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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1980-10-29, Page 17OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO vocato .rsionh kambinn since iii73 TatVacn:54.40600101411441004tv Page lA Sharen battles school board NEW PLAYHOUSE EXECUTIVE The new executive for the board of trustees at Huron Country Playhouse are; front row vice chairman Bettie Gibbs, Parkhill, chairman Jim Kneale, Grand Bend secretary, Linda McKenzie, Clinton, and member Gwen Burchill, London. Back row - member Leo. Morningstar, Stratford, treasurer Bert Albertson, Grand Bend, past chair- man Len Evans, Sarnia and guild representative Al Coo, Grand Bend. Playhouse good for community, benefits stressed by chairman . Grand Bend United Church Anniversary Sun., Nov, 2 11:00 a.m. Guest Speaker MR. JACK BURGHARDT of London 7:30 p.m. Rev. Harley Moore Everyone Welcome Hot Turkey Supper at GRAND BEND UNITED CHURCH Nov. 5th Adults $5.00 Children $2.50 Pre-schoolers free Time 5 to 8 p.m. Take outs available. Delivery for shut-ins. Phone 238-8732, by noon, Nov. 5th at latest. TEACHER RETIRES — Catherine Becker of Dashwood who retired in June after 34 years as an elementary school teacher was honoured Sunday at Stephen Central School. From the left are Stephen principal. Don Finkbeiner, teachers Fred Negri- in, and Betty Jean Talbot, Catherine and Emil Becker and Huron board member Harry Hayter. T-A photo Council likes waterslide idea wants to know about location THE LAMBTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION Public Meeting In order to base decisions regarding school accom- modation on a reliable foundation of local informa- tion and understanding, School District Study Committees are being formed in seven Lambton County Public Schools. Public meetings will be held as indicated on the schedule below. The purpose of these meeting is to complete the selection of members of the committees and to indicate the nature of the study to be made during the winter months. All residents of the school community are invited to attend and take part in these meetings. All meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. at the school concerned. Monday, November 3, 1980 - Bosanquet Cen- tral School Tuesday, November 4, 1980 - Kinnaird School Wednesday, November 26,1980 - Grand Bend School wm. Mclean, Chairman N.L. Cheeseman, Director. For P.U.C. Grand Bend He Elect Roy Johnson Nov. 10, 1980 4.yrs. Grand Bend P.U.C. 13 yrs. Embro Hydro For Experience And Integrity Your Support. Would Be Appreciated Fi:110., • i t s t• Plant Now For A Beautiful Spring Now is the time to plant TREES and EVERGREENS Fall Special moo • Skyline Lucust e to 8' V White Ash 6' to 8' White Mulberry Hedging 8 1 to 10' 3' to 4 $250 ' Chinese Elm See Our Good Selection Of Shade Trees Many Varieties To Choose From Y GREENWOOD NURSERY R.R. 1 Thedford 296-4665 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK $500 $1000 - listen to them - question them make your decisions . . , GRAND BEND RESIDENTS: Come out and meet the candidates GRAND BEND LEGION HALL Thursday, October 30 8:30 p.m. Candidates running for reeve, deputy reeve, council arid public utilities will be present. It's your village - take an interest Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce Gets meeting changed Area woman gets on school board I was really surprised when I arrived at Grand Bend's council meeting Tuesday night and there were no visitors present. I was sure that the candidates who had come forward to say that they would be run- ning in the election would all be present at the meeting brushing up on the issues. I thought that those people running for reeve and deputy reeve who have never been on council before would want to be present just to see how things are run, But there was no one there. Not even a concerned voter wanting assistance in casting his ballot. No one, Oh, sure, the council members were there, but they certainly weren't hampered by hecklers from the visitors' gallery. It seems to me that if some of these newcomers are serious about doing something for their village, they would be attending the council meetings to find out what's going on. Admittedly, they might have missed Tuesday night's meeting. You see, council is regularly scheduled for the first and third Monday evenings of the month. But last week it was changed to Tuesday because Monday was Civic Holiday in Grand Bend. Which brings up the ques- tion of issues. Will future councils jump Civic Holiday to October? Were you an- noyed to find the bank closed Monday? You see, Civic Holiday is an issue. And there are many, many more issues in Grand Bend. The Civic Holiday question leads to the old problem of whether Grand Bend is for the folks who live there year round, Or for the summer tourists who keep the village going. Obviously the Civic Holi- day switch was strictly for the benfit of the summer tourists. Should the village be putting itself out for the tourists, or should they be anyway? That is, if they ever get hooked up. Whatever you do, don't ask about the beach — or who owns it. They may have to tell you that Mrs. Ecclestone's will hasn't en- tirely been cleared up, and they don't yet own the north beach. Or they may be forc- ed to admit that they aren't just too sure about the main beach either. Archie Gibbs still claims to have a deed and the whole question has been taken to court. As a result, no one's allowed to comment on the situation. But Grand Bend without a beach? NOW THAT'S AN ISSUE! Speaking of things taken to court — did you realize that one of the candidates in the election is also in the process of suing the village? That should present some conflicts of interest, eh? While parking may not be an issue in November, just think what might happen if the election was in August on a very hot day. No one would vote, because they wouldn't