12 June 2, 2012 - ObserverXtra

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2 | NEWS SELECTED 10” HANGING BASKETS $ 9 99 4” ANNUALS or PERENNIALS $ 1 99 1 GALLON PERENNIALS VEGETABLE PLANTS $ 6 99 Doug & Mary Lou Pagett Proud Owners & Operators $ 1 19 /4 Pack Flat of 48 for $12.99 BEDDING PLANTS $ 1 19 /4 Pack Flat of 48 for $12.99 9” GERBERA PLANTERS $ 9 99 12” HANGERS $ 1499 + up Custom Planters Available On Request. 519-669-5403 315 Arthur St. S., Elmira THOMPSON’S AUTO TECH QUICKLUBE 30 Oriole Parkway, Elmira | 519.669.4400 Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm Monday - Friday No Appointment Necessary Licensed Mechanics All Makes And Models THE OBSERVER | SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012 A PERFECT GIFT FOR ANY OCCASSION Father’s Day | Teacher Baby | Birthday Anniversary 1 Union St., Elmira The Shops At Roxton 519.669.3072 www.elmiragiftoutlet.com FARM MARKET BUY FLOWERS TO YOUR MAX WE PAY THE TAX ASPARAGUS LETTUCE GOLDEN GUERNSEY MILK AND CHEESE OMEGA 3 EGGS FLORALANE PRODUCE 2191 Arthur St. N., Elmira, just before Florapine Road 519-669-3154 HOURS: Mon.-Wed. 9:30-5:30 Thur.-Fri. 9:30-7:00 Saturday 9:30-5:30 OPEN Monday to Friday - 8:30 am to 7 pm Saturday - 8 am to 5 pm | SUNDAY - CLOSED Owned & Operated By The Stuart & Esther Horst Family *While quantities last. Not exactly as shown
THE OBSERVER | SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012 Woolwich Counselling Centre the recipient of $25,000 award FREE JAMES JACKSON The Woolwich Counselling Centre (WCC) has been named the recipient of the 2012 Social Venture Partners Waterloo Region (SVPWR) Investee award. With the award comes guaranteed funding of $25,000 per year over the next three to five years, along with mentorship and guidance from more than 50 partners with SVPWR. “We’re pretty thrilled,” said Mary Wilhelm, executive director of the centre. SVPWR launched back in 2010 using a business model created in Seattle, Washington in 1997 by Paul Brainerd. His vision was to build a philanthropic community that leveraged venture capital practices, meaning a group of partners pool not only their money – a minimum donation of $5,000 is required per year – but also their technical or vocational skills to help communitybased organizations grow. “The $25,000 is important but it goes way beyond that. The other pieces are very attractive,” said Willhelm. “We’re not just about writing a cheque,” added Jennifer King, executive director of SVPWR. “Along with the grant comes the expertise of our partners.” Woolwich councillors have yet to weigh in on a controversial hiring, which saw a newly-created staff position filled by a friend of the mayor. Now the township faces the possibility of going through the process two months later, as the new employee’s work visa is set to expire. Councillors, however, say personnel matters are left HOW TO REACH US PHONE 519.669.5790 | TOLL FREE 1.888.966.5942 | FAX 519.669.5753 | ONLINE WWW.OBSERVERXTRA.COM DELIVERY W • O • O • L • W • I • C • H P H A R M A C Y 10 Church St., Elmira • Compounding • Compliance Packaging • Free Blood Pressure Check • Free Blood Glucose Monitor & Teaching • Ostomy & Home Health Care 519-669-8282 CATHY DIAMOND PHARMACIST NEWS | 3 STEVE KANNON Councillors take hands-off stance in hiring controversy STEVE KANNON That expertise can range from a marketing and business background to promote the investee, to legal and fundraising assistance as well. “It really is a partnership,” King said. “We believe in the idea that we can accomplish more by pooling our money and our time.” In three years the SVPWR will reexamine the progress of each investee and decide if they wish to continue funding them. They also perform annual evaluations of the program to see how the groups are progressing and how the funds are being used. WCC provides various counseling programs and services to support the needs of the people of Waterloo Region, with a focus on youth and children. They help about 160 kids per year with issues ranging from grief and loss to autism, and Willhelm hopes that number will climb to at least 200 with this increased funding. As far as dedicated funds for children are concerned, the group receives a donation from the United Way as well as $15,000 from Wallenstein Feed every year, so $25,000 of guaranteed funding every year over the AWARD | 6 to staff; the situation has not been the subject of a formal discussion, nor are there plans to question the decision to hire someone in the country on a temporary visa set to expire in mid- June. Saskia Koning, a South African citizen, beat out some 120 other candidates to win the executive assistant’s position, starting the job Apr. 26. It was to be a three-year contract. LINWOOD STUDENTS GREEN THEIR SPACE Students at Linwood Public School, including Grade 8 Green Team members Shaylen Jones (left), Chantelle Weber, Julia Lee, Johnny Metzger, and Emma Weber (back) participated in the school’s sixth annual spring plant in the schoolyard Monday. The event included four new trees, 24 new shrubs, and 21 new perennials as part of the awardwinning environmental sanctuary. [JAMES JACKSON / THE OBSERVER] Chief administrative officer David Brenneman said this week there’s been no change in Koning's visa situation. It’s likely she’ll have to leave the post, sending the township back to square-one in the hiring process. Brenneman and Mayor Todd Cowan, who was involved in the hiring process, deemed Koning the best-qualified candidate. Without her application, the township had considered re-advertising for the position, deeming all the other applications ill-suited to the job. "If the position becomes vacant the only additional costs that will need to be incurred will be associated with the recruitment process," said Cowan in an email. "It should be noted that had the township not hired Ms. Koning, we would have proceeded to re-advertise the position and incurred those costs regardless." Koning’s own résumé, however, does not seem to fit the qualifications stipulated by the township when it advertised for an executive assistant to the mayor/ council and corporate communications assistant. Brenneman said he is satisfied with her background and experience. Officials have also de- Church added to Woolwich heritage register Shuttered, the last service having taken place at the end of 2011, Chalmers Presbyterian Church remains a Winterbourne landmark, one advocates say deserves preservation. They found a receptive audience in Woolwich councillors, who this week agreed to include the building on its Municipal Heritage Register. The inclusion of the church as a “listed building of interest” affords it some protection, and perhaps paves the way for a full-on heritage designation. Built in 1870, the structure has essentially remained unchanged over the last 142 years, serving as a Presbyterian church. In December, however, the church closed its doors due to a declining membership. In January, some 60 residents worried the building could be lost to demolition if the property is sold, petitioned the township to preserve the building. “In smaller communities like Winterbourne, there are usually a few structures CHURCH | 7 clined to discuss the pay scale for an administrative assistant’s job – $43,000 to $53,000 a year, plus generous benefits – that are out of line with HRSDC data for similar jobs in the private sector. The township position pays about 50 per cent above private-sector averages for administrative assistance jobs – about $35,000 – and much more HIRE | 6 SAMER MIKHAIL PHARMACIST /OWNER OPEN: Monday to Friday 9am-7pm; Saturday 10am-5pm; Closed Sundays
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12 June 2, 2012 - ObserverXtra

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