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Home My WebLink AboutZurich Citizens News, 1981-08-27, Page 2Page 2 Citizens News August 27, 19S 1 Warned before blast Continued from front page A former Exeter resident, Ernie Appleton, 89, whose room is only five yards away from the explosion says, "I heard a loud explosion and the nurses closed the rooms to keep us safe. Then they chased us to the south end, the farthest away from the explosion." "At about 2:30 we were sent to the north end for unknown reasons and at about 8 p.m. they opened up the rooms to let the gas out. I can't smell so I couldn't detect the gas." "I never thought I was in danger even though the explosion buckled the roof," he said as he pointed out his window to the bent roof. Vera Thiel talks about the horror also: "It was an awful experience. It was a wonder we weren't cut worse than we were." "The air was full of glass," said Mrs. Harvey, who was also outside when the blast blew out windows and doors in the day-care area. "We could easily have all been cut to pieces. We were all fortunate, really -- someone could have been killed." She said she was planting flowers with injured Huronview ,resident Irvin Trewartha at the time. Huronview therapist Dianne Elliott said, "We didn't find Irvin until after we had everyone else laid out on the grass". She said she heard "a crack like thunder and then the fire alarm went off. I went running down (to the day-care area) and people were lying all over." Reaction of most of the home's permanent residents was one of curiosity rather than panic, according to one official at the scene. Firefighters and am- bulances from several neighbouring communities assisted at the emergency, By Friday morning, while talk still centered on the explosion of the previous afternoon, the home had returned to a regular routine, except in the im- mediate area of the ex- plosion. Robert Kaufman of the Ontario fire marshal's office in London, investigated the explosion and said it was set off when a small electric water pump in an un- derground room started and ignited gasoline fumes from a ruptured underground line. Turnout good Continued from front page people were let into the dance. A small amount of van- dalism marred an otherwise smooth bean festival when a "Bunch of ignorant characters" pushed over some of the portable toilets late Saturday night. The festival's president - was pleased with the turnout and with the year's en- tertainment. Every year this newspaper reports a bigger and better bean festival and every year the organizers call for a bigger and better festival next year. It seems every year they are right. AN ENGUSH VISITOR - They came from far and wide to Saturday's Zurich Bean Festival. Above, Linda Hendrick, left, sells a souvenir hat to Gladys Dibble of Nottingham, England. She is visiting with Zurich United Church minister Rev. Barbara Laing. Staff photo Former pastor back for visit By MRS. IRVIN RADER DASHWOOD Rev. and Mrs. Merrill James Tillsonburg, former pastor of Calvary United Church. called on old friends Monday. June 17. Mr. and Mrs. Struyke ac- companiedby visitors from Holland. Joe and Greta Vandeberg. have returned home following a trip to the east coast. Mrs. Shirley VanDorsselaer has returned home following eye treat- ment at Victoria Hospital. Her daughter. Susan. spent the time in Stratford with her aunt and uncle and fami- ly, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Rader. Ray Patterson and Edna Woodburn. Grand Bend, were Saturday evening guests with Mr. and Mrs. Ir- vin Rader. Miss Idella Gabel ARCT announced results of her music pupils with the Royal Conservatory of music. Grade 8 piano. honors Lorelei Robinson: pass, Colleen Glasgow; Grade 5 piano, honors. Lee O'Rourke; pass, Allyson Shepherd and Susan Sullivan: Grade 2 Rudiments. first class honors. Shelley Hoffman and Lorelei Robinson. Jonathan. Judith and Rachel Mellecke and Drew Hasselbach from Zion Lutheran Church attended a weekend youth retreat at Point Farms. Goderich. Professor Fricke from Ann Arbor spoke on Evolution, Science and Faith. .DESSERT, TOO - Dianne and Darlene Steckle prepare ice cream sundaes at the Mennonite Youth booth at the Zurich Bean Festival, Saturday. Staff photo DISHING OUT THE BEANS — Helping bean festival publicity chairman Glenn Thiel dish out bean dinners were Steve Consitt (left) and Jeff Consitt (right). Energy Ontario Hydro staff will begin energy surveys of homes in rural parts of the province starting August 31. The free survey is part of the Residential Energy Ad- visory Program (REAP), announced by ,Ontario's Minister of Energy in June. The program offers a home energy survey and loans of up to $2,000 to im- prove energy efficiency and /or convert an oil -heating system to electricity if there is at least a 50 percent reduction in oil consump- tion. Many municipal utilities are expected to be ready to introduce the program in late 1981 - early 1982 after staff training. Ontario Hydro will make arrangements to assist smaller utilities to under- take the survey. While REAP will initially be available to Hydro's direct rural customers currently on oil -heating systems, customers with other types of heating systems can participate. Here's how the program will work: Custorfiers will receive a letter from Ontario Hydro outlining the program and inviting the homeowner to make an appointment if an energy survey is desired. The survey will be carried out by trained staff who will provide a list of recommen- dations on how the homeowner can increase the energy efficiency of the house. The survey will be wide- ranging, covering everything from insulation, weatherstripping, energy use, and fuel costs, to heating system alternatives and upgrading of wiring. In- formation will also be made available on the Canadian Oil Substitution Program (COSP) and the Canada Home Insulation Program (CHIP). Loans will be available to a maximum of $2,000, repayable over five years, at an interest rate based on On- tario Hydro's cost of borrow- ing, currently in the range of 15 to 17 percent. ,All COSP and CHIP grants, however, must first be exhausted, and the homeowner must pay the first $200 towards the cost of improvements before the Hydro loan. Maximum payback period is five years, with a minimum monthly payment of $20. While the Federal COSP program covers any work survey begins done since last October, any work qualifying.for a Hydro loan must be done after the energy survey is performed. • The Residential Energy Advisory Program is scheduled to run for 10 years. • Wl i z on cJ? ct c.' plc 7L'i FARM MARKS Come Out to The Farm and Get FRESH VEGETABLES and • FRESH EGGS Featuring: Potatoes, Tomatoes, Onions, Carrots, Cabbage, Beets & Corn for your freezer (available by order) JAVin ,tiCitif AND IAMII! R R 7 Zurich 565-7127 Cloud Sundays .• 9 F1ov,trs Guiada SPECIALS!! 100% Whole Wheat or Six Grain BREAD Baden XXX Colby- Havarti Zurich Svaforth 236-4912 527-11103