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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1988-04-27, Page 7n the Street By Jim Beckett • Reliable sources have told this reporter McDonalds will have an outlet in Exeter operating before the end of the summer. No official' announcements have been made as yet but you should expect it to be located at the north end of town near the intersections of highways 4 and 83. This is just one more indication that Exeter is finally getting rec- ognized as a community worth investing in. * * * * * If you read in the Globe and Mail or Financial Post about a year down the road that Bruce Shaw is involved in a large real estate deal in Toronto, don't automatically give credit to our mayor. You see, there's another Bruce Shaw in town who started work Monday in To- ronto for the commercial real estate department of Royal LePage, one of Canada's largest realtors. Bruce Jr., who, by the way, packs an MBA degree, will complete approximately a year of training with real estate experts. * * * * * Several times when I've asked someone "who can I hire for dry - walling?" the name many people would recommend was Ed Nether- cott. Well, its always been difficult for me to hire Ed because it seemed somebody else always managed to get to him first. Beginning Monday the chances of getting Ed for any major drywall jobs will be almost nil because he begins a new job with the custo- dial staff at SHDHS. Ed Nethercott has been installing drywall and doing other related jobs for the past 21 years. Now he will be available for smaller jobs on a very occasional basis only. * * * * * Watching SHDHS students "clean-up" around Exeter last week shows what can be accomplished with organization and enthusiasm. If the amount of garbage collected is any indication, Exeter should be much better looking as a result of their efforts. Doing something positive and beneficial for the community is miles ahead of all the -a-thous different groups have from time to time. * * * * * There's no excuse for missing Secretaries Week if you've read this week's T -A. In fact, Secretaries Week is over Friday. If you're look- ing for ideas check the Country Flowers and Ironwood Golf Course advertisements. New taxes, what do you think? Last Wednesday, the Ontario Lib- eral government tabled its new bud- get, taxing Ontarians more than ever before to bring an extra $1.26 billion into provincial•coffers. Provincial sales tax will rise on May 2 from seven to eight percent, and more taxes will come on liquor and beer. By July 1 provincial in- come tax will increase to 51 percent of payable federal tax from 50 per- cent. Effective immediately are four cents a litre more tax on regular gasoline, and one cent a litre on un- leaded, and an additional one cent tax on every cigarette. In return for the taxpayers' mon- ey, the province is promising more affordable housing, assistance for first-time home buyers, and new school construction. The Times -Advocate wondered if tux payers thought they were get- ting their money's worth from the budget, so we took to the street to ask a handful of people their opin- ion of their new taxes. Traditions add up to new business in Dashwood Dashwood will be *aining a new small industry and an accompany- ing store on Main Street this week, but unlike most businesses, this one is more for fun than profit. Erich and Kaethe Freiter are open- ing Edelweiss Wood and Craft Shop as the fruition of a longstanding dream. They retired from farming a year ago, sold the farm to their son, and bought land in Dashwood to build a new home and a combined store and workshop to pursue wood- working as a pastime. The Freiters came from Germany 40 years ago and Erich still has German hand tools he brought with him, but nowadays nearly every- thing in his workshop is motor- ized. Freiter comes from a woodwork- ing tradition. Both his grandfather and father were cabinet makers or tischters in Germany His favorite woods are black wal- nut and cherry and he prefers work- ing with hardwood, especially for furniture, but he is willing to use any kind of wood for custom work. Freiter is careful to point out most of his supply comes from nearby wood lots. "It's all local stuff," said Freiter. He keeps all wood indoors for at least a year before putting it to use, even if he buys it from a lumber yard. "Most of it is kiln dried, and that's not good enough for