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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-03-24, Page 2a. f6 41' RICRSIGNAL-STAR ',THURSDA'ij"; MARCH 24,1977 most 'yS thrivein group settings, spe�ia) "If there is any community problem requiring the close team `work of all professionals and agencies, it is that of child abuse," said Bruce Heath, director of they Huron County Children Aid's Society recently. "The degree of interest and participation on the part of various com- mittees and professional groups in the county highlights a good beginning to an increased awareness of the plight, not only of the abused child, but the concern and assistance of the abusing parent." Heath, speaking to the annual meeting of the soceity, praised the commitment and excellence of all kluron's foster and group settings, who are "way down the totem pole of financial recognition, but our richest resources in ameliorating the problems of children separated from their families". The recently tabled Ontario government report on Residential Services for Children points out what has long been suspected in child welfare""services, the poor planning in development and placement of children and adolescents and the little co - relation between needs, cost and placement outcome. "With the exception of the seriously mentally ill child, or the few young offenders who " are truly a .danger to them- selves and their community," said Heath, "it is my firm belief that mqst children requiring placement away from their families are better served within the context of their . own communities in foster, " small„ group or specialized fosterhomes," Society still clings to "in- stitution phobia" as a soothing alternative to acknowledging community problems, said )Heath. A placement sufficiently far away seems more comforting tiara a realistic attempt at w Elsie Westcott named. president -for new term Huron Children's Aid Society president Elsie Westcott was returned to her post for another term when the Society held its annual meeting at the CAS Goderich offices recently. Vice president for 1977 will be Charles Thomas and secretary treasurer is William Alcock. In her annual report Mrs. Westcott noted that the CAS had opened a new girls home (C.A.S.T.L.E.) in July and that it was now filled to capacity and "running smoothly". "With the financial restraints," she noted, "it means all our funds must be used in the most effective and efficient manner. Our percentage of teenagers, however, is about the same as last year, 60 percent of all children in care." Mrs. Westcott also commended the Huron Foster Parents. "As a Board, in this county, we feel our Foster Parents are doing a magnificent job in caring for these children and we are most grateful to them," she said. handling situations in a community setting. Heath described the relationship with government in --the past year as "messy, ridiculous, time-consuming and inefficient". Child welfare services plodded through three revisions and submissions of , budget estimates to achieve a fun- ding leyel sufficientto keep mandatory services intact but only at the cost of cutting back on some good recom- mendations for action in the areas of Family Service and Prevention, he charged. The local Society along with others in child welfare net- work await the policy directives of the Ontario government arising out of the recommendations .of the Committee on Adoption Record Disclosure, he claimed. Regularly the Society receives requests from both old and young wishing in- formation on their background, or relatives requesting similar data. While they continue to Plans prepared for Dawnrose park The Goderich Parks Committee will proceed with plans for the development of a neighbourhood park on a 1.2 acre parcel of land in the Dawnrose Drive area. Plans for the proposed park and concerns of area residents were discussed at a special meeting held at the Assessment office last Wednesday attended by Parks Chairman Elsa Haydon, Roman Dzus of the County • Planning Depart- ment, Councillor Dave Gower and approximately 35 residents of the Dawnrose Drive area. Parks Chairman Haydon called the meeting and was impressed with the organization of the Dawnrose Street residents who presented a three-page brief `�-outlining the residents' priorities and suggestions for land use. Also a survey conducted by the group in- dicated there were 30 children under the age of six, 12 between the ages of seven and 11 and four over the age of 12 in the area. Although the group indicated that it was the town's responsibility to develop the park several residents were willing to donate time for the planning, building and landscaping of the park. Haydon explained that she would include $5,000 in the parks budget to complete the Dawnrose Park but that council may cut that figure in its final budget appraisal. However it was agreed to level seed and fence the park this year. • Councillor Dave Gower said that fencing was an important priority since the park would likely attract children from other areas of town but that initial priority should be placed on grading and seeding the park. Doug Fisher, a resident who owns land adjacent to the park, said that the people of the neighbourhood were not prepared to share any of the expense but were concerned with the completion of an initial stage of the park this summer. Haydon explained that the land will be cleaned, levelled and grassed this year but the next step was to establish a program 'for the rest of the park. Dzus added that the residents must evaluate the components of a good park and then .establish their priorities for the phasing of the components. Michelle Whelan said the neighbourhood needed facilities for the children and the most important com- ponents at this stage were swings, slide and a sandbox to keep the pre-school children off the street and in one area. Bob Riehl added that although it would be costly to e4t4 &sl the park they wanted something ther&this summer and the children ,needed protection. Dzus said on the basis of the information supplied by the neighbourhood residents that the park should be broken into components for different age groups. He reiterated the fact that a priority list should be established and the parks •committee should have-! an idea of what equipment is needed and how it is tot be phased in. . Traffic Chairman reverses decision; Square parking saved According to Goderich Town Councillor Stan Profit Police Chief Pat King did a '"flip-flop" and town council has done a .