The Huron Expositor, 1980-12-24, Page 3And so this is
christrna's!:', .
festive song .by John Lennon
that has new meaning to a lot
Q f yeeple' who are n*sing
the ex-Beatle who Was
gunned down three weeks
ago, s
John'Lonnon's song goes
te arit's the end of the
year, a # time for, thinking
about how you've spent that
,
A BIG GRIN—Christa Leonhardt gives a big grin as she visits with Santa
during the Centenaires and Hawks game recently. Santa made a special
visit to the arena during the game. (Photo by Dillon)
Christmas is for children,
of all ages
THE FRONT MAN—John Segeren was the "head" Man in a two-man
Operation to operate this horse which was one of a cast of characters in
the play Santa Goes Shopping at the St James Christmas Assembly last
(Photo by Gibb)
week.
"OH WHAT FUN"—Chris Smith of Exeter.
who played Jingle 8811S or his electric guitar.
was one of the entertainers at the Seaforth
Legion's Christmas party on Sunday afternoon
(Pho(o by Ellis)
memBeRs OF THE AUDIENCE—Louise Dick •
and a young friend were among parents and
friends of St. James students who attended the
school's Christmas assemblion Dec 17. (Photo
by Gibb)
AN ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCE—These pa- when St. James students entertained at their
rents and friends were an enthusiastic audience annual Christmas assembly on Dec. 17.
(Photo by Gibb)
.THE HVRQN E)POSItQR DECEMBER 24, 19O
Something to say
by Susan White
precious chunk out of your
life.
That's something I've
been doing this ChristmaS,
And Lennon's gong took tne
back to an earlier era. Those
of us who feel a sense of loss
with Lennon.gode perhaps do
s9 becausd he's apart of oui
past.
Street -smart, tough,
passionately involved John
Lennon symbolizes
innocence. He worked hard
over the years, convinced,
like some of the xeit of us,
that the World could indeed
e-preigeit: Testily 'we -tried— -
hard enough, set enough of
an example, converted
enough people, loved one
another enotigh, were suf-
ficiently unselfish, learned
enough or sung, worked,
picketed, voted, wrote,
performed enough, we'd
turn' things around and
everyone in the world would
have a right to a decent living
in relative safety.
John Lennon lost the
na ive portion of that in-
nocence (as did we all) and
• PAO, without Any
gave up on sleep -ins for
peace, ,
fie didn't give up on the
idea of the world asa
pprfeotible place, but his
efferts to make it so toalt
more practical turn. . .like
the thousands of dollars he
gave the hard-pressed New
York city police to buy bullet-
proof vests.
Probably the Lennon ex-
perience, in some form, has
been repeated in the lives of
many of those who were
brash young idealists in the
sixties.
--But--hope,--not-eynicism -is- -
still the answer to the
pressures of everyday life
and the extraordinary
tragedies that some of us
have faced this year or will
face ahead.
At least, that's my
Christmas wish to you, dear
reader, and to my family, to
those close to me and to
myself.
As John Lennon says at
the end of his Christm'as
song about the new year to
come: "Let's hope it's a goods
Even If you 490: 'IOW
another thing .08.W. , the
holidays, willyou Ple4,0..ialc.„ °
a few minutes to, re401::ile
stories by two of our 04or
citizens on the highlights of a
trip to Seaforth just before ,
Christmas of SO 0,60years'
ago? They are on page 3A of
our special Christmas issue
and they evoke the past .so
strongly that I, can almost
hear the kids in the audience
at the old "picture Wow"
and see the Christmas geese
and chickens hanging for.,
sale outside Seaforth stores.
They're stories to read, WI
cut out and save and read to
your grandchildren. A big
thanks to the contributors for
-ifiariiit Christmas memories
with all of us.,
The theme of the
Expositor's Chriitmas issue
this year is Christmas is for
children, of all ages. It's our
hope that the terrific
drawings, stories and
poems by local students will
help our readers see again
Christmas through the eyes
of -its biggest fans.
A Merry Christmas to all
of you from all of us at the
Expositor.
Perth B of E too
wants stop lights
BY COLLEEN MALONEY
Concerned about five fatal
accidents in the tillage of
Dublin. the'. Perth County
Board of Education will
support a request for the
installation of traffic lights at
the intersection. of Highway
eight and Perth Counts Road
10.
