Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1993-12-22, Page 1r i i ti -'i i SUBSCRIBEi tIt you aren't subscribing >n The1 Times -Advocate. you're missing out. • Use the coupon below and subscribe today! 1 Name: I Address City 1 Prov. 'Postai Code 88GRIPTtt)N RATES: Canada Makin 40 rites - (05 km) addressed to non latter camw addresses *30.00 plus *2.10 G.S.T. 'Outside 40 rules - (B5 km) or any letter carrier address *60.00 + *420 G.S.T. Outside Canada -*99.00 ring'. wa.opoono ' .USE YOUR CREDIT CARD cL0 00000 1 00000000 Card No. I Expiry Date 0 Visa ❑ Master Card U Cheque enclosed Return to: TIMES ADVOCATE `i Mainam telae do NOM 6, 1 1 ` itIrf• 1.S7. ��!f'(Irtr �t1;r� '►;- r..r rv,!r; : 2 .. Local generosi jt makes Christmas Bijreau possible Making Christmas a little brighter By Adrian Harte T -A Editor EXETER - If donations are down a little from past years to the Huron County Christ- mas Bureaux, that shouldn't be the case in Exeter, say organizers. "I'm surprised, Exeter's done well again," said Sadie Post at the Exeter Bureau, which is once again in the basement of the Christian Reformed Church. Post was standing surrounded with card- board boxes of toys and clothing, and tables stacked with similar items. More were arriv- ing by the hour, and even though the last offi- cial day of collection was Friday, Post said "stuff will still come in...right to the very end." Donations kept flowing in the back door of the church. Some came from individuals, others from organizations that held special collections. Employees of local businesses eschewed the gag gifts of the staff party to instead put something in a box for the Bu- reau, and,the schools also made huge contri- butions to the collection. Distribution to local families in need of help at Chrisunas began Monday. Scheduled at 15 minute intervals, each family will choose one major toy per child, a couple of stocking staffers, an item of new clothing, and a voucher to buy Christmas dinner at a Local grocery store. There is also a selection of donated used clothing and canned goods they can choose from "that should help them over a couple of weeks". "The important thing is every kid will have something," said Post - and it looks as if that goal will be met. "I don't think we'll have to buy any toys this year. We'll just have to buy clothing," she said, pointing out that cash donations to the Bureau and to the Children's Aid Society help fill in any gaps there may be. The Bureau is even careful enough to make sure batteries are included with any battery- operated toys, so that no child receives a toy they can't play with on Christmas morning. Demand for the services of the Christmas Bureau may even be down slightly this year, said Post. Records show .that ,124 families. with 269 children requiredthe of the Ex- eter Bureau last year. Aso 'December 10 there were 197 registered, and even though more are expected, it doesn't appear demand will equal last years. Cash donations may bed little short, over- all. In Huron County, the Children's Aid So- ciety says its Chrisunas Bureaux need $50,000 to supplement the donations, to buy the batteries, food, extra clothing, and maybe a few toys. Those donations will be welcome up to, and after, the five county bureaux wrap up their business this Friday. , Since this her second year les volunteering to organize the Christmas Bureau in Exeter, Post says she has a better understanding of the kind of needs there are in the community for such services. Many families have been hit hard by job loss, or seen their pay packets hit by cutbacks and reduction to part-time hours. "Some manage alt year through, but at this time of year they just scrape by," said Post, noting that the extra expenses of the holiday season just don't fit into a budget already pushed t� the limit. If she were allowed a Christmas wish, Post said she wished the families coming to the Bureau this we* could find good jobs next year. "There are some jobs available, but they just aren't enough to support a family," she said. Through the generosity of those who sup- port the Christmas Bureau, Post said several hundred families will get through the holiday season with a little more dignity than they otherwise would. There will be a good meal on Christmas Day, but more imi.ir• may, there will be toy under the tree. For families in need, those little luxuries can make ail the di'Terence. Getting a big hug from doy