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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1980-08-28, Page 1Whole No. 5868 121st Year SEAFORTH 77-77,17, 7774'• ONTARIO, THURSDAY; AUGUST 28law 24 PAGES $14 a year in advance Single Ceer35 Cents •AND ART WORKS TOO—More than -Just -fresh vegetables were available at Saturday's farmere'market. Alfie Dale, a local quadrapiegic artist, who paints with his mouth, helped run a booth which sold his sketches and paintings as well as quilts and other arts anti crafts. More photos inside the Expositor. •What° by Ellis) Farmers' market "incredible success", Seaforth's Saturday market at . Victoria Park was an incredible success. said recrea- tion director Bryan Peter. "It was excellent, every -one was pleased with the results.," he said. Out of the total 14 booths selling items like fresh vegetables, baking. flowers, quilts. craft items and paintings, Mr. Peter said. all were pleased with the day's results. Fresh produce and crafts attracted an approximate 400 to 500 local patrons throughout the market day, beginning at 9 a.m. and ending close to 4 p.m. "One booth selling baked goods. sold out by one o'clock," he said. Looking towards next y-ear..Mr. Peter said the local recreation committee hopes to organize three or four similar markets over the summer months. However. as far as this year's market is concerned. "there were no complaints." said Mr. Peter. "It is not often something goes over so Ducks Unlimited to spend $1 million at Hullett Wildlife A recent agreement between the Ontario government and Dticies Unlimited is aimed at further development of the Hullett Wildlife Management Area. The agreement was signed by J.A.C. Auld, Minister of Natural resources and D.S. Morrison, executive vice-president of Ducks Unlimited (Canada). Also participating were John Craig Eaton, Ontario director of Ducks ;t m Unlimited; Ron L R nwick, Ontario an - ager, Ducks Unlimite Dick Moore, Ontario (Erector of Ducks 11 limited and Noern Richards, district manager of the Wingharn branch of the Nfinistry of Natural Resources. Ducks Unlimited plans to spend up to SI_ billion to develop a series of ponds and major impoundments under the agreement on the 2,400 hectares of crown owned land, jut north west of Seaforth. The development of nine satellite ponds is progressing at tfie wildlife area. The organization will spend S150,000 this year and up to SI million in the next few years to assist and completely develop the wildfowl production of the area. Management of the area will follow the master plan and will be directed by the manager of Natural Resources for the Hallett :Wildlife area. The agreement guarantees this important area will be developed and maintained as a vital Wetland region necessary for the preservation of waterfowl and other wildlife. Inside this week "Annie" revtewed Annie Get Your Gun previewed at the Huron Gauntry Playhouse last Wednesday evening. Play- ing to a full' house, the origituel musical comedy was written by Irving Berlin be the mid 1940's featuring well known songs like, It's Wonderful and There's No Business Like Show Beet. iness. 'See what reviewer Jim Heer had to say about ibe play. pg. 14 Bowlers compete tiimpitifors gathered from all avet western ,Ont- ario Wednesday Aug. 20 at - • — the Seaford] lawn bowling greens tocompete in a double draw toureament marking the club's 51st anniversary. A total 136 lawn bowlers .attended. Look for the pictures I I3Y HERB SHOV LER Se;forth's town co n chambers Were packedand overflowing Monday eight as local busineSsnfen and concerned eitieens sought council's endorsement for a Businees( ' Improvement Area (BIA),. After a two and a half hour meeting which inc u e a presentation berthe-B1A-Stwir group, and a question and answer period, the council voted its approval in principal with only one dissenting vote freen reeve John Flannery. A Business Improvement Area is an area defined by council in which only those ratepayers assessed for business purposes contribute an additional levy for the development of the area and for promotion. "'Letters will be sent to affected ratepayers in the designated area outlining the proposal. The levy is determined by applying a percentage on the total business assessment in the area in an amount that is required to meet the BIA budget as approved by council. In addition a recognized BIA is eligible to borrow up to $150,000 from the province at interest of one per cent for the improvement of municipally owned facilities such as sidewalks, lighting.or parking. Deadline for application for a loan is Aprirl, 1981. Seaforth lawyer Paul Ross gave the main presentation for the BIA study group. In his address -he outlined the -major -reselts. ofean investigative study, the culmination online month's work. Slides of downtown Seaforth and other area downtowns illustrated his talk. Throughout his