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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-07-22, Page 7Wednesday, July 22, 2015 • News Record 7 Vandalism angers volunteers Optimist past president pleads for Seaforth to protect the park Shaun Gregory Huron Expostior The Seaforth Optimist Club is sick and tired of pic- nic tables being broken and finding beer bottles smashed at the baseball diamond in Seaforth. Almost two years ago to date the Municipality of Huron East and the Optimist Club combined $45,000 to revamp the Optimist Park by building new fences, metal bleachers and a more profi- cient backstop. If you look now you can see water bot- tles, Tim Horton's coffee cups and numerous other pieces of litter surrounding the park. "There are two trees along the road that have broken beer bottles next to them, I just don't want any kids getting their feet cut from glass," said Optimist past president, Bob Dinsmore. In a stern tone, Dinsmore said they wouldn't do it on their own property. "So why do it in a public park?" Every time the landscap- ers arrive to cut the grass it costs the Optimist Club roughly $100 and with all the garbage surrounding the area it's taking them more time to do their job said Dinsmore. With a group of 11-12 vol- unteer employees the small organization does not have the time to patrol the prop- erty and make sure that peo- ple are following the rules. Dinsmore, 71, who has been part of the organization since 1968, said if you're drinking a bottle of beer while your watching the game, take the bottle home or throw it in the recycling. On both sides of the park there are garbage bins and a spot to put bottles and other recyclables "I'm getting to old to be looking after this stuff," said Dinsmore. Brad Knight, CAO for Huron East, said he's met with a few members of the organization to discuss the current situation of vandal- ism and waste around the park. He stated he under- stands why this can be frus- trating for park users and the Optimist Club. "People just need to be aware of what's happened," said Knight. "(This club) has done a lot of fundraising, they do a wonderful job keeping that park going and providing the service they do," said Knight. "Who ever is doing the dam- age has to recognize that really affects the attitude of the volunteers." Dinsmore made it clear: "It's a playground for kids, not for parties." Little-known southwestern Ontario history featured in Blyth play Steph Smith Goderich Signal Star On July 3, I had the opportunity to see The Wilberforce Hotel, written by Sean Dixon and directed by Philip Akin, at the Blyth Festival Theatre. Not only was it the opening night for the show, but it was also its world premiere. The Wilberforce Hotel takes place in Lucan during the 1830s and features the acting talents of Peter Bailey, Greg Gale, Eli Ham, Marcel Stewart and Sophia Walker. Itis loosely based on 22 Years a Slave, 44 Years a Freeman, an autobiography by Austin Steward, an emancipated slave from Virginia. A comedic yet emotionally charged piece, The Wilberforce Hotel takes the audience through the hardships and challenges that he and many other black American immigrants faced when they came to Canada, especially those who settled in Middlesex County. These struggles are presented in a highly accessible format, as the play does not shy away from the truth, but gently reminds the viewers that Can- ada has not always been as welcoming to immigrants, especially those of col- our, as we often care to remember. At the plays beginning, we encoun- ter two minstrels (Eli Ham and Greg Gale) travelling from Toronto with their blackface, song and dance shows. As they pass through the London area, they are forced on the run from the authorities after getting into a heated altercation. In search of a safe place, they hap- pen upon the Wilberforce Hotel, which is ironically owned by the settlement's black president, Austin Steward (Mar- cel Stewart). The duo couldn't have picked a better, or worse, time to burst through the establishments doors, as the hotel is closing for good because everyone has left Wilberforce for the border to resettle in Rochester, includ- ing Austin's own wife (Sophia Walker) and children. While Austin lets the performers settle in, he eventually discovers that the "comedy" of their popular rou- tine is that it's performed in black - face. Instead of kicking them out, Austin makes them a deal: in exchange for hiding them from the police, they will have to perform their blackface show. As the night draws on, the two per- formers, whose careers in showbiz have been spent "blacking up," come to leam things about the actual expe- riences and struggles of early black settlers in not only Middlesex County, but across the country as well. 1 )cmo y5i cp..oa, SMOKE 1 C y d NI, u4r)csl Beat the temptation. drrsrno kerSrli ELPLI NE [xuCIL•ra l•x sac:TY TOLL-FREE 1-877-513-5333 The set design, done by Joanna Yu, is beautifully crafted. Silhouetted trees serve as a backdrop and allow for dynamic interaction and move- ment around the stage, while at the same time creating a genuine feeling of being in the unsettled backwoods of rural Ontario. The props and costumes, while simple, are everything that they needed to be. Of note are the ward- robe changes that took place. The /451 Huron Superior Memorials • MONUMENTS • FLAT MARKERS • INSCRIPTIONS Appointments in the privacy of your own home anytime MICHAEL S. FALCONER - MANAGER RES 482-3664 • CELL 525-2281 small cast, who at times performed multiple roles, was quickly and clev- erly able to switch between roles in no time at all. In testament to the actors' skill, the multiple role changes that did not involve a ward- robe change were just as convincing as if they had changed to get into character. The Wilberforce Hotel is brilliantly, humorously and seriously written, with powerful acting and singing from the cast. I highly recommend this play for those who are looking for an entertaining, period drama. The Wilberforce Hotel runs from July 1 to Aug. 8 at the Blyth Festival Theatre, located at 423 Queen St., Blyth. For a full list of dates and times, visit the Blyth Festival website at www.blythfestival.com. To pur- chase tickets, call the box office at 1-877-862-5984 or visit the Blyth Fes- tival website. THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF PROGRESSIVE AGRICULTURE SAFETY DAY@ TUESDAY JULY 7, 2015 AT STANLEY COMMUNITY CENTER • Bayfield Foodland • Bluewater Fire Servies • Cedarwood Fur Farm Ltd • Claussen Farms Custom Farms Inc • CUPE 3615 • DuPont Pioneer Ltd • FCC Canada • Grain Farmers of Ontario • Goderich Print Shop • Hay Mutual Insurance Company • Hensall District Co-operative • Hill & Hill Farms Ltd • Huron Commodities Inc • Huron County 4-H Leaders Association • Huron County Dairy Producers • Huron County Health Unit • Kim Parker & McKillop Mutual Insurance Company • McGavin Farm Equipment Ltd • Metzger's Meat Products Inc • Municipality of Bluewater • Ontario Federation Of All Terrain Vehicle Clubs • Outside Projects • Royal Bank Of Canada - Huron Perth Oxford Commercial /Ag • Schippers Canada Ltd • Stan Lee Seniors Club • Sunova Implement Ltd • Thompsons Limited • Tuckersmith Communications Co-operative Ltd A special thank you to all the presenters, and volunteers, who attended today, as the success of this Farm Safety Day is done through your dedication and support.