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Our columnist's eye , uh nose for quality is shared Wandering through K-Mart in Moun- tainview Mall the other day when I was acosted by this young lady. Well let me say right up front I don't mind in the least. I am of the firm opinion that if you want to acost somebody you should go right up and do your acosting. "Are you the one that does the weekly newspaper column?" she said. "Oh dear," I thought, "what have I done this time? Is it something I said about Clint Eastwood, or something I didn't say. Is it the Junk Mail series or (hopefully) the Junk drawer saga, for which I am still gathering material for Part IV, or is it Part V?" As I write on a multitude of subjects it could have been anything, which indeed it was. "You were right abouttheLunch Counter," she said. All the above had flashed through my mind in a split second in between her. asking for confirmation that I was indeed the columnist, and her remark about the Lunch Now it dropped into place. Last year I had done an article on buying lunch for $2 or less to combat inflation and top of the list came K- Mart Lunch Counter and top of the menu Today is April CAREY NIEUWHOF Sure, its April 1. And you expect everything in the newspaper to deal with April Fools day, silly pranks, or general tomfoolery. Well, alright, this column does indeed deal ; with how grown people are made to grow silly and frustrated, and it sort of has to do with April Fool's Day: It has to do with an ongoing circus, that grand field we commonly call politics. : It has to deal with what partisan politics can do to men and women with dreams, personal wills, and a desire to win. It deals with how something known as a political party can do more damage than any millstone around any neck. Its made grown people we often call leaders behave more like tiny lambs being led by a quazi-crazed, mostly misguided shepherd who has blinders the size of Pierre Trudeau's ego covering his eyes. The culprit, that villain of villains, the item responsible for all this rather stupid and needless suffering is called party politics. As you well know, or are about to find out, parties in Canada are a strange commodity. Our friends to the south, the people we often call Americans, no longer really "have true political parties. They have large masses of people who call themselves Democrats, Republicans or independents (the latter being the only sane lot, since they do not affiliate themselves with either of these two, large, --Ray Baker there was Apple Dumpling with mouth watering crust and caramel sauce. The article was headed 'The Apple Dum- pling Gang.' "Oh yes," I said. "I remember the column," leaning forward as I replied so the drool from the corner of my mouth could drop on the floor, "I'm glad you agree."' "Oh it's not just me that agrees," she said with a smile. "It's K-Mart."" She produced a piece of paper and presented it to me. "They have come in first in Ontario." 'And sure enough, newsletter No. 18 from Head Office to all stores proudly announced that branch number 5524 Midland were of- fered congratulations for outstanding results in 1985. Then it showed a group photograph and the following names: Vickie Cruise, Karel Pilon, Marg Doran, Chris Gautreau, Donna Fountain, Sonya Forget, Doreen Jennottee and Jenny Belanger. On careful examination of the photograph under a magnifying glass I can just make out American institutions). In America, you can call yourself a Democratic Congressman and Senator and support Republican President Ronald Reagan by voting for his programs. In America, you can call yourself a Republican and vote against the programs of Republican President Ronald Reagan. In America, this is often what happens. In that land of George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt and the 72 cent a gallon gasoline, party affiliation means naught. You are free to express what is on your mind, disagree with all of the nation's leaders. Democrats yell at Democrats, Republicans yell at Republicans and the world, in their estimation, is a freer place because of it. Their neighbours to the North (that's us-- you can wake up) are quite different. Once one declares his or her service in a great legislature in any part of this land, one must join a political party. It is at that precise point that personal liberties are thrown to the wind. You sign away your right to express personal opinions in the media or in public. You become the sum total of all the rhetoric and 'official positions' your party can put out. You may open your mouth, but you do not actually speak. What comes out is known as the party line. Towing the party line must be an incredible bore for a thinking individual. Let us take the federal tories as an example. When the Tory sheep-herder, a man known as Prime the urn. The urn is the one that the caramel sauce is kept in for pouring over the top dead centre of the steaming apple dumpling. Just behind Karen (second in on the back row) is the-display stand. This is the stand that holds the Apple Dumplings on a shelf under the transparent cover. This is the stand that is opened when an order is placed. The Dumpling is then transferred to a