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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-03-25, Page 1BOTTLE DRIVE --- The cubs and scouts of Kirkton held a bottle drive on Saturday morning to raise funds for the group. Pictured above loading the truck with donated bottles from left to right are Jeff Weersink, Paul Stevens and Todd Hawkins. T.A photo by Sharon Specht. Work ordered stopped on town hall until permit issued People and events A PROFIT of between $1,600 and $1,800 will be used for the tennis courts in town after a successful Lions Club St, Patrick's dance held Saturday night at Huron Park Recreation Centre, ANOTHER PETITION is being circulated stating that seatbelts should be 'your choice'. An advertisement appears elsewhere in this week's T-A showing where you can express your feelings on the matter. NEW LOCATION FOR HOSPITAL RUMMAGE SALE will be the old Protestant chapel at Huron Park, After an extensive search, the committee decided on the Huron Park facility, Date of sale is May 25 and 26. BETA SIGMA PHI'S annual Spring formal will be held at the Kirkton-Woodham Community Centre for the first time this year, May 15, Sorority members will be selling daffodils^on the streets of Exeter, April 2, in conjunction with the fund drive for Cancer. GUY LOMBARDO AND HIS ROYAL CANADIANS are be- ing brought to this area by the Exeter Heritage Foundation in September as part of their fund raising project. HURONIA CHOIR are deep into their practises for the first Minstrel Show for Exeter in many years. The show will be staged April 8, 9, 10, 10,000 HOURS WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT — The District Directory Award for Safety 1975 was presented to the Exeter Post Office staff in recognition of contributions that were made. In addition to the award each staff member received an engraved mug. From left to right is area manager Harold Elder presenting award to Post Master Harvey Pfaff, Steve Pfaff, Doug Sweet, Bill Lenk, Helen Broderick, Henry Dyck and Bev Rabbets. photo by Y. Romaniuk. Group to aid adult handicapped makes inroads in Exeter area Pipit sOft,...4 P r Chasing ee:h attar o c :0 14 et 'II:,1a:: 5 ANXIOUS TO SEE THE GAME — Pictured at left, Ron Bogart of Exeter buys a ticket from Jim Neil of the Exeter Kinsmen Club for the Saturday night game. The proceeds will go for the Exeter Arena Fund. T Aphoto by Sharon Specht `athe fltelerZinies-Atwocafe One Hundred and Third. Year EXETER, ONTARIO, MARCH 25, 1976 Price Per Copy 25 Cents Residents fear destruction of nature if subdivision approved in Stephen "It will be a high quality development" said Phil Walden as he defended a proposed sub- division to a small group of Stephen Township ratepayers who were showing increasing fear that the plan would ruin the natural beauty of their area and would lead to annexation by Grand Bend, Mr. Walden is the solicitor for Green Forest Estates, a Thedford company who propose to build a 46 home subdivision cm 16 acres ALPHA the Action League of Physically Handicapped Adults, is coming to Exeter and Huron County. The organization, which is designed to bring about legislative and social changes to facilitate the integration of disabled persons into society, claims 2,000 members in the London area alone and also has substantial memberships in Toronto and Windsor. Elaine Townshend of Goderich Township was chosen as acting president of the Huron County organization at its second meeting last Saturday. The first meeting was held a week before in Miss Townshend's home. Among those at the meeting was Jim Hunsberger, director of ALPHA London, and also a community resource officer with the Canadian March of Dimes, with which ALPHA is affiliated. Hunsberger had been invited to the meeting to provide in- formation and advice on starting a similar organization in Huron County. He told the group that ALPHA was formed in 1971. He said that it was different than most organizations serving the handicapped in that it is basically set up to encourage the disabled to engage in the political process to bring about needed social and environmental change, rather than providing specific rehabilative or social services, He said that ALPHA is unique in that it is an organization set up south across the river from Grand Bend on Gill Road. Presently, the site is slated for agricultural use in the Huron County official plan, but an amendment could change that. Presently the land is not being used for any agricultural pur- poses and is completely wooded. The plan for the subdivision shows 46 individual lots, ranging in size from 8,600 square feet to 21, 700 square feet, with all of them fully serviced with sewage, and run by the physically han- dicapped, themselves. Commenting on the outcome of the first two meetings of the fledgling group, Miss Townshend told the T-A, "Everyone who has turned out seems very en- thusiastic, ready to pitch in and do their part." She said that members have already agreed on a first ob- jective for ALPHA, approaching municipal councils