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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-04-15, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, April 15, 1987 Easter marks busiest time Sweet smell of success fills Exeter store What weighs 20 pounds. can look a four-year-old child in the eye, and would temporarily satisfy the in- curable addiction of a roomful of chocoholics? Why, a gigantic chocolate rabbit made at the Sugar and Spice chocolate factory, of course.• The colossal confection was perfected (after eight tries) to draw attention to the 45 different molded Easter treats on display right now in the sweetest-smelling,shop on Main Street. Customers can choose among chocolate chickens, ducks and hens, and Easter bunnies in all shapes and. sizes from floppy -eared models tonne in the driver's seat of a chocolate tractor. Cherie and Paul Seldon start pro- ducing for the Easter market. their biggest specialty time, back in December. (They begin preparing for Christmas, their busiest season, the previous September.)-. - The Seldons are still amazed at what has happened since they rented a vacant store eight years ago without knowing what they wanted to sell. Paul just knew he had always dreamt of having his own business. He and his wife sat down to consider what kind of retailing was lacking in Exeter, and came up with the idea of offering quality chocolates, nuts, candies, spices and specialty coffees and teas not readily available elsewhere. Paul would keep his job in London, and Cherie would manage the store. • • Old counters, shelving and display cases were tracked down in basements, hauled home and refinished. Cash was paid for all stock, as the fledpany established a credit rating. Sugargling andcom-Spice- _openehadnot d_ yet on _ Thanksgiving weekend in 1979. Two years later, fate dealt the Seldons three nasty blows. A fire which started on the floor above the shop caused extensive water and smoke damage to stock and fixtures; all the chocolates and 'candies were ruined, and had to be taken to the dump and buried. The chocolate wholesaler informed the couple he would no longer be manufacturing chocolates. Paul was laid off. For some, three strikes and they would have been out, but that's not how the Seldons play full. They ac- cepted the wholesaler's offer to teach them how. to make chocolates, and were -off and running in a new direction. • Paul and Cherie turned part of their home into a chocolate factory. The constant traffic from the candy room through the kitchen and living room to the back cooling room wore a deep track in the carpets. (Cherie also owns up to why she took so long to do the laundry in those days - she spent the time between loads munching on the almond crunch and turtles stored in the basement.) Cherie began adding other lines. Soon wicker articles and a targe stock of collectors plates vied for space with old-fashioned glass jars filled with handmade horehound, barley candy ancj butterscotch wafers. Finely crafted s,uffed animals. were hung from the ceiling..Mbre goodies were stacked on top of the chocolate -filled display case that takes. up one third of the retail floor space in the dollhouse -sized emporium. . For the first five years all profits were.plowed back into the business to build up inventory and pay for the ex- pensive machinery required to turn ten -pound slabs of chocolate into bon- bons guaranteed to melt the resolve - _of.ihe moLdetermined dieter. The most recent acquisition is an automatic turner installed in the cooler room in January to eliminate the laborious and time-consuming ----task-r f-turuinginulds-manually every -- few minutes while the 'chocolate hardens. As sales increased, chocolate pro- duction -was moved to a room behind the video- store. When that was outgrown, the chocolate factory was set up a few doors away. This working arrangement suits both members of the team. Paul is in charge of the chocolate factory, and Cherie minds the store. Twenty -year- old daughter Melissa is assistant pro- duction manager, and . Becky, 16, helps after school and on weekends. Production goes' on seven days a week. The Seldons took no holidays until three years ago. The tiny shop with the king -Size at- mosphere is now the nucleus of a large enterprise employing up to 16 people at peak periods. Another outlet was opened in Bayfield two years ago. Sugar and Spice supplies chocolates wholesale to clients from London to Port Elgin, and from Waterloo to Woodstock. They have not gone out drumming up business; their product has sold itself, and retailers have come knocking on their door wanting , to carry Sugar and Spice chocolates in their own stores. The store's reputation is spreading. The Bradford Exchange. one of the largest suppliers of collectors plates, included Sugar and Spice in a video as an example of how plates can be sold in a small shop. A crew from Cable 13, London' community channel, dropped in last week to film the Easter production line for the program Kidscene. The Seldons' only concern was to protect mar- .:w..:'�/ . a,r ..r► - — . *Air ..3� HOW WE DO IT -- - Paul Seldon, production manager'of the Sugar an how a slab of chocolate is turned into Easter bunnies to Marilyn You don's Cable 13 and Bernadette Buggy who filmed an Easter TV show Kidscene. Usage report tabled The most recent usage study com- piled by the South Huron rec centre staff gives statistics comparable with previous ears and again highlights the fact that residents from outside the four contributing municipalities of Exeter. Stephen. Usborne and Hay make more use of the programs and facilities than do some of the latter three municipalities. In one close. that of the Exeter Greys, 44.44 percent of, participants are listed