The Huron Expositor, 1987-03-18, Page 3ARBA NEWS
ril l g is a joy for Country Caterin!
' When:Peoplethinkofagpod, old' fashioned . The vegetables won't be the frozen'vari$ty
home -cooked Meal, they think of roast beef, either: Anne Says Country Catering `plans to
• potatoesand honnemade pie. .That's what stick with veggies that are in season.
. Country Catering is all about..Anne's idea of a home cooked meal' is
Anne Ste. Marie, who lives just west' odelicious roast beef, roast, potato, broccoli or
• Seaforth, and John "Patterson, of Harpurhey carrots'and home -baked apple pie, the •way.
• and ,owner of . Holmsted House bed and • hermother,made it. The pie, she says is made
breaklastlformerhorneof the late Dr. Brady); from an old family recipe. It's called French,
•love to cook, anti want' to' share their apple, and .is delicious because it ,has .a
•experience with. others. That's why they' ve praline -type top crust. "It's much better than
joined forces toopen'their Country Catering 'ordinary apple
business., And the mainstay of that business John's tastes .say there'$, nothing nicer
'is good-home-copcooling. , than two dozen escargoFaii a'"baftle of
., 'We have a few specialties •to confuse • wine."
people, like wine jelly;" says Anne. "We • The concept is unique and one both John
^--stnrte.-catering-because-we-werebotb-raised-and- Arnie-are-sure-wrH-be-a-success-"-It-
on good. home -cooking. I love cooking and sheuld• be an experience when you 'eat,
John is alto an excellent cook." something out of the ordinary; but good;"
in a fast paced society that is turning mole says John. "If it's a small dinner party, we
•to fast •food, nutritious home cooking is 'can even do flaming coffee."
' ' becoming a rarity in some households.
Country Catering is.unique as it only eaters to,
• small groups, from six to 30'., It's a service that •
working families can use if they want to relax it doesn't L
to ke' much
• on a•Friday night, after a tiring work -week. •
They can have dinner prepared by Anne and • -to dress U p• even.
John in the comfort of their home. It's also a
service that families can use when hosting
Private dinner parties. the simplest meal.
John says . he and Anne move into
somepne's kitchen,prepare and serve the
Meal,: and clean up..afterwards, There's no.
fuss or mess for the • host. Besides the
homecooked meals, he says they will also do
• barbecues.
hiE HURON EXPOSITOR, MARCH 18, 1987 — A.8
• ' Meat and .potatoes maysound simple, but
Anne Says it doesn't take much to dress -up
even the simplest : meal: Her preference- is
Right now they're starting out small, but `using toasted almonds, apples; or raisins.
eventually, Anne and John hope to cater to'"What has become Canadian," she• says, '.`is`
, larger groups, such as 200 people. Anne also good old apple pie and roast beef." .
. has visions of it becoming a full-time. job: • "People miss a little pampering. Let us
"Right now all we're selling is the idea,'" come in and Took for you and you'll still eat a„
says John. They Will also cater breakfasts, out," she says. "We want people to be fed
'brunches and, lunches, besides the evening well, and happy."
dinner dates. Besides the dinner parties, Anne it also
Anne says the catering business was also planning to prepare casseroles and soups for
Started because she.felt there was a need. • people who want something they can put in
More women.are working away from home, the oven, then serve.
would like to,entertain,.but don't always have Country Catering is a two person operation
the time. "They nay find it very exhausting .that thrives on giving •customers whatever
and very tiring to do both (work and ; they want. John and Anne, are "flexible"
entertain). But we delight in cooking." when it'comes to preparing a meal, but that's
The concept of cooking meals in a person's also the case in how far they will travel.
horse, appeals to John because the meal can Distances up to 25 ,miles aren't really -a
be served right after it's cooked. That idea problem, says John.
differsirom the type of catering where meals One thing the catering business won't
are pFFeepared ahead of time, bagged, mean is opening a restaurant. Neither Anne,
transported, then served. ' • • who works part-time as an RNA, or John, who
A typical dinner cooked in. the homemade runs Halmsted House, plat) to. venture into
tradition can consist of a selection of meat, that field. The reason is simple -- "it won't
depending on the -desires of the clients, such give us the flexibility we want," says John.
as roast beef, chicken, rainbow trout, and , Anyone wanting to try a new experience in
turkey; roast potatoes, or potatoes in the style dining out by actually staying in their home,
the client wishes; two vegetables, two jellied can contact Anne at 527.1438, or John at
salads and desserts. . 527-2840.
