Huron Expositor, 2007-04-04, Page 21News
Maplewood closure to be investigated
From Page 1
were both the same," he said, adding he
couldn't share the exact amount.
Sobottka said last week that she is closing
Maplewood Manor because she is losing
money, has lost her enthusiasm for business
since her husband died last year and wants to
retire.
She blamed the "72 to 76 per cent" of the
Maplewood budget spent on wages and bene-
fits and the "tons" of grievances from the
union for her financial difficulties.
"This is a clear business decision - no more
good money after bad. I do not see any gain
and I cannot meet my expenses," she said.
Sobottka said she bought the residence as a
40 -bed facility with 29 suites but has only
had 25 residents at the most during the past
three years.
She said she has had to borrow money to
make the payroll.
"I am normally a very energetic person but
I have just given up. If someone new comes in
and puts on a new face, maybe it will help,"
she said.
Kathy McNichol, union rep for the
Maplewood employees disagreed that wages
and benefits comprised 75 per cent of the bud-
get. She said the only grievances from the
union were questions about why the staff and
their benefits were not being paid.
"We like working here. It's an amazing
place and the residents are like our grandmas
and grandpas. But, for the past month, we
haven't been paid and that's the third time
this year," said McNichol.
"The last year has been hell. It's been such
a roller coaster ride and physically and emo-
tionally, we're done," she said.
Jim Tarretto, manager of investigation and
enforcement at the Ministry of Municipal
Affairs and Housing, said Monday that the
Maplewood file has been passed on to investi-
gation and an investigator would be collecting
witness statements from residents and their
families in Seaforth yesterday (Tuesday).
If it's determined that notice of 120 days
was not given to residents about the resi-
dence's closure, Tarretto said the case could
go to provincial offences court.
"We would have to prove that appropriate
notice was not given and that would be
unlawful recovery of a rental unit," he said.
The maximum fine in such a case would be
$25,000 against an individual and $100,000
against a corporation.
Seniors' games coming up
From Page 10
team last year but it's getting more
popular. There was one out of Blyth
with some local people on it," she
says.
So far, the most popular events for
Seaforth athletes include card
games like pepper, cribbage and
euchre - which had from four to
seven teams competing from
Seaforth as well as shuffleboard and
bowling.
Events offered this year include
solo, snooker, pepper, duplicate
bridge, darts, cribbage, five -pin
bowling, carpet bowling, 10 -pin
bowling, shuffleboard, contract
bridge, walking, bid euchre, bocce
ball, golf, swimming, triathlon
(swim, bike, walk), slo-pitch, lawn
bowling and euchre.
Events being held in Huron
County include solo at the
Dashwood Community Hall on May
7, duplicate bridge at the Exeter
Legion May 14, five -pin bowling at
Goderich Little Bowl on May 17,
swimming at Vanastra Rec Centre
on June 6, lawn bowling at the
Exeter Lawn Bowling Club on June
12 and euchre at the Zurich
Community Centre on June 14.
Interested seniors are asked to
call Marty Bedard at Seaforth's
town hall at 519-527-0160 before
April 11 to register.
INDIAN RIVER DIRECT
MON., APRIL 9TH -
Seaforth Agric
2:30 PM
Society
20 LB. BOX OF FLORIDA
Seedless Navel Oranges
or Ruby Red Grapefruit
s20.00'
PEA BOX}
The Huron Expositor • April 4, 2007 Page 21
LAWN QUESTIONS?
,' Organic Programs Available
ACCREDITED
-Trust the Professionals - 524-2424
ustEAKi NG
NEWS!
We will be closed
Good Friday April 6rh, 2007!
Deadlines are Monday April 9th
at NOON (Advertising & Editorial).
Open again on Monday April 9'h
The Ilu Vi
r
Happy
Easter
to All!
Relay For
i
1 .
• r
Life
Relay For Life in Huron County
June 15-16, 2007
Goderich District Collegiate Institute
Get your team together and take turns walking, running or strolling
around the track to make cancer history.
For more information, visit cancer.ca/relay or call
1 800 294-0086.
Visit Goderich Community Credit Union, 39 St David St. in Goderich
to pick up your team captains' kit.
EDIA SPONSOR
70 &ma
MEDIA SPONSOR
r egister online at canccr.cai relay
INCanadian Societe
Cancer canadienne
Society du cancer