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Times-Advocate, 1996-01-24, Page 4Publisher & mor: Jim Beckett Business Manager. Don t,ith Production Mar: ,Oeb dam; Barb Corwin. Chad Eedy /!101w Heather Mir, t2ds Skalkos, Ross Haugh, (3renda Burks &Wei tv Alma Baltantyne, Maty McMurray, Bath Robertson Brenda Hem, Joyoe Weber, Laurel Miner Trehaportatioq: Al Flynn. Ai Hodgen Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollktgs, Ruthanne Negrljn, Mita McDonald, Casale Dalrymple The Exeter Times-4dvocate is a member of a family of community newspapers providing news, advertising and information leadenship • • inion Public.tlons Mall Registration Number 0386 r.y. Si1BSCRIPTION RATES: CANADA Within 40 a$$es (65 km.) addressed to non letter carder addresses 633.00 plus 62.31 Q.S.T. Outside 40 miss (65 km.) or any letter carrier address 633.00 plus $30.00 (totpl 63.00) + 4.310.3.T. Outside Canada 699.00 plus 66.93 OST (includes $66.40 postage) Published Each Wednesday Morning at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 186 by 1.W. Eedy PubMcatlons Ltd. Telephone 1-819238.1331 • Fax: 1116-23101766 0.s.T! #R1052106ii F> ortunately for Exeter the mayor and majority of our councilors are able to distinguish the difference between not spending taxpayers' money and rec- ognizing an opportunity when it is pre- sented. The decision to enter into a 50-50 partnership with the Exeter Business Association to purchase the former mu- nicipal building from the federal gov- ernment is a refreshing departure from the "cut cut cut" news coming from vir- tually every level of political office in the province. . The building, which has served as Ex- eter's municipal office for approxi- mately 20 years, is sitting vacant after the town moved into the newly - renovated and expanded Olde Town Hall. Indications are the federal govern- ment will offer the property to the town of Exeter at a more attractive price than would be asked if it is placed on the open market. Originally there was little interest as council felt they were not in 1..1)I 1 ()Ili 11.ti Seize the opportunity the real estate business. But some coun- cilors felt there was an opportunity for the town to take advantage of what could be an excellent value. The Business Association also became involved and a Streetscape Committee was formed under the chairmanship of John Wuerth. Council voted Jan. 15 to enter into an agreement with the Busi- ness Association that will see each side invest up to a maximum of $30,000 to demolish the building and work towards establishing a parking lot and parkette. Both groups also hope to involve one or more community organizations to join the partnership to work toward completing the project. It is expected to cost about $10,000 to demolish the building, dispose of the as- bestos in the structure and level the property. John Wuerth said the opportunity is too good to lose. "We can't afford not to buy it," he emphasised. We agree. v v1 BIA expresses thanks for kind comments The Exeter Business Association works within a budget, part of which is desig- nated esignated for'beautifcation efforts in our town.... Dear Editor: On behalf of our membership I wish to express our thanks to Mrs. MacGregor for her very kind comments regarding the beauty of our town. While store owners have spent considerable amounts of their own money to improve the appearance of their buildings and provided the flower boxes at their own expense, the Lion's Club worked diligently to raise the necessary funds for McNaughton Park and the Town of Exeter put extra effort into their gar- dens this past summer as did many homeowners. The Exeter, Business Association works within a budget, part of which is designated for beautifica- tion efforts in our town. As is the case with every business and family, we strive to make each dollar stretch as far as possible and the new parking lot project is one example of the kind of thinking that 1) sees each project as multiple use and 2) encour- ages other organizations to participate so that Exeter can gain significant benefit without any one organi- zation exceeding ever -shrinking budgets. Although the property is currently owned by the Federal gov- ernment, once the sale is completed, the parking lot will solve what has become an increasing problem in our town as our storefronts fill tp near. cipacity - parking. While this could be described as a good problem if one must have problems, it is one which requires resolution if we are to encourage Exeter residents and tourists alike to shop and visit. An- other problem we have faced is the lack of a suitable outdoor location downtown for inexpensive festival - type events - art displays, mini concerts or chil- dren's shows for instance. Our parking lot will pro- vide us with an off-street location of appropriate size without the necessity of disrupting traffic. Ad- ditionally the property will be fronted by a beautiful greenspace, full ,of greenery all year 'round and flowers in the summer for all to enjoy. The project will involve a minimum of three or- ganizations and we hope that this partnership, creat- ed by financial necessity but one we will all enjoy working through together, will set an example which will be duplicated many times in the future as we all work toward the betterment of our communi- ty. While the parking lot, in and of itself, is not a "money-maker" the economic spinoffs enjoyed by a town that has encouraged beautification efforts are numerous - businesses wishing to locate and commit long-term to a town, tourists finding a lovely spot to recommend and families who perhaps work in larg- er centres but choose to live in a community that is obviously caring, involved and thriving. Karen L. Brown, Manager BIA By Eric Dowd TORONTO -- Bob Rae's resignation as Onta- rio New Democrat leader has prompted a flood of regrets, but it was the only way his party could get on with its real business. The former premier has been praised lavishly by friends and even some foes for his intelli- gence, wit and personal integrity. Many