HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-03-09, Page 3Wednesday, March 9, 2005
Exeter Times—Advocate
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Huron is celebrating its 25th anniversary. To
mark the milestone this year's Bowl for Kids is expected to raise $25,000. Taking
their best shots at the Zurich Lanes on March 6 are 10 year-old Cody Nicholls
(left) and 14 year-old Nick Beeson. (photo/Stephanie Mandziuk)
Survey says: South Huron is friendly
By Stephanie Mandziuk
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — "South Huron is perceived
as a friendly, safe and well -located com-
munity with easy access to local recre-
ational opportunities (natural environ-
ment), big city attractions and Lake
Huron."
This is the conclusion of a recent com-
munity telephone survey completed by
Fred Simmons Management with a fund-
ing grant from Human Resources
Development Canada.
Simmons says 115 people were sur-
veyed in and around Exeter. Calls were
made to Zurich, Dashwood, Grand Bend
Bayfield, Crediton, Woodham/Kirkton,
Centralia and Huron Park. "We captured
what was happening in the local market,
anywhere that's a 15 minute drive from
Exeter," says Simmons.
The South Huron Chamber of
Commerce is using the survey results as
a guide to encourage improvements and
changes in the area. At the same time
the SHCC is inviting new members to join
and help turn the survey's results into
reality.
Simmons says many points of interest
have been brought forward.
"Local customers shop locally for con-
venience and shop elsewhere (London)
for selection. The local market is not
growing, making retailers vulnerable to
changes in customer shopping habits. To
protect market share, or to expand, busi-
nesses need to market or locate through-
out South-western Ontario."
"Off street parking should be a priority
coupled with highly visible street signs."
Simmons says parking is an issue and if
people can't find parking they get
annoyed.
"The large retailers are creating traffic
and to maintain the small business sector
some of the traffic needs to have a reason
to travel south of the Highway 4/83 cor-
ner."
"Retailers need to tour each other's
businesses and cross market each other's
products."
"The Internet is not presently well
developed to support local shopping.
Thirty per cent of local residents used the
Internet to purchase goods in the last
year."
"EBA's street decorations are appreci-
ated and considered excellent by local
residents."
"Some business signs are considered in
need of improvement."
"Local residents would like to see an
expansion of the retail sector to include a
large retailer or a Wal -mart type of
store."
"Customer service issues are the main
concern of local shoppers."
"Community parks are considered
excellent and long range planning should
occur to maintain and expand this
resource."
"Most residents know the White
Squirrel is the community mascot. Few
know his name." (It's Willis, the White
Wonder.)
Simmons concludes, "The local market
is supported by the local community.
Little information is available on cus-
tomers who visit South Huron and they
are not being marketed to in a co-ordi-
nated way."
Simmons stresses, "the grant for this
survey provided a huge benefit to the
SHCC and the entire community. It's an
example of how we can all work together
to take advantage of resources, like gov-
ernment funding, to help improve our
community."
For more information about the South
Huron Chamber of Commerce call 235-
4520 or check out the Web site:
www.shcc.on.ca.
Biddulph Central School held its parent advisory council effective speaking com-
petition at the school March 1. Participating, from left, were Craig Mutter, Jackie
Ryan, Cody McWhirter, Ben John,Amanda De Bruyn and Morgann Jones. De
Bruyn and McWhirter represented the school at the district level at McGillivray
Central School March 3. (photo/submitted)
The Chickens take stage
with McCarty and Grinder
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
LONDON — The
Chickens, made up of
Exeter's Fred and Dave
Robinson, Murray
Heywood, Dan Preszcator
and Ken Mikalauskas of
Oshawa, will be hitting
the stage later this month
with one of the stars of
the Detroit Red Whigs.
Instead of being on the
ice this season, Darren
McCarty is spending his
time on stage with his
band Grinder.
They will be joined on
stage by The Chickens at
Call The Office in London
March 21.
The bands hooked up in
December after tallflng to
McCarty's agent who was
looking for a record label.
Robinson said he saw
Grinder play in Detroit
and met with McCarty.
After singing with The
Chickens record label,
Rubber Road Records,
Robinson said "it just
goes from there."
The bands will be doing
a week of shows in March
starting in London and
will finish up at the Drake
in Toronto.
There are plans to do
some more shows togeth-
er this summer.
"We're supporting
them. It's the duty of the
record label to introduce
these guys to Canada.
You'd think people would
go, Darren McCarty, the
Red Wings and it would
be a quick sell but that's
not necessarily the case,"
said Robinson.
"The hockey strike has
left some people very
cold...oh, another hockey
player trying to be a rock
star."
Robinson said with most
of the clubs the Chickens
play are where up and
coming artists per-
form,"we can introduce
them (Grinder) to a differ-
ent community, more
music industry people,
writers, critics and fans."
According to Robinson,
McCarty is approaching
his music career like he
does his hockey.
"He had to give it the
extra 10 per cent if he
was going to make it, and
apparently he's treating
this rock thing the same
way."
Although The Chickens
are closer to what
Robinson described as
garage rock, and Grinder
is more Motor City rock
and roll, Robinson said
the styles "are very com-
plementary."
"If Offspring and Velvet
Revolver were to come
together, you might have
something like that."
After the March 21
show, which is at 8 p.m.,
the bands will be in
Hamilton Tuesday March
22 at the Underground at
8 p.m.
March 24, they will be
at Lee's Palace before
taking part in a music
industry hockey tourna-
ment Friday with their
team, the Rubber Road
Red Rings.
Friday night they will be
in Oshawa before return-
ing to Toronto for an all
ages show at the Drake
Hotel Saturday.
Grinder is expected to
release their second
album in May or early
June, and Robinson said
once it was released,
plans could be made for
the summer.
He added both bands
would gain from playing
together, with Grinder
"getting a little more
street credibility," and
people seeing the
Chickens who may not
normally have gone to see
them.
"The two bands work-
ing together is quite
healthy."
"We'll certainly be play-
ing to more hockey fans,"
said Robinson.
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250/ OFF THE ENTIRE STORE,
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AND CARRY
• Two black utility shelves • Gift -wrapping table
• Filing cabinet 4 drawers • Gift wrap
• Desk • Four mannequins holder
• Computer • Christmas decorations
• Brother fax laser, copier and scanner • Halloween decorations
• Gift certificates and gift certificates boxes • Slat wall
• Microwave • Waterfall brackets and straight brackets
• Sandwich board for outside advertising • Two centre shelving units
• Awning • Four 4 -way clothing racks
• Deluxe hanger 17" • Moveable clothing rack
• Mirrors - three •16 -wooden handmade shelves
• Change table • Two Wrought iron coat hooks
• Little Tykes art easel - five hooks on each
• Rocking chair • Two cordless phones
• Toys and toy box • Stereo
• Children's table and two chairs • Wine rack
• Three mannequins body forms • Two wicker chairs
-one male and one expecting. •1 decoration table
• Counter • PLUS MANY, MANY MORE ITEMS
• ALL ITEMS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD
• SALE STARTS SAT. MAR. 12
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STORE CLOSING APR. 30
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IF ANYONE HAS A GIFT CERTIFICATE THAT THEY HAVE NOT USED YET PLEASE DO SO.
CASH AND CARRY ITEMS. SOME WILL HAVE TO STAY UNTIL BUSINESS CLOSES.
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new lingerie • maternity & children's wear • gifts ;
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