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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1982-12-15, Page 3THE HURON EXPOSITOR, DECEMBER 15, 1982 — A3 Christmas panic gofcArhawg too day by M2i©W VGilBI @ Are you rushing around in a mad panic to be ready for Christmas? Is your list of things to do getting longer at the same time as you're getting little or no satisfact- ion from what you've already done? If so, dear friends, join the crowd. You're "celebrating" Christmas North American- style and you're likely to make yourself gf•ouchy and anxious in the process. Our household is typical. The dining room is awash with gift wrap, ribbons and cards. Gifts we've bought or made so far are all wrap- ped...even the dog's box of cookies ("quick, while he's in the kitchen and can't see it")...the child in the house makes sure of that. Ever tried to wrap pre- sents with someone sitting on your knee? After that someone has spent 20 minut- es picking out just the right paper and card? it's a riot. The cards, and they're going to a very short short- list this year, have not been sent. We want to include a photo off our only offspring as a progress report to tarftung friends, and we can't find the negative. No one's had time to do any writing anyway. "I'm waiting to get their cards first so our news doen't doesn't cross in the mail," I told a friend here. "Likely they're waiting for yours." she replied. All the baking we're doing has been done but the problem with being so speedy in that department is that a good deal of it has been eaten too. Ah well, when friends drive past and see our place completely undecorated, they won't drop in anyway. No one has had time or energy to put up the tree. The better half has been so bowled over by flu that turning the TV on is his major fitness test for the day. We all know about lost weekends but at our house it feels like we lost the last month somewhere. sit and stew about all that remains to be done. But there's nothing like a kid to_ give the high-pressure sit- uation a little perspective. Surprise sale A friend was struggling to get her family's Christmas tree up one night last week, aftera gruelling day at work. "I'm the only woman in Seaforth whose husband doesn't do this job," she fumed. She snapped at him and the kids: herhusband's response was to laugh. "Hey, 1 thought this was supposed to be merry," chimed in one of the kids, and with that the whole family calmed down and concentrated on enjoying, instead of pressing to get the job done. Our family is trying to learn from their family's experience. We'll put the tree up when we feel like it, even if that's Dec. 24. We'll send the cards sometime, definitely before postage goes up in February. And everybody will get something they want and a lot more than they need in the way of presents. I've also gotten some perspective from a woman called Jane Biddy, author off' The New York Times Guide to Personal Health. Among her ideas on avoiding the holiday blues (likely you know that psychiatrists and divorce lawyers are tradit- ionally very busy this time of year) are these brings out s oppers Seaforth's first ever surprise Early Bird Sale Saturday was a great success, according to several businesses and members of the local Business Improvement Area (BIA). The event which started at 7:00 a.m. attracted a number of shoppers eager to cash in on sales ,offered by, local merchants. Anna Hamilton of Anna's Dress Shoppe said she found shoppers lined up outside het'• shop for the early morning opening. ' "There was really a good turnout." she explains. She is hopeful that a similar promotion will be offered to shoppers next year. She feels that the peon a who tuned out for the early morning sales I ased with the bargains they received, George Sweeney, manager of Roth's Food Market. was also pleased with customer response to the sale. He estimates business doubled compared to normal Saturday traffic. ,"It (the sale) went over really well." he says. According to Mr. Sweeney, the store sold over 300 bags of milk, 40 cases of chips and 150 cases of pop from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Charlie Campbell, an executive member of the BIA. is also pleased with the turnout on Saturday during the sale. "I would say that there was eonsiderable more traffic than I would normally get at that time," he said. referring to the amount of traffic he normally experiences on a Saturday morning. Mr. Campbell explains that the success of the promotion will be looked at by members of the BIA as well as other sales promotions they have launched during the year. "Generally the year from a promotion stand point has been good." he explains. However. he feels that there is still room for new ideas to help promote shopping in the Seaforth business district. For many shoppers the sale was