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The Huron Expositor, 1985-08-07, Page 1INDEX Births / A(11 Brussels / A6 Classified / A14, 15 Dublin / A4 Entertainment i A18 Family I A10, 11 Farm i A16 Hensall / A7 Obituaries / A10 Sports / Al2, 13 Walton I A5 Weddings I A10 Myths washed 'away by Beni'; zest—See page A3 Seaforth rink second in lawn bowling See page A13 Holiday markets follow decline See page A16 Serving the communities and areas of Seaforth, Brussels, Dublin, Hensall and Walton xpositor SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1985 -- 18 PAGES Rest home ready in two months Maplewood Manor, originally the old Seaforth Public School, is approximately two months from completion. And with that completion comes new job opportunities for local residents. Albert Rumph, vice-president of the Dedi-Care Group Inc., who own and will operate Seaforth's new rest home, said the group plans on hiring all local help and has already spoken to one local resident tenta- tively about taking on administrative duties of the facility. Advertisements about other jobs offered at the facility will be advertised closer to its completion date. "The building is at the stage now where we're just about ready to start dry walling," said Mr. Bumph. To date the elevator shaft is in, a new cedar shingle roof is on, all partitions are completed, the brick pointing is done, and the electrical and plumbing work has been roughed in." Built in stages between the years 1867 and 1874 the old schoolhouse, located at 13 Church Street, was purchased by the Dedi-Care Group Inc, from previous owners Frank Kling Ild.. in February. At that time Mr. humph said the group felt there was a need for a rest home facility in the area. The schoolhouse appealed to the group because of its proximity to the town centre and because of the group's fondness for older, historic buildings. Since purchasing the property Dedi-Care has, in consideration of its local historical significance, has had it designated under the Heritage Act. (The building was the first brick public building erected by the munici- pality it served.) By doing so the group has agreed to comply with guidelines set down by the Heritage Act in regards to renovations done to the facility. That means all plans for the building must be approved before they can be put into effect. Because they have designated the building the group has been given a grant of $45,000 to help offset costs of exterior renovations. And while it appreciates the grant money Mr. Rumph said it isn't a large amount considering the total cost of renovations, set at $500,000. The $45,000 he said, will be absorbed by rising cost of renovations brought on because the building is desig- nated. Appreciate the grant money "W a appreciate the grant money because we like the structure. We like the building. But it really isn't helping us out any because once you've designated a building it costs you more to upgrade it because you have to spend more. For example, we have to put in more expensive windows than we would have normally," said Mr. Bumph. But despite the increased costs Mr. Rumph said the group is anxiously awaiting the opening of the rest home, known as Maplewood Manor because of the number of Maple trees on the property and in the area. Already a brochure outlining the benefits of the home, has been prepared and printed in anticipation of the opening. in the meantime though, renovations to the building will continue. Harold and Wayne Smith Construc- tion have the contract on the school. Crash kills two area teens Two area teenagers, including a 17 -year- old mother who was about to be married and her maid of honor, were killed in an accident early Saturday morning which also claimed the life of a young OPP officer. Dead are Helen Michelle Wattam, 17, of Bluevale, Christine Lindsay, 16, of Belgrave, and Constable Craig Campbell, 24, of the Kincardine detachment of the OPP. Miss Wattam was the mother of two young children, 13-mtmth-old Amber and two -month-old Trevor, and was to have married Travis Koehler, 22, on Saturday. Mr. Koehler's brother Kevin, of RR 5 Brussels, was driving the car in which the girls were riding. He was one of three other people injured in the crash, which occurred on Highway 9 at Kinloss, about 20 kilometres west of Walkerton. Also injured were OPP Constable William O'Sullivan, the driver of the OPP cruiser, who was reported in fair condition at London's University Hospital with spinal and pelvic injuries, and Miss Wattam's cousin Tammy Jean Downey, 12, of Badjeros, who received minor facial injuries but was reported in satisfactory condition at Bruce County General Hospital in Walker- ton. Miss Wattam and her friend were returning from a pre -wedding party. There is conflicting evidence as to what (Continued on page A9) UP IN THE AIR — This juggler was one of the crew for last week's tossing these over -sized golf balls Into the air, and spent even more time picking them upoff the ground. (Till photo) Circus In Seaforth. He whiled away the ' Hours" between shows by P g If you survive Clowning around fulfills fantasies BY LARRY TiIL two shows a day, seven days a week. i live here. "Be a clown - Be a clown - All the world • Giving out balloons was about all I had to In any event, it worked out. He was right. Loves a clown..." All the world, it seems, do for the first half of the show. At There was really nothing to worry about. except for certain small children. intermission, the MC told the crowd the Until the second show, that is ) As part of the Al G. Miller -Kelly Brothers downs would be available to autograph the i had invited my mother and sister from Circus which hit town Sunday. I got the souvenir coloring books that were on sale for Toronto to come see the show. They had opportunity to fulfill a fantasy. $I a piece, agreed. i got to be a down. "Just make up a clown name off the top of The problem is. my mother is a camera I