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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 44 Issue 39
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.50% 3 Year GIC - 3.00% 5 Year GIC - 3.25% Daily Interest 1.75%
Friday, September 30, 2011
Community News office moves to Wood Street New occupant at former site plans to open restaurant by Chris Daponte DRAYTON - After serving Mapleton Township residents for over 25 years from the corner of Wood and Wellington Streets, The Community News has found a new home. As of this week, the newspaper’s office has moved across the street - literally, just metres away - to a larger, brighter location inside Studio Factor at 24 Wood Street, Unit B. “We look forward to serving residents in our new facility,” said Community News editor Dave Adsett. “With changes taking place at our old location, we were thrilled to get some space at Studio Factor so we can retain an office in Drayton for our publications.” In addition to providing residents with in-person service and local news and advertisements (in both The Wellington Advertiser and The Community News), the new office will soon be offering a colour copying and digital scanning service. “We felt it was important to offer this service for residents and businesses looking for access to quick, quality local service,” said Adsett.
The old Community News office at 39-41 Wellington Street is currently being renovated by the building’s new occupant, who plans to open a restaurant there in a few months. The history The Community News was founded in 1967 by a committee of community members. One year later Gerrit Wimmenhove became publisher and editor and moved the paper to the former Drayton Advocate office on Main Street (now Blooming Dale’s). In 1969 the enterprise was moved to Wood Street and was later relocated to the corner of Wellington and Wood Streets. In 1971 Wimmenhove sold the publication and its assets to William Adsett, who three years prior had founded the Wellington Advertiser. The new home for the Community News on Wood Street was once home to the Drayton library. It was purchased in 2009 by Donna Hirtle and transformed into Studio Factor, an art studio and educational space for aspiring artists with metiers including drawing, painting and textiles.
On the move - The Drayton office of The Community News has moved to 24 Wood Street, inside Studio Factor, from its old building at the corner of Wood and Wellington Streets (inset). In addition to a brighter office, the new location will continue to offer in-person service and copies of the Community News and Wellington Advertiser. It will also soon offer a colour copying and digital scanning service.
Knetsch wants something done about river hazard by David Meyer MAPLETON TWP. Councillor Andy Knetsch served notice on Sept. 13 he will be bringing up an issue of the river running through Drayton and what can be done to make things safer for the village and its citizens. Knetsch said there is concern about the abandoned rail-
way lands along the river, and the dirt and gravel continually being deposited in the river. He said the last studies are old but they show problems with the north face on the east side of the Conestogo River, “because the river is doing damage.” He added people in the downtown are concerned because there have been floods
in the past. Knetsch is also concerned about safety and said the Drayton Fire Department has done simulated exercises in the area. Knetsch said it seems to the experts it is “not if, but when somebody falls down that cliff and gets hurt or killed.” He said he wants to “sit down with CN and the Grand
River Conservation Authority and find a solution.” He added, “Someone who lives close has also expressed similar concerns.” Knetsch said he has talked with Pat Salter, Mapleton’s representative on the GRCA board of directors, about the issue and she is taking the matter up with that group.
Council approves new smoking bylaw despite questions about effect, enforcement by David Meyer MAPLETON TWP. Smokers here will have to do their puffing at least five metres away from any township owned building. Council approved a new smoking bylaw on Sept. 13 even though officials are unsure exactly what the results of the new law will be. Councillor Jim Curry said it is being passed because people currently have to pass through a haze of smoke walking from some buildings to parking lots
to reach their vehicles. Because the bylaw states a distance from buildings, and not doorways, he wondered if there is a way to cordon off an area for smokers. Public works director Larry Lynch said he has considered the bylaw for the arena in Drayton, and five metres can be a problem, “and I’m not sure how to handle it.” He said, “In winter, if we push them out further, we’ll have to clear snow for them.” And, he added, “It’s awk-
ward at the arena. You can stand there, and the smoke will waft back” towards the entrance. He also noted, “The question becomes, do we provide ashtrays, or pick up cigarette butts?” Curry wondered if the bylaw will be sent to the arena staff. Clerk Patty Sinnamon said it will, and also to the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health unit. Mayor Bruce Whale said he could foresee providing some
smoking areas, almost “like a bus shelter.” Lynch said the township will “have to look at each individual facility, because they are all different. We will have to look at every single one.” Whale added the township might also have to monitor each one to see how the bylaw is working. Lynch said the township has looked at how other municipalities handle the issue, which he said is simply “common courtesy.” He added he can
bring pictures of all facilities to council, and noted signs are needed. He said in Moorefield in particular, signs will be needed at all doors. Curry said the new bylaw will have to be included in the rental agreements for its buildings “so they [renters] are aware as well.” He agreed the township will have issues. He noted standing in line and smoking at an outdoor concession stand could be a violation of the bylaw, and he wondered about people
smoking inside a score keeping booth at ball diamonds. Whale said, “We have to look at this as a courtesy. This gives us a little bit of clout. We don’t have the manpower to enforce it anywhere.” He added if it does not work, the township can consider erecting smoking shelters. The bylaw received final reading and passed 3-0, with councillors Neil Driscoll, Andy Knetsch and Curry in favour. Councillor Mike Downey was absent.
Protesters shouted, heckled and continually disrupted election debate
by David Meyer ALMA - It took all the skills of long-time moderator Jim deBock, a former school teacher, to keep order at an all candidates meeting here on Sept. 20. Over two dozen antiwind turbine protesters held a peaceful demonstration at the entrance to the Optimist hall in Alma and they left their signs outdoors. DeBock introduced the candidates and explained they would each have two-minute opening speeches, would then
take turns answering written questions submitted from the floor, and there would be twominute closing speeches. The interruptions began when Liberal MPP and incumbent John Wilkinson answered a question about sales of hydro to the U.S. Protesters shouted such things as “liar” and “disgrace” and “shame.” DeBock told the protesters they would be asked to leave if they continued to disrupt the meeting. Later, when Wilkinson was answering a question, the shouts were so
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loud he was drowned out. DeBock then threatened to end the meeting entirely. “This is going to be orderly - or it’s not going to be,” he said. He explained the meeting was being held so candidates could present information on their platforms and parties and as such, people should be respectful. Sporadic interruptions continued throughout the night. Wilkinson, for his part, kept his cool. He said Canada is a democracy, and he recognizes that some do not like the
policies he advocates. He said people will make their decision on election day, and he will be happy to live with the results of that vote. If DeBock had any other difficulties during the night, it was from the types of questions he received. At one point, he said he had 14 questions, and all of them dealt with wind turbines. Other queries were presented and candidates did answer questions on a variety of different issues. One dealt with health care and how to attract doctors to
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rural areas and overcome practitioner shortages and contain costs. Robert Smink, of the Freedom Party, said it should be easier for foreign doctors and nurses to practice instead of driving taxis. He said that would bring competition for others, and also there should be more home care. Progressive Conservative Randy Pettapiece said his party has promised to increase health spending by $6.1 billion, plus increase more spaces for nurses. It will also make chief
executive officers accountable for the money they are given, and get rid of Local Health Integration Networks, another level of bureaucracy. Wilkinson said before the LHINs, 28 hospitals were closed, and now the province is building 18 more, “and we’ve got more coming.” He said Ontario has licenced more foreign doctors over the last four years than the number graduating medical school. Family Coalition Party Candidate Irma DeVries said Continued on page 3