bears Mary Dralsey (left), Aileen Knfp, and Sadie Post are volunteers at the Exet- er xeter Christmas Bureau at the 11x1 atian Reformed Church. Teddy bears may be popular gifts for teenage girls, but local people donatedAwarriebe of .toys and clothing for distribution to Huron's needy families. Goodwill Christmas gesture falls flat 'Grinches' not giving up tagged garbage EXETER - Agreeing they were "all a bunch of grinches", town council nixed a proposal to give ratepayers a courtesy bag of garbage for Christmas. Councillor Ben Hoogenboom made good on his promise to bring the mauer up at Monday's council meeting and made a motion to allow each household to set o►tt a bag to be collect- ed free the week after Christmas. Councillor Robert Drummond said he could see untagged bags appearing several weeks afterwards and people who were not home that week expecting to make use of the free bag later. "How will we know what household they're from?" asked clerk -treasurer Liz Bell, asking if giving a free tag to each household was more what Hoogenboom was proposing. • "I think there would be fewer problems if we pick up a free bag without a tag on it," said Hoogenboom. "I think it's going to create more hassle than it will create goodwill," said Drummond. "We're all a bunch of grinches," agreed councillor Bob Spears. When the vote on Hoogenboom's motion was made, the six council members present were tied. Reeve Bill Mickle, sit- ting in the chair in place of mayor Bruce Shaw, did not break the tie, but declared the motion lost. The bottom line is it will still cost $2 per bag to throw away all those Chrisunas wrappings and boxes, unless you can find a way to burn them or put them in the blue box for recycling. Alma Ballantyne Derek Beckett Jim Beckett Ryan Beckett Liette Clarke Barb Consitt Amy Edwards Al Flynn Marg Flynn Fred Groves Adrian Harte Ross Haugh Brenda Hern Al Hodgert Michele Hodgert Norma Jones Debbie Lord Anita McDonald Mary McMurray During this season, we rejoice and give thanks to you for your support throughout the year. We: -wish you and your family a blessed holiday and hope that you will be filled with the magical light of Christmas Laurel Miner Ruthanne Negrijn Robert Nicol Catherine O'Brien Elaine Pinder Theresa Redmond Tonya Kiehl Barb Robertson Ryan Rutledge Craig Schwartzentruber Don Smith Joyce Weber 424 Main k- inside' Clearwater Aircraft plant in tough times page 3 Sales It's been a brisk Christmas 4' page 5 From Germany Exchange student's Exeter Christmas page 10 Lights A sample of Christmas decorations page 14 ,In•minia4-we These houses aren't J for dolls page 17 Children and Christmas Special second section pages 18-30 Snowmobiles No snow yet but sport booming page 35 ` itIrf• 1.S7. ��!f'(Irtr �t1;r� '►;- r..r rv,!r; : 2 .. Local generosi jt makes Christmas Bijreau possible Making Christmas a little brighter By Adrian Harte T -A Editor EXETER - If donations are down a little from past years to the Huron County Christ- mas Bureaux, that shouldn't be the case in Exeter, say organizers. "I'm surprised, Exeter's done well again," said Sadie Post at the Exeter Bureau, which is once again in the basement of the Christian Reformed Church. Post was standing surrounded with card- board boxes of toys and clothing, and tables stacked with similar items. More were arriv- ing by the hour, and even though the last offi- cial day of collection was Friday, Post said "stuff will still come in...right to the very end." Donations kept flowing in the back door of the church. Some came from individuals, others from organizations that held special collections. Employees of local businesses eschewed the gag gifts of the staff party to instead put something in a box for the Bu- reau, and,the schools also made huge contri- butions to the collection. Distribution to local families in need of help at Chrisunas began Monday. Scheduled at 15 minute intervals, each family will choose one major toy per child, a couple of stocking staffers, an item of new clothing, and a voucher to buy Christmas dinner at a Local grocery store. There is also a selection of donated used clothing and canned goods they can choose from "that should help them over a couple of weeks". "The important thing is every kid will have something," said Post - and it looks as if that goal will be met. "I don't think we'll have to buy any toys this year. We'll just have to buy clothing," she said, pointing out