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Planning to produce sail boats Grew Boats Ltd. lays off 25 workers A late spring combined with the uncertain economic climate has prompted Grew Boats Ltd. to lay off 25 workers from its plant in Penetanguishene. In an interview last Friday, manager Peter Shirriff said the employees worked mainly on the assembly'line, producing the compay's luxury power boats, and that the layoff is temporary. Shirriff called this a "period of caution" for the firm, and added that it is "traditional at this time of year...the ice hasn't broken up 1 ie _And dealers have a lot of boats on hand."' i said the layoff amounted to little more than "'an inventory adjustment", but ad- mitted that "things are tighter than in past years." He said the company's target was to produce "1,000 units" this year at THE Penefanguishene plant, 'but this isn't the best year I've seen, to be honest with you." Boat manufacturers, like auto makers, depend on volume sales for profit, and while demand has often exceeded production capability in recent years, that demand could slacken as consumers look for more economical forms of recreation -- and ones that conserve energy supplies. And that possibility, said Shirriff, is prodding the company into taking new directions. 'The present plant, with a new assembly line only a year old, is "designed to ef- ficiently produce power boats,"' he said, but added that the firm is "looking at a line of big sailboats' it plans to start building next A A 26-foot beauty October. Designed by master boat builder Leon Slickers of the United States, they are 23 and 26-foot luxury family sailboats, built specifically for recreational, as opposed to racing, purposes. i At least two of them will be on display in Midland and Penetanguishene this summer, and Shirriff said "we've had orders for 10 of them already." That order will be filled by boats made by a U.S. firm, with Grew han- dling modifications for the Canadian market. "In the past," said Shirriff, 'bigger sailboats were made with a view to racing. Now people are not as able to buy cottages with the price of land" rising rapidly in recreational areas, and he feels the line of sailboats could provide a practical -- and cheaper -- alternative. He said the boats are "comfortable and functional", and will retail at prices ranging from $12 - $25,0000, depending on size and options chosen. Grew's power boats range in price from $1,500 to $23,000 -- the latter what Shirriff: calls "'super-duper cruisers", and the firm has managed, he said, to hold price increases to 9.2 per cent for the coming season. "We don't think it's wise to crank up prices to the extent auto makers did this year," he explained. He said there is "fierce" competition in the power boat market, particularly from American manufacturers, and there is a price "'barrier" that forces companies to keep prices as low as possible. To: be repaired this week Lights at Poyntz, Main malfunction The recently installed traffic lights at the corner of Main and Poyntz Streets in Penetanguishene have been temporarily changed to flashing amber and red, following a malfunction that was causing motorists to Peter Payette Peter Payette founded the P. Payette Company, Engineers and Machinists in Penetanguishene in 1880. . By 1914, after he had passed away and a half interest sold by his estate had been purchased by J.T. Payette, his nephew had full control of the firm, and within eight years had quadrupled the volume of business. Payette lived in the house where Huronia Motors now stands on Robert Street West, and in his time he was one of Ontario's major industrialists. For a more complete story and Photographs, turn to page 26 for the sixth feature in a 13-part series on the history of Penetanguishene. In 1921, when Penetanguishene celebrated its tercentenary, J.T. Payette was mayor of the town. _ Last week, in a page one story, we incorrectly reported that Charles Beck hid -bfsen the first mayor of Petesagiguishene. 'oY SO. The first mayor, in fact, was Alfred Thompson, who was born in 1813 and came to live in Penetanguishene at the age of 17 in 1830. He ran the first fur trading store in the settlement, and used to entertain buyers for his furs from all over the world. complain of extended delays at the in- tersection. A police spokesman said Monday the light was intended to be permanently green on Main Street, unless a pedestrian pushed a button, or an underground wire was triggered by a car approaching the corner along Poyntz Street. There have been "numerous complaints about the light tieing up traffic," according to the spokesman, and "as of today (Mon- day) it's switched to flashing and will remain so until it is fixed.' Police hope the installers will have the work completed some time this week. Town gets 12 tons of free food Twenty-four thousand pounds of frozen food is being distributed in Penetanguishene today from the old Dominion Store beside the town office on Robert Street West. Francis St. Amant, co-ordinator for the town and including Lafontaine and Perkinsfield, said the original order from the area was for roughly 80,000 pounds, but it was "cut back". The distribution was to get underway this morning, Wednesday, at 9 a.m., and should be completed by the time the newspaper reaches the streets. The food is from a McCain's Company warehouse in the Maritimes that was par- tially destroyed by fire. The packaging was somewhat damaged but the food -- pies, French fries etc., -- was not, so the firm ! decided to distribute it free to those in need across the country. Y There have already been distributions in Midland and Victoria Harbour KIL worker hurt A Wyevale man underwent emergency surgery Friday night at Toronto General Hospital following what company officials describe as a "freak accident', at the Kin- dred Industries Limited plant in Midland earlier Friday. Carl Adams, 30, was seriously injured when a small plug blew off a piece of machinery and lodged behind his heart. 