microwave oven. When it pings it is removed and placed in the centre of a paper plate. The urn lid is lifted and the rest is history. Although all the girls are highly trained, just now and again a drop of caramel sauce will find its way onto the edge of the plate, or even the counter-top as they transfer the ladle back to the urn. Now you and I, being only human, would wipe this up with our finger. Lick it, and having tasted it, would just keep going, Minister Brian Mulroney, decided to de- index the pensions of old ladies across this nation, the opposition cringed. So, for that matter, did many Tories sitting behind the Prime Minister as he made the an- nouncement. They could not, however, cringe in public. Instead, they put on a false face, stood up, and cheered their leader on. It was a sad day for personal liberty. There were other instances. Under the old Trudeau regime, many programs were un- veiled which did not quite suit every Liberal palate. Former Industry and Trade Minister, the white haired silver tongued Ed Lumley, once told me how he dealt with Trudeau policies he hated. As Industry and Trade Minister, he was responsible for the Foreign Investment Review Agency, or the dreaded FIRA. The Tories loathed this agency. They wanted it killed. So did Trudeau's Industry and Trade Minister. Since Trudeau would sooner be cordial than axe FIRA, Lumley decided he had best fight the program quietly. As Minister, he had the responsibility of ap- proving or denying companies the right to locate in Canada. He rubber stamped every request for investment he got. To Trudeau's partial dismay, his program existed, but Lumley declared it and removed its teeth. To Lumley's delight, he managed to end a program he hated hy robbing it of all it's real power. 'connection some where. pigging out on the sauce. But they not only work in a public facility but also have will power like you wouldn't believe. They wipe up the drip with a cloth. Boy, that's will power, what with the aroma when the lid is lifted, then the smell when the sauce hits the crust, well I'll tell you! I couldn't work there; I would weigh 300 pounds overnight. I know my previous column was sent to K- Mart Head Office. I know these girls came in as No. 1 in all Ontario, there has to be a Heck I knew they were good all along. Maybe this column will also find its way to Head Office. About the time they are looking for a winning 1986 team. All I want in return is this; I cannot be bribed with a larger helping of sauce because the ladle will only hold so much before it starts drinping down the side. However, I have noticed on close examination that on some occasions one dumpling appears to be larger than the rest. THIS WEEKS QUOTE: 'You are what you eat.' Ray Baker is a freelance writer. Food Fool's Day...so what! Provincially speaking, Tories were forced to tow the party line right up until they lost power last summer. They had to put up with publicly supporting Catholic School funding. When Davis made the announcement in June of 1983, Many Tory policticians went to their doctors for shock treatment. When they lost power, cabinet solidarity and the official party line went out with the bath water and the dissenters screamed out in agony. They explained that they hated catholic school funding, hated the way policy was formulated and ran down a huge list of other gripes. The party has never been the same since. Meanwhile, back in the government ben- ches, Premier David Peterson is having his problems. When Peterson decided to ban extra billing, Dr. Jim Henderson, one of David's 48 member caucus, announced he would go public with his disagreement with the policy. He's been on a personal crusade in defence of extra-billing ever since. Thank- fully for Peterson, the press is so fascinated with his red tie and personal charisma that they have had no space to run stories about Henderson's obvious' and flagrant disobedience. Apparently, Joe Clark goes home and cries nightly when he sees how kindly the media treat David Peterson-the man who most people called Peterson David or simply "that liberal leader' only a year ago. (Joe Who?) Farm machinery April 1 is a special Onittar re -- Fam Machinery Agency demonstration day in North Simcoe, says the Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture. The demonstration will be held on the Lot 1, Concession 1, Flos Township property of Len Noordegraff. The day's program begins at 10 a.m. NSWMA meets tonight Representatives from the six municipalities in the North Simcoe Waste Management Associ- ation will hold their first meeting in two months this evening. The session begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of the Municipal Offices in Penetanguishene. The meeting is open to the public. Euchre Euchre will be the game in The Place, Balm Beach on April 16, with lunch at 12:30 p.m. and card playing to begin at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $1.50. Chalk up busy week During the week of March 17 to 24, Midland OPP probed a total of 77 general occurrences as well as six motor-vehicle accidents, reports OPP Const. Roy Tyo, community services officer. Community newspaper starts up Tiny Township now has its very own