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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1994-06-15, Page 10Page 10 Times -Advocate, June 15, 1994 Cl lALE/AMNT T Y Music program develops happy habit towards learning ZURICH - Some music students in the Zurich area got a special treat on Monday as they had a chance to display their musical abilities to Frances Balodis, a music examiner :ind founder of a special music pro- gram. Balodis, the founder and national coordinator of the Music for Young Children program made a first time stop in Zurich as part of her ex- amination tour for the Western Conservatory of Music. But what is special about her vis- it, is that most of the 16 students being tested have taken part in her Music for Young Children program as well. The Music For Young Children program is geared to wards chil- dren three to eight years old. It brings children and their parents to- gether in small groups to get a feel for music as well as to learn to play the piano. "It allows the children to social- ize and learn to perform in groups," said Laurie Erb, who teaches the program in Zurich. At present, Erb has more than 70 students learning music through this program. Balodis, who has been teaching music for 36 years decided to create her own program when her children were toddlers. "1 wanted thcm to be exposed to music in a way that would keep them entertained at a young age but still be leaming the basics," Balodis said. "Children should develop a hap- py habit towards music," she said. And that's what her program en- courages. "Once you get them hooked, it's wonderful to see their progress," said Erb. Erb, h s been teaching mu- sic for 2 years, got involved in the program when her daughter was young. "I was looking for something that would be appealing to a three-year- old and was directed towards this program," she said. Now she has been teaching with Balodis' ap- proach for nine years. More than 10,000 children from across Canada and the United States are involved in this method of teaching. And, Balodis said, the program is going international. Basically it requires parents to in- teract with their children in the pro- gram. "The parents come to the les- sons," Erb said,,,,This way they can see what the children are learning and encourage them to practice at home. But it's not just instruments that are used. As well, there are pup- pets, books - similar to a play time, but the children are learning some- thing valuable. They really enjoy it," Erb said. "You don't hear them protesting when they come for lessons except when they have to leave," she said. Zurich music teacher Laurie Erb on left, sits with Frances Balodis, the founder of Music for Young Children. r• Garbage tags cost 57,000/month EXETER - Town residents are spending about S7,000 a month to set their garbage out at the curb. Town administrator Rick Hundey told coun- cil last week that sales of $2 tags for garbage collection "have reached a steady flow", and monthly sales at the town office are around the 57,000 mark. "We seem to be in good shape in regard to revenue and expenditures," said Hundey, who pointed out that for 1994, about 40 percent of the waste management program's projected revenue had been collected by the end of May, but only 30 percent of the budget spent. "Has there been a guesstimate as to how many bags a week we're picking up?" asked councillor Ben Hoogenboom. "It seems to be a couple of bags per month." • "That would be about right," agreed works superintendent Glenn Kells. "About a bag every other week." Council asked Kells for a small report next month on just how much waste reduction has been realized under the tag system. Looking over the waste management budget, councillor Bob Spears noted that even though$16,000 has been budgetted for garbage collection wages this year, only about 53,358.64 had been spent by the end of May. "Do you think we way overbudgetted in wages for disposal?" asked Spears. "I think we underestimated how scrupulous our people would connive to put as little gar- bage out as possible," agreed councillor Rob- ert Drummond. The user -pay waste management program uses the S2 tags, tipping fees and other rev- enues to pay for all garbage disposal, landfill, and recycling costs, rather than taxation. Under the program which started last July, the town has managed to divert more than half the town's garbage from the landfill - a goal which the provincial Ministry of the Environ- ment had set for all municipalities by the year 2000. Most Lucan street names will remain for 911 system LUCAN - In response to the ment will do the chores during the county of Middlesex renumbering week. street program in preparation for On a question from councillor the upcoming 911 emergency sys- Reg Crawford, clerk Reymer said tem, village councillors have Lucan's applications for infrastruc- agreed on the system to be used in 'lure grants were going to the Man- Lucan. ,agement Board on June 10 and a The only change in street names decision should be received by July in Lucan will be Concession 4 1. which will become the Saintsbury Works superintendent Doug Road. Highway 4, north of London Johnston reported that the Duchess now becomes Richmond street for street bridge would be installed this identification purposes. week. The village could have changed Main street to Richmond street, but councillors felt it would be too much of a hassle to change the street name and numbers. Reeve Tom McLaughlin said if the Richmond street numbers were to be used in Lucan they would be in five digits. He added, "It would be a lot of inconvenience to every- one forced to change addresses This would include deeds, insu- rance, driving licences and many, many other records." Councillors agreed to stick with the present Main street designa- tions. Clerk Ron Reymer said the county would be undertaking the renumbering project between Octo- ber 3 and 14. In other business, councillor Bryan Smith received permission to purchase 10 new flags and four new poles to be purchased locally in time for Canada Day. Smith reported that he had pom- pleted the flower box plantings with petunias and impatiens and would take care of watering on weekends while the works depart - 1#14 "vtultiple sclerosis usually strikes ple aged 20 to 40, in the prime of their lives. Mu Sclerosis SOCIETY of CANADA -800-268-7582 ••1 REz'NQ ntry collectibles 437 Main St. S. Exeter 235-4068 ll ow Open Tues. - Thurs. 10 - 5:30 Friday 10 - 9 Saturday 10 - 5:30 Sunday - by chance Closed Monday Come in and browse for a treasure Susan McGee -Northcott John Northcott 11 MUSIC FOR YOUNG CHILDREN by Frances Balodis, M.Ed., ARCT, RMT A Unique Method of Music Education for Children Starting with Ages 3-8 • Piano/Keyboard, Rhythm, Singing, Ear Training, Sight Reading, Theory • Parent attends with child in small group, 1 hour lessons For the teacher -1n your area: ixeter/Zurich Laurie Erb 236-7722 AIIsa Cralg/Lucan Sharon DeVree 2324387 KNECHTEL •1 ae � ' 'n I June 6th 1994... ■�- Iw�mn��s==inn■•--- ....3e41]t . �.....� ed I{now of aQ{N��a oumtit l(rvecleitel�ow ourJ°b�to Wanted•1And`Ned us N'hatsou for y�U• anan w„�,e'vegottl�em in ��. prices' NN ehave m�keditems on specialsVA -the Store for 111 MEE MEV wir 11 11 1111111111111111 iiiiiINNENMEINMINIMMEIN vi- - — F McTaggart 's YOUR FRIENDLY NEIDHt OURHOOD FOOD MARKET Hensel' 264-2448 • Delivery Service available in town