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The Times Advocate, 2004-06-23, Page 1616 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, June 23, 2004 Child care centre a welcome service for parents By Mary Simmons TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Tammy East says she has noticed a significant change in her child's personality since she began going to the Relouw Early Childhood Learning Centre in Exeter at least two days a week. "It's amazing for her," East says of her four- year-old daughter's reac- tion to coming to the cen- tre. "She loves it. She wants to come every day." East says before Heather started at the centre she was shy in public and has now become more chatty and sociable. 'The teachers know how to work with children and bring them out of their shells," East says. Centre director Angela Woodburn says this is a reaction she has heard from many parents since the facility opened in January. Forty children are regis- tered for the fall, with a waiting list for infants and only two more full-time spots left for toddlers. "Contrary to some rumours we have heard, we do take children part- time and we do not kick them out when a full-time child comes in," Woodburn says. "We are here to work around the parents' schedules." The facility is open from 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. and has seven staff members. Woodburn says she has really enjoyed working in Exeter. "We've felt a warm wel- come from the communi- ty," she says, adding she has even had donations of craft supplies, carpet samples, toys and flowers from parents. East says she would rec- ommend the facility to other parents without hesitation and has, in fact, done so. She has talked to other parents and they all say their children are happy when they drop them off and when they pick them up. "They're clean and well taken care of. You don't always get that with a pri- vate babysitter," she says. She also says the facility was needed in the area, which is evident by the fact that although the majority of children enrolled come from Exeter, there are also families from Dashwood, Hensall, Zurich, Grand Bend and Parkhill using the facility. Woodburn says the pro- gram is child -based. They are separated into age groups and activities are planned for specific age groups and developmen- tal abilities. "I think the parents involved in our centre are realizing the value in learning through play and making a decision to give their children the best early education possible," she says. Two-year-old Paige Woodburn paints a picture Learning Centre. (photo/Mary Simmons) at the Relouw Early Childhood ABCA board hears update on sinkhole study By Mary Simmons TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF AUSABLE BAYFIELD — A sinkhole investigation has been completed in Huron East and West Perth. Lands and water technologist Davin Heinbuck updated the board of directors of the Ausable Conservation Authority (ABCA) on the investigation at a meeting Thursday. The study was conducted through a partnership between the municipalities of Huron East and West Perth and the ABCA, with additional funding from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment as part of the min- istry's Municipal Groundwater Studies Program. Since Huron East and West Perth rely on groundwater to supply nearly all their drinking water, it was consid- ered a priority to figure out the effects of the sinkholes in the area and the groundwater. This was important because sinkholes can be conduits for contaminated surface water to enter the groundwater system. The objectives of the study included: • Defining and mapping sinkholes in West Perth and Huron East; • Establishing a long term monitoring well in the sink- hole formation; • Establishing a database for information about specif- ic sinkholes; • Sampling water quality in surface water entering the sinkholes and the groundwater quality in nearby wells; • Completing a land use assessment and developing draft policies for the protection of groundwater in the sinkhole study area. The sinkholes included in the study were located in the Hibbert ward of West Perth and the Tuckersmith ward of Huron East. More than 50 sinkholes have been mapped through- out the area, concentrated within the four clusters of Tuckersmith, Chiselhurst, Line 21 and Hibbert. A groundwater monitoring well was drilled adjacent to the Chiselhurst cluster. It is one of over 400 wells in a provincial groundwater monitoring network. Hourly lev- els will be monitored and it can also be monitored for trends in water quality. The information contained in the report will be used as background information for further studies and the development of groundwater protection strategies in the watershed. The full report has been posted on the ABCA Web site at www. abcasinkholestudy. on. ca. Armstrong West Water and planning manager Alec Scott updated the board on the progress of the Armstrong West erosion control project. At the board's last meeting it was decided to go ahead with a Class Environmental Assessment for the project. Scott told the board staff requested a quotation from Totten Sims Hubicki Consulting Engineers for the pro- ject and they came back with an estimated cost of $21,741 plus GST. The company, who has been doing all the consultant work for the project, will provide an environmental review of all the alternatives considered in reports reports. Provision has also been made for a public meeting, if necessary. Lambton Shores representative Bell Weber made a motion to defer a decision until Lambton Shores council has met with the landowners of Armstrong West and discussed cost sharing. The motion carried. Scott also reminded the board the conservation authority owns 40 per cent of the land in the area. Audit Chartered Accountant Stu Homuth attended the board meeting to report on the audit of the authority's finan- cial statement for 2003. Homuth pointed out the deferred revenue of $450,000 since, as an auditor, it is difficult for him to determine the correct amount is being recorded according to the percentage of completion of projects in progress. General manager Tom Prout said he feels keeping track of this is his responsibility and assured the board it is kept up to date. According to the financial statements at the end of 2003 the authority had a $168,841 surplus and $580,363 in reserves. Drinking water regulation Heinbuck informed the board of its options in order to comply with the province's Drinking Water Systems Regulation, which came into effect July 1, 2003. According to the regulation, the water systems at the ABCA administration office and the Rock Glen Conservation Area have been designated Small Non - Municipal -Non Residential and therefore have an exemption option. The board decided to apply for an exemption to the regulation by submitting a written notice to the Ministry of the Environment by Dec. 31 for the Rock Glen Conservation Area Signs will be posted and bottled water will be sold at the gate house for $1. A decision about the administration office was deferred until the board can find out more information about a possible connection to Exeter's water supply. Ted Jones accepts a $2000 donation to the MacNaughton-Morrison trail from Lioness president Mary Lou Becker and members Liz Stephens and Judy McLeod June 15 atVictoria Park. (photo/PatBolen) After 28 years at McGillivray Central School, teacher Drew Robertson has made the decision to retire.At a retirement party at the school Sunday afternoon Robertson addressed the crowd of former stu- dents and well wishers who came out to honour his dedicated years of service to his students. An award has been established in Robertson's name. Beginning at this year's graduation ceremonies, a worthy student will be given the most industri- ous student award. (photo/Mary Simmons)