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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-08-01, Page 5s' Summer Scenes of Our Town <ien.ESk.V.TANZt. eU.Ikeerre'eaar,,:re Aseeieseaesseeteeeeteareeenem vh..eireass by Huron MPP Jack Riddell, Agriculture and Food Minister ftm.:,:msgmousw-x.c, WW:trikkViki", :a..., An integral component of the government's reform agenda has been to provide affordable, accessi- ble and adequate housing for the people of Ontario. It is essential to Ontario's economic and social well- being that a sufficient supply of housing will be available to address the needs of the full range of house- f holds across the province. To achieve housing objectives, Housing Minister Chaviva Hosek c recently announced the govern- 1 ment's new housing policy state- a ment in the Legislature. The policy s statement sets a firm course for the future of land -use planning in Ontario. The government has taken sever- wt al measures to create housing; including the funding of 55,000 t non-profit units, as well as making d government lands available for housing as a first priority. These measures are being aug- mented by a new focus on the land - use planning process. The government's new housing' policy statement deals with the fol- lowing issues which can be addressed through land -use regula- tion: Supplying land for municipal development —municipalities are required to designated in their official plans a 10 -year supply of land for residen- tial development; —Municipalities also will have on hand at all times a three-year supply of lots at the draft -approved or registered stage. MASSk\ •\* •,:7;:e\N • Land -use standards regulating range of housing types —official plans and zoning will be revised to provide for a wide range of housing forms and types and this will be integrated through- out the community; —this housing must address the ull spectrum of needs for all Ontario's citizens; —an overall component of 25 per ent is to be geared to moderate the ow -income families and individu- Is at appropriate densities and izes. Land -use planning approval process simplified —the land -use planning process 11 be streamlined; —mtanicipalitieG will b required o process applications for the evelopment of housing as quickly as possible. Using existing building stock more effectively —better use will be made of existing buildings and established areas to create additional units; —official plans and zoning bylaws will permit self-contained units in single-family homes. The provisions of the govern- ment's housing policy statement will be fully implemented as soon as possible in areas where growth pressures are greatest. These areas include: Metropolitan Toronto, Durham, York, Peel, Halton, Hamil- ton -Wentworth, Ottawa -Carleton, Niagara and Waterloo, the munici- palities within these regions and all municipalities within the census .• ••• „ '•;-, 'If VeWNi.IM ,WWWOM •erereseeerresePaeSeeereer metropolitan areas of London, Toronto and Windsor. In most communities, the policy statement will be fully implement- ed over the course of the next five years as official plans are routinely updated. Townships and villages with populations of less than 5,000 may use alternate approaches to reflect the principles and fulfill the objectives of the policy statement. The land -use planning process is an important element of the overall response to changing housing needs —it must help to advance provincial housing objectives, rather than impede them. GRANTS TO RIDING Minister for Disabled Pe'sons Remo Mancini has recently advised me that Egmondville United Church at Seaforth will be receiving a grant from the Access Fund in the amount of $50,000. The church had applied for the funding in order to assist in making additions and alterations to the existing building which would pro- vide easier access. The project will include the addition of a lift and handicapped washroom, stair reno- vations, the addition of a ramped sidewalk and parking space. The Huron County Library Board recently has been the recipient of a $2,200 grant from the minister of culture and communication to assist in the purchase of video cas- settes for the library. ` ''''-.‘:?'''''7 r'4.,0•4'10,"*' '''',4". "4* ' ' ; „14,.'"Ak,,,,. - - ,.. • • . r „ ,,,,, , ..,... , .,,,,,...,:,.., -,-.1..., StiMMER SIESTA Last week was too hot for man or beast These Holstein cowd at the farm of the morning milldng. Henry Otto on the 12th concession of East Wawanosh libwnship headed straight for a shade tree after The Wingham Advance-Tincies, Aug. 1, 1989. Page M Bell spends $591,000 relocating cable in town In 1988, Bell Canada spent $591,,000 relocating cable on John Street, and other improvements for the 2,379 customers in the Wing - ham exchange, he telephone com- pany announced recently. As well, Bell paid $70,197.10 in municipal taxes. This included $2,654.31 in real estate tax, $796.29 in business tax and $66,74650 in gross -receipts tax. Another $1,804,838.10 was spent on payroll expenses for the 57 Bell employees in the Walkerton area. The gross receipts tax is set at five per cent of all