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Times Advocate, 1993-06-02, Page 1• Miniature Carnations 595 bunch Cosh & awry 1111 COUNTRY f LOVARS Everter inside Hospital Budget cutbacks may hurt page 2 U -Brew Alulaking your Mwn beer page 5 Retirement After 25 years at Stephen Central page 9 Hawks Save our team Second front Condos Project to go back on market page 25 Walkathon money. goes on TV Sunday :EXETER - Participants in the April 18 Children's Hospital walka- thon inExeter may be interested in outing :in ars cFPL TV London on Suoday;aftemoon between 4. and 5 pan. "That's when ,the •'roceeds .fronethessol tathon until be present- -ad _the :I hildaott'sl stsiet- - -work' bled>nan'- lidin;fitt er.dor .the Children's Hospital of W.eato -Ditiario-inLondon. Audrey Skinner. organizer of the Exeter watkatton, .said she will once again be surprising telethon officials • by presenting a large cheque - some $18,038.94 as of Mondayafternoon. "Isn't it wonderful though," said Skinner. "Isn't it amazing to raise that much money for the third year in a row." Audrey and Steve Skinner have organized the walkathons since 1991 in memory of their daughter Stephanie Lynn. Local fire departments collecting for food bank EXETER - Non-perishable food items will once again be collected by local Circ departments in the next few weeks in an effort to fill shelves at food banks. Estimates say there are over 70 families in the South Huron and North Middlesex areas who have been hard hit by the recession and are having a hard time making ends meet. The fire departments of Exeter, Lucan, Ailsa Craig and Parkhill are collecting food items to be re- distributed throughout the area to needy families. The Exeter tire Department will be out next Tuesday evening, June 8, starting at 6:30 p.m. When you hear the sirens, that is the signal to bring collected items out to .the roadside for die trucks as they pass by. Donors can also'bring items to the Fire Halt that night or to the Fireman's Annual Breakfast on Sat- urday Junc 12. The Lucan Fire Deparunent will be opehing the doors of their fire hall the same evening. from 7-9 p.m. for donors to bring food items in. The Parkhill deparunent will be opening the fire hall for donations on Wednesday Junc 9, starting at 7 p.m. and will also be canvassing the streets with their trucks. The Ailsa Craig fire department will be collecting in their village, Nairn, and Carlisle on Thursday Junc 17, again starting at 7 p.m. The Fire Hall will also be open for terse. wanting to drop off dona- tions. Three-year old Dustyn Knapp visiting from Ottawa got a pony ride from Outlaw farms Pony Rides at Hensall's ninth annual Community Yard Sale on Saturday. Masonic Lodge opening doom for first time in 3D0 years EXETER - For the first time in more than three centuries of exis- tence, Freemasonry is throwing its doors open to the.public. The Exet- er Masonic Lodge is taking part in this _historic _event this Sunday for anyone interested in finding out what the "secret society" has been up to all these years. "It's all worldwide," explains lodge worshipful master Tom Rich- ber, who says the decision to open the doors after all these years is an effort to dispel some of the myths about the Masons, and perhaps to boost some interest in the lodge. Six U.S. presidents were Masons, including George Washington. Wolfgang Mozart was a Mason too, as was Kit Carson. Those who know little about the organization may be surprised to find it is based or a deeply religious code. encour- aging members to improve them- selves through faith and works as they move up through the order. The Lodge is also rich in symbol- ism, with all manner of garments, emblems and jewels having special meaning for members. While most Lodges are based on Christianity, there is a central belief in the "Great Architect", and all Masons arc allowed to have the holy books of their own religion represented. Freemasonry was based on the secret societies formed by the stone masons who built Europe's great cathedrals. The first lodges were formed in England and Ireland some 300 years ago. The first On- tario Masonic Lodge was started in Niagara only a century later. Exet- er's Masonic Lodge was founded in 1860 in what was then Francis - town. The list of the founding members reads like a who's who of the area's foremost first families. The opening of the Lodge doors should not be taken lightly. As the organizer of Si.nday's program, past master Ross Ferguson ex- plains, "I've been a member of the . Masons for 32 years, and my wife's been inside the Lodge once". The Open House also marks an end to the traditional lack of public- . ity sought.by the Masons. Mush of tie charitable support offered by /he Lodge worldwide was done anonymously. "We used to say, 'well, you'll know us by our works'," said Rich- ber, but noted that has also led to some misunderstanding of