The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-05-11, Page 4PAGE 4--GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1978
Provincial go"ernment encourages projects like new lighting
With the subject off lighting on The
Square an item for hot debate in Goderich,
it should perhaps be pointed out once again
the province's tremendous interest in the
revitalization of the downtown business
sections in Ontario's small towns. Much is
being done at Queen's Park to encourage,
stimulate and strengthen small business -
the kind of enterprise that makes up by far
the bulk off Goderich's Shoppers' Square.
That's precisely why the legislative
vehicle for the formation of this town's
Business Improvement Area was approved
by the Legislature. It is to ensure that the
core areas of small town Ontario do not
fade away or fail to meet the challenges off
a changing world. It is to help progressive
businessmen to achieve the goals
necessary to maintain the downtown
districts in their towns as vital, attractive
centres for day to day business. It is to
assist local municipalities with the growing
demands of expanding businesses,, and it is
to place much of the cost of downtown
revitalization on the shoulders of husineqq
people through an annual assessment in
addition to property and business taxes.
To reinforce the action already taken by
the Ontario government, legislation is
currently in the works that would provide
even more support for downtown
revitalization programs. It is understood
the new legislation will provide up to
$150,000 in loans to towns with a population
of 30,000 or less and an approved Business
Improvement Area. The money would be
loaned to the municipality at one per cent
411111111111111111111111111111111111
BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER
A brief discussion last week
at town council triggered
some thoughts in my head
which I must get down on
paper for your reaction. The
discussion centred around
1979 being designated as the
International Year of the
Child and Elsa Haydon's
statement that instead of this
week (May 7-14) being
dubbed Respect for Life
Week, it should be called
Respect for Children Week.
I guess to get things star-
ted, it should be pointed out
that Respect for Life Week is
proposed for Goderich by
Goderich and District Pro -
Life. To many people, pro-life
screams anti -abortion, and
there is little doubt that if one
is pro life, one must also be
anti -death .... at least death
as long as it is possible to live,
death that is unnatural, death
that is terminated by
someone or something
deliberate.
And so, respect for life is a
naturalfollow up. But I would
suppose it to be respect for
life at any stage .... life in the
womb, life after birth,
children, teenagers, adults,
the aged, the senile, the sick,
the crippled, fhe afflicted,
perhaps even life after death.
Just plain 'respect for the
living in whatsoever state
that life may be.
+ + +
I see Respect for Children
Week as something entirely
different from Respect for
Life Week. And somehow I
am a little dubious about the
suggestion that a Respect for
DEAR READERS
Children Week should be
observed.
There is a real move afoot
these days to ensure
children's rights, and up to a
point I believe firmly in the
rights of children. For in-
stance, I don't think children
should be abused, over-
worked, under -nourished,
beaten, battered, alone,
assaulted, violated,
needlessly frightened or
psychologically tormented.
But neither do I believe that
children should be permitted
to run wild because
legislation says parents must
not strike their children; or
grow into whining, spineless,
warped parasites because
through children's rights this
country has effectively
removed tried and proven
controls and methods for
raising children.
Yes indeed, children have
rights. And one of their God-
given rights is loving parents
who in love and concern
properly spank their children
when they need it; punish
them by whatever means is
most effective in order to
correct their willful ways;
assure them choices in life's
biggest decisions;. see to their
children's education, their
spiritual needs, their physical
needs, their playtime, their
work time; and in general
guide and instruct them
towards a healthy, happy
adulthood.
Not long ago,, I heard a'
woman speaking on television
about her belief that no adult -
parent or otherwise - should
be permitted to strike a child
Rape film good
Dear Editor:
I read with interest in this
week's edition of the Signal -
Star, the articles concerning
the film "How To Say NoToA
Rapist And Survive".
I had occasion to view this
film recently. It was in-
troduced by a member of the
Ontario Provincial Police
force and he also provided a
com entary on the film and
resnded to questions
following its showing.
'I found this presentation to
be excellent and consider it a
sensible approach to the
problem of rale. I noted that
the lecturer did not say that
anyone should submit to rape,
rather that she should appear
to submit until her op-
portunity to escape presented
itself. It has long been ad-
vocated that this step can
often
rape.
film
such
thwart attempts of
Since this particular
presented the idea in
a dynamic way, the
for any purpose. She ad-
vocated that spankings be
made an offense punishable
by a fine, or in subsequent
infractions, jail.
One can suppose that such
legislation would assist law
enforcers to put a stop to child
beating... and that it wouldn't
necessarily be used to put an
end to mommy slapping
baby's fingers until he learns
not to stick them in the
electrical outlets in the
livingroom walls. Or would
it?
Carrying this matter
another step further, there is
a suggestion that a man and a
woman would have to have a
parenting licence before they
could have a baby. It would
be necessary to go down to
the court house or somewhere
and take a written or oral test
to determine if you were a fit
parent. If you passed, you
would be given a parenting
licence. If you didn't pass,
you would not be permitted to
have children.
Just how they would
prevent such a natural
phenomenon from occurring
would raise all sorts of
questions in my mind and
suggest to me that perhaps, if
such laws were permitted to
be used, it would follow the
country would soon consider
'passing legislation which
would order certain people to
become sterile to , rhake
certain that unfit men and
women did not parent
children.
