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Clinton News-Record, 1985-1-9, Page 1ST __.. .._ LE �IEORPC➢FiA'��I�G-THE E��,Y`TH AB.1�.I��RIi►-`�'�IE�3�1'YFIE9-.D BUGLE WEEKLY WEATHER HER Jan. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Snow Rain WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1985 1984 1 5 2 -4 -11 -1 -6 -2 -6 -4 -7 -2 -5 -1 -12 1 -4 0 -7 1 . -3 0 -5 0 -4 0 4 -6 - 2} 4 cm 26 cm 10 mm 120TH YEAR -NO.2 Town hall costs "Not as horrendous as we thought," Mayor says He arrived on the scene earlier than expected, but little Brian Nicholas Neutal has the distinction of being the New Yea'r's Baby in Clinton, and the first born in Huron County. While four anticipated New Year arrivals went overdue, Brian was born, at Clinton Public Hospital at 3:31 a.m. on January 1. Dr. Peter Salsbury delivered By Shelley McPhee CLINTON, - Mayor Chester Archibald says that final cost figures on the town hall - library complex have been tallied, but they will not be released until February. Mayor Archibald told council that the auditor is currently tabulating the town's financial report and assessing its position for debenturing a portion of the town hall - library complex Costs. The debenture amount will not be made public until mid-February. However, in in- dicating the financial status of the town hall - library complex, Mayor Archibald noted, "I had more sleepless nights than necessary. That's all I can say at the moment. I wasn't happy, but not as unhappy as I might have been." The mayor added, "The final figures look horrendous, but not as horrendous as we thought it might be." • In discussing 1985 budgets and financing, Clerk. Cam Proctor warned council that Clinton has the highest mill rate in the coun- the 5 lb. 14 oz. healthy baby boy. Parents, Mary Ann and John Neutal of Vanastra are thrilled with the new addition to their fami- ly and brother and sister, Christopher and Tricia are equally intri- gued with their redheaded little brother. (Shelley McPhee photo ) Celebratinghistory in style Goderich Township kicks off sesquicentennial Approximately 275. people attended the Goderich Township Sesquicentennial Levee held January 1. The council members who sponsored the event were especially pleased with the turnout on such an icy day. People - from Orangeville, St. Marys, Brussels and London came to 'join with township and nearby residents at the Goderich Township Community Centre, in Holmesville, t'or the beginning of the 1-5-0 celebrations. A receiving line made up of Reeve Grant Stirling, his wife Anna, Sesquicentennial Chairman Gerry Ginn and his wife Jean, greeted all who came. They were dressed as their forefathers might have appeared over a hundred years ago. Many others as well wore period costumes. People signed the township guest book and were encouraged to sample the refreshments and food provid- ed. A Sesquicentennial cake was cut for the occasion. At 3 p.m. Reeve Stirling and Chairman Ginn were piped in, by Bert McCreath, to the stage area. The Reeve presented gate Sig' to residents whose farms have stayed in the family name for 150 years. Signs were given to Pat Ginn, whose fami- ly has owned the farrr ,since 1834, Don and Audrey Middleton since 1834, Larry and Judy Sturdy from 1834, John and Cathy Stur- dy also 1834, Willis and Winnifred Switzer from 1833, Doug and Sandra Wallis since 1834, Ben and Dorothy Whitely from 1834 and a sign will be given to Roy Wilson, who was unable to be there, since the farm has been in the family from 1832. One farm that was overlooked is owned by Cliff Sturdy and he will be presented with his sign later. • A committee is now checking into the records to see if others have been mi'staken- ly missed. If you know of anyone contact Gerry Ginn. The Reeve noted and recogniz- ed the couples that have the possibility of passing the family farm onto a child to carry on the long-term farming tradition: Reeve Stirling also paid tribute to two families who have served the township well for many years. He noted that the Thomp= i ty and additional expenses, like the new police cruiser, public works truck and town hall renovation costs will add to the "startl- ing information." He noted, "We may have to lay people off; not hire more." Clerk Proctor 'suggested that municipal departments will have to trim budgets and reduce expenditures, "We (clerk's office staff) can tell many ways in which these departments could be more economical. Our opinions are not welcome, quite frankly, but we're closer to the pro- blem." Councillor Ross Carter said that perhaps council should take the initiative, by inform- ing the various muicipal departments that 1985 budgets must be kept in line. He sug- gested sour per cent increase limit, "and it has to be lived with." "For many year, committees have decid- ed with the dollar amounts for their budgets and council approved them. Council's been a bit lenient with all committees," Coun- cillor Carter said. Huronview renovation on the drawing board Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling, Anna Stirling, Sesquicentennial Chairman Gerry ,Ginn and Jean Ginn were in the reception- line, that greeted visitors to the township's Ses- quicentennial Levee, January 1, in Homesville. dressed in period costumes. t Photo courtesy Doug Yeo) son name has been associated with the posi- tion of Township Clerk for the past 61 years and that the Whitely family has served as Treasurer for the last 81 years. He said it was a pleasure to work with R.E. Thompson and Ben Whitely - present members in this long record of service to the Township. A copy of "The Goderich Township History - Vol. 1". was given to Mrs. Helen Lindsay for winning the November Trivia contest. The December winner was Mrs. Peggy Ann ( Betties) MacLeod from Clinton. Inhe looks were tui sale at the Levee and over 700 have been purchased. Orders for the Township plates displaying . a picture of the Disney hitch wagon were also taken. Over 260 have been Aoki and nnly a limited number are being produced. A number are being taken to Disney World in Florida. The tickets for the play, "The Farm'Show" held from .July 11 - 19, were also sold. Registration for the heard grow- ing contest was held with many men taking part. The people attending the Levee were ex- cited about the upcoming activities and cer- tainly showed their interest. Many made suggestions for other events that could take ,place. The numerous ideas offered will en- sure