had predicted he would stay and fight another elec- tion because he had shown vigor and enthu- siasm as well as his noted debating skills in re- suming his opposition role after being defeated in the June election. But Rae invariably performs well in the leg- islature and puts effort into everything he does and there never was a chance he would stay. He was in the legislature as opposition leader from 1982 until winning the 1990 election. If he stayed, he would have had to suffer through the grind of being an opposition leads er, often called the worst JO in politics, unim- portant and difficult to accept for someone who has tasted real power, for at least four years beforegetting a chance to win another election in 1999. The only other defeated premiers in recent years, Progressive Conservative Frank Miller and Liberal David Peterson, both found staying on in opposition unappealing. Miller also was pushed and Peterson lost his seat. Voters also have vivid memories of Rae's government and its huge deficits and despite their recent volatility are highly unlikely to re- verse themselves so thoroughly that they will elect the NDP in 1994. So Rae realistically would have had to aim more at winning an election in 2003, after eight years in opposition, five years as premier and eight more years in opposition, 21 years in all in the legislature. At the end of this be would have had difficul- ty escaping big seen as yesterday's man. It was just too discouraging a prospect to contem- plate. Rae probably could have stayed as leader without serious challenge for a while, because t.- It's a new year, full of oppor- tunities to make lifestyle chang- es and among the most common resolutions for many is the chal- lenge to quit smoking. According to the Huron -Perth Lung Association studies indi- cate as many as 90 per cent of regular smokers would like to quit and most have already made attempts to do so. Many of the new smokers in society are women, especially young women and teenagers. According to the Lung Associa- tion, 23 per cent of all Ontario teenagers smoked regularly in 1993. The average age of start- ing to smoke is between 12 and 14 years. The average female population of daily smokers aged 15 to 19 is about 20 per cent (1994) and many more are occasional smokers. In Huron County the Lung As- sociation estimates at least 23 per cent of the general popula- tion smokes. But data from many studies tend to underesti- Stop smoking mate the true prevalence of young female and teenage smokers in Ontario. A different study shows fol- lowing a decline in daily smok- ing among women over the age of 20 until 1993, rates sharply increased. Women smokers in- creased from 18 per cent in 1993 to 23 per cent in 1994 and 25 per cent last year. A key goal of the Ontario To- bacco Strategy is to eliminate smoking among pregnant wom- en by the year 2000. According to data from the 1990 Ontario Health Survey, the rate of smok- ing among pregnant women was approximately 17 per cent. As well as increasing infertility, smoking is a cause of low birth weight. Women who stop smoking before pregancy or ear- ly in pregnancy reduce their risk of having a low birth weight baby as well as other pregancy problems. The lung association offers a wide selection of material to help people kick the habit in- cluding Get On Track, a self- help smoking cessation guide full of information and encour- aging tips. The guide helps peo- ple through the steps of quitting smoking. By outlining potential problems and offering strategies to cope with withdrawal symp- toms. It's never too late to stop smoking and still gain health benefits. Smokers who quit im- prove their risk of heart disease by half within one year. Fifteen years after quitting, a person's risk of death from smoking- related diseases is the same as someone who never smoked. More that 45,000 Canadians die each year from tobacco - related cancers and smoking is the number one presentable cause of death and serious ill- ness in Canada. The cost of health care for people suffering from preventa- ble illness in turn creates a bur- den on our health care system. NDP gets on with real business he has strong support in his own party and the icing of having his performance applauded con- stantly by many outside. But he would have known that, if he stayed, it would have hindered the NDP in getting on with its real job. This is to rebuild after its election loss, heal deep wounds in the party created by his actions in government and find policies more suited to a time when people want less spending and in- tervention by governments. Rae is anathema to many who traditionally supported the NDP par- ticularly because he broke union contracts and cut public sector workers' pay. Rae did only what was needed and should have done it earlier, but many Nmernbers of public sector unions and sympathizers refused to vote and work for him in the election be- cause of it. Rae annoyed other New its by aban- doning promises to provide publid auto insu- rau a and keep stores closed on Sundays and many of his critics in the patty were still saying nasty things about him up to the moment he announced he was leaving. But they also now are recognizing that Pre- mier Mike Harris's Tories with their drastic cuts of funding and many thousands of jobs throughout the public sector will hurt them much more than anything Rae ever did -- Rae dealt a mere slap on the wrist compared to Har- ris's knee in the groin. They will be looking for ways to return to the NDP fold and get immersed in fighting the Tories again and while Rae remained leader this was a huge obstacle, because he was the symbol of everything the NDP government did and the day the party turned its back on them. Rae will probably be succeeded by one of his former ministers, such as Frances Lankin or David Christopherson, who were part of the cabinet that approved the offending policies. But they did not stamp their names all over them the way Rae did and this will make it eas- ier for many New Democrats to come back without losing face.'