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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-11-11, Page 23New resort post office to be solar heated When the new Grand Bend Post Office opens its doors in May next year, it will be Solar -heated and have over twice the floorspace of its predecessor. Construction of the new facility on 81 Crescent began Oct. 16, about one month after the old office was rais- ed and moved across the street to vacate property, according to postmaster Gar Johnston. Approval to build a solar - heated office came from the Ontario office of Public Works Canada in Toronto because of the cost, es- timated at $280,000. The con- tractor is M.G. Construc- tion. of Fergus, Ont. Another feature of the of- fice is the plan to build all post office boxes along the east wall so that customers • can get their mail from out- side. This area will be sheltered from the elements, and will result in much more working space inside the office, Johnston added. "The idea of using outdoor boxes primarily started in larger centres using por- table kiosks. Outdoor boxes are already in use in residen- tial development areas such as Petrolia and Port Elgin," he said. Grand Bend has over 900 box customers, now. The 2.700 square -foot sta- tion will be ready May 18 if all goes according to plan. The old station, if not used by the village. will be turned over to Crown Assets Disposal Corp. from public tender. A few private in- quiries have already been - mase about it, Johnston said. The new station has been prepared to handle the pop- ulation growth in the area, projected by the Lambton • Countyplanning board to be a stable population of 5,000 by the year 2000. The station will have approximately 1,- 300 lock boxes. The cost of the solar system, at $16,000, is higher than it normally might have been due to the modifications required by Public Works, according to John Herberman of Solar Tech, the Toronto firm supplying the installing it. The collectors consist of 18 panels mounted at about 60 degrees on the south roof, with a collecting surface of 432 square feet. The system works by pushing cool air into the bot- tom of the collectors. As it passes up and across the heat -absorbent sheets, the air absorbs the heat and is then diverted down into the ducts and blown through the building. Herberman ex- plained. He is marketing manager for the company. If the building is already comfortably warm, the un- needed heat will be diverted into a 6 -cubic -meter heat sink where it is soaked up by limestone crushed to a specific size for maximum absorbancy. The chamber is carefully cleaned to remove dust. Heat will be supplied molitc- - irie t; 44111k .r rgi I xt -- • 'wait swi • 1`� With a Kero-SunTM Portable Heater, you can take the chill off an unheated garage. With our big Omni 105 ' Portable Heater rated at a tremendous 15.000 BTU per hour you can keep an unheated garage in work -warm condition Runs up to 18 hours on less than 7 5 litres 11 66 gal I o1 kerosene - Because its portable. you 11 find lots of uses for your Kero-Sun Inside the house, you can use it to keep your thermostat turned low. and thus save money 99.9% fuel -efficiency means odorless, smokeless opera- tion. And it needs no chimney Battery -powered ignition system and automatic shut-off device for extra safety 7 U L.0 listed models to choose from. A guard/cooking rail is included with all Omni 'models See a demonstration today KERWUN ULC Because you dont have money to burn. COUNTRY MARKET & RESTAURANT Jct. Hwy. 21 and Hwy. 83 Phone 238-8542 &trEafr't S FACTORY OUTLET Main Street, Grand Bend ANNIVERSARY SALE continues with still a good selection of sizes and colors for men and ladies Savings up to 50% -off.LrT.. f1li1f' regular prices OPEN DAILY Mon - Sat 10 - 5:30 Sunday 12 - 5:30 I came face to face with Western hospitality recent- ly. and let me assure you, it is alive and well. My work writing for farm -related magazines took me to western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan where I interviewed farmers and small businessmen in related enterprises, such as water well drilling and custom fertilizer applicating. The first thing I learned is that when you go west, take a hearty appetite. I found that when I called a farmer to say that I would be com- ing to talk to him the next day. I was expected to come in time for lunch, and stay for dinner. And lunch was generally what I would describe as a dinner. I was welcomed at every stop by farm wives with fresh baked goodies. But just because these people still offer good, old fashioned hospitality, don't get the impression they're backward! I arrived at one farm during the noon hour, and of course, I was invited to join them at the table. A ham was being warmed on an old wood cook stove, and the smell of the wood bur- ning permeated the big homestead kitchen. But as we sat down, a dish of scalloped potatoes was ex- tracted from