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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-05-28, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, May 28,1997 UV THE N F WS Regional wrap up Huron education trustees reduced CLINTON - The number of trustees representing Huron County on next year's Huron - Perth District School Board will he reduced to tour from the cur- rent 16, reports the Clinton News -Record. The announcement came from hoard chair Allan Carter when addressing a group of parents, teachers . and School Advisory Council (SAC) representatives. He said the county will lose 75 per cent of its trustees due to the merger. Blyth Festival hit by further cuts BLYTH - Although recent in- formation from Huron MPP Hel- en Johns indicated Ontario Arts Council funding would remain constant, the Blyth Festival re- ceived word the province has cut a further 16.5 per cent from its OAC budget, reports the North Huron Citizen. This new reduction bring the total cuts suffered by the Blyth Festival to 46 per cent over the past two and a half years. The Citizen reports the Festival has already absorbed a $30,000 re- duction and anticipated this re- cent announcement to add an- other $10,000. in an effort to find savings, the board of directors has made plans to -increase ticket prices, cut hack its production of new Canadian plays and eliminate all special activities such as Crossroads Drama Festival and drama workshops for children and youths. Proposed. take-over may impact employees . MITCHELL A proposed take-over of Ault Foods Limited may" impact the future • of the Stacey plant in Mitchell, reports the MitchellAdvocate. it was announced May 9 by Ault that Saputo Group Inc., based in Montreal, intends to make a take-over hid for all out- standing shares of Ault at a price of $28. A formal offer was expected last week. During the past several months, Ault sold its frozen di- vision for proceeds of nearly $221 million. The Ontario fluid business was also sold for ap- proximately $145 million and an estimated $180 million was dis- tributed to shareholders through a share re -purchase. All this ac- tivity has reduced the compa- ny's debt load by more than $ I00 million. Many registered for trade show SEAFORTH - At least 1,700 people have pre -registered for the Huron County Road Super- intendent's Trade Show sched- uled for the first weekend in June in Seaforth, reports the Huron Expositor. According to Mayor Irwin Johnston, inside booths have been sold out and a tent has been added to accommodate ad- ditional booths. The numbers are already looking better than the successful annual event held in Meaford last year. Lioness donation The Lioness Club of Exeter recently donated a Maxi Lift to the Exeter Villa. The machine is used to transfer residents. Clockwise, from left, Carolyn Parker, Villa health care aide, Lioness members Elaine Pinder, Liz Stephens, Janet Ma- son, Louise Pincombe, Shelly Mcinnis, Villa health care aide Nancy Miller and Villa resident Blanche Walters, who uses the lift extensively. The lift represents one of many services the Lioness provide the Villa including entertain ment, refreshments, outings, Christmas treats and a televi- sion. Township feels tank inspections will prevent more spills ' 'STEPHEN TOWNSHIP - Fol- lowing the second oil spill in seven months, Stephen Township Coun- cil passed, a motion, at its May 20 meeting requesting "fuel distribut- ers he required to make'perr(xiie in- spections of home heating fuel tanks and certify the tank as struc- turally sound, in order to eliminate tank failures and fuel spillage." The motion indicates council will write the Fuels Safety Branch of the .Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Technical Standards Division to request this requirement be established. The decision comes after two oil spills that occurred in the Township on September 24 and May 12. The Stephen Township Firc De- partment was able to respond quickly to both oil spills and keep most, of the oil from contaminating the Ausable River. In the most re- cent incident, a petroleum handling company from Brucefield was ' brought in to extract the oil. According to Stephen .Towrtship dAdministrator Larry Brown, "the °watef ` etfS fflination significant although the cost of the first clean-up is estimated at $5,500, which will he charged hack to the property owner. Brown said the majority of township residents do not heat with oil. In all the vil- lages ,and'along the Lakeshore, gas lines have been intalled .and other sources such as .heat pumps are sometimes used. The rural com- munities still depend more fre- quently on oil for heat. In