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The Citizen, 2003-03-19, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2003. Unique business comes to Londesboro Restoring beauty Lianne Hoogenboom, left, and Tamara Andre will be repairing, rebuilding, renovating, refurbishing and refinishing pianos of all sizes, models and vintages at their recently-opened PianoVations on the main street of LondesborO. (Janice Flecker photo) By Janice Becker Citizen staff What began as an experiment of sorts has developed into a career for the two women who have recently opened PianoVations in Londes- boro. Lianne Hoogenboom and Tamara Andre started on the journey into piano renovations more than seven years ago. The pair had been doing odd jobs, Morris-Tumberry council briefs Street closure on agenda A public meeting to discuss the closure of a section of Elizabeth Street in Belmore, at which time several letters were presented, was held in conjunction with the March 11 session of Morris-Tumberry council. No action will be taken until concurrence is received from the county.*** The family of Helen Hogg will be invited to attend a meeting within two months to discuss Patton Park.**♦ A quote from Hammonds for a counter and drawers for the building office, at the price of $1,348.50, was approved.*** Two quotes from Donegan’s Haulage for the supply, crush, load, haul and spread of gravel were accepted. For Morris, the 32,000 metric tonnes will cost $116,400 including taxes and the Turnberry lot of 15,000 tonnes will cost $56,167.50 including taxes. *** A reserve and bank account totalling $37,408.69 was set aside for the closure of the Turnberry gravel pit. *** A set of double doors was sold to cleaning peoples’ homes and refinishing furniture when friend and piano technician Dave McKee of Goderich asked if they would consider refinishing a piano. Pleased with the job the women had done, McKee continued to refer clients to them and soon was teaching them some of the technical aspects of renovating the instruments. Then, five years ago, life changed dramatically. Frank Sanders for $125.*** Two no parking-drop-off zone sings will be installed at the United Church in Belgrave.*** Council decided at the March 4 meeting not to proceed with the purchase of storage tubes as suggested by the farm safety association as condensation collects in the tubes.*** Council was informed that Carter’s Waste Disposal had been sold, but that all contracts would be honoured by Canadian Waste. A meeting will be held with the new company at a later date.*** A decision on the Wingham area fire board budget was deferred until more information on the aerial truck was received. The budget would see an increase of 5.63 per cent taking the levy from $39,230 to $41,439.*** The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority budget was approved with a 4.79 per cent increase for a total levy of $19,921.*** Decisions on donation requests from the Belmore Community Centre and Bly th arena were McKee received a call from the Steinway piano dealership in Calgary. With business booming, they were looking for technicians. McKee, Hoogenboom and Andre all headed west for interviews and while McKee returned to Ontario the women accepted the offer to work for Steinway. “There are only four Steinway dealers in Canada,” said Hoogenboom. “It was an honour to work there. (Steinways) are the Mercedes of the piano world.” While Hoogenboom rebuilt and refinished the instruments, Andre concentrated more on action rebuilding. With each gaining experience in different aspects of piano renovations, their talents complemented each other. After four years in Alberta, the pair began considering a return home to be closer to family. Hoogenboom is from the Clinton area while Andre’s family is in the London and St. Thomas region. They asked family to begin scouting locations for the piano business they envisioned. The Londesboro site was soon chosen. - Andre visited the hamlet and the property was soon secured. However, since the purchase late last summer the pair has made extensive renovations to the building, completely gutting the interior, repairing weather-damaged sections and reconfiguring it to their needs. The showroom area of the building also had to be reinforced to support the weight of several pianos and the floors recovered to withstand moving the heavy instruments. Through their contacts with local piano technicians, their business quickly developed and the doors to the store officially opened in mid­ January. While the showroom is filled with gleaming new models and wonderfully refinished older pianos, the workshop is bursting with stripped instruments, everything from the tiny model which once deferred while $1,000 was granted to Bluevale recreation. Council concurred with the Belmore Community Centre board agreement in principle, asking that two items be amended and a letter in writing be received for the insurance company detailing responsibility for coverage.*** A flag was donated to the Belgrave Optimists for a fundraising silent auction.*** Mayor Keith Johnston, Deputy- Mayor Bill Thompson, Councillors Edna McLellan, and Jim Nelemans and Clerk-Treasurer Nancy Michie will attend the Huron County municipal officers meeting April 4 and the $25 membership fee will be paid. Councillor Kevin Pletch may attend.*** General accounts in the amount of $84,389.87 and the Belgrave Park account totalling $36.06' were approved for payment. The public works accounts in the amount of $76,842.30 were approved for payment.*** Copyright clearance on the Turnberry Twp. history book was granted to the University of Calgary. produced tunes under the fingers of Hullett Central Public School students to a Steinway grand that could be worth as much as $85,000 once restored. And many of those pianos have stories. Families bring in heirlooms passed down for generations and though the market value may not warrant expensive repairs, the sentimental value does. Another, the grand, was purchased after a divorce. It was apparently the reason for the marital split when a unique gold finish was added without the husband’s knowledge, or so the story goes, says Hoogenboom. Still others bring with them a uniqueness not often seen, such as the square R.S. Williams grand which the women believe dates back to at least 1910 or the “reproducing” piano which is like a player piano but with more complicated action which creates sound closer to that of a pianist’s rendition. The work done by Hoogenboom and Andre covers every aspect of repair and refurbishing and Hoogen­ boom learning to tune as well. They also work closely with many local technicians. The soundboards are fixed by routering out cracks and inserting a new strip up to a half inch wide rather than just beveling out a narrow line and implanting a filler piece. Cracked pin blocks are replaced, action restored and finish applied and buffed. BUFFET Sunday, March 23 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. SE95 (Children 1/2 price) Stickers Family Restaurant Auburn 526-7759 Though the pianos are currently taken elsewhere to be spray finished, then retui ned for the buffing. Their renovation skills were honed out west where they saw a lot of unusual problems, says Hoogenboom. She has also repaired hundreds of polyester finishes which have become very popular. “It is a very tedious job using strong chemicals. There are only a few of us who know how to do it.” One of their specialities is scratch removal, erasing the everyday abuse suffered by the instrument. In just their short time back in the province, Hoogenboom and Andre have drawn customers from Clinton, Goderich, Listowel, St. Marys and as far away as Windsor. Andre has also been spending a lot of time making house calls, supplying estimates for refurbishing work. Hoogenboom says the prospect of their new business is “very exciting” and they have been “embraced by the people of Londesboro.” “Everyone has been good to us. One neighbour helps when the truck arrives to unload pianos and another kept our driveway cleared. It has been a good move.” PianoVations is open Thursday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday though arrangements can be made for other times. They can be reached at 523-4535.