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The Huron Expositor, 1996-02-07, Page 6figures" from both sides. "But I believe the question before council is, regardless of figures, to deal with what we can afford and what we can't." he said. "Regardless of the tie ures, council must hold the property tax to an acceptable level" •in the face of reduced government revenue and restraints on property taxes. Vanden Hoven wins 4-H award Crista Vanden Hoven-RR 4 Seaforth, was the winner of the junior division of the provincial Amber Underwood Memorial 4-H New- reporter Competition. She wrote a report about the. 4-H 80th anniversary celebrations held in Milton at the Agriculture Museum -July 29, 1995. The award was presented to Crista by Nelson and Kate Underwood at the conclusion of the Ontario 4-H Council annual meeting at Geneva Pal k• Jan. 28. Alt Deposita insured Within Limits Rates subject To Verification .8 0 5 YEAR ANNUAL e54 Yost 3/4% 5.4% R.34/0 (i/0 Doug Elliott B. Math inuehen1Cer21re Investment & Tax Planning Secure Investment Products ... from. people you can trust SEAFORTH - 96 Main St. 527-0420 S-TINI HURON EXPOSITOR, Fobsseary 7, 191111 Local Museum curator responds to letter BY MONA IRWIN SSP News Staff A letter to the editor in some area papers prompted a response by Huron County Museum director Claus Breede at Thursday's Huron County Council meeting. The letter, written by W.P. Fydenchuk, was headlined, 'Can we afford a county muse- um in Huron?' in The Huron Expositor's Jan. 31 edition. In it, Fydenchuk suggests the museum is a 'non-essential' ser- vice costing the taxpayer S19 per visitor. Breede said he supplied the numbers quoted in Fydenchuk's letter, but "his use of those nurnbers was unusual." Factoring in government fund- ing and the result of the muse- um's own fundraising efforts, the per -visitor cost to the tax- payer is closet to $13. "We operate the Old Jail and the Marine Museum at minor additional costs," Breede added. "When you add those in, the cost drops to about $8 per visi- tor. It's about S1.50 per ratepay- er per year." This is well below the -provincial average of $12 to $15 per visitor per year. he added. Huron County Council Museum staff also promote tourism, Breede went on. "We're active in the. South - Western Ontario Tourism Association (SWOTA) and we attend travel shows throughout Huron County and south-west- ern Ontario. As well, the museum offers .employment opportunities to people of all ages. including high-school co-op program stu- dents and Correctional Services agencies "so young people can work off community sen- tences." In many of these cases, funding comes from senior ley els of government. he said. Other functions of the muse- um include running the county archives and providing assis- tance to the county regarding Freedom of Information Act matters. "These [benefits} are not as quantifiable as visitors," he said. Coun. Bill Mickle (Eeter) said the dispute was "a play on Library board faces angry .questions on library closures KY MONA IRWIN SSP News Staff In a scene reminiscent of one just a few years ago.- Huron County Library Board members faced angry questions about the closure of small libraries. This time, though, the ques- tions came from Huron County Council members,_ rather than the general public: 1m disappointed at how this information was sent to munici- palities..' Caun.Bob Hallam (West Wawanosh Twp.)' told council members at Thursday's meeting: "I felt we could have worked something about. If rural communities have to look after their own libraries. why not the town? Rural Ontario is more than garbage pits and trees to be legged. This has cre- ated a lot of hard feelings." • At a Dec. ?, 1995. meeting. the board passed a motion rec- ommending closing libraries in Auburn. Bluevale. Centralia, Cranbrook, Gorric and Walton as- a way to address a 40 per cent cut in provincial grants over the next two years. "I'm downright' mad about this," said Coun. Brian McBurncy (Turnberry Twp.). Turnherry Twp. Council had opposed the closing of the Bluevale library branch. McBurney said. and offered to pay the rent of the building. "Our library was notified in January that Bluevale would be closed Feb. 6. and its patrons could go where they liked," • McBurney said. "The letter notifying council of the closure was faxed to us, and the library was scheduled to close one week before council was to meet and could deal with this. "It doesn't seem to matter who's concerned about .mon isset, county council isn't interested in it," he added. referring to both the library closures and to a separate issue involving Ashfield Twp. residents' repeat- edly expressed •concerns to county council about a pro- posed landfill site in that town- ship. McBurney said county coun- cil appeared to he "trying [to do) as much as possible under- handed. aad if we get caught. then we hack up and try another tack. I'd like an explanation." Coun. Thomas Cunningham (Hullett Twp.) suggest council reconsider its position about Iihrar.y closures. . "He [McBurney} raises- good points." . Head librarian Beth Ross said a meeting was h-eld for all 'library staff Jan. 15. and extra meetings. as well as some re- scheduled meetings. were set up. often 'because weather con- ditions made it impossible for staff from -rural library branches to get to a specific meeting. Ross -said she has re -arranged her own schedule to hold some meetings. "The decision to close -was made [in mid-December 19951, and the media was at the mect- ing." she said. "It got into the papers quickly.: ''I've got• one question,' McBurney said. "If the decision " was made in inid-December, why it 1 have a letter written in mid -Jai :ry saying this matter will conk, before council? You cook A ilk to Wingham to deliver 11 in that time." "The letters were prepared after county council met in January," Ross said. "I apolo- gize for any delay my depart- ment may have had in getting the letters out. Sorrv."