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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-09-17, Page 22P Entertainment -*Features ®Religion *Family .More High water levels Erosion and flooding threaten beach and cottages at Port Albert SECTION revoke action BY PAUL HARTMAN The fall storms are coming and Port Albert residents are concerned. Lake levels have reached record highs this year and this, coupled with increased flooding problems from the Nine Mile River, has galvanized many residents to action. The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority ( MVCA) has been beset by numerous callers asking the authority to take action to attempt to prevent the flooding and erosion. On Tuesday, September 2, area ratepayers gathered at a meeting with Jane Taylor of the MVCA to discuss a plan of action. Out of that meeting came a decision to undertake an immediate study to deter- mine possible solutions to the problems faced by the village. Some $7500 has been allocated to complete the study, 15 percent of tvhich must be furnished the ratepayers themselves. Seventeen residents from the communi- ty have signed a letter which`will besent to Ashfield Township council advising them of the situation and requesting action at critical times. The problems are not new to the little community. The village has had to face similar erosion and flooding problems on a lesser scale for years. The river has a history of plugging at its mouth resulting in flooding in low-lying areas where several cottages rest. In the past, the MVCA has bull -dozed material from the river onto its south bank to prevent the river from taking its preferred and damaging route. This was usually done between two and four times per year. But this year the problems are par- ticularly severe. High lake levels and severe storms are pushing water back up the river and causing flooding. As well, the river water itself is being backed up by blockage at the mouth and on many occa- sions this year, residents have asked the MVCA to undertake the bulldozing routine. When the river takes its natural path to the south, due to the prevailing north-west wind, it causes heavy erosion on the beach. Port Albert also faces the problem that so many other lake -side communities do, natural Wave action from the unusually high lake is claiming beach on both sides of the river. As one resident, who refused to be iden- tified claims, the problems affect everyone in the community —not, just those on the north, or the south side, not just the cottagers ho have built. on the river banks— everyone. Shovel strategy There are those, of course, who directly feel the brunt of the flooding and erosion. Norville Anderson is one of them. Anderson owns a cottage on the south side of the river that easily qualifies for the title of "Closest to the River." He bought the cottage several' decades ago and remembers.that at that time he had about 30 feet of river -front property. Now, he ex- plains, the water from the river nears his back door. At its worst this year, the water .level has risen to the point where the floor of Anderson's cottage is under five inches of water. Often when this occurs, Anderson will wait till the wind stops blowing, and then take shovel in hand and head for the river mouth. Here, he'll dig a small passage for the water to flow out and into the lake. "It's like pulling a plug," says the cot- tager, "a small, one foot channel will quickly. widen itself up to 12 feet and the water level will go down a foot an hour." A few others have tried the shovel method, including Frank Gardiner, a resi- dent of Toronto whose mother owns a cot- tage at Port Albert. The cottage sits on the north side of the river and as such is not really threatened by the flooding and ero- sion, but Gardiner is nonetheless concern- ed. He wrote an extensive letter to the editor of the Signal - Star recently, telling readers of his concerns. Gardiner's primary concern is that all residents of Port Albert be informed of the erosion dangers and possible solutions. "I want all the facts on the table —no hidden POSTSCRIPT By Susan Hundertmark Reporters and celebrities don't. really, mix agendas," explains Gardiner. "If the en- tire community is informek then the.en- tire coni ' unity will benefit w'en some positive action takes place." Gardiner notes that if attention can be drawn to the issue now, perhaps action can be taken before the fall and winter storms cause ir- reparable damage. One aspect of the issue which is especial- ly worrisome to long-term residents is that the "rustic" character of the village be preserved. A large commercial project could damage that character. At least one person, Matthias Lohse, who lives about a mile from the community, believes that nothing should be done. "It's nature," he explains of the erosion. Put- ting up barriers and retaining walls will ruin the flavor of the village, he contends. One possible solution to the present and future dangers of ee: osion and flooding in- clude steel groyne walls which will protect the beach and the river mouth from the north winds. Concrete rubble groyne walls have also been suggested. A tentative loca- tion for the wall is the site of the old pier. Another suggestion entails building a steel retaining wall on the north side of the river to prevent the mouth from closing up. Once a plan of action is decided upon, it is not cejtain where the funds to pay for the project will come from, although there are four possible avenues: the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, Ashfield Township and the ratepayers