'he bulk of Grew's sales, according to Sherriff, are of all-purpose runabouts in the $7-8,000 price range. Grew, and Gidley Boat Works before it, has made a wide variety of craft in more than three generations, ranging from row boats, to the 17-foot Grew Dinghy made until about 1935, and the submarine chaser Fairmiles manufactured here during the Second World War. _ Shirriff calls the new sailboats "beautiful, unbelievable', and the news of their future production in Penetanguishene should help offset the hopefully temporary addition of another 25 North Simcoe workers to the ranks of the unemployed. The company employs a staff of roughly 100 at Penetanguishene. 15° With 8 Pages Colour Comics Penetanguishene citizen Vol. 8 No. 17 Wednesday, April 23, 1975 52 pages Town may get $1-million in aid Penetanguishene could get an influx of federal and provincial funds totalling more than $1-million under two programs ad- ministered by Ontario but largely paid for by Ottawa. Town officials received confirmation Monday morning that the town is one of 33 municipalities in Ontario to receive a grant under the Neighbourhood Improvement Program -- designed to improve amenities in specific parts of the municipalities by providing parks and some services. Penetanguishene will have $300,000 available in 1975, with 50 per cent of the money coming from the federal government and 25 per cent from the province. The town pays the rest of the bill - only 25 per cent. In applying for the grant, the town had to designate NIP areas -- and settled on the west end from Centre Street to Park Street including Poyntz and Robert Streets, and the Chatham and Sheridan Street area at the other end of town. Any improvements or servicing will take place only after meetings with the property owner in the areas affected, according to clerk-treasurer Yvon Gagne. The second program to affect the town is the Residential, Rehabilitation Assistance Program, paid for exclusively from federal funds, which allows homeowners in designated NIP areas to apply for low- interest loans of up to $5,000 to improve their homes. Repayment of the loans is geared to the need for upgrading the dwelling, and the family's salary, with provisions for forgiveness of the loan in some cir- cumstances. : The RRAP money is all channelled through the municipal office, and according to a survey conducted by municipal officials, up to 166 homes could qualify for the maximum $5,000 loans. -- me If all applied and received the funds, it woul bring $830,000 directly into the municipality for improvement, primarily of the west end, and with the $225,000 federal and provincial portions of the NIP money, could put the town over the $1-million mark in terms of inflow of cash. And that allocation is only for 1975. The town may apply again next year, but an excited Gagne asks whether "we can expect to be blessed twice." Three hurt in cruiser collision For the second time in as many weeks, an area police cruiser has found its way into a body shop for repairs following a collision with another vehicle. In the photo above, Marie Moreau, 53, of Dominion Avenue in Midland is being placed in an ambulance after a car in which she was riding collided with a Penetanguishene police cruiser driven by constable Claude Monroe Friday night. Police report constable Monroe was travelling east on Robert Street at 10:45 when his cruiser struck a car driven by Martial Moreau, 57, at the intersection of Main and Robert. Moreau and his wife were both taken to Midland's St. Andrew's Hospital for treatment of injuries, and Monroe suffered bruises to his legs and chest. He was to have X-rays taken at Penetanguishene General Hospital this week, but finished his shift Friday and was on duty Monday. According to police, the Moreau car was travelling west on Robert Street at the time of the mishap, with the driver attempting a southbound turn onto Main Street. A spokesman said, the light was green at the time, and Moreau has been charged with making an improper left-hand turn. Total damage in the crash was estimated at $2,700 -- $1,500 of it to the cruiser, a 1975 Plymouth purchased by the force last fall, with only 20,000 miles on the speedometer. That leaves the town's police department with only one, older, cruiser in service. Early on Tuesday, April 15, a Midland cruiser piled into the rear of a' Penetang-Midland Coach Lines bus at 6:40 a.m. Staff sergeant Ross Willett of the Midland force was charged following that mishap with following too closely. Citizen contents -- (icant UNDERSEND ALL ) Volunteers needed ; IS FUSS A THE METRIG : SYSTEM--I'VE WORKED Milk too glamorous : Minor hockey wrap-up 13 Farm section 16-17 Classified 22-25 Payette's foundry 26: Entertainment A little Charlie Chirnside, projectionist at Listowel's Capitol Theatre, had a bit of assistance Sunday night at the Pen Theatre from Jim Shakell, left, of Midland, and Tom Wright, getting to the stage for his peanut-pushing debut. His boss lost a bet with the Pen Theatre It* was a wacky, peanut-pushing Sunday night at the Pen Theatre this week, that saw a Listowel theatre projectionist dragged kicking and screaming down the aisle at in- termission to roll a peanut across the Pen's stage with his