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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2015-11-25, Page 2EARLY DEADLINE For the Wednesday, December 2nd Edition Deadline will be moved to THURSDAY NOVEMBER 26th @ 2pm For the Wednesday, December 9th Edition Deadline will be moved to THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3rd @ 2pm sea orth ', ThankYou, Ex tur seaforthhuronexpositor.com I 8 Main Street, Seaforth 519-527-0240 2 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, November 25, 2015 Parents say Vanastra daycare attracts families and closing it will do the opposite Shaun Gregory Huron Expositor On November 17 at Huron East's town hall, a delegation led by Heather McClinchey outlined an anxiety concern- ing the possible closing of Tuckersmith Day Nursery. It was a speech that came with a few jokes that resulted in tears. In a recent article in the Expositor it was mentioned that there were talks at the political round -table relating to the council potentially resigning from the daycare business. Some of the coun- cillors stood behind the idea while others didn't. After reviewing the story Heather McClinchey decided to sub- mit a letter to the editor expressing her concerns. In McClinchey's memo at council, she deemed that a municipal review of the day- care is sending an "unwanted message to fami- lies" in the Huron East area. "I don't have stress for the most part until I learned there is a little discussion going on at (Huron East council), now I worry in part that I may be short of daycare. I'm going to find out where all you live and bring my child to your house if you close this daycare without any notice," McClinchey voiced to all of council. "I hope you like a two and a half -year-old, he's a great kid but he takes a lot of energy:' Joined by other families in the crowd, McClinchey at times spoke to the political group with comedic remarks and received laughs from her entourage. At one point during her speech she asked council to raise their hands if they had children or grand- children who attended day- care, a few members raised their hands. McClinchey also requested council to live up to a previous statement made by Mayor Bernie MacLellan, which said the municipality is an "Attractive choice for young families (to) live and work." "I want to look at how that daycare affects the commu- nity on a economic level, I want to make sure we're broadening the definition of value when we're assessing what this daycare is offering If that daycare closes I don't know if I will have a job," — McClinchey plead to council while tears rolled down her face. for the cost;' McClinchey said. The daycare she refers to, as "Radio Shack" is a much- needed asset to the commu- nity McClinchey stated. The United Way for Huron -Perth was in attendance with their own delegation and they confirmed that Huron Coun- ty's living wage is $16.47. According to the United Way the top three factors influ- encing that hourly wage are daycare, food and transportation. "If that daycare closes I don't know if I will have a job," McClinchey plead to council while tears rolled down her face. "They're not just there for a place to put your child for a all for details COME AND JOIN THE FUN !!! Fall Draw NOW O N ! Fall Draw Schedule Monday Tuesday Thursday Men 8pm Junior skims night 6: 00-7pm Mixed & Ladies 7:30pm Social 9am Junior game night 6-8pm Schedule subject to change & dependent on amount of players Seaforth Curling Club, Box 1000, 116 East William Street, Seaforth, Ontario NOK IW0 Phone 519-527-0590 seaforthcurling@gmail.com www.seaforthcurling.com ea ort uronex s ositor.co Shaun Gregory Heather McClinchey speaks to Huron East Council on November 17 about the municipality possibly vacating services at the Tuckersmith Day Nursery. day, they provide peace of mind for parents. So they can go to work knowing their child is receiving the care they deserve." MacLellan threw a ques- tion in the air to McClinchey, wondering if the centre had to be operated municipally. "As long as the service is there because we have coop- erative and private in Huron East, that's the only one that's municipally run," added MacLellan. "If any thing there changes, I'm not sure it would be the same service and I might have to go some- where else," replied McClinchey to the mayor. "I have a hard time believ- ing that the cooperative or the private services that are offered in Huron East are not up to the expectations of the people that use this service," rebutted the mayor. The full-time daycare cli- ent said her husband is employed in Stratford and the only thing that ties them to this region is their home in the Seaforth area and the daycare in Vanastra. "If I got a job in Stratford I would still drive the other way to go to that daycare," McClinchey said in a weep- ing tone to her voice. One of the two Tucker - smith Councillors, Ray Char- trand is not keen on the council potentially resigning from the daycare industry. He's sure that continuing this service will only attract people and business ven- tures to a residential area that's recently thriving after struggling for quite some time. "Even if we were able to find someone else to run the daycare, we the municipality would have to payout huge severance packages to our employees. So I ask, does that extra $10.30 per house hold seem that unrealistic," inquired Chartrand. "I go on record that if that municipality wants to get out of the daycare business, than we owe it to the families and the community to find a via- ble co- op or private person to take over and run this daycare." PLEASE NOTE