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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1984-05-23, Page 2Pone 2 Times -Advocate, May 23, 1984 CAR RALLY PARTICIPANTS — The South Huron Junior Farmers sponsored a very successful Car Rally Sunday afternoon. Above, Nancy Schade, Bryan Vincent, Sharon Alton and Jim Nivins get instructions from Rob Essery before starting out. -Oppose homosexuals Continued from front page homosexuality an individual choice or not? If not, we must show compassion. How would Christ feel? I am concerned that too many in out church may want to throw stones rather than express Christ's love and concern." The Wesley Willis resolu- tion was the outgrowth of a meeting at the Clinton church attended by Harry Ossouren, one of the authors of the report that has sparked all the discussion. Board members of the Kippen-Brucefield churches were also present. According to their pastor, Don Moffat, this was Ossouren's first encounter with rural members of the United Church, and the head office representative was left in no doubt as to what the ma- jority thought of the ordina- tion of self -declared homosexuals. The Wesley Willis Church held a board meeting the same evening, and voted overwhelmingly to reject the report. The Kippen- Brucefield board met shortly after, 'and their decision to re- ject the report was unanimous. Moffat and the Clinton minister, Rev. James Bechtel, drafted the resolu- tion presented to the Huron - Perth presbytery. Moffat attended the Mit- chell meeting, "We are pleas- ed with the outcome of the presbytery meeting. It's the end of a long battle. We don't want another study; let's get on to other things," he remarked later. Rev. James Forsythe of Exeter United Church was one of those voting to reject the report, though he said the fact it was published in the Observer prior to the meeting of general council was a sign of a democratic church. For- sythe sees a need to study the implications of homosexuali- ty, especially in regard to membership in the church itself, in order to be fair to both sides, as the issue is not going to go away. Forsythe said he can't con- vince himself that the homosexual lifestyle is a natural one, adding he believes the United Church has the right to examine those seeking ordination, and can- didates should be celibate if single, and faithful to their spouse if married. Centralia's Rev. Burton Huron board again offers summer class .The Huron County Board of Education is offering a full summer school program at Central Huron in Clinton again this year. Courses are offered to both elementary and secondary school students in math. English, science, history and computer studies. This year "Summer School 84" is offering two new credit courses at the secondary level - keyboarding (Typing 141). and computer studies ( Data 241) both of which will earn a 'z credit towards a student's graduation diploma. English as a second language and driver education are also offered. MUSEUM OPEN A leisurely way to spend a day in the country this sum- mer is to visit the Ontario Agricultural Museum al Milton. The Museum will be opening for its sixth season. May 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. dai- ly until October 8. This 32 hectare indoor outdoor Museum complex contains a collection that mir- rors a changing Ontario from 1800 to 1950. it provides both rural and urban visitors with an opportunity to discover Ontario's agricultural heritage. For a four week period beginning July 2, summer school students receive in- tensive, personal instruction in one subject for three hours each day. Since class sizes are usually small, and since only one subject is being studied, students have an ex- cellent opportunity to im- prove their understanding of a subject so that the following year's work will he easier. Bus transportation has been arranged to collect students from the major areas of the county. This ar- rangement will be improved once school actually starts and it is known who is coming. In the past, both staff and students have found summer s6hool to be a rewarding ex- perience -- Not only for the improvement in 'regular school work, but also for the experience of summer school itself. Small classes, a new environment. good weather, a relaxed atmosphere all tend to make summer school enjoyable. A complete list of courses offered is available from all school principals, guidance counsellors or by contacting: W. Paul Eigie, principal, "Summer School 84", F.E. Madill S.S., Wingham, NOG 2W0 Crowe questions the make-up of the committee that wrote the report, wondering if five people from the west are tru- ly representative of congrega- tions from B.C. to New- foundland. Neither their - names nor their qualifications are attached to the report, and Crowe would have liked the expert opinions of medical doctors, psychiatrists and sexual therapists included. He termed the report totally inadequate, biased and amateurish. Crowe's motion at the Mit- chell meeting to appoint a more qualified , and geographically represen- tative