an even better celebration of 1-5-0 in Goderich Township. For further informa- tion about any' events contact Gerry Ginn (524-4163) or Goderich Township, Box 1.5-0, Holmesville. NOM 11.0. BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE The possibility of spending millions of dollars in renovations at Huronview, a 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 administrator Wayne Lester: ' "This comes as a complete surprise," said Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston. He had asked several of his colleagues and they too, said the plan to renovate Huronview was new to them too. . "I've been out beating the bushes telling municipal councils that we can ' afford the (Huron County Pioneer) museum," said the reeve who added that thecounty has -to con- sider how much money the Huronview renovations in total couldcost the county. -Mr. Lester said the . renovations were no surprise, but added that nothing is definite. The "dream" is to. change 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 by Snider., Reichard and March of Kit- chener. St. Pattl'srin The plans -aren't finished and no cost estimates are available. The administratdr estimated the cost of the renovations would be about $2 or $3 million. If in the future, ap- proval is given to the renovations of Huron - view, the county will be expected to.pay 50 per cent or half the costs.' The board of management authorized Mr. Lester to put capital money into the home's .1985 budget. The administrator said he might want about $500,000 a year for five. years from the county: o• Hay Township Reeve Lionel Wilder sug- gested that the plans 1 for a reduction in the number of beds at a home. Mr. Lester agreed that would possibly happen. Mr. Wilder then asked what would happen to the people on the Huronvie'w waiting list. The administrator said there are actually empty beds in the home. Those on the waiting .list were called and all said they would come to the home when they were ready. There was sorne concern about the actual need for renovations to the home. McKillop Township Reeve Marie Hicknell said she had toured other nursing homes in the province. ' "Then I come back to Huronview and walk down the dark halls. And we expect our, seniors to live in this," she said. She said the tentative drawings don't pro- vide luxuries just privacy. "We wouldn't want to'usg facilities with tight or nine toilets and basins in a row with everyone in there at once," said Reeve •Hicknell. A' in new year "Hogmanay, Trollolay! Give us your white bread and. none of your grey!" This white bread actually was a sweet bun filled with raisins, and liberally flavoured with cloves, cinnamon, ginger and cardamon. The custom is said to have been derived from an annual Druid tradition when- a great ban- quet was prepared in the oak forests on New Year's Eve. At the conclusion of the feast, revellers emerged from the woods bearing branches of oak and mistletoe which were venerated in their religious beliefs, while shouting greetings of "The mistletoe! The New year!" Traditions change in every generation, and many are forgotten. But the glorious custom of ringing bells on New Year's Eve has an unceasing, universal appeal! St. Paul's Anglican Church hopes other bells in churches and°the Town Hap will join them at the end of this year to create a special New Year's Eve tradition for Clinton. By Elizabeth Kettlewell CLINTON - At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, a happy old custom was renewed in Clinton when the historic bell of St. Paul's Anglican Church was. rung 85 times ... a joyful welcome to 1985! And an- nouncing the first day of St. Paul's 150th An- niversary. New Year's Eve customs are recorded even as far back as the Neo -Babylonian Em- pire. It is said that the diety, Marduk, held an assembly during the New Year's festival for the purpose of deciding the lot of each in- dividual for the year to come. In more re- cent times on New Year's Eve at Queen's College, Oxford, members of the College Hall were presented with a threaded needle, with the motto, "Take this and be thrifty." For childr-en of Scotland ,I-logmanay, ( a name for' New Year's Eve, °also a kind of cake ), it was an occasion for groups to call at every home, chanting the ditty, A perfect dead body!? BLYTH - Theatre Circle is looking for a -dead body" to take part in the professional theatre's production of the comedy -thriller "One Night Stand" at Blyth Memorial Hall, March7,8and9. For sorne lucky "stiff" it will be a unique opportunity to make a professional stage debut. While most of the professional actors in the company come from Toronto, Van- couver and other major theatre centres, the actress chosen to play Sharon, who has met an unfortunate end, will be chosen from the local area. , "It's fun to involve local people in the pro- ductions," explained producer Keith Roulston, "but people in this area are used to high professional standards and we don't want to let those down. There's also the pro- . blem of amateur actors' being available to take part in a long rehearsal period and to travel with the show when it goes to other centres in southwestern Ontario. But - because Sharon doesn't have to say much or move on her own, we can put local people in the part in each community we come to.' Not that playing a corpse is for any body. Roulston explained that this is one instance where a limp performance is essential. It will require a great deal of concentration and discipline. to carry the role off. An ac- tress between the age of. 25 and 40 is re- quired. Auditions ' will be held at Blyth Memorial Hall on Saturday, January 19 at 2 p.m. Anyone interestedmore lively role on stage is also invited td audition on the same date. "We're interested in seeing just how many talented people of professional quality there are out there," Roulston said. "We can't guarantee parts in this coming season but knowing what talented actors and ac- tresses are available will help in planning for next year." Those auditioning for speaking parts should prepare a three-minute monologue that demonstrates their talents. Theatre Circle will be presenting two plays in its second season at Memorial Hall this spring, then taking them on tour to Petrolia, Chatham and Owen Sound. Follow- ing One Night Stand will be an original com- edy with music T.G.I.F. (Thank God It's Friday) from April 18-20. The subscription campaign for the upcoming season begins January 21.