telecommunica- tions revenue from Bell operations in Ontario in the preceding year. The amount apportioned to each exchange is based on the number of Bell telephones in use. In 1988, this was $30.41 per telephone. In addition, in 1988, Bell spent a total of $2.2 billion on capital improvements. Of this, $1.408 bil- lion was spent in Ontario. The fore- cast for 1989 is $2.3 billion, with Aging silos often require 'first aid'• Ontario has an aging population of tower silos. With this aging comes a gradual deterioration of the concrete in the silo walls. Eventually, the concrete no longer can take the pressures it is designed to withstand. The result can be silo collapse. This has hap- pened and it's very costly, not to mention dangerous. So 'far, the problem has been worse for stave silos, although cast - in -place silos are not immune: The problem is speeded up when "too - wet" , silage is stored or when the sio iii not emptied each year. " The solution iv to protect the silo' interior walls. There are epoxy coatings that can be sprayed on, but the wall must be very smooth in order to get a good seal. This is usually only the case with a new silo, or one that has received a "mortar" type of coating to restore the wall to its original thickness. The alternative is to apply,a spe7 dal mortar 'abating 'that contains an acid4esistanrcompotid& Here; aid material does both jobs — building up the wall thickness and provid- ing acid protection. Before applying any coating, make sure the wall is clean — repeat, clean! The best way to do this is with a very high-pressure water spray, for example, over 3,000 pounds per square inch. Keep in mind that likely only the bottom 10 to 15 feet of wall will need this restoration. Your local Ontario ministry of agriculture and food dffice can supply more details. Also check with your favorite silo builder or silo -repair company for details on providing the service. Don'aput it off too long. When the silo 4 empty, give it a check-up. Ability Fund Ability Fund Canada, the -only national organization that address- es the needs of all disabled adults across the country, has started its summer campaign. Ten provincial organizations ape taking part in the 1989 summer campaign. These organizations across the country offer a wide range of services to persons with physical disabilities. In Ontario, the March of Dimes took part through a direct mail cam ign. This summer's goal of 825,10i will help to ensure that all disabled adults in Ontario ate given every opportunity to lead indepen- dent lives. The March of Dimes spends 90 per cent of its fund on three major services, which include: indepen- dent hying assistance; employnient training and mobility aids. The remaining funds are used to sup- port services ranging from a post- polio network to a camping and recreation program. The March of Dimes ensures that disabled adults will receive a need- ed wheelcheir, cane or prosthetk, as well as the necessary training to re- enter the workforce competitively or have an adjustment made so that they may live independently in their own homes. Founded hi 1951 to combat the polio epidemic of the 1950s, the March of Dimes changed its man- date to ensure independent lives for persons with physical disabilities. Today, one in 10 adults in Ontario is disabled. The marching mothers of the 1950* have turned into a vol- unteer bail of 10400 people across Ontario, train all Walks of life, who are wOrking to meat the needs of disabled adult,. During this summer's campidgn, please give $s senerepsly as you Ode Ai*, The With eir Dim*? hie is helping disabled adults melte the most a • $1.387 billion to be spent in Ontario.improvement highlights in Locai 19: : include $591,000 spent on: —replacing overhead with underground cable on John Street to accommodate road work; —placing cable to the junction of the Lucknow area; —placing electronic switches in the Whitechurch area; —extending line equipment to Whitechurch and Belgrave. Local plans for 1989 include ,$315,000 to be spent on: —placing cable along Highway 4 from Wingham to Blyth; —placing an electronic switch at Belgrave. "This investment helps to main- tain affordable, high-quality local telephone service for the people of Wingham," says I,Zoy Cunningham, Bell's local manager. "It's part of Bell's overall con- struction program that represents an investment of more than $300 per customer per year." RIDE teams out in full force this weekend Warm summer weather and the holiday season result in a dramatic increase in traffic volume every year. Unfortunately, the increased volume also leads to an increase in fatal motor vehicle accidents. Last summer, 363 people died in motor vehicle accidents in areas of the province patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police. The major contributing factors in these accidents were excessive speed, alcohol and failure to wear seat- belts. Approximately 25 per cent, of motorists killed were ejected from their vehicles. Without a doubt, seat belts save lives. It is our duty to protect the driving public by ensuring proper use of seat belts and