a micro -wave oven. Save on Sunworthy. NOW UP TO 25%OFF! • Change Any Room Quickly... Easily! • Huge Selection Of Sunworthy Patterns In Stock. . Pre -Pasted And Ready To Hang. Atti SUNWORTHY YES YOU CAN VlrtLLCOVE RINGS We Make You Look Good. GRAND BEND DECORATING and FLOORING CENTRE HWY. 21 238-8603 from this storage chamber during the evening -or whenever there is insuf- ficient sunlight. "The solar system should yield a substantial cost sav- ing over its lifetime com- pared to an oil system," Herberman said. As for periodic maintenance, the collector panels have no moving parts DRAFTSMAN'S CONCEPTION — This view of the southern side of the Grand Bend post office, now under construction, shows the location and size of the solar panels. The office ,should be open for business in May of next year. Times -Advocate, November 11, 1981 Pogo 7A and need no check-ups. The mechanical system - the ducts, blowers and controls - will of course. need a routine annual inspection. he said. The lifetime of this system is about 20 years, after which the lexan glazing. a glass substitute. will have to be replaced. The lexan covers a specially -prepared steel sheet which in turn covers the isocyanurate foam. The lexan material bears the effect of the sunshine. In summer months, the solar panels can act to release heat if the outside temperature is lower than the inside. The heat transfer process will then work in reverse when the warmer in- terior air is blown -through the collectors, he said. The new station will not require any immediate in- crease in staff, Johnston said. The lock boxes will be accessible by a wheelchair ramp. and eight parking lanes will he set up. Teacher says nursery school good training for motherhood The experience of teaching nursery school is either going to make Sharon Jacobe the best or the worst mother in the world, she Mary's musings By Mary Alderson And soon, everyone was relaxed and comfortable, talking over the dinner table. I would take out my notebook, and confess to not knowing a great deal about combining 3,000 acres of Prairie wheat. That's OK, I was told, we don't know much about magazine writing. Well my welcomes were warm and genuine, I did eventually hear something of the Western alienation, as my hosts relaxed. 1 was ask- ed at one farm, why us folks in Ontario keep on voting for Trudeau. These people are discouraged and disgusted with the Liberal govern- ment, and if you get them on the subject, they'll give you plenty of reasons why. Most- ly. they feel they've been neglected by Ottawa, and they convinced me it's true. 1 was asked what people in Ontario thought about Western separation, and I had to confess that most On- tarioians hadn't thought about it too much at all. But out there it is a regular topic of conversation, and the Prairie folks believe they can get along without us. It made me sorry to find out that they felt that way. But it was easy to convince my new friends that I wasn't personally responsible. Despite my warm welcome. I still consider the west only a nice place to visit. I wouldn't want to live there. So you see, perhaps I am one of those bigoted On- tarioians, but I wouldn't give up this beautiful part of Southwestern Ontario. In late October, they had already received a good taste of snow. and they were simply waiting for the harsh cold winter. The harvest was long over, and the landscape was bleak. dull and barren. They were no leaves at all on the grey trees - if you can call them trees - I'd say their trees are just scrub and brush. On my arrival back in On- tario I found warm, sunny skies, brightly coloured fall leaves. and I was able to dis- card the winter coat I had needed in the west. And 1 came home to the beautiful Lake Huron sunsets while they boast about their Prairie sunsets, they really don't match up. 1 did notice one new sight in the monotonous. flat landscape. Oil wells,ptimp- ing away, dot the fields in Saskatchewan. They weren't there. when I travelled through the same area several years ago. Fortunately, the friendly and colourful people do not match the grey fall landscape. Everyone I met was courteous and kind, even the Mountie who stopped me for speeding on my way to the Brandon air- port. I hoped he would look kindly on a visitor from On- tario as I handed him my driver's licence. He smiled as he said, "From Grand Bend, eh?" and added, "I have cousins in Goderich". He continued to smile and chat as he wrote out my ticket. says. Miss Sharon, as she is known to the children at the Nursery school in Grand Bend, said with the ex- perience she has gained and the various methods she has seen used to raise children, she has learned a lot about the way she wants to raise her own children. A graduate of Lambton College in the two-year early childhood education course, and a certified pre-school teacher, she is teaching in Grand Bend after teaching in Woodstock for three years. The Grand Bend