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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-12-20, Page 5IT'S YO1JR Bl1JNESS Times -Advocate, December 20,1995 Page 5 Small town taxi service is a people oriented business Chris Skalkos T -A staff EXETER - When you ask Ron Walker, owner of Exeter's only taxi company, what he does for a liv- ing. He'll tell you he's in the peo- ple business. Walker owns and operates Earl's Taxi, a business started over 40 years ago by his father-in-law Earl Dietrich who provided a small shut- tle service for military personnel in Centralia. Since Walker took over the busi- ness seven years he has come to ap- preciate the people who ride in his cab. After all, they are his paying customers, his neighbors and his friends. "I just like people or else I wouldn't be in this business," said Walker who estimates he gets 4,500 calls a year. "I get to know a lot of people in our community," he said. He also gets to have a lot of fun. How else would you describe over- hearing a group of 14 women vivid- ly discuss the anatomy of country and western hunk Billy Ray Cirus while shuttling them to a concert? Or witnessing a group of prom- inent and highly respected figures of the community exchange their shirts and ties for sweat shirts and a case of ale on their way down to an American football game? • Driving is only one of the ser- vices Walker provides for his cus- tomers. It's not uncommon for him to shovel the walkway of a senior citizen's home before he helps them to his cab, or run an errand to the dry-cleaners for someone while on his way to a fare. "We do things for people [cab drivers] don't usually do in the city. People here are more like your friends and relatives than clients so you treat them differently," he said. Running a taxi service in a small town also has its disadvantages. Unlike larger communities, busi- ness is slow when the weather gets bad as people are more apt to stay indoors and save their trip for an- other day. "I think it's the small town men- tality. The only people that venture out [in bad weather) are the young people who want to get to the beer store," he explained. Walker's busiest time of the year is New Year's Eve, his busiest sea- son is Spring, and according to Reimer to leave after '96 season GRAND BEND - Shirley McIn- tyre, president of the board of di- rectors announced recently Max Reimer, artistic director/general manager, has decided to leave the playhouse in order to become the managing/artistic director of Thea- tre Aquarius in Hamilton, Ontario. "Naturally we are sorry to see Max Reimer Max leave. he has been with us for the past four years and has produced some very outstanding entertainment for us," said McIn- tyre. "We understand that he must move on and grow and hopefully he will accomplish this at Theatre Aquarius." "While the playhouse celebrates its 25th anniversary season in the summer of 1996, I will be fini§h- ing the fourth of four fulfilling seasons at Huron Country Play- house," said Reimer. "I am thrilled with the unprecedented growth the theatre and I have ex- perienced together! My family and I have certainly enjoyed our time in Grand Bend," he conclud- ed. A search committee is in place and the wheels are in motion to find a new artistic director. Reim- er will complete his contract by directing Annie and The Hound of the Baskervilles. If the new artis- tic director is in place, he or she will direct Me and My Girl and begin preparations for the 1997 season. Environmental Gold Status certificate presented HURON COUNTY - The SEEDS Foundation has presented the Huron County Board of Educa- tion with a certificate in recogni- tion of the accomplishments of the students of Huron County in envi- ronmental awareness. The certifi- cate states the Huron County Board of Education has achieved the distinction of becoming an En- vironmental Gold School Board having exceeded an average of 30 projects completed per school for the entire school board. Projects were done as part of a student ac- tion program entitled Learners in Action or simply the 'green school' program. Congratulations to all schools who participated in this worthwhile project. Christmas By Shari Becker Grade 8, McCurdy Public School Jesus lay in a manger, covered with cloth. The north star shone brightly. • • By Chantal Yearley Grade 1/2, Stephen Central P.S. The -best Christmas was when mom and dad gave me a doll house. I liked it. It was fun and my sister was there with me. We played to- gether with it. Walker, the worst time to be on the roads in and around Exeter is on a warm summer Friday evening. With the Holidays in full swing one would think he would enjoy an increase in business from people who are drinking responsibly over the festive season, however, Walk- er said people are making an effort to drink responsibly year-round. "I look at it from the overall pic- ture not just for the Christmas hol- idays," he said, adding many or- ganizers of wedding receptions, sports