SONGS SFE tN ge) Page 4, Terrace Bay-Schreiber News, Wednesday, July 13, 1983 ' Tt ee ee ee ' ae 2 ALU? Fede eo tres the eee eres'e Mee ' ' Editor: Harry Huskins Features Editor: Judie Cooper Advertising: Diane Matson Production Manager: Mary Melo Receptionist: Sharon Mark Terrace Bay Published every Wednesday by Laurentian Publishing : Ltd. Schreiber Box 579, Terrace Bay, Ontario TELEPHONE:.825-3747 member of News SF a Subscription rates: $10.00 per annum (local) Win. Campbell Eh Goya $14.00 per annum (out-of-town) Kelly McGuire fone J so Btn fnsnstain endeea ech Second Class Mail Registration No. 0867 Mary Hubelit ed Anne Todesco Opinion: Dear Editor: In the latest issue of the T.B.S. News I view- ed the article Trailer Park Debate 2. What debate? Councillor Chapman placed all op- tions concerning this is- sue on the floor and our council and reeve would not discuss the matter, let alone make any deci- sions. Maybe council would like to explain to their public, who voted them there, why they refuse to take a stand on this pressing matter. This is a very important issue one way or the other to the Township Letter to the Editor Trailer Park - what debate and I'm sure I'm not the only citizen awaiting their decision, if they ever make one. Why have council meetings at all, if major issues are met with silence. This of course is a touchy sub- ject dealing with a local person's means of in- come, to take pressure off council we should perhaps put it up to public vote but then again that's why we have elected represent- atives who should be able to make those deci- sions for us. I certainly hope the voters of Ter- race Bay fully under- stand this issue as Coun- cillor Chapman did a very good job of explain- ing the situation. It real- ly is discouraging for one councillor to prepare her debate without bias only to be rejected by silence. Paulette Brend Editor's note: Many of the points are well taken, however, in fair- ness to the other mem- bers of the Council, it should be understood there was an extensive debate of the question by all of the councillors at the preceding meet- ing of June 13. "If you're going upstairs, please take the freight elevator."' Arthur Black Northern Affairs: Deciding on siding Siding has a popular way of giving homes a facelift. As well as reducing maintenance and blocking drafts, in- stalling siding may pro- vide a good opportunity to have additional in- sulation blown into wood-frame or, brick- veneer walls. The Product Although aluminum is very popular, siding is also available in various types of vinyl, wood and other metals. When de- ciding what kind to use, examine your reasons for having it installed. If, for example, ease of maintenance is a major factor don't choose a siding which requires regular washing, paint- ing or staining. The Company Unless you install your own siding, select- ing the right company is the most difficult part of the job. You will want a fair price, good work- manship and after sales service. That's why it's important to shop around. Make sure you get at least three written estimates. Deal with lo- cal businesses who have earned good reputa- tions in the community and ask the contractors for names and address- es of people for whom they have recently in- stalled siding. Call them to find out if they are satisified with the work. Better still, take a look at it yourself. The Contract Your next step will be to examine the contract carefully. Make sure you understand everything in it. The following terms must be included in every contract accord- ing to the Consumer Protection Act: -- the names and ad- dresses of the seller and buyer -- a detailed descript- ion of the goods and services - this should enable you to identify all of these clearly -- a detailed statement of how you will pay for the work -- an itemized price list of goods and services -- any warranty or guar- antee on the goods and services You should also in- sist on having starting and completion dates and the responsibility the contractors take for workmanship _ included in the contract. In addi- tion, you should look for any blank spaces in the contract. Mark them N/A (not applicable) or Nil. Buyer Protection Under the Business Practices Act no com- pany is allowed to en- gage in unfair business ptactices by making fal- se, misleading or de- ceptive claims. If you feel the contractor made clear misrepresentation, you may send a letter cancelling the agree- ment. If this doesn't bring satisfaction, you may take the contractor to court under the act. Under the Consumer Protection Act you may cancel a contract made with an itinerant (door- to-door) seller within two working days of receiving your copy of it. You may cancel by send- ing a registered letter to the company or by deli- vering it personally to the address on the con- tract. For further informa- tion contact the North- ern Affairs Office, locat- ed on the lower floor, Peninsula Building, 2 Gilbert St., Marathon or telephone 229-1153 or Zenith 33160. Dog Days of '83 Well folks, here we are -- right smack into the Dog Days of 1983. People have been enduring them for at least 2,000 years you know. The Ancient Romans coined the phrase to cover this period of the calendar - roughly six weeks, from the beginning of July through the first half of August. They believed the earth was under the influence of Sirius the Dog Star. The fact that most Romans went around panting with their tongues out symbolic- ally confirmed the theory. They were panting like dogs because the Dog Days traditionally cover the hottest period of the year. In Rome, anyway. Dog Days don't present the same problem know all about the Dog Days. here in the north that they would in the sweltering streets of pre- air-conditioned Rome. But the newspaper business certainly goes through Dog Days each year, and it corresponds pretty well to the Dog Days of the Romans. It's when you can't find a front page story for love or money. Makes sense when you think about it. Everybody's out. The politicians have fled. Queen's Park and Parliament Hill are uncustomarily silent. Everybody else is at camp, taking a long weekend or visiting Aunt Letitia in Kenora. Savvy public relations types That's why they never launch any new soft drinks or sports cars during the summer time. Makes it tough for a newspaper though. We still have to pump out the same number of editions. And there aren't too many editors with the courage to run a huge banner headline across their front page that reads: NOTHING IS HAPPENING Trouble is, Dog Days have become such a tradition in the news business that even when a big story does pop up, it doesn't always get coverage. Take Prince Mongo for instan- ce. He made the mistake of showing up during the Dog Days, and what did it get him? Four column-inches on page 38. Right next to the Truss ads. Prince Mongo? Oh he's from the planet Zambodia. He made his earthly appearance in a Mem- phis, Tennessee courtroom last week. Kind of anti-climactic, really. An extra-terrestrial emissary lands to make contact with earth- lings and instead he's nabbed by a Memphis cop on a charge of tampering with a utility meter. Didn't even have a chance to prove his innocence. The Mem- phis judge cited Prince Mongo for contempt of court before he so much as had a chance to say 'Your Honour..." telepathically. And why? Just because Prince Mongo was dressed in standard, conservative Zambodian attire: green body paint, a helmet and a fur loincloth. et sige or No imagination down there in Memphis, I guess. Why the prosecuting attorney didn't even believe he was Prince Mongo of Zambodia. Kept insisting he was an out-of-work labourer from the west coast, Hodges. In any case, Prince Mongo is out of jail now. He was released on a one-thousand-dollar bond pending an appeal of his con- tempt charge. After that he'll have to explain what a member of royalty from another planet was doing tamper- ing with a utility meter. Anybody can see it's the news- paper story of the century -- but do you think it has a chance of making page one? Are you kidding? Now? In the middle of the Dog Days? Get Sirius. name of Ronald