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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-04-10, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, April 10, 199E J / V T l-'. I' V F. Y Y . 7 Regional wrap up Plowmen receive cheque for. plowing match HURON COUNTY - At the March 28 session of county council. Neil McGavin and Paul Betties of- the Huron County Plowmen's Association were presented -with d cheque for $5,1)111) from Huron Warden Bill Clifford. According to the Huron Ex- nositor. the funds represented the first installment of the county's contribution towards the upcoriiing international Plowing Match to be held near Dashwood in 1999. MSavin told council the iPM committee's next task is to create a logo and theme. There will also be a promotional com- mittee formed soon, he told the Expositor. Tentative logos have included 'Huron 99' and 'Year of the Great One' since the committee is trying to get Wayne Grctzky - No. 99. to open the event. Library needs long-term plan MITCHELL - At its April I regular meeting, council decided a five-year capitol plan is need- ed before funds are spent to ugrade the Mitchell Public Li- brary. . -According toltur,Mitithtell Ad --R ,,Ocate, Mayor :1441. XvlcCau ghey introduced the idea of spending $15,000 this year to improve the library's front en- trance. This would he just the beginning in a long-term plan to revamp the 88 -year-old build- ing, he explained. Council felt a carefully orga- nized spending plan would be beneficial. McCaughey pointed out op- tions to consider include the pos- sibility of, moving the library downstairs where it wnuld be more accessible. Community Food Cupboard • supply dwindles MITCHELL - Although mon- etary donations remain favorable and there have been fewer visi- tors to the Mitchell Community Food Cupboard since Christmas, the supply is not meeting the de- mand, reported the Mitchell Ad- vocate. Paster Derek Mathers told the Advocate $2,000 was donated to the food cupboard to purchsc food since January. A group of people are work- ing to gather volunteer help. The group, who will meet later this month, hopes 'i expand to other area groups. Car crashes into front of restaurant VANAS/RA - Patrons suf- fered minor injuries when a car driven by a Teeswater area man crashed through the front win- dow at Kate's Station Restaurant on April 2. When the car entered the building it caused damage to brick Work, windows, tables, a partidon and two high chairs. Lucan Council supports 125 committee decision Attempt is made to diffuse conflict between 125 executive and heritage committee LUCAN - After brief discussion, council supported its 125 anniversary committee in its decision to allow the Molly Maguires rather than heritage committee displays to take the stage in the village's main hall in June. "Time is running out," said Councillor Reg Crawford, when the motioW Was passed. "A lot of people are really trying hard to make this come off," said 125 Committee Member Norman Steeper concerning the celebrations. Steeper brought this message to council's April 2 meeting along with an apology directed towards the Lucan and Area Heritage Committee mem- bers. "1 listened very carefully to Mr. Anderson's presentation," he said, re- ferring to wiener read at council's March 18 meeting. Mike Anderson, the heritage committee chair, had asked for council's support in the heritage request to use the hall. "1 know the members of the heritage are hurt. i apologize for that hurt," said Steeper, who urged the heritage committee to "come back," saying the event "needs the heritage component." "1 suspect by rot being involved, down the road they will have to face many questions they shouldn't have to face...Many of their recent actions have not been entirely helpful...the tail is trying to wag the dog." "We haven't left," said Anderson in a later interview, "nor are we pre- pared to leave....Right now we are seeking alternative venues" The heritage committee remains responsible for the 125 wagon tours, parade and festival in the park as well as the historical displays. "Mr. Steeper and all of council seemed to have missed the point," An- derson continued. "I was extremely confused by his remarks." Steeper said he wants the heritage committee to be recognized, and agreed its argument is realistic. However, he stands by the 125 com- mittee's decision, which, he pointed out, was made based on factors in- cluding safety, security and traffic flow. "Just because a method is different doesn't mean it's wrong. It's just dif- ferent," he said, adding the argument between the committees has divided Lucan. "We all live in Lucan. We're neighbors. We're friends. We're rel- atives." According to Steeper, the 125 committee's plan included diffusing her- itage throughout the celebrations rather than having it located in one place. "We have never planned a 125 meeting before," he said, adding errors in judgement do occur in such circumstances. "One must realize a committee needs latitude." "Hundreds and hundreds of hours" have been dedicated to the 125 cel- ebrations, reported Reeve Tom McLaughlin who,, along with 125 com- mittee, members, urged local press to provide positive coverageof celebo_ Ontario's provincial parks start reservations May 1 PETERBOROUGH - Ontarios' provincial parks system is standard- izing its 1996 campsite reservation service, meaning most park reserva- tions will begin being accepted May I. There :ire only four exceptions to this policy: Algonquin, Point Farms and Sauhlc Falls, where reservation services open April 1, and Quetico which accepts reservations starting February I as part of backcountry travel packages. In the past, a few other provincial parks have also offered early reser- vation services. Campers who have previously booked campsites' at these parks by telephone, mail or in-person will now be able to do so, beginning May I. "This measure will reduce our op- erating costs," said Natural