an opportunity to get some good bargains before Christmas. Loneliness: everybody out there but you is not having a perfect Christmas. Forget the self-pity. Don't wait to be invited, ask acquaintances over for a pot luck supper. Fatigue: Baking, shop- ping, decorating, and party- ing ARE exhausting. Making it a point to get physical exercise, and to divide holi- day chores up among family and friends. Alcohol: If you're unhappy at all, booze will make your problems seem worse. Try fruit ,juice and unspiked eggnog at parties or better yet: "Reach for your running shoes instead of a drink." Unrealistic expectations: Families who don't get along all year won't suddenly re- form at Christmas. If that perfect Christmas dinner seems an ordeal. forget it. Cook some treat everyone likes and sing carols with just the immediate family. Spend your time making a gift or give an iOU for some future event instead of driving' yourself crazy with last minute shopping. Darkness: It's interesting that the exceedingly short days this time of year are thought to be a factor in holiday depression. If you can't go south, get outside as hunch as possible in daylight, wear light colours and keep bright lights on inside. Guilt: Don't expect to get everything accomplished, in- stead relax your standards and enjoy whatever you do. Don't feel guilty if memories of holidays past and lost loved ones make you sad. Instead, do something for, someone else. There now, 1 feel better already. A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL when students at Seaforth's nursery school and their families enjoyed a Christmas concert at SPS on Sunday. Small fry above watch as Jeremy and Johnny Miller put on a puppet show. (Photo by White) Awar YOM °QC@ liarAtwl An invitation to friends in the dommunity to join the children at S.P.S. and W.P.S. for their Christmas presenta- tions. Walton, 1:30 Dec. 16 "The Meaning of Christmas" Seaforth, 1:30 Dec. 21. "Peace and Brotherhood." A LOT TO LOOK AT—Katie Holland, top photo and Kimberly Devereaux. below, are a little young for nursery school. But they watched the antics of the older kids' with wide eyes at Sunday's Christmas concert. They are peeking over the shoulders of their moms, Lynn Devereaux and Joanne Holland, who's the nursery school teacher. (Photos by White) Collection agency possible BY KRIS SVELA The Seaforth Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will be looking into the possibility of hiring a collection agency to help collect payments on utility bills from customers who Fail to keep their accounts up, to date. The question was brought up at last week's regular meeting. after PUC manager. Tom Phillips. announced that the mayor Peter Lewis of Brockville has urged that welfare recipients pay thei, PUC bills first in that community. Although, Mr. Phillips acknowledged that a problem with welfare recipients failing to pay their bills does not exist in Seaforth, he did tell the commission that the PUC has written -off several unpaid bills. Commission chairman, Jim Sills, estimat• ed the total write off at about S2000 in the past three years and advocated the passible use of a collection agency to help recover some of the money. "It might serve as a deterrent to people who might consider it (not paying their bills) m the future. Business in business,'" he tote the commission. Mr. Phillips explained that many of the write-offs were done because of the difficulty in finding the people. Mr. Phillips told the Expositor following the meeting that he will be looking into the possible use of a collection. Mr, Phillips also informed the commission that Ontario Hydro will be conducting a bulk Arena agreement reached It was a formality, but one that marked a year of successful effort by Seaforth citizens and the 1981.82 town council, when the present council passed a bylaw authorizing the management agreement for the new community centre. McKillop. Tuckersmith, Hibbert and Hul- lers whose citizens and councils have also supported the new building, are the other parties to the agreement. Each municipality has one councillor and one elector on the committee, which elects its own chairman and vice•chairman and holds monthly meetings. Estimates for running the' centre. and any changes to the agreement, require the approval of at least three of the municipalities who arc represented by al (east 80 per cent of the debt load. McKillop appoints reps The newly elected McKillop township council was sworn into office Monday. December) Appointments to various committees were made. Brian Campbell was appointed to the Ausahle-Bayfield Conservation Authority. Representative to the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority is William Leeming, who was also appointed to the Seaforth Community Hospital Board, Appointed to the Blyth District Fire Area Board and to the Seaforth Area Landfill Site Conimittee was Bill Siemon. John George was• appointed to the Huron County Farm Safety Association and Reeve Marie Hicknell to the Seaforth Fire Area Committee. Reappointed to the Seaforth and District Community Centres Management Commit- tee was reeve Hicknell and Ken Campbell. Honourariums paid to councillors and the reeve will increase SSU in 198.