The Times Advocate, 2005-11-23, Page 22 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, November 23 2005
Oakwood subdivision moving ahead
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
SOUTH HURON — The developer of a 28 -unit subdivi-
sion beside the Oakwood Inn golf course wants to get
going on construction as soon as possible.
John Mathews of CTX Homes was at South Huron
council's Monday night meeting, where council gave
approval to staff to sign the Oakwood Links development
agreement and approve site plan for the project.
Zoning for the subdivision had already been approved
by council.
Oakwood Links, on the west side of Highway 21 just
north of Grand Bend, will consist of 28 one -storey luxu-
ry condominiums on a 4.4 acre site.
There had been delays to the project in the past due to
a right of way issue involving Philip Street, an
unopened, unpaved area that runs through the 17th
hole of the Oakwood golf course.
The project has been lengthy, with South Huron pass-
ing an official plan amendment and a rezoning bylaw in
2003 to change the land use designation of the property
from recreational commercial to village residential,
medium density and open space.
In 2004, there were severance changes to accommo-
date stormwater from the site. There was also an
appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board that was eventu-
ally settled.
"It's been a bit of an uphill battle to get to this point,"
Mathews said Monday night. "But we're happy to be
here and get going as soon as possible."
South Huron chief administrative officer Larry Brown
reported Monday that "the only internal service to the
development that will be owned and operated by South
Huron is the water system. The other services will be
the responsibility of the condo corporation."
The roads in the subdivision will be wide enough to
allow for large vehicle entry, Brown said, adding that
the municipality will provide blue box and garbage ser-
vice. The condominium corporation will be responsible
for its own snow removal.
A sanitary sewer will be extended down Highway 21
to the entrance of the subdivision, with the Oakwood Inn
and other property in the sewer service area picking up
the cost.
A pond that already exists on the site will remain and
be part of the stormwater management plan.
The Ministry of Transportation and the Ausable
Bayfield Conservation Authority have approved the
development.
Other council notes:
Helping the Chamber
Council granted a $5,000 request from the South
Huron Chamber of Commerce to help pay for the
Chamber's 2006 information booklet, "South Huron At
A Glance."
Chamber chairperson Hugh McMaster told council hi a
letter that since the inception of the booklet, 30,000
copies have been handed out all over Ontario as far as
the Sudbury Tourist Bureau. Copies have also been
handed out to tourists from Europe, the U.S., Eastern
and Western Asia and Western Canada.
McMaster said costs to publish the booklet have esca-
lated to about $1 to $1.25 per booklet. The Chamber's
request of $5,000 from the municipality amounts to
about 50 cents per book for the Chamber to break even.
All members of council at the meeting (Deputy Mayor
Dave Urlin and Coun. Ken Oke were absent) supported
the grant.
The money will come from the economic development
portion of the municipal budget. Mayor Rob Morley said
South Huron hasn't been using all of the money it has
put aside for economic development.
Brown added municipal staff uses the Chamber books
for reference and hands them out to visitors. He said the
municipality's involvement in "South Huron At A
Glance" is pretty much the only advertising South Huron
does.
South Huron DHS forum looks at dating violence
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE
STAFF
EXETER —
Parents should
talk to their
sons as well as
their daughters
about teen dat-
ing violence.
That was the
message par-
ents and
teenagers heard
Nov. 16 at
South Huron
District High
School as part
of the continu-
ing `Teenagers:
Under the
Influence series
of forums at the
school.
Speaking at
the latest
forum, on teen
dating violence
was Pam
Hanington from
Huron Women
of Today.
Hanington
said it is difficult
for parents to
know what is
going on in their
children's rela-
tionships, as
evidenced by
the arrests of
several students
in Toronto for
sexually
assaulting
another student
recently.
According to
Hanington,
there are differ-
ent types of vio-
lence, not all of
which are
against the law,
such as emo-
tional abuse
and isolation
from friends
and family.
Asked if vio-
lent behaviour
is learned,
Hanington said
yes and it is
usually learned
in the home.
"Violence is
used all the
time in society
because it
works," she
said.
There is a lot
of behaviour in
high school
hallways that
fits the pattern
of sexual
assault such as
groping of
breast and but-
tocks.