as "outside". There are eight players in that category and three each from Exeter. Stephen and Hay and one from Usborne. . Of 569 participants in ice groups: 59 percent are from Exeter, 14.4 from Usborne, 6.85 from Stephen, 5.98 from Hay and 13.53 from other. Rec director Lynne Farquhar noted that in the case of the Exeter Ilawks, 'who list 37.04 percent from other, some of those are actually Exeter boys who are away at college and liv- ing in London for the school year although their parents still reside and pay taxes in Exeter. She also remarked that three groups, the ringette, men's rec league and Mohawks, use ice time in the neighboring municipalities of Ilensall and Huron Park. In the outdoor sports category. which includes ball, soccer, tennis and lawn bowling, there are 576 par- ticipants with 54.51 percentlrom Ex- eter, 11.63 Usborne, 12.15 Stephen, 3.65 Hay and 18.06 other. Direct programs. which includes a variety such tf�s"�ymnastics, fitness, golf lessons, karate and shuffleboard, have 817 participants. Of these, 54.10 percent are from Exeter. 9.91 Usborne, 17.01 Stephen. 4..41 Hay and 14.57 other. The rec director noted that the total number registered 'can be misleading in that some of tkie courses are offered three times a year and the same per- son could be counted three times. The final category in the usage study is for the swimming pool and the total registration was listed at 605. Of those, 70.2,5 percent are from Ex- eter. 5.12 Usborne, 8.26 Stephen, 2.15 clay and 14.22 other. The hatter in- cludes swimmers who were from Grand Bend. The South Huron rec board receiv- ed the report at Thursday's session and decided that it should be turned over to the four contributing councils as it was a matter for their considera- tion rather than the board's. Where are plans? An engineering report ordered by the provincial ministry of labor for the South Huron rec centre could end up costing more than anticipated unless the original plans for the steel work in the facility can be foun'd. Exeter representative Dorothy Chapman advised the rec board* this week that searches have failed to locate the original plans "and if we don't find them it will cost a lot more for the study". When Phyllis Johnston asked if the plans had been available when the last examination was conducted five years ago, Tom Tomes opined that this was the first time that a com- prehensive study was being undertaken. "Well put," replied facilities f4500W0fTEMIMPMAIIIWVAMMV Huron -Bruce riding Continued from front page area. The existing Huron -Bruce would lose the Township of Carrick and Village of Mildmay to Bruce - Grey while gaining the townships of Bruce, Kincardine, Greenock and Saugeen and the municipalities within them from Bruce -Grey. Bruce -Grey would also lose the Township of Egrement to Wellington- Dufferin-Simcoe but would gain the City of Owen Sound and the townships of Artemesia, Euphrasia, St. Vincent, and Sydenham: The revised Wellington-Dufferin-Simcoe would also gain the townships of Coll- ingwood, Nottawasaga, Osprey and Proton and the municipalities within them. The Township of Nichol, Town of Fergus and Village of Elora, removed from Wellington-Dufferin- Simcoe in the first proposals, would be returned to it. The present Guelph (re -named Guelph -Wellington) would consist of the City of Guelph, the Village of Erin and the Townships of Eramosa, Erin, Guelph, Pilkington and Puslinch. • Members of the House of Commons now have 30 days to file objections to the revised proposals. Objections will be considered in a committee of the House of Commons. The minutes of the proceedings of the committee are returned to the Commission, which then has 30 days to consider these ob- jections and return a Final report.. The districts as drawn in the final report become law automatically, without further review in Parliament. The new districts will take effect upon the first dessolutjon of Parliament oc- curring more than one year after the proclamation of the new districts. The existing districts continue in force un- til that time. 1' Spice chocolate factory, explains g, production coordinator at Lon- g Sugar and Spice for the program Rec Board meets 9: �:ti�-: .. ...E :., ?v 'b....:38z3::xa$:ASA`:'.''F:<•;:xs°':''.�rr4:'rik3'';i�` Shufflers At their meeting, Thursday, the South l luron rec centre board approv- ed steps to meet with local shuf- fleboard players who are extremely upset over rate increases they face. In the first year of playing at the rec centre. the club gave a donation of $100 and last year that was doubled to $200 and rec director Lynne Farquhar indicated that members enrolled with the club for $2 for the year. with some of that fee going to other expenses than the hall rental. In the new rates announced earlier this year by the board. it was decid- edthat shufflers would pay $I for each time they participated. The club operates for three days per week from September through June and once during the two sum- mer months. Attendance is usually high on Wednesdays, but drops con- siderably for the other two days in the week. Some clays are conceited due to other hall commitments. Usborne representative Pat Down kicked off discussion on the matter manager Cam Stewardson. -Exeter council have asked B. M. Ross and Associates for an.estimate on preparing the needed study to satisfy the ministry. are upset when she indicated she overheard complaints while attending a recent dance. Stephen Reeve Tom Tomes said be heard similar comments while attending a church event in his municipality. Tomes said the accusations being aired by shuffleboard enthusiasts were. "not good" and added that members even appeared to be argu- ing among themselves. The rec director acknowledged the situation