the Lodge's principles. "Once those misconceptions are cleared up, then maybe some more people will want to join our frater- nity," said Richber. Sunday's program begins at 2 p.m. sharp, with several short speeches on the Lodge history and "craft", and will include a tour of the 'wilding, followed by a ques- tion and answer period and refresh- ments. Widows of deceased members will also be presented with special ,:brooches during the program, ,,%which is expected to last little more ;Ahan an hour. The Masons arc still not out tt ..411u ,cit members, however. Interest- ed men must approach members who can provide them with infor- mation about joining. Sunday's program also won't re- veal the famous secret handshake, or the other methods by which Ma- sons identify themselves anywhere in the world. "You're not going to find out our secret traditions, but what you will find out is possibly how they're ap- plied," said Ferguson. As he sees it, Fergu on says the greatest benefit of being a Mason is having a common bond with five million men in 164 countries. "You have something in common with him and have something to talk to him about because he be carne a member exactly the same as you did. Exactly," said Ferguson. Wednesday, 9p. - Gaiser Kyle Investments r,IC''s LtPi slag Aunts 235-2424_ 'Cadillac' offer too rich Towa waiting for more modest OPP contract offer EXETER - After rejecting a "Cadillac" proposal to replace the town police force with Ontario Provincial Police coverage, Exeter council is awaiting a more modest cost estimate from the OPP. Mayor Bruce Shaw said only a quick meeting was needed on May 20 for council to decide that the $574,166 offer from the OPP to police Exeter was a lit- tle rich for local taxpayer's. While Shaw' said the estimate was perhaps a little lower than what the town would be paying for policing this year, it did not represent the kind of savings for which council was hoping. "It was their 'Cadillac'," said Shaw. `We sent it back and asked for the 'Chev'.' Other communities of Exeter's size are quite happy with OPP coverage at a much lower price, said Shaw, who suggested an estimate in the $425,000 to 5450,000 per year might be more in keeping with council's expecta- tions. That estimate is due any day now. Town administrator Rick Hundey said the next con - fact proposal is expected by Friday. ='The top-of=the-line proposal to replace Exeter's mu- nicipal police- force included having the same number of officers on duty, but with a staff sergeant available for Exeter administration 60 percent of the time, and having a duty sergeant supervising the officers 24 hours a day. The package also included more preven- tative policing, such as school presentations, than the police force does now, said Shaw. A proposal more in line with the level of policing currently employed in Exeter might include one fewer officer on duty, with only one cruiser on the town streets at a given time. Actually, Shaw said he was surprised that the OPP officer making the proposal only had one offer to show council - the top package. "We were led to believe he would come in with three options," said Shaw, who added that a bottom -of -the - line plan was probably not what council wanted any- way. "IN.e.sent It bund asked for the • Chev." ext SHDHS Exeter isn't alone in deciding to abandon decades of administering its own police force. "Scores" of other municipalities are switching to OPP coverage, said Shaw. St. Marys town council is presently examin- =ing an OPP contract proposal. "The only thing [other towns] don't like :is the townships are still getting free polic- ing," said Shaw. Should council approve an OPP contract, a public meeting will have to be held by the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services to :determine if the contract meets the needs of town ratepayers. Hidden savings involved in disbanding the town force include not having to invest about 5150,000 in upgrading the county's police communications and dis- patch system, and in being able to find another use for the town police station. Shaw said one possibility in- cludes relocating the town office to the police station because the lease on the current building runs out in 1995. student recognized for award winning battles By Catherine O'Brien missed so far. "The teachers would T -A staff give me time to catch up and would EXETER - Grade 13 student send homework to the hospital." Kathleen Petch is one 29 recipients Not only was she able to keep up across-Ianada of the Terry Fox Hu- thing like fear. altrith school work, but maintain ex- ferestammemairisessaiseraosaisid wtl lr- .: . fit ic....WAIIIl- xeoaaitge, compassion and tut- =than, with all the limy... I VASA "Pet0,4Ft volunteer for the brain tu- mour teiiiirbb foundation in Lon- don, a volunteer at South Huron Hospital, she has worked as a coun- cillor at Camp Trillium - a camp