The Citizen, 1988-09-14, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1988.
Blyth merchants got in the spirit of the Thresher Reunion with a sidewalk sale Friday and Saturday. Here
Al Willie [in the hat] talks with customers at his display outside Blyth Supermarket. It was also the grand
opening of the supermarket.
1988 GMC S-15 pickup
1988 Dodge Caravan V-6
1986 Chevette, 4 door
Hatch-Back
1986 Chev Celebrity, 4 door
1984 Olds 98 Regency 4 door
1985 Mercury Grand Marquis
LS, 4door, fully loaded
with options.
1983 Olds 98 Regency 4 door
1983 Buick Park Avenue, load
ed with options.
HAMM’S CAR
SALES
Blyth 523-4342
Fate of Festival's grant now
in Flora MacDonald's hands
The fate of the federal govern
ment’s grant toward the Blyth
Festival’s $1.8 million expansion
program rests with Communica
tions Minister Flora MacDonald
and with it, the size of the
provincial government’s grant as
well.
The Festival received word
Friday that the grant application is
on the minister’s desk but no
promise of when action would be
taken was given. Apparently,
Festival officials said, the provin
cial government seems willing to
hold off making a decision on the
Festival’s grant a little longer to
see the federal reaction.
Originally the Festival had been
given until Sept. 7 to come up with
assurances of the federal grant as
well as half of its own commitment
or face losing its current grant
applicationwiththe Ministry of
Culture and Communications, and
having to reapply under a different
grant program. The original grant
was for on e half the total cost of the
project. The new grant would be
for only one third.
Meanwhile the emphasis of the
Festival, General Manager Joel
Harris, said Friday, is to continue
to fundraise against all contingen
cies. He outlined some of the
possible scenarios. If all grants
come in, the Festival would need to
raise $360,000 in private and
corporate donations to meet its
portion of the building fund (this
would not include equipment
needed inside the buildings).
If the federal grant didn’t come
through the Festival would need
half the $1.8 million total and
would quickly need $450,000 to
qualify for getting the provincial
funding since the Festival must
have half its allotment in place.
In a worst-case scenario the
Festival would have to raise the
entire $1.83 million without
government assistance.
No matter what the outcome of
the drawn-out negotiations with
government, Mr. Harris said, the
Festival must keep on fundraising.
People had been phoning in
concerned about the Sept. 9
deadline wondering if the Festival
had reached its goal but the
Festival staff was trying to assure
people that money continues to be
needed. If donations dwindle now
the Festival won’t make its goal
even if it already has $270,000
raised.
The support from the theatre’s
audience has been amazing, he
said. Some of the largest donations
to date have come from Huron
county companies. Letters of
support from both the local
audience, and from the artistic
community across the country
haveflooded into the provincial
and federal ministers’ offices. The
support has made “all the head
aches and pain of going through all
this worthwhile,’’ Mr. Harris said.
“I feel like we’ve done about as
much as any group can do to prove
the worth of theproject,” he said.
Now it comes down to whether the
two governments have enough
money to meet the amounts
requirements.
Meanwhile, he said, enough
money has already been raised that
a start can probably be made this
fall on the construction of new
workshops for set, costumes and
properties building. These will be
added to the Festival’s “garage’’
on Dinsley street east and will
replace overheated, overcrowded
shops above the municipal offices.
The second priority is renova
tions to the “bank” building which
the Festival owns, to turn the upper
floor into a rehearsal space with a
stage the same dimensions as the
Memorial Hall stage. Downstairs
more office space will be added.
The third priority is the addition
to Memorial Hall and the renova
tions to the building itself. Even if
the government money was forth
coming at once, Mr. Harris said, he
couldn’t see anything happening
before the fall of 1989 on that
project. Memorial Hall is so busy
that it will take a major organiza
tion task to schedule the renova
tions with a minimum of disruption
to the many user groups.
Meanwhile, he said, the Festi
val’s board will just keep on
fundraising to meet whatever
comes in the form of government
funding.
Visitors are not always welcome.
Protection for your chimney starts here.
chimney covers will
save you a lot of time, trouble and future expense...
•Keeps birds, squirrels, raccoons,
leaves and snow out.
•Acts as a spark arrestor.
•Easy to install.
•Common sizes available for most
chimneys.
•Strong and durable offering many
years of service.
Distributed by
TOM DUIZER
Londesboro
523-4359 or 523-4846
Introductory Price S37.95
until September 30,1988.
Regularly $39.95
"One in every
crowd"
Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards
In every crowd there is a young person aged 6 to 18 years,
who is involved in worthwhile community service, overcoming
physical or psychological limitations, or has performed an act of
heroism. You can honour this young person, with the help of
Canadian Airlines International and the Ontario Community
Newspapers Association by nominating them for an Ontario Junior
Citizen of the Year Award.
Since 1981, the prestigious Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year
Awards Program has recognized the best in Ontario's youth.
Official nomination forms are available at the office of every
member Community Newspaper in Ontario, or the Ontario
Community Newspapers Association, P.O. Box 451, Oakville,
Ontario. L6J 5A8, phone 1-416-844-0184. Nominations are accepted
up to October 31st.
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Every nominee receives a certificate and up to 12 individuals
and one group will be recipients of an award presented by the
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
To nominate a young person in your community please contact
Your Junior Citizen Co-ordinator.
Jill Roulston - 523-4792
Or complete and mail this coupon to-.
The Citizen
Box 429, Blyth, Ont. N0M 1H0
I wish to nominate_________________________________________
as an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year.
Please send nomination form to:
My Name:
Address: __
Postal Code:
Canadian
Telephone:
Ontario community newspapers association
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