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18 Chamberlain Court $268,900 Immaculate 3 bedroom, 2 storey with extra large lot on quiet cul-de-sac. Fully finished from top to bottom!!
April 4, 2013 Volume 8 No. 48
Sewer expansion
Alternative options pursued By Mark Girdauskas Weekly News Correspondent
Exploring alternative options was at the forefront of a Eastwood Homeowners meeting in St. Thomas. A group of concerned residents in that area met on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 to discuss the planned sewer connection and the determination that each household will pay the same amount for the project, regardless of property size. Central Elgin councillor Russ Matthews was present at the meeting to field questions from concerned residents and talk about what information council has. A member of MPP Jeff Yurek’s office was in attendance to say that he will be meeting with Glen Murray, the Minister of Transportation, to discuss this matter as well as what grants could potentially be available for this project. Road construction costs for this project are slated to be shared through the Municipality of Central Elgin and the County of Elgin. Other components of the project such as sidewalks, curbs and gutters will not be charged back to residents as it will be paid through the tax supported capital budget.
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One man’s fight
Aylmer couple holds essay writing contest to give you their house
Write it to win it
In a unique twist, Aylmer couple Calvin and Diana Brydges want you to write them an essay of any length detailing how having their house would benefit you. Submit that essay with a $100 certified cheque or money order made out to them and you’re in the running to win their three bedroom, two bathroom house, located on three quarters of an acre on the outskirts of Aylmer. With over 200 entries received to date, the couple is hoping 3,000 people will step up with an essay and $100 to pay for them to buy a house in Barrie to live in and open a second branch of their secondhand store This ‘N’ That — This ‘N’ That II. Their best advice for writing? Be truthful and creative. “We know we’re going to get hardship stories, but be creative. Our best advice? Be creative, catch our attention and give us a truthful story,” says Calvin. Each month Calvin and Diana will hold an open house at their home for people in-
Aylmer’s Calvin and Diana Brydges are holding an essay contest to give their house to one lucky winner.
terested in seeing just what exactly it is they can win. The next open house is scheduled for Sunday, April 14 from 1-4pm. Contest rules are as follows: Mail your essay to Essay House, P. O. Box 93, Aylmer, Ontario, N5H 2R8. From there, a neutral third party will pick up the essays, make sure the person isn’t related to the Brydges, take
off all identifying marks, and pass the essay along to Calvin and Diana who will read and judge it. The couple will choose the winner based on their favourite essay. Those entering are asked to include their complete information, including a telephone number so that the winner can be contacted directly. If the couple don’t received 3,000 entries by August 31st of
this year, all money will be returned to entrants minus fees for postage and the cost of certified cheque or money order. The couple thought of this idea after watching the movie The Spitfire Grill. In the movie the elderly lady who runs the bar wants to retire and get rid of her grill, but with no takers she turns to an essay con-
Paratransit issues go to tribunal One St. Thomas resident has taken up the fight against what he calls barriers to people who need to access the city’s paratransit system. Stan Taylor’s issues with the current system have led him to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal (OHRT), an organization designed to ensure everyone has equal rights and opportunities. Stan’s fight with the city over paratransit includes only having two working buses, unreliable departure and arrival times and the the age of the buses, which according to Stan causes noises so loud you have to shout to be heard. “I think there’s lots of people who have suffered bumpy roads and worn out buses,” Stan says. His other issue was the rush to re-qualify for accessible parking permit. He says the 900 people in need of these permits had only 40 business days to get their pass renewed, not an easy task considering you need to visit your doctor, then City Hall, then wait for your permit, then return to City Hall to have them take a copy of your permit — something Stan says is a breach of privacy and breaks the law. “Says right on it you’re not supposed to do that [make copies].” This isn’t the first time Stan has
See WRITE IT/page 2
See PARATRANSIT/page 2
Award for local company No stranger to awards, Doug Tarry Homes has picked up EnerQuality’s Energy Star for New Homes Builder of the Year award: (small volume builder). The third award in the last five years, Doug Tarry Jr.
says this award is a testament to building towards the future of the industry. “We’re very proud to be a leader in our industry, as our industry changes over the next decade. We’re thrilled to be nominated and to win.”
The family owned company found out about the award at the end of January, and received it during a special awards ceremony in Collingwood in February. With 40 homes built last year in St. Thomas,
Ingersoll and Aylmer, the company, who employ a local workforce, submitted their homes to a third party energy evaluator who reviewed the homes and the use of energy saving products. That information was used to calculate
Flatbread
Breakfast:
the winners. There were two other finalists for the award, both from Ontario. The Tarrys have been building homes in St. Thomas since 1954. Next year marks the company’s 60th anniversary.
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