But it is rarely
reported, said
Hanington
because the
number one
thing teenagers
want to avoid is
telling on their
friends.
The messages
given to
teenagers on
how to avoid
violent,
unhealthy rela-
tionships are
usually directed
towards girls,
according to
Hanington,
while it is most-
ly boys who
commit sexual
assault.
Strategies for
girls on how to
stay safe "limit
the lives of half
the population,"
and are unfair
said Hanington
who added girls
are not the
appropriate tar-
gets for anti-
violence mes-
sages.
Parents don't
talk to their
sons about sex-
ual assault
because,"we
don't think of
our sons as
someone who
would hurt
someone."
Parents
should talk to
their kids as
early as possi-
ble about what
makes healthy
relationships,
she said.
One of the
signs of a bad
relationship for
a girl is if she is
"a little bit
afraid of him,"
and parents
"should be
afraid for her."
The number
one sign for a
male controlling
a girl in a rela-
tionship is jeal-
ousy, although
girls can think
jealousy is a
sign of love.
Another signal
of a controlling
relationship is if
a boyfriend
gives his girl-
friend a cell
phone.
Parents can
help their kids
avoid unhealthy
relationships,
"by keeping the
lines of commu-
nication
REGIONAL WRAP UP • REGIONAL WRAP UP
Huron Addiction Service in need
HURON — Huron Addiction Service needs an increase of funding, according to The
Goderich Signal -Star.
An annual report by supervisor of the program Alex Barry outlines funding shortages
and the agency's struggle to maintain current services.
The provincially -funded program offers treatment and counselling for people needing
assistance with alcohol, drugs and gambling problems. To compensate for funding short-
ages, administrative and staff positions have been reduced and minimized. In 2004-2005
the program assisted 503 people.
Car seat checks start
HURON — Monthly car seat checks are beginning in the central Huron area, according
to The Citizen.
The Huron County Health Unit and trained community volunteers will assist parents and
caregivers in buckling children in car or booster seats if needed.
According to the health unit and Safety First Huron -Perth, up to 80 per cent of car seats
are not installed properly or do not meet the standards set by Transport Canada. Parents,
grandparents and caregivers are encouraged to attend a monthly car seat check clinic.
Call the Huron County Health Unit Car Seat helpline at 482-3416 or for long distance 1-
877-837-6143.
Festival Hydro offers exchange
SEAFORTH — A free exchange is being offered for customers of Festival Hydro Inc.
Customers are able to swap their old Christmas lights for new multi -coloured LED lights,
according to The Huron Expositor. Three different locations will be set up for customers
wanting to participate including one at the Festival Hydro Service Centre in Seaforth this
Friday from 3 to 7 p.m.
open...and talk-
ing earlier
rather than
later," said
Hanington.
Other sugges-
tions she
offered are for
more group dat-
ing activities
and parents to
be around more
in social situa-
tions.
She added
those sugges-
tions "usually
go over like a
lead balloon,"
an opinion
shared by the
teenagers pre-
sent.
One of the
most under-
reported
crimes, accord-
ing to
Hanington, is
male abuse by
women, which
while not a
common occur-
rence, does
happen.
Signs of a
male in an abu-
sive relationship
are depression
and feeling sub-
dued, "since he
doesn't know
how to react to
someone con-
trolling him,"
said Hanington.
For the prob-
lem of teen dat-
ing violence to
be addressed
said Hanington,
"we need young
men to emerge
as leaders...if
the climate is
conducive, men
will stand up."
The next com-
munity forum
will be Jan. 19
with a discus-
sion on
teenagers and
balancing the
demands of
work and
homework.
Exeter's Katey Potter received official recognition from the Municipality
of South Huron Monday night for winning a gold medal at the Canadian
Junior National Taekwondo Championships in Edmonton in July. Mayor
Rob Morley presented Potter with a certificate and her name will go on
a plaque at South Huron Rec Centre. Potter holds a I st Degree Black
Belt.The municipality recognizes individuals or groups who win gold
provincially, nationally or internationally. See next week's Times -Advocate
for other gold winners who received municipal recognition Monday
night. (photo/Scott Nixon)