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Times-Advocate, 1985-01-09, Page 1504 PER COPY For at least one year Kirkton Garden Party will take hiatus Area residents who have been in the habit of heading to Kirkton on the third Wednesday of July each year for the past 40 years will have to change their plans this summer. At a recent meeting. officials of the Kirkton Community Association decided to shut down the very popular Kirkton Garden Party for at least one year. Lee Paul who is the only charter member of the executive is quick to add "The party is not dead. It could start up again." Paul in explaining the decision to close for now said, "Most people at the annual meeting thought it was time to slow down a little. It is getting more and more difficult to get enough help for the various jobs including help in the food booths." The Garden Party originated in 1945 by an idea put forth by the late Dr. C.A. Campbell has had the samt basic format for all of the 40 years it was in existence. 1t started with a ball game and was followed by an - amateur program that usually featured close to 20 top performers from the area and concluded with an excellent professional cast. Lee Paul has been responsible for _ getting .the_ professional talent each year and with his connections in the entertainment field has been able to come up with topnotch talent each year. MALE CABBAGE PATCHERS — Shown with their Cabbage Patch dolls at Friday's skating party at the South Huron Rec Centre are Michael Coalman, Joey Bierling and Jacob Weber. T -A photo Included in the professional shows over the years have been Gordie Tapp, the Haymes Sisters. the Allen Sisters, Joey Hollingworth, Peter Glenn, the Mercy Brothers, Al C'herney and Tommy Hunter and the Rhythm Pals appeared for the 20th anniversary. Probably one of the most popular comedians to travel to Kirkton each July was Billy Meek and he was a fre- quent visitor including the last show in 1984. A couple of years ago Gayle Johnston of London was a part of the professional show. She was also in the amateur contest many years earlier as Gayle Atwell. A number of youngsters who par- ticipated in the amateur show have stayed loyal to the Garden Party over the years. Grace Ross who sang as Grace Collier has been on• the amateur talent show committee for a number of years and last year's presi- dent Ken-- Blackler--was-once a participant. The weatherman has been an ally g the Kirkton Garden Party for all but one of the 40 years. A number of Ames Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One Hundred and Twelfth Year years back heavy rains during the day forced organizers to move the FOND MEMORIES —, Leon Paul, the only charter member of the Kirkton Community Association checks over some of the Kirkton Gorden Party programs during the 40 years of the event. Association officials decided recently to suspend operations for one year. T -A photo show to the St. Marys District Collegiate. Paul said the help of area residents was tremendous in keeping the par- ty going for 40 years. He added, "It always amazed me how everybody would pitch in. John Ulch would transport planks from area lumber firms and up went the seating." At the inception of the garden par- ty. a very flat stage was erected in front of the grandstand. A year or two later the present permanent stage was built including dressing rooms. Paul said the party owes a debt of gratitude to the secretaries who have been so helpful over the years. Mrs. Ross Marshall was the first secretary. Ann Wilson followed with about 25 years of service and Marion Urquhart has held the position for a number of years up to the present time. Proceeds from the Kirkton Garden Party have provided support for a large number of area organizations. The park across the road from e Community Centre was established by the Kirkton Community Associa- Please turn to page 2 dvocate & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, January 9, 1985 Price Per Copy 50 Cents DI.L union employees take cut Union employees at Dashwood In: 1ustries have agreed to wage conces- `sions in a new three-year labor agree- ment ratified, Monday, in.a move that both company. and union spokesmen see as necessary to ensure the viabili- ty of the company and its jobs. In the last of three votes taken on a new contract, the members of local 3054 of the United Brotherhood of - Carpenters and Joiners of America agreed to an eight percent roll -back that will result in decreases of 70 cents to $1.00 per hour for the first year of the pact. The employees will get a four per- cent boost in the second year and ap- proximately six percent in the third and final year. Monday's vote was 136-94 in favor of the new agreement. Mike Shurety. president of Dashwood Industries. said the com- pany has been operating for some years in a depressed and difficult housing market: He said -wage