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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2003-12-03, Page 44—THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Doc. 3, 2003 Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Tom Williscrah - Publisher Susan Hundertmork - Editor Dianne McGrath - Subscriptions/Classifieds Bernie Pugh Office/Sales Sara Campbell - Reporter Anne Roden - Distribution C� OUEBECOR MEDIA E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 35.85 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. ,SENIORS: - 33.85 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. USA & Foreign: 35.85 a year in advance, plus $78.00 postoge, G.S.T. exempt Published weekly by Signal -Star Publishing at 11 Main St., Seoforth. Publication mail registration No. 40029693 held at Seaforth, Ontario. Advertising is accepted 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 balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services ata wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time.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 address, orders for subscriptions and undeliverable copies are to be sent to The Huron Expositor, P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ont. NOK 1 Wo. Publication Mail Registration No. 7605 Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003 ldltorial and rashness Offices - 1 1 Male Streot.,foaNwlis Tolepiwne (519) 527-0240 fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Rox 69, Soalertie, Ontario, NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association "We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." Editorial It's time to clean up Lake Huron The time has come to finally fix what ails Lake Huron. After years of discussion and many temporary solutions it seems as though having the glare of the national spotlight fixated on port communities between Goderich and Kincardine will finally yield some tangible results. At -least that's what homeowners living in this part of the province are hoping. A meeting of the minds last Friday in Clinton to discuss water quality on Lake Huron attracted municipal representatives, ministry officials and members of the cottage and farm community. Even the media was invited to attend after some private discussions last week. While it might only serve as a forum for brainstorming it is hoped that all involved can come together and form a partnership to tackle the pollution problem once and for all. Portions of last week's national report on the state of Lake Huron certainly turned some heads from here to Ottawa and as far west as Vancouver. It's important to remember that some facts in the report were not quite accurate. While it's true Lake Huron has experienced poor water quality results for the last decade - documented statistics compiled by the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation show poor water quality has been out there for close to 20 years - residents living along the shoreline must take solace in knowing that none of the beaches has ever been permanently closed. Posted yes, but that is a far different statement than what was reported. Is work being done behind the scenes to fix the problem? Absolutely. Is it being done quick enough? Well, you can be the judge of that. What is important to remember is that cottagers, landowners and farmers all play an equal role in how the lake is restored to its past glory. No one wants to see Lake Huron become another Lake Ontario or Lake Erie. However, the best way to ensure that does not happen is by working together and finding solutions that will end water quality concerns ? no matter what this process might cost. The future of our health depends on solving this problem ? which if left untouched will most certainly spin out of control. If there was one lesson Walkerton taught us all it's that clean water is more important than anything - and that there should be no boundaries or costs when it comes to keeping it clean. Let's hope last week's water quality meeting yields results so that we can get on with the business of enjoying and promoting our clean lake. (Goderich Signal -Star) How to acres, Letters to the Editor can be made All lett and acco t Opinion Letters Reader questions if Hensall should remain part of Bluewater To the Editor, Listed below are the facts that can no longer go unsaid about how the amalgamation of Bluewater is having a negative impact on the Village of Hensall. We have given this amalgamation, or should I say this Council of Bluewater, a sufficient amount of time to get its act together and it appears there are numerous concerns. For instance, a budget request was submitted to the municipality for street beautification this year by the Hensall Development Action Committee. We asked for $10,000 and received $4,500. Planting and watering of the downtown planters has been done through the generosity of Andy Bilcke (free of charge) and the Hensall Development Action Committee. We understand next year the budget from the municipality will not be sufficient to cover the cost of the plants. The municipality has told us the other areas are not looked after with flowers so Hensall does not get it, although the village has always received funding. There is nothing done in our downtown area to promote growth. We are in a "no win" situation here because the Municipal Economic Development Committee, by its own admission, meets on an ad hoc basis. I find it has met only three times at the most since amalgamation. Weeds growing on abandoned'properties in the downtown are completely ignored. The HDAC has spent time trying to keep these weeds under control. Garbage collects openly on the streets and is left there until someone in the village gets sick of looking at it and cleans it up. The same can be said for the catch basins on the back streets. If we, as taxpayers, must send a letter to the municipality to have even the basic maintenance done in the village, who is taking responsibility at the municipal level to provide services within the village in a timely fashion? Recently, we were informed that our leaf operation was no longer going to be available in the village (this has always been an ongoing service paid for through taxation). The excuse offered was the cost of repairing the present machine. This excuse was coupled with the statement, "No other community in Bluewater is getting this service and we must treat everyone fairly." This village can well afford to carryout its own business if it is returned back to the way it was. The Ontario government was asked, "who do we go to for help" and its reply was, "We will work hard to help any area if you find you cannot function under the present municipality." It is my opinion that we cannot function under the present system. As the only large industrial tax base in the municipality, we, as a community, are being exploited, in my opinion. The Hensall Development Action Committee cannot offer any incentives to new businesses. We are constantly being told to canvass the businesses for things that used to be paid for out of the taxes we pay, which, I might add, have not been reduced. When a vote is taken at council, we only receive