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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-12-06, Page 6THE MO HANADV,NCETIMES YCxa W p ak.� Concert series wraps up successful inaugural run By MARGARET STAPLETON The Advance -Times Perhaps someday we'll be able to say "we knew them when...", "The Wilkinsons", that is, an up- and-coming family country music act whose performance last Thurs- day night concluded the three-part "Centre Stage" series at the Wing - ham Town Hall Heritage Theatre. The singer -songwriter series brought "The Wilkinsons", as well as Canadian music. legends Murray McLauchlan and Sylvia Tyson to town. Cliff Edwards, a spokesman for the heritage theatre group, said that even though all three concerts fell upon stormy evenings, the se- ries was an unqualified success and residents can look forward to simi- lar programs next year. But more about that later. "The Wilkinsons" are labelled as "the soon -to -be -hottest country family act in themusic business". It is headed by father Steve Wilkin- son, a self-proclaimed "late bloom- er", who gained renown in 1992 when Larry Mercey of "The Mer- cey Brothers" fame recorded Wil- kinson's song "Keeping Up With the Jones's". Since then, Wilkinson has hung up his carpenter's pouch for a life of song -writing and performing. However, he admits, he is a lesser light than daughter Amanda and son Tyler, both seasoned perform- ers at the ripe old ages of 13 and 11 respectively. Amanda has been performing since the age of three and 10 years later, she has honed a commanding stage presence. A fan of Canadian pop superstar Celine Dion, Amanda is reminiscent of her idol through her movement and style onstage. A girl of eclectic taste, she also favors the timeless tunes of the late, great Patsy Cline. And her favorite male performer is, get this, Bing Crosby, for his class, grace and superb voice. But Amanda's first love is per - The Wikifnsons...regarded as one of Canada's most up-and-coming country music aets, performed at the Wingham Town Hall Heritage Theatre for the final concert in the three-part "Centre Stage" series. Shown here with Cliff Ed- wards (second from right), Amanda, Tyler and Steve. forming. "I love it, I have a great time." she says. "If haven't been onstage for a while, I start to get an itch to perform." She enjoys the rapport with the audience and the chance to do what she loves: sing. Brother Tyler is two years younger, but every bit as poised. He calls a recent trip to Nashville to "showcase" for record company representatives "amazing". Show- casing involves singing for the record companies in the hope of "cutting. a deal" to get into the lu- crative American country music market. Aside from music, Tyler is an avid basketball fan, whose big goal is to see the New York Knicks in action. Whatever the future may hold, Steve Wilkinson is determined to hold his children's feet firmly on ,the ground. School comes first, says Wilkinson, and if at any time their straight -A standing falters. the family's priorities could be re- examined. Accompanying the Wiikinsons was Wendell Fergusoh, front man for the JUNO-winning back-up ban "Code of the West". Cliff Edwards says the singer - songwriter series appealed to a dif- ferent ?udience than the regular Primetime programs. He is pleased to note that Wingham and area resi- dents threw their support behind the series and made it a success. Many entertainers, even stars like McLauchlan and Tyson enjoy the ambience of smaller halls, says Edwards. "This is a more intimate approach," he adds. The success of the "Centre Stage" series has provided Edwards and the board of Crossover Produc- tions with much encouragement for the 1996 season. Edwards says there will be other shows in the spring with a country theme, a fundraising show. in April, as well as a summer children's series. The Wingham Town Hall Heri- tage Theatre will be well used next year, says Edwards, adding that more Primetime shows will be in- cluded. He promises more details as soon as they have been estab- lished. Tories torn between private enterprise and money in labs Dear Editor: At a time when Premier Mike Harris is looking for ways to save money in the public services, the provincial government must take a serious look at laboratory funding. Hospital Labs are funded on a glo- bal basis, as part of the hospitals' overall budget. , Hospital labs are not permitted to bill the government or patient for any tests now in the OHIP sched- ule. Private labs are reimbursed by the Ontario government based on a specific dollar value for work per- formed. A coalition of doctors. hospitals and health unions say this fee struc- ture is in fact costing taxpayers 25 per cent more than it. should. Sud- bury pathologist Dr. Raymond Bo- nin, backed by the Ontario Associa- tion of Pathologists. the Association of Medical Microbiolo- gists of ,Ontario, a number of un- ions and his own Laurentian Hospi- tal is presently working to get this changed. Hospitals must have expensive lab equipment and skilled operators to do the complex lab work which their patients require. At present this equipment is not being utilized to it's full capacity. Private labs, on t e other hand, skim the simplest an c teapest business — the routine tests ordered by physicians working out of their offices. A 1991 Ministry of Health study cited by Bonin's group found that private sector labs are 34 per cent more costly than their hospital counterparts. We would like the Ontario gov- ernment to let hospitals charge OHIP for outpatient lab tests — at 75 per cent of the rate currently charged by the private sector. This could save the government about $106 million annually. It is estimat- ed that it would provide hospitals with up to $318 million in new funding. The losers would be the private lab companies: the winners would be the people of Ontario. For Premier Mike Harris' Tones, this is a tough ideological problem. They want to save public money. But they also want to favor private enterprise. Medical lab testing ap- pears to be one area where these two areas are in direct conflict. So far. the Tories have chosen private enterprise over cost-saving. It will be intriguing to see if they continue along this not very common-sense road. Ask your local MPP about this common sense resolution. Erin Netzke, OPSEU, Local 250 Kincardine and District General Hospital , •/,1►\Howl l .//m , n lim Someone on your list got you stumped'? Is it a stocking stuffer you need? THE WINGHAM GOLF & CURLING CLUB is now selling their Fundraising Calendars. Everyone will have a chance to Win $$$$ everyday. This very attractive calendar sells' for only $20.00 and all proceeds go to the club for improvements. Hurry, numbers are limited Call the club at 357-2179. WINGHAM GOLF & CURLING CLUB 1st Concession South of Wingham, E off Hwy #4 357-2179 Wilt raw tam • NEDNESD4Y, DECEMBER 8, 1885 Holiday. Publishing Deadlines 5 Diagonal Road Wingham Plus Deadlines: For December 17 Deadline is December 13 at 4:00 p.m. For December 24 Deadline is December 19 at 4:00 p.m. For December 31 Deadline is December 27 at -4:00 p.m. Advance -Times Deadlines: For December 20 Deadline is December 14 at 4:00 p.m. For December 27 Deadline is December 20 at 4:00 p.m. For January 3 Deadline is December 29 at 4:00 p.m. l' 1' xngh41? Phone: 357-2320 tonctzeianl Fax: 357-2900 WINGHAM ank You ForAskiflg! Thank you for asking! 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