speech Mr. Ross emphasized the many attributes present in Seaforth's shopping area, adding that downtown upkeep should be a continuing process. "What has to be done is just a little cleaning up," he said. "It's a main street that we will all be proud of." Local businessmen agreed with Mr. Ross. TWO SURVEYS There are two main features of the BIA study, which was researched by summer student Ann Elliott of Godetich Township who attends Conestoga College. The first poet, a demographic survey, sought to determine who lives in the Seaforth trading area. Included under this heading are details •,such as employment, wages and were those wages are spent. The study estimates thre trading area In the age group survey it Was found that _ the largest representation of the population in the trading area was between 26 and 55, making 31.7 percent of the total r Only 17.5 percqnt earned their living outside of the area, 26.3'per cent were on pension while the vast majority, 63.2 percent, earned their living in the immediate area. The survey also discovered the' average income for the trading area is more than $16,000 a year which results in a high level of disposable income. _ The next step of the survey, then, was to determine where that money was being spent, and why. Of the 57 respondents to the survey, 50 percept said the reason they shopped outsideSeeforth on occasion was because of varietynwhile an addi 'Onal 33 per cent' eaid it was because of chea r prices. Mr. Ross noted thesjl replies were not, necessarily a true refleetion of the situation. . GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE the other side," he said. "It's how people perceive it, but that doesn't inean that's the way it is." The survey found that more than• 74 per cent •shopped for women's clothing elsewhere and for men's clothing, appliances, furniture and food, more than 50 per cent shoppednuteide of Seaforth. These results are surprising, particularly when the survey els.° indicated that Seaforth merchants were well tegarded. 86.6 per cent of those surveyed said merchants in Seaforth were pleasant while 81.1 percent described them as helpful. The poll indicated that additional outlets to provide clothing, groceries, sewing centre and restaurant service would improve the appeal of Main Street for area shoppers. Following • Mr. Ross' presentation was oplights off after crash here The main intersection tif Seaforth was without stoplights for most of the week after a car driven by Gary Betties of Seaforth struck and knocked down the service pole at the northwest corner last Friday. The accident occurred at 1:50 a.m. Although police estimate damages at $4000 to the Betties car, the driver suffered only minor scratches and was standing by the Block Parents coming Seaford] Optimists, in co- operation with the local police department plan to put their Block Parent program Into effect here shortly after school begins. Peter Morris of the Op- timists said about 48 people who vOlunteered to serve as block parents have been approved. A meeting is planned .here later in Sept- ember with some London crganizers of the nation-wide program. Flyers will go out through Seaforth elementary schooli, explaining the program to Charges will be laid students and theie parents. "There's been an awful lot of intercst shown since people have come back from their summer travels," where they saw block parent programs running in other communities, Mr. Morris says. Emergency traffic brings complaints Seaforth police report they have received a number of complaints resulting from per- sons following emergency vehicles including fire trucks and ambulances. Police describe the practice as dangerous and senseless and warn that in the future charges will be laid. A provision under the Highway Traffic Act , makes it an offense to follow vehicles which are responding to an alarm. It states drivers must remain 150 metres behind the emergency vehicle. John Cairns, Seaforth police chief. believes one of the reasons for the sudden leap in complaints could be the result of an editorial in last week's Expositor encourag- ing would-be spectaters to exetcise greater discretion. minor actident occurred last Saturday when a car driven by Gordon Murray of Walton backed into a parked car at Gouinlock St. and Victoria Park. The parked vehicle was owned by Gladys McLarnon of Seaforth. Damage is estimated at S50. Some history falls A small piece of Seaforth history has recently fallen to the ground. An old board and batten building, once occupied by the Ex- positor, came tumbling to the ground last week. Oc- aipied by the Expositor from 1872 to 1881, the site will soon becorie a parking lot. •• 22 Hobby to career What began as a -hobby, resulted in a career for Connie Eaton. Mrs. Eaton, a design graduate from Parson's School of Design in New York City, is one of the few stained glass crafts- women in the