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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 1999-06-23, Page 44—THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Juno 23, 1999 rort r it $WORTH AREA Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Terri -Lynn Hart - Publisher Scott Hilgendorff - Editor Susan Hundertmark - Reporter Larry Dalrymple - Soles Pat Armes - Office Manager Dianne McGrath Subscriptions/Classifieds c anon oSu' a Company E-mail us at Seaforth Gbowenet.com Bowes' Publishes Limited SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL 32.50 a year, in advance, plus 2.28 G.S.T SENIORS: - 30.00 a year, in odvance, plus 2;10 G.S.T. USA & Foreign: 28.44 a year in advance, plus $78.00 postoge, G.S.T. exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES: • Published weekly by Signal -Star Publishing at 100 Moin 5t., Seaforth. Publication mail registration No. 0696 held at Seaforth, Ontario. Advertising is occepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the bdonce of the advertisement will be paid for of the applicable rote. In the event of o typographical error, od ertising goods or services of a wrong price, goods or services May not be sold. Advertising is merely on offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. Changes of oddress, orders for subscriptions and undeliverable copies are to be sent to The Huron Expositor. Wednesday, June 23, 1999 ldltorlal and 8asinoss Wilcox - 100 Maln Stroot.,Soaforth T.Iophono (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2855 Mailing Addross - P.O. Sox 69, floaforth, Ontario, NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association Publication Mail Registration No. 07605 Editorial ,The ties that bind . A Trillium Foundation grant application has the potential of bringing the community $1.25 million to help rejuvenate the dowtown with projects expected to bring tourists and new residents to the ' community. But what's more special about the grant is the fact it is bringing together numerous community groups and organizations and is tieing everything together. There are already a number of projects on the go inlcuding plans for giant murals -tan several business walls. Another plan, developed in the 1980s, has been dusted off and pulled together with these other projects as part of the grant application. - And all of these projects are ongoing showing true, community spiritas committees forge ahead with what they can do instead of sitting around waiting to see if funding is approved. It all ties together nicely with the Business Retention and Expansion Committee which is workingtoward improving the business community. Whether a grant is received or not, it's great to see everyone can work together toward a common goal. Imagine what can be done if the grant is approved. STH HATS OFF to the more than 50 volunteers who donated their time and energy to the Canadian Diabetes Association fundraising campaign in the Seaforth, Egmondville, Harpurhey area. We are proud of our areas total donation of $3,816.36. This money is used for research, educational programs and pamphlets and community outreach programs. Because of you the C.D.A. will be able to continue the fight to find a -cure for diabetes. Opinion Huron Day Centre opposes county's rent hike To the Editor: , We, the volunteers and clients of. the Huron Adult Day Centre, are strongly opposed to the ridiculous increase in rent that the Day Centre. is facing 'from the County of Huron. We believe that adult residents of Huron County who, choose to live independently in the community and who require assistance to do .so,' can benefit from a range of physical, social and emotional support services. The. Huron Adult Day Centre is a non-profit organization which provides a warm and caring environment for the frail elderly, those with physical challenges and persons with Alzheimer disease. The Huron Adult Day .Centre has been operating for more than 22 years, helping our seniors maintain their independence in the community instead of being placed in nursing homes and. becoming a drain to the system. Without adult day programs like ours, the lives of many people would be drastically affected. We provide hope for individuals to have the quality of life they deserve. The quadrupled - rent increase is definitely no way to treat our Huron County seniors. We invite the public to come to the day centre to see what a valuable service we provide. Together, we can squash the injustice of bureaucratic bullying. Please help us save our Day Centre. Signed, 55 clients and volunteers (list available at The Huron Expositor) Mayor opposed to movement toward one -tier government for Huron County To the Editor: • In the anonymously authored handout, The ratepayers. of Huron County it states one of the major areas for cost should be made aware there is an activesavings under a one-tier'system would anonymous group trying to convince .be road services and that "a county municipal councils and county council study suggested potential significant that a one -tier system of local savings." That study is the Hans Munz government is the right thing for Huron.- Report that was critically ripped to They are. pushing for a system they . shreds by road superintendents when claim will cost less to operate =- Huron held an all councillors and (although there's no guarantee of this -- municipal staff meeting. in Clinton last over time there may be little or no year. The report contained so many savings). If they are successful. it will • inaccuracies and misinformation that no also mean less for the entire county: one took it`seriously. (It might work if less representation. Tess of a democratic a super plow is invented that travels at system... less local community 60 mph). If the county wants to look at identification, less chance for smaller making the road system more efficient, communities in the county to grow. in why not look to people in the front size in the future. etc. lines, who are involved everyday? The What the public should be aware of is road superintendents are out driving, this group only requires a petition of 75 sanding, grading and plowing the roa4s names before a commissioner from the of the county. Don't exclude their input province isassigned to come to Huron young the process. and `de'termine our future boundary Another reason for considering a one - make -up .and system of, local tier system from the anonymous letter is government. if this group succeeds. that "the Provincial government has someone from Toronto will force the withdrawn substantial resources from in the county.