Clinton News-Record, 1985-5-22, Page 1E "I'H STANDARD -THE
120TH YEAR
WEDNESDA1 , MAI 22, 1985
No. 21
50 CENTS
Time to bite the bullet
Reeve Johnston says
By Shelley McPhee carry out its own ffunding for the work, but
BAYFIEL- Five expensive projects_9re he noted "it's a matter of when." The
looming ahead in the financial forecast for municipality would be forced to look at
Bayfield and Reeve Dave Johnston says that debentures and long term funding to
its up to council to "bite the bullet" and complete the work.
determine which project is most crucial He further warned, "Even if the ministry
according to the municipality's general funds 90 per cent, the village still has to
concensus of opinion. come up with $100,000. That's a lit of money
Reeve Johnston told members of the for Bayfield to raise."
Bayfield Ratepayers' Association that his Also on Bayfield Council's priority list is
council is trying to build up tax dollars in the replacement of the "old and obsolete"
reserve funding to help finance the street lights. At least four different types of
"pressing problems." He noted that $53,000 lights can be found on the village streets.
is in reserves, but the money won't go far .to For some, replacement parts are no longer
finance the expensive projects.
Bayfield's first priority project is the
salvaging of River Road which is "slowly
sinking to meet the Bayfield Pw er," Reeve
Johnston explained.
The road, which runs along the riverbank
to I ake Huron and about a dozen residences,
started sinking on April 5. The collapsed
portion takes in about 100 feet and cuts into
the middle of the paved .portion of road.
Gravel has been dumped on the collapsed
bank, allowing the stretch of road to be open
to one -lane traffic.
A London firm has been hired by Bayfield
Council to study the erosion problem and to
recommend long term solutions.
The Ministry of Transportation and
Communiciation (MTC) will fund 50 per
cent of the study. Ministry funds may also
be available to repair the road, but Reeve
Johnston noted, the village's hands are tied
to get subsidy money until an engineer's
report is made." Council expects an answer
from the engineering firer in ,six to eight
weeks.
Until the collapse of River Road, drainage
was the top concern and priority item for the
rnunicipality. ....
"Bayfield has become a big, wet sponge,"
•
Warmth, -generosity, vitality are the outstanding qualities that The
Honorable Betty Clay (left) exhibits and these are the traits that
she looks for in her Girl Guides and their leaders. Mrs. Clay, of
England,' is the distinguished head of Girl Guiding. The daughter of
Lord 'and Lady Baden Powell, founders of Scouts and Guides, is
Guide
visiting•Canada in honor of Girl Guides 75th aniniversary in Ontario.
Her tour included a visit to Clinton .on MaY• 15 and a once-in-a-
lifetime opportunity for more than 250' area Guides, Brownies and
leaders to meet the 68 -year-old worldwide Guide leader. (Shelley
McPhee photo) -
ead-visits rural Onta:rio.
CLINTON - A once-in-a-lifetime event was
held here on May 15 when some 250 Girl
Guides, Brownies and their leaders had the
rare opportunity to meet the president of the
Guiding movement.
The Honorable Betty Clay is the esteemed
head of Girl Guides. She knows more about
the organization than anyone else. Mrs.
Clay is the youngest child of Lord and Lady
Baden-Powell, the founders of Guides and
Scouts. .
Mrs. Clay and her husband Gervas of
England are visiting Ontario this month to
mark the 75th anniversary of Girl Guides in
Canada. Their whirlwind tour includes
visits to Toronto, 1,ondon and Ottawa and
meetings with thousands of young Guides
and Scouts.
Clinton was chosen for an evening visit as
an opportunity to allow rural children .the
chance to meet the distinguished president
of the girl guide movement.
Brownies and Guides from among the
1,110 members in the area's Beaver Division
of Girl Guides were invited to attend the
gala ceremony. Guides from Hanover to ,
Clinton, as well as St. Marys to Kitchener
took part.
Bev Thompson, commissioner of Beaver
Division noted, "It was an honor for the girls
in this area to see the daughter of Lord
and Lady Baden-Powell. The looks on the
girls' .faces showed their excitement."
She said that the young Brownies and
Guides would develop a better
understanding about the history of the
movement and its founders through the
Meeting with Mrs. Clay.
"'Phis helps bring back Lord Baden-
Powell to Canada."
