HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-12-28, Page 2174, _rut fara
November 1
• Local supported helped tip scales, Area residents who travelled to
the No Rally in Montreal took some of the credit in a narrow win for
federalism. The official results of the referendum vote put the No side
at 49.7 per cent and the Yes at 48.5 per cent.
• Citizen of the year named. The annual Town Banquet held to
recognize the contribution volunteers make to their community named
John Stephens as citizen of the year. Among his many contributions,
Stephens, was recognized for being chairperson of the Park Project
Committee.
IN Police cruiser damaged in high speed chase. A police cruise was
damaged when an object was tossed from the pursued vehicle during a
chase. Following a break and enter at the Ailsa Craig Apothecary,
Lucan OPP officers chased the stolen vehicle at speeds reaching 160
kilometers.
November 8
• Protesters rally against program cuts. A group of about 50 people
gathered in the cold outside the Main Street office of Huron MPP
Helen Johns in protest of•the provincial government's announcement
to cut funding to Ontario Second Stage Housing programs.
• Grand Bend Council offers overnight parking passes. The village
will offer parking passes for a flat rate during the 1996 tourist season.
Council passed a recommendation put forth by the Parking and Law
Enforcement Committee asking the village to provide 35 overnight
passes for a rate of $65.
• Cuts to winter road maintenance. Ministry of Transportation
announced large cuts to winter maintenance operations on Ontario
roads. The number of patrols on highways were reduced by 40 per
cent. The cuts will•save the province approximately $6.5 million.
• November 15
• Deer accidents reached peak. A high number of deer are being hit
by motorists on local highways this season due to an increase in the
population. Heavily wooded areas along highways such as the Pinery
Provincial Park and Hay Swamp are prime targets for such accidents.
• Council questions need for firetanker in village. A letter of
response from Stanley and Hay Townships regarding a user rate for
the firetanker led to much discussion by Zurich Council regarding the
need for a tanker within the village. The pumper has enough water for
approximately 10 minutes of use, providing firefighters with time to
connect hosed to the hydrants.
• Construction of warm room begin. Board members of the Rec
Centre discussed the project and said construction should be
completed by early December. Members of the community have long- •
requested a warm and'accessible room be built in the arena for those
with respiratory problems, the elderly and the physically challenged.
November 22
IN Community salutes Fire Chief Gary Middleton. Exeter Firefighters
said goodbye to their chief with humor, enthusiasm and sincerity.
Recently -retired Fire Chief Gary Middleton was recognized at a
surprise party commemorating his 35 years of service.
• Scouts conduct paper drive. The First Exeter Scouts organized their
first paper drive with overwhelming success. Over 40 children
involved with Beavers, Cubs, -Scouts and Venturers went door-to-door
collecting recylable paper from area businesses and residences to raise
money for scouting activities.
• Council addresses snowmobile ban in Grand Beni'. A recent
decision by Grand Bend Council to ban snowmobile ridefs from
operating inside village boundaries raised concern from area business
owners. They claim the new by-law will hurt area businesses that
depend on transient customers during the winter.
November 29
■ Stephen an Exeter take first steps to amalgamation. The councils
of Stephen and Exeter announced in a joint press conference, they plan
to amalgamate the two communities into one. The new municipality
of 9,000 residents will lay the groundwork for the future prosperity of
the area.:.:: .
Three local heroes received citation for bravery. Three local
residents received the Commissioner's Citation for Bravery at an OPP
awards presentation ceremony. Fred Wells, of Ailsa Craig, Randy
Hart of Parkhill and Cliff Hicks Of Crediton were recognized for their
quick reaction after a vehicle was driven off the road.
■ Exeter Court listed among closings. Exeter has been included in a
list of communities that could see their local court close. The Ministry
of the Attorney General is considering setting up a regional court
system next spring. The move will save an estimated $32.6 million.
Times -Advocate, December 28, 1995 Page 21
Festival receives Lieutenant -Governor's award
BLYTH - The Blyth Festival has
been chosen one of three Ontario
arts organizations to receive the
prestigious new Lieutenant -
Governor's Awards for the Arts.
This unique awards program was
established by Henry Jackman, On-
tario's Lieutenant Governor, to en-
courage and reward the efforts of
those Ontario arts organizations
which have ,built exceptional pri-
vate sector and community support.
The festival has long been regard-
ed for its outstanding contribution
to new play development in Cana-
da. The other two winners of the
$25,000 awards are Canadian Stage
Company and Tafelmusik Baroque
Orchestra.
Professional, non-profit, charita-
ble arts organizations•across Onta-
rio were invited to apply for three
$25,000 awards, but Jackman in his
announcement said, "I was so im-
pressed by the calibre of the appli-
cants, 1 decided to give an addition-
al $60,000 this year through the
Henry N.R. Jackman Foundation."
The nine recipients of the Lieuten-
ant Governor's Awards for the Arts
were selected by a panel made up
of Jackman, Toronto businessman
and philanthropist Joseph Rosman.
and Daniel Donaldson, general
manager of The Centre in the
Square in Kitchener.
