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Clinton News-Record, 1985-07-10, Page 1811 4i • All the baseball diamonds in town were busy on July 6as Clinton hosted its Second Annual Sport Days. One of the games saw the Clinton Bantam Girls take on the Londesboro team at Clinton Public School. Catcher Tracy MacDonald fakes a throw to her third baseman who is trying to ke:p the runner on the base. However, in ' a previous play, a Londesbo -o player successfully slide into third base. ( Anne Narejko photos) Rates can ruin homeowners House buyers could face the tragedy of losing their homes if they rely too much on low interest rates. It's impossible to predict future interest rates accurately, says Al Coleclough, Registrar of the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act for the Ministry of Consumer ' and Comrnercial Relations. (MCCR). Hundreds of Ontario residents lost homes a few years ago when skyrocketing interest rates pushed their mortgage payments through the roof. For some, the cost of own- ing homes doubled. Rates have since gone down and housing sales have picked up, but everyone thinking of buying a, home now should keep past ex- periences in mind, Coleclough warns. "Never - buy right to the, limit of your finances," he says. "Keep something in reserve in case interest rates go up again. --Sure, 'they may just .go up for a couple of weeks or .months, but if your Mortgage is due for renegotiation that week, you're out Of luck." In the stable economy of past years, con- sumers used established guidelines •to calculate how much they could afford to pay for home. A total of about two and a half times the family's net income was con- sidered a good rule of thumb, says • Col- eclough. But those were• the days of 25 -year, fixed interest• rate mortgages and steadily in- creasing property values. . "Any rule .of thumb can be dangerous to- day," he says. "There is now an element of 'speculation in buying a home. It's a gamble whether rates will go up of down." • The only appropriate way to figure out how much you can afford, for mortgage payments is to draw up a complete budget. Calculate how much money the family needs for. necessities = everyting from soap to soup. How much does it cost you to live each month? Include. any regular loan payments and other expenses. If you aren't willing to give up a particular hobby, sport or a tivity that crosts money, add the expense to your list..Don't include rent or existing mortgage payments. Subtract the ,total from your net monthly income to find out how much money you've got left. . Never commit yourself to paying out that full amount for a mortgage. "At best you'd end up being property rich. and cash poor." says Coleclough. "Even worse - disaster could strike and you'd lose your house." • Once a reasonable limit for mortgage payments has been calculated; leaving yourself some money each month .for• emergencies, start shopping around at dif- ferent financial institutions. Authority sta f f Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) staff, in addition to being busy with tree planting, are also involved in preparing the ABCA's 12 Conservation Areas for the annual influx of summer visitors. Parkhill Conservation Area, 799 hectares in size, is the.lcrg :f the ABCA's Con- servation Areas. The operating season will run from May 10 to October 14. Serviced and unserviced camping, swimming, fishing, hiking, picnicking, boating (no motors) and nature appreciation are just a few of the recreational opportunities available to visitors. The Conservation Area is located at the junction of Highways 7 and 81 just to the' east of the Town of Parkhill. Paul Elston, Planning Resources Coor- dinator with the ABCA, reports that several development projects are planned for Parkhill Conservation Area this year. "We will be re -surfacing the existing access road within the Conservation Area, re-routing another section of road, installing fire pits in Orientation held in Mitchell On Saturday, June 15; an orientation was held for all members of the Junior -lgriculturalist program being placed in uron and Perth Counties. The orientation ,took place in Mitchell and was attended by approximately 480 people. Those in atten- dance included Jr. Ags, their families, and the host farmes with their families. It was the first meeting between the Jr. Ags and their respective host families. Each Jr. Ag. will be spending nine weeks on the host farm from June 24 until August 20. The Jr. Ags are 16-18 years old with an urban background. They will have the unique op- portunity to experience farm life first hand while living away from home for the sum- mer. During the day -long orientation, the Jr. 'Ags were informed on what -to expect and.. what to bring. As well, aspects of farm safe- ty were stressed to each of the Jr. Ags and host farmers. The day concluded with a tour of some local farms. In essence, the day was a preview to the enjoyable summer that lies ahead of the participants of this year's Junior Agriculturalist program. The mortgage business has changed drasti ally over the last year and lenders are•cpeting fiercely for customers. Many companies offer: radically different terms and i centives. As result some excellent opportunities are n.w ,available for consumers, but you must chek out all the alternatives carefully to be sure there are no hidden costs or pro- blem Af er talking to a few loan officers, you sho ld have a good idea how much you can' affo d to spend on a house and can seriously sta t looking at properties for sale in•the ap- pro riate price range. ce you're ready to buy, go back -to the le ding institution and negotiate the best de 1 available at the time, e terms and' jargon involved in mor- t,ages can be confusing. What is an amor- t zation period anyway? Most financial in- titutions offer brochures explaining ter- hiinology and how their own mortgage plans work. • The ministry has produced a generaltin- formation booklet called How to . Buy a House which includes a section on financing. For copies, contact the Consumer Infor- mation nformation Centre, 595 Yonge St., Toronto, Ont. M7A 2H6; (416) 963-1111 or (toll free ),.1-800- 268-1142. • rea dy areas the campground and improving and expan ding