HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-03-05, Page 7Wednesday, March 5, 2014 • News Record 7
Seaforth BIA welcomes three new members
Gerard Creces
Clinton News -Record
The Seaforth Business Improve-
ment Area approved their 2014
budget at their annual general
meeting Wednesday, Feb. 26,
looking at just over $26,000 for the
year.
That figure includes levy and
membership rates at $21,000 and
$1,200 respectively, as well as a
$3,844 surplus carry over from
2013.
Welcoming new business to
town is something the BIA wants
to hone in on for the coming year,
bringing back welcome packages
that highlight local businesses and
services. While the program has
fallen by the wayside the past cou-
ple years, the board talked of start-
ing a subcommittee to get the pro-
gram running again.
Meanwhile, determining just
where and what is the jurisdiction
of the BIA was up for discussion.
Board member Herb McGowan
addressed the need to update the
current businesses in the BIA fold,
as well as examine the boundaries
to reflect where the business com-
munity is. The last time the BIA
was mapped out was 1981.
"I just wonder if after 30 years
we shouldn't reexamine it,"
McGowan said. "I think it's worth
looking at."
The boundary discussion will
be part of the overall strategic
BIA seeks volunteer involvement for busy 2014
Gerard Creces
Clinton News -Record
The Clinton and Central Huron BIA is
asking members to give them five in
2014. At the BIA's State of the Union
meeting at the Clinton Legion Feb. 20,
BIA Chair Jeff Roy asked members to
give five hours of volunteer time to the
association, getting involved in both the
BIA and the community.
This past year was a busy one for the
BIA, and Roy noted they were able to do
a lot with a small volunteer base and a
limited budget.
Highlights from 2013 were the munic-
ipality's Parasport Games bid, in which
Central Huron placed second. Where a
project like that could easily take more
than a year, the local support was so
great they were able to do it in just three
months.
In spring the BIA received a $10,000
grant from Farm Credit Canada to create
a trail connecting Clinton with the Hul-
ler Wildlife Area. While the trail may not
have been in the best shape for the Can-
ada Day run, it's been constantly
improved on and will be more than
ready once spring hits.
Another first for the BIA in 2013 was
the addition of a farmers' market to
downtown Clinton in the summer. The
market drew about a dozen vendors
each time, and in 2014 the season will
be extended from May to September.
One area of improvement for the BIA
is refining the Summer Daze event,
which saw merchants in the downtown
core hold events throughout a week in
August. It is still up in the air whether or
not the event could be better served at a
different time, and the BIA is also con-
sidering the return of the Scarecrow
Festival as an alternative.
The Amazing Race will also see a few
changes this year, and the two events
could likely fall on the same weekend.
Feedback from participants was favour-
able, though many would prefer to see
it carried over one day and not two.
Meanwhile, the push for volunteers
continues, and with it the drive to
engage the membership and complete
the feasibility study looking at youth
opportunities, active living and
volunteerism.
Community Improvement Coordina-
tor Genny Smith will be conducting
interviews with 50 different business
Ticks and Tick -Borne Diseases:
Awareness Talk for Pet Owners
Are we seeing more ticks in Huron County? Is Lyme disease in
our area?
What should you do if you find a tick on your pet? Find out
more about ticks.
When: Thursday March 20, 2014 6:30-8:00 pm
Where: REACH Huron Banquet Hall, 169 Beach St,
Clinton
Who: Veterinarian Guest Speaker and Huron County
Health Unit Representative
Everyone is welcome
to attend but registration is required
RSVP: by March 15, 2014 to ticktalkrsvp@gmail.com
or call to register at one of these veterinary clinics:
519-482-3558, 519-527-1760, 519-524-8287
or 519-236-4301
owners seeking feedback on
how the BIA can help with
any challenges they face with
their businesses.
There are a few coming
events on the BIA calendar
in the next few weeks, includ-
ing a fashion show March 20
and their annual general
meeting April 10.
GRACE FARMS
HORSEBACK RIDING DAY CAMPS
March 12,13,14 Come for one day or all Three.
Spring riding lessons March 17 — June 13
Visit gracefarms.ca or call Jeanette Meyer @ 233-3165
Birthday
Club
Aya Burgsma
ewer
Holden Heipel
Austin Mackinnon
Jack Edwards
Ashton Gerrits
Olivia Heipel
Kaden Hoggarth
Regan Rodges
Olivia Wightman
Malia Lyons/McBride
Cam Smith
Alison Dejong
Mar 5th
Mar 6th
Mar 6th
Mar 6th
Mar 7th
Mar 7th
Mar 8th
Mar 8th
Mar 9th
Mar 9th
Mar 9th
Mar 11th
Call our In -Store Bakery to Order
BIRTHDAY
CAKES
OR ANY SPECIAL OCCASION
CAKE
• MAGIC CAKES • CHARACTER CAKES •
• BIRTHDAY CAKES •
Moore,SMade to your specification.
cam,
DD
6 Mary St., Clinton • 482-9341
plan, which is currently in its first of five
years.
The board also took time at its Feb. 26
meeting to welcome three new mem-
bers - Brenda Campbell of Caldwell
Banker, Dr. Kim Blok of Optimal Health
and Melody Hodgson of Huron -Perth
Mortgage Group. They replace outgoing
members Betty Small and Cathy Elliott.
The $mart money campaign is back
for another year - offering discounted
dollars for shopping local.
Patrons can by $mart money at 90
cents on the dollar to be used at local
CONTINUED > PAGE 9
Will Veldman
Melissa Sparring
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The Family of
Lawrence and Jean Plaetzer
Invite You To An
Open House
To Celebrate Their
60,th rlvtiveNs_«NY
at the I`
Blyth United Church
from 2 — 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Seat es Drury