(. Councillors will receive 51,000 and the Reeve, SI200. Road accounts payable submitted' by the road superintendent were 59332.24, for the month of November, General accounts payable of 5213.142.54 include the final installments to the school boards and to the county. In other news, council approved tile drainage debentures. Loans approved a- mounted to 513.800. Laverne Hoegy and Allan Koehler attend• ed the meeting concerning the perpetual care fund for the McKillop -Zion United Cemetery. It was recommended by the inspector of the cemeteries branch of Consumer and Com- mercial Relations that the municipality hold the trust fund. The next meeting will be held on Monday, December 20 to complete 1982 business. Seaforth's share of operating and capital costs is 53.3 per cent while McKillop's is 25 per cern: Tuckersmith's 13,5 per cent: Hibbert's 5.8 per cent and Hullett's 2.4 per cent. Each participating municipality will re- ceive minutes and monthly financial state- ments by the 25th of the following month. If a committee member misses any three meet Ings a year, his or her appointment will he referred to the appointing council for review. The agreement takes effect Jan. 1. !leo(' Bill Campbell said he hadn't read it and therefore he couldn't vote on it. While the matter could have been left til the' Januar% council meeting. clerk Crocker said, it was pointed out that the text of the agreement had been given to new councillors at a meeting Nov. 2'. Mayor Ross called the question and the bylaw passed, lt's a night to honour Seaforth's best. The town's recreation committee is hosting the first of what it hopes will be many annual awards nights. Thursday. Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the new Seaforth and District Community Centre. Three citizenship awards will be presented to outstanding people who have served the community in three different fields. Rec director Bryan Peters says the names of s.nighf recipients is being kept secret until Thursday night. As well. the top Seaforth teams who won Western Ontario Athletic Association in 1981-82 will be honoured. In hockey. the town boasted the top Novice. Pee Wee and Midget teams in WOAA. Two town teams won WOAA honours in baseball, the Pee wee and Midget groups. The general public is invited to attend and honour some.of Seaforth's winners. Mr. Peter Says. 'Scrooge' loses Councillor Wayne Ellis' try at playing Scrooge Monday night failed as Seaforth council approved the usual 550 per person Christmas bonus for town employees. "Our employees are under contract now. They negotiate for , their rights etc. I'm opposed." the councillor said. While councillor Ellis joked that he was playing Scrooge. town department heads watched from the audience. Mayor AIf Ross explained the police chief, public works and recreation directors were attending because there had not been any committee meetings this month. How many employees are there, and do we have the amount in the budget councillor Henry Mero wanted to know. Clerk Jim Crocker answered that 5700 for the 14 employees concerned is in the budget. The bonus passed, with one councillor asking for a recorded vote after the fact and another joking "they (the department heads) know who voted how." Town supports Exeter power _ tem reduction test on Tuesday. January 18 at 1:30 to 2:30 and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. depending on favorable conditions for the test. If conditions are unfavorable the , test will be conducted two days later. The purpose of the test is to establish and record the load reduction as a result of a 5 per cent voltage reduction to help Hydro and the local PUCs determine potential voltage problems in the system if a reduction was necessary in the future. Anyone experiencing low voltage or equipment problems during the testing are asked to report an\ difficulties to the local PUC. PUC members will continue to receive the same amount of money for meetings and conventions as in pre% loos years. The rate gives thc chairman SttO per year of 555 per meeting while the two commissioners will receive ShOO or 550 per meeting. The members will rmeet%c 535 for each special meeting and 550 for attending meetings on municipal business during normal working hours. Gordon Pullman was elected chair- man of the PI'( for the next three -years. The commission is continuing to look at possible offioil con\crsion of its garage. pump house and house. Mr. Phillips