parking at the beginning of the nature trails and near the wildlife pond." Rock Glen Conservation Area, located just outside of the village of Arkona, and with its 10 metre high .falls, is another popular spot for summer visitors: While there is no camping within the Conservation .Area, the extraordinary fossil resources found in the exposed sedimentary rock pro- vide an interesting attraction to day users: 'Besides fossils, visitors to Rock Glen • can also enjoy hiking, picnicking, birdwatching and nature appreciation opportunities. The operating season at the Conservation Area is from May 1 to October 14. Elston says that a new footbridge and im- provements to the trail system are planned for .Rock Glen Conservation Area. He adds, "the footbridge will likely be a pre- fabricated arched structure since this type of structure appears to be the least costly alternative".. The basic fee schedule for Parkhill and Rock Glen Conservation Areas is: $7.00 and $8.50 for unserviced and serviced camping per day. $385.00 for seasonal camping, $2.50 per vehicle for day -use and $15.00 for a daly- use pass good for the entire season. No entrance fees are charged at any of the ABCA's other Conservation. Areas. Elston says that development projects are also scheduled for several of these other Conservation Areas. "This development in- cludes concrete picnic tables and reforesta- tion at Thedford Conservation Area, con- crete _picnic tables and installation of playground equipment at Port Blake Con- servation Area and completion of a fitness trail including the installation of a foot- bridge at Morrison Dam Conservation Area. SEAFORTH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY PRESENTS THE WALTERS FAMILY tas`�S �e �2. e\ e. Cr 2.1 Jn Saturday, july 20 Showtime 8pm Dance 9 pm at Seaforth & District Community Centres Proceeds to repair the roundhouse at the fairrgrolands No blue jeaps please Tickets available at: Bobla Betty's Variety, Seaforth, at the door, from any member or by phoning 482-9196. . I's fir '1 reel �• Oa.t ► aster's ew prQgra The Upitversity of QuelphWill ofi?er a,,now graduate sta . progran? lea. to t e. I egre . A M $Lei of Agriculture (1V1,40r.), beginning September, OW The new pro- gram is designed to meet the needs of those employed professionally in agriculture, having different objectives from the thesis - oriented. M.Sc. (research) degree, says Dean of Graduate Studies Carleton Gyles. The M,Agr. program will permit bachelor graduates to pursue further studies with the emphasis on technical knowledge and skills, rather than on the thesis research that an M.Sc. program entails. Thus the new program will appeal to those interested in enhancing their technical com- petence and opportunities, as well as those interested in, reorientation of professional careers and those who may wish to update theirexpertise in rapidly changing fields. Candidates for the M.Agr. degree will be introduced to concepts of problem -solving yr; u aj report writing, and will hare an op or• Witty, to interpret data and understand research reports. Planning for the new degree began several years ago with a request for this type of advanced training in the field of pest management. Similar needs were identified in other areas of specialization within the Ontario Agricultural College, says Dean Freeman McEwen. When the program begins in September, 1985, candidates may specialize in one of the following areas: apiculture, agricultural business, agricultural economics, animal science, food science, agricultural land use, land management, and pest management. Each candidate's study program will con- sist of three or four semesters of course work and one semester of internship. Can- didates will normally have a degree in agriculture and two or three years of profes- sional experience. 914',5""ri' I Canada's national parks will celebrate with centennial photo contest Focus on Canada's national parks this summer and enter the National Parks Centennial Photo Contest. Entries must be 35 mm colour slides reflecting public enjoyment at any of Parks • Canada's •1100 parks, sites and waterways across the country. The „top three winners to be selected by members of the Professional Photographers of Canada, will chose valuable prizes from Canadian Tire stores. In addition, up to 25 honourable, mention prizes will be awarded. . All entries will become the property of Parks Canada and form a part of the pic- torial history of Canada's natural and historic heritage. The contest is one of several national pro- grams being offered by the National Parks Centennial Citizens' Committee, a non- profit organization with volunteer directors from each province and territory. The Com- mittee is encouraging public and corporate Pick your own MONTMORENCY (RED) Pitting machine available for your convenience Ready picked Sweet Cherries by the basket. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK lack QIc 5truit aritrs Ltd. Located on Rock Glen Rd. 1-828-3100 Arkona, Ont. support for heritage conservation during. Canada's National Parks Centennial year. Complete contest details will be available at most Canadian Tire stores and Parks Canada sites by mid-June. The deadline for entries is September 30, 1985. It's 'your chance to contribute to the next 100 years of heritage conservation in Canada. DECORATING PROBLEMS? Now, we can offer you a professional help with furniture layout, sketches, colour co-ordination and consultation. Let us show you our new selections•of fine furniture, carpets, wall paper, bedspreads and. accessories, to make your home more beautiful. BALL. & MUTCH FINE FURNITURE 71 ALBERT ST., CLINTON TELEPHONE: 482-9505 90 DAYS SHORT TERM 9.3/8 % 1 YEAR PAID ANNUALLY 5 YEARS AID MONTHLY. 103/4°'° • 5YEARS COMPOUND 11" 5YEARS '. PAID ANNUALLY Bayfield FRAN BURTON 565-2438 Blyth RAY MADILL 523-4334 Clinton JOHN DUDDY 482-3776 Exeter Varna JOHN RON MORGAN KEYS 235.2544 262-6273 EMPLOYE %iS.•eask your insurance agent about a Blue CHIP I.P employee benefit package. • health benefits pack ,specifically for small business • easy administration with one ID certificate 8 One monthly payment 522n 21 Or contact: Brian Dalton 371 Dufferin Avenue London. Ontario N60 1Z5 i (519)439.0136 - G]INA6N0