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The Huron Expositor, 1983-05-25, Page 1c;,plfra}N+iiR4n P.NaV ..,r `.r•x.. ., n•.0.1 ,r {47,4,.1,1PFT`.1 t., F:x:IT'�i9r�l�A ir.C{x 1 • Incorporating Brussels Post 50c per copy n9itor SEAFORTH, :ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1989 — 22 PAGES • Fighting inflation with 19 i prices, Davis asked to help BY RON WASS1NK The dollar of the 1960 s is making a comeback at the Olympia Restaurant in Brussels. Diners can eat out and pay less during a one week promotion beginning Monday. A possible bonus will be a rollback of sales tax, which wasn't applicable during the 60s, on all meals and beverages. A letter has been sent to Premier William Davis. asking for the tax exemption, by Bill Protopapas, owner of the restaurant. Ontario restaurants have been required to collect seven per cent tax, since June 14, 1982 and Mr, Protopapas is fed up with the idea. "1 did not like the sales tax when it was introduced and with each passing day 1 dislike it more. Too much is being taxed. It seems everything we buy is being taxed." In part, the letter asks for a one week tax exemption. "You said you would help small business stay in business. Brussels is a small community with 62 per cent of the population over the age of 60 and many are out of work because of the slow economy. Our restaurant is trying to stay in business. Coping with two mortgages with rates of 21'/. and 181/4 per cent is becoming more difficult as our customers become fewer due to the economy and because pensioners are on fixed incomes. "Our idea of a "Return to the 60s" will attract new customers and give our commun- ity a financial break for one week. Their dollar will buy more than it hasTor a long time. To be a success, we need to offer our meals without sales tax. There was no tax during the 60s. tl We have lowered our prices and are asking you to meet us half -way. "If this idea brings us the business we need, then the added sales in the future will benefit us and also increase the tax remitted to the Retail Sales Tax Branch. Your answer will tell us whether you are interested in helping the small business as much as you are in assisting the large businesses stay in operation.' Taxing of meals is Mr. Protopapas main beef. By sending the letter, he hopes to encourage other small businesses to write their MPPs with concerns about sales tax and interest rates. "1 have had a lot of complaints since we had to collect the tax. The economy and tax has decreased our business. People even have to pay, sales tax for a cup of coffee!" Iq the restaurant business all his life and in Brussels for 'seven years, he says "I have never heard so many complaints thee in th'e past year. We try and keep prices low, bet high interest rates have made it impossible.4 was getting frustrated. That's why we're trying a different approach." The 60s theme will be complete because four employees will wait on tables at half their normal salary. "They have accepted the idea, but are dependinon the generous tips evident in the 60s." The menu features a variety of choices for healthy appetites. Feature of the week isia roast chicken dinner at $1.75. A cup of coffee can be had for .20: pie, .69; hamburger, .69; fish and chips, .79 and veal cutlet for $1.99. Remember the price of a hot dog in the 60itc Hotdoggers can have their favourite for .39. For those who like a touch of Italy, spaghetti with sauce is less than a dollar. The popularity of a return to the 60s will either make or break Mr. Protopapas' idea. Not concerned with profits, which will obviously be at the 1960 level, his main objective is to give customers a break and fight sales tax. "I hope other businesses get off their butts and do the same thing." RETURN OF 60s—Bill Protopapas of the Olympia Restaurant Is fed up with sales tax. In a one week promotion featuring 1980 meal prices, he hopes to offer meals, minus the sales tax. Mr. Protopapas compares then and now meal prices. (Wasaink photo) Expand on what we have: recreation plan Seaforth and area people are pretty happy with recreation facilities and programs here. That's one of the conclusions in the town's recreation master plan, outlined and pre- sented'to council May 10 by Carol Oitment of Proctor and Redfern Ltd. The plan, prepared at a cost of 516,200 over the last year, outlines directions for recreation in town over the next 10 years. About 75 per cent of the plan's cost was paid by grants. , Rather than spreading too thin and detracting from what's here now. Seaforth should build on existing facilities, the plan says. For example it suggests improvements to existing parks; more use of Victoria Park ("a gem in the community but somehow it's BROKEN TREES—Vandals destroyed landscaping outside McKillop Insurance on Main 8t. last week. Damages are about 5150. Margaret Sharp, secretary -treasurer of the company, shows a 10 -year-old evergreen snapped in hall. (Photo by Hundertmark) lost," Ms. Oitment says); development of al hiking and cross country ski trail from the arena area to the Lions Park, along Silvee Creek to the golf course, and a ball diamond inside the race track on the Agricultural Society's grounds. All the proposals are merely suggestions at this point, says rec director Bryan Peter. Organizations and individuals concerned with each area will be involved before any concrete plans are made. The master plan has not yet been adopted by council. Development of the plan was agreed to I ast year by council because it felt that a long range plan would soon be a requirement for,,. provincial recreation grants. Recreation,dl.,* `4 Seaforth is on a soundfrnancialbase, the plait .notes, thanks