Times Advocate, 1996-12-23, Page 28Page 28 Times -Advocate, December 23, 1996
IT'S
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The tills ring for some area
merchants this holiday season
EXETER - Christmas is gener-
ally the best time of the year for
local business owners, however,
some found this year's shopping
season had mixed results.
Junior mass merchant Bob Ge-
han, owner of Stedmans on Main
Street, said sales are down slight-
ly even though his store hours
have increased compared to last
year.
"I'ye been open till 9 p.m. eve-
ry night since Nov. 11, but the
competition (from London and
Goderich) has affected me," said
Gehan.
Tom Hartai, owner of Thomas
H. Fine Menswear said sales are
comparable to last year, but he's
still waiting for the last minute
Christmas shoppers.
"It hasn't been fantastic and it's
not lousy," said Hartai.
Jos and Jantina Bervoets, of
Four Seasons Jewellery, say the
shopping season has been good to
them so far.
"Jewellery is always popular at
Christmas, obviously it's our best
time of the year," said Jos.
Jantina added a majority of
their customers seem to come in
during the last week of December
due to a trend she sees every year.
"The ladies come in early to
pre -pick what they want and the
guys come in to buy it at the last
minute," she said.
The Boyds Bear Collection is
the hot item at Country Trench -
tions and according to owner
Marilyn Waldyke, sales are up
compared to last year. This is
partly due to an open house she
participated in with other local
business owners on Nov. 17.
"The open house was very suc-
cessful. It brought a lot of differ-
ent people into the store," she
said.
Rick and Derek McGee, owners
of Sound Advice are the new kids
on the block and haven't ex-
perienced a Christmas season
since they opened their store last
summer. But if this year's sales
are any indication, the month of
December will be very good to
them.
"We're selling a variety of
items. Anything from walkmans
to full home entertainment sys-
tems," said Rick.
Cellular phones are also pop -
War items in his store right now
and so are VCR's and CD
players.
"There's a full range of items
going out the door, it seems like
shoppers want a little bit of every-
thing, " said Rick who credits
most of his Christmas sales to re-
turning customers. "Consumers
are price sensitive today but you
still have to provide a high level
of service," he added.
Tom Seip, Exeter Business As-
sociation chairperson said he has
heard a wide variety of comments
from area merchants about the
shopping season.
"It's been widespread. Some
say it's been good.,.some say it's
not that good," he said, adding
it's still too early to tell because
last-minute shoppers have another
day to hit the stores.
According to some merchants,
boxing day last year was their
biggest sales day and this year
may be the same.
The E3A has encoura8pd local
businesses to keep the same store
hours over the shopping season
and most of them have complied.
"We want to maintain the same
store hours so we can make a
bigger impression and let con-
sumers know Exeter is open for
Christmas," said Seip adding eve-
ry store has one common ob-
jective this time of year. "We're
all trying to 'capture as many
shoppers as we can."
God Bies
Holiday wishes to you and yours
this Christmas season.
We so greatly appreciate your business
and friendship. Many thanks.
Funeral Directors
Bill Haskett and Dan Houle
Exeter Ont. (519) 235-1220
Stop Smoking Program
for Women
in Huron County
P'
• Quit or Reduce Smoking
• Learn to Cope with Stress
• Improve your Health
• Meet New Friends
• Gain Support
• Feel Good About Yourself'
Childcare and Transportation Provided
Exeter Sessions
Start January 21st, 7:00 p.m.
Call: Ruth Cooper
Clinton - 482-3416
( long distance 1-800-265-5184)
Sponsored by H.a th Canada and
Huron County Atitan Group on Women and Smoking
Happy holiday wishes to all
our wonderful customers. We
have enjoyed serving you in
the past and look forward to
seeing you again next year.
e r ry Mathers
rvPEwinrins
92 Main St. 235-1840 Exeter
OFFICE EQUIPMENT 8 FURNITURE
Sales and Service
Catholic Board reaches contrast
agreement with teachers
MIDDLESEX - The London and
Middlesex County Roman Catholic
School Board has reached a new
contract agreement with its nearly
1,000 teachers, members of
O.E.C.T.A. (Ontario English Cath-
olic Teachers Association) and
A.E.F.O. (Association des Enseig-
nants et des Enseignantes Franco-
Ontariens). The agreement, ratified
by the teachers last week, was ap-
proved by trustees Monday night at
the Board's regular meeting. The
agreement is a three year deal, ret-
ro -active to September of 1995 and
expiring August 31, 1998.
The agreement calls for full resto-
ration, by September of 1997, of
salary increments that were lost by
teachers over the course of the
three year Social Contract, which
expired on March 31, 1996. The
cost of this restoration is complete-
ly covered by changes to the collec-
tive agreement.
The contract provides no increas-
es in salary over the term of the
contract and allows the Board to in-
crease class size and the P.T.R. (pu-
pil teacher ratio). There will also be
a realignment of the Principal and
Vice -Principal time devoted to ad-
ministration. The changes result in
21 fewer elementary teacher posi-
tions and 11 fewer secondary teach-
er positions, however, these adjust-
ments will not result in any teacher
layoffs.The reduction in the num-
ack in Time...
By Ross Haugh from the archives of
the Exeter Times Advocate
10 YEARS AGO
December 24, 1986 - The Exeter Golf and Country Club operated
for the past 25 years by Allan and Hazel Westcott has been sold.
The new owners are Ron Bileski and Andy Byrne. Bileski and his
wife Shirley are currently pro managers of the Dryden Golf and
Curling Club. Byrne is currently pro manager of the Cambridge
Golf and Curling Club.
