SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 50 ISSUE 17
DRAYTON, ONTARIO
1 Year GIC - 2.09% 3 Year GIC - 2.11% 5 Year GIC - 2.25% Daily Interest 0.90%
638-3328
FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017
www.jackfinancial.ca
Township seeking new finance director By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – The township is now looking for a new director of finance, as well as a permanent deputy treasurer. Last week the township posted an advertisement for the position of director of finance on its website and social media outlets. The application deadline is May 10. On Monday, in response to an email from the Community News, Mayor Neil Driscoll confirmed finance director Yufang Du “is no longer with the Township of Mapleton,” adding, “We wish her all the best in the future.” Driscoll did not respond to a request for information on the reason for Du’s departure.
The township has been shorthanded in the finance department since October, when former deputy treasurer Theresa Armstrong resigned. Armstrong joined the Township of Woolwich as manager of revenue/tax collector at that time. On Feb. 6 the township appointed John Cummings as deputy treasurer on an interim basis. At a township budget open house on Feb. 15, Mayor Neil Driscoll explained a job offer had been made but the applicant “backed out” and the township was re-interviewing for the position. At the same meeting, Driscoll told the Community News that Du was “off sick.”
Community Improvement Plan moves toward implementation By Patrick Raftis Earth Day project - Mapleton’s Green Legacy tree distribution day was April 22 at the municipal maintenance facility on Sideroad 16. By 9am a steady stream of Mapleton residents was picking up the 5,500 pre-ordered trees. In addition to monetary donations, food bank items filled five large rural recycling bins. Mapleton township employee Brianna Gonzalez, left, assisted Parker and Paul Douglas with the pickup of their red pine trees. The Ontario Green Leaf Challenge is a program of the Ontario government and Forests Ontario inviting all Ontarians to plant three million trees in 2017. Residents can add their planted trees to the online counter, which will map and track trees planted across the province. The website www. greenleafchallenge.ca also provides resources to connect residents with local tree planting events and resources. For more information contact Stephanie Prince at 1-877-646-1193 ext. 225. Photo by Caroline Sealey
Local diorama club set to host carpet farming display contest MAPLETON - Scale farming, or carpet farming - call it what you like - there is a group meeting weekly at Jolley’s Farm Toys working on 1/64th scale farm scenes. They range in age from three to 53 years of age and are all passionate about crafting a farm display that showcases their favourite farm scenes. Some try to reproduce their family farm while others just want to showcase tractors working the fields or combines harvesting. They joined the Farm Diorama Club to learn how to craft farm details and share secrets of the trade. At the start of each weekly meeting they share their latest discoveries - from sources of supplies to how to craft a scene. Sandpaper is glued down to be a dirt road, brown carpet cut up in thin strips and placed in close rows looks like a freshly plowed field. Twigs are
used to make tree trunks; cotton batten dyed with green food colouring is shredded and glued to the twig to look like a tree. Alternatively sawdust can be mixed with a little food colouring then glue can be brushed on the twig, which can be sprinkled with coloured sawdust. Shredded green sponges give a different leaf look when glued to twigs. You just have to experiment to see what look suits your diorama. Miniature marshmallows look liked wrapped bales of hay. Tweezers and recycled dental tools are used to put the items into place on the diorama. Shoe polish can be rubbed on wood to make it look warn or old. Popsicle sticks, Q-tips, wire, scissors, string and glue are all part of the crafting kits. Members bring photos to share that illustrate what they want to portray and they help each other discover ways to create it in 1/64 scale.
HELD OVER
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Manufactured terrain materials can be purchased. There is prefabricated grass, trees, rocks but it can get expensive. It is possible to make a lot of it out of items found around the farm. Nicholas Grose, owner of Jolley’s Farm Toys, is heading up the club. He has been crafting and designing 1/64 scale farm displays since he was 8 years old. He had the opportunity to travel to farm shows and steam shows across Canada and the United States with his parents. As a youngster he would sit and watch the exhibitors design and set up their displays. “It is a hobby that takes a lot of creativity, and patience,” said Grose. “You have to learn to pay attention to detail, ... learn how to ... plan ahead and follow a plan, a skill set that can be applied to my job today.” Visitors to Jolley’s Farm Toys would get a glimpse SEE DIORAMA » 2
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MAPLETON – Implementation of a Community Improvement Plan for the township moved a step closer following a public meeting on April 11. Among the goals of the plan, outlined by consultant Nancy Reid of Vitality Planning, are to promote Mapleton as a business friendly community and an inviting destination for visitors. The plan would establish a program of municipal financial incentives to encourage the rehabilitation and improvement of private lands and buildings
I think it’s well overdue. It’s not a hugely expensive project,” said councillor Marlene Ottens, noting she has sensed “a lot of excitement” about the plan around the community. Mayor Neil Driscoll agreed. “As Marlene said, this has been a project that I think our whole area has been waiting for, for a long time ... there are some excited businesses out there,” Driscoll stated. Council approved a resolution to receive the Community Improvement Plan and directed that a draft zoning amendment be prepared and presented at a future meeting.
Downtown fire call - Mapleton Fire and Rescue was called to the Drayton Chophouse on the morning of April 24 . The building was filled with smoke from a soup pot left on the stove overnight. The building’s smoke detectors activated an alarm monitoring system, which alerted the Drayton Fire Department. The fire department removed the pot from the scene and opened doors, allowing the smoke to escape. The Chophouse was open for business within an hour. Photo by Caroline Sealey
WEEKLY WAG
“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.” - Robin Williams
in Mapleton. Policies in the plan would enable council to offer financial incentives to private property owners. Once approved by council, the Community Improvement Plan would enable the township to grant financial incentives to building and business owners for various purposes, including: design and study, planning application and building permit fees, façade, signage and property improvements, building improvements, accessibility, building conversion and expansion and tax increment equivalent grants for major redevelopment projects. “I am excited about this.
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