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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1996-09-11, Page 1Close-up Turning a coffee break into • fundraiser. See page 2 County Resident who loses 1,000 trees mistaken for weeds to get compensation. See page 6 Sports Read how St. Columban won it's first 2nd Division Cup in 20 years. See page 11 Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 — Seaforth, Ontario Briefly Alf Dale to appear at London art show Talented mouth painter Alf Dale of Seaforth will be tak- ing part in an art show at White Oaks Mall in London on September 12, 13 and 14 as part of Rehandart's.35th anniversary. Rehandart publishes the works of 400 mouth and foot painters from 45 countries around the world. Alf and Susie Matthias, two of 17 Canadian members of Rehandart, will be giving live demonstrations of their paint- ing techniques at the show. Alf Dale, a quadriplegic from the. age of 18, began sketching with a pencil held in his mouth and from there started painting. His works were successful and he has been associated with Rehandart since 1988. Enrolment increases at SPS Local schools have tallied up enrolment numbers for the beginning of the 1996-97 school year and in most cases, except for Seaforth Public, enrolment is slightly down. Seaforth Public School had the greatest fluctuation in numbers with 338 students this fall compared to 303 last year. Seaforth District High School is down seven stu- dents from last year with an enrolment of 351 this fall. St. James Catholic School in Seaforth has 236 students this fall down eight from a year ago. Both St. Columban School and St. Patrick's School in Dublin were down 10 stu- dents at 174 and 152 respec- tively this September. Huron Centennial Public School in Brucefield led the local elementary schools in enrolment with 407 students, down nine from last year. And Walton Public has about the same number of students this fall as last with 90. New award for high school A new scholarship has been established and approved for Seaforth District High School. The Canon Jack Howard James Scholarship will be awarded annually to a student accepted at a Canadian university and best described as a "scholar and gcntleperson." The award is named in memory of the father of Howard James, now retired, who taught at SDHS for many years. Date set for BIA Christmas party The Seaforth Business Improvement Association (BiA) has set Sat., Nov. 23 as the date for this year's annual Christmas party. 1 September 11, 1996 --- 75 Cents Plus GST , PHOTO B'' GREGOR CAMPBELL THEIR CUP RUNNETH OVER St. Columban's men' soccer team was in a mood for celebration after marching into the lion's den in London last Thursday night and coming home with the Second Division Cup, by virtue of a 3-2 win over the German Canadians in the final. The locals had more fans around the field than the Londoners, in an exciting game. St. Columban ran out of legs and blew a 2-0 lead in the second half before conjuring up the winner with a sudden header five minutes later, about 10 minutes from time. The half-dozen players sort of standing in the very back row (left to right) are: Sean Melady, Mark Muir, BHI Ryan, Nehru Budna, Brian Melady and Jason Vander Velde. The local lads to the front -are: Mike(Seiler, Terry Sloan, Mike Smale, Jason Dietz, John Jordan, Jim Reilly, Wayne Ryan, Dave Kelly, Dave Murray and Steve Ryan. St. Columban last one the Second Division's Cup exactly 20 years ago, in 1976. They also won a First Division Cup in the early 1980s. Demolition 'not an option' for LACAC Building owners, engineers say demolish BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff The owners of what remains of the building, a barricaded shell on Seeforth's Main Street since a Labour Day weekend fire, want to demolish it "immedi- ately". Lawyers for Michael and David Anstett say if Seaforth "refuses this request, and the wall subsequently collapses (they) will be looking to the Town for complete indemni; fication. The town's own consulting engineers agree. They advise" demolition and rebuilding would cost "significantly" less than repair. But Seaforth's Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) used capital letters to stress "demolition is NOT an option" in one of seven recommendations concluding the minutes from its last meeting, Aug. 2Q. Most of Seaforth's Main Street downtown is officially "historically designated", including the building at issue - what was 24, 26 and 28 Main Street South, which complicates matters. Council considered its options in the midst of this quandary at last Tuesday night's regular meeting. "Where do we go from here?" Reeve Bill Bennett asked out loud. Council decided a demoli- tion permit be granted to the Anstetts, subject to a site plan being accepted. Administrator Jim Crocker advised council that in any case, after 180 days the Ontario Heritage Act allows owners of such burnt out her- itage properties