Clinton News-Record, 1979-04-19, Page 3Flory and Ed Oddleifson lead a busy life. Yet they are able to enjoy the com-
forts of their unique Bayfield home and remember its conversion from the old
general store through Flory's excellent artwork, compiled in a funny, yet
touching scrapbook. (News -Record photo)
Hullett council
• New lights for diamond
•
Baseball will oe seen in
an entirely new light in
Auburn this year. At their
last council meeting on
April 9 Hullett Township
gave the Auburn Lions
Club permission to install
lights on the village's ball
diamond. Permission
was also given to install a
pad for various games.
Council also agreed to
purchase an ad-
.yertisement in Auburn's
special 125th birthday
edition.
In other business
council agreed to give the
Hullett Federation of
Agriculture a grant of
$1,000. The grant is the
same amount as given
last year. In ' another
motion a grant of $150
was given to the Seaforth
Agricultural Society.
Council endorsed a
resolution from the Town
of Tecumseh which is
asking the Attorney
General of Ontario to
enforce a 48-hour cooling
off period in real estate
exchanges. This would
allow the people who
have signed an
agreement to purchase or
sale to reconsider, in-
vestigate or cancel the
deal.
Approval was given for
the severances on lot, 1
concession 5 part 22, 23
and 24, concession 9,
concession 13, lot 26. It
was agreed that no
conditions would be at-
tached but it was
suggested that there be a
written agreement for
line fences.
After a meeting with
the affected owners on
the Murray -Lamb
Drainage Works council
requested Mr. Uderstadt
to prepare a report on the
cleaning out of the por-
tion from part 5, con-
cession 12 to lot 10,
concession 12 in Hullett.
Special consideration will
be done to giving an
outlet to a private ditch
on lot 5.
The drainage inspector
will be instructed to
repair the Veenstra
Drain A and to contact
the owners involved as to
the time and whether by
hour or tender.
A bylaw to raise $50,000
to aid in the construction
of drainage works under
the Tile Drainage Act
was read two times. No
final approval was given.
A bylaw imposing
special annual drainage
rates upon lands ins.. The total 1979 in -
respect of which money is surance premium
borrowed under the Tile amounts to $9,937 which
Drainage Act was read is up $1,655 from last year
three times and passed
by council.
Council agreed to give
the job of counting dogs to
H. Stewart and the road
superintendent has
council's approval to
purchase a Massey
-Ferguson industrial
mower.
A building permit to
John Benjamins was
refused. Council said they
would like to see the plans
of the former building
permit carried out before
any consideration its
given to issuing a neW
permit.
The following building
permits were issued: T.
DeBoer, residence,
concession 14, lot 17; H.
Boonstoppel, repairs,
MB; T. Van Bakel, silo,
barn, manure ' pit, feed
room, concession 12, lot
10; M. Salverda, house,
concession 6, lot 30; R.
Kennedy, addition,
concession 11, lot 26; K.
Vodden, barn, concession
9, lot 33; E. DeJong,
house, addition to broiler
barn, concession 13, lot
26; G. Hoggart, addition
to residence, concession
9, lot 9, J. Wammes,
manure tank, addition to
pig barn, concession 7, lot
12; E. Anderson, addition
to residence, concession
8, lot 5; B. Bergsma, pig
barn and tank, con-
cession 11, lot 18; F.
Cartwright, siding for
house, concession 11, lot
30A; D. Preszcator,
implement shed changed
to pig barn, concession 7,
lot 15; A. Craig, lumber
shed, concession 14, lot
45; L. Archambault,
residence, concession 12,
lot 39; I. Pickett,
residence, barn addition,
concessio9 2, lot 15; F.
Marshall, `steel granary,
concession 12, lot 12.
Tuckersmith council
discuss insurance
by Wilma Oke
Drainage problems in
Egmondviile and other
parts of the township of
Tuckersmith took up a
large part of the council
session Tuesday night. A
number of items on the
agenda were postponed
for action at the next
council meeting on May
8.
