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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-09-29, Page 9Wednesday, September 29, 2004 Exeter Times–Advocate Food Grains Bank aids hungry around the world EXETER — Members of the Exeter United Church and the South Huron Growing Project of the Canadian Food Grains Bank (CFGB) received first hand feedback on their efforts to help feed the hungry of developing nations Sept 12. A special public presen- tation was held at the United Church with Rev. Stephen Mparinkoi from Kenya as the guest speak- er. United Church Minister Paul Ross said it is the first year for the Exeter United Church to be involved in the growing project which has been going for several years through the efforts of several area churches. Ross said the church decided it would limit its participation to cash donations with it being its first year. "They try to get farmers from their congregations to participate through loan of equipment or donating work." According to Ross, the crop is either sold and the money donated through the partner churches or the crop itself is shipped to where it is needed. He said the ultimate goal was to increase the land acreage of the group although he added most growing projects prefer small acreages. "They can be taken off or planted in an afternoon so they're not taking a lot of time away from a guy who is trying to earn his living." Mparinkoi, 47, told the group he became the co- ordinator of food security in 1996 after a severe drought and famine caused many families to lose their livestock. In 1998, he started receiving funding from the CFGB and also began co- ordinating an HIV/AIDS response team with find- ing from the Mennonite Central Committee, which is also a partner in the CFGB. Mparinkoi told the group there are 42 tribes in Kenya, which each have their own language. He is of the Masai tribe and his work has been with the people of his tribe. "In the food security pro- gram, we are taking awareness to those people who have never practised proper production," he said. One of these aspects was to introduce crop produc- tion to the nomadic people who have traditionally fol- lowed the rain in their role as livestock keepers. He spoke of the impor- tance of this work, saying it is catastophic when peo- ple in a crisis are given food and then left to fend for themselves. He said in the past 11 years he has seen a real change in the people, who have seen the positive Rev. Stephen Mparinkoi sings a Swahili song for the peo- ple who gathered at the Exeter United Church Sept. 12 to hear him speak about his work with the Canadian Food Grains Bank in Kenya. (photo/Mary Simmons) effects of settling and farming pieces of land instead of moving accord- ing to weather conditions. According to Mparinkoi, the impact of the program is shown by the fact there were five farmers in the first year and there are now 800. He said once they settle, children can go to school and crops can be grown to store and use. "What has never been experienced is now being experienced and they are grateful for that," he said. "We don't just give them food, we talk to them." Another aspect of the work is the establishment of water ponds for irriga- tion and vegetable pro- duction, which can be used by the families or sold to neighbours. Mparinkoi said his group tries to identify the most needy families, for exam- ple those with fewer cows and give them access to a quality bull. A farmers fair day also gives families the opportu- nity to win a heifer. Farmers cut and bale hay by hand and the one with the most bales wins the heifer. He said one of the chal- lenges facing farmers in the region is the lack of machinery. Only the rich people who live in the highlands and produce cash crops of cof- fee and tea are able to afford the expensive machinery. The Huron County Health Unit and the Huron County VETERINARY CLINICS are offering LOW COST RABIES VACCINATION CLINICS For dogs and cats over 3 months of age. Please have your pets on leashes or in carrying cages while in the clinic. Per animal vaccinated. Includes GST. Certificate and tags provided. Visit one of these Huron County Veterinary Clinics: Blyth Veterinary Clinic Queen Street South, Blyth Sept. 25, 2004 — 9:00 am -12:00 pm Goderich Veterinary Clinic RR#2 Hwy. #8 Goderich Sept. 29, 2004 — 2:00 pm -5:00 pm Oct. 2, 2004 — 9:00 am -12:00 pm Wingham Veterinary Clinic 11 Alfred Street, Wingham Sept. 29, 2004 — 2:00 pm -5:00 pm Oct. 2, 2004 — 9:00 am -12:00 pm Clinton Veterinary Services 275 Huron Street, Clinton Sept. 29, 2004 — 2:00 pm -5:00 pm Oct. 2, 2004 — 9:00 am -12:00 pm Seaforth Veterinary Clinic Main Street North, Seaforth Sept. 29, 2004 — 2:00 pm -5:00 pm Oct. 2, 2004 — 9:00 am -12:00 pm Zurich Veterinary Clinic 20 Main Street, Zurich Sept. 29, 2003 — 2:00 pm -5:00 pm Oct. 2, 2004 — 9:00 am -12:00 pm Exeter Animal Hospital 660 Main Street, Exeter Oct. 2, 2004 — 9:00 am -12:00 pm Thames Road Veterinary Clinic 67 Thames Rd., Exeter Sept. 29, 2004 — 3:00 pm -7:00 pm These low cost Clinics provide Rabies Vaccination only. No other treatment will be available. PROTECT YOUR PET AND YOUR FAMILY- HELP AMILYHELP CONTROL THE SPREAD