HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-08-22, Page 66
Times–Advocate
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Opinion Forum News
Blyth Festival a Huron County "jewel"
Members of the Exeter Probus Club experienced a blithe Blyth day a week ago.
They met as usual in the United Church hall for a short business meeting before
being treated to an interesting and informative talk by local playwright (and finan-
cial advisor) Paul Ciufo on the ups and downs of conceiving, incubating, and birthing
a play, then having that precious offspring worked over by others until ready to
make its debut on stage.
"Reverend Noah," which premiered at the Blyth Festival Aug. 10, was Ciufo's sec-
ond successful script. As proof of the old adage "the child is father to the man," the
person who wrote his first short story (and bought his first stock) at age seven saw
his first play, "Convoy", built around the adventures of Merchant Marine veteran
and one-time Exeter area resident John Webster, produced by the Livery
Theatre amateur troupe in Goderich and broadcast on CBC radio a number of
years ago.
Next stop was the Blyth Legion for a delicious meal before taking their seats
for the "Reverend Jonah" matinee. A well-written script, talented actors and
imaginative staging all came together to bring Ciufo's play to life.
After the standing ovation, patrons were invited to stay and talk with artistic
director Eric Coates and four of the main actors, who revealed glimpses of what
it's like to take on another's persona.
The day ended with a very impressive backstage tour, conducted by long-time
Blyth Festival supporter Don McCaffrey.
The main Festival building houses the stage manager's control booth, the green
room where actors wait to go on stage, dressing rooms, set storage and stage right
and stage left.
An adjacent two -floor split level building contains within its commodious walls the
administration offices, a boardroom, a rehearsal hall, another green room, a car-
pentry shop, a paint shop that can handle huge sets, a costume department, a pro-
duction office where almost any prop imaginable can be created, loading docks
accessing immense doors and an ancient still -working tractor.
According to McCaffrey, the Blyth Festival can match its people and facilities
against the best theatres in the rest of the province. In addition, it premieres first -
run plays, giving playwrights like Cufio a chance to showcase their talent.
Huron County residents are justifiably proud of this jewel in our midst, and show it
by their attendance and support.
Thanks for supporting Glad Day
On behalf of Epilepsy Huron -Perth -Bruce, I would like to take this opportunity to
extend my gratitude and appreciation to the community for their participation dur-
ing the recent Glad Day Campaign in Exeter, Hensall and Zurich.
Special thanks to our co-ordinators Ester Hillman (Exeter), Mary Ducharme
(Zurich) and the volunteers who work so diligently year after year. Thank you also
to the local businesses and the Hensall and Zurich Post Offices for graciously allow-
ing us to sell on their premises. Heartfelt thanks to all those who purchased gladio-
lus, raffle tickets or made a donation during this campaign.
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders
affecting members of our community. The funds raised
through this event will be used by our chapter to
continue to provide information, counselling and
educational programs in our community in the
future. By raising funds, we have also raised
awareness about epilepsy and helped to eradicate
some of the common misconceptions about the
disorder. For more information about epilepsy
please call: 519-482-5527 or email:
epilepsy@tcc.on.ca
Once again thank you, your support is much need-
ed and most appreciated.
CAROLINE SIMONS, Executive director
Letters
to the
Editor
Yvonne Reynolds, Exeter
Regretting decision
Recently while I was sleeping some thief came along and stole my son's bike.
What's wrong with people to go and steal a kid's bike? I moved to Crediton two
year ago; not my choice and I've regretted it ever since. The first thing that got
stolen was my son's Winnie the pooh, now this. The people complain about my dog
so I had her in the house. If she was outside this wouldn't have happened.
To the thief who took the bike: please return it where you found it, no questions
asked. This says a lot about this small community. I have lived in three small com-
munities and none of this ever happened. I don't have much so why would people
want to take so little? Today a bike, tomorrow bigger stuff.
PAT WALPER, Crediton
Update from SH mayor
SOUTH HURON — A new committee
organized at the beginning of our munici-
pal mandate was to come up with some
ideas for new events to rejuvenate the
municipality.
It was supposed to be a working com-
mittee exploring new ideas and how to
implement them. The committee would
then make recommendations to council.
No new ideas came up. The first thing to
surface was that the same people do all
the volunteering to make the existing
events work and these people are burnt
out and have no more energy for new
functions.
We changed our motives from forming
new events to how can we enhance the
existing events. The new ideas were
again scarce. The special events we now
have take a lot of staff time to organize.
To start new events would mean we
would have to look for someone who
would want to donate their life to South
Huron or hire more staff.
Today, organizing most successful
fundraisings or special events is done by
paid professionals. We see the people
who volunteer to do the ground work, but
someone has to organize these volun-
teers. People used to donate their time to
organize these teams of volunteers, but
modern fundraising and special events
are time consuming and most people can-
not set aside their whole life for the time
it takes to do this type of charity work
anymore.