in the county and requesting them to include curb cuts or ramps in any plans for new sidewalk construction. She said that a member of the Goderich Town Council attended the second ALPHA meeting and was very interested in the goals and objectives set out by the members present. According to Miss Townshend, Exeter would be one of the municipalities approached by ALPHA in an effort to remove environmental barriers that prevent persons confined to wheelchait's and with other mobility problems from moving about freely without the aid of another person. "ALPHA came into existence" Hunsberger said, "because the physically disabled were not getting a fair break in modern society." He referred to physical and social barriers which prevent the disabled person from taking a total role in today's society. "Physical barriers", he said, include sidewalk curbs, stair- ways, turnstiles in stores, and water, hydro and paved roads. The services are being included in the lot cost to potential owners, Mr. Walden said his company has come to agreement with Grand Bend to provide sewage at a cost of $39,000 to the sub, division. Water will be provided from the Grand Bend system and residents charged a rate per gallon. The lots, he said, will be nearly two times as large as the bylaw requires for fully serviced lots. narrow washrooms which prevent a disabled person from getting about on his own." He observed that social barriers are more subtle but perhaps present more of a problem than the physical barriers. He said that social barriers include discrimination against the disabled with regard to em- ployment opportunities, government disability pensions that force many disabled to live a life of . poverty, and general ignorance as to the needs of the physicaly disabled person, which he described as much the same as those without disabilities, "only more so." ALPHA London has been responsible for two major legislative changes in that city. The first was a policy guar- If you are worried about fin- ding a summer job, you can be consoled in the fact that Jim Barnes, Student Summer Job Counsellor for Canada Manpower in Huron Park and Goderich, has an attitude bordering on op- timism. Mr. Barnes, who works out of both offices, said finding jobs "is not going to be that bad," He added that he has been pleasant- ly surprised by the response from employers who would be willing to hire student help over the summer. Last year the Manpower in Huron Park registered about 300 students for summer work, and are expecting between 300 and 500 this year to register in this of- fice. There already are 400 registered in Goderich, Manpower does not release the number of students placed through its offices because of too many variables in the figures. Often students will get a job through the center and not report back that they have done so, or they will obtain a job that wasn't refered to them by Mr. Barnes and his staff, Also, there is a high number of duplicate applications from students registering in both Goderich and Huron Park. Mr. Barnes said that the number of jobs that are opening Up 15 surprising, particularly with the atmosphere of economic pessirnisnri. The pessimism about the summer job market is an indirect way of inciting students to get out and look for the jobs suggested Mr. Barnes. The surface drainage is ex- cellent Walden claimed, and there will be no problem With floods and swamp land that some residents claim is predominant in the area. The land has excellent slope towards Gill Road and the Pollock drain and high deposit of gravel in the area will allow sufficient run off. Fire protection for the area will come from the Grand Bend detachment, which will mean Stephen may face extra costs in anteeing that all new sidewalks in London would include curb cuts or ramps. The second piece of legislation guarantees that all public buildings erected in that city since 1973 include at least one major accessible entrance for wheelchairs, as well as ac- cessible public washrooms and access to all stories of the building via ramps or elevators. ALPHA London is also engaged in developing an accessible public transportation system for the disabled, and is involved in the fields of employment op- portunity and recreation as well. For further information regarding ALPHA, Elaine Townshend may be contacted at 1-482-3357 or locally, Paula Robinson at 235-0646. Employers are looking to students this year that don't regularly hire summer help because students become availalbe at the beginning of peak production periods and leave when the period -is over. This saves the employer the problem of having to lay off workers said Mr. Barnes. The Summer Job Center is not concentrating its efforts on in- dustries alone, as it intends to. start a campaign directed at the homeowner who may need work done around his home over the summer, Painting, gardening, cleaning and repairs are all jobs. that students who have been unable to obtain full time employment will do in order to earn money. Mr. Barnes said that there is a swing