committee to do a fur- ther in-depth study was defeated. Crowe got the impression from the presbytery meeting that most had come with their minds already made up, and had no intention of altering their positions no matter what was said. Crowe said the church is not ready for the ordination of self -declared homosexuals, and may never be. An avow- ed homosexual seeking his counsel would be advised to choose another profession, Crowe said, as "the difficul- ty of appointing a person to a congregation would be so enormous it would do that person a disservice". Rev. John Vardy, Kirkton, said he was pleased with the vote at Mitchell, but declined to make any further comment. Rev. Robert Peebles. at Grand Bend, approves the result of the presbytery vote. He said the report authors deny the inspiration and authority of scripture, the basis of article two of the United Church's rules of union, to arrive at their conclusion. "I'm not opposed to homosexuals any more than to any other sinners. They have to come to Jesus by the atonement of 'the cross the same -as all of us", Peebles said, adding he hopes the report is soundly defeated at general council in August. Both Rev. Barbara Laing of the Dashwood -Zurich charges and ReS. Wilena Brown, minister at Goshen and Var- na churches, were on holiday at the time of the Mitchell meeting. Though presbytery secretary Rev. Brian Elder, the minister at Crediton, could not attend the May, 15 meeting, he said he agrees with the decision made there, as "our congregation has voted against the report, and other pastorates in the area support this position". The outcome of the general council session in' Manitoba will be awaited with great in- terest by members of the Iluron-Perth presbytery. SUMMER FASHIONS Tory McKenzie, president of the ladies Guild of the Huron Country Playhouse, acted as commentator for the fashion show sponsored by the guild, with fashions from the Sun Shop and the Surf Shop in Grand Bend. 4 4 6B council concerned overi bo sf rove holldtiy leaving the village without so- meeting to ex in the first will be budgeted by the meone properly empowered phase of a study of the land- village over the next two to lay charges. fill site, south of the village. years. Clerk Mollard said that ad- She said that her group's George and Steve Kadlecik vice from the Department of study showed that there was were at the meeting to ques- Municipal Affairs was that no leaching of waste into the tion council's decision not to the position would be self- water table. The ministry of allow a flea market operation sustaining (fines should pay the environment, however for wages of the officer). has suggested that more While there were no resolu- testing should be done before tions at Tuesday's meeting, the village could use other councillors seemed determin- land on the site. Deputy - ed to hire an enforcement of- Reeve Harold Green sug- ficer in the near future. gested that the M of E was Council had previously stalling—that small land -fill decided that the hiring of two sites were out of favour and persons would not be justified being closed by the ministry. without a comprehensive Wendy Larman, accoun- parking bylaw—which could tant for the village, com- not be enforced without pro- mended the village for stick - per street signs—which would ing closely to last year's cost too much this year (in the budget. Apart from a $40,000 neighbourhood of $10,000). underestimate in the cost of In other business, Nancy J. the new village hall, she said Rannie, B.E.S., Morrison that the village was in good Beatty Limited, was at the shape financially. The deficit Tuesday night, Grand Bend councillors took another merry-go-round ride on the village bylaw carousel— propelled by repercussions from the first- holiday weekend of the season. A near -riotous gathering of over 200 celebrants, downtown in Grand Bend in the early hours of Holiday Monday, began the an- ticipated 'fun summer' season with a quick jolt; and focused on the present lack of bylaw enforcement in the village The debate over hiring bylaw enforcement persons has been ongoing in council for some months. Tuesday night, Councillor Bruce Woodley suggested that coun- cil scrap bylaws if they weren't going to be enforced. Councillor Dennis Snider agreed, that, in the case of the holiday happening, the bylaws were useless. Woodley had suggested that councillors be empowered to lay charges. Clerk Dianne Mollard and Reeve Bob Sharen explained that members of council could not be official enforcement officers—but that they could "lay information, as can any citizen," and appear as volun- tary witnesses in a court hearing. Woodley said he wasn't willing to do that. The discussion was brought on after a letter was read from Mae Piggott, a home owner in the Pine Street area. The letter deplored the lack of control by village officials and Sidewalk work set Members of Exeter's public works committee made their annual inspection of town sidewalks and MacNaughton park last week and recom- mended seven sidewalk pro- jects for