Insurance agent
Donald Eaton,
Egmondviile, and an
official from the Frank
Cowen Insurance
Company attended the
meeting to discuss the
insurance coverage for
the township. Several of
the policies were in-
creased, including
doubling the amount of
the policy covering death
or injuries resulting from
an accident to the five
members of council with
the $10,000 death policy
covering a 24-hour period
each day just when a
member is on council
business: Insurance was
doubled on the contents
and equipment of
township garage and the
liability insprance on the
truck owned by the
township.
as a result of the various
increases in coverage.
Township buildings are
insured for $950,000,
including the township
shed, township office and
Vanastra recreation
complex. Because of the
unsafe structural con-
dition of the curling rink
the Cowen representative
warned council of
problems in insurance
coverage.
A number of persons
wrote council concerned
about the possible closing
of the curling rink at
Vanastra due to the
structural inadequacies
of the building. It was
noted by Councillor
William Brown that none
offered financial
assistance and he.
suggested they should be
asked. However,
Councillor Frank
Falconer suggested that
would come later when
council decided whether
to meet government
standards or close it.
Council expects to meet
with the Minister of
culture and recreation,
Reuben Bates, in Toronto
on April 27, to seek
provincial grants to help
with the costs of struc-
tural work to be done on
the curling rink.
People in Profile
Oddleifsons enjoy Salada Tea
CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1979—PAGE 3
by Shelley McPhee
If there ever was a time when I was
searching for a private, comfortable
retreat for a bit of relaxation I might
just turn to Salada Tea. It's not a nlug
for a well known product, bu ie
nickname for Ed and Flory Odoleif-
son's Bayfield home.
It's doubtful that the couple would
turn their home into some type of
resort for it would surely lose some
unique charm.
It was difficult to interview Ed
Oddleifson and his work with the
Bayfield village council for 15 years
without noticing the atmosphere and
surroundings of the couple's home.
After years of repairing, building,
painting and remodelling the
Oddleifsons have created a quaint,
quiet home, for themselves and their
sleepy eyed pets.
Perhaps it was the rhythmic ticking
of the clock, the subtle lighting, the
smell of the burnt out fire or hearing
about the history contained inside the
home's four walls, that gave off a slow-
paced, leisurely feeling.
Yet despite the atmosphere of the
house, formerly a general store and ice
cream parlour in the early 1900's, the
Oddleifsons are far from being a
languid couple.
Ed's name has long been associated
with progress in the village. As reeve
for the council for nine years, Ed
sometimes instigated and saw to the
completion many of Bayfield's major
developments. The construction of the
attractive library, the development of
the harbour, the school, the arena, the
marinas, road paving, subdivision
planning, land surveys and aerial
photos of the village have all been
prominent projects, completed during
Ed's time on council.
"We were re-establishing the village
and trying to bring it out of the
doldrums from being a police village,"
explained Ed, one of the incorporated
village's first council members.
This is the first year in many that Ed
has not been associated with municipal
politics. He retired at the end of his last
term claiming that he wasn't a "dyed-
in-the-wool politician guy," and it was
time that someone else took over.
The Winnipeg native's love for the
village still keeps him involved in
community activities. He is a member
of the historical society, the
agricultural society, the town hall
committee and the arena committee,
stuck in
the middle
and as his wife Flory quipped, "burns
the midnight oil."
Yet Flory is no less active. When not
pampering their cat and dog, or any
other stray animal, or creating new
pieces of furniture and accessories for
their home, Flory is lending her
abundant talents and imagination to
the village as well.
An accomplished artist and graduate
from the Ontario Art College in
Toronto, this London 'native created the
official village crest as her most recent
project. She also made hand -burned
wooden street signs for the village;
unfortunately most were stolen from
their posts. Active in the historical
society, she has sketched many
buildings and designed the popular
hasti-note covers, sold by the historical
society.
Despite Ed's praisings of her art-
work and poetry, Flory retaliated,
"Oh, I just puddle at it and I write
reams of silly junk."
Yet most of that "silly junk" holds a
special place in the Oddleifsons'
hearts. A treasured scrapbook, filled
with clippings, little notes and cartoon
drawings made by Flory tells the story
of the old store with the Salada Tea
sign, and how the Oddleifsons bought it
in the 1950's, complete with the old
shelves and counters, and despite bouts
of paint poisoning and the occasional
fall from ladders created a unique
abode.