to "casual labor" this year as many students, scared by the prospect of spending the summer jobless, say they will take any sort of work. The Ontario Government is currently running a massive advertising campaign on both radio and newspaper, urging peo- ple to hire students. One of the major thrusts of the campaign is the hiring of students to work around homes. Mr. Barnes had several suggestions for the student who is looking for summer jobs. Don't go in groups of throe or four he said. If there is one job available, and there are three simultaneous applicants, the employer will more than likely reject all three rather than take one at the expense of offending the others. He also said that neat dress is important, but that one shouldn't overdress for any job that he will be taking. For example, an appli- cant shouldn't apply for a con- struction job in a suit and tie, but ragged blue jeans and unshaven is not recommended either. He also suggested that the applicant try for a specific job. If a person asks merely for "anything" then it implies that he has no skills. If he applies for a specific job, then he is liable to get it. Students should begin looking for a job now, and shouldn't get discouraged by a series of rejec- tions he said. Although older students, of the 16 to 20 year old age bracket will have a better chance at the prime jobs, there are jobs for younger people. He said that often the older students will re- ject work like waitress and farm work, prefering a factory job. These are the sort of jobs that a younger person could find open to them when they get out of school. The important thing to Jim Barnes is that the students sell themselves, both personally and as a group. He intends to have them dis- tributing flyers in the Exeter area after March 31 when he will appear at South Huron District High School. The flyers will advertise both the individual and the fact that students are available to work. Another stop work order has been placed on the restoration work of the Old Town Hall and, like the last time, the committee is ignoring it. The reason for the stop work order is' that the committee was proceeding: withoPt. a' perthit, but according to Art Whilsmith, publicity director for the com- mittee, they had been assured by Doug Triebner building in-' spector, that a permit was not needed for the type of work being done. Scraping of paint and plastering cracks in the ceiling is Chief warns of crooked • repairmen Exeter Police Chief, E. J. Day, warns home owners to be on the alert for chimney repairmen and siding men who may be working in this area. He suggests if owners have repair work to be done they get a reputable com- pany to do the work, and do not ''sign any contracts unless they are fully understood. The police department has been operating its radar system this past week and has issued six speeding violations and warned three other drivers, Slow down; don't get caught. Saturday, PC Fice, on foot patrol, noticed a fire coming from a transformer behind the Junction store. A tree branch had fallen on the hydro wires causing them to short. PUC restored power in about an hour. Three motor vehicle accidents were investigated through the week and included: a car driven by Robin Lee, Seaforth, was in- volved in a collision with a vehi- cle driven by Ronald Rau, Grand Bend. The accident was in- vestigated by Constable McMeekin with estimated damage of $1,000. A motor vehicle driven by Laverne Stone, 72 Mill Street, Exeter was involved in a colli- sion with a motor vehicle driven by Winona Hoffman, 192 Huron Street Exeter. The accident oc- cured at the intersection of Huron and William Sts., and was investigated by Cons. Robertson. PC Fice stopped a car, Thurs- day and on checking the oc- cupants found a substance believed to be marijuana. One of the occupants has been charged and will appear in court at a later date. being carried out presently. After the initial order to stop work, Doug Gould, chairman of the committee, and Mr. Whilsmith made application for a permit, but it was subsequently turned' down by the Town Hall Property Committee. The permit that was applied for included the scraping and plastering as well as removal of paint from the outside bricks, restoring the belfry work on the eaves and roofing. Mr. Whilsmith, pointed out the committee had been told by Property Committee Chairman Garnet Hicks that a permit for roofing was not needed. The committee has purchased $500 worth of shingles which are presently lying dormant in the town hall although there is a man contracted to install them. Mr. Triebner has told several of the men working on the site that if they do not cease work they will be charged. What they could be charged with was not made clear by Mr, Whilsmith. "We're a little disgusted with the things that are being done" said Mr. Whilsmith, "It appears that when they feel like putting a stop work order on it the Mayor is out of town." Mayor Bruce Shaw is presently in Florida, where he was when the last stop work order was