Lord Baden-Powell founded Boy Scouts' in
1907. Soon afterwards girls began taking'
part in the movement. Mrs. Clay said her
father was "scared blue" and thought that
the young girls would ruin it for the boys.
"It was right then,
it is right 11014' and it
will be ri -h t 75 years
from 1`1014'
By 1910 Girl Guides was firmly establish:-
ed.
stablish-ed. Today it is the largest women's
organization in the world with more than
nine million participants in 104 countries
and about 250,000 across Canada.
Lord Baden-Powell- was a 50 -year-old
retired army chief when he founded the
Scouts. Five years later he married Mrs.
Clay's mother when she was 24: Lady
Baden-Powell became the world chief guide
leader.
The romance and marriage of Lord and
Lady Baden-Powell was re-enacted for Mrs.
Clay at the Clinton t .:remony. Goderich Girl
Guides presented a skit which recalled the
Baden-Powell romance, their parents' ob-
jections and their work together.
Mr. and Mrs. Clay showed their approval,
and enthusiasm with the presentation Mrs.
Clay called the skit "a jolly and true story."
In his lighthearted, good humored' style Mr.
Clay noted, "it was remarkable meeting my
mother -in -la w.
The Clays' style and presence is one of
delight and enthusiasm. Mrs. Clay also
recorrunends'those- characteristics to be a
good guide leader. She suggested that a
guide leader should have "perseverance,
and sense of fun and enjoymeet of life and
love of girls."
As her parents did, Mrs. Clay has devoted
her life to guiding movement. She acted as
her mother's secretary during her parents'
trips around the world.
The 68 -year-old lady is now guide presi-
dent of southwest England, and still devotes
much of her time to travel.
Mrs. Clay says that the basic principles of
guiding are the same as when the movement
was founded 75 years ago.
"I ih h 't ' ' ht now and it
t was rg t t er rn, s ri
will be right in 75 years from now."
Guides, she stressed helps girls develop
their skills and talents. It offers excitement
and adventure, "This is what appeals to
girls and this is what girls need."
Mr. and Mrs. Clay's visit to Beaver Divi-
sion took the form of a "campfire" style
event held at the newly, renovated Clinton
Town Hall. Songs and cheers, skits and
presentations were featured.
Along with the skit put on by the Goderich
group, a second highlight of theevening
came when the Belgrave Brownie Pack per-
formed action songs for the Clays.
Two special presentations were made to
Mrs. Clay, donations to the Olave Centre in
England, being built in memory of her
mother by Guides and Brownies around the
world.
Goderich Girl Guide Jill Sygrove made
one donation to Mrs. Clay. Jill's grand-
mother, Elma Sygrove of Kamlachie, met
Lady Baden-Powell in 1935 in Cornerbrook,
Newfoundland, Mrs. Sygrove showed a
photograph of the meeting which pictured
the 11 -year-old Girl Guide, the Baden -
Powells and Mrs. Clay as a young girl.
A second donation to Olave Centre was
made by Pathfinder Vicki Owen of
Lucknow.
Olave Centre will serve as Guide head-
quarters, a meeting place for Guides from
around the world and a hostel.
Mrs. Clay thanked the girls for their dona-
tions, noting, "It's a great and worthwhile
gift to a great and worthwhile person."
"When you're just a little older you'll have
to come and stay."
May 16 was a -special night for more than 250 area Girl Guides when they had the opportune- The highlight of the evening came with the
ty to meet the daughter of Lord and Lady Baden Powell, The Honorable Betty Clay ( centre). end of the campfire ceremony and an oppor-
For Goderich Guide Jill Sygrove (left) and her grandmother Elma Sygrove (right) of tunity to personally meet Mr. and Mrs.
Kamlachie the event was historical—Till made a special presentation to Mrs. Clay. In 1935 in Clay. The 250 people present swarmed
Cornerbrook, Newfoundland, Mrs. Sygrove, then an 11 -year-old Guide saw the Baden around the couple, to shake hands, take pic-
Powells and their young daughter. Lucknow Pathfinder Vicki Owen (back left) also made a tures and to meet the great lady whose con -
presentation to Mrs. Clay at the May 15 gala event held in Clinton. Laura Sygrove, (back nection with Girl Guides is second to none.
right) was one of the many Brownies who also attended. (Shelley McPhee photo)
available.