Just for interest sake, I took
a sample parenting test given
on television one evening. I
failed it .... not by much, but -i
did fail it.
Here I am, the mother of
three children and ac-
cording to this test, an unfit
parent.
And yet, somehow I think
my children have had the
benefit of a loving mother
who tried her best to see that
they got a decent start in life
.... and somehow, I think that
while I may not be the world's
greatest mother, I am fit to be
a mother.
As my twelve -year-old put
it, when I broke the news to
him that according to the test
I'd taken, I was an unfit
mother, "Why don't they ask
your kids?"
+.++
Elsa Haydon reasoned in
council last Monday evening
that we have mother's day
and father's day. Why not a
respect for children week?
I ask, "Why not a respect
for mothers day. Or a respect
for fathers day?"
Mother's day, upcoming
this weekend incidentally, for
anyone who has forgotten•'is
really only a kind of com-
mercial observance that
makes families feel guilty if
they don't give mom some
flowers or breakfast in bed or
a new housecoat or one of
those sentimental cards from
the drugstore.
It isn't in any sense of the
word a Respect for Mothers
Day a day to broaden
people's views 'about the
world's mothers ` their
special functi6n as child
bearers; their instinctive
qualities to/feed, to love, to
DEAR EDITOR
stress often produced in even
contemplating the possibility
of rape was_ removed and the
common sense behind the
possible courses of action
were emphasized.
I found the film to be of an
excellent calibre: In the
discussion period which
followed the showing of this
film, the possibility of having
it shown regularly in our high
schools was raised. Response
was overwhelmingly in
favour of such a step with the
film being presented and
questions responded to by a
member of the police force. I
believe that every woman
should see this film and in
addition, that it would be a
definite asset to have it shown
in the high schools on a
regular basis.
Yours sincerely,
Frances Emerson
Scott leaving
Dear Editor,
Next month, I will be
Goderich`..
leaving Stratford to accept a
position with Bell Canada
International in Saudi
Arabia.
I appreciate the. fair
treatment given my Corn-
pany and me by your paper.
Although we did not
necessarily agree always,
you listened to our side of any
story too and wrote it as you
saw fit. That's great!
Thanks for your help and
interest over the past few
years.
Yours truly,
J.M. Scott,
Manager,
Bell Canada
Opposed
Dear Editor,.
I would like to make my
pleasure known to our town
council, that at least two
councillors,. Eileen Palmer
and Stan Profit, along with Al
Lawson, showed enough
intelligence to oppose the
change in lighting.
SIGNAL -STAR
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1
It is beyond reasoning to
believe such a decision could
be made against the total
information presented.
Maintenance costs will in-
crease, supply of power cost
increase, 50 'percent, . it is
beyond comprehension at
in this day and ag- of
decreasing energy su plies,
this council could ma a such
a decision.
We complain about
education taxes, t our town
council would ave, if Mr.
Lawson had n t spoken out
(under dure not to) the
changes w ld have gone
through. If dditional lighting
is require , fine, add to it, but
add it Yn a discriminating
manner: We all will have to
bear the burden for years to
come.
Yours truly,
Stewart Thomson
Thanks
Dear Editor:
On behalf of our ladies in.
I.O.D.E. I thank you, most
sincerely, for the excellent
coverage given us in the last
two issues of Signal -Star. The
publicity for the Order is
appreciated, probably more
than you realize.
I would also like to thank
Joanne for the way she
conducted our interview. She
is a delightful person and I
wish her a very successful
future in her career.
Thank you.
. Sincerely,
Grace Neville,
Regent
Ahmeek Chapter
I.O.D.E.
Great effort
Dear Editor:
It was just a great effort on
the part of 44' riders who
participated in the Goderich
protect their offspring; their
unselfishness, their empathy,
their gentleness; and what
goes wrong when a woman
gives birth and hates her
child or sets out to maim and
torture her young.
Father's day isn't a
Respect for Fathers Day
either. You may give pop a
new tie or a hot lawn trim-
mer, but you really don't
consider what makes a father
.... the peculiar feeling of
knowing somebody is flesh of
your flesh even though it
emerges from another's
body; the sense of respon-
sibility for the child ,he has
fathered even though the law
in most cases would give it to
the mother to raise; the pain
of fathers who watch their
women in childbirth without
being able to share the agony
or the ecstasy; and what goes
wrong when a father ab-
dicates his role as provider
and master in -the home
where his children reside.
A children's day, maybe. A
day, like mother's day or
fattier; ,scday when we do nice
things fhr our kids.
But a Respect for Children
Day is something else ....
something much more.
Before that - long before that -
we should have a Respect for
Mothers Day and a Respect
for Fathers Day.
What do you think?
Write a
letter today
per annum - yes, that's correct, one per
cent per annum in interest fees - and would
be paid back through an arrangement with
the BIA in the community, tied to their
annual assessment of fees./
It is clear to see that Goderich's business
community in the core area will benefit by
being organized into a Business
Tmr‘rn""nrnort Area Tt is also clear that the
town of Goderich will benefit as will the
shoppers in this part of the county, of
course.