newspaper. Quill, being published every two months, is the latest endeavour by the Tiny Township Ratepayers Association (TTRPA). : According to TTRPA member Cathy Spears, the paper is.being published by the association as community service to Tiny residents. The 15-member board of directors of TTRPA are offering over 3,500 copies of Quill free to Tiny residents, with the cost of the publication being covered soley by the sale of advertising said Spears. The first four-page edition of Quill hit the newsstands in March and Spears said the direc- tors are already working on the next publication in May. For the next edition the board of directors are working towards an eight or 12 page tabloid, full of the news of the Township. Spears said Quill is a community events paper for Tiny and will not be used as a political platform for the association. French Centre lottery Friday Lottery enthusiasts have only two days left to get their hands on tickets for the Centre D'Activites Francaise first ever lottery. After Friday morning at 11 a.m. one lucky ticket holder will be $1,000 richer with the first of 12 monthly draws taking place at La Cafe de Couer. The packages of 12 tickets went on sale two months ago and after Thursday tickets will not be available. Each ticket in the book is valued at $10, and can be bought for the lump sum of $120 for the year or in post dated cheques. Two thunderstorms Two thunderstorms were recorded over the weekend in various parts of North Simcoe, the first two of the new year. Stolen Sound of Music tickets "Ticket buyers beware", is what the director of the Midland Secondary School's production of the Sound of Music is saying. According to Chris Thompson, about 50 pink coloured tickets for the April 18 performance have been stolen from the school and it is believed whoever has them is selling them door to door. In the hopes of alleviating the problem, all tickets for the shows four performances April 16, 17, 18 and 19 are being numbered. Thompson added if someone tries to sell tickets on the street, don't buy them. Tickets are only available at Mac's Milk in the Huronia Mall, Huronia Office Services or at the school. --North Simcoe ---- --News briefs Recruits in general release Recruits, the movie part of which was shot in Midland, Penetanguishene, Balm Beach, and Wasaga Beach last summer, receives its general release in the Atlanta, Georgia area on April 11. Producer Maurice Smith last Friday described it as a "'killer" when seen by distributors from around the world at the recent American Film Market held in Los Angeles. Reaction to a sneak preview in California was good. A sequel to Recruits is being written, Smith said. Spring clean now, for safety Spring cleaning can also make your home a safer place to live. Town of Midland Fire Chief Hal Belfry urges everyone to discard any newspapers, paint tins, oily rags, and rubbish that may have accumulated over the winter. "Almost two thirds of all fires occur in the home," he says, "so don't give a fire a place to start."' Thousands of farms Simcoe County economic statistics for 1981 listed 405 farms (22.4 percent of the total) selling $100,000 or more in agricultural products. Livestock Inventory A livestock inventory prepared by the staff of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food at Elmvale and Alliston reveal in Simcoe County farmers own 17,500 milking cows, 8,500 heifers, 24,000 beef cattle, 5,600 beef heifers for breeding, 14,000 beef heifers for slaughter, 28,000 strees and 11,700 sows and boars. As of July 1983, total cattle in the county num- bered 129,000 head while there were 111,700 pigs, 17,100 sheep, 2,377 goats, 700,045 hens and chickens, 56,937 turkeys and 5,944, along with 126,782 hogs. Agriculture is very important to the economy of Simcoe County. In 1981 the sale of farm produce amounted to $183,062,473. The type of agriculture is highly diversified, including both livestock and cash crops. Simcoe has a moderate climate very much affected by Nottawasaga Bay and Georgian Bay to the west and north, and Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe to the north and east. North Simcoe is considered to be in the snowbelt with an average of 317 cm (127 inches) of snow. The normal rainfall is 66.8 em (26.7 inches). Simcoe County is one of the leading livestock counties in Ontario, Dairy, beef, swine and sheep enterprises are all very important. The County grows about 40 percent of Ontario's potatoes and about 25 percent of the Province's asparagus. The Bradford Marsh, part of which is in Simcoe, is recognized for its onion, carrot and celery production. Apples and cherries are grown in the Collingwood area. South Simcoe is one of the leading sod producing areas in Ontario. Forestry is a valuable industry in the county. The forest program was started in 1922 and ap- proximately 10583 hectares (26,150 acres) owned by the county has been reforested. Much of this is now ready to harvest. Maple Syrup has increased in importance in recent years. North Simcoe has several large commercial operations. The production of Christmas trees is a long established industry in Tiny Township. Tuesday, April 1, 1986, Page 7 ice. Delian ogertee eer igre >