Times Advocate, 1994-9-21, Page 28Page 28 Times -Advocate, September 21,1994
Ducks Unlimited Local chapter raises $7,000
By Fred Groves, T -A staff
KIRKTON - Preserving nature - that's what Ducks Unlimited Canada
is all about.
Last Wednesday night in Kirkton, nearly 100 people attended the 7th
Annual South Huron chapter and according to organizers raised about
$7,000.
Although that figure is down by about $3,000 from last year's Dinner
Auction fundraiser, the local chaptao is still very pleased with what it is
doing.
Ducks Unlimited originated in 1937 and in Ontario now have about
30,000 acres it is preserving. Some of that is just north of Clinton.
South Huron is proud to boast a 1,000 acre wetland not only avail-
able for hunters but bird -watchers as well.
"It's open to the public and it has been turned over to the ministry (of
Natural Resources) for management. There is hunting and it is po-
liced," said George Marr who is the chairman of the South Huron chap-
ter.
Called the Hullet Marsh, the Clinton site has taken nearly $5 million
to create. Not only do hunters enjoy their sport, but Marr said there is a
well -protected bird sanctuary.
"It's been turned back to waterfowl habitat," said Marr.
The marsh has been open to the public for 15 years. When the South
Huron chapter raise money it does not go directly to the marsh, but
rather, to Ducks Unlimited who disperse the funds which have been
raised across Canada.
"We have the dinner and all the proceeds go to Ducks Unlimited Can-
ada. What we raise is just a drop in the bucket to support the Hullett
Marsh," said Marr.
He noted the local chapter's membership is made up of both hunters
and non -hunters.
"A lot of them are bird watchers and are just concerned about the en-
vironment."
As far u hunters are concerned their has been a lot of controversy re-
cently over gun regulations.
"It's (hunters) a silent minority but it will get more vocal with the gun
control laws."
Besides the Hullett Marsh, Ducks Unlimited Canada is helping to sup-
port nesting boxes on private lands in Granton. The nesting boxes are
just another way Ducks Unlimited continue to help nature.
"A lot of the parks, when they need nesting boxes for ducks they go to
Ducks Unlimited," said Marr.
For every dollar raised by Ducks Unlimited volunteers, like those
from the South Huron chapter, 78 cents goes towards habitant conserva-
tion with the rest earmarked for administration and public relations and
education.
A Ducks Unlimited recruitment volunteers states, "you're invited to
join our group of far-sighted individuals who as sponsors have found a
constructive way to influence the quality of their environment."
Anyone wishing more information about Ducks Unlimited Canada
can call the Ontario head office at (705) 721-4444.
Rob Burnett, left; and George Marr display one of the paint-
ings
aintings auctioned off last Wednesday night.
free removal no loss
to Zurich main corner
Council was also
told hopes for a
village traffic light
aren't dead yet
ZURICH - Although a decision
was agonized over by council for
several months, the removal of sev-
en trees from Zurich main inter-
section has been confirmed as a
good move.
Councillor Keith Semple said he
has received several positive com-
ments from truck drivers pleased
with the increased visibility at the
corner.
Councillor Barb Jeffrey said the
corner doesn't look as bad without
the trees as she thought.
In another move to improve vis-
ibility at the main corner, council
will approach the Tenderspot gro-
cery store about the possibility of
moving its large pop machines.
Reeve Bob Fisher also com-
mented on stalled plans to put a
traffic light at the village's main in-
tersection. He said that contrary to
earlier reports, parking spaces
would not be lost if a light was in-
stalled.
"I know we can't afford them at
this time, but I'd like to have every-
thing on paper saying 'this is what
we can do'," said Fisher.
He said the proposal would then
go back to the Zurich Chamber of
Commerce to examine funding op-
tions, since the Ministry of Trans-
portation has concluded traffic vol-
ume is not great enough for them to
pay for a traffic light.
"We could have a light...we
wouldn't lose any parking spots,"
said Fisher.
Scenic garden
is job creation,
town argues
Exeter is appealing the loss of a job-
sOntario grant, particularly the sup-
port of the Lions' scenic garden
EXETER - The town is going ahead with an appeal over the fail-
ure to win a jobsOntario grant for Exeter projects.
Provincial grant assistance for parks and recreation projects worth
over $300,000 was rejected earlier this year.
Mayor Bruce Shaw told council he, John Stephens from the Lions
Club and Gary Bean went to MPP Paul Klopp's office to appeal the
grant decision.
"We haven't heard anything back, but we certainly have been en-
couraged, verbally at least, that our case is valid," said Shaw.
The town has prepared a revised submission, stressing the im-
portance of The Lions scenic garden project as connection to future
economic development in the town, and the job -creation aspects of
that development.
Councillor Ben Hoogenboom asked Shaw why someone with
NDP connections wasn't brought along for the visit with Klopp.
"Sometimes it's hard to find one," laughed Shaw.
Craft festival expanding
GRAND BEND - The annual
fall colour and craft festival held
in North Lambton October 15 and
16, develops into a regional -scale
event his year, involving commu-
nity groups and service clubs at six
locations. The primary focus of the
event is the Christmas Craft Sale,
sponsored by the Lambton Heri-
tage Museum, which offers works
of country decorating accessories,
unique handpainted silk, paper
crafts, jewellery, porcelain dolls,
collectible pigs and bears, grape-
vine wreaths and willow twig fur-
niture.
Over 6,000 people are expected
to flock to the event locations over
the weekend.
New for this year will be a sec-
ond location of craft exhibitor
booths at the Thedford-Bonanquet
Community Centre, in addition to
the usual extravaganza of crafts at
the museum itself. Tickets to the
craft sale will allow free access to
the second craft venue at no addi-
tional charge. The new ticket sys-
tem will permit visitors to being
their day at either location, or to
split up their show stops over the
two days of the event.
It was decided to dramatically
expand the craft sale and add the
second venue when the waiting list
to the show extended beyond
1996.
'There are so many talented peo-
ple, with work of such high quality
that we felt badly turning anyone
away," said Gwen Watson, event
co-ordinator. "It also complements
the museum's long-term goal of
offering an annual family outing,
with attractions not just here at the
museum, but throughout the com-
munities from Grand Bend to Ar-
kona.
lust a sampling of artisans from
Lambton County alone include
Elsa McPhee of Sarnia with tole
paintings; Karen Hughston of Wy-
oming with stuffed teddy bears;
Gerold and Bonnie Nickels of
Camlachie with folk art creations,
and Nancy Crow and Joan Haley of
Corunna with sewn and knit weara-
bles.
Come In Today and Save with our Fall Savings
tine9s
Fine Furniture,
Flooring and Window Fashions
467 Main Street, Exeter 235-0173