HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-02-19, Page 22 News Record • Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Council turns down request for Munro study
Clinton News -Record
While many Huron
municipalities may be looking
at how to celebrate and
promote Alice Munro's Nobel
Prize, Central Huron will not
be among them.
A vote to contribute $15,000
to a study of the cultural and
economic opportunities
associated with a Nobel Prize
winner died on the council
floor with a 4-4 split Monday,
Feb. 10. Council previously
voted to defer the matter.
Mayor Jim Ginn, Deputy -
Mayor Dave Jewitt, Councilor
Alison Lobb and Coun. Alex
Westerhout voted in favour of
proceeding with the study.
Couns. Marg Anderson, Dan
Colquhoun and Brian Barnim
voted against, with Burkhard
Metzger abstaining.
The study intends to expand on
current assets dedicated to Munro,
such as the Alice Munro Writers'
Festival and the Alice Munro Reading
Gardens in Wingham, as well as seek
further ways to promote the home of
the Nobel winner.
County Librarian Megan Wark
noted this would not be a capital
project, but a drive to further develop
the festival and tourism initiatives. In
the days following the Munro
announcement, Wark noted her
phone was ringing constantly from
people eager to learn more about the
reclusive author.
Clinton library renos still up for debate at council
The Clinton Public Library is one of many in Huron that will need to meet coming provincial accessibility
standards.
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Gerard Creces
Clinton News -Record
They are the living rooms of the
communities, both a social and an
informational hub, and yet the way in
which libraries are being used is con-
stantly evolving, largely due to the
availability of free wireless internet.
County Librarian and Director of
Cultural Services Megan Wark was
before Committee of the Whole Mon-
day, Feb. 10, talking about the state
of Huron's libraries, as well as the
challenges that face older buildings.
The biggest challenge for older
Carnegie libraries, like the Clinton
branch, is the size of the facility.
Because of the footprint and design
of the building, it is hard to add on or
do any major renovations without
compromising the original.
Renovations for the Clinton library
have been on the horizon for years
now, and Councilor Brian Barnim
asked whether or not the former
plans could still be used either for
reference or as a "shovel -ready"
project to apply for government
grants. Mayor Jim Ginn remarked
that now is the time to get the draw-
ings done, as dollars tend to start
flowing as election time nears.
Wark said while the government is
not likely to shut down any libraries
0".711
Exercise at
your own pace
"I have more
energy and
interest in doing
things, better
balance and more
self-esteem"
- Exercise class
participant
that are not completely accessible,
there are issues that need to be
addressed in the Clinton branch.
Heavy doors, no washroom on the
main floor and the height of stacks all
provide some challenges at the Clin-
ton library, as does the lack of eleva-
tor to the second floor. The latter is
not only inaccessible for those with
mobility problems, but parents with
strollers and young children as well.
However, the people at the library
do try their best to accommodate.
"Staff go above and beyond to
make the library accessible," Wark
noted.
It's been a big year for the Huron
County Library, with a new facility in
Bayfield now open and the new Brus-
sels branch ready to open. Wark said
the county tries to place libraries in
downtown cores, where the most
people are located. In an effort to
make the branches as accessible as
possible, libraries are looking at
expanded facilities and hours.
"We try to make sure the library
meets the standard for the size of the
community served," she explained.
"There is a certain amount of square
footage applied per component."
There are 12 county libraries,
divided between tier 1 and tier 2
facilities for towns and villages
respectively.
Healthy Living & Exercise
Classes for Older Adults
iirmidrakr
Clinton classes now FREE
Group Exercise at Betty Cardno Centre
Monday 1 Thursday 9 -loam.
Seated Exercise at Anfield Manor
Monday ip.m. 'Wednesday 1 Friday ioa.m.
Life Hikers Betty Cardno Centre 1 Friday 8a.m.
Also available
Fitness Centre Memberships $24o/year
Yoga and Circuit Training $3 per class
Monday io:3o-ii:3oa.m. 1 Wednesday 9-loa.m.
Call 1.877.502.8277 x 2011
L.I.F.E. - Living Independently Through Fitness & Education