The atmosphere maintained in the
home, down to the "old -looking blue
washed ceiling and pieces of furniture
salvaged from the dump by Flory
easily gives away their love for old
things.
As in their home, the Oddleifsons'
work for the village has all been for one
major purpose, to maintain the past.
"It's not a commercially oriented
place," Flory said as she sat in their
front room, looking out onto Bayfield's
foggy main street, on a quiet April
afternoon.
"We've tried to maintain the at-
mosphere that the past had," Ed ad-
ded.
"This is a summer resort and a
retirement area and we like the
quietness here," he went dn. "When
people come here, by 10 o'clock at night
they're ready to go to sleep. It's the
fresh air and little pollution."
Flory, gently petting the cat in time
to the clock agreed, "People fall in the
groove when they come to live here."
shelley
by mcphee
What is it about my car? Granted
she's not the most outstanding
vehicle on the road. People don't
turn their heads and gaze as they
would with a shimmering Jaguar or
a '57 Corvette, but you'd think the
fire engine red color of the old Bomb
would at least attract some at-
tention.
It does, not the way I'd like it to,
however. The Red Bomb seems to be
an attraction for many stray
motorists. She may be quietly
resting in the parking lot, properly
stopped on the street' or sitting in a
friend's driveway, but no matter
where, she always gets hit.
Despite the regular mechanical
difficulties the old car has been
pretty good, but it's just this con-
tinuous cosmetic surgery she needs
that makes me question her worth.
I've had the car for just over two
years now and within that time she's
had her front'door crushed, her front
end dented, her hack end bruised an
her left rear scratched.
Just to set the record straight,
none of these incidents were my
fault. In fact, in all cases I wasn't
even near the car.
Twice though I was in close
enough range. to hear the squealing
tires, the dull thud and the shat-
tering of glass. The first time, being
a •keen reporter, I ran for a window
to see what had happened. The
second time I instantly recalled the
sound of the Bomb's crunching
metal. I knew what had happened
without looking.
My accidents haven't been easy
ones. Once the culprit escaped
without a trace, just leaving his
mark. Another time a' close friend
admitted to the damage and in turn I
had to present him with the
sickening price estimates from the
repair shop. Once I had to chase, in
my stocking feet, on a particularly
cold night, the wrongdoer down the
street to at least get his licence
number. (Thank heavens I'm a bit
farsighted.) Another time I had to
stand in the middle of the street to
stop the offender from escaping.
Despite my record number of
accidents, I'm not getting the least
bit used to them. So listen everyone
why don,'t you give the Red Bomb
and me a break. Or should I say
brake!
r
nY ,the 1 i
the so
vdusive Furni'hint4',,1 io lti►
I< I Sensationa1,
- isRaptree
ee
won( .)V('i '\i -t & A cent:
•
Yes, there is some sort of tranquil
spell that envelopes you as soon as you
,enter Bayfield and particularly when
you get behind the doors, like those at
the Oddleifson home.
Sitting, in the big soft chair, taking in
the warmth of the pine wood and sip-
ping on a cool drink of juice, ahh, I had
fallen into the inevitable groove too.
Education budget up
BY JEFF SEDDON
The Huron County board of education
approved its 1979-80 budget last week
increasing mill rates for public school
supporters by an average 8.4 percent.
In a special session Thursday night
the board had the budget explained in
detail by superintendent of business
affairs Roy Dunlop. The special
meeting was arranged to permit
politicians in any of the county's 26
municipalities to discuss the $23 million
document with the board.
Dunlop told the board that the
average increase of the mill rate as a
result of the education budget varying
effects on municipal budgets, depen-
ding on local mill rates. He said the
board of education has nothing to do
with setting local mill rates, all it does
is determine each municipality's share
of the costs to operate the education
system.
The lion's share of the $23 million in
total costs for education here is picked
up by the province of Ontario. After
subtracting various board revenues
and grants from the ministry along
with the province's share of salaries
and transportation costs the amount to
be raised through taxation locally was
reduced to $6.9 million.