GOOD HOME-MADE cooking is what John Patterson and Anne Ste. Marie serve up
when they prepare meals for customers with their new catering'business, Country
Catering.'John and. Anne will serve groups, from six to •30, traditional. home -cooked
meals. As their business grows, they hope to cater to larger groups. Country Catering will
come Into a client's home, cook dinner, serve it, and clean up afterwards. Both say they
decided to open a catering business because they love to cook: . (Wassink photo)
Education survey shows strengths and needs
Communication strengths and needs in the
public education system in the county have
been identified in a survey. Parents,
taxpayers and staff of the Huron County
Board 'of Education took part in the survey
questionnaire that was conducted this fall.
Presented by the Board of 'Education's
communications committee, the survey was
conducted to assist the committee in. its
mandate to improve commupication within
the school system. -
The survey results represented a cross
section of views from throughodl the county,
including the 24 elementary and six'second-
ary.schools in the system. Some 186 parents .
took part m the survey. along with 63 staff
mem bers and a small number of non -parent
taxpayers
• More than 60 percent of the parents and 69
per cent of the staff saw school newsletters as
the best communication tool available within
the system.
Parents who answered the survey also gave
high ratings to staff availability. open house
events, teacher -parent interviews and tele-
phone contact. Among the other strengths
that they identified were weekly classroom
newsletters, the volunteers, the emergency
teacher
telephone system,
ewp newspaper overachool ge,port cards,
pre-school story hour and special events.
The list of strehgths identified by the
parents indicated areas where parents are
involved in the day-to-day activities in the
school, either directly through their children.
or through the teacher. Weekly classroom
newsletters, for instance, are used in many
schools to keep parents up-to-date on the
events and curriculum that is being studied
on a regular basis. Another strength, the
adult volunteer program, allows parents to be
directly involved by working in the class-
room.
Telephone contact was also noted as an
important aspect of good communication
between home and school. As well, the
erhergency telephone system has been
developed• m many schools with a safe home
program organized by local Block Parent
groups. This emergency system has been set
up to ensure that all , children not in
attendance at school may be accounted for.
As well, many schools have a telephone
procedure to notify parents of early school
closings, late bus tiitnes or other changes to
the regular schedule.
Among the needs identified by the parents.
one-quarterof those surveyed recognized the
need for more regular monthly and bimonth-
ly reporting, as well, many saw the need to
have curriculum content available for par-
ents. Other needs included immediate
reporting of concerns fo parents, bus
discipline. more frequent newsletters, eve-
ning interviews, more newspaper coverage
and more information -from the school board.
As well, some form of home and school
association (PTA) was identified as a major
strength in the schools that have such .an
association and a main need in those ,that
don't have such .a grump, „Likewise, • while
emergency telephon system: and school
handbooks were recognized as needs from
some of the parents respondents, while
others identified them as communication
strengths in their schools.
Board of education staff members noted
that newsletters were astrength of the parent
communication system. As well, the need for
more newsletters was identified.
Staff identified other strengths as open-
door policy, the volunteer program, year-
books. telephone contacts. and the emer-
gency telephone system.
The staff survey results called for more
media coverage, assurance that newsletters
reach the home, more life skills and sex
education cour.5es, more parent -teacher
contact. development of a home and school
association, and workshops for parents on
Huron Centennial helps foster child
Through the efforts of students at Huron
Centennial &hoot, the rife of a family in Haiti
is going to be a bit more pleasant.
Thestudents gathered stoney at the' school
during the month of February to support
13 vear=old Mirlande Fleurant of Baussaid,
llalti. "
Mithrnde lives with her Mettler, grand.
mother and tattle in a one teeth with thud
floor„ mud walls and a strap Metal roof. For
furiiitufe the family has one mat they take
firms le and a chair'.
They hisleeping anymeti of S32 a month as
the grandmother does some farming and
trading while the mother does the work
around the 13ot'ise AS well. as taking in some
cleaning R'titlatide s uncle also assists with
the fartnhtg.
The f amily has very few utensils, and does
most of their looking in scans. Ord:Side-of the
hone.
i'eadrerWilhelnunaLaurie, explainedhow
the school beemire involved in adopting a
foster child.
lirestudents' council does so much stuff,
but itis" yV t thetc' Wegetr Lt's always
been oriented towards. what can we do for
oufseives. We wanted theta: to be a little Tess
'me' i5nented We want the to think
globaiiyY they're not gust eitiiena of Varna or
Hentelleldr they areciitiieris of the world ft's
Mini ofnote frit thein to think of other
people,' she explained
The students Wer'e asked to donate their
own money notmoneygiven to them by their
patents. The parents were also sent Tetters
from the school asiting them to•give their
children a chore todo that they don't usually
have to do to earn then' money'.
