The Times Advocate, 2004-07-28, Page 2020
Exeter Times–Advocate
Wednesday,July 28, 2004
'The Cemetery Club' celebrates life and laughter at Huron Country Playhouse
By Mary Simmons
TIMES ADVOCATE STAFF
GRAND BEND — 'The
Cemetery Club' is sure to
bring lots of laughs — and
maybe even a few tears —
at the Huron Country
Playhouse.
The play, written by Ivan
Menchell, tells the story of
Lucille, Doris, and Ida,
three Jewish widows who
learn to carry on and
eventually love again after
the deaths of their hus-
bands.
Every month, the three
women hold a meeting of
'The Cemetery Club,' and
journey together to visit
the graves of their late
husbands. They give
updates on all the juicy
gossip among their senior
citizen social circle, remi-
nisce about the past and
occasionally address their
current loneliness.
When a romance is
sparked between Ida and
Sam, the local butcher, a
chain of events is set in
motion that threatens to
break up the special sis-
terhood of widows.
The production is direct-
ed by Adam Furfaro, who
successfully balances the
humour with moments of
pathos.
Jocelyne Zucco is a hoot
as the feisty, flamboyant
flirt Lucille. She is incredi-
bly funny while allowing
the audience to glimpse
her pain and loneliness.
Rosemary Radcliffe, an
original member of
Toronto's Second City,
embodies the priggish and
judgmental Doris.
Linda Goranson brings
the sweet -tempered role of
Ida to life and plays the
peacemaker between the
other two women.
Ian Downie plays the
role of Sam, whose bud-
ding relationship with Ida
threatens the friendship.
Goranson and Downie
give wonderful perfor-
mances as they explore
their characters' new-
found love. As they inter-
act over tea and cookies
after running into each
other at the cemetery their
giddiness and anxiety is
evident.
A love triangle is created
by the introduction of
Mildred, another woman
competing for Sam's affec-
tion, played by Linda Ham.
The comic timing of the
cast is impeccable, with
each performer playing off
the others.
'The Cemetery Club'
runs July 20 to Aug. 7.
Tickets can be ordered by
calling the Huron Country
Playhouse Box Office at
519-238-6000 or toll free
at 1-888-449-4463.
For more information on
the 2004 season, please
visit www.huroncountry-
Linda Goranson and Ian Downie portray Ida and Sam in The Cemetery Club' at
Huron Country Playhouse. (photo/submitted)
Sixth annual Awards of Rural Excellence
GUELPH — Time is running out as
the Foundation for Rural Living
makes its last call for submissions to
this year's Awards for Rural
Excellence.
If you know of a project in your
community that deserves recogni-
tion, submit an application on or
before July 31.
The Awards of Rural Excellence
recognize and honour rural commu-
nities, organizations and groups who
act on their vision of a better rural
Ontario through programs, projects
and initiatives.
There are seven award categories:
• Excellence in community leader-
ship;
• Excellence in formal co-operative
models;
• Excellence in economic develop-
ment;
• Outstanding voluntarism and/or
partnership in the voluntary sector;
• Outstanding rural youth achieve-
ment;
• Outstanding philanthropic action;
• Outstanding partnership with
business.
For the purposes of these awards,
rural includes communities with a
population under 50,000.
Amalgamated municipalities of
small towns where the population
may exceed 50,000 are also eligible.
The awards will be presented Oct.
18 at the Four Points Sheraton in
London.
Nomination forms are available
from the Foundation of Rural Living,
located at 1 Stone Road, Guelph.
For more information phone 519-
826-4126 or visit www.frl.on.ca.
Just phone for
take-out meals
ZURICH - Zurich Diners at the New
Bluewater Arena Complex on July 14 enjoyed
entertainment before and after the meal by
Audrey Haugh. Volunteers Jean Gingerich,
Gloria Allan, Helen Gingerich and Doris
Hamilton assisted Mary Koricina in the
kitchen. Lottie Grenier was at the desk assist-
ed by Marjorie Reichert. The 50/50 winner
was Kay Hay. Card games followed for those
wishing to stay longer.
July 21 Zurich Diners welcomed back pianist
Glena Olcen for '0 Canada' and the Grace.
Olcen also provided flowers from her garden,
which went to Gwen McKellar. Olcen also
showed slides of her trip to Italy. Cards fol-
lowed. Volunteers in the kitchen were Susan
New farm planning
services available
Canadian Farm Business Advisory Services are
available to give access to top-notch farm business
management information and advice with an initial
consultation and Farm Business Assessment (farm
financial assessment and action plan).