Plans for the revitalization of The Square
area in Goderich are laid out over a period
of years -,first The Square itself, then the
radial streets. Many citizens have found
fault with this approach, expressing doubt
the radial streets will ever be reached or
asking why it is not the radial streets first,
and then The Square itself.
As examples, they point to the painting
program which petered out after only the
buildings facing The Square were color co-
ordinated and beautified under another
government program; or Coun-illor John
Doherty's favorite complaint that many
sidewalks on the radial streets are in a
worse state of repair than any off the
sidewalks on The Square; or Deputy -reeve
Eileen Palmer's pet peeve concerning the
stupidity off replacing nearly new lights on
The Square while deteriorated, dangerous
light standards on the radial streets must
continue to serve because there isn't money
to replace them.
There may be room for argument over
the priority given to the items which make
up the revitalization of The Square area,
but surely there can be no denial that the
BIA's plan to beautify The Square area
through brick walkways, ornamental
lighting, flowers and trees is an exciting
way to accentuate the uniqueness ° of
Goderich's octagonal hub.
The citizens of Goderich must realize
what an asset such a town square would be
.... and they must be relieved to know that
through the government's own incentive
program, the local businessmen will pay
tl•ie lion's share of the costs involved. It is a
workable, affordable program and one
which will be a credit to Goderich, its
citizens and the progressive people who do
business here. —SJK
Gr • . t Bicycle Ride 'for
C. cer on Sunday, May 7.
e Goderich Branch of the
ancer Society will benefit by
over $1,600.00 from the
generosity of the people who
sponsored the riders.
Special mention must go to
the Kinsmen and Kinettes of
Goderich who organized the
event under the co -
chairmanship of Ray Mar-
shall and Mike Drennan.
Others contributing to the
success were the CB Club of
Goderich, St. John
Ambulance, Don McMillan
and his musical group, Chief
Pat King and the Goderich
Police, the Town of Goderich,
Suncoast Mall and Skeoch
Business Equipment. Special
thanks to you the Editor and„
the staff of the Goderich
Signal Star for your help in
publicizing this worthwhile
cause which we hope will
become' an annual event in
Goderich. '
On behalf of the Canadian
Cander Society we extend our
warmest thanks and ap-
preciation to all. With people
like you on our team we know
that eventually "Cancer Can
Be Beaten".
Yours sincerely,
Jim Remington,
Ross McDaniel,
Campaign Co-chairmen,
Huron County Unit,
Canadian Cancer Society.
Doctors upset
Dear Editor:
The Medical Staff of the
Alexandra Marine and
General Hospital is con-
cerned about the proposed
bed cuts at the above named
hospital and about the effect
that this will have on the
quality and quantity of
hospital care. The medical
staff enclose extracts from a
recent Medical Advisory
Turn to page 6 a
9
Solitude
By Dave Sykes
More fun coming
Remember the fun we had last summer?
Remember the Sesquicentennial and the
good times everybody had at the variety of
activities arranged by the committee.?
Remember how everyone said, "Let's do it
again. Soon."?
Well, you're going to get a chance to get
that party feeling all over again. The core
of the Sesquicentennial committee from
last summer's successful celebrations -
Mac Campbell, the Rev. G. L. Royal and
Judge F. G. Carter - is planning a
celebration for June 29, the date in 1827
when Goderich was officially founded.'
The excitement should mount as the day
goes on. It will begin in the morning with an
hour of Thanksgiving - a flag raising to
officially get things underway, prayers to
thank God for many years of continued
blessings to this beautiful town and county,
a proclamation by His Worship Mayor Deb
Shewfelt and anything that will get the
civic pride juices coursing through your
veins.
The civic luncheon at noon will have a
special guest speaker. Unfortunately, Joe
Smallwood of Newfoundland was all
booked up and won't be coming to town, but
there's little doubt that the committee will
find another speaker almost as colorful.
About 3 p.m. there will bf+ one of those
popular afternoon fellowship times tried
last summer, with a special emphasis for
senior citizens. Plans now include a
musical concert geared to the tastes of this
town's mature residents. Then later in the
afternoon, there will be a. children's bir-
thday party, with more music .... this time
a little livelier and selected especially for
the kids.
Then it's a giant barbecue with the
Anglican men's brotherhood in charge and
more music - the Teen Tones and maybe
some barbershop harmony.
Early evening will find the celebration
getting into full swing when a variety
concert will be staged. And there's room
for you on the program, too. Whether you
sing, dance, recite, train fleas or whistle
Yankee Doodle while juggling frisbees, you I
can be. a star in the community's variety
concert with a focus on local talent.
Then as darkness gathers over the town,
many people will want to don their finery
for a gala ball at the arena to the music of
Lionel Thornton's band.
The committee is hoping this June 29
founder's frolic will become an annual
event, something to keep the Sesquicen-
tennial spirit alive for the people 9f
Goderich. It does sound like fun, but more
than that, it should build on the community
co-operation that was the stuff that made
last year's Jubilee Three so successful, so,'
memorable•. -- SJK