- and leave one representative. or less per municipality who would sit on a county council. Being a local politician would almost have. to be a full-time job. Using Seaforth council as an example.' there - are at least 10 committees (two unpaid) that councillors now attend. Some of. those committees meet at the same time. Community'committees would see those connections with a local councillor severed. An increased salary would have to be given to politicians because of the wonlel oad of an entire previous council -• but how much - and would there -be a savings? Presently Seaforth pays $26.250 for. a council of seven. If it wanted to save money, it would have to f pay someone less than that for its full- time - time representative at county council. What person with a family would leave their full-time job to.be a politician for $15.000 to $20.000 a year, if the salary is even that high? it almost dictates that county council would be hand of Huron and have the final say r- composed of semi -retired or retired instead of our future, being decided residents - perhaps members of this anonymous one -tier group who want to recapture some of their past political power and glory. The core of this one -tier group is in the'McKillop. Seaforth area but no, members have bothered to attend any of the restructuring meetings McKillop, Tuckersmith and Seaforth have held for more than six months.'(These meetings are ,open to the public and to the press. We meet the third Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the Seaforth council chambers). Yet, this group wants to dictate the future composition of county government. Personally, I find this extremely arrogant and elitist. And again, unaccountable. The group has approached the Administration, Finance and-Persoi mel committee of 'county council, where important recommendations are made, for a private audience. Why are they going through the back 'door and not appearing as a delegation to the entire county council? Do they have their own hidden agenda? What 'has been distributed to municipal councils or local restructuring committees from the one- tier group is an anonymously authored handout on the benefits of a one -tier system. If this group is so confident and convinced the people of Huron should be governed by a one -tier system. .why has ^no one put their name to this document? it could be a strong indication of what things would be like under a one -tier system: few people making decisions for thefuture of the county with little chance of input from the public. i1. creates an environment that makes it -difficult for a taxpayer to be heard. locally, by representatives elected by taxpayers. •• Many things are disturbing about the actions; intentions and composition of this one -tier grassroots group. First and foremost. they are not elected;, therefore are ultimately not accountable to ratepayers. Many are, ex -municipal politicians from the area. Only those in favour of a one -tier system are allowed to attend their .meetings. Any criticism of a one -tier system is not allowed. ' What this group is doing is sending representatives to local council. meetings in Huron to try lo_ convince municipal officials a one -tier -system is the way to go. Just last night (Tuesday, June 22). a group of three local group members addressed Seaforth council. (This letter was written. prior to that meeting). What municipal councils will hopefully do is question and challenge this group. Uttiinatel. ,it will be in the bands of the reeves of Huron to •make critical decisions for our future. If there hasn't been healthy discussion. or debate at the municipal_ level yet on a one -tier versus two-tier system. there probably should he. But since more than a year ago the 26 councils in Huron were 'asked to pass their preference on to county council. it's likely those discussions and decisions have.already taken place. In•fact, in the .fall of 1998, a motion was _,passed by count's, council by a very large majority that the. county -only examine 'two-tier options in the future. At least 20 or more of municipalities in Huron were not interested in pursuing -single-tier restructuring for the county.; What this one -tier group wants to do would wipe Out all municipal.councils local government." Does this group honestly think that if there is only one local government for all of Huron that these grants will increase or even stay .the same? It's highly. doubtful From the number of references to the prdvince in this anonymous letter, it makes one suspicious that. instead of this being a grassroots movement, the real drive and thrust of the one -tier group may be coming from the provincial government. At the present time . more than 20 of . , Huron's 26 municipalities : are in serious restructuring -talks. Each group is looking at a more efficient way to deliver services and a reduction of politicians. Tuckersmith, McKillop and Seaforth now have one administrative office -and one administrator. The restructuring committee iS.looking at reducing the number of local politicians by more than half for the next municipal elections (from the existing 17 to eight). And Grey and Brussels have asked to join our