the
Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 45 Issue 33
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.06% 3 Year GIC - 2.36% 5 Year GIC - 2.67% Daily Interest 1.75%
Friday, August 17, 2012
Fine time at 156th annual Drayton Fair by Patrick Raftis DRAYTON - Fairgoers came out for a fine time in Drayton on the weekend, enjoying a great array of events despite a wet weekend. “All things considered, I think we did very well,” said Brad Schieck, president of the Drayton Mapleton Agricultural Society. While the rain washed out the truck pull planned for Friday night and a lawn tractor pull on Saturday, most of the events, including all the livestock shows, went off as planned and were well attended, said Schieck. “The exhibits did really
well,” drawing good crowds all weekend, he noted. A rain delay Saturday night backed the tractor pull up by about an hour and a half and a problem with the pull boat created another half-hour delay, causing the event to wrap up around 3am. Schieck said the pullers enjoyed the event, despite the long day. “Especially the King of the Pull guys, because they’re pretty well all local.” Sunday’s demolition derby drew as well as in past years, filling the stands with about 1,200 people, Schieck estimated.
Officials: Food bank shelves looking bare Getting ready - Getting their calves ready for the 4-H Holstein Show at the Drayton Fair on Saturday were, from left: Nick Poole, Landon Smith and Connor Nafziger. More Drayton Fair coverage on pages 4, 5 and 8. photo by Patrick Raftis
Township unveils recreation master plan by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON TWP. - A proposed master plan for recreation in the township was unveiled to the public at an open house at the municipal council chambers on Aug. 8. Public works director Larry Lynch said the turnout at the meeting showed plenty of interest in the plan. “There were 10 or 12 people lined up here when we opened the door,” he said, with more citizens arriving through the hour-long, drop-in-style meeting. Among the first to arrive were a group of young people, who quizzed Lynch on why the idea of a skateboard park wasn’t given higher priority in the plan.
Lynch noted that while a skateboard facility was mentioned in surveys conducted in local schools, it didn’t come up often enough to appear “a big priority.” However, he said, “We will certainly look at it.” Five key concerns surfaced through citizen input to the plan: - poor playground conditions; - the need for upgraded washrooms at recreation facilities; - accessibility and safety issues at most recreational facilities; - the need to fine tune service delivery and organization; and - better signage and emer-
gency addressing. The plan also provides a wish list of three key items: upgrading and expanding existing trails, playground upgrades and development of a splash pad, and development of youth programming. Lynch said public input revealed an understanding of the need to rejuvenate local parks and playgrounds. While the community has a substantial number of parks and playgrounds, “some of them are looking a little tired right now,” he said. “We need to upgrade so we have things in place, and to allow us to deliver a lot more programs.” The master plan has been under development since November, 2011, when the
township hired Stempski Kelly and Associates for $15,000 to lead the study. The plan presented Aug. 8 emphasizes recommendations in eight main areas. Under Accessibility and Safety, the plan recommends washroom upgrades at the Moorefield ball park and Drayton fair grounds, as well as an access ramp for the Maryborough Community Centre. Fire code and emergency addressing issues in the township also need to be addressed, the report indicates. Also recommended in the plan is an audit of all remaining playgrounds in the municipality, a redesign of play areas and replacement of “at risk” Continued on page 5
by Kris Svela and Chris Daponte WELLINGTON CTY. - At a time when many locals are planning or taking a vacation, others are struggling just to put food on the table. The less fortunate seem to be increasing in numbers, as food banks across Wellington County are reporting bare shelves. “That’s certainly the case in Mapleton,” said Drayton Food Bank coordinator Mark Grasman. He noted the shelves are usually bare during the summer months due to residents taking holidays, but this summer seems to be worse than others. “We’re lower than normal,” Grasman said. “We’re surviving, but hopefully the food will start coming in soon.” He explained the food shortage is worrisome during the summer - but even more so as September approaches
and demand goes way up once school starts. Demand increases further still as colder weather sets in and a larger portion of household incomes is eaten up by utility costs. Yet the demand later in the year is often offset by a “rush” in donations around Thanksgiving and again around Christmas, when people feel more generous, Grasman told the Community News. He said the food bank, which is run out of the Drayton Reformed Church, is luckier than some, as it does have a bit of cash to help purchase a few more groceries - but there is still a need for more donations from the community. “We’re working with our community partners to try and get our stock up,” Grasman said. He is hopeful the proceeds from an outdoor movie night in Drayton on Aug. 31 will help Continued on page 6
Wet weather can’t derail 100th anniversary of pedestrian bridge by Patrick Raftis PALMERSTON - This community didn’t let a little rain dampen enthusiasm for its rich railway history. While the weather forced the cancellation of planned celebrity handcar races and a jigger demonstration, some other events simply moved inside and the party continued in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Palmerston Pedestrian Bridge. The event kicked off Friday night, with the muchanticipated unveiling of two Main Street murals. Artist Bert DeGraaf, of Tiverton, created
the railroad-themed murals, which now adorn the walls of the Palmerston CNRA building and Rock’s Antiques. “This is the first time I’ve ever done anything with trains, so it was quite a challenge for me to be able to do it,” said DeGraaf. He took over the project at the request of artist Allen Hilgendorf, who created an existing mural in Palmerston’s downtown and was commissioned to do the new ones as well, but is battling cancer and was unable to complete the work. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Alan,” Minto busi-
Main St. W. Palmerston
Diary of a Whimpy kid: Dog Days Rated G
This Saturday Night Only the Palmertston Agriculture Society is sponsoring 1/2 price admission. It’s such a great deal you can’t miss it!
SHOWTIMES: Friday and Saturday 8pm and Sunday 7pm
For more info call 519-343-3640 or visit www.norgantheatre.com
ness and economic manager Belinda Wick-Graham said at the unveiling. Minto Mayor George Bridge stated, “It’s been a great endeavour by a lot of people to get the 100th anniversary of the Palmerston Pedestrian Bridge organized.” Bridge used the occasion to commend the Palmerston Lions Club and the downtown revitalization committee for recent improvements to the community. “We’re starting to see some really positive things happening in Palmerston with the downtown,” said Bridge.
Former Minto councillor Wayne Martin, a member of the local parks and recreation committee, said, “A big part of the community, for me, is the railway and the people connected with it.” Wick-Graham noted funding for the murals came from several sources, including the federal Department of Canadian Heritage, the Palmerston lawn bowlers and the downtown revitalization committee. Dave Rock, owner of Rock’s Antiques, said coming from a family with six members who provided a total of
Weekly Wag
e a progressiv is n o ti a c u d E nce. ur own ignora o f o ry e v o c dis - Will Durant
110 years of service to the CNR, he was honoured to have the mural placed on the wall of his store. “This mural represents a lot of the motive power that worked up in this area,” he said. One of the marquis events of the celebration, a dinner on the pedestrian rail bridge, had to be moved to the Lions Park pavilion due to weather. The pedestrian bridge is the most visible symbol of the town’s railway heritage. “In 1910 the Grand Trunk Railway Company was ordered by the Railroad Commissioners
BILL’S
of Canada to build a pedestrian bridge across the rail yard to join both sides of the town,” a history on the palmerstonpedestrianbridge.com website states. “It was opened in August 1912, and allowed west-side school children to safely cross the rail yard’s 12 sets of track to reach their school on the east.” The bridge is the only one of its kind in Ontario. The town designated the bridge as being of architectural and historical value in 2010.
More Palmerston bridge anniversary coverage on page 3.
PAINT and COLLISION Specializing in... Collision and Complete Re-Finishing, One Mile East of Moorefield.
519
638-2048