The board endorsed a
letter from Dublin sillage
trustees and members of
Hibbort Tow nship council
which. was sent to the
-
Honorable James Snow.
Minister of Transportation
and Communications.
Ths letter 'ekpressed con-
cern that one of eight school
buses usin& the intersection
ma) he involved in a serious
accident.
The letter asked. ".how
many people must be killed
before action is taken for the
installation of traffic lights?' •
After each accident. re-
presentation has been made
to the, minister for the
installation of lights without
result.
The most recent accident
occurred Nov. 25
"Due to the number of
bus es at the intersection, it
was felt it was in theinterest
of the board to, support the
traffic lights." said Director
of Education. Ken Self.
Trustee Don Cowley sato.
"1 think it would be a real
safety factor to have the
traffic stopped there."
Minor injuries in two accidents
A St. Thomas v.•oman was taken to
Seaforth Community Hospital on Saturday
afternoon following an accident on the north
road.
Jane Gross of St Thomas was taken to
hospital after her car went out of control on
the icy road and -ollided with the rear of a
car driven by Joseph Van Dooren of R.R. 5.
Seaforth. Mr. Van Dooren was turning into a
laneway at the time of the accident.
Constable Jim McLeod of the Seaforth
OPP said there was approximately S9.000
damage to the tWil cars. ms Gross was
taken to Seaforth hospital with nurinr
injuries and later released No charges have
been laid in the accident.
On Sunday . Goderich OPP inve tigated a
second accident north of Egmondville which
sent driver Michael Petrie. 18. of Kitchener
to Seaforth hospital with minor injuries.
Park donation for Christmds
A gtft in the name of a relative or friend to
the Seaforth Lions Park Renovation Fund
would make a wonderful Christmas present
according to campaign chairman Marten
Vincent.
The gift will be acknowledged by a tax
deduction receipt for 1980 providing the
amount is received before the end of
December. Gifts may be forwarded to the
Lions Park Renovation Fund. Box 1141.
Seaforth.
What about those who work Christmas day?
BY HERB SHOVELLER
For many. Christmas Day affterds the
opportunity to share the excitement and
happiness of the season with fciene< and
family. Often it is the emotional highlight
of the year.
But that impart isn't there for some
people For those in dire financial
straits. those with physical handicaps.
those con d to a hoapital bed and others
Cbristc4n he the loneltest time of the •
year. And i ts easy to forget them
In many cases. however. thanks to the
dedication of some people. many of the less
fortunate are not forgotten_ Those people
are ones who either voluntarily. or because
of their work. will miss all or part of
tomorrow's celebrations. For some. their
Work art Christmas Day is directed to those
in emotional or physical need. Others %Ill
work tomorrow, so that we at home ,Thetei
enjoy our day more.
Tomorrow '73 -year-old Terrence Hussts%
will give up part of his Christmas Das tee
deliver Meals on Wheels dinners IC% not
his day to deliver. but for the past four
Christmases he has taken the meals around
so another Yolunteer ran enjoy the holidas
"They're practically all old people ••.
explained Mr. Hussey. "I take a few to the
senior citieens homes and a few more to
people who have no way of getting their
own meals. -
"They really appreciate it. Yes. I think
they do. A lot of them wouldn't lease
anything."
"They.are a lot ot people I've known for
quite a few years.- continued Mr. Husses
of RR4. Seaforth. "I'm getting old mself.
so I hope somebody will do it for me
sometime."
He added one of the saddest characters
he had ever come across was staying at the
Dick House (a boarding house) in Seiforth
a few years ago. "All he had was a sada
biscuit and a bottle of pop."
Mr. Hussey said although he is certain
many people would like him to visit for a
svhile ta hen he drops off a meal. he
explained he can not stas ta the food gets
cold
NECESSARY SERVICES
While Terrence Hasse% -c making his
rounds with dinners tomotrow. others will
he warring to provide SW h services as
health care. protectihn to the' public. safe
driving conditions and the smooth opera-
tion of utilities
Maxine Erb and Cathy klevray. Seaforth
Community Heespaital nurses will both be
tatntkIng Christmas day
"We get a fist posted sometime in
November and sou pest &an your prefer-
enee.- explained Mrs Fri, We try and
alternate anti, agree among the staff We
realire the place has to be cosered.
although staff is cut to about half both days
tChristrnas and New Year•s
Mrs. Fr is's two children are older now.'
at ages 18 and 14. "11 to,:,rkang Christmas)
is something w e've -become accustomed
to.•' she said "The chilcIree would get up
early. and sed ,men the presents. have
breakfast and get most of the excitement
'mit" Tviliethven.7uldrestsbef-inth
e 1 c‘eei
nTtiCwork.-
ernoon and
then he raring to go when I got home. at
least when thes were N =anger." she
continued '1 don't know ce hat they would
do with me if 1 were hhme ( hristmas Day.
