HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1976-04-21, Page 5The
Last
Word
by Ted Rowcliffe
Frankenrnuth, Michigan, a town of about 3,000 people,
must have had at least another 3,000 to dinner on Sunday.
I'd never been to Frankenrnuth before. A few people
had mentioned it's unique architecture and I'd heard of
several groups chartering buses for a trip so when I had a
chance to do some travelling Sunday, it seemed like a nat-
ural.
Frankenrnuth, with a business section about the size of
Exeter has managed to stand out in the crowd by styling most
of it's buildings along Bavarian lines. Structures obviously
once plain and ordinary, with very little effort, have been
transformed to the German style so popular.
The merchants, Chamber of Commerce, industry, in fact,
just about everybody and everything in the town has jumped
on the calethumpion band wagon. And it has obviously
paid off.
When I arrived in Fratikenmuth about noon, I stood in the
heart of town with my mouth wide open in awe. I simply
could not believe my eyes which saw about 300 or 400
people lined up outside a restaurant, waiting to get in.
Shaking my head in amazement I noticed a duplicate scene
at another restuarant across the street.
In addition to these hungry visitors, there were literally
thousands darting in and out of gift shops, candy stores, art
galleries, cheese "hous" and many more.
The weather, bright and beautiful, certainly had some-
thing to do with the crowds, but chatting with some of
the merchants smiling from behind their cash registers, I
learned that the tourist trade in Frankenrnuth is brisk,
almost year round.
* * *
One of the reasons I ventured to Frankenrnuth was a com-
ment I heard someone in Zurich make recently. The fellow,
a merchant if I recall correctly, suggested that if Zurich were
to similarly transform its downtown core area to an Alpine
setting, with appropriate rnerchandizing, it too could draw
large crowds of tourists eagerly coming to town anxious to
spend dollars.
The start has been made in Zurich's municipal office
which is of Alpine design. Alone, it attracts curious but
admiring glances from passersby. Who knows, perhaps
someday it will be just another of dozens of like buildings.
The Zurich business association will be meeting this week
to discuss "sprucing up the downtown core. "Nick Hill,
former country planner and now in business for himself,
will be on hand,to offer some suggestions. No doubt the idea
of an Alpine theme will be one considered.
The possibilities are staggering.
* * *
Some months ago I mentioned that the Toronto Star
had printed a lengthy editorial on the need of preserving
agricultural land in Ontario. Since then just about every
politician has milked the question while every reporter in,
the country has thrown in a few,cents worth.
For one, I'm fed up with the whole question! Certainly
farm land should be preserved - but the present legislation
and guidance on both provincial and municipal levels is a
contradictory force.
The province is taking a hands off approach, stating that
the problem should be dealt with by the municipalities.
The municipalities are doing just that too! Recently
we have been told that very soon, already in some townships,
there will be no land severances for non-farm residential
purposes.
Hurrah, hurrah, we saved a lot!
But just wait until Ford comes in and wants to take 200 or
300 acres - or A & P want to build a gigantic plaza! Where
will the planning be then. Rural municipalities, on the adv-
ice of county planners, are taking the role of the white knight
when it coines to one lousy lot that might not be worked any-
way. But if the big chance comes to pave over half a section,
I'll bet they'11 be first in line to get it in their township
and reap the tax dollars.
If farm land must be preserved, it is going to take some
big decisions by big government. Saving a half acre here and
there isn 't even going to slow things down.
Citizens News, April 21/76 - Page 5
TINY BALLET STARS - The annual graduation exercises for young ladies participating in RAP sponsor-
ed ballet classes was held Wednesday night. From the left are Christy Brintnell, Karen Hoffman, Kim
Hoffman, Joel Lamport, Brenda Balsdon, Chris Gould, Tracey Tryon, Cheryl Hockey and Heather
Westlake. News Photo
Taylor y es litHe relief
for SH work reduction s
The total hours of work at
South Huron Hospital was reduc-
ed by 13,042 hours last year,
administrator Elmer Taylor told
the annual meeting, Monday.
This was part of the hospital's
move to meet the constraints
imposed by the ministry of
health. Other inflationary forces
also contributed extensively
to the reduction in hours.
"This drastic reduction in
hours of work was achieved
through attrition and in some
cafes by a reallocation of work-
loads," Mr. Taylor reported,
noting that in this way the in- •
conveniences on the public, and
hardships on the staff, were kept
to a minimum.
He added that, unfortunately,
the proposed up -grading and
expansion of services has been
delayed further by a shortage
of funds in the ministry of health.
Those in attendance at the
annual meeting were told that
it is anticipated that the accredi-
tation survey team will visit the
hospital during • 1976. Accredita-
tion has been a "long -sought
goal" and was recommended
by the consultant's report in
1970.
The .staffing compliment at
the hospital at the end of 1975
was 60 full-time personnel and
28 part-time.
Beds set-up at the year-end
wcrc as follows: medical -surgical
- 31; chronic 8; paediatric 6; new-
born bassinettes 7; obstetrical 6.
Percentages of occupancy for
the past year were given as
follows in tlic administrator's
report: medical -surgical, 73%;
chronic, 60%; obstetrical, 22%;
and paediatric, 21%
Other statistical highlights
for the year were was follows:
11,198 adult and children's days,
475 newborn days, 139,377 units
performed in the hospital labora-
Birth statistics
show increase
The birth rate at South Huron
• Hospital increased last year for
the first time in several years.
There were 91 births, compar-
ed to 79 the previous year. How-
ever, that 79 was an• all-time low
and far below the earlier days of
the hospital when births number-
ed over 200.
tory and 82,247 referred out,
4,466 examinations made in the
X-ray department, 3,748 visits
to the emergency department
(an increase of 483 over the
previous year), 102 operations
performed in the surgical suite,
141,000 pounds of linen process-
ed in the laundry department,
18,026 meals prepared by the
dietary department.
Happy he
didn't visit?
What a difference time makes!
Last year's minutes given by
Mrs. D. Brady at Monday's
annual meeting stated that one
of' the highlights of the year
was the visit to the hospital
by Frank Miller, minister of
health.
This year, one of the highlights
w as obviously the fact that he
did not visit the hospital.
His visits in 1976. unlike those
in 1974 were not as welcome
by hospital hoard members
as they generally resulted • in
closures or reduced beds.
ANNOUNC-MN
Keith and Margaret Westlake, Zurich, are
pleased to announce they have sold the
FURNITURE DIVISION
of their Business, to
HERB TURKHEIM, ZURICH
effective Tuesday, April 20, 1976
The Westlake Family will continue to operate
WESTLAKE FUNERAL HOME
and
WESTLAKE AMBULANCE SERVICE
At this time the Westlakes wish to extend a sincere
"Thank -You" to their many fine customers who
have dealt with them over the past 30 years
since they started in the Furniture Business
in Zurich. They also ask you to continue
this loyalty to the new owner in the
years ahead.