OF RABIES VIRUS. MUNICIPALITY OF SOUTH HURON ATTENTION CREDITON AND CENTRALIA RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF CREDITON/ CENTRALIA SANITARY SEWERS NOTICE OF COMPLETION The Municipality of South Huron has conducted a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) to investigate the best method of providing sanitary sewage disposal facilities to the communities of Centralia and Crediton. Sanitary sewage is currently treated in both communities by individual septic systems. Recent studies have identified environmental problems with a substantial number of these systems. The Municipality initiated the Class EA study to identify and evaluate alternative methods of resolving the identified problems. A number of possible strategies for upgrading local sewage treatment facilities were examined during the course of the Class EA investigation, including the replacement of malfunctioning or substandard systems, the development of a new municipal sewage treatment system, and the construction of a communal sewage collection system discharging to the Exeter sewage treatment plant. The merits of each option were assessed based on factors such as technical complexity, environmental risk, cost, operating and maintenance requirements, and the implications for current and future land use activities. Following a review of study findings and recommendations, the Municipality selected a preferred strategy for improving sanitary sewage disposal in Crediton and Centralia. The preferred servicing plan involves the development of municipal sewage collection facilities in each community, as well as the construction of facilities to convey wastewater from each collection system to the Huron Park sewage works (which discharges into the Exeter sewage treatment plant). The new communal sanitary sewage system would replace the existing network of individual septic systems. The following represent the key works associated with the preferred servicing plan: - Install gravity sewers within existing road allowances to service the majority of development in the Crediton and Centralia service areas. Connect the balance of development in each service area to the local collection system via individual grinder pressure pumps. - Construct a sewage pumping station (SPS) to convey sewage flows from the Centralia collection system across the Ausable River (within the County Road 10 road allowance). A preferred site for the proposed SPS has been identified immediately west of the watercourse. - Extend a forcemain along County Road 10 from the proposed Crediton SPS to connect to the Huron Park forcemain located at the County Road 21 intersection. - Install gravity sewers to convey flows from the Centralia system to the Huron Park Secondary SPS. The proposed sewers would be located within the Huron Park Road right-of-way, new servicing easements, and potentially the Algonquin Avenue road allowance. - Upgrade the Huron Park Main SPS to accommodate additional flows from Crediton. The project is following the planning process set out for Schedule B activities under the Class EA document. Schedule B projects are approved subject to a screening process which is carried out to identify any potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed works and to plan for appropriate mitigation of any impacts. The screening process has been completed for the project. There were no negative impacts identified with the proposed servicing plan that could not be mitigated. A Screening Report has been prepared to document the Class EA process. The report is available for review at the municipal office and the Exeter Branch Library, 330 Main Street (during normal hours of operation). The report is also available from the municipal website: www.town.southhuron.on.ca. Subject to any comments received as a result of this Notice, and the receipt of necessary approvals, the project will proceed to the design and construction phases. The Municipality also intends to make application for project funding under the Canada -Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund. For further information on this project, please contact the Project Engineer: B.M. Ross and Associates, 62 North Street, Goderich, Ontario, N7A 2T4. Tel: (519) 524-2641. Fax: (519) 524-4403. Attention: Matt Pearson, Senior Planner (e-mail: mpearson@bmross.net). If environmental concerns arise regarding this project which cannot be resolved in discussion with the Municipality, a person or party may request that the Minister of the Environment make an order that the project comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act, which addresses individual environmental assessments. Requests must be received by the Minister, at the address below, within 30 calendar days of this Notice. A copy of the request must also be sent to the Project Engineer at the address above. If no such request is received by October 22, 2004, the project will proceed to construction as planned. Minister of the Environment 135 St. Clair Avenue 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M4V 1 P5 This Notice issued September 22, 2004. Laurence R. Brown, C.A.O. Municipality of South Huron