McLarty Solar Fabricating will be relocating from Ailsa Craig to a
1,400 square metre building in Strathroy's east -end Industrial Park.
Santa Claus was busy most of the day before Christmas pumping
gas at the A&K Service Centre, south of Exeter on Highway 4.
25 YEARS AGO
December 22, 1971 - Work started Monday on the traffic control
signals for the intersection f Mein and Sanders Streets in Exeter.
Works superitttendt GI nn ells to]d'counfil Monda$'night that
th project &rmid not‘Wcoriipldredlintil laie Feb sty bee' use some
parts could not be obtained rigilt now,
3S YEAR AGO
December 21, 1961 - Mr. and Mrs. Norman Norry who have been
caretakers at the Exeter Legion Hall since it was erected 10 years
ago will retire at the end of the year.
Mrs. Douglas Parsons, Edward Street won the first prize of $200
in Exeter merchants' final "Share Christmas" draw. Runner-up and
winner of $100 was Miss Lily Greb, also of town.
Exeter Legion delivered over 50 food parcels to families in the
area during the yuletide season.
Paul Wilson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Wilson was Premier of
Older Boys' Parliament staged at the theatre building of Middlesex
College at the University of Western Ontario last week.
40 YEARS AGO
December 24, 1956 - Rosemary Dobson of Kirkton starred in the
SHDHS Commencement variety show Thursday and Friday with
her dance, "Street Scene in Paris".
Wolf Cubs of First Centralia RCAF Seonee Pack sang carols at
South Huron Hospital on Friday evening.
50 YEARS AGO
December 21, 1946 - After 21 years of service with the Bell Tele-
phone at Exeter, Mr. George Lawson has retired and the occasion
was marked with a banquet at the Central Hotel.
Seven extra employees have been required to handle Christmas
mail at the local post office.
The first meeting in the new Pentecostal Church was held in the
basement which is now in use for meetings. The meeting was in
charge of the Young People with Norman Jolly of UWO as speaker.
75 YEARS AGO
December 23, 1921 - Messrs. W.D. Sanders and E.J. Shapton at-
tended the the U.F.O. Conference in Toronto last week.
John Hunkin gave a shooting match this week. W.F.Sanders and
Mr. Hunkin were top shots with 10 points each.
On Saturday and Sunday this district experienced a heavy rain fol-
lowed by a severe wind storm. On Wednesday there was a heavy
snow storm.
100 YEARS AGO
December 24, 1896 - In Dashwood, C. Fritz has removed to the
Hartleib Block one door west of Paulin and Rannie's Hardware
Store. New stock,. Everything to keep your feet warm. Prices are
right.
Goderich offers exemption from taxes for ten years to any person
who will erect and run a fifty barrel grist mill within the municipali-
ty.
•
Just what you wanted. Teeth extracted without any pain or sick-
ness, or any bad effects, such as poisoned gums and swollen faces,
at Kinsman's dental rooms on the west side of Main Street in Exet-
er.
ll OM MI MI - NO Ei AME it IA ilii ■
a
TR
DISCOUNT
DAiLY DOuBLES
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1.�
ber of teaching positions will be
handled totally through attrition.
The contract also calls for the
continuation of the early retirement
incentive plan approved by the
Board last spring. There is a job se-
curity provision in the agreement
for current staff, however, this se-
curity would not apply in cases
where, because of budget con-
straints, the Board decides to dis-
continue programs that result in a
reduction of students, and would
not apply in the case where there
are legislative changes at the pro-
vincial level.
OECTA Middlesex Unit Presi-
dent, Sheila Brescia said, "Follow-
ing the legacy of the Social Con-
tract and in light of the current
Hest GIG Rate
5.75%
5 yrs
as of Dec. 19/96
Aft'
INVCBTMRNT8
4-2773 r • . . h 1-500- : 5503
economic and political climate, ,the
teachers approved the negotiated
agreement as the best possible solu-
tion at this time."
Catholic Board projects budget
surplus for 1996 t [.
For the first time in many yi,Szs
the Catholic Board will complete a
fiscal year without a defi-
cit.Superintendent of Business, 'rlim
Hardy, announced to Trustees to-
night (Monday) that the late:at pro-
jects show the Board will finish
1996 with a surplus of almost
$872,000.
r
t_.
o-
GIC I RSP
1 Yr. - 3.70%
3 yr. - 4.75%
5 yr. - 5.50%
Segregated Funds
1 YR. - 24.71%
3YR. -11.18
A Christmas Prayer
May the holy light of the Christmas
Season shine on us and bring peace to
our hearts.
The Residents & Staff at
Queensway Nursing and
Retirement Home extend greetings
and appreciation at this
Joyous Christmas Season
Mem
i
thanks
for your support over
the past year.
Best wishes for a
Happy Holiday Season
Staff & Students of
Lucan Public School
Biddulph Central School
A•,`
I
utI
I
•
Cs Christmas
Here's hoping your stockings
are filled with all of your
favorite things.
We appreciated your patronage in 1996
and look forward to serving you in 1997
From the staff at
G.L. Slaght
Plumbing, Heating and Sheet
Metal
Call 234-6381
•A
4
4
est uletid
Wishes!
Merry Christmas from all the
staff at our Exeter & Hensall
locations
TireCanadian Imperial Bank
Tire
of Commerce
•
•
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44 Themes Rd. E. Exeter
(Reside Selp's salts -mart)
235-1050
all 119 Karg St.
2-2920