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Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003
In brief
Flu shot
clinics
hope
for greater
attendance
By Susan Hunderhnark
Expositor Editor
Organizers of the four
flu shot clinics at the
Seaforth community
'centre are hoping for a
greater turn -out this year.
"We're hoping that
because of SARS, people
will be prompted to get
their flu shot. We certainly
are promoting it," says
Seaforth hospital
spokesperson Grace
Dolmage.
And, Seaforth doctor
Dan Rooyakkers adds that
while the flu shot does not
protect. against SARS,
he's hoping that the SARS
outbreak in the spring will
have demonstrated how
serious viral illnesses can
be.
"We hope there will be
more participation
because the ,more people
who are there, the more
people will be protected
fra Mite ff " b says.
Flu shots will be offered
for free at clinics that run
each Wednesday in the
month of November. On
Nov. 5 and 12, clinics will
be held from 9 a.m. to 1
p.m. and on Nov. 19 and
26, the clinics will be held
from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Flu shots are also being
offered at both Seaforth
elementary schools and at
local nursing and
retirement homes.
Last year, over 800 flu
shots were given in
Seaforth.
Dolmage says the
clinics, while open to
everyone, continue to
target seniors or people
with chronic conditions
that compromise their
immune systems like
cancer, diabetes and lung
conditions.
As well, she says those
who work with and care
for vulnerable populations
should also get their flu
shot.
More municipal election
coverage...
Pogo 6,8,10
Halloween funhouse
Susan Hundertmark photo
$1 .25 includes GST
insim141Normiltiiw
15 Main St. Seaforth
527-0794
Mayor and
deputy -mayor
candidates
asked to keep
taxes down
By Susan Hundertmark
Expositor Editor
Candidates for mayor and deputy -mayor in Huron East
were challenged to keep taxes down during the next three-
year term at an all -candidates meeting in Winthrop last week.
But, current Brussels Coun. Joe Seili, who is running for
mayor, warned that there's a difference between keeping
taxes down and neglecting the municipality.
"If you continue with a zero per cent increase year after
year, you get behind even though you expect the same
services. You have to raise taxes when there's no more
efficiency," he said.
Seili added that in Brussels before amalgamation, taxes had
to be raised 10 per cent one year after five years of zero
increases.
"I'm not going to make promises that we're not raising
taxes," he said, adding that non -budgeted items - like the
SARS and BSE crises faced by the province - can add to a
budget despite any promise.
Robin Dunbar, who's also running for mayor, said he wants
Tabbitha_Arts, of Harpurhey,. crawis out of creepy trurri ori cot wean il11k 1... _ 41 "ilm at thn: 1*Y-4 +41, tips majcptity of
lac tax
funhouse offered by the Seaforth BIA and the Central Huron Secondary School students' council Increases are generated.
"We need people there (at the county council table) to say
at the Commercial Hotel on Halloween night Friday. no. We have to constantly fight to maintain the tax rate and
control it. We all suffer if the county budget keeps going up,"
he said.
Maureen Agar, running for deputy -mayor, said that as a
retired farmer, she knows what it's like to live within her
.means..
"We have to see what's important and keep that up. But,
sometimes things have to be put off until we can afford
them," she said.
Incumbent deputy -mayor, Bernie MacLellan said he is
against spending money on anything that doesn't provide
value to the municipality.
For example, he said he wanted to see the Tuckersmith
Day Nursery, which is facing a $70,000 deficit, find a way to
break even.
"You've been paying towards daycare for the past three
years if you live in Huron East and it's really gotten out of
control. We're trying to figure out a winning scenario," he
said.
Agar said she thinks Huron East needs daycare if new,
businesses and industry are going to be attracted to the area.
Us CANDIDATES, Pogo 2
Acclaimed councillors
ready to face local issues
By Susan Hundertmark
Expositor Editor
The four incumbent
councillors who have been
acclaimed in McKillop and
Tuckersmith share concerns
about the issues of daycare,
water, the Seaforth trust and
economic development.
And, the two acclaimed
councillors in Brussels see a
need to improve existing
municipal services and
continue to strengthen the
ties between the five wards
that make up Huron East.
Daycare is a "big, big"
issue, for McKillop Coun.
Sharon McClure, who says
many of her constituents in
McKillop don't like paying a
deficit for the daycare centre
in Vanastra which they don't
use.
"If you can't pay your
bills, you have to change
how you operate. How can
we sit back and pay a deficit
when our neighbours have
such a success story?" she
says of the Clinton
Cooperative Daycare Centre,
which currently has a
$100,000 surplus in its
budget.
McKillop Coun. Ferg
Kelly agrees that he's not in
favour of paying Tuckersmith
Day Nursery's $70,000
deficit. Instead, he'd like to
Site DAYCARE, Page 2
Seaforth Manor still collecting coats for kids
Huron United Way drops program because of lack of room and volunteers
By Susan Hundertmark
Expositor Editor
Even though the Huron United Way has
dropped its Coats for Kids program this year, the
Seaforth Manor is continuing to accept used
coats, which they will send to the House of
Blessing in Stratford.
"I'd hate to see Seaforth people not clean out
their closets this year. We had 100s of coats other
years," says Seaforth Manor's activity director
Amanda Speelman.
Speelman says she's arranged with the House
of Blessing in Stratford, which works in
conjunction with Stratford's Salvation Army, to
accept any donated coats and distribute them to
the needy.
She says local people in need can contact the
House of Blessing at (519) 273-3433 to take
advantage of its coat program.
"We tried to find someone in Huron County but
there's no one wanting to take them for us," she
says.
"It's not good that they weren't able to do it in
Seaforth this year," says Speelman.
So far, 20 coats have been collected in Seaforth
and Speelman expects more before the end of the
season.
Huron County residents looking to donate Coats
can also take advantage of a promotion of Marks
Work Warehouse in Goderich's Suncoast Mall.
The store is accepting "gently -used" coats fora
$10 voucher towards a new coat at Marks Work
Warehouse until Nov. 15.
In Goderich, the used coats will be distributed
by the Red Cross at the. MacKay Centre on 10
Nelson Street.
"Huron United Way regretfully is unable to run
the Coats for Kids program this year. Lack of
personnel, resources and space have caused us to
make this difficult decision," says Huron United
Way's executive director Melodie Northey.
Northey says she ran the program last year but
with the move of the United Way office from
Clinton to Goderich and her acceptance of the
executive director's job, she couldn't find the
space or another volunteer to take over the
program.
"We collected 1,000 coats and 1,200 boots,
mitts and scarves last year and it was a huge
undertaking. I was looking for someone to take
over but it's a hefty project," she says.
Northey says Seaforth is the only urban area in
Huron County - other than the Marks Work
Warehouse promotion - she knows of that is still
collecting coats.
"I'm advising people that if they're still
collecting coats, they should get them to one of
the charities involved," she says.
While it's too late to find a volunteer for the
Coats for Kids program this year, Northey says
she'd love to hear from a church group or service
club willing to take on the four-month project
next year.
"It takes hours to get the coats to the cleaners,
to hang them and display them in order of size
and be available for distribution. But, it's evident
there's still a strong need for the program," she
says.
Re -Elect
DICK BURGESS el
Councillor, Seaforth Ward
Your Support Would Be Greatly Appreciated
• 40. Year C4th Resident • 3 Years Council Experience • Dedicated •