be able to find a place to park their cars. If they're going to make parking laws, they better get someone to enforce them. The hiring of a by-law en- forcement officer is quickly becoming an issue. Consider all this gossip about the public school clos- ing up. How many families will move to a village where there's no school? Keeping their public school open should be a concern, and something to consider in this election. They're also taking about building a new recreation building. Do you think Grand Bend could -use some rac- quetball courts? Tell them. You'll be able to discuss some of these issues at an all-candidates night Thurs- day at the Legion Hall. The Chamber of Commerce is to be commended for setting up the evening. But you'll have to attend. doing more for those who It's up to you to go. Don't ex- stick with it all winter, too. pect these candidates to What about the sewer con- come to you begging for your struction? That's an issue. vote or passing out fancy By the time you read this, brochures. These are all you will probably have found busy people, and few of them highway 21 closed for sewer have the time or money for installation, Some of you canvassing. You have to find May even have had to drive out who they are and what all the way through they plan to do. Greenway to get froth one And after you attend the side of Grand Bend to the meeting tomorrow (Thurs- other. day, October 30), make sure How much are these you go to the polls and vote Sewers going to Cost on November 10. Grand Bend council ap- proved the concept of having a giant water slide in the village, but would not give any further comments until they learn where the slide might be located. Peter Paquette representing a waterslide company from South Carolina came before council at their meeting Tuesday night to show his plans for building a giant slide. He said his slide would be somewhat similar to those in Collingwood and Rock Glen. However, Pacquette said that his waterslide would be suspended, rather than built in a hillside. He said that member. The new executive for the board was elected as follows: chairman Jim Kneale, past chairman Len Evans, vice chairman Bettie Gibbs, secretary Linda McKenzie, treasurer Bert Albertson, members at large Leo Morningstar and Gwen Burchill, and guild representative Al Coo. The financial report was presented by Jean Litt and Steve Landers represen- tatives of Monteith, Monteith and Company, Chartered accountants. New chairman Jim Kneale said the 1981 season would be a challenge. He mentioned that funds would have to be raised to meet the Wintario arts challenge. He said that the playhouse would con-, tinue bringing good en- tertainment. About 35 people attended the annual meeting which was held at Oakwood Inn. Dinner preceeded the business meeting. suspended slides give a oetter ride than inground. Pacquette was reluctant to tell council where the slide would be located because he was still making arrangements with the landowner. Council ap- proved of the slide in prin- ciple, but said that they would have to know the location before they could give final say. In other business: -- council agreed to sell one of the village trucks to Dale Hayter and sons for $4100. Hayter gave the village the highestiender for the pur- chase of the truck. Council did not agree which new truck would be purchased. Tenders have been received for a pick-up truck with dump. When questions on the size of the truck arose, and it was decided to hold off making a purchase. -- clerk LouiSe Clipperton reported that a represen- tative from the provincial government advised the village to form an autonomous cemetery board An all-candidates night for Grand Bend voters has been scheduled for Thursday night at the Legion Hall. The evening is being sponsored for the land purchased for a cemetery in Bosanquet township. -- Hay Municipal Telephone asked the village for per- mission to install un- derground cables in con- junction with the sewer construction on Eilber Street, Dietrich Crescent, Gibbs Park and Green Acres. sewer construction, Sharen said that the elementery and separate school buses would be taking the detour for the one day (today October 29) that the highway was closed. Sharen said that he was annoyed to learn that taking the detour would only cost about $10, yet the board refused to do it. He said that he was concerned about children having to walk past heavy equipment and digging operations to catch the bus at the Pinedale Motel. He added that some children would have to walk a long distance, if they lived in Gibbs Park or Southcott Pines. Sharen said he wanted the bus to take the detour through Greenway and pick up children from the north end of the construction area at the Colonial Hotel. - At press time it had not been confirmed if the bus would take the detour. Sharen said he was not op- timistic. by the Grand Bend and area Chamber of Com- merce. Chamber manager Bob Simpson said that he has talked to all the candidates nominated for the November 10 election, and they plan to attend. "No one turned me down," Simpson added. Simpson said that the Chamber plans to have a chairperson to handle the meeting. Each candidate will be alloted a few minutes for a prepared address, and then the' public will be allowed to question them, Candidates for reeve, deputy reeve, council and public utilities will be included. Candidates for reeve are John R. (Dick) Manor and Robert Sharen. Running for deputy reeve are Harold Green, Ronald Landry and Ralph McKinnon. Five candidates are running for the three positions on council: Keith Crawford, Angelo Maruca, Mae Morent, Dennis Snider, and Bruce Woodley. Three men are running for the two positions on the Public Utilities Commission: William Baird, Roy Johnson, and Prosper Van Bruaene. Simpson stressed that as many voters as possible should attend the meeting. "We want them to