JANUARY 18, 2014

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INK & TONER SALE FOR PRINTERS, FAX MACHINES & COPIERS COMBO & TWIN PACKS ONLY

MAY NOT BE EXACTLY AS SHOWN.

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ALL BRANDS

10 Church St. W. Elmira 519-669-2201 www.schelterofficeplus.ca Office & School Supplies • Print Copy Courier • Computer IT Supplies

01 | 18 | 2014 VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 03

ELMIRA MAN TO HELP BLIND KIDS IN RWANDA LIVING HERE PAGE 24

COMMENT PAGE 6

H1N1 PUTS A BIT MORE FOCUS ON THE FLU SEASON

Few questions as Woolwich budget process starts rolling

Backyard rink a labour of love Elmira couple does all the prep work ... and then hopes the weather cooperates

Councillors quickly approve staff proposals rolled out for four departments in first of three special meetings slated for January

WILL SLOAN The backyard rink – generations of Canadians have eagerly awaited its icy splendor as temperatures have fallen beneath the freezing mark. And few backyard rinks are as involved as Chris and Christine Allison’s on Robin Drive, which, based on anecdotal evidence, has earned a reputation as the finest of its kind within Elmira’s borders. With hand-painted ads for local businesses (such as Lazer Video, Chemtura, and yes, the Woolwich Observer) that resemble Andy Warhol paintings, it certainly remains the most elaborate. Outdoor speakers and a scoreboard keep it equipped for skating, curling, hockey, or, if Jack Frost fails to show up, lawn-bowling. “It probably took a couple months,” said Chris, recalling its construction half a decade ago.“We started in August and put the white on the boards, and probably had them painted by November. We started RINK | 13

STEVE KANNON

Christine and Chris Allison, with daughters Octavia and Odessa, get ready for another winter in their Elmira backyard. [WILL SLOAN / THE OBSERVER]

Reg. HOURS: Mon.-Wed. 9:30-5:30 | Thur.-Fri. 9:30-7:00 | Sat. 9:30-5:30

Next Senior’s Day: Thursday January 30thth

1 Union St., Elmira The Shops At Roxton

519.669.3072 www.elmiragiftoutlet.com

www.OBSERVERXTRA.com

May not be exactly as shown. While quantities last.

Woolwich councillors moved quickly at last week’s special budget session – the first of three – approving the budgets of four departments with little scrutiny and fewer questions. Cleared to go January 9 were the 2014 financial plans for the chief administrative office, council and information services, finance, and fire. The go-ahead included yet another expansion to the staffing ranks in the form of two full-time positions to replace a contract position (junior bylaw enforcement officer) in the clerk’s department and a part-time job (chief fire prevention officer) in the fire department. The bylaw officer bumps the current $50,000 expen-

diture to $75,000. Deputy clerk Val Hummel noted the township has had trouble filling its enforcement positions and more trouble keeping people in place. The fire department now adds another full-time job to the tune of $86,000 from the current budget allocation of $47,000. In discussing the change for the fire prevention officer, township fire chief Rick Pedersen pointed to an increase in duties mandated by the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office, including the rollout out of mandatory carbon monoxide (CO) detectors and new inspections of long-term care homes. There’s been no one in the part-time position since 2012. A full-time position would draw more BUDGET | 2

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