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Wednesday, July 7, 2004
In brief
Revitalized
committee
plans
an upgrade
of museum
By Jason Middleton
Expositor Staff
A revitalized museum
committee is building a
slow momentum in'
Seaforth says Huron East
economic development
officer Ralph Laviolette.
After holding two
meetings to try and get
people involved with the
upgrading of the Seaforth
museum, Laviolette says
things are moving along
well.
"It's still unfolding, it's
not going rapidly, but it's
certainly not forgotten. It's
just a question of involving
more people and trying to
find a venue and a
circumstance to• invite
more people out to the
meeting," said Laviolette.
During the two
meetings, held to create
more interest in the
museum, Laviolette says
the 10 people in attendance
were enthusiastic and
showed lots of interest.
In Brussels, the idea of a
Museum being started up
in Logan's Mill has, "gone
on in great guns."
More than 22 people
showed up for a planning
meeting to discuss the idea
of putting a museum in the
former mill.
Laviolette has proposed
that a new home for the
Seaforth museum could be
in the third floor of town
hall.
"That's a possible
location for it. Only
because the third floor is
(part of) a municipal
building and it has many
advantages as a stand
alone museum," said
Laviolette.
To Laviolette that site
makes sense because there
is already municipal staff
working there, the building
is already covered by
insurance, it is big enough
for public gathering and
the museum is already one
site.
"It's just a floor above
where the museum is
now," said Laviolette.
"It is quite a big space,
equivalent to the full area
of the first or second floor.
It has beautiful high
ceilings and windows,"
said Dick Burgess, a
former member of thc
museum committee.
Burgess said, the
potential museum space
could he used as a
potential art studio, a site
for art exhibits and live
theatre.
Another museum
planning meeting for
Seaforth is planned for the
future.
With files from Hilary
Long
Access advisory
committee could
improve mobility
for disabled
By Susan Hundertmark
Expositor Editor
Not a week goes by since
Bob Fisher lost his eyesight
that he isn't almost hit by a
car when crossing Seaforth's
main intersection at the
lights.
"1 don't know why I'm not
dead with the number of
illegal rolling right turns at
that corner. I'm lucky I have
a wee bit of vision left," he
says.
Fisher is hoping that a new
accessibility advisory
committee, being formed this
fall by Huron County, will
help to improve his ability to
get around the municipality.
"I think there are things
that could be done to make it
easier for people (with
disabilities) and public
awareness should be one of
them," he says.
Glen McLachlan, of
Vanastra, who's been in a
wheelchair for 15 years,
agrees that "there's a huge
pile of things that could be
changed" through an
accessibility committee.
McLachlan, who was
involved in an accessibility
study of Goderich three years
ago, says the same harriers
for wheelchairs exist
everywhere.
"Most stores have one type
of harrier or another, whether
it's a half-inch step or several
steps leading into their shop.
Common sense solves 90 per
cent of the problems," he says.
After sitting on an
accessibility committee at
Seaforth • Community
Hospital for the past year,
McLachlan says many of that
facility's accessibility
problems have been solved.
One example is the grab
bars for wheelchairs in
washrooms, which have been
moved from knee level to hip
level to allow people in
wheelchairs to actually use
them in their transfer.
"The way most grab bars
in washrooms are situated,
they're of no use to anyone.
The majority are at knee
level and if you try to use
them, you're left hanging in
mid-air trying not to fall on
the floor," he says.
While the committee is not
forming until the fall, Huron
County's facilities manager
Sandy McLean says he is
looking for 12 members, half
of them disabled and the
other half with a good
knowledge of building codes,
to comply with provincial
regulations to improve
accessibility throughout
Ontario.
"I think as a rule, most
municipalities have already
dealt with much of this,
incorporating harrier -free
design over the past 10 years.
This will be more of a case
of fine-tuning," says
McLean.
