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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-07-07, Page 4Exeter School division wieners The Exeter Agricultural Society announced its 1999 School Fair Winners in conjunction with the Canada Day celebrations at the South Huron Rec Cen- tre. School division president Pat Glavin. presents ribbons to, from left: first place boys - Andrew Hodgert of Usborne Central -School (with morn Michele); second place girls Alana Hodgert of UCS; and second place boys - Shawn Kennedy of McCurdy Public School. Absent Lindsay Hewitt of UCS (first place girls). Pride of Huron Rebekah Lodge sponsored the prizes. At left, Dolores Shapton congratulates Kyte Ryan of Stephen Central hoof as the winner of the. Fo- s on Agriculture in Huton County category. Wednesday, July 7, 1999 'Bend coundi pass tough sign bylaw By,Katitarine Harding TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF GRAND BEND —. Coun- cil wants more power to control the type and number of signs put up in the village and on Monday they passed a tough bylaw to do just that. The comprehensive 15 - page bylaw is effective immediately and repeals the previous sign bylaw. "The standards and re- quirements of the bylaw hereinafter provided are intended to have a pos- itive influence on sign design and promote good signage... ," the bylaw's preamble says. "The standards reflect the principles of neigbour- liness and are designed to encourage the en- hancement and pro- tection of the physical appearance of the Vil- lage." The bylaw which main- ly targets commercial signs within the village cracks down on the num- ber and size of signs a business can have. Stricter new standards are also in place for all types of signage in- cluding• mobile, portable, banner and temporary advertising signs. TODS signs Despite Grand Bend's attempt to cut down on signs, councillors be- grudgingly accepted a site plan from Canada Tourism -Oriented Direc- tional Signing (TODS) earlier in the meeting to place five signs within village limits. Last month, council re- jected TODS' site plan to post nine signs around the village. "This is basically sign pollution," said Coun. Phil Maguire at the time. The TODS revised site plan will see three four feet by four feet signs erected near the official village sign on Highway 81. Two smaller signs, measuring 20 inches by 36 inches, are slated to be posted on Hwy. 21. Darren Telfer, a repre- sentative from TODS said their company is re- sponsible for insurance of the signs and the con- tract runs until 2006. "The signs are almost like a company leasing a billboard," said Telfer. "We take care of main- tenance of the signs." Some councillors seemed uneasy with TODS proposal. "These signs aren't meant for urban areas," said , Mayor Cam Ivey. "They are going to start to blur the landscape." Coun. Phil Maguire said while the signs aren't ideal in light of the new sign bylaw, they have abreact committed to erecting these signs. Last February, council agreed in principle to al- low ,TODS to post signs in the village. "Guys, we committed ourselves, now we have to honour this," said Ma- guire. TODS is on contract with the provincial government and erects signs denoting the location of local busi- nesses and tourist destina- tions via sponsorship. Future of Exeter parks meeting set for July 14 EXETER — Should Ex- eter have walking trails? Do we really need a skateboard park? Or is a gym more important? Those questions and many more will be ad- dressed at a special Exet- er council meeting at Town Hall on July 14 starting at 7:30 p.m. The public is welcome to at- tend. The group attempting to establish a gym and fami- ly . centre in Exeter is meeting before the spe- cial council meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.. For more information on that caign, calf Ann Rayner at 2354803or • e-mail her at Belk- stofleeodyssey. on.ca. i By Katherine Harding tiiiivouena STAFF ST. MARYS — One hun- dred years is a lot of liv- ing and Gladys Petty Smith says she has "seen it all." Born in Hensall on Jan. 5, 1899, Gladys knit socks for the front lines during the First World War, weathered the dark days of the Great De- pression and has even travelled to Buckingham Palace to visit the Queen. Last month, this dainty but spry centenarian was recognized during a Hen- sall community dinner held in conjunction with the International Year of the Older Person. Despite leaving Hensall in the late 1920's as a new bride for St. Marys with her husband Dr. George Smith, Gladys has always remained loyal to the hometown her great uncles George and James Petty, founded. Even at a 100, Gladys is driven to Hensall almost every week to do her gro- cery shopping at McTag- ;art's Food Market. During an interview with the T -A at her Rob- inson St. home last week,• Gladys, aided . by her ra- zor sharp memory, vivid- ly yet humourously re- flected over her long life with her daughter Joan by her side. She fondly recall growing up in Hens with her parents George and Hanna, an six sisters and on brother. Her father wa a butcher in the villag for 50 years and th family lived on Queen St While she was th baby of the family sh said her family was very close and she was es pecially fond of he brother Hanson. In 1913, Hanson was the first Hensall resider to own a car. "It was a Ford Run about without a wind shield and it took him al day to drive it . home from Toronto," Glady said with a gleamin her. eye. "He used to take me for rides around Hensal if I'd polish the brass on his car." During the First World War Hanson was killed on the battlefields in France. "Bean business" Gladys also recalls how her father helped encourage Hensall farm- ers to start growing white beans during the First World War. "The war really start- ed this bean business," quipped Gladys. "It was hard -to grow them be- fore because there was nowhere to store them." "Some man came from Toronto and asked my s dad to encourage farm- all ers to grow beans for the war effort. He was re- d tired by then so he e helped out." s Gladys remembers be- e ing especially happy with e Hensall's newest venture because she was taught e to drive so she could e help her father run er- rands. - "Not many women got e to drive back then," she said. Gladys recalls spe- cial trips to Grand Bend t in the 20's with her girl- friends when she got to - drive her'dad's carr. - Catching the eye of 1 a young dentist On New Years Day in s 1927, Gladys was mar- ried to Dr. George Smfth l in a house in Hensall. It was too cold to hold the ceremony in a 4. church," she said. Smith was a young dentist in Hensall and shortly after the wedding they moved to St. Marys where he set up a prac- tice. The Smith's raised three children, George, Joan and Elizabeth, and, Gladys continues to live in the home the couple bought in 1931 for $3,500. "It's my house of dreams," said Gladys, about her two storey home built in 1880 that overlooks the Thames River. While her son George lives with her now, Gla- dys is quick to point out she does all her own cooking and cleaning. Thrilling moment Looking back over her life Gladys says meeting the Queen and Prince Philip in 1971 is one o€ her favourite memories. "It was a thriller," Gla- dys said gleefully. Her husband was a member of the 108th Squadron Royal Flying Core and he was invited to a 50th anniversary celebration in London which included an audi- ence with the royals at Buckingham Palace. George, Gladys and their daughter Joan made the trip and were presented to the Queen and the Prince along with other members of the squadron and their families. Gladys remembers the palace vividly and she still has the navy blue dress she wore for the special occasion. She also got to talk to the Queen briefly. "It was the most touch- ing experience," she said. What's her secret? So what's. Gladys' se- cret for living so long? "Keep busy," she an- swered staunchly. "Most people just give up if their husband or wife �7� Gladys Petty Smith, 100, says the secret to long life is to "keep busy." Gladys is the great-niece of George and James Petty, the founders of Hensall. dies — but not . me. As Itg as I'm in my right mind I'll never go to a home." Gladys lost her hus- band George in 1979. "I've also been pretty lucky with my health," she said: "If I had my hearing and eyesight I'd be perfect." Gladys credits reading the London Free Press and the St. Marys Jour- nal Argus along with magazines with keeping her up taate with cur- rent affairs. "I've also done a fair bit of knitting in my day," she said. She also said getting to the family's cottage near Bayfield helps keep her young. Her daughter Joan said her mother has already been in the lake three times this summer.