this year. Council accepted the com- mittee' recommendations for the projects, which will in- volve repairs in some in- stances, and new construction in others. Included in the list are: north side of John E. from An- drew to Edward, north side of Thomas from William toCarl- ing, north side Gidley from Carling to Marlborough, north side Hill from Main to the park, east side of Andrew from Huron to Simcoe and the east side of Carling from Huron to Mill. A portion of sidewalk in the area of the Exeter United Church will also be under- taken, with the church shar- ing in the cost. • Estimated cost of the sidewalk work is $10,590. The committee will also undertake a cost estimate for the reconstruction of Victoria St. E., including sidewalks, from the pillars at the com- munity park to the cul de sac east of the public school. Other recommendations from the committee approv- ed this week by council were: That the garbage routes be altered to have pickup on the west side of Pryde Blvd. and the east side of Senior St. It was decided that a tree donated to the town by the Lioness Club be planted beside the flower garden at MacNaughton park. SS trustees endorse pay Exeter council has endors- ed a resolution from Wingham calling on the pro- vincial government to con- duct a thorough study on the potential impact of new fun- ding regulations for day care centres. The resolution suggests there could be an adverse ef- fect on day care centres in rural communities where there are not enough numbers of subsidized families to sup- port a viable day care program. Members of council were unaware of the current or pending funding regulations for day care and Clerk Liz Bell said she had investigated and found that the cost per child could increase from the present $7 or $8 per day to a whopping $22 per child per day. -She said that under the new scheme, only those families who can show financial need will be subsidized. Mrs. Bell suggested that this new cost level could force many other families out of day care and thereby make the centres difficult to operate. Although Exeter does not currently have a day care centre under the provincial program, Councillor Ben Hoogenboom said the need could arise sometime and he urged council to endorse the resolution. the lack of cooperation with Ontario Provincial Police. Sharen explained that the OPP were not empowered to lay charges under village bylaws. The bylaw in effect, in Monday's incident is one which prohibits excessive noise during certain hours. Sharen, who said he had spent most nights of the weekends last summer settling com- plaints, and much of his own time witnessingcourt hear- ings, had asked council to consider hiring two law students for the summer under an available summer grant from the Provincial Government. Council, however, did not act quickly enough on the sug- gestion. Last year, a bylaw enforcement officer, hired at the beginning of the season, left the job after three weeks, READY FOR RODEO — Bob Spears is giving final instructions to Jason and Joseph Maskell as they participate in Saturday's bike rodeo sponsored by the Exeter Op- timist club. T -A photo • BENDING LOW — Tom- Sawyer (Jeff Kints) has to stoop to receive a pat on the head from the minister (Justin Charette) to the amusement of Lisa Birmingham, Mark McDonnell, Stephanie Cook, Michelle Birmingham, Patty O'Toole and Bernadette Verberne during a rehearsal of the play Tom Sawyer, to be presented at the Old Town Hall on May 31 and June 1.,Teacher Cor.ol McDonnell is directing, and Susan Kraftcheck is in charge of music. A worthwhile program but cost should be shared Exeter Reeve Mickle is among those who think it's a great idea to exempt from property taxation any altera- tions, improvements or addi- tions undertaken on residen- tial units to facilitate han- dicapped people and senior citizens. However, he's a little miff- ed that the province of On- tario appears to be dictating to municipalities, who in ef- fect, will be losing out on those tax dollars which are exempted. Ile cited the recent an- nouncement in the provincial budget as another example of a senior government dictating to another level of government. Mickle said he would have been more impressed if the province indicated they were willing to join municipalitiest Riddell q use of ai It took two planes to fly two provincial cabinet ministers to a ribbon cutting ceremony in Centralia last Friday. , Huron Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell charged Tuesday. Ile told the legislature that Agriculture Minister Dennis Timbrei! and Government Services Minister George Ashe took separate planes to fly to the opening of an agricultural engineering cen- .tre at•Centralia College. The money could have been better spent on health care, said Riddell. Premier William Davis was unimpressed by Riddell's complaint. He said Timhrell in sharing the cost of the plan, at least on a 50-50 basis. Mickle said the proposal was "very worthwhile." Under the plan, which is in- tended to curtail the necessi- ty of disabled people and