Re- sources Minister Chris Hodgson. "We have tried to choose cost- saving measures that have the least impact on our park customers. We will have rpore than two months in which to process reservations be- fore the busy July -August camping period." Hodgson added. "We will be working hard to ac- cept customers' requests starting May 1," said Ontario Parks Manag- ing Director, Norm Richards. "This year, another eight parks will im- plement the new computerized res-• crvation/registration system, which will also us to process applications faster. Now, more than 80 per cent of our reservations will he handled through its computer service." For more information abdut On- tario provincial parks ,visitors can call 1-806-668-2746,,or within Me- tro Toronto (416) 314-0944. Q uestioii of 1ie \Vee The Exeter, Grand Bend, Stephen, Llsborne ' Amalgamation Committee has been meeting for several months and as the study process unfolds, it is inevitable questions will arise. In order to answer these questions in a public forum, the communication sub -committee will submit a regular response to a "question of the week." We appear to be rushing into amalgamation. Why? All the Councils involved in our amalgamation discussions were elected in the November 1994 municipal elections, for a three year term ending November 1997. Bach Council has made it their goal to determine the feasibility of amalgamation prior to the end of their term of office. Should amalgamation prove acceptable, candidate registration for positions on the restructured municipal Council would begin January i, 1997. Delaying the study process and decision beyond 1996, could interfere with the election plans of new candidates, and ultimately result in a loss of continuity if the decision is postponed until after the 1997 election. It is therefore appropriate that our current councils make a final decision on amalgamation in 1996. The Committee is committed to a detailed analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the proposal, along with extensive public participation. We believe a rigorous, thoughtful and fair process can be adequately accomplished within the above time frame. Hop-a-thon Children at Toddler's inn Nursery School at Bethel Reformed Church in Exeter participated in a two -minute hop-a-thon to raise nearly $1,000 for Muscular Dystrophy on Thursday. At left are hoppers Brandon Millar, of the Hensall area and Abby DeWeerd of Exeter. ions - west workshop comes to MIddlesex By Brenda Burke T -A Reporter LUCAN - Educators, community leaders and parents participated in Middlesex County's first three-day Lions -Quest training workshop, which was held at St. Patrick's School at the end of March. The workshop focused on school- based prevention programs created by Lions Clubs international and Quest International, which teach children to develop healthy re- lationships, set goals and avoid negative influences such as drugs. in times of cutbacks and reduced budgets, pointed out John Barry, a vice principal at The Robarts School in London, such programs arc now rare. With his own children attending St. Patrick's, he came up with the idea to bring the progr6m to the Lu - can area where participants from II derton, London, Strathroy and Glencoe also attended. Facilitator Pete Parissi, a former teacher of 35 years, has travelled across Canada leading the work- shops which, he stressed, are ''not just for teachers" but for other groups who work with children such as ministers, police officers, gid guide leaders and day care staff. With a main goal to develop pos- itive behaviors, the workshop fo- cused on gaining a working knowl- edge of Skills for Growing, designed for students in Kindergart- en to Grade 5, Skills ' for Ad- olescence, for Grades 6 to 8 and Skills for Action, aimed at Grades 9 to 12. Referring to the work "We're really shop participants who gathered in Lucan, Pa- appreciative to rissi admitted "there was the local Li - some anxiety when they this workshop and their support of the youth of the community," she added. The charitable organization has trained at least 20,000 adults to take the programs to schools and communities across ' Canada. in many communities the clubs fund - raise to pay for the cost of training and course materials. When Lions held an in- ternational symposium in 1983, members explored the negative effects of drug use and made a commitment 10 educate youth. The positive re- sults of their Skills for Adolescence program led thein to support Skills for Growing and Skills for Action pro - first came in, about standing up and pre- senting to a group." But jitters were soon replaced by laughter since workshop rules were based on positive attitudes similar to those taught to the children. One workshop goal was to "to ex- change ideas with others, share suc- cesses, meet new' people and have fun." Carol Small, Vice Principal at Biddulph Central Public School, was left with a "very positive im- pression" of the workshop that pro- vided her with "refreshing ideas" to incorporate into her grade 6 and 7 classes. "We're really appreciative to the local Lions Clubs for sponsoring ons Clubs for sponsoring this workshop and their sup- port of the youth of the community." grams. The Lions -Quest Canada Mission Statement reflects the organization is "dedicated to fostering positive youth development by producing and disseminating effective tools to empower and unite caring adults in all aspects of children's lives." "These tools," it continues, "in- clude innovative and well - researched programs, products, trainings and services for parents, educators and community leaders.' Parents, educators and community leaders take part in a three-day Lions -Quest work- shop held at St, Patrick's School in late March. The school-based prevention program aims to teach adults to provide children with ideas that foster healthy relationsips, goal - setting and avoidance of negative influences such as drugs.