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The Huron Expositor, 1995-10-11, Page 3News and Views 'Ugly is good for giant pumpkin _ growers Continued from page 1 mist for spray. Coons got another runner. They fed that 250 -Ib. pumpkin to the ducks. UGLY IS GOOD One pumpkin was too well- proportioned, too perfect. They may look nice but they don't grow big. Ugly is good when it comes to big pumpkins. So one big pumpkin remained. It was their pride and joy. And it kept glowing, went off their chart. There is a complicated formula for measuring pumpkins, three ways, that will give you an approximate weight. But you never really know until it is out of the field and on the scales. But seeing was believing. The legend grew. Neighbors wanted to see where all their manure was going. Friends popped in for a look-see, but no touch. The patch was sur- rounded by corn fields, so the lads didn't have much fear of vandals. Still, they wanted to keep it as much of a secret as they could. You never know who might be spying, and picking up tips in the com- petitive world of Pumpkin- meisters these days. Donny says sometimes he couldn't waitto get off work just to look and see how much it had grown since the last time he saw it yesterday. "It was like something I've never' seen before," he says. In one five-day span in early August the boys figure it put on about 100 lbs, according to their chart. It stopped getting bigger about two weeks ago, on Sept. 24. Just in time for this year's Pumpkinfest. The boys loaded her up Friday night, with tcnderloving cafe: , OOPS ! They didn't want to be like the fellow froni York region from around Toronto who figured he had the $50,000 won a few weeks ago with a 1,000 -pounder, that got smashed while loading with a tractor and made it all over the evening TV news. Some now say that pumpkin was rotten anyway. It's hard to know who to believe. The Staffa pumpkin tipped the scales at an official 667 lbs, good enough for 10th place at Port Elgin. Norm Craven of Stoufville, the holder of the Guiness Book of World Records record for the biggest pumpkin ever. grown won this weekend's ninth annual event with a 789 - pounder. So the search for "The Great Pumpkin" continues. The local lads are keen and plotting once again for next year. They brought their baby home. They can sell the seeds now. Not much else you can do with the big suckers when the contest is over. The big pumpkins arc no good for pie. And you don't want to scare the kids to death with the ugly old orange monster on Hal- loween. David Scott photo HAVE A SHOT - RN Karen Van Bakel administers a flu shot to Dr. Alan Kosasric recently at the Seaforth clinic. There will be a clinic for flu shots tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. People at high risk for the flu virus include: adults and children with chronic cardiac or pulmonary disorders, people of any age who are residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities, seniors, people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and other metabolic diseases, cancer and persons who are HIV-posi- tive.Children under age nine require two doses with an interval of four weeks; the second dose is not needed if the child received one or more doses of influenza vaccine prepared for a previous season. Tylenol may decrease the frequency of some side effects of the flu shot in adults. New county plan replaces 1973 version BY BLAKE PATTERSON SSP News Staff A scheme to revamp the county's official plan for devel- opment was announced Thursday. And according to Warden Bruce Machan, the new plan will be more community- based than its predecessor which was drafted in At a press conference •held at the Huron County Court House following the monthly meeting of County Council, Oct. 7, Machan and county officials were on hand to explain the phases of the project and to answer questions, "Many changes have occurred in Huron's communi- ties and economy," said Machan. In building the new plan, therefore, Machan said the county will focus on community and economic change. "Through publi dis- cussion," he said, "strategies and policies will be developed for Huron's communities." Senior planner Wayne Caldwell said, "Planning very fundamentally affects the pub- lic. If there arc issues in the planning process that don't sit well with the puhlic it results in a certain attitude that leads to change in policy and an evolu- tion in policy." And Caldwell said it is that attitude' which the planners hope to use during a planning process. - A new plan is required under new provincial legislation and is to he adopted by Dec. 1997. Caldwell explained the process as follows: between November and February, community action kits will be provided to groups, municipali- ties and individuals as a way to develop a profile of county- wide issues, and from February until May 1996, public work- shops will he held throughout the county to discuss the issues, determine what is being done, individual responsibilities and list options for action. Draft policies of the official plan will then be written and between January and July 1997 they will be reviewed and discussed at another round of puhlic meet- ings before the county council gives its final approval. Caldwell said the plan will be done with existing resources and added the priority of some community programs may change -- but in the long run he said everyone will benefit from having a plan based on policies which reflect the wishes of the entire community. More taxes despite cuts by board of ed The Huron County Board of Education says it is cut- ting costs and spending less but taxpayers will still pay more for education here because the provincial government has raised property values for education tax purposes. In a press release the Board states the Ministry of Finance has raised next year's property tax rates for public education in Huron "by an estimated five to six per cent through a 20 per cern upward adjustment of property values for education tax purposes, first introduced in 1994. The impact is calculated for the second year of a five-year phase-in period. It is based on projected spending levels which are lower than 1995. "Unless the new governmentchanges the funding formula for education," the press release continues, "local property taxpayers will be hit with an additional four to five per cent as the new minimum levels for the property tax share of education funding are set by the new Minister of Education." The Board claims it is now spending $62 -million annually "down from spen- ding headed towards $66 - million in 1993," and local boards control only a por- tion of the property tax 'mill rate for education with the Ontario aovcrnment control- ling moic khan two-thirds. Board Chair Roxanne Brown and secretary- treasttrcr Paul Carroll es- timate an additional $3 - County Museum Internet users will he able to find out information about upcoming events at the Huron County Museum in Goderich by accessing the Guide to Canadian million in costs will have to be cut. They say the government has indicated it will cut educational costs by reducing spending at board and administrative levels but that the Huron Board al- ready has one of the "lowest levels around" for head - office administration, "about 3.5 cents per dollar" HEI4SALL SHUFFLEBOARD Oct 3 - 6 -game winners Hazel McEwen, 476; Gert Eagleson, 449; Dave Kyle, 432; Edna Dietz, 413; Dave Woodward, 387; Ina Williams, '1R? now on Internet Curator Claus Brecdc says information on exhibits, special events, activities and services is also now electronically available on computer networks at tourist Museums, information centres throughout Ontario. A news release outlining the new plan said a letter will be sent to community groups pro- viding further details and invit- ing them to participate in the development of the plan. Any person or group wanting to become involved in the development of the plan can contact the county's planning and development department at 524-2188. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Ootob.r 11, 195-3 Huron County Community Cancer Support Program invites interested persons to become volunteer support group leaders We are seeking cancer patients or their family members to facilitate supportive small groups dealing with cancel and related issues, in their home communities. Complete training will be provided and ongoing support will be available. If you are interested in a leadership role, or if you would be interested in attending a support group ie your community, please contact Mindy Gough at 519-237-3892, collect if necessary. Or, contact Hospice of Huron at 519-527-1650. 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