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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-09-13, Page 17• • in-mg-me Switch to Natural Gas before October 14, you won't pay a cent until April '96':* When you heat your home with anything other than today's efficient, inexpensive Natural Gas, you're wasting your hard- earned money. In fact, you're paying twice as much as you need to. today's Natural Gas saves you up to 64%* on your heating bill. CALL TODAY and find out how, easy it is to switch and save with Natural. Gas. • 4.0011111111111.. 000~ trademark of Union Gas limited L. McGRATH Plumbing & Heating Seaforth 522-0493 Larry McGrath, Proprietor *When comparing high-efficiency Natural Gas to electricity, ask for details "On approved credit. Offer between August 14 and October 14, 1995 THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1995. PAGE 17. Rural Response seeks Blyth volunteers "The dynamics of rural living are different. There is an existing myth about the extended family in small communities which we are trying to overcome with the Rural Response for Healthy Children pro- gram," says Jane Hoy, program co- ordinator. "Yes, many families still do have grandparents and aunts and uncles living nearby, but with more fami- lies moving to rural areas, some parents of young children do not have the needed support." As the school year resumes, the Huron County Board of Education trustees and administrators held their first meeting of the fall on Sept. 5. One item which is carefully watched by the board and taxpayers alike is the annual budget. The actual numbers for Aug. 31 show the board right on schedule with 61.3 per-cent of the budget spent, two-thirds of the way through the fiscal year. Expenditures for the elementary panel sit at 61.1 per cent, 59.6 per cent in the secondary sector and 63.3 at the administration centre. ***** Bob McTavish, a past Perth County councillor and warden, was selected as the chair for the tri- board (Huron, Perth and Huron- Perth Roman Catholic) steering committee. The committee will look at ways for the three boards to co-operate and share services to make all more cost efficient. The Family Literacy program is a success with 40 volunteer tutors registered and 28 actively assisting 40 learners. Despite warnings that the provin- cial government will be cutting its grants to the municipalities, Huron County council Thursday approved a recommendation that staff pre- pare a 1996 budget which will bring a zero per cent tax increase. In fact council went further and voted to send a letter to the Huron County Board of Education and the Huron-Perth Roman Catholic Sepa- rate School Board pointing out that the county was preparing for no tax hike and urging the boards to aim at the same target. Bill Mickle, reeve of Exeter made the motion to send the letters. It was hard to explain to taxpayers in his town, he said, that last year's tax increase came not from the town or the county but the boards of educa- tions. "I have heard already that there are thoughts of a 10 per cent Are you sometimes baffled as to where to turn for help? Information is power! It cuts down the time and frustration of searching. The Huron Community Service Network meets quarterly to give its. It is to this end, Rural Response, a federally-funded health program for children newborn to six, was developed early this year. Five different projects are now available to the rural residents of Huron County. The first component of the pro- ject is a parent mentoring program. Rural Response is looking for experienced parents in the commu- nity, particularly in Blyth, to volun- teer four hours a week as mentors (support) for parents of young chil- More than 6,000 people, of which approximately 3,800 were children from both the separate and public school systems, attended the Family Literacy Festival in June. **a** Trustees approved the motion to establish a Shirley Lyon Award, to be given to a student in their fmal year at Walton Public School who best displays and demonstrates an interest, appreciation and enjoy- ment of reading. The award, beginning in 1996, will be in the form of a book inscribed with Shirley Lyon's name. *am Director of Education Paul Car- roll expressed concern with the change in funding available for special needs students in Huron County. "Huron'County receives a dispro- portionate number of special needs students," possibly because of the three very active community living associations which draw families with special needs children to the area. The programs were once covered by grants, but are no longer done on a cost recovery basis. It is now a increase at the boards of educa- tion," he said. Mason Bailey, reeve of Blyth seconded the motion. "We have just come through a tax increase of almost 10 per cent," he said of the 1995 education levy. "We need to get the point across that the only way they can justify a 10 per cent increase is if they increase the edu- cation they give by 10 per cent." But Bill Vanstone, reeve of Col- borne, said the motion was coming at the problem from the wrong direction. The boards of education are between a rock and a hard place, he said, because they're hav- ing their grants cut while 90 per cent of their budget is in salaries of unionized staff. He said the county should be helping the board gain more control over the salary por- tion of its budget. Tom Cunningham, reeve of Hul- membership an opportunity to learn and share about what is happening in education, health and social services in Huron County. On Thursday, Sept. 21 an Information Swap is being held from 4 - 7:30 p.m. at the Goderich .Township Hall in Holmesville. dren who would like community connection and support. These parents, who face daily dilemmas about how to parent their children, need community support and friendship to make their jobs less difficult. "We want to acknowledge and honour the capabilities of the moth- ers and fathers who work 24 hours a day at the job of parenting," says Hoy. "It is important to give new parents a sounding board for the common difficulties of parent- hood." fixed factor for special education, says Carroll. "The board may have difficulty finding money to cover costs and I am concerned the expense will fall on the taxpayers." It is estimated the board would see a shortfall of approximately $7,900 for each student which requires one-to-one support. Solutions are being sought by a number of forums which will hope- fully get the ratepayers off the hook, he says. ***** There has also been a reduction in per student grant levels by $8, in both the elementary and secondary panels. In 1995, the total loss will be $73,423 and in 1996 it will be $73,416. It is hoped that surpluses in other areas will compensate for the reduction, says Carroll. The fuel tender from Edward Fuels was accepted by the board. Their bid, at $$19.30 to $20.50 and $19.30 for F.E. Madill Sec- ondary School, was the lowest of the five tenders. ***** lett, said he supported the motion and the aim of no tax increase but he wondered if council might be setting a trap for itself. If the provincial government cuts grants but doesn't cut the requirements for service that it now imposes on municipalities then council will be hard pressed to hold the line on the budget. Mickle, past president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, told council the group's annual meeting had been told by provincial treasurer Ernie Eves that cuts of 20 per cent in conditional and unconditional grants to munici- palities were in the works. What's more, he said, a senior government official had told him not to be sur- prised if provincial grants to municipalities disappear complete- ly in the coming years. Network members will be on hand to talk about their service and provide brochures. The general public is invited to drop in and discover the many services operating in Huron County and how these services specifically assist people of all ages. There is also a resource lending bus which will be travelling around the county to areas where parent support groups have been formed or a need is seen. The bus will carry toys as well as video tapes and books on parenting skills. A child abuse prevention pro- gram will be offered, in co-opera- tion with community living associations, to educate young chil- dren in regards to safety and other related topics. There will be training sessions for parent education facilitators who will then speak to others on effective parenting. An immigrant advocate council is being developed to assist the many Mennonite families from Mexico who have moved to the area in recent years. Rural Response is working to open up communities to children and enable parents to ask for help when they need it. Experienced parents interested in being mentors will be matched with parents of young children in their community, helping support par- ents when family is not accessible, and offering knowledge of resources which are available to them. Mentors will befriend parents, answering their questions, listening to concerns and sharing joys with compassion, patience and under- standing. A 10 week training course will begin Oct. 10 for the parental men- tors to familiarize them with the program, available resources and the latest in parent education. If you are non-judgmental, com- passionate, an experienced parent and have a sense of humour, you are needed as a volunteer. Anyone interested in an applica- tion, which must be returned by Sept. 26, may call the Rural Response office at 529-3770 or 1- 800-479-0716. The training sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m., Oct. 10 to Dec. 12 at the MacKay Centre of Seniors on North Street in Goderich. HCBE briefs Board checks budget County sets budget goal Info Swap at Holmesville