informed the commission that as a first step in conscrsatton, insulation on the north all of the garage %e ill he installed. He told the meeting that the cost of insulating the north wall and co%crine the insulation with steel would be about S550 Mr. Pullman felt that spray insulation ,ould possible increase the insulation %AIuc and that Mr Phillips should look into the sosi ,d spras insulation It was decided to look into the cosi Firemen respond Seaforth fire department answered a fire call at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. December 14, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Ward. concession 12 and 13. McKillop town• ship. Mrs. Ward told firemen she became alarmed when a chimney connected to a wood stove. "started to roar". Shc said all dampers were closed but the not., persisted, and she called the fire depart mcnt. Firemen arrived on the scene and upon close inept, tion found thc chimney to he clear of possible fire and operating as usual. Our mistake tic,tforth .tumor Farmers a,ni,illi donated 55500 to I•in a dishwasher floc the nen 010nitwit n centre. not 55050 as the 1 xposnor said last week 1ec apologi,e for the Cruor Public works equipment out in the cold BY W1LMA OKE Faced with a public works building that is deteriorating and not worth renovating, the Town of Seaforth is looking at what can be done to house equipment such as a grader. trucks. lawn mowers and leaf sucker. At a special meeting of council Wednes- day night town foreman John Forrest presented plans provided by a local builder of a Targe building 60 feet wide by 80 feet long being built in the town's industrial park, which would be available for leasing. The building firm, Smith Construction, is asking 51.000 a month for a long term lease. Mr. Forrest said and this new heated building would meet the town's need for a works department garage. Reeve William Campbell said as a new member of council he was not prepared to make any decision on such brief notice and would want to know more and the alternatives. He assured Mr. Forrest that it was not essential that trucks with hydraulic systems be stored in a heated building. Mr. Forrest had stated he was concerning that the used trucks bought in September for snowplowing should be wintered indoors. He said they were in good condition and should give three years of use. As a mechanic he said he was aware that hydraulic pumps may blow to pieces if they% don't heat up fast enough, and this could be avoided by storage in a heated building. Mr. Campbell, the recently retired road super- intendent of McKillop Township, said all that had to be done was to warm them up and they would work. • Councillor Harry Mero asked Mr. Forrest, "1 know heating is desirable, but is it necessary?" He said he had been investigat ing the cost of putting up a new steel -clad building and was given a rough estimate of 540,000 for a 4,000 square foot building while the Smith building was reported to he 5135.000 for a 4,800 square foot building completely finished. Councillor Hazel Hildebrand said she saw the need for equipment to be housed in a heated building and not left outside where vandals could cause damage. Other council members were concerned about the problem being presented this late in the year and asked that more time be given to secure more information. Mr. Forrest explained that the trucks were bought in September for snowplowing when it was learned it would not be possible to rent a grader this 'inter. Mayor Alf Ross asked council to deal with the problem after a lengths discussion had taken place. "I'm hooking for guidance from you as to what sou ,sant doneit is an important decision and one "e are going to have to live with Councillor Paul Ross suggested as one of the two solutions an ad hoe committee he named to stud% the situation but Reeve Campbell said that the striking committee would he reporting to council Monday night. naming a new publi, works committee. He suggested it should do the study. Council agreed. Councillor Mero was asked by Mayor Ross to bring in a firm cost figure on the building plan on which he had reported and he said he would. Seaforth .council would like Ontario's boards of education to be responsible for collecting and for nonpayment of education taxes. Councillors supported an Exeter resolution to that effect which will be sent to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). While ccuncillor' Paul Ross suggested sending the motion to committee before making a snap judgement. councillors apparently agreed with councillor Wayne Ellis that they were tired of "the buck stopping at the municipal council which has no input into the hoard of education. I'd like to see the buck stop up there." 