I'd probabis cramp their sts.e."
Fdr Catht there are different circum-
stances "I'm not married. she said, "so
a little different. 1 prcier Christmas
•wer New Year's because' eeople at the
hospital can't be home for ( hristmas.-
She has been nursing for three years and
has worked Christmas ea.li time. She
explained. as did Mrs. Frh. that the nurses
can choose one day or the ther. then adds
that she likes to go out New Year's anyway.
"It's sonlething you just accept," said
Cathy. "It's part of the job Yon feel like
you've done SornettunR a Ionic extra •en
Christmas."
Both Cathy and Mrs Erb panted .vut
they aren't the only ones at the hospital
working tomorrow Besides ‘sther nurses,
they noted. there is the important support
staff at the hospital hose series are
essential.
Seaforth pollee constable Charles Ake It
is another who %ill be at his tob tornorr •vs
He'admits that. while it may he a quiet
day. the town still needs td he policed
"Them•s the breaks It comes with the
territory," said the constablebut me
having the holiday does not really seem
bother him.
"ln our family.'" he explamed. "ty e have
a French background. You tend td tete
brate more on New Year's Christmas is a
quiet family day.''
Constable Akey, who has two sons aged
10 and 11. says the boys get used to it He
added that his wife if 16 years has also
become used to nit halting him ardund •eri
Christmas.
When 1 was mamed for the first feu
years. I'd just ship my wife off to her
parents,- he said. She didn't seem to
mind." ,Then. in a slightly more philo-
sophical tone. Constable Akes- added.
"That's the wav it is Its a fact of lifeIt
-
respects no holidays We're not like some
European Countries x\hIch shut doss n for a
whole day.-
Seaforth town foreman Haney Doimage
said there is a man on duts every day •vf the
year. then added he can't recall being
called out on Christmas. The closest came
on Boxing Day one year when a crew was
brought in to dig up a sanitary sewer.
The town foreman added if the job is big
enough an extra man can be called-
hasnl happened yet." he explained, then
warned. "but you never know."
Al Nicholson, roads superintendent for
Tuckersmith township, explained his situ--
ation.as one very similar to that of Mr.
Dimage except he has been .les.s fortun-
ate
Mr Nicholson said that while he hasn•t
been called alit for the past two Christmas-
eshe went out almost ever . year before
that In his raads department. as well.
there is a man on duty every day of the
year
The rdads siiperintendent added his men
certainly ean't make plans to go away for
the holidas He said in his ease his wife's
m ther lives an Midland but they -are
iinable 1,,
,Ither person who must sometimes
gale up part if his Christmas Day is
Seaf trth ambulance driser Gary Betties
He explained there are two men on call.
fru( h like a Sunday. and if they were
needed they would have to -report
The ambulance drivers are a bit better
•sff than others who work Christmas
because they can spend their day at home
until they gel a call. Mr. Bettles adds
• menses he has had to work less on
Chenstnias. arid ore reason has to do with
ambulance trips becoming -more expen-
stye When an ambulance trip cost eight
dollars often it would be used to take
hospital patients home the day before
Christmas. then return them to the hospital
on Christmas day. "like a taxi service". he
said
Now . however. an ambulance ride costs
520 so it is not as busy is it was in the pas4.
While nurses.. tialicemen end municipal
employees will work tomorrow to pia -wide
essential services. 'others will he busy
Christmas day to give us a service s!ithich.
while it may not quite he essential. is
rapidly becoming so -telephones.
Gloria Paterson and Betty )o Cudmore
are operators at the telephone office in
Clinton. and both will work tomorrow.
Mrs. Paterson is a patt time employee
who has been an operator for 20 years. Her
children are older now so she doesn't miss
Please turn to page 22
Cathy Murray
Maxine Erb
-1 I
•