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The Times Advocate, 2004-11-03, Page 12Crossroads 12 Wednesday, November 3, 2004 Exeter Times Advocate St. Boniface students look at urban planning By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF ZURICH — Grade 8 stu- dents at St. Boniface School are taking a closer look at their community. Mark Boersen's class has been looking at urban planning and the growth of cities as part of its geography unit. Last week the class walked through Zurich evaluating the community's land uses. This week, Huron County planner Scott Tousaw visited the class to speak about planning issues. During their walk around Zurich, students were to note what types of improvements they feel are necessary to the vil- lage. One of the things stu- dents were asked to con- sider, Boersen said, was why there is so much industry in Hensall and next to none in Zurich? Boersen said the lack of a rail line and a 400 series highway in the area are probably two major fac- tors why Zurich doesn't have industry. They were also asked what types of things Zurich could do to attract people to the area. Students came up with several observations Students in Mark Boersen's Grade 8 class at St. Boniface School hit the streets last week to evaluate land uses in Zurich.The exercise was part of the class's study of urban planning.As part of the project, students identi- fied what improvements can be made to the community. (photo/Scott Nixon) about Zurich: • buildings in the down- town core are old — newer buildings would be nice, as would more flower beds downtown; • there are no stop lights in Zurich. Students suggested with a set of stop lights, passersby may be encouraged to stop in the village and shop; • with no financial insti- tution in Zurich, it makes it harder for people to shop; • there aren't enough apartment buildings in the village; • students spoke of the lack of parks in the village and said more parkland is needed in the western part of the village. Zurich's lack of a public pool was another concern among students. They suggested a new pool be constructed beside the new Bluewater Arena. Blair Finkbeiner said the municipality needs to fmd a good use for the vil- lage's old arena on Main Street or demolish it and replace it with something else. Mike Lansbergen said more jobs are needed in the area and Zurich also needs to attract younger families to the area. Boersen told students it's possible Zurich's fate is to be a town where its residents live in the vil- lage because it's cheaper to live there, but they commute outside of town to work. He also gave them the example of Elliot Lake, a community hard hit with the closure of uranium mines, but reborn as a retirement community. Boersen described stu- dents as excited about the project and their job now is to determine if their ideas for Zurich are feasi- ble, how they implement those ideas and how they get their voices heard. County council discusses need Hensall Legion helps forAdvanced Care Paramedics By Pauline Kerr SPECIAL TO THE T -A GODERICH — The issue of training Huron County paramedics in advanced care proved divisive recently for Huron County council. Advanced Care Paramedics (ACPs) can provide a higher level of care than Primary Care Paramedics (PCPs). The county's new manager of quality assurance for the County of Huron Emergency Medical System, Todd Martin, said with ACPs it's like "having an emergency room in your living room". David Lew, manager of Land Ambulance Operations, said the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care has set a standard of 65 per cent of paramedics being ACPs. Huron went "a differ- ent route", he said, aim- ing at 50 per cent. He requested $70,000 for training six PCPs as ACPs, explaining the usual cost is $35,000- $50,000 per paramedic. "We're doing it for $10,000," he said. Coun. John Bezaire of Central Huron ques- tioned the need of ACPs, especially considering the increase in salaries, a long-term expense. At the suggestion of Coun. Rob Morley of South Huron, Martin said he'd be glad to come to a meeting of the county's agriculture, public works and seniors committee and explain the pros and cons of ACPs. other county council notes: Good Food Box In celebration of Ontario Agriculture Week, Huron County council and staff were treated to a lunch of deli- cious Huron County food in the gazebo outside the county building Oct. 7. Jane Muegge of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food told council Agriculture Week "celebrates farm- ers and what they con- tribute to the county's economy". She introduced mem- bers of the Field to Table group that promotes buying locally and said the average grocery store item travels 2,400 kilometers. The Good Food Box is one way the group boosts the local economy and provides fresh pro- duce to about 300 fami- lies. She said the Good Food Box volunteers who filled the council chamber "lugged and slugged" 91,000 pounds of food in the last year. The Good Food Box program has put $37,000 into the local economy through grow- ers, suppliers and some grocery stores. The vol- unteers contribute $25,000 in-kind service. The $37,000 is an increase of $4,000 over the previous year. "We have farmers who grow crops for us," Muegge said and noted the food in the Good Food Box is top quality, and quite varied. Warden Bill Dowson thanked the volunteers for their efforts. "It's really appreciated," he said. "We truly do thank you for all your time and effort." The Hensall Legion donated $1,000 last week to the South Huron Hospital Foundation, which will go towards a new examining table at the hospital. From left are hospital board chairperson Glenn Bartlett, Foundation chairperson Olga Davis, lifetime Hensall Legion member John McAllister and Hensall Legion poppy chairperson Larry Uyl. Uyl said this is the first year the Legion has been able to donate from its Poppy Fund and he reminds the public that when they buy a poppy, the money raised can go to benefit their own community. McAllister, who has previously been featured in the Times -Advocate, is a veteran of the Second World War and fought in the battle at Ortona, which held its 60th anniversary last week.At 17, McAllister lied about his age to enter the war and headed overseas in 1942. He described Ortona as the bloodiest battle in the war, which saw 382 Allied men die in just over two hours. In addition to fighting through Italy, McAllister also saw action in France. (photo/Scott Nixon)