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Huron Expositor, 2004-01-07, Page 3r News Seaforth's POSO purchased by Quebec credit union Desjardins in February, 2003 Year in Review, 2003 Feb. 5, 2003 Local Province of Ontario Savings Office (POSO) customers can expect to see changes as early as this spring, when the provincial government hands the 80 - year -old bank over to a Quebec -based credit union group. Ontario Finance Minister Janet Ecker announced Jan. 28 that Desjardins Credit Union will be purchasing POSO from the province for $50 million. Huron East council was asked whether or not it wants to continue with a hanging flowerpots project on Main Street, begun last summer by Gwen Devereaux, of Seaforth. "Gwen said she's not doing anything this year and I'm wondering if these pots are just going to go vacant," Public Works Coordinator John Forrest said at council's Jan. 28 meeting. After much research, Don Bain found a form of medication that gave his mother relief from the agitation brought on from Alzheimer disease. The only problem is, that medication remains illegal in Canada. But despite his arrest in December on charges of producing a contro)led substance and possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, the Huron East man has no regrets that he took the time and effort to grow marijuana for treatment of his 85 -year- old mother's ailment. Feb. 12, 2003 Hundreds of Seaforth students were storm -stayed in both Seaforth and Clinton during last Tuesday's storm when all roads leading out of town were closed for most of the afternoon and evening. At Seaforth Public School, close to 100 bus students spent two hours in the gymnasium watching videos after school while staff used Sarah Morgan, owner of Hurley's Celtic Inn (the former Queen's Hotel) fought a county -wide smoking ban in public places last February. the three school telephone lines along with a few of the teachers' cellphones to call family and friends looking for a place where they could spend the night. Three out of seven Seaforth Junior Broomball teams brought home medals after participating in their annual provincial tournament near Barrie last weekend. Feb. 19, 2003 Sarah Morgan and Michael Hurley have big plans about restoring Seaforth's Queen's Hotel into the "grand lady she once was." But, they're afraid the proposed Huron County smoking bylaw, banning smoking in all public places and workplaces, will put them out of business before their dreams and hard work can pay off. They say they've collected close to 1,000 signatures from Seaforth patrons opposing a smoking ban in Huron. Huron East could be spending as much as $1 million on upgrades to thc water systems in Vanastra, Brussels and Brucefield, depending on whether or 'not the provincial and federal governments agree to contribute to all or any of the upgrades. Appointments at Seaforth Community Hospital went as scheduled last Thursday, even though OPSEU hospital 'employees across the province were walking the picket line in an illegal "day of action." Feb. 26, 2003 The uses and size of agricultural land were discussed Feb. 11 as Huron East council prepares to pass an official plan for the amalgamated municipality McKillop Coun. Ferg Kelly said he'd like to see the minimum size allowed for a farm to be 50 acres, opposed to the 94 acres proposed in the draft official plan. Minimum lot sizes for farms in Tuckersmith, McKillop and Grey ranged from 38 to 20 hectares. A provincial grant from thc Ministry of the Environment could turn a $15,00() study on Huron East and West Perth sinkholes into a -c detailed $100,000 study, says Alec Scott of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. Huron East council is considering whether or not to give itself a raise. With a document showing that Huron East councillors receive the second -lowest remuneration in Huron County, councillors Dave McElwain Hockey School shut down after ro years in 2003 March 5, 2003 The only way to prevent school Year in Review, 2003 closures is by rounding up like-minded candidates to run for the board of trustees election this coming fall, a concerned Charles Smith, Avon - Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) trustee (Huron Central) said. Two Perth County men are encouraging their fellow heart attack sufferers - more than 80,000 across Canada - not to give up in their pursuit