had "caused a lot of hard feelings" and the board agreed to in- vite club members to meet with them to discuss the concerns. It was also indicated that club members were planning to take their activities to the Exeter Legion hall. The matter had been broached' at Exeter council's meeting last week when Councillor Morley Hall said he had been confronted by a senior who belonged to the club and had been told they were moving because of the price increase. Hall indicated that after listening to some abuse, he told the person to get all the facts before opening the mouth. "I got a lottle hot under the collar," said Hall, complaining that "some go off half-cocked" and the tirade sort of bothered him. 1 NEED LOTS OF AIR Mark Weigand and David Negrijn are shown blowing up balloons at the Home and Garden show, Friday night. their fragile product from the hot lights which brighten the scene for the TV camera. Cherie remembers what happened a few years ago when large chocolate rabbits were stacked on top Please 4urn to i : ge 5 EASTER GOODIES -.Sugar and Spice proprietor Cherie Seldon is almost lost in the display of Easter treats. LOTS OF CHOCOLATE Melissa Seldon, assistant production manager of the Sugar and Spice chocolate factory, poses with a 20 -pound chocolate rabbit, one of 45 molds made for the Easter season. Cutting. energy costs With energy costs being a major item on the South Iluron rec centre budget each year, the board moved this week to undertake a program to reduce those costs. A solar heating system for the local swimming pool was approved. sub- ject to that item being eligible for a 50 percent provincial grant and board member Dorothy Chapman said the latter "is almost guaranteed". Cost of the solar system is $7,200. The board also agreed to have Johnson Controls do a detailed energy audit on the rec centre in anticipation of installing a computerized system that controls equipment and reduces operating time. Mrs. Chapman said the "rough estimate" is that such a system could save 15 percent of energy costs, or about $7,000 per year. The cost of the system is tentatively estimated at just over $10,000. The latter would also be eligible for a 50 percent grant: The energy study will be under- taken at no cost by the firm on the understanding that the board is "seriously" considering the system if the estimates of costs and savings are accurate. Similar systems in Huron schools have resulted in the costs being paid back in a five-year period. Mrs. Chapman noted that the ex- Ag Society Continued from front page thinks they're special." she conclud- ed in asking the fair group to leave the matter with them for consideration of the facilities committee. - However, Usborne representative Pat Down noted that both groups were in attendance and the usual practice had been to negotiate. Member Dorothy Chapman said that she would hate to see the rec board tied to a five-year fee. sug Besting that a percentage increase each year should he part of the pact and also th. t future lees should be I, ,,ta that will be deter - n p1 r ' 'nt cost analysis s year. 'l,r• e Ton, Tomes agreed, sa\ tt • board's costs increase annu., at he also noted that the board should perhaps follow the ' guidelines of councils in not making agreements that extend beyond their current term of office. Both Tomes and Mrs. Chapman stressed the need to get the cost analysis done before considering anything beyond a. one-year contract for. rentals. Agricultural Society° president Ray perience in the schools, as well as some arenas. has been go(xl, although she added that it often takes about a year to get all the problems out of such.a system and working properly. Later in fhe meeting. the Exeter council member said she would like to see the energy saving program con- tinued and. urged that the board sit down'with the staff and pick their brains on other measures that could he undertaken. After that, she continued, a look at the board's annual maintenance costs of $30,uoo a year should' be under- taken. •"Ishere has to be something to cut there. somewhere". Shesaid there were only two ways for the hoard to control the budget. One was to increase fees to the public, but she suggested it was better to look at areas where expenses could be reduced. Mrs. ('hapman then surprised Members by saying that the long- sighted -approach may be to have the town pay a rec director and provide insurance and "then give the rest to private enterprise to run". "We have to be innovative in our approach and have to stop having tun- nel vision." she said. adding that the idea of turning recreation facilities over to private enterprise was one idea that came into her head. victorious Cann said his group would be willing* to look at anything. although they preferred a longer contract period, and secretary Gwen Coward said they would like to get the matter resolved without having to go hack and forth to more negotiating sessions Society members. which eluded past president (.err' .1, m, Ind school fair president bo is Weigar, ' then left the session to allow rec of Hew!, to delit(erate and the consen- sri that a jrr c of 5700 should be t. with the arledgement that the fair group should .get special treatment When the fair board delegation returned, Mrs. Whiteford outlined the $700 fee. -However, after.they convened to deliberate again Brand said they would still prefer a longer term and their counter-offer was for $800 over a five-year period or one-year at $650. "We won't ,quibble .over $50," Tomes remarked and a motion was passed for ;650, along with a provision that the rec board would consider a five-year term after the cost analysis has been completed. The new $650 price still has to be ratified by the Agricultural Society.