In announcing the award recip-
ients, Jackman said: "Increased lev-
els of private sector support are
critical to the survival and future
prosperity of the arts in Canada,
given decreasing levels of public
support. The purpose , of these
awards is to reward those organiza-
tions which are meeting this obvi-
ous challenge through new and in-
novative community and private
partnerships."
The Blyth Festival has dey eloped
strong private support in the Vil-
lage of Blyth, in the neighboring re-
gion. and across the country. In a
1992 fundraising effort, Canadian
celebrities successfully challenged
more than 18,000 Blyth supporters
to match their contributions in a
special Benefactors' Campaign. In
1993, through its deep-rooted ties
to the community, the Festival
raised funds by appearing for per-
sonal loans from long-time support-
ers. Since 1994, the Festival has de-
veloped other sources' of revenue
through initiatives such as rental of
theatre facilities, festival -sponsored
community country suppers, and a
'volunteer production of Peter and
the Wolf for over 4,000 school chil-
dren.
Volunteers play a major role in
the festival's community involve-
ment, spearheading such initiatives
as the Student Drama Workshops
and the Teen Drama Festival. Since
1994, the Blyth Festival has seen a
25 per cent rise in its volunteer
base.
The children Grand Bend Nursery School take a breath after their Christmas concert at
Grand Bend United Church recently. The youngsters sang Christmas carols for their parents
before breaking for treats.
Peter Antaya, manager of Sean, presents a cheque on Dec. 18 to Capt. Bram Reid of the St.
Marys Salvation Army The funds aro for the organization's Cheer Fund, which, across Canada,
sells Christmas gift boxes. Money rdlsed will be used for food, diapers, formula and Christmas
treats In hospitals and senior citizen homes.
•
"In Canada, charitable jiving to
the arts by both corporations and
individuals is less than half that in
the United States, while public sup-
port is several times greater," said
Jackman. "It seems obvious that
Canada's private sector needs to
play a greater role. If government
funding can be maintained at sus-
tainable levels and if private sector
funding can be substantially in-
creased, the arts in Canada will
continue to grow and maintain their
reputation for excellence."
Donald C. Paterson, President of
the Ontario Arts Foundation, said
"The announcement of the first re-
cipients of the Lieutenant Govern-
or's Awards for the Arts is wel-
comed by the arts community.
Jackman's decision to create these
awards demonstrates his belief in
the wisdom of building an endow-
ment to support artistic activity in
the province, and serves as a chal-
lenge to others in the private sector
to follow his lead."
Keith Roulston, president of the
Blyth Board of Directors, was de-
lighted to hear the news. "This is a
wonderful- testament to the out-
standing work of our Board mem-
bers and volunteers. The many part-
nerships we have in our community
are all part of what makes the Festi-
val strong and resilient."
In January 1995, Jackman made
the $I million gift from the Henry
N.R. Jackman Foundation to the
Ontario Arts Council Foundation
for the endowment which finances
the annual Lieutenant Governor's
Awards for the Arts. Jackman
chose the Ontario Arts Council
Foundation because its sole pur-
pose is to build an endowment for
the arts in Ontario. Established in
1991, the Ontario Arts Council
Foundation currently manages gifts
and bequests of approximately $13
million which fund a variety of
awards and programs for the arts.
Jackman welcomed the recently
announced intention of the Govern-
ment of Ontario to allow a number
of arts organizations, including the
Ontario Arts Council, to estalish
Crowhh foundations with more fa-
vorable tax treatment to donors.
"This presents the arts community
with the possibility of benefitting
from significant donor designated
gifts from the private sector, which
could inject dramatic new sources
of revenue into the -arts."
Moving not a pleasant experience
The first rental company, in my
opinion has no use for the little
guys....
Dear Editor:
Moving is never a pleasant experience, so plan-
ning ahead I felt was essential. My family was help-
ing our parents move. I called around to find an in-
expensive truck for the move. The old saying goes
you get what you pay for. We booked a 24 ft. truck
from a dealer in Exeter.
My parents were moving from Glencoe to Grand
Bend. Everyone was to meet in Glencoe at 9 a.m.
Saturday. We booked the truck for 8 a.m. (three
weeks earlier). The Friday evening before the move
at 5:50 p.m., the phone call came informing us our
booked truck was not likely to be there.
When we asked why his reply was "Well the com-
pany just took it. Because of the time of the call I
had no chance to talk to anyone who was in charge
until the next morning. The next morning was upset-
ting. The woman in charge informed me they
couldn't guarantee me a truck for a specific time or
location. I was shocked and replied, why would
someone have told me that when I booked it? I per-'
sonally had never heard anything so ridiculous.
To make a long story short she gave me three op-
tions.
1. Drive to Brantford to.get a truck.
2. Drive to Windsor to get a truck.
3. Wait until 12 or I p.m. and get a smaller truck
with a trailer if it was back on time.