furni- ture." Freiter notes that cherry and black walnut trees are becoming more scarce with each passing year and this drives the price up. He says he recently paid $400 for a half-size log of black walnut. Edelweiss will not only provide custom-made furniture, cabinets and picture frames, but will sell a line of clocks, do-it-yourself shelving supplies, and inspirational plaques. Freiter hopes to begin making lawn furniture and lawn ornaments, and children's toys, including rocking horses. A typical clock takes four to five hours to complete. Erich cuts the wood and installs the mechanisms. Kaethe does the final finishing with stain and varnish. One novelty item for sale in the store is a wooden piggy bank shaped like an outhouse. A quarter inserted in the slot causes the bank to explode. They were made for Edelweiss by another retired wood- worker. • Custom frill work for home woodworkers is another of Freiter's specialty services. "Not too many people have plan- ers and shapers," he said. Freiter said he thought Dashwood could use another business anyway and was willing to expend thecapi- tal necessary for the project. "It makes a small town a little more lively," he said. All the store's items will be handmade with the exception of some finer stamped woodcuts which are imported: A display of handcarvings by Earl Oesch is not for sale. The Freiters can't wait for their opening April 30 if for no other reason than to stem the tide of peo- ple asking for an opening date. Freiter said anyone who would like to tour his workshop is wel- come to come in and see how everything is made. The workshop is visible from the store through 110 -year-old glass doors from Exet- er's former Pentecostal Tabernacle, a church which stood where Beck- er's iS now. Even though the Freiters recog- nise the demand for woodcrafts is increasing, they aren't sure if they will ever recoup their investment in the building and machinery, not that it matters too much. After all, this business is more for pleasure than profit. "This is always what he wanted," said Kaethe. Times -Advocate, April 27, 1988 Page 7 NO TWO THE SAME clocks for sale Erich Freiter shows off one of his "Dashwood" at Edelweiss Wood and Craft Shop in Dashwood. ■■■iu■/��� MI KW; re.1 Inglgi,VIII PI �.i�i�iAi�iAiMAiOV��i ................ E SCROLL SAW - Kaethe Freiter finds she makes a lot of use of the scroll saw purchased last fall for cutting the intricate designs of Edelweiss' wood products. HARRY MAAS - "It stinks. I don't like it at all. It (gasoline) should be four cents down." HEATHER MONTGOMERY - "I think we live in a wonderful country. I think we have a lot of blessings and it has to come from someone's pocket. Unfortunately it's ours." MICHELLE LAVIER - Believes in benefitting the first-time home buy- • ers. "It doesn't really bother me.... They're going • to increase it and we're going to have to pay it any- way." ROBERT THORNE - 1 don't think it's right. They shouldn't have tax- es in the first place. That's my opin- ion." JENNY MACDONALD - 1 don't think it's very good at all. I think they should have lowered thorn." rA bey Titasm a gold leaf hand painted pedestal candy dish filled with fresh flowers . will be sure to make mom smile... 32.95 41, my mom! GARY BEAN - "Basically 1 think the government should cut their spending maybe moreso than rais- ing taxes." He hopes for a deficit reduction. "Any reductions have to be gradual. Otherwise our economy goes into a decline." TRAVEL DONATION - Jackie Rowe (left) of Ellison Travel presents Bet ty McGregor, vice-chairman of the Huron Town and Country Homemakers, with a cheque for $300 raised at the second annual travel show held on April 7. At right is Town and Country director Margaret Sharp. a pink -green and mauve basket filled with pink mini carnations and a wooden keepsake heart... �� 26.95 A 144 .t.r Mom ! a fresh arrangement of mixed flowers complete with a mylar balloon es- pecially for mom.... 22.00 & up Morro Mug a ccrYamic mug brimming with mixed fresh flowers... 18.95 &tYAni um Neilief an oblong basket filled with geraniums.... 12.95&up your choice of green plant in a pastel painted basket.... 15.00 and up 444r444.74:014.4 mums, carnations, stance, roses, mini carnations, mixed greens 9.95 & 15.95 a potted mum nestled in a colourfully painted basket with a wicker hat fridge magnet tucked inside 12.95 COUNTRY riows 116 94i main 9ffeGl • 2xaeY• 235•2.,W)- 4UrAil;'