other council business; it was decided by an unanimous vote that no further action to restructure the arena and road departments will take place until the January 6 council meeting. • Cunningham releases Joke's Over CD-ROM The CD is a project authored by four Digital Media Stud- ies graduates from Central Huron Secondary School CLINTON - Dianne Cunningham, Minister Re- sponsible for Women's Issues, was at Central Huron Secondary School Monday morning to launch a CD- ROM named The Joke's Over - Student to Student Sexual Harassment in Secondary Schools. The disk builds upon a print -based teaching aid and was developed in partnership with the.Huron County Board of Education. "It's not funny to sexually harass," said Cunning-. ham, adding, "We're fed up with it. We want to stamp out sexual harassment." The CD-ROM version of The Joke's Over was made by four Central Huron students, graduates of the Dig- ital Media Studies program. They used unscripted student interviews, original art, video and audio to raise awareness about sexual harassment. Funds were provided through the Violence Against Women Prevention Initiatives, Ontario Women's Directorate and the Tech- nology Incentive Partnership Program, Ministry of Education and Training. The CDs, will be distributed to each school board in Ontario. Hensall Public School students and CHSS students gave Cunningham feedback about the CD-ROM and suggested other similar projects that would deal with issues such as racism. "I learned that it isn't right and it isn't funny," said one public school student after viewing the CD dem- onstration. It was generally agreed the topic of sexual harass- ment could be introduced to students as early as Grade 7. The CD-ROM makes suggestions for incorporating the topic into the curriculum of subjects such as drama, art and physical education. The •Joke's Over team, including students Robert Kemp, Jason Bell, Matt Maaskant, Erin Maaskant and teacher Stephen Oliver gave a hands-on demonstration following the official CD-ROM launch. "It has been a very fulfilling experience that none of us will soon forget," said Kemp, adding the project was both a challenge and opportunity to speak to a wide audience. The CD is divided into four topics in- cluding Defining; Understanding, Stopping and Resources. The students designed several innovative means to open discussion and raise awareness about sexual harassment. Students can compare their own experiences to a 1994 provincial survey through,an in- teractive graph, and a concentration - style game is intended to remind them of terms re- lating to the issue of sexual harassment. A game show and interactive harassment scenario are other areas open to explore. The HCBE has developed. a student sexual harass- ment policy that includes guidelines and procedures as, well as a definition of sexual harassment and expecta- tions for schools. "We're fed up with it. We want to stamp out sexual harassment." Town considers leasing smoking area By Heather Mir T -A Reporter EXETER - Members of Exeter Council will take the first steps to- ward leasing an area from the high school in order to move student smokers from the front of the school. The recommendation followed a presentation by South Huron prin- cipal Bill Gerth, who made the re- quest in order to circumvent a pro- vincial law that prohibits smoking on school property. A similar ar- rangement has been established in Goderich where smoking on public property in front of the school has raised complaints from school neighbors. Gerth told council during Mon- day's Committee • of the Whole mecting he believes that moving the smoking arca to its original lo- cation will not only allow students to be supervised more closely, it will reduce the intimidation guests have felt by being forced to walk through a group of more than 150 students smoking in front of the school. He is also confident drug so- licitation will he reduced by mov- ing the smoking arca, adding a lawn clean of cigarette butts will improve the image of the school and the students. After the law was implemented in 1994, a school neighbor, frustrated with the litter accumulating on his property, dumped a can of garbage in the school foyer. Although councillors discussed the potential danger of appearing to encourage smoking, they agreed the solution is the hest compromise available. "We seem to by flying in the face of the intention of council's by- law," said Mayor Ben Hoo- genboom. "What are we doing about changing the law?" The province has been unwilling to repeal its laws for fear of ap- pearing to condone smoking yet according to Gerth, the law has been a failure. "The law