rates at the firm have historically been the best in the area and higher than its compet it ion. "Higher wage rates have been making Dashwood uncompetitive at a time when the difficult conditions were making the market cut-throat," he said. The situation had been explained to the employees and he said their action to take a decrease in pay "once again showed the excellent attitude of the employees and relations with the trade union". "The ratifications of the new agree- ment clears the way for Dashwood to start the new year with an excellent spirit," he explained. Accordingly, about 170 employees are being recalled immediately with the likelihood of more being recalled in the coming weeks. All hourly rated employees had been laid off prior to Christmas and there had been.naindication of when any recalls would be made. Shurety said the ongoing viability of the firm was in question without a return to reasonable wage rates. i Union business representative --Adam Salvona said that he believed the company was coming through a strenuous economic strain and "our backs were up against the wall". "You can't gamble with those kind of jobs," he said in reference to the Enthusiasm mounts for week's activities Enthusiasm continues to mount for the program being initiated by Exeter council to celebrate Local Govern- ment Week front January 14-19. The town trivia contest which has been published in this newspaper has drawn considerable interest and most members of council indicated this week they were hard-pressed to pro- vide answers to some of the quest ions. "Thank goodness for Joe Woo den's history took." commented I/eputy- Reeve Lossy Fuller. Mayor Bruce Shaw said he had received several telephone calls from citizens seeking his help in answering some of the trivia. "They- think 1 know the answers." he exclaimed in a man- ner that suggested some of thein stumped him. The Mayor said he received onclicall from a former town resident from Sarnia wanting the names of current employees as they constitute some oI the questions in the quiz He also advised that his students al SIIDHS would be engaging in some activities to mark the week. including a mock council al which the students will be deliberating some of the cur- rent. past and future issues being fac- ed by the municipal council. That program is slated for January 15. Councillor Dorothy Chapman said it would be embarrassing if the students came up with lx iter answers to some of the issues then council members. She urged all members to par- ticipate in the activities. which will in- clude a shuttle bus tour of all the town's facilities as well as a video pro- gram to be aired on the local cable TV station. Reeve Bill Mickle said Exeter's program had been given many favorable comments by some of his cohorts on Huron County council. He advised that Exeter is the only municipality in the county planning special programs to mark Local Government Week. "Good." responded Councillor Tom Ilumphreys. "No, that's not good." replied Coun- cillor Gaylan Josephson. lamenting the fact Exeter is the only municipali- ty showing interest in the week to highlight the work of local governments. Humphreys agreed with that contention. ramutucatlons that were possible -through not accepting the company's suggestion that a roll -back was necessary. Some 300 to 350 jobs were involved. Salvona said from his Exeter office yesterday that he would have prefer- red a two-year agreement and he had "very, very mixed feelings" over the new agreement. He said the roll -back will reduce the starting wage to about $7.00 per hour and the top stale is now $12.20. The first vote taken on a new con- tract was declared illegal when the ballot box was opened before the voting was complete. A second ballot resulted in a vote against the contract, but that was primarily due to the fact employees recognized the first offer as being bet- ter than the one on which they voted in the second ballot. Some language changes were also HOCKEY ON THE ROAD - Friday was an ideal day for road hockey on the street at Norwood village. From the left are Tom Rolph, Jamie Ralph, Gary Edwards and Jeff Hannah. T -A photo Huronview renovations surprise county council The possibility of spending millions of dollars in renovations to Huron - view, home• for the aged. over the next few years came as a complete surprise to at least some members of Huron County Council. Draft sketches of possible interior changes to the 32 -year-old building 'were presented to county council at its Jan. 3 meeting by Huronview ad- minstrator Wayne Lester. "This comes as a complete sur- prise." said Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston. He had asked several of his col- leagues and they too said the -plan to renovate Iluronview was pew to them too. "I've been'out beating the bushes telling municipal councils that we can afford the 1 Huron County