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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-07-26, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, July 26, 1995 Publisher & Editor Jim Beckett Business Manager Don Smith Production Manager. Deb Lord i; Barb Consitt News; Heather MW, Chris Skalkos, Ross Haugh, Brenda Burke p$; Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Robert Nicol, Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner, Marg Flynn Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front ?Mice & Accounting; Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings, Ruthanne NegrlJn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple The Exeter Times Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers ox.,A" °M~ providing news, advertising and information leadership • • pinion Explore all options he fact that Exeter Coun- cil is exploring a variety of options to determine the direction to proceed in building a new library is an indi- cation taxpayers can expect to re- ceive good value for their invest- ment. Prolonged discussions by council have centered around four or possi- bly five scenarios ranging from a cost of $426,048 to $538,340. A good part of making the right deci- sion is whether or not it is believed that the empty building, formerly oc- cupied by the town police, is too val- uable to be used by community groups on an occasional basis. Is there too much money already tied•yp in this building that would only see moderate use at best? If the answer to this question is yes, you can eliminate all options that do not have it as part of a new library.' Another question council must face: Is demolishing the present li- brary at a cost of several thousand dollars a wise move? More green space would be created to enhance th. town square but a valuable piece of Exeters history would disappear. Is the old library a total writeoff or could it be used as a meeting place similar to the function formerly served by the old town hall? The options expressed so far ap- parently qualify the town to apply for a grant of 50 per cent of the con- struction costs. Option 1- expand the police sta- tion to the north and east, build a 2,000 sq. ft. addition bringing'the size of the new library to 6,200 sq. ft. The old library would still be around to be used by local groups al- though it would still need some re- furbishing. Estimated cost is $426,048. Option 2 - expand the former po- lice station as above, demolish the old library creating additional park and green space. Cost is $436,048. Option 3 - expand the existing li- brary with a two-storey addition leaving the existing police station for community groups. Estimated cost is tea... Publications Mail Registration Number 0386 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: CANADA Within 40 miles (85 km.) addressed to non Tetter +drier addresses $33.00 plus 62.310.3.T. Outside 40 miles (85 km.) oe any latter carrier address 333.00 plus 630.00 (total 83.00) 4. 4.31 0.3.T. Outside Canada 399.00 plus 38.93 GST (Includes $88.40 postage) Published Earth Wednesday Mondrig at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 388 by J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Telephone 1.819.238-1331 • Fax: 519.235-0766 e.a.T. NK05210131 $542,752. Option 4 - tear down the old li- brary, build a new one -storey build- ing totalling 4,200 sq. ft. Because the building is on one floor the available green space would be less. This op- tion would see the police station used by community groups. Cost approxi- mately $538,340. Another plan suggested by clerk - treasurer Liz Bell would be to have the library as part of the town hall ex- pansion. This would eliminate the need for another elevator. No esti- mate was given for this idea. Unless a better idea comes forth over the next few weeks, before the presentation of the five choices at a public meeting in early September,• the first option could very well set the direction council will proceed even though it does not include much- needed renovations to the library. Es- timated cost for this is another $150,000. It makes use of the police station which has been sitting empty since the OPP took over our law enforce-. ment. It has been listed as the least expensive and it still leaves the li- brary building to be used for other purposes. Lastly, and perhaps most important, the building would have the library on one level which is bet- ter because security and staffing problems are lessened. The county li- brarian has advised that a one -level building is preferable. It was almost 20 years ago that the old town hall, which, incidentally, was also the former policestation of the day, was slated to be a parking lot until the Exeter Heritage Committee saved this building. Now that same building, which narrowly escaped demolition, is the cornerstone of the Town Square project. If there is a similar sentiment about the old library perhaps this building will remain as a vital part of our town. We hope more discussion among our councillors will show there is less reason to demolish one of the few historic buildings we have left. A View From Queen's Park TORONTO - Mike Harris is dominating On- tario politics so thoroughly there is concern whether there will be any real opposition to him in the legislature. The Progressive Conservative premier won 82 of 130 seats in the June 8 election and the Liberals and New Democrats swept away by the Tory tide have remained almost submerged. The public's interest is naturally in Harris, be- cause he is new and in rapid succession has formed a cabinet, reorganized the top civil ser- vice, started cutting spending and ended photo radar and the former NDP government's ver- sion of employment equity. For six weeks the NDP uttered scarcely a word of protest while the Tories scrapped some of their cherished programs. Leader and former premier Bob Rae has a part-time job as a