of treatment. Both men - who asked not to be named - had heart attacks roughly five years ago and now, after undergoing a coronary angioplasty, feel they have been given a second chance at life. Farmers across Huron County are anxiously awaiting the release of the third Bill 81 draft, so that they can adapt their farm to new nutrient management plan regulations and move on. March 12, 2003 A request by the Seaforth Figure Skating Club for $9,500 towards a new $19,500 sound system for the Seaforth arena was deferred to budget deliberations at Huron East's March 4 meeting. Two days after the 16 -year-old won a gold medal for women's hockey Team Ontario at the Canada Winter Games on national television, assistant captain Leah Craig, of Egmondville, said the win is still "too big to grasp." Huron County council took advantage of the increase in property assessments to keep the tax rate increase minimal in their 2003 budget.' In fact, Huron will lower its tax rate by 5.36 per cent in each property class. After meeting with about 10 parents of children who attend Tuckersmith Day Nursery, Huron East Administrator Jack McLachlan has received 17 letters from parents concerned about rate increases at the daycare. March 19, 2003 For the first time in 10 years, there will be no Dave McLlwain hockey school in Seaforth. 'There's just too many factors in the mix. With staffing changes at both the school and arena level and Dave, signing a two-year contract in Germany, it's just not possible," said Graham Nesbitt, who organizes the school in partnership with McLlwain. Despite a petition from 24 residents of Raglan and John Streets in Dublin) West Perth municipal council deferred a decision on a zoning bylaw amendment for a Cronin Contractings. Former Seaforth Mayor Alf Ross was one of four Huron County residents to receive a Golden Jubilee medal from Huron -Bruce MPP Helen John in Godcrich. Even though March's below freezing temperatures have delayed the local maple syrup season, the 7th Annual Hibbert United Church Maple Syrup Festival will continue as planned. March 26, 2003 Huron East may soon have one fire chief instead of three. Within the next few weeks, Huron East's ncw fire survey committee plans to advise council to consider creating a new fire chief position to oversee administration for the municipality's three fire departments. Huron East will investigate buying thc Seaforth Public School property from the Avon Maitland District School Board. The land will be up for sale this June when Seaforth Public School relocates to the former Seaforth District High School building on Chalk Street. Huron County Federation of Agriculture (HCFA) members were chastised because their petition in opposition to the ncw agriculture policy framework (APF) shut down the House of Commons e-mail system. considered a proposal from Mayor Lin Steffler. Many spoke against her suggestion that councillors forgo a meeting allowance for 2003 and settle for a lump sum honorarium plus mileage. RLooking Glass 4 Main St., Seaforth 527-1783 +Reflexology - +Deep Muscle Therapy +Ear Candling +Reiki In Home Services Provided Gift certificates Available Jennifer McClinchey Cgpies usp._.rtes -opie& Available EkuAat or 11 Main St.Seaforth 527-0240 THE HURON EXPOSITOR, JANUARY 7, 2004-3 Recycle your unused items into cash CaII 527-0240 to advertise in the classifieds Want FREE oil chang=� Join the TMP Oil Change Club! Buy 3 oil changes and you'll -get the 4th oil change Free! With each service Oil Change Club Members also receive... FREE 25 Point Inspection FREE Exterior Wash FREE Interior Vacuum D�AKEI �pTE• OIL CHANGE CLUB MEMBERS OIL CHANGE $2495* Includes chassis lube, oil replacement with up to 5 litres of Quaker State 10W30 premium motor oil, oil filter replacement. 