is a stupid law," he said, adding, "It does not do what it is intended to do. I think smoking, is up as a result of this particular policy." Gerth explained smoking.may ac- tually have increased since it was banned on school property because students are put on a stage in front of the school where they try to im- press one another. South Huron has made an effort to control smoking and has pro- hibited grade 9 students from leav- ing school property to smoke. ,Gerth is considering extent' this ban to grade 10 students as Wel., considering it is illegal for those under the age of 16 10 purchase to- bacco. The committee agreed to proceed with the lease arrangement by first talking to legal counsel, regarding potential town liability. It is likely the lease arrangement ' would begin in September and would be subject to review each year. Huron teachers to vote Continued from front page escalate the problem," said Carroll, adding in an effort to avoid chaos, buses will be cancelled if the whole system is shut down. The federation has made a com- mitment to notify the board of the decision from Toronto, enabling contingency plans for students to be initiated. Grand Bend bar opens topless patio The owner of Cocos bar and grill says it's just the patio that's topless By Chris Skalkos T -A Reporter GRAND BEND - When you visit Mick Rapaport's topless rooftop patio in Grand Bend, the only thing you'll see is a an uncovered deck and a few scantily -clad manne- quins. It seems that Rapaport's clever use of the English language and a vivid sense of humor have helped him gain one .of the best pro- motional campaigns since he opened up Cocos Bar andGrill on Main Street 17 years ago. Recent reports on local radio sta- tions and in newspapers claim Co- cos has opened a topless bar in Grand Bend, sending a whirlwind of rumors across the village. Rapaport said it's the actual patio that's topless, since his rooftop pat- io on the west is not covered by a tarp or a ceiling, but talk around town has depicted his establishment as adopting a bare -all atmosphere. it started when Rapaport painted the word "topless" in small let- tering under one of his signs ad- vertising the rooftop patio. But when he put a topless female man- nequin over the sign, the' phone started ringing. "People have mistaken the sign to mean the place is a topless bar and now I'm caught up in the con- troversy," said Rapaport, who had to assure two distraught mothers he wasn't asking his employees to go topless. "I was just playing around with the words but it seems to have struck a nerve." He thinks people took the sign at face value because of a recent pro- vincial court ruling that dropped charges against a Guelph woman who was charged for taking her shin off in public. But he blames the media for fuelling the con- troversy, claiming he has been con- tacted by newspapers and radio sta- tions across the province. "Once the media put a stamp of approval on it, and the more people talk about it,the bigger this is going to get." •However, Rapaport is not com- plaining about the publicity. "People have been driving by rubber -necking the place all day long. This kind of promo will put Grand Bend on the map," he said. Known for his unorthodox ad- vertising style, Rapaport admits he won't shy away from pushing his promotional gimmicks. On the Victoria Day long week- end he had a live donkey tied up in front of his bar and advertised he had the best looking ass in Grand Bend. "People loved it. My place was packed all weekend long," he said. Rapaport said he is forced to re- sort to such gimmicks because the bar business is so competitive along Grand Bend's main strip even though some of his com- petitors are not pleased with his tac- tics. Mike Rapaport, owner of Cocos Bar on Main Street Grand Bend poses with one of his mannequins on his topless patio. "They're just jealous because they don't have a topless patio," he explained. As far as patrons going toplesfi, Rapaport said he doesn't encourage it but he feels it will happen even- tually. "If someone wants to take their shirt off it's up to them. Nudity in public is not a new concept. It's just new in Ontario," he said add- ing some will try it just for the nov- elty. "When it gets hot enough it. will happen, but I can't say P11 turn a blind eye," he quipped. Rapaport said he has a few more tricks up his sleeve but he isn't ready to reveal anything yet in an effort to keep ahead of his com- petitors. But he guarantees it will incorporate his sense of humor. "I don't try to be controversial but 1 like to play the tongue -and• cheek," he said. "All I'm trying to do is bring a little life to this town."