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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-11-30, Page 5Times -Advocate, November 30,1994 Page 5 President introduces new board Shirley McIntyre, new president of the Huron Country Play- urday afternoon at the Lambton Heritage Museum. The an - house board of directors, addresses her colleagues Sat- nouncement of the new board was followed by a reception. Playhouse elects new board After seasons of renovations and heavy fundraising, 1995 will be a time to sit back and regroup By Heather Vincent T -A Staff GRAND BEND - The Huron Country Play- house, R.R. 1 Grand Bend, announced its new Board of Directors for the coming season on Saturday at the Lambton Heritage Museum. The Board executive includes; Shirley McIntyre, president; Byran Beattie, vice- president; Jack Riddell, past president; A.G. (Al) Skinner, treasurer; Bruce Woodley, sec- retary and Tom Kneale, executive member. The renovations of the Playhouse have been a .major issue concerning the Board of Di- rectors in recent years. Although the Play- house and its holding company showed a mod- est profit during the past season, the money al- Ioted for renovations has run out. Last 'year's major project, the cabin complex, was created to house the actors during the theatre's season. Other improvements include the construction of a fly tower and renovation of the the theatre auditorium. Ken Pinder noted that the focus of 1994 was to provide patrons of the play- house with creature comfort. Pinder said the upcoming season "is a time to re -group, con- solidate and plan for the future". Max Reimer, artistic director and general manager, reported that the attendance in 1994 broke all previous records. Of the tickets available, 93.7 percent were sold breaking the million dollar mark at the box office. The theatre also received critical acclaim through- out a surprisingly wide audience. Next season Reimer plans to focus on customer service, in- cluding a new curtain time of 8 p.m. to get pa- trons home earlier. The theatre has also par- ticipated in a senior community outreach program. The special events committee's success in fundraising was not as great as they had hoped. The committee is currently searching for a fundraiser to help in the campaign to raise money for the next phase of building. Bert Pullen said, "the mandate for the com- mittee is to create awareness in the com- munity". Authority holds line on levy Reduced provincial funding, however, has led to more staff cuts and program rollbacks EXETER - The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority has ap- proved a 1995 budget that promises no increase to the local municipal levy, but is cutting back on the agency's programs and staff. The ABCA levy to its 32 member municipalities will stay at $344,311 in the budget now before the Min- istry of Natural Resources for ap- proval. However, a $250,000 shortfall in provincial transfer payments means the ABCA is cutting back on some services, and privatizing the grass cutting at the conservation areas and the planting of seedlings under the Reforestation Assistance Pro- gram. "These services were tendered in October and contractors were cho- sen for the spring of 1995," said ABCA chairman Bob Benner. Effective January 1, 1995, the ABCA is eliminating one nine- month contract position and two full-time positions. These staff cuts are in addition to two positions lost through attrition in 1992 and 1993. If there is a positive side for the Authority, it is that two highly - ranked priorities in its Conservation Strategy have been given more funding and staff time. More fund- ing will be available to landowners through the Erosion Control As- sistance Program, which provides 50 percent grants to landowners to improve water quality by reducing soil erosion. Also in 1995, the ow' rj O N SIJ L. T Xi\ • • N • Q. • Specializing in farm & business income tax • Computerized bookkeeping • Capital gain elections • 94 High Street, Ailsa Craig, NOM 1A0 519-298-8888 Fax 519-296-5999 10 Main St. Thedford NOM 2N0 519-296.5880 1.800.804-8986 Ask for Ron Stee' :r ABCA will increase its information and education programs for stu- dents of all age groups. The Authority has applied to the MNR on behalf of member mu- nicipalities for capital projects for flood and erosion control. "Our goal is to continue to pro- vide important environmental pro- grams in cooperation with mu- nicipalities and other groups and have a balanced budget by 1997," said Benner. "Everyone is facing 1 cutbacks, but we're addressing the shortfall and coming up with solu- tions now." InvestmG ntl =J 1 Yr. - 6.75% 3 Yr. - 7.875% 5 yr. - 8.25% Segregated Funds 1 YR. - 10.99% 2YR. -13.17% 4 YR. - 12.86% --- Illig (raiser-Kneale 235-2420,238-8484 • GIC rates subject to change. Short- term rates available. 