one-tenth of the vote. Our representative is sitting with his hands tied and he can do nothing. Our incentives are supported by our representative, but defeated in a vote in council. We now have another empty building in the village. This will soon start looking like the old PUC building and other vacant areas. If we owned our community, we would be able to develop some of these structures into viable facilities, much like the new library that the Kinsmen and Hensall council renovated and paid for by providing funds and community service. As vice-president of the Hensall Fair Board, it was suggested to me at our recent meeting that we contact the other two fair boards to see if lobbying the municipality as a groupeffort would perhaps bring down the rental fees of the arenas for the weekend of the fairs. Keeping financially viable has been a struggle for the boards. We have heard from every level of government that the fairs are vital to a community and should be kept going. Well, guess what? Hensall is the only fair board in the whole municipality paying for the use of its arena during the fair. Both Bayfield and Zurich fair boards do not pay for the use of the arena during their fair weekends. The municipality did not support, in my opinion, our fair in June in any way, shape or form. They just sent us an invoice for the rental of the facility in the amount of $642. Please think about these things and talk among your neighbours. With a new provincial government in charge of things, perhaps there is a way out of this bondage. Kay Wise Hensall Streets and industries stressed in inaugural speech of Mayor John Sinnamon in 1978 DECEMBER 6,1878 The lack of railway facilities being very keenly felt by the business men and inhabitants generally of Bayfield, a public meeting was held to take the matter into consideration. Some time ago, Wm. Nicholson of Hay Twp., purchased a team of horses from E. Bossenberry of Zurich. He had the team about two months when one of them dropped dead on the plow. Mr. Bossenberry got the second horse back again and only had him two days when he fell dead in the stable. The St. Andrews dinner in Hawkshaws Hotel was well attended. A well known farmer of Lumley while digging found something floating in the water resembling oil. He at once poured it into a bottle and took it to Exeter to have it tested. It was found not to be oil but bogus liquid that came from adjoining barn liquid. As Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Hannah of McKillop were driving along the gravel mad near Winthrop the wheel of the vehicle went into a deep rut and Mrs. Hannah fell from her seat and fractured her leg. John Thompson of the Steam Saw Mill in McKillop has just completed a large and fine residence. December 11, 1903 A meeting of the Hullett Councillors at Londesboro was called to see what is best to do in regard to giving the right of way to the CPR. We understand that the assign of the Smith's bank estate has paid the creditors 13 cents in the dollar this being the amount realized for them after paying expenses. Mr. Willie Hays who is a student at the College of Pharmacy in Toronto is home Years Agone... for the holidays. The farmers and the business men are rejoicing greatly over the long spell of weather. DECEMBER 14,1928 The many friends of John Whiteman of Kippen will be pleased to learn that he is recovering nicely after having the misfortune to fall and break a bone in his arm. Isaac Jarrott of Kippen has installed a fine radio. Ivan Kabbfleisch of Zurich had a nasty accident. While returning from Stratford the brakes on the Case locked and the machine turned on its side the occupants escaped with minor injuries. The merchants in Hensall are decorating their stores more beautifully than in any former years. Alfred Clark of Hensall had the misfortune to fall while taking down decorations at the Town Hall and received very painful injuries. Messrs D. H. Stewart and son who have conducted a butchering business in Seaforth for several years disposed of the business to Geo. Cameron. The Seaforth Lions Mistreals show staged in Cardnos Hall was the best this group has yet presented. They are a great advertising feature for Seaforth and a credit to the town and the musical director M. R. Rennie. Reeves J.W. Beattie of. Seaforth, Roland Kennedy of Tuckersmith and John Dods of McKillop were in Goderich this week attending the December session of Huron County Council. John R. Archibald has sold Hillside his residence in Goderich St. East to Chas. Holmes. R. J. McMillan of Seaforth was re-elected a director of the UFO. E. Deveraux of the Bank of Commerce has been moved to the Auburn Branch of that bank. John Murray of Egmondville informed the Expositor that 24 years ago there was 22 inches of snow on the level. A delightful event was the euchre and dance held in the Parish Hall at St. Columban. The honours at euchre were won by Mrs. Peter McGrath and Michael Downey. Dance music was provided by News orchestra of Sebringville. DECEMBER 11, 1953 Fifty per cent of Seaforth's eligible voters went to the polls on a cold and damp election day to mark a two named ballot for the office of PUC commissioner. Frank Kling polled 82 votes over his apposition Nelson Cardno. The Fireside Farm Forum at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Anderson in Hullett. The topic of discussion was Citizens of Tomorrow. Tuckersmith Council held its regular meeting in Seaforth Town Hall with acting Reeve A. E. Crozier presiding and councillors James Doig, Ivan Forsyth and Bert Garrett attending. Huron County Federation of Agriculture Annual meeting was in Londesboro with record attendance for the banquet. Wilfred Shortreed of Walton was named president. NOVEMBER 30,1978 A professional criminal is blamed for the theft of between $3,500 and $4,000 in cash, cheques and receipts from the Canadian Tire store in Seaforth. The store manager had .collected the money from the store tills and placed it in a locked filing cabinet in an upstairs office. When he returned to do a bank deposit, it, was discovered missing. OPP officer John Cairns said the suspect had to have been in the store before to known the routine. Seaforth's town hall isn't being adequately used according to a report made by the public institutions inspection panel. The six member panel which inspected a number of public buildings in Huron County, reported this is a gross lack of use of a public building'and if it is not used it could be rented for offices to produce revenue. Catch up wage increases given Huron County supervisory staff resulted in pay increases for the 10 county department heads raging from 1.5 per cent to 15.2 per cent. Streets and industries were stressed in Mayor John Sinnamon's inaugural address to council. The mayor wants a street plan drawn up, outlining work to be done over a number of years and he asked council to appoint a special committee to work at attracting industries. Susan Leonhart, a Seaforth native and landscape architect who has been working and living in Iran since 1974, arrived safely in Nice, France. Recent unrest in the country has forced many foreigners working in Iran to flee the country's growing restrictions.