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The Times Advocate, 2008-09-24, Page 16Wednesday, September 24, 2008 Times -Advocate 15 Wuerth's Shoes celebrates 70 years in the shoe business By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — It's one of the oldest businesses in the area and possibly the only fourth- generation family-owned shoe retailer in the country. Wuerth's Shoes is celebrat- ing its 70th anniversary this year and finds itself moving into the foot health care field as the business evolves. Current president John Wuerth's grandfather, Alfred, started the business in Hensall in 1937, after learn- ing the shoe repair trade in Crediton as a boy. While the Hensall location lasted less than a year, Alfred and his wife Louisia opened a shoe repair shop in Exeter in 1938 at the store's current location on Main Street and lived upstairs. Wuerth's parents Rey and Willa took over the business after Rey returned home from serving in the Second World War and moved the business into selling footwear. John and Linda Wuerth have been running the business since the 1980s, with daughter Sarah Geoffrey, a licensed pedor- thist, now working as vice- president of a business that includes locations in Exeter, Goderich, Listowel and Stratford. There have also been stores in Clinton, Seaforth and St. Marys along the way. Wuerth says the shoe busi- ness has changed over the decades. While each small town used to have a family- owned shoe retailer, Wuerth says the industry is now becoming more specialized, with additional competition from sporting goods stores. As a result, he said businesses like his have to offer better service in the form of fittings and better quality footwear. Wuerth says Wuerth's Shoes is trying to become a "prob- lem solver" when it comes to foot health, working closely with the medical community. While he said it's still impor- tant for Wuerth's Shoes to work on the fashion side of the shoe business, as the pop- ulation ages, the business tries to cater to that market- place, too. Wuerth's Shoes has become a certified New Balance Procare dealer. The product focuses on solving foot prob- lems and offers multiple shoe widths and sizes. The business does a lot of prescription work and Geoffrey says all staffers "are very knowledgeable" about foot health. She says the busi- ness provides a service instead of just a product. And being involved in foot health is something the busi- ness has been concerned with since its inception — Wuerth notes his grandfather used to make orthotics, so "we've been involved in the foot health business since day one." As a certified foot specialist, Geoffrey can help customers with specialty fittings and makes custom orthotics as prescribed by professionals. Wuerth's Shoes also has a pedorthist at another of its locations. After 70 years in business, Wuerth says the business has been lucky to have the quality of staff it has had over the years. He said the anniversary is a chance to thank Wuerth's Shoes' customers and staff for allowing the business to evolve over the years. Fourth Linda Wuerth, president John Wuerth and their daughter and vice-president Sarah Geoffrey are celebrating the business's 70th anniversary. Geoffrey represents the fourth generation of the family involved in the business. (photo/Scott Nixon) generation —Wuerth's Shoes secretary/treasurer Pinery Park Road Races scheduled for October GRAND BEND — The Pinery Provincial Park Road Races are scheduled for Oct. 19. The event is held to raise funds for the development and support of interpretive, educational, historical and scientific research projects and programs within the Pinery Provincial Park and its surrounding com- munity. Each year the board of directors of Friends of Pinery Park work in co-operation with park administration to select projects that will enhance the Pinery. The funds raised from the 2008 run will be used for children's programming, in particular, the Jr. Friends and Future Naturalist program, which engages youth and imparts the importance of preserving natural habitats and the environment. The Pinery Provincial Park Road Races begin at 9:30 a.m. (100 metres) and 10 a.m. on Sun., Oct. 19. Participants can register at the Pinery Park Store on the day of the event or online at www.hay.net/-gben- drun. Registration will be at the Park Store beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 19 at the Pinery Park, just south of Grand Bend. Awards will be at the Outdoor Theatre next to the Visitors Centre. If weather is poor for the presentations, the awards will move into the adjoining Visitors Centre. There will be a 100 metre Fun Run for children, who are asked to bring a teddy bear for their entry fee. Each participating child will receive a medal donated by the Rotary Club of Grand Bend. Bring your teddy bears and walk, run or Improvements continue at Victoria EXETER — The Lioness Club of Exeter is excited to be designated the recipient of the proceeds from the Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church Annual Thanksgiving cel- ebration this weekend. Funds from the weekend event are going to the Lioness Victoria Park project. The revitalization of the park is under way. Walkways were installed this summer making the park accessible to strollers, tricycles and wheelchairs. Also, the land- scaping has begun. A memorial metal tree constructed by the high school manufacturing class, with materials donated by Brander Steel Industries Ltd. and Hi -Tech Industrial, was erected. Recently, lighting of the walkways was installed by Rob Tomlinson Electric of Kirkton, who provided the lights at his cost and donated his labour. The Exeter Lions are covering the cost of the lights. The Lioness appreciate these generous contributions. These improvements are just the first phase of our plans. More fundraising will be necessary to complete the revitalization. Donations from the public who are inter- ested in the project will be accepted and tax receipts will be issued. Cheques should be payable to: Exeter Lions Charitable Trust. The next phase will include washrooms which will be funded by the Municipality of South Huron. Entry gates, gardens, and expanded play equipment are also in the plans. More benches and picnic tables could be added as well. crawl 100 metres (with or without parents) and the teddy bears will be donated to the Kause for Kids Motorcycle Parade, held in November each year in Grand Bend. The teddy bears are given to needy children throughout the area. The highlights of the day are two runs that are out and back. Both the five and 10 kilometres will start and finish at the same time (10 a.m.) just outside the Parks Store, rain or shine. All walkers and runners will travel on the Park Roadway in a north easterly route to their respective turnarounds. Both runs will start at the same time. Walk or Run and raise funds for youth programming at the Pinery. For more information, e-mail gben- drun@hay.net or visit the race website, www.hay.net/-gbendrun t'+1-0,':111 1 .111.: r Park improvements —Above, Rob Tomlinson stands beside one of the lights he recently installed in Victoria Park.Tomlinson donated his time and provided the materials at cost. (photo/submitted) lircastiOutlet' r Iesv.• REGISTER NDW Al WWW. CAN CER.CA Saturday, October 4, 2008 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon United Communities Credit Union Clinton 5 km Family Walk Register at www.cancer.ca or call 1 800 294-0086 or in person at United Communities Credit Union Event sponsor Or United ppLiel DM' Media sponsors