had always believed that line about how your head," Zippo advised me in a whisper. fanatic. When she realized she'd forgotten everyone loves a down. it never occurred to Have you ever tried to come up with an hers, she insisted I give her a crash course in me that the sight of a stranger in ghoulish original down name? it's like inventing a new how to use mine so she could take pictures of makeup could scare a child. sport. my "moment of glory," , ,, But it's true. There are some children who For a variety of reasons. I settled on It all went fairly well. until she realized are terrified of downs. W hizzo. there were elephant rides available One small child practically had a hysterical The autographing thing was no problem. "Get on it, Larry," she asked. "Let me get fit every time she saw me. Boy is that good for As a writer (of sorts), I breezed through it. a picture of you on an elephant your self-confidence Then carne the moment of truth. It was After a few cracks about the beast's That was really the only negative side of it, time for The Clown Act. durability, I consented. i figured if the mayor though. Most of the youngsters were thrilled Zippo gave me a brief rundown, and, could do it, so could 1. beyond words just to be able to touch my noticing the perplexed look on my face, said. The fear was indescribable. Elephants sleeve or shake my hand. "Don't worry. If you get into trouble. just don't start smoothly. They're more in the One mother came up from behind me and watch me. You'll pick it up as we go along." lurching family than anything. said,' Excuse me, but could you please make Wonderful, i thought, very comforting. my daughter laugh?" The tot was all of Here I am, about to make a fool of myself in While clinging on for dear life, I had maybe eight months front of 1500 people i barely know (and worse visions of my brief existence being snuffed What do you do? Putting on clown makeup, yet, some I know very well indeed), and this out beneath this monster's tree trunk legs. I discovered, is like holding a guitar at a man is telling me not to worry. But it didn't happen. And before i knew it, party. Everyone expects you to perform. Of course he wouldn't be worried. He's a it was over. Little did this mother know I had just professional, been at it for years, and he'll I breathed a sigh of relief. And donned the attire that day for the first time. neverhave to face a single one of these people thanksgivingreeemd the ever odseto evevery prayer of i had no idea how to make an eight-month- again. old laugh. Crude jokes were out, I thought. And the child barely understood English, so limericks were also out. So "poked hera little bit, and made a funny face (funnier than it is normally, anyway) and politely explained my situation to her mother. They both seemed to understand. My day started at 10 a.m. , when I arrived at the fairgrounds and had to spend 15 minutes looking for Zippo. Zippo. you see, was to be my mentor. When I finally met him, he told me there ' was nothing to do before noon. So I left, beginning to wonder if it would all be worthwhile. I headed back at noon, just in time to see it harbor secret fantasies of running away and Zippo finishing his own makeup. After leading the gypsy life of a circus performer. another brief delay, he took me into his trailer Some of those in the second group actually and began to show me the finer points of take the extra step to live out that fantasy. down makeup. They join the circus. To make a long story short, i felt like Boy Ted Tutwilet is an example of that. Better George. known as Zippo the Clown in the Al G. They gave me this foppish black -and -white Miller -Kelly Brothers Circus which was in prison -striped outfit with a huge neon blue Seaforth Sunday, Mr. Tutwiler became a bowtie, and an Oktoberfest style black hat clown when, at the age of 18, he found with shocking yellow fright wig attached. himself with nothing else to do. After nearly sweating to death for half an He had had some theatrical experience, he hour, I began to understand how hard these says, but decided to apply to the Ringling people work. For the six months of the year Brothers Clown College in Florida more as a they're on the road, Zippo explained, they do lark than, anything else. WATCHING iT HAPPEN — One of the youngest participants in last weekend's Topnotch 40th Anniversary Picnic was 18 -month-old Craig Nicholson of Egmondvilie. His parents may have been enjoying the beautiful afternoon sunshine, but Craig was more Interested In figuring out how the camera worked, (Till photo) ii r Loving - and hating - the circus Some people love the circus. Some hate it. Some time later and much to his surprise. And there's virtually no in between. he was accepted. "' many people who hate it earned their "The application form they send you is feeling from some horrendous childhood more like a psychological prove, he says. experience related to the circus, such as the He enrolled in the eight-month program. man who suffered an attack of appendicitis and in fairly short order after his graduation. after oun youngster, popcorn at ose illfeein s s nto works a was ired Thislistits seconde circus for which he now season. and he's aoungsteo, anew Y g been with it from the beginning. a dislike of the whole thing. On the other hand, many of those who love Apart from his duties as a down, he's also responsible for part of the sideshow which precedes the circus itself, including a magic act and fire-eating. He also helps out with some of the aerial acts, and at first sighting by this reporter, was tinkering with the engine of a truck. He comes across as proud of circus lore. and knowledgeable about its history. He's also slightly proud - he wouldn't allow his picture to be taken without his makeup, or while he was smoking a cigarette. "As long as the white man's been on this North American continent." he says. "there have been circuses." (Continued on page AR )