Published Articles
FRIDAY, April 9/10
SURVEY
(polls)
CATFISH CREEK OVER-FLOW:
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Heavy rains this week led to high levels in the Catfish Creek; this is looking west from the Myrtle St. bridge
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AYLMER TODAY:
-(Saturday: Rotary Club (bursary fundraiser) sponsoring “Broadway Singers” and Julie Rochus; Aylmer Baptist Church; 7:30 pm; $20)
-(Saturday: ‘Help Haiti Now’ Concert at Grace United St.Thomas, featuring Don Durkee , Tom Starks; 7:30 pm; $15)
-(Next Week: Aylmer Spring Brush pickup – see town web site for details)
-Aylmer EMMC Church: Cropping and Scrapping Fundraiser; 9:30-4:30; $35.
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“ ‘BAYHAM’s GOT TALENT’ THIS SUNDAY”
(Info provided by Leeann Walsh, Bayham Twp. office)
“It is this Sunday at the Straffordville Community Centre. They are opening the doors at 12:30, but the show will run from 1-4pm. The admission is a donation which is greatly appreciated. If you need any other information the contacts are Dorothy Neville @ 519-866-3675 or Diane DeBlaire @ 519-866-3043. ”
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OBITS:
-John Koidl, of Straffordville; on March 17; aged 83 yr.; Survivors include: Brother- in- law to Irene (Bud Eveland) Baskey and Dora (Bill) Tait, both of Pt. Burwell; Visitation at Ostranders, Tillsonburg today 6-9 pm; Funeral Saturday at Pt Burwell United Church at 2 pm. Cremation has taken place.
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“AYLMER CHERRY ST. GROUP STILL BLOSSOMING 40 YEARS LATER!”
(‘Cherry Street’, a non-profit housing organization in Aylmer, applied to Aylmer Council recently for a zoning change to allow the demolition of a house at the corner of Caverly Rd/South St. in order to put up a semi-detached duplex. Council will hold a hearing on the issue on April 19. Treasurer Paul Baldwin provided this information on ‘Cherry Street’)
“The organization grew out of the Aylmer Welfare Council thatwas formed in the late 1960s ,first to address the needs of transient workers who came to Aylmer to work in tobacco but had nowhere to live until farmers took them into their bunkhouses at the start of harvest. The workers hung out in Aylmer and were without much money/meals/shelter. Rev. Ron Matthewman and Father White, Gene Dopp, Blair Barons, et.al. reacted with a large tent at the Fairgrounds. This initiative led to an attempt to address these needs, first to the collection and distribution of goods needed – fridges, stoves, etc. and then to providing housing. So a formal organization was chartered in 1972 and a 100% CMHC mortgage was arranged to buy the Cherry Street Duplex at now at 25/27 Parkview. Gene Dopp, John Frisch, Harry Barnsley, Erla and Joe Carroll and Don McKinnon were on that Board and since that time Cherry Street has acquired additional properties and now have 15 houses and 17 affordable homes. (The ‘label’ derived from the previous name of Parkview, (Cherry St.) so the group kept the name and the street changed.)
Don and Marilyn McKinnon were the managers until recently, although not the only managers. As mentioned, we now have 15 properties, all occupied with the exception of 2 now being renovated. Persons needing affordable housing may apply through Abe Harms at the AMC office. Abe is the President of the Board and with an office acts as the centre for applications. The Board has been for many years a 5 member Board with Don McKinnon, Marilyn McKinnon, Don Prendergast, Charlie Jackson, and Don and Marilyn’s daughter Maryanne Kirby. Don, Marilyn, and Maryanne retired a year and a half ago and Charlie’s recently died. The new Board is Abe Harms, President, Don Prendergast, Secretary, Paul Baldwin, Treasurer, and Frank Martens. I have been managing the properties although with recent extensive renovations at 25/27, I have taken on supervision of that job and Frank is now managing the tenants and properties.
The renovation of 25/27 is the current focus. Meanwhile, we are applying for rezoning at 197 South St. W with the hope of building a duplex on that site. The rents/costs – mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance – on a single residential make them prohibitive and in the long run maintenance suffers. So we are looking to tear down the house at 197 and replace it with a duplex, one unit facing South, the other facing Caverly. That duplex will be built with the required “building envelope” eliminating the sight/site hazard now posed by the present house. There is a need, here and in Elgin generally. St. Thomas and Aylmer are the centres of demand as they provide services to tenants who at most would only have one car. With these initiatives, we are looking to provide three bedrooms to house young/small families.”
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