uni- versity teacher and may be too busy preparing lectures on the role of the opposition. Liberal leader Lyn McLeod is similarly pre- occupied planning her exit, although a couple By Eric Dowd OtITARIO Pelee a pretty point We took a short two day holiday two weeks ago in the Leamington area and made a short two hour visit to Point Pelee National Park. This is the most southern corner of the province of On- tario and all of Canada and is the spot where thousands of Monarch butterflies take off each fall for the 3,000 mile trip to Mexico to spend the winter. We will talk more about the Monarch butterfly in an up- coming column. A silhouette of an evergreen atop rocky soil may represent much of Canada's woodland, but Point Pelee's forest is best pictured by vines climbing up old hardwoods. This southern type of forest, often called Carolinian, can be explored in Canada only in a few areas north of Lake Erie and the Port Franks area, just south of Pinery Provin- cial Park is one of them. At the beginning of the woodland nature trail at Point Pelee, you are on the edge of such a forest. Expect to find a variety of trees uncommon in Canada. They are the sassa- fras, sycamore, black walnut, and the most abundant tree in the park, the hackberry. One can enjoy the diversity of plants and animals as you cross three habitats - dry for- est, wet forest and cedar sa- vannah. But the underlying feature to notice is the park's southern atmosphere, the vine entangled scene. This forest was not always as it is now. Earlier in Point Pelee's history, red cedar was the most dominant tree. In fact, in 1893, one local resi- dent was granted the right to cut all cedars, five inches or more in diameter, a total of 11,400 trees. Today, although the red ce- dars are protected from the axe, they may fall victim to the advancing army of hack - berry, hickories and Pelee's other broad-leaved trees The downed cedar has sim- ply been shaded out. How long ago did this event take place? Remember that the resin -soaked wood of cedar makes it resistant to decay. There is a "hole" lot of life at Point Pelee. Take a minute to look at the trees and count the holesyou find. There are at least nine. Each cavity is an opportunity for plant and animal to interact. Watch carefully. Listen for rustling and you might see an Eastern Grey Squirrel. Woodpeckers, wrens, mice and even fox snakes use tree holes. But don't forget that trees are major hosts to many insects too. Look betwe'en.khe double trunk of a nearbrtree and you will find a tree pool, home to several species of mosquitoes which breed only in such cavities. The first nature trail is one section of Pelee's forest which stands today as one of the least disturbed sites in the park. While nearly half of Pe - lee's area was cleared for cot- tages or farms, this area was only subjected to selective logging. In 1939, on the rec- ommendation of three biolo- gists, the area was fenced off as a nature reserve. In 1955 this trail was built, the first in Canada's national parks, simply to access wod- land nature. All in all, Point Pelee is a great place to visit and enjoy the beauty and quiet of nature in all its glory. of her MPPs individually have attacked the To- ries. Both opposition parties have appointed critics for ministries, but they have not done much criticizing. The opposition parties may have rationalized that in the early months of a new government the. public is not interested in hearing from any- one else. But there are criticisms of Tory policies worth making and most have had to come from organizations outside the legislature such as municipal heads, tenants and anti -poverty groups, who sometimes have rolled up to con- front the Tories. The opposition parties also are so weakened with the Liberals down to 30 MPPs and NDP to 17 that there are questions how effective they will be in the longer term. Both will lose lead- ers. Rae has reinforced the belief he will go by taking part-time work, which an opposition leader serious about his job would not find time to do, and as an effective parliamentarian will Opposition parties? be missed. McLeod could never have expected to stay after being handed a substantial lead and los- ing. Being without permanent leaders for as long as a couple of years also will hamper the opposition parties in finding firm directions. Parties have had smaller caucuses and provid- ed spirited opposition. The NDP with as few as seven MPPs but quality members including Stephen Lewis gave a Tory government un- comfortable times in the 1960's. But one concern is whether the opposition parties will still have the heart. They have to feel disillusioned that after 10 years out of gov- ernment the Tories who ruled for 42 years until 1985 are back in full force as if it was their di- vine right. Will it take that long to get rid of them again? • The Liberals have had stuffing knocked out of them because polls suggested they were al- most assured of retrieving the government they lost through poor strategy in 1990. Will they find the determination to climb back knowing their capacity for stumbling near the peak? Their best performers in the legislature. depu- ty leader Sean Conway, who raised thoughts he should have been leader every time he substi- tuted in McLeod's absence, and ringwise house leader James Bradley, pondered retiring before the election - will they have enthusiasm to plug away again? The NDP through previous decades in oppo- sition was buoyed by belief that some day it would form a government and create a work- ers' paradise, but it has had its chance and para- dise was lost, so the hope no longer exists. But there are straws opposition parties can cling to. Leadership races can bring out the best in them. Voters remain volatile with Harris a prime example because he ran only a feeble third in the previous election. And last time Harris was in the legislature no one called him a world-beater. +4,