banquets and other functions often hire him to sit outside to drive people home. Currently, Earl's Taxi consists of a small fleet of three cars and five vans Walker uses mostly in the spring for his charter service, but eventually he would like to es- tablish a regular busing system be- tween Exeter and the outlying com- munities. "I would like to see people have a way to get around or go and visit without worrying about how they're going to get there," said Walker. "It may take a few years but I think eventually it will hap- pen." The Best Christmas By Jessica Brown Grade 1/2, Stephen Central P.S. The best Christmas was when I was three because my family was there. Ron Walker, owner of Earl's Taxi in Exeter. Liquor outlets open Sunday EXETER - Exeter Council was advised Monday night that, since it had never opposed the sale of alco- holic beverages on Sunday , the LCBO and BRI outlets would be open this Sunday (Dec. 24). Coun- cillor Wendy Boyle moved that council go on record as opposing the opening of these facilities on Sunday as "... this is a church- going community and it is the phi- losophy of the B.I.A. that stores be closed on Sunday." Councillor Bob Spears replied, "Why would we deny someone from staying at home to drink when we allow them to go to restaurants Bill to repreal job quotas passed by legislature TORONTO - The Ontario Legis- lature passed Bill 8 - A bill to Re- peal Job Quotas and to Restore Merit -Based Employment Practic- es in Ontario. "Legislated job quotas in Onta- rio are gone. They were complete- ly unnecessary and unfair," said Marilyn Mushinski, minister of cit- izenship, • culture and recreation. "Discrimination in the workplace is already illegal under the prov- ince's Human Rights Code. The job quota laws only set the stage for divisiveness in the workplace and were an impediment to job creation." Bill 8 replaces the Employment Equity Act, 1993, as well as provi- sions of the Police Services Act and the Education Act that relate to employment equity. The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent within the next few days and will take effect at that time. When it does, the Employ- ment Equity Commission and Em- ployment Equity Tribunal will no longer exist. An amendment introduced by the government requires employers to destroy employee data collected and compiled exclusively for the purpose of complying with the workforce survey provisions of the Employment Equity Act, 1993. Other data collected from employ- ees under the Act, such as informa- tion on workplace barriers gathered during an employer's review of employment•policies and practices' may be retained. BUSINESS DIRECTORY AUCTIONEERS • Filson & Robson 35 Years Experience of Selling or Appraisals CMI or fax 619- 668.0833 for yours Mobile office, Immediate payment, 3 auctioneers we pick up and sell conn plete or partial household effects Specializing In real estate and general sales Advertise here and watch your business grow / Bob Heywood Ucensed Auctioneer Serving Exeter area for 10 )ears Large Auction Centre at 586 Main St. S. We will consign anything you want to sell or we will buy outright for cash. Complete auction Service Contact Bob Res. 2340874, ` Bus. 2354469 REPAIRS sawing Machine Repairs to all makes Free estimates 90 Day Warranty Experienced since 1952 Sew and Save Centre Ltd. 149 Downie $t., Strathyd Phone 271-9660 Mushinski plans to outline short- ly the government's non legislated, merit based approach to advance equal opportunity in the workplace. "Employers know that maximiz- ing the skills, talents and creativity of a diverse workforce is key to competitive success. Encouraging equal opportunity is one way of gaining and tis intaining that com- petitive edge," Mushinski said. "The approval of Bill 8 provides one more signal that Ontario is back in business and open for in- vestment." seems pretty hypocritical to me." and bars on Sunday to drink? It Boyle's motion was seconded by Councillor Thom Hughes, but i' received no other support. The Beer Store and the Liquor Store will both, therefore, be open this Sun- day. A very special thank you for your valued patronage. Harry Dougherty Income Tax and Accounting Service 85 Riverside Dr -Exeter 235-2156 Happy holiday wishes to all our wonderful customers. We have enjoyed serving you in the past and look forward to seeing you again next year. erry Mothers TYPEWRITERS 92 Main St. 235-1840 Exeter OFFICE EQUIPMENT & FURNITURE , Soles and Service At back, left to right, My/a Dykstra, Assistant; John Hendrick, Funeral Director; Ada Dinney, Assistant; William Dinney, Funeral Director and Cathy Dinney, Assistant. Seated in front: Bob Dinney, Funeral Director. ..losiof this Ala" Samos um would lig{ a to *dead owl Simone ThaMhs joii the claiael tisuet is us t 6 ouylrooI the yams cu d «rtawd last whited Io all is Ilse /Yaw *eau' This Samos, wa a4a laws q a Amalie" to the aospltal jo4 &oh Clutc 's tflodfdatlose, 9M 1'ogcloso, d dMio. 1 Tel: (519) 235-3 235.0231