1t municipal taxes were outstanding in the Council adopts B1 STEPHANIE LEVESQUE Perth County Council stuck to suggested pros instal guidelines when it approved a five per cent salary increase for itself and all its entplosces at council's Dec. 10 session. All rceses including the warden will rcccisc 52.100 m 1983 up from the 52.000 annual stipend in 1982 In addition. the ,e arden reeds es 54.200 to cos cr expenses for the scar. The warden's salary is up from 54.0(10 in 1982. In addition. %\urns councillors will reccise comrnittce pas For a half•das or evening session counts councillors will reccis(' 552.5)1 amount of 5100,000 at the end of the year and 40 per cent of that was for education. the town would have to borrow 540,000 to pay the board. clerk Jim Crocker explained. Mill rates would go up "and Exeter is saying that should be an education cost, not a municipal one." "But the money all comes out of the same pocket (the taxpayer's).'" councillor Ross asked. "Exactly." said the clerk. "Exeter has the right idea." commented councillor Henry Mero, "asking a few questions. If we don't have their dollars for them. we have to borrow. That doesn't seem right." Council endorsed Exeter's resolution, with only councillor Ross opposed. 5 per cent up trom 550 in 1982 and for a full day meeting over three hours. county councillors s ill recetse 589.25 up from 585 in 1982. The mileage rate of 35 cents per mile or 22 cents per km. remains the same. The county's 12 road employees' hour( wage for 1982 increases from 58.65 to 59.08 minimum and the maximim increases from 59.45 to 59.92 per hour. The 18 administrative employees also received a file per cent salary increase for 1983. The 1982 minimum of 510,8-0 in- %'rcascs to 511.S-0 per year and the maximum increases from 542.254 to S44,3(10 annually Morris land without 20% Continued from page 1 December 1981 nn concession four. fisc and six of Morns tossnship. Total sale price of land was^ 52.044.510. Land transtcr tax shish ie as paid totalled 514.704. The foreign land transfer lax applicable. but not paid because of the loophole. was 5409.000. The Offer to Pon haw .Agreement of Purchase and Sale lists Clifford Real Estate Limited of Godcrnh as the acting:real estate agent. In a telephone inters icy . Bill Clifford of Clifford Real Fstatc said. "it's the furthest from the truth that the land in question was taken out of pnodu, n%it% " He said that Helmut Sieber ' is ,i n, cls farming hut in some cases is renting land to other farmers He has hired help and has purchased machiner% He is ins oh ed in actisc crop production Concerning thc purchase of land for speculation purposes. Sir Clifford said, "0 you look at the pncc the land sold for and the amount of tiling completed at approximately 5500 per acre. it sure ,s111 he a long term situation before the land will he cold on speculation... .Asked if the farmer had any qualms about who his land ss a, sold to, Mr Clifford replied "As tar as the vendor is concerned. he doesn't care ss ho he sells to. Money talks But if there arc two buyers such as a foreign and a local buyer, in most cases, the ',seal buyer would he the successful purchaser Rarely were there rwo buyers." He noted that in several cases, the foreign buyer is able to pay more for land. "1 don't know what you can do about it. it's a free enterprise system.- He added that a foreign buyer will not pay as much today for land as in 1981. He did feel these purchaser,. "should come ower at some point." If and when the loophole concerning foreign ownership land transfer tax is closed, Mr. Clifford said sales would initial's drop. "There isn't a loophole that is closed where another one isn't found." An additional tax. which each farmer faces when he sells land. is capital gains Although federally controlled. Mr. Clifford said tax on capital gains "is always there and it is substantial Coping Continued from page I our cm n entertainment. %sc %%c re more sociable. est helped one another out \cc hast got to get hack to that tic'.�'-.,.- nc'Cs." Mr Kell and other senior ,.tikes talked to note that people ,hi it age • - ,xope tetter ,sit), hard times They made 0 through the depress•on. thes'se got experience a: r•ak'ng do and doing without. tOne woman nese,, Pse kudc in the fifties on her hushard .s 52 50 a da% ..when he was sorkars! 'Dung people has end and them' s w`, in Jim Kelly's words ',se'sc e': t,' em' i' Cher and help one another Several senior, vas :,,i: thanks to government pens• n, the, hase more mons than thins sc ,'ser had and are. coping lust fire w'th h'gttcr costs. They agree thou¢( than ,ani he racy raising a (amus t',ias on a '',m ted income. Some famihcs w •th two w age earners are just - making ends meet one senior said. "And single parents well it am one gets sick or the rent g,rc up cc's a catastrophe." V(•st week, s,sme memories and some practical tips on coping in hard times from lo.al cernor :intens and others.