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Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1999-02-24, Page 3Wednesday, February 24. 999 Straw familyhonouredwithAusable Bayfield award Exeter nmesp.Advocatef 3 By Craig Bradford TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF LUCAN Striving to conserve the environment has its rewards. The • Straw family's love of the environment and commitment for preserv- ing it was recognized tty the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority Thursday at the ABCA's general meeting. The Straws of Exeter received a '98 Conservation Award in the Environmental Advocacy Category. The Straw family has been an important part of the Ausable Bayfield watershed for 25 years and are well known in the community as dedicated conservationists. Niall Straw, principal of McCurdy Public School in Huron Park, shares his conservation principles with his students. He spearheaded a Blue Box recycling program while teaching in Goderich and started schoolyard natu- ralization programs through reforestation. Niall has also taken his students to Camp Sylvan for over 20 years. The ABCA noted jokingly they would like to see Niall come back as a Junior - Leader when he retires. Rosemary Straw has run an Exeter Cub Pack for over 12 years. She has encouraged her Cubs to conserve the environment and has introduced them to many conservation ideas by helping them earn badges. While par- ticipating in the Trees for Canada. program, Rosemary had helped to plant hundreds of trees in the Exeter area. The Straw children, Chris, Stephen, Jeremy and Meaghan, are all pos- itive conservation role models for other youth. Three of the children have volunteered at the Sylvan Conservation Program and `Meaghan received the ABCA Gr. 8 Graduation Award for proficiency in geography. Niall. and Rosemary were at the general meet- ing to receive their fami- ly's award. "I was quite surprised," Niall said. "Getting an award for doing some - Perth South and Dowson represents Bayfield and Stanley Township. No Chevy at this levy All of the ABCA's mem* ber municipalities but Hay .Township -approved the '99- regular general levy of $344, 340 and the capital projects levy of $28,400. The general levy is the. same asked of municipalities over the past seven years. - The budgeted capital projects will not be com- pleted unless the ABCA can secure matching funding from the province or other sources. The total balanced bud- get of $1,281,650 was unanimously passed. Rosemary Straw, left, and her husband Niall accepted a Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority '98 Conservation Award on behalf of their family at the ABCA general meeting last week. Ching we enjoy while working with children is really quite something else." Rosemary was also floored to find out her family was being hon- oured onoured by the ABCA. "I didn't expect it," she said. "I think it is an encouragement for other families (td 'eonserve the environment)." The other ABCA '98 Conservation Award win- ners included the late George Cantrick of Stanley Township and Durham's John (Jack) W. MacPherson. Many years ago Cantrick bought a 148 acre farm with 100 acres in the Bayfield River flood plain. The area was pas- ture and was severely eroded and mostly with- out trees. Cantrick helped plant thousands of White Pine seedlings on the floodplain making the area heavily forested pre- venting further erosion and serving as a wildlife habitat. ABCA officials said Cantrick's efforts greatly improved water quality in the Bayfield River. MacPherson, nominated in the Environmental Advocacy Category by- ABCA engineer Alec Scott, worked for over 35 years with the Ministry of Natural Resoui ces water management and conser- vation authorities branch, Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVGA) and most recently with Goderich's B.M. Ross and Associates. ‘ ‘ . MacPherson has helped the ABCA, SVCA, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority and Maitland Valley Conservation Authority develop common pro- grams for cost effective and efficient delivery of the flood forecasting and warning program. "It's a labour of love," MacPherson said after receiving the award. Other notes from the meeting: Strang in charge Exeter's Gord Strang was acclaimed chairper- son of the ABCA and Varna's Bill Dowson was acclaimed vice -chairper- son. Both will be starting their second two-year term though both came to the positions half way through last term. Strang represents -Exeter, Usborne Township and Zurich ends landfill deal with., Hay ZURICH — Council has decided to end its agreement with the Hay landfill site after finding a cheaper way to dis- pose of its garbage with the Bluewater Recycling Association. Since council had to give Hay Town- ship 10 -months notice of the termina- tion of the deal, Zurich garbage will still go to the Hay site until Dec. 31, 1999. . Zurich clerk/treasurer Charlene Overholt said the village will save ap- proximately $17,000 annually with the deal with Bluewater, although she said there will be expenses when the village holds "big garbage days." Zurich's deal with Hay Township goes back about six years, Overholt said. The new deal with Bluewater starts Bosanquet, Thedford), Don Shipway (Ailsa Craig, Parkhill,. McGillivray Township) , and Mark Westbrook - (Clinton, Goderich 'Township). "A NIP!TALKING HORROR FILM ALONG TNE LINES OF SCREAM:" URBAN LUG E:N[D 1 *0001. Thank you • The following people were honoured for their efforts.' Ten years, staff: ABCA corporate services co-ordinator Judith Parker and Port Franks Conservation Area assis- tant superintendent Anne Ward; one year, staff: conservation areas super- visor Charlie Greenhill; one year, board of direc- tors: Ray Campbell (Townships of East Williams, West Williams), Jim Love (Hay Township, Zurich), Bob Mann (Grand Bend, Stephen Township), Robert Norris (West Perth), Teresa Ondrejicka (Liman Biddulph Township), pavg ;Pugh fAric.ona, r 9 \\!f \1 1:x( 1) )'\ 1 Tru ll \ \\ 1v11 1 ' t A Imam . air h j.d roIsp ids of he cow of o satin of prawn wrlrs ipesd by 11311IGZsaflll011(1{M nn1 IMF1141111�GiAh1 11�IJI111 1101111111111olfllf1M.1BEllTIMM�LuI � y•�•M®a' U8 :IYWINE 1019MAW( 22 ildm Ism t111141 Rad w • 235-4.877 Fax 235-4878 518 Main St; S.- Exeter THEY SAID CUR HEADS WERE IN Tilt1 CLOUDS... WE SAID THE SKY'S THE LIMIT... WHAT DO YOU SAY? Join us for the first anniversary celebration of the AUSABLE COMMUNITY CENTRE Friday, February 26 7:00 p.m. Ausable Community Centre 170 Main Street, Lucan REFRESHMENTS in 2000. In other notes from last Thursday's council meeting, council has divided $3,272 hmong local organizations as part of the provincial government's ad- vanced funding program. Once the village sends the applica- tion to the government, the following organizations will be receiving money: Zurich- Minor Athletic Association, $750; • Zurich Figure Skating Club, $622; 1st Zurich Scout Organization, 3600; Town and Country Support Ser- vices, $500; Huron Adult Day Centre, $300; St. Boniface CWL, $100; Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, $100; Canadian Diabetes Association, $100; Alzheimer Society, $100; and Canadian Cystic Fibrosis, $100. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT AWARD Presented by Bruce Smith, M.P.P. Middlesex ,,ART GALLERY OPENING Annette Goodale - Watercolour Paintings, Pen and Ink Drawings For more information . Telephone: 227-1453 Fax 227-1454 In partnership with Human Resources Development Canada