meet, listen to and question the candidates so they can decide (how to vote)," Simpson said. Grand Bend, Bosanquet and Thedford will have a new representative on the Lambton County Board of Education, Dorothy Wight of R.R. 2, Thedford has been acclaimed to the post, after her nomination went unopposed. Mrs, Wight is the wife of Ronald Wight, a Bosanquet township sheep farmer. She is the mother of five children, who have been and are being educated in Lambton county, Her eldest son, Ronald, is a graduate of the University of Guelph with an honours bachelor of science. Her daughter Dianne (Mrs. Noel Scott) is a student at Canadore College, and her son David is a graduate of North Lambton Secondary School in Forest. Daughter Marilyn is currently a Rotary ex- change student in Australia, and the youngest Gordon is a grade 11 student at NLSS in Forest. Mrs. Wight is herself a graduate of NLSS, and was class valedictorian, After that she studied science for one year at the University of Western Ontario. She has worked as a medical research technician at Westminster Hospital, and as a bank teller. She has also been a personnel manager with Fuller Brush CompanY, and was one of two top Canadian managers between 1374 and 1977. Mrs. Wight says that her aims are to improve com- munications between the board, administration, teachers and the public, and to get the best possible education for the ratepayers' dollars. Mrs. Wight is replacing Gerald Edwards who has served on the board of education in this area for twenty-two years. The benefits which Huron Country Playhouse has brought to the community were stressed in speech by outgoing, chairman Len Evans at the board of tru- stees annual meeting Monday night. Evans •called on local councils and chambers of commerce to "guard, preserve and nurture" the playhouse. Evans used as an example two people he knew from Port Huron who visited the playhouse three times, during the summer. Each time they stayed at a Grand Bend hotel and ate at area restaurants, leaving behind about $200 in the village, he said. Evans also called the playhouse one of the leading employers in Grand Bend. He said that in the 1979-80 year, more than $160,000 was spent on salaries. Evans pointed out that attendance at the playhouse had increased substantially. Mary's musings BY MARY ALDERSON He said that ticket sales were up 600 percent since the playhouse opened in 1971. The outgoing chairman called on the incoming executive to carry on for the 10th anniversary season of the playhouse. "If our 10 is as good as Bo Derek, we're all right," Evans said. He praised artistic director Aileen Taylor-Smith, general manager Marc Quinn and publicity director Heather Redick for the successful ninth season. Evans listed the upgrading of the sewage system at the playhouse as a major project in 1980. He call the subject "distasteful", but said that it was working well. After meetings and arguments with Grand Bend and Stephen township, the playhouse wa's given per- mission to install a forced main to tie in with Grand Bend's new sewage lagoon, he said. He added the project cost of $40,000 was funded by Wintario. Evans said that the house which now holds the playhouse offices will be tied into the system later. He went to say that the kiosk in the court yard was added this summer as a ticket booth, and the cabins for staff were improved. Evans made a special point of thanking guild representatives Nancy Read and Al Coo for the financial support from the Ladies Guild. Eight new members were welcomed to the board of trustees, Frank Allison of Sarnia, Angela Armitt of London and Grand Bend, Audrey Harris of Komoka, 'Jim Huctwith of Forest, Stirling Kenny of Stratford and Grand Bend, Gladys Miller of Exeter, William Milne of Zurich, and Shirley Russell of Arkona were made members. Playhouse founder Bill Heinsohn was appointed to the advisory board, and Benson Tuckey was made an honorary Grand Bend's reeve Robert Sharen took on the Lambton county board of education in two battles this week, Sharen said that he won one fight for the village, but he "wasn't optimistic" about the other, Sharen succeeded in getting the date for the first. meeting of the school study committee changed. This meeting was set to look into the possibilities of closing Grand Bend Public School. Superintendent of Schools Doug Barber had sent a letter home with each school child announcing that the meeting would be at the school Wednesday, November 5 at 7:30 p.m. Sharen said that he felt that the village had been given short notice about the meeting, which could be the first step towards closing the school. He also said that November 5 was a bad time because of all the other events that night. He ex- plained that many Grand Bend residents will be at- tending a supper at the United Church, and others will be at a special meeting of the Lions Club. Sharen said that he talked to board representative Gerry Edwards. of Thedford, and clerk Louise Clipperton called MPP Lorne Hen- derson. The ,School board finally agreed to change the date to November 26. Grand Bend, Bosanquet and Kinnaird schools have been combined into a school district study committee. Enrollment is down at all three schools, and the board would like to see the schools combined and at least one closed. Barber said in a later interview that the meeting will be a presentation of the board's policy and regulation concerning the consolidated study com- mittee. There will be one representative of the community elected to the committee, as well as an alternate. Similar meetings have been scheduled at Bosanquet school Monday night, and Kinnaird shcool Tuesday night. In another battle with the school board, Sharen tried to convince them to have the • high school bus from North Lambton Secondary School in Forest drive around through Greenway while highway 21 was closed for Candidates night set for tomorrow A