Because the provincial
legislation only covers
SN ACCESSIBILITY, Page 2
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26 Main St.,
Seaforth
527-2222
Susan Hundertmork photo
Hoppy Canada Day
Jesse Leeming, of RR 4 Seaforth, and Courtney Karounos, of RR 1 Zurich, participate in the
three-legged race at the Vanastrd Community Christian Reformed Church, on Canada Day.
Activities were planned for children to take part in before the Huron East fireworks held this
year in Vanastra.
Lizard found in Market
Street backyard surprises
homeowner and dog catcher
By Jason Middleton
Expositor Staff
If you wcrc down
south in a place like
Florida or Mexico, it
would not be strange
to look out your
kitchen window and
see an iguana. But, in
Seaforth it's a strange
occurrence.
When Maj. Frank
Golding and his wife
looked out their
Market Street kitchen
window last
Wednesday, they
were surprised to see
a three-foot iguana
on their hack lawn.
"It's obviously
someone's pet
because iguana are
not native to
Canada," said
Golding.
With the help of a
neighbour, Golding trapped
the lizard in a garbage can
and waited for animal
control officer Bob Trick to
show up.
"We thought we were
back down South again,"
said Golding. •
This was Trick's first time
catching a lizard and he said
it was a pretty easy catch.
"As far as iguana go I
guess he's friendly," said
Trick.
The iguana, along with a
Jason Middleton photo
An iguana found in a Market Street backyard last Wednesday is
being held at the Clinton Veterinary Services.
black widow spider, are at
the top of the list as some of
Trick's strangest catches.
"This is something
different," said Trick.
The, iguana is being held
at the Clinton Veterinary
Services until later this
week when the lizard will
be handed over to the
municipality.
"I'm hoping the owner
shows up," said Trick.lf the
owner does not show up by
later this week the lizard
will become property of the
municipality.
Clerk -Administrator Jack
McLachlan said he's not
100 per cent sure what the
future of the iguana is.
"Probably what will
happen is they will see if
they can find a home for it.
If they can't it will probably
have to be put down," said
McLachlan.
If you have information
about the owner of the
iguana call the Huron East
municipal office at 527-
0160.
Hospital Foundation
undertakes increased
fundraising campaign
for "critical needs" list
By Susan Hundertmark
Expositor Editor
As the Seaforth
Community Hospital
Foundation celebrates thc
$476,000 it has raised during
its first 10 years, it is
launching a summer
campaign with the aim of
raising close to a quarter of
its total contributions to the
hospital so far.
"It's a big sum of money
for a small rural area to raise.
It may take us some time -
we might not be able to do it
in one year," says hospital
foundation president Ron
Lavoie.
The foundation is currently
mailing out its annual July
letter, which details the
equipment listed on this
year's "critical needs" list.
While the total is $320,000
for an ultrasound machine,
new medication carts, a
ligator to enhance surgical
care for the ambulatory
clinic and enhancement of
the emergency intercom
system, the $202,000
ultrasound was funded by a
recent provincial grant for
diagnostic imaging.
The foundation's goal of
$120,000 this year will pay
for the remaining items on
the list.
During the past several
years, the goals of the
foundation's summer and
Christmas campaigns have
usually totalled $25,000 to
$30,000.
"I've been on the
foundation for two or three
years now and this is the
longest list I've seen.
Usually the goal is isolated
to one piece of equipment,"
he says.
However, Seaforth
Community Ho'spital site
leader Mary Cardinal says
while the list of equipment
needed this year is not longer
than usual, the foundation is
"just putting a different spin"
on their fundraising efforts.
"I wouldn't say it's higher.
This year, the foundation has
chosen to show the
community what the capital
equipment needs of the
hospital are. They're saying
appreciate the needs of the
community hospital," she
says.
Lavoie says the foundation
works in harmony with the
hospital's Ladies' Auxiliary
to raise the necessary funds,
so the total the foundation
needs to raise could be less
than $120,000.
"They'll (the Auxiliary
will) look at what piece of
equipment they want to
fundraise for," he says.
Lavoie praises the Seaforth
See HOSPITALITY, Page !
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