`,`flip-flop". The net result is that eight parking spaces to the right of the eight streets- onto The Square will be spared. A small delegationof downtown businessmen at- tended the council meeting Monday evening, but before they could presenttheir argument to town council, Traffic Chairman John Doherty advised council he would like to have the motion to take eight parking spaces off The Square "removed from the traffic report". "I'msorry that you people had to come down here," Councillor Doherty told.. the businessmen. Later in the meeting, Councillor Doherty said the chief of police had had "second thoughts" on the matter which came to council as a recommendation and was subsequently given council approval. He said it was probably because of "pressure from the businessmen". In a .letter to Councillor Doherty, Chief . King said, "Elimination of those eight „ parking places on The Square does pose a problem for the businessmen in the area who, during the day, make part of their Jiving . from shoppers using thoseparking areas. At first glance the loss of eight parking places may seem quite insignificant and not enough to hurt anyone's business. However in cotn- -plete fairness to the .businessmen, those eight parking places mean a potential of at least 32 cars carrying single or multiple customers, per day." The chief went on to say that there is a possible loss of from 90 to 400 persons or carloads of customers each week. He suggested this would "certainly raise strong objections from the businessmen". The elimination of the eight. parking spaces was originally proposed to cut down on the number of accidents caused around The Square involving cars backing out from the curb. Most were in cases where the view of the driver of the parked vehicle was blocked. These accidents involved minor damage only - seldom injuries, the chief pointed out. "What I do not want is to have the eight parking places eliminated and still have as many accidents," the chief of police wrote. "I point out that I have absolutely no guarantee that accidents will decrease for we shall cer- tainly still continue to have these types of accidents as we shall always have inattentive drivers reversing without taking adequate precautions." "Perhaps, and again this is just my opinion, the elimination of the first parking position will just move the accident prone section further along to the middle of each block," wrote Chief King. "What you and the rest of council have to decide is, is it worth it," I Chief" King told Councillor Doherty in his letter. "Do you cause possible hardship to the downtown businessmen for the possible reduction of a few accidents?" Nile couple mark Ruby Anniversary A family supper was held - Saturday evening March 19 at the Bedford Hotel to honour Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer Rutledge on theig 90th wedding anniversary. Those attending were Mr. and Mrs. Roy Boisclair of Toronto, Mr. and Mrs. Gord Hulley, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Nicholson, Mr. and Mrs. Sandy Brown, Mr. and Mrs. John Rutledge, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Oliver of Hi'llsburgh, Mr. David Rutledge, Mr. Ross Rutledge, Miss Diane Dickie, Mr. Michael Hyslop of Toronto, Miss Marilyn Stewart, Miss ' Dtfbbie Stewart, Miss . Beverley Rutledge, Miss Donna Rutledge, Miss Jean Rutledge and Mr. 'Blair Butcher of Hillsburgh. The latter part of ,the evening was spent at the Agricultural Hall in Dungannon with the gran- dchildren and friends joining in for a social time. You know when some- one tells you to take a walk? Maybe they've got the right idea. Walk a hkock.Tiday. WE +W/��e7�f 1A�y���t7pr �Il M m cut l f1L E TiliEC$ALlZE IN GLASS:— ' AUTO GIRUCK GLASS CAMPER WINDOWS • ,` • ' VAN'W0IDOWS CONSTRUCTION EOUIPMENT VAN.ttOOF VMoos . F$EE MOSlLE SERV TRIMi -- COMPLETE AUTO UPHOLSTERY PIN etaWING VINYL ROOFS BODY SLOE MOU LOINOS INSURANCE CLAIMS Fit {1C«"H PIidiN 324 -'Il Gower explained that the main concern was to get the park active as soon as possible and then phase in equipment. He claimed "there should be more utilization of equipment between the parks in Goderich. Fisher explained that the residents wanted to get the ball rolling this year and fencing was a concern with regard to the pre school children. He said the other children could look after themselves but the main objective was to clear the land, seed it and fence it. Haydon said the parks committee was prepared to look at suggestions, establish costs' and put them into the committee's 1977 budget. Suggestions were also made to add some shrubbery along' the .fence. line of the park for aesthetic value. The association will be involved in the development of the park throughout the project. 4w withhold identifying in- formation in adoption mat- ters, a sensitive relaxation of the present restrictions on ' adoption disclosure . is warranted. Heath believes that these restrictions can be accommodated Ley all parties to adoption, giving consent to, and respect, for an in-• dividual's need, if not natural right, to his origins or roots. Heath stressed that he Is not endorsing an overnight opening up of adoptionfiles which presently commit the Society to respecting promises of confidentiality to natural parents and adopting parents. 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