Seaforth area. Now living in Cro- marty, Mrs. Eaton has been creating stained glass pieces for about eight years. ..pg. 3 — - - - ••••••••• .at.41•14,1 Later on Saturday police responded to a report that' S110 hall -been stolen from a purse belonging to Deborah White of James St., Seaforth. The victim was visiting with friends on Arnie St. when she noticed the money was missing. Brumfield to get sidewalk I3Y WELMA OKE Tuckersmhh Township Council will replace the sidewalk on the side street in Brucefield from Highway No. 4 to the W.D. Wilson priaperty. At the meeting Tuesday Allan Nicholson. road superintendent. was authoriied to tender for the rental of the grader for snowplowing this coming winter season. A by-law was passed deeding the road allowance to the adjoining property (the forrnee Roberta Piumsteel farm) with the owners responsible for the cost of all legal expenseS, provided that neighbour Richard Koostra is granted an easement to his property Lot 10. Plan 5. The property tax of 5328.10 was written off on the Seaforth Lions Park on Highway 8. Applications were approved for two tile drain loans for 56,700 and S1,500. - SEMINAR Vanastra Day Care supervisor. Karen McEwing, was given authoritY to attend a seminar on the consultation paper on proposed standards and guidelines for da' nursery service in London. September 10. Council granted Runsall of Vanastra permission to erect horse stalls on their property in Vanastra provided they are used for customer convenience only. The official opening of the renovated Vanastra Recreation Centre will beheld on Septetnber 5. ' The meetifin was adjourned at midnight. • rneVier.r,jeN,;414., what Mayor John Sinnamon described as a "healthy discussion" involving council members and other merchants in attendance. One concern, voiced by Bob Fisher, was ,whether any proposed changes to the downtown core would be treated democratically. - "Any aspect of change has to go through coundI refiied-Mayor Siiinamon. "It's set up a lot like a planning board, 'I believe." Ken Cardno was concerned about the initial plans of the B1A group. One, according to councillor Henry Mero, was "getting rid of the parking meters." 66 per cent of those surveyed said the main street . meters discouraged shopping in Seaforth. Businessman Ken Larone e?Fplained the BIA position further. "We don't feel we vehicle when police arrived. Police did not lay charges because the mad surface was slippers; and visibility had been reduced to almost nil by heavy ram. On Tuesday preparations were being made to repair the damaged light standard but they had to be postponed until Bell Telephone workers are able to identify underground wires. • "It's the worst possible pole we could have had hit," said Tom Philips, manager of the Seaforth P.U.C. "All the lights on the interesectien are controlled from that pole." Mr. Phillips said he hoped the lights will be functioning by today, or by the weekend at the latest. A new pole, 4upp1ied by the Ministry of Transportation and Communic- ation, was ready on Tuesday. have a mandate yet," he said. "The reason we are here tonight is to get diet mandate to form a BIA. We have taken the first step and only the first step. "The success of the BIA is only as good as the commueity," he added. "There's nothing magic about it. If you don't have the BIA by mid-April we've lost the opportunity to tap those funds." "We been the experience of other towns that people pull together," added Susan White, a member of the BIA study group. "When you're paying for it, you work for it." Support-- fore thee BIA 'seemed- Councillor Henry Mero, another study group member, said in informal discussions with Merchants and people in the area he sensed little opposition. Councillor Mero moved that council go ahead with the intent to designate a BIA. • PETtilON NECESSARY Two provisions must be met by those opposed to the BIA. If a petition signed by one-third of the businessmen in the de- signated area, who represent at least one-third of the realty assessment in the affected area, council cannot authorize a BIA. If 10 per cent of merchants are opposed, the proposal must be approved by the Ontario Municipal Board. Mayor Sinnamon, along with councillor Mero, suggested there is no subsumtial opposition -to the plan. "There definitely has to be an interest in The BIA." he said. The last meeting there were only a quarter or a sixth of the people here tonight, so there is definitely an interest. Please turn to page 24. ONE LAST EVENT—As the summer staff of the Seaforth Recreation Department wound up the summer program, they staged a final afternoon of baseball and a hot dog roast for area youngsters. Dennis Neilsen, centre, of the rec. department, supervises as several children cook marshmallows and wieners over thesopell fire. (Photo by Ellis) tiq•-i0K1 J'Art417,4;45. 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