to public fund raising by ,local groups and grants the town has received in the past:' The plans also notes the high degree of participation in recreation in Seaforth by residents of neighbouring townships. The cooperation and coordination that exists now should continue and be improved. Proctor and Redfern surveyed groups and individuals in town while preparing the master plan. The company also collected population and other statistics and predicts the 1991 population will increase to 2,150 i f the present trend of people moving into town continues. The challenge for recreation to town. it says, is not to expand but to control and direct existing "leisure services." The public's satisfaction with them is "very high." Trends in recreation lyse include more interest in non -sports arts and culture activities. which the plan suggests can be met by local groups presently involved with that sort of programming, for example the library ,and the Van Egmond Foundation. An increased-interestih frtness'aetivities and in preserving the natural environment is also 'forecast. ^ Most of those surveyed say Seaforth parks are very suitable for children but need some improvement to allow for more use by adults, seniors and teens. A large number of those surveyed in north west Seaforth would like to see a neighbourhood park in the area, The plan suggests seeking a users' agreement for Building perm its triple BY WILMA OKE Building permits issued in Tuckersmith Township in the first four months of 1983 have more than tripled compared to the same time last year. So far 26 permits valued at 5563,000 have been approved while last year at this time only eight permits valued at 5119,000 had been issued. The 26 permits this year include seven houses estimated to cost $426,000, farm buildings at 578,000 and renovations valued at 558,000. In other business at the council session Tuesday night. the township's municipal insurance policies- were reviewed with Torn Smith a -representative from the Frank Cowan Company Limited and its local agent, Don Eaton of Seaforth Insurance. The premium this year will cost the township 511.937, $1,000 less than last year's. Lengthy discussion were held on the engineer's reports on two municipal drainage reports - the Veenstra and the Archibald. Both reports indicated the drains are to be cleaned and improved with the work estimated to cost 530,500 for each drain. Court of Revision on each drain will be held at the June 21 council meeting. Attending the four-hour council session were Engineer Henry Centen and two ratepayers affected by the Archibald Drain - Harry Arts and Louis Maloney and councillor Brian Campbell of McKillop Township, representing the ratepayers in his township ,involved with the Archibald drain. Council spent the last hour of the meeting in committee -of -the -whole. Munn's Bush to allow "a modest creative play facility" and some park benches in/the shade. A clean up of Silver Creek, now being organized by the Lions Club, was also suggested. More winter use of town parks should be encouraged, the plan says. According to provincial standards, Sea- forthis well provided with parks and other facilities. And local people agree: 71 per cent of those surveyed felt additional facilities are not needed. Of those wanting more facilities, 73 per cent favored a senior citizens' centre; 64 per cent a fitness centre and 55 per cent a campground. A majority of those surveyed woul(I.not ;pay more than the present tbwn, budget for recreation facilities and programs. Some seniors say access to rec programs is a proglem; while other age groups cite a need for transportation and babysitting so that they can take part in rec programs. The various Seaforth groups which provide leisure activities need to share information and discuss possible joint ventures more/the report concludes. Picketing peaceful at Standard Products Spirits are pretty high and the picketing is peaceful on the picket line at Standard Products in Mitchell but if a settlement isn't reached soon, things could get rough, says Ralph Warnes, an employee of Standard Products who lives in Seaforth. Although the picketers ate only waving signs and yelling. management of Standard Products has hired six security guards and are bringing in salaried employees from their Georgetown plant in armoured buses, Mr. Warnes says. The Mitchell police have also been on duty there 30 times in the past two weeks. with backup from the Ontario Provincial Police. "We haven't done anything violent. We're just slowing down the buses for about five minutes when they come in. Ross (the company president), is just trying to intimi - Vandals destroy trees Damages of approximately 5150 were made to trees in front of McKillop Insurance on Main Street in Seaforth Thursday night. Two 10 -year-old evergreen trees were snapped off at the base and one bush wad uprooted and left on the sidewalk. A large boulder was also moved about three feet against the building. The trees, which were planted only last year, cost 5100 but will cost 5150 to be replaced. says Margaret Sharp, secretary - treasurer of McKillop Insurance. The vandalism "makes you wonder whe- ther to replace them or not," she says. Mrs. Sharp noticed the damage Friday morning when she arrived at work. "It's just so senseless and so useless. It's craziness to do that for a bit of fun." date us," he says. Management wants to freeze the wages and the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) of the 135 striking workers for three years. It also wants to take away one holiday per year and make the workers take 5 cents out of their COLA to pay for a drug plan the company now provides for