Studies estimated that it will cost $55,000
to update the lighting system. Again the
municipality is looking to ONIP for funding.
No money is available from the MTC for
lighting along Highway 21 south to the
Bayfield River Bridge. Because of high
pedestrian and highway traffic along this
section, council requested MTC support for
lighting. The reponse, Reeve Johnston said,
was negative. -
"We sent a letter to the minister asking if
the criteria in Ontario was death."
Bayfield's fourth priority item is the need
of a pablic works building to store
equipment. Reeve Johnston noted that the
village has spent $20,000 on equipment in the
last year.
"It sits outside in the rain and snow and
will deteriorate quickly." The reeve advised
the ratepayers to "protect their
investment" by constructing an equipment
shed.
Municipal buildings, their maintenance
and restoration, is the last main priority
item under consideration by village council.
The municipal building, the community
centre, the old town hall and library require
constant maintenance costs for upkeep and
Reeve Johnston said. He noted that heavy preservation.
-spring flooding "only can be alleviated Reeve Johnston said some ratepayers in
through proper drainage in the village." He the village want the old town hall restored
further warned that is tests were done on and made available for more functions. He
some shallow wells in the village, they noted that the arena is losing money and
would show water unfit for drinking. He also "needs to be used. People must decide
commented on the gases and odors that are which facility they want."
coming from some septic beds. The reeve' stressed that the f ut,ure of the
"We are aware of it," he said. "I just don't " village and the priority work that must be
know how much vl'e can afford in one year." done is the responsibility of Bayfield's
The village has completed some bandage residents.
repairs, but a total drainage program for "The people must determine ° their
Bayfield is estimated to cost over $1 -million, P P
financed over 25 years. The first phase in the priorities," he noted.
project is the installation of a $100,000 outlet— Ratepayer George Youmatoff askedthe
at Pioneer Park. reeve how long the village can stay debt free
The village has applied for an Ontario and still operate at its present rate of
Neighborhood Improvement Plan ( ONIP) growth.
grant which could; finance 75 per cent of the , The reeve stated, "We have just as long as
work, but the application, sent in 1984 and we want to ignore our problems. 'That's not
again in 1985, has not been approved. the solution." '
Regarding ONIP, the reeve noted, "I don't He noted
te thatmen t despite
the
ethe cessvillar
know where we stand on ONIP. If there's a financial
quick fall election there may be a lot of must make, council still hears complaints
money out there. That seems to be the that taxes are too high.
trend." , . "If the municipality doesn't grow up and
He suggested that without government address the problems, in five years down the
i' sistance. the v.11^ ^-1.1 cm -red to road it's going to costa lot of money."
•
Mrs. John Van Spepgen and her 11 -month old granddaughter Esther Gerrits, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Gord Gerrits of Clinton, were among the hundreds of people to don their
wooden shoes and Dutch costumes for the Fifth Annual Klompen Feest, held on May 17
and 18. The cold, breezy weather didn't deter the crowds from taking part in the
festivities. For more photographs, see pages 12 and 13. (Shelley McPhee photo)
Teachers will accept contract
or vote for strike action
By Stephanie Levesque
Huron County high school teachers will
vote on May 28 to either accept a contract
offer or strike action.
A press release issued May 16 to the Huron
County Board of Education stated the
teachers, represented by Ontario Secondary
School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF)
District, 45 filed notice they are requesting
the Education Relations Commission
supervise a vote on the board's last offer and
at the same time, a vote on possible strike
action.
If the teachers turn down the board's
offer, the strike ballots will be counted. If,
however, the teachers aecept the board's
offer then a collective agreement is in place.
The board's press release says June 5 is
the earliest date possible for a strike. but
Shirley Weary, chief negotiator for District
45, said "that's the board's date, notours."'
"After 28 months of negotiations and no
collective agreement we had no recourse
but to take this action," said Mrs. Weary
when asked what prompted the action.
The OSSTF representative said the two
sides have been negotiating since January
1983. The board maintains it has only been
negotiating since 1984. Mrs. Weary is
including the provincial financial restraint
year in which collective agreements were
increased by five per cent.
"The board ignored the whole
(negotiation) process," said Mrs.Weary.
She maintains the outstanding difference
between the two sides is not money.
"It's the removal of items from the
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