Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1997-01-15, Page 3News and Views Seaforth to lose centre in one month BY DAVID SCOTT Expositor Editor People in crisis situations in Seaforth might no longer have a place to go for infor- mation in town. The Women's Resource Centre (WRC) on Main Street which is operated by the Women's Shelter and Counselling Services of Huron and Phoenix of Huron, both located in Goderich, is slated to, close its doors February 28 because of cut- backs to Phoenix from the province. Another storefront centre in Wingham was closed in 1995, leaving Goderich as the only place in Huron for in-person informa- tion and counselling. It costs $10,000 a year to run the centre in Seaforth. A public meeting was held last Tuesday night to see if there was any interest in the community to have the centre possibly stay open in another form. One of the main func- tions of the WRC is to pro- vide information on a variety of subjects ranging from alcoholism and teenage preg- nancy to spousal abuse and date rape. The centre also has drop-off bins for second-hand clothing. The WRC has held a regu- lar lecture series since open- ing on a variety of topics including breast feeding, car- ing for the elderly, talking with your children about scx, 1111111:00011:0011111w1,)DMRESOUCENr Sign of the past? Sign of the times menopause, AIDS and other issues. Community Developer/ Advocate Tanya Verburg makes about four referrals a week for people that drop in to the centre in need of infor- mation. "They're not all vio- lent situations," says Verburg. "We get a lot of teenage pregnancies, financial crisis, mental illness." About once a month, Verburg deals with someone in an "emergency crisis" - a situation the person has to get out of immediately. For the first few years of operation the centre was only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The present hours are Monday from 12 to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Verburg has contacted the food bank and local clergy to see if there's an interest in relocating the clothing bins. There is also the question of where to set up the brochure shelf containing information on previously mentioned top- ics as well as birth control, quitting smoking, parenting, sexual assault, menopause, elder abuse, T.H.E. Bus and many other topics. Some suggestions were made by the handful of peo- plc who attended the meet- ing. "People think of this as the Women's Resource Centre. But it could change to a fami- ly or community resource centre," said WRC volunteer Kathy Ferguson. "It took a long time to build up trust in the community and for people to know that this was a place they could go," said Kathleen Scott, for- mer Community Developer/ Advocate at the WRC. As far as a place to relocate the information pamphlets and continue to have some kind of drop-in centre, the food bank in town was men- tioned as a possible location. "It might mean getting more volunteers. And open- ing different days than the food bank," someone sug- gested. To volunteer at the WRC, interested people had to take a 10 -week training course which was only offered once a year. Verburg said if, for example, a community resource centre opened up, volunteers wouldn't have to go through the 10 weeks and likely a workshop would be held for training. Anyone interested in help- ing the centre remain open locally in some form, or for further information, contact Tanya at 527-1108. At odds over new Clinton fire truck BY DAVID SCOTT Expositor Editor In its final meeting of 1996, Tuckersmith Council approved a recommendation to the Clinton Fire Arca Board to purchase the "Hub freightliner fire truck at a ten- der price of $194,85142 plus applicable taxes." A debate by fire board member municipalities has taken place over the past sev- eral months about what model of truck should be pur- chased. The Town of Clinton has been pushing for the Hub "custom cab" at a price of $237,598.63 which can hold six firemen in full equipment. Tuckersmith Council felt it is too much money to spend and, in the past, the fire department has operated with no problems using a truck that only seats two. Against Further Discussion Clinton Council voted unanimously on January 6 not to re -open discussions on the purchase of a fire truck. Mayor Case Buffinga sug- gested to Clinton Council that it would have to bring thc original motion to accept the custom cab truck hack to the table, and then defeat it, in order to open discussion on agreeing with the Tuckersmith recommenda- tion. "I'm sick and tired of allowing two municipalities to dictate to everyone else what they should do and what they shouldn't do," said Deputy -Reeve Ron McKay, referring to the fact that the Townships of Stanley and Tuckersmith have stalled the process of purchasing a new truck. "I think the firemen know best what they need." Prior to thc vote to re -intro- duce the resolution regarding the purchase of the truck, McKay reminded council that when the firemen were in attendance for a meeting of Clinton Council, they received unanimous support in their goal of purchasing the custom cab truck. The motion to re -introduce the resolution was unani- mously defeated in a record- ed vote. On November 19 a delega- tion of two firemen from the Clinton Fire Department talked to Tuckersmith Council about the firefight- ers' position with regards to the proposed new truck. A motion to go ahead with the purchase of the Hub cus- tom cab was unanimously defeated by Tuckersmith at that meeting. Special Meeting Held A special meeting of the Clinton Fire Area board was held in early November and the following tenders were then tabled for a new pumper: Hub Fire Eng., cus- tom - $237,598.63, freight- liner - $198,843.42; Fort Garry Fire Trucks, custom - $242,995, freightliner - $192,500; Dependable Emergency, custom - $225,599, freightliner - $177,525; Aimonte Fire Tn..,.- Ltd., custom - $246,809, freightliner - $209,546; Carl Thibault Fire Thank You The Seaforth Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers would like to thank everyone who made a donation to our bottle drive. Collectively you helped us to raise MOO. The boys and girls would also like to extend a special thank you to their parents for helping out with this event. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Adult volunteers to formulate a group committee for the Seaforth Scouting Program. These volunteers will meet once a month to support the leaders. IF A COMMITTEE IS NOT FORMED SCOUTING IN SEAFORTH MAY CEASE TO OPERATE AS EARLY AS MARCH, 1997. For more information please contact your local scouting representative at 522-0634 - no quote for either custom or freightliner; Superior Emergency - no quote for either custom or freightliner. There were some additional notes with the tender prices. GST is not included in the above prices and "the output transmission retarder as asked for in the specs is not available in freightliner cabs." In September, the Clinton and Area Fire Department opened its doors to the mem- ber municipalities of the Fire Area Board to give council members a chance to actually see and compare a custom cab fire truck, that came from Fort Gary, Manitoba, and a freightliner truck from Seaforth, which was pur- chased for $180,000, accord- ing to Tuckersmith Council. Clinton and the townships of Goderich, Stanley, Tuckersmith and Hullett are members of the Clinton Fire Area Board. * With notes from David Emslie, Clinton News Record MYIION IXPOi1TO1t, iawrary 11, 111107-4 Archie's Sewice Ce4a'ze 24 Goderich St. East, Seaforth lir OIL CHANGES tar TIRE REPAIRS or TIRE SALES - All Makes Available Call Marc or Larry today at... sw BATTERIES war EXHAUST 527-0881 Serving Seaforth and area since 1979 c a C PIZZA FOR A YEAR WINNER Congratulations Marie Johnston, Seaforth winner of our annual Pizza Draw. She wins One Free Pizza per Month for '97. Our Thanks to All Who Entered! D - a td�It_ 11.1 Kelly Auto Service 26 Birch St. SEAFORTH 527-2210 CANADIAN TIRE MUFFLER WARRANTIES ACCEPTED •Complete Automotive Repair •24 Hour Towing *Full Collision and Body Shop Kell Auto Service 2 Birch St., Seaforth 527-2210 After hrs. Towing 522-2122