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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-11-04, Page 1Ames ss Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One Hundred and Seventeenth Year vocate & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, November 4, 1987 Price Per Copy 60 Cents Memorable day for all on Sunshine trip October 27, 1987, will be etched forever in Exeter residents Ric and Susan Graham's memories. That was the day they accompanied over 200 terminally ill or severely disabled young people on a whirlwind one -day trip to Disney World in Florida. The trip, the first event organized by the newly formed Sunshine Foun- dation of Canada, began at London airport early Tuesday morning. The 203 children, 150 volunteers, some parents and 90 wheelchairs were loaded aboard three 727s chartered by the Foundation with the aid of members of the OPP and Moun- ties in their scarlet tunics. After a two -and -one -halt nour trip, the planes landed at Orlando airport. They were met by off-duty US Navy personnel, who helped load everyone onto buses for the ride to within sight of Disney World, and stayed to assist throughout the day. A short ferry ride brought the group to the magic kingdom, where the children were greeted and hugged and kissed by Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and other familiar fairytale characters. The Sunshine Foundation provided lunch and $26 day passes for everyone - volunteers, parents and children - for the six -hour stay in the world- famous amusement park, and also bought each child a souvenir pair of mouse ears. (Air Ontario gave each youngster a company hat.) Ric and Susan each spent the day with a teenager confined to a wheelchair because of cerebral palsy. The experience changed forever their perceptions about handicapped children. Ric was overwhelmed by the in - REMINISCING — Joe Fahie and Richard Poor share some recollec- tions of the trip they took to Disney World as guests of the Sunshine Foundation of Canada. sight he received into the great strength of character these children need to carry them through each day, and was amazed at the sense of humour and the glee radiating from these'personalities trapped within im- perfect bodies. Spending the day piloting a child in a wheelchair around and over both natural and man-made obstacles also brought home to Ric the vital impor- tance of accessibility for the han- dicapped. He acknowledges that cut- out curbs and access ramps are becoming more common, but "socie- ty is pretty slow-moviing", and Ric is now aware that much more could be done to make life easier for the disabled. Susan Graham described her day as "emotion -packed and fun -filled, with lots of highs and lows". She, too, returned home filled with admiration for both the children and their parents. "Most people don't realize what these kids' lives are like - how simple things like . eating and using a washroom take so long". Susan was impressed with the children's extraordinary patience; some sat uncomplainingly in their wheelchairs for an hour when one of the buses broke down. "Ric and I learned a tremendous amount. We learned you should count . your blessings, be very thankful you have healthy children, and recognize that most things we worry about are so minimal", Susan summed up, ad- ding that the parents and children she encountered on that memorable day "cope with things that would totally cripple.us". Two other thrilled participants were 18 -year-old Joe Fahie, a resident of the group home at 364 Huron Street and his friend Richard Poor, children's residential manager for Parkhill Group Homes Inc. Poor recalls that "seeing all the children with severe illnesses and disabilities forget their problems and shave a really good time" made the day one of the best in his life, and con- firmed his belief in how much can be done for others "if we just put our minds to it". The ride through the haunted cas- tle (scary but fun), the ferry ride to the gates of Disney World, and the plane trip were the highlights of Joe's exciting day. ' On the way home, the pilot of the plane carrying the Grahams back to London piped all radio transmissions through the passenger cabin speakers. The good wishes of traffic controllers in Orlando, Jacksonville, Savannah, Cleveland and Toronto sped a tired but happy group of travellers on their way. Ric anticipates that "the Founda- tion will grow and have an influence on making kids' lives happier". "The Sunshine Foundation did a great thing. 1 hope they can con- tinue," Poor echoed. Donna Czach is sure those wishes will be realized. She and her husband Ed organized the first Canadian chapter of the Sunshine Foundation after losing their son Paul to multiple sclerosis a year ago. Paul had first drawn his parents' attention to the work of the US organization. The Sunshine Foundation came in- to existence to make children's dreams come true. The trip to Disney World was sponsored by the Philadelphia -based parent organiza- tion as an ideal way of introducing the Foundation to Canada. The London to Orlando trrp receiv- ed nation-wide publicity and Donna is "totally overwhelmed" at the response. Already inquiries about how to start more chapters have been received from across Canada, from Newfoundland to B.C. Looking back on the Disney World trip, Donna