to tear them down. "If they don't do something its going to ruin the whole downtown, a tot of work over the years," said Coun. Michael Hak, a member of LACAC. COMPROMISE ? Crocker said the town and owners arc "trying to work out a compromise" and a site plan "may or may not include rebuilding." Deputy -clerk Cathy Garrick said the Anstetts "want some direction on what council will accept." "We understand that the Heritage Foundation is hold- ing up a demolition permit in hopes of saving this front wall," states an engineer's report from Walters Consulting forwarded with a letter to the town from the Anstett's (906205 Ont. Inc.) lawyers Carey & Ottewell. "Your (the town's) letter indi- cates a demolition permit will not be issued...The report which you have received does not deal with the struc- tural integrity of the wall and I would strongly suggest that you reconsider the position set out in your letter of July "We don't want to be liable, commented Coun. Heather Robinet at last Tuesday's meeting. Council concurred. Seaforth's consulting engi- neers, B.M. Ross and Associates Ltd., state in Aug. 29 correspondence with the town "we feel that it is possi- ble to repair the wall where it is but we do not recommend this approach. "The amount of shoring and bracing required for a repair would, in our opinion, cost significantly mote than demolishing and rebuildin1 the same structure...Tlie final product may not look good with mortar joints of varying thickness and all the existing sags would still be visible. "In our,opinion, it would be more feasible to demolish the `existing wall and rebuild. "In summary, we agree with Mr. Caslcanctte's recommen- dation that the wall be demolished as soon, as possi- ble," the town's engineers continue. "However, a repair of the existing' wall is possi- ble if enough money is spent, but the end appearance may be poor." LACAC MINUTES LACAC's last meeting was on Aug. 20, the same day the letter from the Anstett's solicitors is dated. "Secretary Garrick noted that she had spoken with the building owner and he would like some indication as to CONTINUED on page 2 Committee form.°: to dt1 with heritage debate BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff Council appointed Reeve Bill Bennett, along with Coun. Michael Hak, to a special committee to deal with the heritage debate swirling around Seaforth recently: Mayor Irwin Johnston said he WOO also sit in on it. "I think we have learned in the last couple of weeks there are a lot of different opinions on this," Seaforth Clerk/ Administrator Jim Crocker Said. The topic has been a hot one lately, particularly in the "Letters to the Editor"section of this newspaper. It arose from a front Atory in The Huron idd r' report- ing the minutes of the July 16 meeting of the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) when it decided "to take a more proactive role in protecting and maintaining the character of properties ...downtown as well as the individually designated her- itage properties in Scafortb," Legal action against local businesses was specifically advised in one instance, and' threatened in others if LACAC procedures weren't followed. "It is still the (LACAC) committee's intent," deputy- clerk Cathy Garrick reported to council's August meeting, "to have council take actkat against owners and tenaf designated properties, -in the future, when the Ontario Heritage Act, or any other law or municipal bylaw is contravened." Reeve hill Teall said last Tuesday his read on subse- quent opinions as expressed on the editorial page or else- where is we have a "commu- nication problem" or are "enforcing something people don't want, which is awfully tough when you own some- thing." "Through the newspaper the feeling is running the wheels have fallen off the cart," he commented. He sug- gested a gentler approach was called fent Coun. Hak felt the newspa- per report was "one-sided" and said LACAC never intended to charge anyone, and in any case is only an advisory committee and only expresses the will of council, "I'm not sure there is any quicker way other than straight to council, except this takes away from LACAC," he said. His opinion is heritage des- ltiont ilikigove property vies andAC in most cases acts in owners "best interests". • "Get them (bylaws) in place and enforce them," Coun. Hak thought. "It is not LACAC turning them down, but council." "Do you really need LACAC," Coun. Heather Robinet asked rhetorically at one poipt in the discussion. Cofttsps seemed to be councli t1t►ld strengthen its presence in this heritage debate. "If you don't like it change it," Administrator Crocker 'told council. "The town is not getting on its war horse to lay charges... We shouldn't forget the positive cases that have worked." "An overall effect (down- town) is for everybody's ben- efit," commented Deputy - Reeve Thin. ' Deputy -clerk Garrick said LACAC has always had busi- ness representation, and still does.