pockets. The study will go a long way toward deciding an effective and hopefully inex- pensive and inconspicuous, solution to the problem. After that, monies must be secured to fund the project and the actual construction must take place. And all of this has to occur before the damaging November storms. A gentle -faced man stood waiting as I worked taking pictures at the hospital earlier this week. As I finished and turn- ed to leave, he stopped me. He knew my name and he wanted to tell me he en- joyed my column. He wanted to say I'd expressed something he'd wanted to hear expressed for a long time. And, he wanted to tell me I'd expressed it well. Shuffling down the hallway in his bathrobe and slippers, he walked me to the hospital entrance. I thanked him for his complimentary words and went on my way — happy to be the recipient of such praise but somewhat amazed to have evoked such a response. • When I returned to the office, I retold the story to my co-workers. When faced with such compliments, I waver between exaggerated modesty ("Y'all don't read my little ole column, do ya?") • and businesslike bravado ("I'm sure you've read my position on the boycott of South African produce.") Whether I respond that way because I'm suffering from the "Cinderella Com- plex" (fear of success) or not, I'm sure it's because I'm not quite comfortable at being a "somebody" whom other people read about and recognize on the street. That's why everytime my boss tells me and every other reporter that we're celebrities in our own towns, I giggle. The vision that such a statement brings instantly to mind is nothing less than hilarious. Imagine — Ms. Hundertmark, the chauffeur is here with the limo to transport you to your 10 o'clock interview. Ms. Hundertmark, the editors of Peo- ple magazine have called again for an ex- clusive interview with you. Shall I book a room for them at the Bedford Hotel? Ms. Hundertmark, you'll have to sneak out the side door. The autograph hounds are gathering at the front door again. But, before you go, do you think you could sign a copy of your latest book? It's for my crippled old grandmother; she reads your column every week. Ms. Hundertmark, could you possibly fit another appointment into your busy schedule? Hollywood called and they'd like to place your footprints between Bar- bara Walters' and Walter Cronkite's. Though a part of me is amused and flattered by such a fantasy, a large ,part of me is appalled. Since a reporter's job is mostly to report the news in a fair and balanced way and to avoid making the news herself, celebrity status obviously con- flicts with the job. And, it would'be dif- ficult collecting information during an in- terview if your interviewee were more interested in interviewing you than talk- ing about himself. It just wouldn't work if a reporter over- shadowed important news becauseof her celebrity status. Imagine how embarrassing . and in- convenient it would be if standing up at a press conference to ask Prime Minister Brian Mulroney an important question about world peace, I was immediately mobbed with questions by all the other reporters there and unable to hear Brian's answers. After a few such situa- tions, my assignment editor would be livid. You don't fill too much space in a newspaper when "you're the celebrity. If I were a celebrity, my status would probably discourage many people from agreeing to be interviewed by me. If you're anything like ' me, celebrities make you nervous. You're afraid to say anything to them because you're sure you'll make a fool of yourself by not soun- ding sophisticated or knowledgeable enough. Being. around celebrities makes you feel stupid and so you'd rather avoid them, right? In the same way, any attempts at gain- ing people's confidence to do sensitive stories which require discreetness and anonymity would be lost. Blending chameleon -like into the woodwork is sometimes a valuable way for a reporter to get important information. As a celebrity, I couldn't just drop by the local restaurant or barber shop to listen to what people were talking about. As soon as I walked in the door, people would stop talking so they could listen to what the celebrity had to say. Reporters, especially small town ones, depend largely on the stories of ordinary people (who, each in their own way, are usually much mcre than ordinary). They build rapport and trust with their sub- jects and their readers by being ordinary themselves...by being someone people can empathize with and 'understand. Celebrities just don't fill that bill. People are always looking to celebrities to set trends, make bold fashion statements and take the respon- sibility of setting a good example for others. Heaven save me from such a role. It would be much too expensive and much too burdensome for me to bear. I'm much more comfortable with the saying on a mug I own which says, "Almost famous." With it, the fantasy is implied but the reality is- denied. And, I can continue to find satisfaction in the work I do rather than in the response it may receive. But, I can still have fun fantasizing. So, I must be off — my public awaits. ( giggle, giggle.), Top:High water levels have claimed much of the north beach at Port Albert and erosion is uprooting trees which once stood many feet from the water's edge. Centre:Two cottages upstream on the Nine Mile River are flooded when the strong winds force lake water back up the river. Bottom:Port Albert cottagers have sug- gested a groyne be constructed on the footings of the old pier to stop erosion at the river mouth. Photos by Paul Hartman and Sharon Dietz