Nursery School is sponsored by the Lioness Club and is located in the basement of the United Church. She is licensed to teach 15 children at a time. They come every other morning or afternoon and some come every morning. Children have to be three by December 31 of the school year and be completely toilet trained. Miss Sharon said discipline is not strict in her classes. She gives the children several chances to adhere to the rules, then they are disciplined. This usually consists of discussing with the child the importance of following the rules and why the rule is needed. If the child persists in his activity, he is made to sit on the quiet chair. This has a stigma attached to it and the other children are affected by it immediately. Occasionally, If the child is really bad, he will not be given a snack with the others. He always gets the juice, she said, but he only gets the snack if he is good. This kind of force Is only used if the children are refusing to share the toys, are fighting with one another, or if they refuse to put things away. Sharing is stressed in everything the children do, she said. Some children have never had to share anything before, and it is important they learn it. The privately run nursery school, with a goal of enriching the emotional, physical, social 'and in- tellectual health of the child, allows Miss Sharon to set her own curriculum. • Each week has a different theme, she said. For in- stance, last week was farm animal week, and this week is health and nutrition week. The cirle time, stories, puzzles and games centre around these themes. The first week or two is often the hardest on the child, she said, but after six weeks, they have usually become accustomed to it and know their mother isn't going to desert them. Each child has his own favorite play area, and the centres are divided so that the noisy areas do not conflict with the quiet areas. Popular centres are paint, play -doh, puzzles and water. Puppets come on special days and the children learn songs about special days such as Thanksgiving, Hallowe'en and Christmas. Christmas is proving to be a touchy subject this year because the topic of religious beliefs has been raised. Miss Sharon said she does not deny the Christmas story, but it is not a part of the curriculum. "We are not a Sunday School," she says. It is difficult knowing what to teach at Christmas because children can come from such conflicting backgrounds. The school curriculum is available for the parents to scrutinize before they sign their child up for nursery school, and they know what will be happening in class before the child actually does it. WELCOME TO THE BROWNIES -- Pattie Desjardine receiv- ed her Brownie pin from Gayle Dumigam last Tuesday at their weekly meeting in the Grand Bend public school. The pin is a customary uward at the end of four weeks of preparation for each Tweenie. The Grand Bend group welcomed 13 girls that night. bringing their numbers to 21. FRIENDS — Grand Bend Nursery school teacher Sharon Jacobe, right and Sarah DeBrum, 3, exemplify the trust that develops between a pre-schooler and her teacher. Fashion Two Twenty For free delivery of all your skin care and cosmetic needs Call Ann 238-2650 (after 6 p.m.) all1111101M1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111I1111111111111111011111111111t5 )L*3-{- k t- i 1 QJItit Oatzij,.ci k tL Ui+t L4* Aro,.. Ot?% Sdor, hew 14i -, \ ? V ..k A d %ct wo►/, C%%; get- s Sr.• oguii hw v e the LITTLE ACORN OPEN ALL WINTER Fri., Sat., Sun. 12-4 6-8 p.m. GIFT SHOPPE & BOUTIQUE 238-8560 E. SMORGASBORD Saturday evenings beginning at 5:00 p.m. Special — Cross country ski weekends Open all winter, Friday, Saturday and Sunday AKWOOD 11:'V On Lake Huron shores, Grand Bend For further information Office 238-2324 RESORT. GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Dining Room 238-2328 a 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111101111111111111111111111111I1111111111111111111111111r. BUCKLE up YOU MAY NOT GETA SECOND CHANCE In a head-on collision at 50 kph (30 mph), it only takes 1/10th of a second for a car to slam to a shattering stop. Many people think they can protect themselves in a collision. But even in a low - speed crash an unbelted person hits the inside of the car with the force of several thousand pounds. Wear your seat belt properly -snug and low over the hips, the shoulder telt worn loose enough to allow an inch or two between chest and belt -especially on those short trips close to home when most accidents occur. Write for the txxoklet "\\fiat you should Ministry f Transportation know about seat belts" to: Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Public and Safety Information Rranch,1201 Wilson Avenue, Downsview, Ontario N131\11.1S Buckling up can mean the difference James Snow. Mlrn.trr between walking away from an accident and being carried away. William Davis. Prcrnit'f and Con 1lllnications Ontario