Producers receive up to five days consultation with
a business -planning professional and one day follow
up for a fee of $100. The value is $2,000.
As a pre -assessment, producers can evaluate their
current financial situation using an electronic bench-
mark tool available at www.agr.gc.ca/compare.
For more information, contact the regional
Agriculture and AgriFood Canada regional office at
1-866-452-5558 or www.agr.gc.ca/renewal/cfbas.
Nyenhuis, Audrey Smith, Elaine Weido, and
Aleda Hendriks. Theresa Stark and Marjorie
Reichert were at the desk. The 50/50 winner
was Cecelia Farwell.
Zurich Diners is a weekly event; for reserva-
tions phone Marg Hayter at Exeter 235-0258.
Free transportation for those needing it in the
village. Take-out meals are available, just
phone Hayter. A get -well card was sent to
Josie Denomme who has now returned to her
home after her stay in hospital.
Huron County discusses septic systems
By Pauline Kerr
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE
GODERICH — During its July 8 meeting,
Huron County council discussed the Septic
Reinspection program, a report on which was
presented by Pam Scharfe, public health
manager, to the county's health and planning
committee.
Council also approved a recommendation
the program be referred for discussion by the
Huron County water protection steering com-
mittee.
In her report to the health and planning
committee, Scharfe provided an overview of
the state of county septic systems.
The estimated number of septic systems in
the county is over 14,000, serving about 64
per cent of the population. Since 1997, the
health unit has issued 1,114 certificates for
new or replacement septic systems. New sys-
tems account for 55 per cent of the certifi-
cates.
There are 9,067 septic records on file with
the health unit.
Scharfe said that in a provincial conference
presentation by Huron County councillors to
the ministers of environment and agriculture
and food in 2000, notes stated the state of
degradation of septic systems is alarming.
The notes further stated homeowners tend
not to inspect, repair or replace systems until
there is glaring evidence of malfunction, such
as backups or ponding. At that point it was
estimated at least 50 per cent of all the septic
systems in the county were in need of repair.
Penny Nelligan, health unit director, told
council July 8 the real figure is probably a lot
higher.
Scharfe's report pointed out only 199 septic
system projects were approved for upgrades
or replacement totalling $1,146,587. It was
estimated the funding represented only three
per cent of the need in Huron County.
The report recommended conducting an
education program to provide homeowners
with information on proper septic system
maintenance and use. The health unit has
information that indicates the rate of compli-
ance with regulations is a lot higher when
property owners have been educated on prop-
er use of their septic system.
hi addition, it was recommended that a pilot
reinspection study be undertaken to assess the
feasibility of a larger county -wide program.
The pilot project would be conducted on a vol-
untary basis, with participants being made
aware that major violations that have an
impact on the environment will have to be cor-
rected.
The report identified education as the num-
ber one component of proper septic system
maintenance, and should be made a priority
before a reinspection pilot project begins.
Council discussion initiated by Coun. Deb
Shewfelt of Goderich focused on the negative
impact of faulty septic systems ("hot spots")
along the lakeshore. Coun. Rob Morley of
South Huron noted the lakeshore doesn't have
the only septic system problems. "Many of the
villages are old, and the septic systems are old;
the villages should be included in the 'hot
spots'," Morley said.
Coun. Ben Van Diepenbeek of Ashfield-
Colborne-Wawanosh commented on the need
for financial assistance similar to that offered
with Healthy Futures. "We can't just ask 5,000
people to update their septic systems."
County Warden Bill Dowson of Bluewater
agreed, saying, "If we could walk in the door
and say, 'You've got a problem and we can
help', it would go a long way toward cleaning
up the problem."
Council was told that Perth County has con-
tacted Huron on the exact wording of its reso-
lution requesting a successor program to
Healthy Futures.
Huron County had an extremely successful
Healthy Futures program, and council has
been lobbying the province for more such pro-
gramming.
In an interview earlier this year after the
conclusion of Healthy Futures, co-ordinator
Kate Monk of the Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority said if the program
had one fault, it was too short, and there was
a greater demand for some types of projects
than there was grant money.
The two -and -a -half-year program didn't give
landowners enough of a chance to come up
with funds to pay their share of the projects,
she explained.
In addition, she said the demand for septic
system upgrades was far greater than the
funds allocated for these projects.
Zurich Quitters' Guild had
a display of quilts and mis-
cellaneous items at the
Zurich Fair on the week-
end and had tickets for
sale on a heart -puff quilt
made by the guild to be
drawn late afternoon at
the Zurich Bean Festival,
Aug. 28. (photo/submitted)
Business
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