'For most domestic cars and Tight trucks (excludes diesel engines) - LIMITED TIME OFFER TEATERO 4ge- MOTOR PRODUCTS . = AUTOMOTIVE SALES & SERVICE 220 Main Street S. Seaforth 527-2291 THE FUTURE OF FUEL by Craig Nicholson (©2003 by Craig Nicholson. All rights reserved.) Last winter. I discovered a whole new way of touring. thanks to new engine technology. I rode Ski -Doo snowmobiles equipped with the 4 -TEC V1000 four-stroke motor and others with their new Semi -Direct Injection (SDI) two-stroke power plant. I also tncd thc new Genesis Extreme four- stroke that drives the new Yamaha RX I. While each of these engines has slightly different performance charactenstics, they shared three major com- monalities based on my testing: strong power, good reliability and incredi- ble gas mileage — fuel efficiency that I believe will transform the way we ride. I know it has already changed mine... It started at the gas pump, where my cost was anywhere from S5 to S15 less per day of riding, depending on what sleds I was measuring against. Over my 12.000 km of riding, this saved Inc over $350 for the season. or to look al another way, paid for lunch every day! But that's not all. With up to a third greater distance capacity per tank, 1 never had to worry about running out of gas for two reasons. One, there was usually an "old technology" sled with us that would always need gas long before me. Two. most developed trail systems are designed to access gas based on "old technology" distances; so even in those remote areas where the distance between stops might previously have been chancy, I always made it with fuel to spare. While mountain riding on "old technology" sleds, I really began to appreciate what greater fuel efficiency will mean for extended nde dura- tion. The same goes for any back country riding destination where there arc no fuel stops on the snow — every percentage point of better fuel efficien- cy means more play time. Thai will give riders the capability of travelling even further away from civilization, so a full jerry can and the "one third out, one third play and one third back" rule will be more important than ever. Less gas consumption may have other. unintended implications for our entire industry. On one tour, 1 discovered that two small town gas stations previously open each winter had closed. Both were because the sole propri- etor couldn't make enough money from selling gas prior to the impact of more fuel efficient sleds; profit margins were simply too low. If closures like these became any kind of trcnd with the ncw engines, snowmobilin)' could suffer, because most sled fill -ups occur in rural areas like these. So now factor in snowmobilcrs who have to stop for gas less frequently It is likely that our travel pattems will change such that fewer fill -ups will occur at those remote gas stations between major stopping points. 1 know that 1 was able to skip many previously mandatory fuel stops this season. So what will happen over the next five years, as most riders switch to new technology engines? Fewer gas stations will get more of the business. and I predict more rural closures will result. As for the four-stroke vs. two-stroke debate, I think there's probably room for both in our sport. The Yamaha Genesis Extreme is already an excellent performer that will only get better with evolution, and 1 was also impressed with Ski-Doo's 4 -TEC V1000 for trail touring. But the sleeper of 2003 may well be the Ski -Doo SDI technology, whose introduction was largely overshadowed by all that REV hullabaloo. Those NO SDI engines are as smooth and powerful as they come and the new -for -2004 600 H.O. SDI's should be a perfect combo of thrust and savings. One thing for sure: snowmobiling has taken a quantum leap forward that will really cut down on both emissions and consumption — and that can only help ensure our survival on the snow. Until next time remember that snowmobilers care about the environment too. For the Tour Planner and Trail Condition Reports check out www.ofsc.on.ca and look under Trails. O Craig Nicholson is a contributor to Snow Goer, Canada's Snowmohiling Magazine. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author. lebh Craig takes o bite of her Team Ontario gold medal In March, 2003. r USE TRAIL AT YOUR OWN RISK • YOU roust know and obey the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act (Ont.) • YOU must use caution at all times • Emergency and cell phone service r may not be available k EVERYBODY'S DOIN' 1T 1-d00. Engineered For The Way You Ride 'SALES •SERVICE •ACCESSORIES 1 1/4 Miles North of Seaforth 527-0120 j POLARIS' rh• way otrt. SNOWMOBILES ACCESSORIES SALES & SERVICE POOLS & SPORTS 234 Main St., Seaforth 527-0104 Your ARCTIC CAT Sledquarters Snowmobiles & ATVs Sales & Service Parts & Accessories ARCTIC CAT' What Snowmobiing's All About '" Pik PERTH COUNTY LINE 44 SNOWMOBILE COUNTRY URODHAOEN 345-2248, *YAMAHA ARCTIC FOR ALL YOUR. SNOWMOBILE NEEDS! .... , ....t ..