The first rental company, in my opinion has no
use for the little guys because management takes the
trucks from the dealers, so it must be policy. Not a
good way to run a business. My parents did get
moved however. Thank -You Ryder Truck Rentals.
Connie Weber
RR 3 Exeter, Ont.
Who, me?
"Our sloppy habits prove we don't
care..."
Dear Editor:
The enclosed editorial was written to "Whom it
may concern", locally, provincially, nationally and
worldly.
I seen the picture and read your article with re-
spect to litter and the smoking cigarette slaves of
the High School. l also respect the well-written edi-
torial in reply from Brad Hartman, Jackie Morgan
and Stephanie Pearson from S.H.D.H.S.
While the community's attention is focused on
this; society's dilemma, it may provoke more
thought and controversy if you wish to publish.
Who?, Me!
Respectfully,
Harry A. Schroeder
Who? Me!
"I have my rights", the litter bug said,
If
"I can do as I please, don't bother your head
Follow my trail by the litter I leave
You pick up it! put your mind at ease."
"We're a clandestine crowd, we're everywhere
Our sloppy habits prove we don't care
We're all worldwide, even outer space
We're lazy, ignorant beings of the human race."
We're a use then discard society
In debt 'cause we waste so sparingly
Bottles, cartons, cans, you name it we got them
Even throw away diapers from baby's bottom.
Smokers have rights most all will agree
If they'd stick their butts where they should be
Keep their smoke to themselves, don't blow it our
way
Gun powder will tarnish a used ash tray.
Guilty or not!, what plea will it be?
We reap what we sow, harvest what we see
Are you part of the problem or it's solution
Our dignity grows without litter pollution.
Harry A. Schroeder
Of dollars and day care
...we have ignored the contribu-
tions of all those mothers and fa-
thers who believed that their off-
spring fully deserved whatever
sacrifice personal parental care
entailed."
Dear Editor:
Once again, children's day-care is the subject of
government concern. Responding to Ottawa's offer
of possible new funding arrangements, David Tsu-
bouchi, Ontario's minister of community and social
services, has called for discussions of how the pro-
posal would benefit Ontarians.
It's an old truism that governments can do noth-
ing but collect and spend taxes. But, in spending our
money they influence our lives and shape our socie-
ty.
For the past three decades Canadian society has
emphasized and importance of facing women from
their traditional roles of motherhood and home mak-
ing. Women have transformed the workplace, the
world of business and that of politics. And who
would argue that these changes were not necessary
and beneficial to us all?
Many of today's adults, however, who were them-
selves the product of non -parental day-care might
have a different view. They have been denied a
birthright. Regardless of the quality of outside day-
care, they have missed having something of funda-
mental importance to their lives. Extensive studies
now show that this deprivation comes at a steep
price.
According to Doctor Mark Genuis, founder and
director of Canada's National Foundation for Fami-
ly Research and Education, non -parental care for
more than 20 hours per week has an unmistakably
negative effect on social -emotional development,
behavioural adjustment and, parental bonding.
If those words have the ring of a social worker's
vocabulary it's because the problems these young
people so often have finish up as society's problems
and society's expenses.
The studies quoted by Dr. Genuis also show that
the ability to learn is not helped by non -parental
care.
These findings might be of less concern were they
not based on a process known as meta-analysis, a
study that combines and standardizes the findings of
all the studies on day-care conducted throughout the
world since 1957.
Through subsidies to double -income parents
(whether needy or not), through direct financial aid
to day-care centres as such, and through income tax
as well as pension biases, successive governments
have encouraged denial to children of the essential
nurturing benefits that can only be given them by
parents who stay at home.
For thirty years we have ignored the contributions
of all those mothers and fathers who believed that
their offspring fully deserved whatever sacrifice per-
sonal parental care entailed.
This is not to deny the genuine financial need of
single parents who must work. Nor does it withdraw
encouragement, and moral support from all those
who have chosen career instead of parenthood.
It does, however, speak for those too young to
protest. Surely it's time to put their needs first, not
last. 1t speaks also for all those who would choose
home and children over workplace, if they could. It
cheers on those who could and did.
In their discussions, involving yet another $720
million of federal taxes plus an unknown amount of
additional provincial taxes, Messrs, Axworthy and
Tsubouchi could well take a page from Alberta's
book. That province's government has made the
commitment to consider families in everything it
does - an idea worth adopting throughout Canada.
Specifically, governments should agree to:
• treat family income as that, for taxation purpos-
es. At present, a two -earner Ontario family with two
children and a $60,000 income pays $9,874 income
tax, but a one -earner, two -child family with identi-
cal income and a stay-at-home parent, must pay
$17,197 a penalty of more than $7,300;
• stop giving money we haven't got to those who
don't need it. Currently, for example, the Child Care
Expense Deduction results in a $7,000 gift for all
two -child families paying for day core, regardless of
income;
• help genuinely needy families with the resultant
savings;
• recognize that today's children are tomorrow's
taxpayers. Supporting them now by encouraging
personal parental care, especially during the early
years is, at the crassest level, a sound societal invest-
ment.
Antony Kirby
•