says words can't describe how pleased she is. "It's hard to cope after losing a child. but life goes on. Now I feel fulfilled", she said. The Sunshine Foundation of Canada hopes to raise $500.000 in the next 12 months to give more ill and disabled youngsters the desires of their hearts. The Canadian chapter of the Sun- shine Foundation can be contacted at 101 Meadowbrook Drive, Suite 141. London, Ont. N6L 1C9. To combine police manpower study and questionnaire Exeter police committee chairman Dorothy Chapman told council Mon- day night that a manpower study of the local police department had been completed. When Chapman suggested a Stephen council becomes committee of adjustment Stephen council members have become a committee of the whole as the township's committee of adjustment. During recent public meetings, three zoning amendments were approved. Getting approval for changes from general agriculture to agriculture small holdings are Jan Lagerwerf at part of Lot 18, Concession 21 and Frank Regier at part of Lot 18, Con- cession 11. A similar application was approv- ed for Walter Fydenchuck Jr. on pro- perty owned by Charles Weston at Lot 22, Concession 16 with special provisions. Two additional applications for zon- ing changes have been received. One from Jim Genno at Lot 21, Concession 8 will be heard at a public meetint December 1 and one from Marti Shakespeare at the Patio Motel, neat Grand Bend will be heard on January 5, 1988. Tom Prout,Alec Scott, Pat Donnel- ly and Cecil Desjardine of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority at- tended a recent meeting and receiv- ed council's approval for four new projects. They are shoreline study -Canada, Ontario flood damage reduction pro- gram;Thedford-Klondyke public in- formation mapping; Parkhill Reser- voir Sediment Contributing Study and There's Tots . more on the inside... Lake Huron Shoreline Process Study. A letter was received from Cana- dian National Railways informing the closing of rail service from the Mount Carmel road to Ilderton. As Stephen township is served from the north, council thought no dif- ficulties would be encountered with the proposed closing. The resignation of John Stewart from the Crediton Community Centre board was accepted. A report from building offical Milton Dietrich informed council that 84 building permits were issued dur- ing the first nine mbnths of 1987 with at total value of $1,746,547. These permits included 17 new homes, 33 residential improvements, eight commercial buildings, four agricultural buildings, four provincial buildings, three fireplaces or wood stoves, three swimming pools and one permit each to the township arena and the Huron -Perth Separate School Board. Two donations of $25 each were made to the Exeter Legion for a Remembrance Day wreath and for_ their current renovations program. meeting be held to consider the study, other councillors wanted to wait to in- clude input from the public question- naire which is expected to be com- pleted this week. Gaylan Josephson added, "I think we should include the public's response. There should be some good ideas coming." Peter Snell who was inJolved in conducting the survey said, "Everyone that I approached took it very seriously. They have a lot to say and we shouldn't take their answers too lightly." On the subject of policing, Chap- man said, "Our budget was in good shape as of September 30." She reported an auction sale of misplaced bicycles was scheduled for Friday night, November 13 at 7 p.m. at the police station. She added, "The garage is again full of bikes." The committee wishes to advise the public that a bylaw is in effect which restricts the use of motorized behicles in public parks. This has been a pro- blem in the past. Usually vehicles have no licence plates or insurance, therefore stiff fines may be levied. Police and works superintendent Glenn Kells are continuing to monitor the newly established crosswalks at the intersection of Main and Victoria streets. Councillor Tom Humphreys com- plained that many motorists were disregarding the new no -parking areas near this intersection. Some are parking riglit beside the signs. He continded, "I don't like tickets to drive home a point, but we have to Youths get discharges on incidents near lake Four youths from Don Mills were given conditional discharges, put on probation for 12 months and ordered to do 100 hours of community service in Exeter court on October 27. Judge R.G.E. Hunter found Mat- thew Voskuil, Adam Pletsch, Steven Allan Hall and Matthew James Col- lyer guilty of break, enter and theft during an incident at a bakeiluron cottage area in Ilay township on September 12. At 3:10 a.m. of that day, occupants of a cottage were awakened by loud sounds of talking by four youths who were raiding the refrigerator. The ac- cused fled on toot. Police attended at 9 a.m. and learn- ed a roast of beef was taken from out- side the cottage and a Seagram's wine cooler was also missing. Entry was gained by removing a screen from a window. Police followed footprints about one kilometre to another cottage where the four youths were sleeping. The cooler was recovered. The four youths were very remorseful, apologized and made restitution to the owners and couldn't give any reasons for their actions say- ing it was a stupid thing to do.. The 