group. This is being discussed by the three councils. Despite the perception of the one -tier group, there is progress being made, considerable progress. Yes, Huron sometimes doesn't move at, the same speed as the rest of the province- definitely not the speed of Toronto - but then -that's what makes us unique. We, in Huron, might march to the beat of a different drummer - but at least it's to music we compose, 1 have no desire to: be told what to do by civil servants or politicians from Toronto who would probably have to dig out a ,map to find where Huron is. You can't compare our county to Chatham -Kent and its forced one -tier amalgamation. We have no cities within SN GROUP, Page 5 First steam threashing machine comes to this part of the country June,23, 1899 Twenty years ago,. John Murray of Tuckersmith and his father, Wm. In the Years Agone Murray, now of Algoma, brought the first steam threshing engine into this part of - the country:—._-_.._ -_-. ---.- •. A picnic will be held in the grove of Mr Dennist north of Bethel Church on Dominion Day. A few days ago, a valuable colt belonging to Jonathan Merner of Zurich died. it was valued at $100. Isaac Jarrott of Kippen has disposed of his farm on the London Road to Chris. Wasman for $6,200. Mr. Jarrott has bought the north 100 acre farm of the late Wm. Doig for $4,000. Wm. M. Doig of Tuckersmith has received the appointment of Justice of the Peace. After the football game on Friday evening last, some small boys poured some bad eggs near the rear of D.D. Wilson's emporium and three these unsavory missiles at the visitors, damaging a number of hats and coats. To prevent a reoccurrence of such conduct, the services of Constable Gillespie were enlisted and 16 boys ranging in age from 12 to 15 years had to appear before the magistrate and receive a severe lecture. June 20, 1924 Many persons are glad to know that Dr. Garnet Atkinson of Bayfield will resume his dental practice here, having his office at his cottage here. John Jowett of Bayfield is making extensive improvements to the picnic grounds, adding a number to tables. having cement stepsdown, -the hill :ind erecting_a number of swings. Clarence Shepherd of Chiselhurst, who held a good position in the Molson's Bank at Hensall, has been promoted in the bank in Amherstburg. C. Greig of town was one of the unfortunate passengers on the CNR train which was wrecked at Cambray last week. He suffered serious injuries to his head and back and was:taken to the Lindsay Hospital. • Lachlan R. Mactavish, a student at University School, won the John Tory prize for the best one -act play in Toronto. •Mr. MacTavish is the son of Newton MacTavish, editor of the Canadian magazine and a nephew of John MacTavish of Seaforth. Chas. Holmes has purchased the frame cottage on North Main Street owned by the late Postmaster Williams. Miss Mable Bullardof Winthrop has been appointed head nurse of the Tarrytown N.Y. Hospital. J.B. Henderson recently paid his 49th subscription to the Huron Expositor. Mr. W. Trewartha of Winthrop had a very successful barn raising last Wednesday, about 140 men being present. C. H. Broadfoot of Moose Jaw has presented a number of markers with the IOOF emblem in metal to Fiedlity Lodge, Seaforth. Jas. Wallace, of Egmondville intends leaving for Wallaceburg where he intends making his home with his daughter, Mrs. C.A. Harrigan. ' June 23, 1949 Alexander Rutherford Lowery passed away at -his home He was born in Little Scotland 74 years ago. With the exception'of three years, his life's employibent was spent -with The Huron Expositor. Duff's Church, Walton, held its annual. garden party on the church lawn where there was a large attendance. The Davies family presented a varied program of both old and new songs. A tea and reception was held at the•,,ltome of Mrs. Frank Sills Sr. to honor Miss Alice Daly, newly elected' president London Diocesan council. The presentation took place in the lovely garden when Mrs. T.D. Sills welcomed the guests and Rev. T. P. Hussey made the presentation of a suitably engraved silver tray. The Liberal Party, under the chairmanship of Lloyd Edighoffer, held a meeting in the Town Hall, Bayfield. The speakers were James Scot, A.Y. McLean, Liberal candidate in this riding and the former member, W. H. Golding. Archie Parsons of Kippen is erecting a new driving shed to replace the one that the wind d'estroyed during the windstorms. Donald Hills of town has been successful in passing his first year in Mathematics and Physics at the University of Toronto. Miss Harriet Russell, graduated from the University of Toronto Occupational Therapy. June 20, 1914 Students in schools under the. Huron County Board of Education, will get a head start in learning the metric system when it is introduced in the schools in September, 1974. Margie Whyte of RR2 Seaforth, who spent this summer of 1972 in the Phillipinesis noW" hosting two young men from Ghana at the family, farm nearSeafortti. With little more than two weeks remaining until voting day, area campaigns are moving forward more quickly. While there has been little activity to date, the next two weeks will see increased activity across the riding. • Objections to a proposed change in the Seaforth zoning bylaw to change an area on South Main Street presently zoned as industrial tohighway commercial have been filed with town clerk E. M. Williams A generous grant from a Seaforth businessman has made certain the Seaforth will have 'a well-equipped Junior D. hockey team this winter. Les Seiler. owner of Seaforth Creamery, has presented the newly. formed Junior D executive with $5,000. The Rev. Edwin G. Nelson was inducted as minister of First Presbyterian Church on June 12. Stephen M. Hook, head of Science Department at Seaforth District High School, has been awarded a Shell Canada Merit Fellowship in Chemistry for study at McMaster University in Hamilton this summer.