child restraints," says Inspector Bill Wicklund, OPP traffic and marine section. This Civic Holiday weekend — Aug. 5,6 and 7 — OPP RIDE teams will be out in full force. The sum- mer RIDE program, a cooperative effort involving police forces throughout the province, has already proven effective. This past Victoria Day weekend, OPP RIDE units charged 147 people with alcohol-related driving offences. In addition, 269 received 12-honr suspensions. "People tend to consume more alcohol and drive longer distances in the summer. The cooperation of police forces in the summer RIDE program is intended to send a clear message to the public: Drinking and driving will not be tolerated," says Mr. Wicklund. The OPP will be enforcing speed- ing, drinking and driving and seat belt laws this holiday weekend. "The OPP urges motorists to 'buckle up and drive safely." Drivers warned about faulty running lights Ontario Transportation Minister Ed Fulton recently warned resi- dents against buying daytime run- ning -light systems that do not con- form with CSA standards. Mr. Fulton has announced an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act regulations, -which prohibit the sale ofedaYtimerrenining-light syS- terns that do not comply with Canadian Standards Association standard CAN -CSA -D603-88. The transportation minister said ,there have been complaints from motorists who have installed cer- tain after -market devices to turn their running lights on automatical- ly when the car is started. These may overload or short out the car's entire electrical system, he warns. Mr. Fulton urges prospective purchasers to look, on the box for the CSA designation indicating that the device is compatible with pre- vailing- vehicle lighting and electri- cal systems... LJ.; The ministry has been recom- mending that Ontario motorists use their low -beam headlightsand other running lights in daylight. Statistics show that the lights reduce accidents because of the improved visibility of the vehicle. Performance proceeds to go toward AIDS The Blyth Festival recently announced that there will be an extra performance of the sold -out comedy "The Right One" by Bryan Wade on Friday, Aug. 18, at 2 p.m. Proceeds will go toward AIDS research. "We're very pleased to add this extra performance,' says Katherine Kaszas, artistic director, "since many faithful members of our audi- ence were unable to get tickets with 16 performances being sold out just days before we opened. "In addition, the company has agreed to donate proceeds from this special performance to the Actors' Fund of Canada and its special fund for people with AIDS. Each member of the company and crew has donated his or her time and tal- ents for this special charity." According io Dr. Martin Bokhout, Huron County medical officer of health, "AIDS is a disease which we all need to be concerned about. It is a potential threat to all of us and any efforts to help research which looks into ways of preventing AIDS should be com- mended. In Huron County, ongoing public education programs geared toward preventing this disease are coordinated by Diane Aitken of the' Huron County Health Unit." Blyth patrons may buy padded festival seats "The Blyth Festival Great Cana- dian Seat Sale" has begun says Joel Harris, general manager. "This will be the last year for the famous cushions and hard seats for the festival," he says. "Part of our capital expansion project includes the refinishing of our 491 theatre seats over the winter months to transform them into padded seats." Audience members are invited to take a leading role in this special campaign by buying a seat. For a tax deductible donation of $159, a seat will be named in your honor with a permanent plaque installed on the seat. Two seats can be pur- chased for $299 or three seats or more for $129 each. "By underwriting a portion of the restoration costs, you will give a unique gift to the community," says Mr. Harris. From now until September, each night at the festival, board mem- bers, volunteers and company members will be visible on the front lawn of the Blyth Memorial Hall talking about phase two of the capi- tal expansion plans. For more information about "The Blyth Festival Great Canadian Seat Sale", contact Lynda Lentz, devel- opment coordinator at the Blyth festival, 523-4345. FCC reduces interest rates Farm Credit Corporation (FCC) last week announced a quarter-of- alercentage point reduction in its interest rates. This is the fourth reduction since May 12. Since then, rates have fall- en a full` percentage point for the shared -risk Mortgage, a loan which permits the borrower to share equally with the corporation the benefits and costs related to fluctu- ating interest rates. All other loans have declined three-quarters of a point since April. Lower tunomg costs are the primary reason for the reduction in rates. As of last Tuesday, July 25, the following interest rates apply: —Shared -risk mortgage, 12.75 per cent; —Five-year fixed term, 12.25 per cent; —10 -year fixed term, 12 per cent; —15 -year or more fixed term, 12 per cent and; —Farm syndicate loans, 12.2.5 per cent.