them, says Mr. Warnes. "We don't want a raise. We just want things to stay the same with a one year contract," he says. Mr. Warnes is now living on strike pay of $35 a week and says he's looking forward to a settlement. His wife works in Seaforth. "By the time you buy the groceries, there's not much left," he says. The Local 719 of the United Rubber Workers voted to stay out on strike after talks continued last Thursday at Standard Pro- ducts Ltd. in Mitchell. Union representative, Gord Shelley said last week that the picketers have kept to legal marching and yelling. What Mr. Shelley considered an "overre- action" of security measures by the comp- any, was explained as "adequate protection" for insurance purposes by company president Ray Ross. Mr. Ross would not reveal the details of the latest talks at the negotiating table in a phone interview Tuesday. Mr. Shelley was on the picket line and unavailable for comment. Calendar available Is your group planning a spPecial event for the second Saturday in Noveniber? But you're not sure what else is scheduled in Seaforth and district on the same date? The community calendar. newly installed just inside the front door at The Huron Expositor, may be of some help to you. All local organizations are invited to call The , Expositor with the dates of upcoming events, for a free,listing:oethe cprpmunity,ealendar ifnd a Check on wh'af else is on for that date: The Expositor staff will list local events up to a year ahead, keep track of what is being held when, and transfer the events onto the calendar, which is pinned on a bulletin board for easy public reference. "It's a great idea. but every group needs to participate for a community calendar to work," says Seaforth recreation director, Bryan Peter. So if your group has its special dates mapped out, call Joan Guichelaar at the Expositor, for a free listing. As another public service, the Expositor will make its conference room here available free of charge for daytime meetings of small community groups. There are meeting room' facilities for 10 to 12 people. The room must be booked a week in advance. Just call Joan at the Expositor.' Dismissed Charges have been dismissed against the three youths accused with breaking into Seaforth Public School and causing the 51700 in damages in January. Lawyer Paul Ross, who defended the three said the charges were dropped because of insufficient evidence. Neither Seaforth chief of police, Hal Claus, or SPS principal Paul Carroll had any comment to make. Do you know what your children are watching? BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE It's prime television viewing time. Do you know what your children are watching? Selective television viewing is fast becom- ing a popular by -word as parents and educators alike steer children to that task. At a language arts professional activity day, a workshop entitled "The Flickering Blue th" was conducted by Huron Co ty id of Education media co-ordina- tor Dave Rieman. 'There are ways of getting kids to look ritically at television," Mr. Rieman said. There are several things to do when watching television critically, the media co-ordinator said, including selecting specific programs. One person in the workshop described program selection as not watching a program that has someone on it that you wouldn't invite into your own home. Discussion of television programs watched provides more active family participation. The number of violent incidents in a program and whether or not they are necessary to the story may be questioned. Discussion may also take place on the actions of the character in the story, favorite or disliked television characters or the best or worst show seen during the week. Television viewing may lead to other activities, Children and adults can write letters to the TV stations either praising or critisizing program content. Even the actors or production company can be written. Children may also be encouraged to write their own television play. Programs based on historicial events or biographies may be compared to books on the same subject. This can often lead the family to the public library. There is some good television available and the good programs are produced by TV Ontario. Shows such as Cover To Cover and Read -a -long were two TVO productions singled out, but there are many more. COMMERCIALS Distinguishing the balance of fantasy and reality in any television program is a necessity to help young children determine what is real and what isn't. The division between fantasy and reality should be noted in commercials. Television commercials are never created by accident. Instead they are slick produc- tions by a company selling a product. Mr. Bieman- presented several commer- cials, mostly aimed at children. Demonstrat- ing the difference between fantasy and reality, the only real items on a particular McDonald's commercial were the restaurant building and the food. Taking a departure from other commer- cials, the McDonald's commercial comes complete with a title. It's like a 60 second television program, stated Mr. Rieman, with a plot and an ending. As television viewing becomes a national past time, parents have to set a good example for their children. By exposing children to good television, they will be more selective in what they choose to watch. SDHS learns all about sports injur.s/A11 All roads led to Klompenfeest in Clinton Saturday See photos on/A33„`S, 15 Births /A5 Brussels news /Al2, 13 Class/lied /A14, 15 Dublin news /A4, 5 Entertainmeht /A9 Family /A6, 7 Farm /A8 Henson news /A 16 Obituaries /A5 People /A3 Smiley /A2 Something to Say /A2 Sports 1A10, 11 Londosboro /A9 Walton /A7 A 1