An e5r-ta mottvahonal tool was alto
'handed m the fund raising and dna tool was
Valentine Tree.
"When they (sititjents) made a cotrtnbu-
-trots; iiieygot to Mita. hearton-the-tree With-
then"natneon it. Each child had theirname on
• the tree; it was land of nice that Way, Mrs.
Laurie noted, adding sonfe children contnb-
ink] $5 while others gave 25 cents, but all get
a chance Oa pri't a heart et the tree:
This method of NBeetuh money Went
better than ekpected a.$the target amount o`f
$236 WaStOrpassed by $44 when the children
• brougt t W$2811.
One of the hist jobs the money, will go into
in Haiti is placing a more WRAY cement
floor in the but Pirreli''airng of bels and
utensils might also be vel den:
• Rather than sending the extra Marty
curriculum.
Non -parent' taxpayers saw newspaper
articles as the best communication strength
available to them. The major need identified
by this group was a perception that too much
money was being spent on education.
The Huron County Board of Education
communications committee is currently
studying the survey results.
The committee is also actively involved in
organizing,a• Pgpfessional Development Day
on May 4 for all staff members oftheHuron
County Board of Education. The ambitious
event will highlight .communications in the
education system and the survey results will
be incorporated into planning workshops for
this.
Communication
aim of Huron"
board of ed.
The Huron County Board of Education has
taken, communications as one of,its major
aims during its terra oroffice. A Communica-
tions Committee, composed of members of all
employee groups, and media represents-
' fives, formed as -a result of this commitment.
The Committee has met regularly to
. develop a communications program, To help
achieve that goal, the Committee will use the
Total Team Approach Program provided by
the Ontario Public School Teachers' Federa-
tion. In this program. Dr. Bill Banach, a
leading marketing consultant • from the
U.S.A., will help the Committee 'create a plan
Coasts or c mmunicationS in the Htiron
of attack for co,, ,
y ys The Huron County Board will
devote a day and a half, April • 2 and 3 to
csitiplete their task with assistance provided
by the O P S.T.F . •.heron District. Dr.
Banach will be used as a consultant if the
Committee needs further assistance.
The Board will use its May 4 P.D. Day to
outline the program to all employees and deal
with the topic of eomniunication6.
-FfnOiiit tH- E RE -A-01— —Mayne-Manson-arid'Lina-Grairiger-were the Muton Centennial-
tillin'ol' stu'de'nts responsible for collecting fen& for the school's fosrer child. They ere
pictured above witti the Valentine Tree. (Eintiie phdtoj'
gathered as a gift to M r'fande, Which would With her Grade 3 education she can read and
bong about jealousy among other residehtn ivrite.
atherarea,sortie ,ot"the moneyvvillbeputmto Children in Haiti are alfow"ed to leave
the community. This community Money Wilt schoolat 14 years of age. and they are usually
be pill towards Such projects as having a Weft encohraged to do so by their pare its,to they
installed. cant start earning money for the:tamuly in a
Tog'•
Mrs, iaurie:noted that the money may also in Mirlande"s ease, hoWever, she might be
p g e with her education because
help Mirlande to et a better education. able to continue
Although her fannly is illiterate, she already once, she leaves schoolt. the Foster Parents'
has,an eductional.a Over tem
duanhas money will be, cut off.."
�i ,
ROD LYONS
Lyons appointed
to board
Rod Lyons, owner and operator of Lyons
Food. Market 'in Seaforth., a Knechtel
Associate Store, has been appointed to the
Board of Directors of the Knechtel Corpora-
tion.' •
Mr. Lyons has 'been active in the food
industry for • 36 years, and gained his
-experience, and held management . posi-
• tions in many areas of Ontario. His main
association in "the past has been with
Dominion Stores and M. Loeb Ltd.
The Knechtel Corp. a wholesale grocery
company, has been in business, for 57 years
has its head office in Kitchener: The Board
of.?)irectors meets four times a year.
Gold watch
presented
The 'retirement of Patrick McGrath of
Dublin was officially recognized Thursday,
March. 12 at a dinner at the Festival inn,
Stratford. •
At that time Stan Connolly presented Me.