The idea of hiring staff to look after new
special events was out of the question.
Coming up with new ideas and trying to
implement them doesn't always have a
100 per cent success rate. In the munici-
pal field, people are rarely rewarded for
successes, but always chastised for fail-
ures. To an employee, a failed idea
means public humiliation, while to a
municipal councillor it could mean the
end of a political career. Unfortunately
this is why you very seldom see aggres-
sive councils or municipal employees with
new and exciting ideas.
The South Huron Chamber of
Commerce has proposed an idea of an
event planner to council. It would be a
contract position with funding for the first
year. This person would work on com-
missions from the events and would
receive their stipend totally from the
events after the first year. This would be
private enterprise. This
type of compensation is
acceptable in private
enterprise, but not
acceptable in munici-
pal life by statue law.
This is one of the rea-
sons that the munici-
pality should stay out
of it and leave it to the
Chamber to organize.
Terms of Reference
will dictate the rules
and regulations.
Existing municipal functions would con-
tinue to exist as in the past with staff, or
could be given to the new event planner
to organize. The planner would not be
involved in existing municipality functions
unless they were asked. If done properly,
this is a win-win situation for all con-
cerned.
The proposal is a one year contract with
the municipality providing seed money of
$200 a week for the duration of the con-
tract. If we say no, we would stay at the
status quo. If we say yes, we might be
looking at some exciting new events to
enhance our municipality in the future.
Changing the subject, for your informa-
tion the fire ban has been lifted.
Ken Oke
Doing her bit — Penny, a
milking heifer of Jim Snyder,
recently participated in the
Bessie Bingo fundraiser for
the Exeter and Grand Bend
Adult Day Centres at the
Exeter Rodeo.Two hundred
and twelve tickets were
sold this year to help raise
money for the Exeter and
Grand Bend Day Centre
clients. For more informa-
tion about the Day Centres
or if interested in volun-
teering, contact Tammy
Antaya at 235-4600.
Last week for Playground
EXETER — Finishing up "Animal Mania" had our Playground kids visiting cute
and cuddly puppies. This surprise visit had the kids so excited thanks to Melanie
Miller. We appreciate the drop -by.
Aug. 15, we went to the African Lion Safari. The kids saw many animals as we
traveled on a tour bus. If I were to choose an animal that caught the crowd's eye,
it would be the baboons.
These things were swinging from the trees to the cars, taking
things off of the visitors' cars and running away. It was a per-
fect end -of -the -summer trip! Thanks to all the volunteers who
came with us. You were a great help.
Aug. 16 after our big trip, we settled in to make some play
dough and the youngsters molded their choice of animal out of
the clay.
That's not all though. We also made some fantasy animal
bookmarks so when your kids get back to school and hit the
books, their page won't be lost.
In the afternoon we went on a Safari walk, practicing our
newly adapted Safari skills from the trip. That was a great end
to the second last week of Playground.
It's the last week of Playground already! It has flown by so
fast. But we will be sure not to end the summer off without a bang! This week is
"The Best of the Summer!" at Playground and that is exactly what kind of week
it has been.
Aug. 20 we made the youngsters a scavenger hunt because they love adven-
ture. When our kids finished the hunt, we didn't stop there.
We had them making slime again since they liked it so much earlier in the
summer. We also want to thank New Orleans Pizza for having us on Tuesday.
The pizza we made was delicious.
To keep the pizza theme rolling we played our own version of pizza tag, where
once frozen, someone has to come to you and pretend to make a pizza before
you become warm again and can run around. It was a new experience I'll never
forget! Today we have a Talent Show. The kids can bring their own props or
anything they need to show off their stuff.
Next we are having a craft rotation, where our kids can make more than one of
their favourite crafts for the summer.
Thursday is "Revenge on the Leaders" day. This is something like what hap-
pened at "Spray a Leader" only there are some new twists.
We as the leaders are asking the kids to trace us on a big piece of banner
paper. Then we will direct them to throw noodles at the pictures. It should be fun
to watch which leader they each choose to torpedo.
Friday is our last day at Playground for the summer. If your children choose to
attend, make sure they don't forget to bring their skates and if needed some pro-
tective gear, because we are having a Skating Party!
The ice is in at the South Huron Rec Centre and Playground is taking advan-
tage of it. We will have a free skate in the morning after decorating the AG
Building for the finale.
In the afternoon we finish up by playing games on the ice and then having an
awards show for our awesome youngsters.
We want your children to remember how much fun they had at Playground
this summer so make sure you bring them out!
CASEY
CYR
EXETER
PLAYGROUND
LEADER