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Terri Farquhar Waxing and oar piercing Seniors discount on Mon,• Tues., Wed i CMHC forecacts stable housing markets next year OTTAWA - Marginal gains, in new housing construction of 1,300 units nationally, for an annual total of 156,600 units, are forecast for 1995 according to Canada Mort- gage and Housing Corporation's fourth quarter National Housing Outlook released recently. For 1994, housing starts should reach 155,300 units, almost the same as last year's total of 155,443. "The key economic trends look good - customer spending, busi- ness investment and international trade are all pointing higher for next year," said Gilles Proulx, CMHC's Chief Economist. "The housing sector however, wilt con- tinue to feel the effects of higher mortgage rates and large surpluses of multiple housing until the early part of next year," he added. "Housing markets will show only moderate growth because first time buyers and move -up buy- ers will re-enter the market gradu- ally in 1.995," explained Proulx. "The second half of the year will be stronger as interest rates rec.:de from their current high levels. Construction of single -detached units is expected to rise three per- cent to 94,000 units in 1995, up from 91,300 units this year. Lower demand by first-time buyers will have an impact because they have been the dominant force in the market. The rental market is ex- pected to offer limited opportuni- ties because of high vacancy rates in most urban centres. • Due to lower demand from first- time buyers, existing home sales are expected to reach 303,500 units next year, a level similar to this year's and 1993. The average price of existing homes is forecast to rise slightly from $158,000 to $ 159,600 next year. The regional balance of housing market activity will vary because of different supply conditions across the country. Manitoba and Saskatchewan will see the strongest new home mar- kets next year with starts in both provinces forecast to be up 15 per- cent. Ontario and Quebec will see modest increases in new home con- struction with job recovery boost- ing demand. In the Atlantic region, only New Brunswick will experience a slight increase in new construction next year. The existing home market will be more active in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. In the three most Western prov- inces, construction of new units will level off. In British Columbia the level of apartment condomin- ium units under construction will decline next year given the strong supply of unsold inventory. In Al- berta, a large surplus of new and existing homes will dampen activi- ty next year. KELLER RoofIna E. Sheet !.1e1311 C: For all your roofing needs No job too small Rat and shingle roof experts 235-3643 Fax: 235-0053 U.rrr✓,5-r..5-r✓✓rrrrr..rrrrrrr✓-.rrr..5-..rr✓.rrrr..r..r..r Ontario Telephone Service Commission Commission ontarienne dos services telephoniques NOTICE OF APPLICATION CONCERNING THE HAY MUNICIPAL TELEPHONE SYSTEM TAKE NOTICE that an application dated November 15, 1994 has been filed with the Ontario Telephone Service Commission (the "Commission") seeking its approval, pursuant to subsection 47(6) of the Telephone Act (Ontario) for the disposition of the whole of the Hay Municipal Telephone System (the "System") to Hay Communications Co-operative Limited (the "Co-operative"), a co-operative corporation incorporated under the provisions of the Co- operative Corporations Act (Ontario). The application is made on behalf of the Co-operative and the Corporation of the Township of Hay, the trustee of the assets of the System (the "Trustee"). The application seeks the approval of the Commission to the transfer of the undertaking and all of the property and assets of the System from the Trustee to the Co-operative in order to convert the System into a co-operative owned telephone system. The members of the Co- operative will be all of the customers of the System except for those persons who decline to become members,. Materials related to becoming a member of the Co-operative and to this application have been mailed to each of the customers of the System. Subsection 47(6) of the Telephone Act empowers the council of the Trustee to authorize the sale or disposition of the whole of the System without convening a meeting of the subscribers of the System where, from absence or loss of records or other cause, the subscribers are unable to be ascertained, subject to the approval of the Commission as provided for in that subsection. The council of the Trustee passed a by-law on November 3, 1994 approving of the disposition of the whole of the system to the Co-operative and a purchase agreement has been signed. The closing of that transaction is subject to the approval of the Commission. The Trustee is currently responsible for debentures in respect of the System. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the Cooperative will arrange for a letter of credit from a Schedule A Chartered Bank in favour of the Trustee to satisfy any obligations under the debentures on an ongoing basis until payment in full of the debentures. Any customers of the System Interested in making any submissions to the Commission concerning this application should make their submissions in writing to be received by the Commission no later than January 3, 1995, at the address as follows: Ontario Telephone Service Commission 56 Wellesley Street West 5th Floor Toronto, Ontario M7A 2E7 Attention: Secretary/Registrar c/o Neil J. McCallum, Counsel Fax No. (416) 326-1021 The Commission, in its discretion, may proceed with a decision on the application without the holding of a public hearing. If you do not make any written submissions to the Commission by the date specified, the Commission may proceed to •a decision without your submissions and you will not be entitled to further notice of these proceedings. Copies of the application and related material forwarded to the Commission are available for Inspection at the offices of the System. Copies of the application may be requested by writing or telephoning to the solicitors filing the application on behalf of the Applicants: BLAKE, CASSELS & GRAYDON Barristers and Solicitors P.O. Box 25, Commerce Court West Toronto, Ontario M5L 1A9 Attention: Ben A. Jetten Secretary's Phone (416) 863-2939 Fax: (416)863-4261. 1 • J