The main culprit in the budget was
salaries. Dunlop explained that it was
unfair to focus on any one salary hike in
the system because each had unique
circumstances.
He explained that the increase that
appeared at the secondary school
teacher panel was an inflated figure
because of the 31 day teacher strike a
year ago and the two year pact that
was signed• after that strike. He said
the reduced costs as a result of the
strike made it appear as though han-
dsome increases had been given the
teachers and that wasn't so. He
meticulously explained the affect the
teacher strike had on the budget
pointing out that had withdrawl of
services not happened the board would
still be looking at an eight percent
increase.
But the budget made one cact clear.
The major expense in any one area in
the entire education system is salaries.
Payroll eats up a total of 76 percent of
the $23 million the board spends in a
year.
Dunlop said the bulk of the money
spent in the budget is beyond the
control of the board. He said salaries
have to be treated as fixed costs as well
as debentures, loans and operating
costs. He said he had not calculated
how much of the budget the board had
to work with but estimated that the
maximum amount would be 10 percent.
The superintendent told the board the
majority of concerns department
heads had for the coming year had
been handled. He said one area not
adequately funded was aesthetic
maintenance.
He told the board there was "no way
in the world the schools can be kept like
they were five years ago we just
haven't the money to do it".
R.M. McVean, plant superintendent,
explained that aesthetic maintenance
involves things like stripping floors and
rewaxing them and major
housecleaning projects. He said there
is too much work to be done by
caretakers to permit time to be set
aside for those projects. He added that
the board owned buildings were not
suffering because the jobs could not be
done.
PUC rates...
• from page 1
5 percent and a 10.3 percent is expected
this June. An additional 4 percent is
added to this for current overhead
increases facing the PUC.
"We feel we had to have a general
increase of 10 percent to offset these
increased costs," he explained.
Clinton residents had been fortunate
up until now. While other
municipalities were faced with in-
creases in their hydro bill at the first of
the year, the Clinton PUC has been able
to offset any major increase in both 1979
and 1978. This past January they were
able to maintain the established rates
despite a wholesale power cost rise of
9.8 percent from Ontario Hydro. In 1978,
substantial rebates on power pur-
chased from Ontario Hydro absorbed
some of the increases.
While six years ago 74 percent of the
PUC's revenue went the Ontario Hydro
for the purchase of power 83 percent is
now put into it. It is doubtful that these
figures will drop.
Ontario Hydro will be increasing the
cost of power another 12 percent in
January, 1980 and Mr. Boussey said
that the Clinton PUC will have to
review their rates again next spring.
Rin
SALE STARTS THURSDAY, APR. 19
This is a Store -Wide Sale Every item In The
Store Has Been Reduced. Here are a few examples
GIRLS' DEPARTMENT]
"Get the Jump
On Summer"
From our Excellent
\ Selection of Everyone's '
\\ Favourite
)Tee -Shirts
and Blouses
Reg. '4.98
1399
Reg. '5.98
1479
Reg. '6.98
1559
BALANCE OF TOPS- 20 % OFF
Reg. '10.98
1879
Reg. '11.98
1959
Reg. '12.98
11019
GOYS' DEPARTMENT\
Graduations Aro
Not That Far Away!
Suits -Suits
Reg. '49.98 Reg. '79.98
13 999 16399
Reg. '59.98 Reg. '89.98
14799 1"99
Reg. '69.98 Reg. '99.98
1559? 17900
Sizes 8 to 20
LADIES' DEPARTMENT
Spring
Coats
This Spring's Newest
Fashions!
Reg. '44.98
$3599
Reg. '59.98
$4799
Reg. '49.98 Reg. '69.98
3999 $5599
BALANCE OF
COATS- 20% OFF
MEN'S DEPARTMENT
Dress and
Casual Pants
In All The Best Styles,
Colours and Fabrics.
Hundreds to choose
from from such noted
manufacturers as
Gaslight, Doti Parker,
Levis and Diamond
Slacks
Reg. '19.98
11509
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11839
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11999
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121"
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12399
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Sizes 28 to 4
GERRARD'S
SHOPPING CENTRE
VICTORIA ST.. CLINTON
482-9711