Pioneer i museum." said the reeve who added That the county has to outsider how much money the Huronview renova- tions in total could cost the county. Lester said the renovations were no surprise. but added that nothing is definite. The "dream" is to change YOUTH DONATE TO HOSPITAL -- The youth Sunday School class of Elimville United Churr,Whas donated three pictures to the chapel of South Huron Hospital. Back, left, otherine Johns. Brad Skinner. AI'Pym, Glenn Grubb and teacher Howard Pym. Front, hospital Chaplain Rev. Cheryl Ashick-Englert, Ape Wilkinson, Lori Kerslake, Joan Cooper, Steve Wilkinson and-4e6cher Shirley Wilkinson. the facility from four -bed wards to two=bed rooms with more toileting privacy. In the acute care wings of the 310 -bed home. residents use , a washroom with eight to ten sinks and toilets lined up beside each other The Huronview administrator said a $19.000 feasibility study approved last year by both county council and the ministry of community and social services was carried out.lty Snider. Reichard and March or/Kitchener. The plans aren't fico hed and not cost estimates are available. The ad- ministrator estimated the cost of the renovations would be'about $2 or $3 million. if in the future, approval is given to the renovations of Huron - view. the county will be expected to pay 50 percent or half the costs. The board of management authorized Mr. Lester to put capital money into the home's 1985 budget. The adminstrator said he might want about $500.000 a year for five years Please turn to page 2 Lacking what? Councillor Ben Hoogenbxom was congratulated by fellow members. Monday, for being a new father. Mayor Bruce Shaw led in some friendly barbs that hack -fired in his direction. "At your age. you have more guts than i have," Shaw commented in reference to Hoogenboom's growing family. "Or something else" came a quick response aimed at the Mayor's sug- gestion that he lacked only guts to duplicate Hoogentoom's effort. presented in the contract that was presented for the third ballot. Salvona said that under the new agreement, employees will get im- proved dental pian benefits. County workers get four percent Four percent is the top percentage increase for Huron County employees this year and a past warden says that at a time when job security is impor- tant, county employees have "good job security". At the January session, county council approved "a maximum four percent guideline be -established for setting 1985 salaries". "That might not mean a large in- crease to some," said 1982 warden Grant Stirling. However, he emphasized the job security enjoyed by county employees. The four percent -figure. raised a few questions from county councillors. Exeter Reeve Bill (\tickle asked if the four percent meant a total in- crease or whether it meant four per- cent plus a schedule increase. Warden Paul Steckle said the four percent would be above the schedule or grid increase. Clerk -treasurer Bill Hanly explain- ed that ".2 of one percent" of the county employees would receive a grid increase. Some employees are at the top of their salary grid. For exam- ple. every department head is al the top of his schedule. There was also a question raised by several reeves concerning the $3.900 added to the clerk and deputy-cleak's salaries to replace finder's fees. Warden Paul Steckle said the $3,900 would not be part of the Iwo employees' salaries of. 1985. However. he said it could become part of their salaries in 1986. This means for 1985. the four per- cent increase will not bean the $:1,910 Reeve Mickle pointed out that if the $3,900 is nol part of the wage package it is a bonus and can he eliminated. "It's there for now." said Warden Steck le. • German pair settle in B.C. . A German couple. thwarted in their attempt to locate their dental techni- cian business in Exeter due to provin- cial regulations. are locating in British Columbia. in a letter to Reeve Rill Mickle. chairman of the local economic development committee. LJdo and Brigitte Wolkopf said they would be moving to B.C. early this year after disposing of their -business in Germany The couple visited in Exeter to con- . sider establishing their business here after they met w•ilhMick le and Mayor 13ruceShaw during that duo's promo- tional trip to Germany two years ago. i)uring their visit here. the Wolkopfs indicated a desire 1n locate in Exeter However. due to provincial regula- tion prompted by lobbying from den- latlechnicians, the couple would have had to he residents of Ontario for five years before they could start their own business. Exeter officials attempted to get the Ontario government to change the policy. and while there were some en - couraging signs in that direction. it hasn't happened in time. "We are very sorry that it was not possible - despite all your efforts on our behalf. dear. Bill - to settle dawn in Exeter." they wrote.