McGrath with a gold watch for his 32 years.
of service to Looby Construction.
Mr. McGrath, who turned 65 in January,•
said his job allowed him to do a fair bit of
travelling in the province, but added he
won't miss it, and is ready for retirement.
"I'm just going to take it easy and get
some work done around the house."
Free puppet
show in Brussels
The Huron County Public Library will
sponsor a free children's puppet show at the.
Belmore and Brussels branch libraries on
Saturday, March 21.
"Mother Goose Tales" will be presented
by Marian Doucette at the Belmore branch at
i p.m. and at 3 p.ni. in the Brussels branch.'
Ms. Doucette will entertain and amuse
children, from three years of age end.up, with
their favorite nursery rhyme characters.
Using lap and finger puppets. she will take
children into a world of make-believe in her
one -woman puppet show.
A talented puppeteer from Clinton, she
designs and creates original puppets in
addition to being an experienced performer.
Hul'lett township
invites tenders
At its. March 3 meeting Huilett Township
Council instructed its road superintendent
to invite tenders for supply, crush and
spread- of 25,000 cubic yards of A gravel.
Tenders are to be in by 5 p.m. April 7,
Council also gave approval for the
drainage superintendent to attend a,
drainage course in' Kitchener from March 23
to 27. The registration fee of $112 will be paid
by the township. •
Motions were passed to invite a quotation
for Township Insurance coverage for the
year 1937.88 and to pay Maitland Valley Con-
servation Authority $8,559,63 for the year of
1987, Jim Johnston and tan Hulley were
authorized to go to the Anderson Road and
Mahoney Road schools respectively.
Council will send a letter to Donnelly and
Murphy notifying thein they do not wish to
retain their services for 1987. A second letter
will be sent to the Ministry of Natural
Resources to look into signage depicting the
iiultett Wildlife Area off Highways 4 and 8.
M U ITY CALENDAR
Wednesday, March 18
9:30-10:30 a.m- Fitness is Fun
1-3 pan
.m, Morn d Tett Skating
4:30.5:30 p.m. 'rween Ringette
6:30-8 pari. Midgets vs Mitchell .
7-8:30 p.m. Ladies Dance
8-12 midnight -Frank Soda Concert
8-9 p.m. Atom 1 practice
9-11 p.m. - Ladies Broomball
Thursday, March 19
iOio a m. "that Scatterbrain Rooky' by
Cascade Theatre at Seaforth olid District
Community Centres.
1-3 p m Public Skating
4:15-5:15 p na. Atom ptactiee
6:15-6:15 p m. Bantam Practice
6:39-7:30 p.rn. Minor Broomball
t30-10:30 p,Ym Mens Bitiotnball
9-11 p m Ballroom Dancing'
8 10 p m..13adminton at Arena
Friday, March 20
8:30-1-0730a.m. Fitness is Rhin
10-12 noon Public Skating
t ouseleagu'e
54-p to Jr. 'liouseleagtte
64 ly m Novice Practice
'4 trfiJr. Belle t#attgette
9:3t1.11! p.m. lift Rangers vs Myers
Saturday, March 21
7:204:20 a %. Oilers its With Stars
. 8:30''-9 30 earl. Canadians ars *inns
910=I0 36 a:m Whalers vs Flyets-
IA:30-11 :30 a.m Jeta i Leda
Saturday cont'd.
11:30-12:30 p.m. Penguins vs Flames '
12:30-6:30 p.m. Knights of Columbus
Hockey Tournament
6:30-8 p.m. O M.H.A. Semi Finals
Seaforth vs Forest - Pee Wees
7-8 p..m.• Mites
8-9:30 p.m. Beavers
10 a.tn. to4 p.m. Maple Keys Sugar Bush.
Open, Weekends Detnotistrafiotts of
maple syrup production, both past and
present will be held. Maple syrup
products available frit sale. Call the
Maitland Valley Conservation Authority:
335-3557 for more information.
Sunday, March 22
12:30-6:30 p.m. Knights of Columbus
Hockey Tournament
7-10 p inCanadians vs Dinning
Rangers vs Myers
Monday,.l'UMart;h 28
440-8:30 p rn. Figure' Skating
8:30.10 p.m. Beavers vs Zurich
Tuesday, March 24'
5 30 30 p.nr. Pee Wee'
6:30-8 p m - Bantam
8-iO p.rh, Midget
Wvinesday, March 29
140 p.rrr, B.I. A. Annual General
Meetiig,,'t'own lfall, Council Cbamhers. ,