seniors from having to move into institutional care, the property tax exemption would be allowed on altera- tions, improvements or addi- tions to property undertaken after May 16 which would enable seniors or handicap- ped people to stay in their own homes. The exemption is also available to those who under- take building projects for (he purpose of providing residen- tial accommodation to either the disabled or senior -citizens who would otherwise require institutional core. The exethption remains on uestions rplanes flew from Toronto, while Ashe had another appoint, ment in Oshawa and flew from there. The government rents planes at $300 an hour and probably took about 35 minutes to fly Ashe separate- ly, he said. Riddell would have been more upset had either minister missed the ceremony in his riding, said Davis, adding that the ministers returned to Toron- to in the same plane. Davis said the province is more discreet and efficient in its use of air Craft than is the Liberal government in Ottawa. the project for as long as a disabled person or senior citizen continues to reside in the accommodation. Resolution supported Separate school trustee will keep their monthly stipend at $198 per month even though they have learned they could boost it up to *225 per month. At its May 14 meeting, the Huron -Perth Separate School Board received a memo from Superintendent of Business and Finance Jack Lane which states trustees' remuneration doesn't come under the pro- vincial restraint bill. Lane was given this information from the Inflation Restraint Board. The board has settled the question of its remuneration over a year ago, when it cut its honorarium down to five percent increase each year Stephen sewer for three years. Originally the out -going school board in 1982 had set the stipend of the in- coming board for its three year term. The rates were *200 per month for 1983, $225 per month for 1984 and $250 per month for 1985. However, Stratford trustee Ron Marcy, who was also a trustee on previous hoard, kept trying to reduce the sti- pend to a five percent in- crease from the 1982 level of $180 per month. - Eventually the board agreed to rolling back the honorarium to five percent. Despite learning they could increase their honorarium trustees took no action. Chairman Ron Murray of RR 2 Dublin said the board made its decision to stick to the five percent a year ago, and trustees should remain at that level. Trustees agreed noting teachers and other staff have been expected to accept five percent salary increases. The chairman also com- mented that Iluron-Perth Separate school trustees taken an honorarium that is half that of the Iluron and Perth Boards of Education. "That's by choice," said Murray adding that it doesn't mean the trustees of those two boards aren't worth the amount they receive. for the summer on their pro- perty, which was previously operated as a roller skating rink, on the Main Street in Grand Bend. Under village zoning by-laws such an opera- tion cannot be conducted, ex- cept in a roofed and enclosed area. Council, in a previous discussion, had felt that such an operation would produce a prohibitive clog for parking and traffic. However, council did grant the Chamber of Commerce permission to con- duct a similar operation on the property last weekend. Clerk Mollard informed council that the temporary re- zoning of the north portion of the Fraleigh beach parking lot had expired May 17, and that until re -zoning was again approved, it would be illegal to park cars on the beach north of King Street. She said that, to date, there had been no written objections to the proposed three-year zoning change. The deadline for ob- jections is June 12. Continued from front page from their own Waterloo St. residents on a frontage. fee basis or a prepayment charge. It would be up to Stephen to decide whether all the residents would be required to hook up. Exeter requires all town residents to be connected. However, the agreement would require that the Stephen residents along Waterloo would be charged a sewer surcharge on their water bilis as soon as the sewer service is available, regardless of whether connec- tion is made. The proposed agreement stipulates that Stephen would have to pay for all legal costs involved in preparation of an agreement to initiate the scheme. Cost of the Waterloo St. sewer is $39,215, meaning the township would pay $19,608. There would bean additional charge to the township of *10,432, based on 16 sewer connections at $652 each. No figure was mentioned as a charge for the main pumps, pumping station and lagoon portion of the agreement. Mickle said the proposal should be given careful con- sideration because if could be a "dangerous precedent." GOETT I,'s OF DUBLIN 345-2250 OPEN HOUSE EVERY SUNDAY IN MAY, 1-5 p.m. Spectacular Savings with our Simons, Beautvrest and Osternloor SALE! On the Main Street Open Mondays Now You Can Buy Your B EDDING P LANTS At our store Plus wehave a complete range of gardening supplies and equipment 446 South Main Street, Exeter, Ont. • ti