for children with cancer, organized a fundraising dance for the camp last October, has been a peer tutor, student council representative and member of the yearbook staff at school, and received a national life - guarding certificate this year. Those are just a few of her achieve- ments. These activities made her a suc- cessful candidate for the Humani- tarian Award. The award was created in 1982 from a 5.5 million fund provided by the federal government. Petch will receive a S4 000 scholarship annu- ally when she goes off to university in September. She hopes to attend the University of British Columbia or Queen's University to study for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. "I knew I wanted to be a nurse in Grade 9, but after all this 1 want to do it even more." She will have a fifth operation to replace her skull on June 30 - the day after, high school commence- ment. And then Petch is .off to spend the summer as a councillor at Camp Trillium. Petch said these past experiences have made her a better person. "I get more enjoyment out of life and I don't put off things I want to do in life." Petch says it has been stressful but not particularly frightening. "There was so much going on at that time that I couldn't focus on any one stilifit itaass. '!I1,. waters. a lot because Terry's mom was one of the people who picked me for the award," said the South Huron District High School student. She was one of just over one thousand students who applied for the award in January. Pelch was chosen because of events in her life over the past five years. When the Grand Bend resident entered Grade 9 in September .of 1988 her life changed dramatically. She began to have seizures as a re- sult of a brain tumour. Her parents were in Vancouver when the first seizure took place. "It happened at my grandparents place in Strathroy," she said. After being .admitted to the Children's Hospital of Western .Ontario, the non- cancerous tumour was diag- nosed as Cavernous Hemangioma. A week later she had the first of a series of operations. The tumour was successfully re- moved after a nine hour operation, but the 18 year old has had continu- al problems with infections and se- vere headaches. "Only two percent of the popula- tion have this kind of tumour and only two percent of those have problems with infections, she said. Part of her skull had to be removed and replaced with an acrylic plate because of the infections. Recalling the past five years, ways wondering if anything 'else would show up." , After a month away from school, Petch said it was tough going back. "I was a little self conscious at first because my hair was partially shaved on the left side." Petch said she is lucky that only 13 weeks of school have been Kathleen Petah Court action taken by students wanting to attend CCAT HURON PARK - Determined to breath life into what some have called a dead issue, students have taken the province to court in an at- tempt to save Centralia College of Agricultural Technology. Five high school student% who were slated to begin courses at the college in the fall want a court hearing to grant an interim order which would allow them to attend and complete programs at Centralia College. The students arc among seven plaintiffs who have filed, under Class Proceedings Act, a notice of motion that was to be beard at press time yesterday in general court di- vision of Ontario Court in London. The legal action is against the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and CCAT director Kathryn Biondi as well. The action was taken in response to OMAFs April 23 announcement that the college would be closed by May of next year. The closure means fast year courses in Agricul- ture Business Management and Food Service Management will not be offered this fall. Students enrolled in Veterinary Technology would have tootopefer to another colle4e . forlb* „ pt1d year in 1994-K Documents fro the students lawyer, Paul Voxel, state that OMAF entered into written con- tract with the students when letters of acceptance were sent out. Cours- es, therefore, should be provided at Centralia until the students com- plete the two- year programs. More that 160.8000Als ,pc- cepted into one of the three pro- grams at the college for this fall. Although the programs are of- fered at other agricultural colleges the courses arc not interchangeable, the documents stated. "The students are one group working under Friends of Cttralia u mIxelke" said George Thompson a spokesknan for staff, students, alumni as well as area business rep- resentatives and others s ho, eRilrt of the coalition. The court action, he said, in one option available to save the college. "I feel there is still a lot of room for negotiating without a court bat- tle, but the ministry (OMAF) doesn't seem to think so. "They say the college is closed and discussion on the issue is closed."