pivot of the community appears to be St.
Lorenz, the largest Lutheran church in
Michigan, probably hi the whole USA. More than
4,1100 people are on the membership roll of that
congregation .... and it takes three services, two
in English and one in German, to accommodate
all the worshippers.
There is another Lutheran church in the town,
and a Roman Catholic congregation too, but St.
Lorenz is the showpiece and the mainstay in the
town which puts its German heritage and its
strong Christian traditions in the limelight every
day of the week. ,
I suppose there is dissension in Frankenmuth
too, but it surely is not evident to the visitor.'
Things in that community are geared to the
tremendous German hospitality which abounds,
and to the continental old -country charm and
grace which is found in Europe.
But mixed with it is the American flam-
boyancy which gives a holiday flavour to the
simplest pleasures.
They've done some exciting things in
Frankenmuth since I was there the last time. It's
growing by leaps and bounds ... and we think it is
getting better and better.
One of the newest additions is the School House
shopping village. They've taken the former
school on main street and turned it into the most
delightful collection of little shops anyone could.
imagine.
The old wooden floors - you Inow the oiled
type? - are still in evidence as are the black-
boards
and the old furnace pipes running along '
the ceilings and against the walls.
But the whole thing is dressed up in gingham
and paint, pine furniture and rag mats and it's '
brimming over with fun things to see and to buy.
Next door is the "annex" ... and contains a
stained glass shop where you actually watch the
craftsmen at work. We, happened in on the
owner's eight-year old son's birthday party ...
and we joined in with all the other customers for
birthday cake and a look at the birthday boy's
. new bike.
The woodcarver wasn't in his usual shop -
there was an unfinished statue of Jesus in the
vice with a note telling us he was off to Europe to
further is carving skills and would return by
early June. gut it was business as usual with a
full selection of carvings from all over the world
from which to choose.
Since next Sunday is confirmation day in
Frankenmuth, with 56 young men and women
getting confirmed at St. Lorenz, there were con-
firmation gift ideas everywhere,even the Kase
Haus had suggestions for mothen hosting a con-
firmation celebration. We picked up some
chocolate cheese - only 20 percent of the calories
lir real chocolate candy, but ;made of creamed
cheese, Dutch chocolate and peanuts, it was ab-
solutely delicious.
Made a stop at the Christmas store where
there's every bell and whistle you ever needed
for any kind of a secular holiday, as well as every
tYPe crechefrom the' tiniest miniatures of
Mother and Child in pewter to lifesize figures in
synthetic materials that withstand the weather.
With every. purchase customers received a
Christian pamphlet reminding them that the
mess the world is ie isthe result of sin, and that
to live happily in today's world one needs to have
a personal relationship with The Lamb of God ji
slain on that first Good Friday.
As always, the food was fantastic everywhere
we went ... scrumptious German sausages and
sauerkraut, desserts dripping in real chocolate
and elegant whipped cream, fried chicken and
homemade buttered noodles, corn relish, cab-
bage salad and dressing.
There was music and laiighter.in the streets
despite the chilly weather, and in the stores there
was the warmth gild the charm of a country
festival.
At the church service Sunday morning, the
pastor asked the visitors in the overflowing
churchful of people to stand so' that members
could recognize them. Then we were greeted by
members in nearby pews with cheery smiles and
warm handshakes.
After service, the couple next to us said, "Have
a good day of touring and eating ... and come
back to see us real soon."
You can bet that's one invitation we'll be ac-
cepting.
It was my intention to ease the column
gently into circulation, with soft and leisure-
ly introduction of its aims, directions and
possibilities.
Such plans were abruptly and
automatically thrown out last Wednesday
wh n the Goderich Area Moaning Board
decided to go into a closed meeting, in order
to discuss and decide in complete secrecy
the fate of the two proposed group homes for
mentally retarded adults. I could not be ex-
pected to ignore such a.closed meeting, par-
ticularly as it had the unquestioning bless-
ing of three elected representatives. ,
At this moment I am not looking at the
merits or disadvantages of the homes in
question and the board's decision is neither
here nor there. I am simply and most
vigorously questioning how it serves the
public to have its concerns and controver-
sies discussed apd, for all practical pur-
poses, decided behind closed doors.
A case could be made that the town
solicitor submitted his legal opinion on a
number. of questions and wished the report
.to remain confidential.
(However, the entire meeting and all the
discussion (one presumes that it covered all
pertinent considerations) continued behind
closed doors. The public whose matters
were discussed waited more than an hour in
the hallway. This small group then had to be
allowed in just before the end, so that some
motions could be formally, legitimately and
quickly passed.
Goderich has a new Official Plan alloviring
group homes on certain conditions. Its im-
plementing zoning by-law, however, is still
in the middle of being updated. In the mean -
time, the old by-law does not cover group
homes. Under the circumstances one does
not have to be very clever or to have legal
training to figure out the legal and everyday
implications, ambiguities and interpreta-
tions involved,particularly in view of the
subsequent motion "recommending zoning
by-law changes."
So what. good purpose did the secrecy
serve in this case? What good purpose does
secrecy in public matters ever serve? I
heard bitter and disappointed comments
from those excluded from hearing the
reasoning debate, if there was one. It is a pi-
ty that many office holders find it difficult to
see that secrecy only increases speculation
as to the "real" motives and background
combinations of interests and individuals; it
feeds cynicism which in turn reduces
respect for valuable democratic processes
and principles.
We have enjoyed a great public openness
in Goderich for a . number of years.
However, one wishes that the Minister of
Municipal Affairs and Housing would get on
with the Act which deals with public access
to all types of meetings of municipal coun-
cils and- local boards. It contains a list of
legitimate exceptions.
While appreciating the considerable con-
tribution of elected and appointed persons in
keeping the admirable municipal,
mechanism working smoothly, sometimes
under difficult conditions, some of us do
with to see how the parts function and how it
all comes together for public benefit in a
design of decisions. Don't ybu?
I have always felt rather strongly about
all this. As I think about it again - it is just as
well that this turned out to be the subject of
my first column.
ELSA HAYDON