- Coun. Leona Armstrong (Grey Twp.). a member -of the Social and Cultural Services Committee, said there is -"no game plan" covering who will supply books to the libraries if they refuse to close. "When the county took over our library." Hallam said. "they took over the responsibility to operate and to supply hooks. under the Library Act. [Books} will come from the county until we can work something out." 'In March 1992. the hoard voted to close seven of its smallest libraries: Belgrave, Belmore: Bluevale, Brucetield, Crediton, Ethel and Walton. to save some S11.000. Be t more residents fought the closure of •their library bitterly. and then opted to run their own library. -The Belgrave and Bluevale ,libraries won respites in May 1992. At that time, county librarian Beth Ross said the hoard had no money budgeted to keep the Belgrave and Bluevale branches open. so ser- vice would be cut elsewhere, probably in Wingham. Belgrave closed in Novembetr1994. Club holds euchre, social The January cuchrc and social of the Seaforth Lawn Bowling club was held last Tuesday evening at the Orange Hall. Hostesses for the evening were Neil and Edna Bell, Gladys Doig and Beatrice Stoll. Ten tables of cuchrc were in play and winners were: ladies' high, Ida Diehl; ladies' lone hands, Olavc Papplc; ladies' consolation, Dorothy Parke; men's high, Fred Glanville; men's lone hands, Jack Muir; men's consolation, Gordon Murray. Birthday greetings were sung to Olavc Papple celebrating her birthday on Jan. 24. The next cuchrc will be held on Feb. 27 at 8 pm at the Orange Hall and hostesses will be Thelma Coombs, Beth Prycc and Isabelle Hunt. P.S. Neil, your gingerbread cookies were delicious. The 1995-96 BEARS BOOSTER CARDS ARE BACK!! The Seaforth District High School is selling the Bears Booster Card in an effort to raise money for our Student Council. This card offers many discounts at local stores and costs only $5.00. Available from local stores, high school or members of Student Council or call 527-0380 Anna's Dress Shoppe 15% off reg. priced items only Hildebrand Paint and Paper 20% off book orders of wallcoverings not already on sale. Seaforth Bike Shop 10%.off • all accessories Sparky's 5% discount on' all food products Archie' s Service Centre $5.00 off oil change The Hobby Shop - 5% -off collectors plates • Seaforth Co -Op Do -It Centre 20% off all reg. priced pet food and supplies Studio 75 - 10% off hair cuts Becker's Huron Expositor 10% off purchases over $5.00 *some restrictions apply One free classified ad; 25 words or less, $4.50 value. One Time Deal. SDHS Cafeteria $1.00off Wednesday Special Tasty -Nu Bakery 10% off cheese that is not on sale. Cardno's Men's Wear 10% off reg. price only Huron Sports Outfitters 10% off fishing accessories SDHS TMP Store $5.00 off oil change - pay no GST on all 10% off reg. priced service items in store appointmen4s The Computer Janet's Planning Centre Country Donut 10% off accessories, Cafe 10% discount on non -sale items purchases Seaforth Golf and Country Club 15% off clothing - no discount on items already on sale. Tremeers Commercial Printers 10% off All Non -sale Items Egmondville Keatings Store Pharmacy rnn_ off 10''r� of(ree. price 10% off 10r� off reg. price all gift baskets .cosmetics and perfumes Seaforth Grocery .Double Coupon Quantity Vincent Farm Equipment No taxes on Westward Tools - LIFETIME GUARANTEED Elza's Hair Design 10% off retail only. - Main St.Video 3 for 2 movie rentals, Mon.- Thurs., excluding holidays. Buy 2 hooks get 1 free. $1.00 off purchases of a movie or C.D. Seaforth Jewellers 10% off purchases over $20.00 - in stock reg. priced items only Winthrop General Store Rent 2 movies and get 3rd Free Flower Magic by Jean 15%,discount on cash and carry New Orleans Pizza Free pop with a slice of pizza or a sub between 11 -2 Seaforth Sewing Centre 10% off reg. price in -stock merchandise Wong's Grill Tees. - Thurs. - off all meals (EAT -IN) excluding specials Future's Hair Design 15% off all retail products - hair care, nailcare, and tanning lotions included. Pete's Paper Clip 10% off reg. priced - merchandise ($10.00 mina purchase) Sharon Medd at Mclntee Free House Evaluation - One Time Deal Wood You Like To Paint 10% off all reg. priced unfinished wood pieces Hildebrand Flowers 100 off cash and carry purchases over $30.00 Seaforth Automotive 10% off light truck and car batteries Sills Home Hardware Carpet Cleaner Rental - 112 price - One Time Only. Wuerth's Shoes 10% off all new reg. priced shoes a