that cash donations to the Bureau and to the Children's Aid Society help fill in any gaps there may be. The Bureau is even careful enough to make sure batteries are included with any battery- operated toys, so that no child receives a toy they can't play with on Christmas morning. Demand for the services of the Christmas Bureau may even be down slightly this year, said Post. Records show .that ,124 families. with 269 children requiredthe of the Ex- eter Bureau last year. Aso 'December 10 there were 197 registered, and even though more are expected, it doesn't appear demand will equal last years. Cash donations may bed little short, over- all. In Huron County, the Children's Aid So- ciety says its Chrisunas Bureaux need $50,000 to supplement the donations, to buy the batteries, food, extra clothing, and maybe a few toys. Those donations will be welcome up to, and after, the five county bureaux wrap up their business this Friday. , Since this her second year les volunteering to organize the Christmas Bureau in Exeter, Post says she has a better understanding of the kind of needs there are in the community for such services. Many families have been hit hard by job loss, or seen their pay packets hit by cutbacks and reduction to part-time hours. "Some manage alt year through, but at this time of year they just scrape by," said Post, noting that the extra expenses of the holiday season just don't fit into a budget already pushed t� the limit. If she were allowed a Christmas wish, Post said she wished the families coming to the Bureau this we* could find good jobs next year. "There are some jobs available, but they just aren't enough to support a family," she said. Through the generosity of those who sup- port the Christmas Bureau, Post said several hundred families will get through the holiday season with a little more dignity than they otherwise would. There will be a good meal on Christmas Day, but more imi.ir• may, there will be toy under the tree. For families in need, those little luxuries can make ail the di'Terence. Getting a big hug from doy bears Mary Dralsey (left), Aileen Knfp, and Sadie Post are volunteers at the Exet- er xeter Christmas Bureau at the 11x1 atian Reformed Church. Teddy bears may be popular gifts for teenage girls, but local people donatedAwarriebe of .toys and clothing for distribution to Huron's needy families. Goodwill Christmas gesture falls flat 'Grinches' not giving up tagged garbage EXETER - Agreeing they were "all a bunch of grinches", town council nixed a proposal to give ratepayers a courtesy bag of garbage for Christmas. Councillor Ben Hoogenboom made good on his promise to bring the mauer up at Monday's council meeting and made a motion to allow each household to set o►tt a bag to be collect- ed free the week after Christmas. Councillor Robert Drummond said he could see untagged bags appearing several weeks afterwards and people who were not home that week expecting to make use of the free bag later. "How will we know what household they're from?" asked clerk -treasurer Liz Bell, asking if giving a free tag to each household was more what Hoogenboom was proposing. • "I think there would be fewer problems if we pick up a free bag without a tag on it," said Hoogenboom. "I think it's going to create more hassle than it will create goodwill," said Drummond. "We're all a bunch of grinches," agreed councillor Bob Spears. When the vote on Hoogenboom's motion was made, the six council members present were tied. Reeve Bill Mickle, sit- ting in the chair in place of mayor Bruce Shaw, did not break the tie, but declared the motion lost. The bottom line is it will still cost $2 per bag to throw away all those Chrisunas wrappings and boxes, unless you can find a way to burn them or put them in the blue box for recycling. Alma Ballantyne Derek Beckett Jim Beckett Ryan Beckett Liette Clarke Barb Consitt Amy Edwards Al Flynn Marg Flynn Fred Groves Adrian Harte Ross Haugh Brenda Hern Al Hodgert Michele Hodgert Norma Jones Debbie Lord Anita McDonald Mary McMurray During this season, we rejoice and give thanks to you for your support throughout the year. We: -wish you and your family a blessed holiday and hope that you will be filled with the magical light of Christmas Laurel Miner Ruthanne Negrijn Robert Nicol Catherine O'Brien Elaine Pinder Theresa Redmond Tonya Kiehl Barb Robertson Ryan Rutledge Craig Schwartzentruber Don Smith Joyce Weber 424 Main