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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-11-23, Page 1SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 The Insiders Report is best for Holiday Entertaining Serving L a t'ter and area since 1873 a SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 It's Back! Thurs.-5-7 Fri. 5 - 8 Sat. 11-1,2.4 rlltll■ 111111■ — I= t>. — • S UBSCRIBE!, IIf you aren't subscribing to The' 1 Times -Advocate, you're missing out. Use the coupon below and subscnbe today! 1 Name: 1 Address City 1 Prov. ' Postal Code SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada Within 40 miles - (65 km) addressed to non letter carrier addresses . $30.00 plus $2.10 G.S.T. 1 Outsid 40 miles - (65 km) or any letter canierladdress $60.00 + $4.20 G.S.T. Outskie Canada -$99.00( fee 40 vo.r.gs) 1 USE YOUR CREDIT CARD 0000000❑ 1 00000000 Card No. I Expiry Date i] Visa ❑ Master Card 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ❑ Cheque enclosed Return to; TIMES ADVOCATE ` 2— ——teiOnt NOMmu = , 1 Hospital renovating Streamlining staff and patient services is the goal See page 2 The bucks are back The Exeter Business Association is selling money cheap again See page 5 Going international Centralia College ready to open doors in January See page 17 Ringette victory Exeter's Belles defend their title See page 18 Hay gets funds But can the township build its new office? See page 34 Classifieds pages 26-30 Announcements pages 31-32 Experts page 33 `., Wednesday, November 23. 1994 Park water passes all tests pgRkp Huron Park's water quality has always been tops, say local officials, despite showing up on the provincial auditor's list of bad' water supply systems HURON PARK - Residents of Hu- ron Park shouldn't be concerned about the quality of their tap water, despite being listed among 120 On- tario water plants not complying with regulations, say township of- ficials. Provincial auditor Erik Peters came up with a list of 120 water plants, out of 490 in On- tario, that fail to comply with Ministry of the En- vironment standards. Hu- ron Park was on that list. Does this mean Huron Park water is of poor quality, or a health risk to those living in the Ste- phen Township police vil- lage? Not at all, insists township ad- ministrator Larry Brown. "There is a compliance problem, but not a water quality problem," said Brown. He said the Huron Park water plant's only problem was that water samples were not taken and tested frequently enough to meet ministry guidelines. Although Brown said he wasn't sure just how often testing is required, now that the plant is oper- ated by the province's newly -created OCWA (Ontario Clean Water Agen- cy), he expects the auditor's concerns may already be outdated. "You have to remember, this [in- formation] was already two or three years old," said Brown. Whether or not it is adequately tested, Brown said there is no dis- puting the quality of Huron Park's water supply, sourced from wells near Kirkton. "It's excellent water. No question about it" "It's excellent water. No question about it." Rick Turnbull at OCWA confirmed that the only problems with the Huron Park water supply were ad- ministrative, not quality problems. "If you missed one sam- ple, you'd be in a non- compliance mode," said Turnbull, but added that since the study of the 1990-92, period, OCWA has set up a detailed testing schedule for the Hu- ron Park plant. Another problem with compliance was with the chlorination system. An alarm visible from outdoors in case of a chlorine leak has been add- ed, and the doors to the plant have been improved. "The current status of that water supply...is that it's in compliance, said Turnbull. Giving his seal of approval on Huron Park's water is the man who operates the system, Ray Beierling. He said the water, from Kirkton wells, has always met all 35 Ministry of Environment quality tests. "It's hard water, but it meets the guidelines, • said Beierling. Mayor Shaw: Citizen of the Year The award caps 22 years serving on town council EXETER - Mayor Bruce Shaw was awarded the town's highest honour Friday evening, se- lected by his fellow councillors as the 1994 Citizen of the Year. The annual Appreciation Banquet gathered members of council, committees, boards, and all town staff together for recognition of an- other year of working together, but the focus soon shifted to Shaw, concluding 22 years on town council, 18 of which as mayor. "This night is a night of appreciation to you, for the work you do for this town," said reeve Bill Mickle. Mickle said Shaw's years as head of council have been characterized by his "open door" policy on local politics, and the uncounted and unnoticed time he has given to his fellow cit- izens. "We present you with the Citizen of the Year as recognition of your accomplishment," said Mickle. Shaw, after accepting the award, said he has often been asked "What did you personally as a councillor do to make this town better?" He said he really can't point to any one thing he achieved alone. Every decision was a col- lective decision of council, he said. "Will I miss this life? Sure I will...but in my mind, it's time to go," said Shaw, although he said he would have liked to have taken part in the opening of a renovated Old Town Hall, or the MacNaughton Scenic Gardens. "Thank you for allowing me to serve you as your mayor for such a long, long time," con- cluded Shaw. The doors of the recreation centre were opened to a larger crowd that arrived after the dinner, all in honour of Shaw. The mayor re- ceived several gifts, one of which was a gift to South Huron District High School for a con- tinuing award in Shaw's name, which he later said was a "very