18 year-olds are excellent students in grade 13 and are involv- ed in sports. Their parents were in attendance, Edward L. Morrison of Bramalga was fined $500 for driving October 11 on Highway 4, south of Exeter with a blood alcohol count of over 80. At the time two OPP constables were doing spot checks. One was wearing a fluorescent vest and using a flashlight. The vehicle in question didn't stop and the officer had to jump out of the way. The accused 'said he was talking to a friend and didn't see the officer. The two breath samples registered 170 and 160. Terry Dean Glanville, Hensall pleaded guilty to narcotic possession and was fined 8200. His vehicle was pulled over in Ex- eter on August 14 for a liquor offence. A check showed an outstanding arrest warrant for nonpayment of fines. A search conducted revealed a quanti- ty of cannibus resin with a street value of 820. Judge Hunter gave Jacobus Smits of Hensall a conditional discharge and six months.probation after he plead- ed not guilty to a charge of causing a disturbance in Exeter on September 18 at the rear of the PUC building. When the police arrived several persons were standing around with an open case of beer. When officers put the beer in the cruiser the group became agitated and obscenities were shoufeed at police. Th4 accused was shouting'and wav- ing his arms at the officer and Was very loud when arrested' for causing a disturbance. In court he said he wasn't yelling, just lel out a loud yell and doesn't remember saying the obscenities. do something. The problem is that the old parking lines are still visible on the side of the road." A letter was presented from the town of Goderich concerning a meeting in Goderich on November 17 to discuss the possibility of the town of Wingham pulling out of the Huron Police Communications System. Mayor Bruce Shaw commented, "If anyone pulls out of the system it will cause a real problem for,the rest of us" and Reeve Bill Mickle added, "Somebody would have to take up the slack as far as money is concerned." Police chairman Chapman said she had already addressed this problem to the Solicitor General. Deputy -reeve Lossy Fuller ques- tioned a request in the police report for a donation of $25 for an engraved tile for renovations at the Exeter Legion Hall. The request was turned over to the executive committee. Recycling Councillor Morley Hall reported to Exeter council Monday night on a re- cent seminar he attended concerning waste disposal. Hall said from the undertones of a speech from Minister of the Environ- ment Jim Bradley it appeared most garbage would have to be recycled within 10 to 15 years. Mayor Bruce Shaw added that he heard Bradley speak recently and he thought the time period could be shorter than what Hall had suggested. Councillor Hall said a fair amount of money as much as nine million dollars could be available to get • Please turn to page 2 Redick, Agripress reunited Heather Redick is experiencing a strong case of deja vu these days. She is back at Agripress, and Agripress is back in Hensall. The former general manager of hie Huron Country Playhouse left Agripress seven years ago and was hired to assist with promotion, adver- tising, ticket sales and fund-raising at the Playhouse. A year later she step- ped up to the position of general manager when Mark Quinn quit on short notice. After resigning her Playhouse job recently, Heather was enticed out of retirement by a job offer as produc- tion manager at Agripress in Hensall by Adrian Bayley, her former Meet the 3,H.D.H.S. principal Bruce Shaw reminds parents that tonight, We nesday la meet the teachers night employer. "I feel I have come full circle", Redick said. The Agripress president could well echo his new production manager's sentiments. An April merger of his agricultural ad agency with Design Associates in London ended in receivership proceedings in August. In recent days Bayley has been jug- gling his time between trying to satisfy DA Group creditors and rebuilding his old company. Once creditors accepted a settle- ment at a meeting last Wednesday, the "Agripress" name was revived. As the Hensall building had not been fully vacated, and all the staff had not teachers at the school. Shaw says all parents are invited to meet with the teachers at 7 p.m. ...; - yet moved to London, starting up again in Hensall was relatively easy. The Hensall staff coerced Bayley into signing a declaration dated Oc- tober 30 that states "I, Adrian Bayley. being of relatively sound mind. and slightly weather-beaten body, do hereby declare that I will never. never. never put my loyal, dedicated and incredibly talented employees through another merger as long as I live". The document was witnessed by 21 of said employees, including Heather. As Heather contemplates future chollenges, she can look back with pride on the accomplishments of the past. Additions to the Playhouse facilities during her tenure included Playhouse II, a balcony. a woodworking shop, new public and staff washrooms, a wardrobe section, revamped lobby and bar areas, walkways and an enclosed breezeway. cabins for the staff. and an increase in the size of the Please turn to page 2 - • 1`I • • 5.lb HALLOWE'EN FACES AT STEPHEN . Stephen Central School students T{a Schultz and Miranda Hayter hold a pumpkin face at Friduy's Hallowe'en party.