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The Brussels Post, 1980-01-23, Page 1For several years small strong.,willed group disabled and able-bodied PeoPle have gathered once a month in Huron' County. The group, the ;Awareness League for Physically Handi- capped Adults' in Htiron Connty, better known simply as ALPHA-Huron, {s con cerned with -making' their count a better place to live for the physically disabled. Like the Ontario March of . Dimes, ALPHA-Huron is Concerned with structural barriers that restrict the dis- able(' from many community . 'buildings. • , . According, to Pat' Watson of, Brussels, President of ALPHA,-Huron, communities in the area have responded Poorly . to , the group's: quests fOr more accesSible buildings and , downtown -areas. , Pat said; "We don't ex pect people, to tear down buildings to make, them accessible: HoweVer, when new ones are being construe- ted we would like to offer, our advice on how to make them accessible to eyeryone." As,sonneone who has been confined to a wheelchair since 1967 due to a spinal infection, Pat knows the full implications of an inacces- sible comnii,thitY; Some of the structural barriers facing the physically disabled are. curbs,, narrow doorways, stairs and small washrooms. Most of these barriers can be avoided be- fore construction if the needs of the disabled are .consid- ered beforehand. If this is done there is usually little or no additional, cost to the building. . gowever, despite letters from ALPHA-Huron to all the ,area town councils, ex- plaining the importance of accessibility, and the group's willingness'to offer advice on the' matter, inaccessible buildings continne to be built "1find it frustrating*" says Oat,;"that so few people ask us about what we need," ALPHA-fforons' advice is free, but people continue to take the attitude that they know what is best for the disabled instead of asking the disabled, what is best for them. However, Pat' is quick to point out that the efforts to make them accessihle are appreciated by the disabled as they now can use the facilities. Her only wish is' that the advice of, ALPHA- Huron be sought before more changes are made. The ALPHA group, 'whose members include, both dis- abled and able-bodied people front across Huron County, meets once a month in:either Brussels or Clinton to discuss such concerns as , access- ibility and housing. Everyone is welcome to attend their .Meeting and membership is-Only $1.00 per year. Further information can be obtained from Pat Watson by contacting her at her Brussels home. Pat Watson, Brussels, of the Awareness League for Physically Handicapped Adults in .1-luron County is fighting to make the 'area a better place for disable peciple to live in. 109th Year -- Issue No. 4 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1980 Murray cardiff, 45`, of RR1 Ethel has 'been busy since his recent victory, as the Progressive Conservative candidate in' Huron-Brrice. , • He has been organizing workers, is going to ?pen a number of offices throughout the riding.and, he has been out campaigning for` the February 18 federal election. The Conservatives moved into the former Mayer's. Jewellery Store--in Brussels on MondaY and Tuesday of last week and Mr. Cardiff said he had been mostly mainStreet- ing and that he had met with some of the basic industries in the area. Mr. Cardiff scored a decisive victory on the firsf ballot over three other candidates to win the Progressive Conservative• nomination for the Huron-Bruce riding. A cash crop farmer and the chairman of the Ontario Bean Producers! Marketing BoarCI, he won twice as many votes, as his nearest rival, Bruce Shaw of Exeter. The' PC candidate was Chosen by 610 delegates who were eligible to cast their ballot, although over 1,300 people srowded into the Brussels,' Morris and Grey Com- munity Centre to hear the candidates. The.candidate was elected to fill the shoes of Bob McKinley of Zurich, who has held the riding for 14 years, and who surprised many people by deciding not to seek re-election in the Feb, 18 election': Mr. MtKinfdy did not attend the nomination meeting, due to an "illness in the family.," , Murray Cardiff was nominated, by lawyer Jim Donnelly of Goderich. His nomination was, seconded by his partner in a barbecue catering business, 'Ken 'Campbell of R.R.1, ,Dublin. Bruce Shaw: 37, former mayor of 'Exeter Manny Cardiff and principal of Seaforth District High School ; the runner-up, was nominated by former. Goderich mayor. Deb Shewfelt and seconded by.former Huron County warden, Jack Tinney of Hay Township. The third candidate was Barry Johnston, 35, of R.R.3, HolyroOd, reeve of Kinloss Township, former president of the Brude County' Federatoin of • ,Agriculture and a mixed farmer. He was; nominated by Mike Snoblen, 'Huron Township reeve and his seconder was Robert Dinsmore of Seaforth. MaSon Bailey,-54, of Myth, a real estate agent and past president of the Huron County Federation, of Agriculture, .was the fourth candidate. He was nominated by Don Nebel," reeve of Blyth and his nomination Was seconded by Bruce Falconer of Blyth. When the ballots' were counted, Murray Cardiff received 331 votes, Bruce Shaw took 142 of the ballots cast, followed 'by .Barry Johnston with 75 votes and Mason Bailey with' 17 votes. Mason' Bailey said one of his major cencerns,was with government tax policies that discourage initiative and if elected he would seek , a change in taxation policies to encourage more initiative and productivity. Murray Cardiff, the second candiate to speak; gave the shortest speech of the candidates, outlining hi,s background as a farmer, chairman of the bean board and member of the PC riding association. He told • , the audience he felt he could represent the riding in the manner- to 'which they've become accustomed Bairy Johnston.praised the recent Crosbie budget; :and said it '!would "slow or stop deficit financing"iri the country, as well as offering tax breaks for farmers and small businessmen. Bruce. Shaw told the voting delegates that -he- realized there were two things against him in . seeking the nomination •••• '" my profession and the fact I don't farm .1.',He said - educators have a bad reputation-: in the county due to the teacher's strike two years ago and "the fact two teachers have run for the NDP." Mr. Shaw said "we must establish a partnership between rural and urban areas" in the riding. After accepting the nomination as PC candidate, Murray Cardiff told the audience "I thank you from the bottom of my heart." He introduced his wife Betty and three children Jeffrey, Joan and. Scott to the audience and asked for help in his campaign. Shoit Shots by Evelyn Kennedy In the January 9th issue of The Post a request for a Brussels correspondent was published. To date there has been no response. Not one person has expressed any interest whatever. It appears that> while people feel there is not enough Brussels news reported none of them care enough to take on the Work of a Brussels-area correspondent any more than the majority of folks bother-to let our Brussels office of The Post know about " the news they could contribute to these pages. Cottle on folks! This is your paper. If you know of anything of interest tell us about it If you do not want to make a full report on it just let us know about it and we will take if from there. ***** If you did riot watch the 'Canadian Figure Skating Championships you missed some great entertainment. It Was a beautiful rhapsody of music, graceful skilled perform- ance 'by the skaters and enthusiastic appreciation by a large gathering •of spec: tators. When one considers the long hours spent in years of endeavour to perfect their performance, and the expense involved, Canadians should be proud of the accomp, lishment of these young people. While all skaters were applauded, it was the sen. °Sational free skate presentation of Tracy Waltman that fascinated the audience, It (Continued on page 2 CONGRATULATIONS, EDWIN — Graerne Craig, immediate Past President of the Brussels Agricultural Society presented former secretary -treasurer Edwin: Martin with an Agricultural Service Diploma for Meritorius Service to Agriculture and a pen set When the society held ItS annual meeting at. St. John's Anglican Church, Wednesday night.