thoughtful, very meaningful" gesture. Other highlights of the evening included the award of a plaque, gift, and golf putter to Mur- ray Greene, who retires as PUC commissioner this fall. Deputy -reeve Lossy Fuller also received a plaque and gold pin in recognition of her 20 years on council. "I accept this plaque with pride and I will cherish the memories that with it," said Fuller. For their final words of the 1991-94 council term Monday evening, all members of council paid tribute to Shaw's service to Exeter. "We have years of experience leaving this municipal council," said councillor Bob Spears, also referring to Fuller, and retiring members Ervin Sillery and Bert Branderhorst. "I've sacrificed a lot," agreed Shaw, re- calling hundreds of committee meetings over the years. "I probably went to too many." "Although I've given, I've certainly re- ceived. I'rn richer for it," he said. "If I can be of any assistance, I'll be there to help. It's still my town," concluded Shaw's last speech as town mayor. United Way falls short of goal Raising $140,000 in Huron proves impossible... this year CLINTON - The Huron United Way does not expect to reach its fundraising campaign goal this year, and is op- timistically hoping to peak at about 80 percent of thc $140,000 target set in Oc- tober. Connie Livingston at the United Way's Clinton office said that about 65 percent of the target has been reached to date, but some funds con- tinue to come in. "We arc not going to reach 100 percent. I know a lot of United Ways are in the same boat this year," said Li- vingston. Although any and all dona- tions are still being accepted by the United Way "We've done what we can do for this year," said Livingston. "And onward and upward for next year Livingston said this fourth Huron campaign was a little slower than past years to get The 199 mommommlo rolling, but noted the economic conditions are affecting other United Ways as well. Huron, however, being such a new organization, has to continue its efforts to make inroads into the communities for sup- port. "It's going to take awhile," she said, noting in some parts of the county it is hard to find volunteers. The realization, she said,, amongst the Huron director, is that the 1995 campaign will have to be planned and pub- licized thrpugfout the year. not just before and during the October fundraising cam- paign effort. Even though the United W y has been around in On - 0 for decades, and was vioiisly known as the "Red Feather" campaign, Li- vingston said as a newcomer to Huron, the group has to compete with more es- tablished charities and com- 4 Campaign $140,000 target 80 percent anticipated ($112,000) Amount raised :o date (890,000) The Huron United Way does not expect to fut11l the $140,000 goal of its October campaign. They hope to reach 80 percent of their target munity organizations for financial support. "They see us as just trying to cure another disease," said Livingston, noting most people are still unaware that the United Way serves to raise funds for 19 local organizations - such as the South Huron Big Brothers/Big Sisters. But spreading those resources over such a large area as Huron County has its advantages and disadvantages. "People like to know they arc helping their own area." she said, adding that Exeter people want to see the money go to Exeter charities, and Scaforth people want to help Scaforth charities. This requires separate campaign chairs to highlight how the United Way ben- efits each area. Exeter, however, does not have a chair of its own. "Exeter, unfortunately, has been one of the hardest areas to launch a campaign in," said Livingston. The town's geographic proximity to London is a problem, she said, but said all the county's towns tend to act independently, because there is no one central urban arca. "We've got all of 'these towns," said Li- vingston. "They are separate. They've got their own hospitals, their own schools...." The challenge then, is to find a way to get Huron united. Old police station up for rent, decides town council EXETER - The possibility of see- ing an adult day centre housed at the former town police station has become a little more remote. An adult day centre would pro- vide an environment for senior citi- zens witjt Alzheimer's disease, or senile dementia, to gather for social- izing and some treatment. The town police station had been consid- ered as one possible location. The town's executive committee reviewed the request from thc day centre advocates, last week. Their only recommendation to town coun- cil was to advertise for parties inter- ested in renting the former station building for two years. executive committee is looking for groups or businesses interested in renting the station for two years. Council approved the executive's recommendation without any fur- ther discussion. SkyDome sleep over this weekend GRAND BEND - The SkyDomc is bcing taken over by 10,000 Bea- vers and their leaders this weekend for a sleep over. The 5 to 7 year-olds will be trav- elling to Toronto to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Beavers in scouting. Representation from most areas in Ontario is expected," said Bev Brown, a leader with the Grand Bend movement. Brown said her group meets a fcw times a year with other Beaver groups in the Huron County arca, but this is thought to be the largest gatherings of Beavers in the world. The eavers arc scheduled to ar- rive at SkyDome early Saturday with an o ing ceremony set for early aftcrn n. As well, there will be cntcrtainc and lots of food. The event wi wrap up Sunday af- ternoon. The sleep over is based on a simi- lar event staged in Vancouver five years ago and it has taken more than two years to organize.