issued. South Huron Hospital in Ex- eter has finally received its budget guidelines from the Ministry of Health, and everyone's worst fears haven't been realized. The Ministry of Health, under Minister Frank Miller, has been making base budget cuts and staff cuts at hospitals throughout the province. South Huron, however, has been exempted from these cuts and can in- crease the major portions of their 1976 budget in accordance with the Anti-Inflation Board guidelines. Elmer Taylor, hospital ad- ministrator, said the guidelines will allow a ten per cent increase in supply and expense forecasts and an eight per cent increase in the wages over 1975 levels. The hhspital will be preparing their budget at their current The ad hoc committee turned down the proposal presented by Mayor Shaw under which the committee could lease the property from council for a yearly fee, The committee turned it doivn because of the incumbent responsibilities that they felt should not be shifted to them. A prepared statement issued by Mr. Whilsmith said that the committee refused the proposal because it did not want to be "responsible for the maintenance of a public building." The day after the rejection, the THPC ordered work stopped on the building, The property committee will be advancing a new proposal, possibly at the next council meeting but no details on that proposal were released. The permit that was applied for was rejected because the permit would have to be made out in the name of the owner and without accord between the two com- mittees, the permit can't be issued to the committee. The committee is planning several fund raising projects, including two dances, May 28 and September 17. The September dance will feature Guy Lom- bardo. A garage sale is planned for April 17. capacity level, rather than an- ticipating bed cuts. Bed cuts were being con- sidered as a move in conjunction with other hospitals in order to save Clinton Public Hospital which has been closed by the Ministry, This does not rule out the possibility of the hospital cutting beds. The budget has to be ready by April 15 to be submitted to the Ministry which doesn't leave the Hospital Board a lot of time to prepare it said Mr. Taylor. At Clinton Public Hospital, things are proceeding normally. They are making no preparations at all to close the facility, said Rita Kelland, Business Manager for the hospital. She also said that the budget guidelines and deadlines are Please turn to page 3 this area. Stephen presently has a share of the Grand Bend detach- ment. Stephen will also face other extra costs once the subdivision is completed. The roads, which Green Forest will pave, will become a municpal respon- sibility, but the feeling of Walden and council is that the increased taxes will offset this sub- stantially. "You're getting next to nothing for this land now" he said in reference to the low assessment value of the property. The township will be com- pensated by the required five percent of the land that will be left as park area. Under. law, • developers .are required to leave this as the Minimum amount of green land or give the affected municipality a cash equivalent. Green Forest Estates will leave the Northeast corner of the property undeveloped. This would allow easy access to the Ausable river and permit small watercraft use of the area as well, Although this area will be left green, it' didn't seem •to' satisfy area residents, who voiced fears of Urban encroachment and annexation. Mrs. Clara Statton whose home borders the property, claimed there would be few trees left and most of the wildlife and birds would eventually be killed off, She claimed that the area is already popular for youngsters who come to it with BB guns to shoot at the squirrels. She also claimed that many of the trees would be destroyed, robbing the area of its natural beauty. Mr. Walden countered this by saying that Green Forest "wants to preserve the trees as a natural aspect." He claimed that the subdivision would be built as a consolidation of urban and rural communities, which the Ontario Government endorses. He added that it would be akin to Southcott Pines in Grand Bend, v Which he said, preserved many-of-. the trees, building amongst them. Mrs. Statton also expressed concern for the neighboring properties having to fend with the children of the new residents. Mrs. Mary Dyer, whose home is on the west side of the property said the proposal is "out of character with the area." She pointed out that there are four houses on the surrounding ten acres, "but it seems to me if you put 46 houses in there it will take away from the rural nature." The other predominant ob- jection to the proposal is the idea that Grand Bend, just across the river, may try to annex the subdivision, Most of the residents stated a preference for living within the township, although annexation is not looked upon favorably by the provincial government who lean towards amalgamation. Summer job outlook better as employers seek help Early deadline,restraint hampers SHH budget S