nose. Mr. Peanut himself was on hand to lend encouragement, with a broom applied to the victim's posterior whenever a gentle nudge was needed, 'and the incident ended with the projectionist chasing a theatre em- ployee back up the aisle. It was all the result of a bet between the owners of the Pen and the Capitol Theatre of Listowel, who in early March asked patrons to leave spare change on the floor for the theatres' cleaners to pick up. ; Ralph (Rye) Beauchamp, with 43 years' experience working in Penetanguishene theatres, reaped $45.09. His counterpart in Listowel turned up less than half that total -- $22.09. Both owners had agreed to match the amount left by the moviegoers, and the losing owner had pledged to "push the peanut" in penance. gentle help managers over who could raise the most money for the cleaner, and sent him along after floods damaged the Listowel establishment. He had come, he claimed, to apologize for his boss's absence -- not push the peanut. Staff photo Peanut pushing at the Pen Theatre Nature intervened, however, as spring floods left the Listowel theatre filled with eight feet of water -- two feet of it around the seats -- so the owner sent Charlie Chirnside along with his apologies. Naturally, he became the victim, although Pen manager Dave Babcock said Charlie found out only 10 minutes ahead of time that he would be the stand-in peanut pusher. He tried to blow the peanut, push it with his hand, as well as roll it with a plastic-protected nose, but he never did make it all the way. He grabbed the broom and chased Tom Wright around the theatre instead -- to laughter from the crowd of almost 500 But the Pen upheld its end of the bargain, and presented Rye with another $45.09 in cash after he got out of his Peanut Man suit, matching 'the amount patrons left. It was all good fun, and Rye had even put on new shoes, a new shirt and tie for the occasion. We never did learn what happened to the peanut, but we suspect it was picked up by Charlie to nibble on during the second feature. ----_ Council to vote on zoning bylaw at Tuesday meeting Penetanguishene town council will take one last look at its proposed new zoning by- law next Tuesday night, and is expected to approve it for circulation to ratepayers and the Ontario Municipal Board. If approved there, the town will hold public meetings to discuss the by-law, and await final approval from the OMB. Council and the planning board held a joint session last Thursday night with Shane Kennedy, senior planner at the Official Plans Branch of the Ministry of Housing, and of- ficials after the meeting expressed satisfaction that most points had been resolved. The town had sent two drafts to Queen's Park that were greeted by extensive lists of comments and suggested revisions. After last week's meeting, town officials are working through a third draft, and the one that if approved on Tuesday will be circulated to the public. Until the zoning by-law is passed and ap- proved by the OMB, the town can only act in what clerk-treasurer Yvon Gagne calls a "negative way -- by refusing building per- mits." With the by-law formally approved, the town will be divided into zones recognized under the law, with single family units only permitted in some places, commercial in others and so on. c Two major changes from the designation under the town's official plan contained in the draft is that the area at the west end where the nature trail is located will be zoned as open space, as will the land behind the water works building on Fox Street. 3 No land is being zoned for high density -- such as high rise -- apartments under the draft by-law, a move town officials feel will Turn clocks ahead Sunday By official decree, we are going to lose an hour of sleep sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning this weekend. Daylight Saving Time comes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Sunday. To those visiting Lions who will be attending the Lions Governors' Banquet and Ball on Saturday night and business meetings on Sunday morning, we offer our condolences. give them greater control over future development. Anything more than a triplex -- except for one parcel of five lots in the Asselin sub- division -- will require an amendment to the by-law, and therefore careful scrutiny by council and the public. Future industrial development along the lakeshore would be eliminated completely under the by-law, and one block of land between Church and Fox Streets at the north end of town will be zoned, for now, agricultural -- effectively preventing any further building without an amendment to the by-law. That could change rapidly, according to a spokesman, if a developer assembled some land and was prepared to install adequate services to the town's specifications, but for the moment the area is not serviced and no new construction is looked for. A welcome with style Town officials in some communities are looked upon as quiet, gray little men and women who pore over tax forms and keep piles of dusty records for the interest of future historians. Not so in Penetanguishene. Not only is the municipal office ac- tive, with a generally young and cheerful staff, it knows how to make an impression on first-time visitors. Why, just last week, a man with a business proposal dropped into 10 Robert Street West, trailing an im- pressive looking lawyer and looking for advice. Obligingly, according to our in- formant, the official in question stood up, shook hands, and greeted his visitors. Hospitality. He then sat down, leaned back in his padded chair, and fell over. See? Entertainment tox Is there any place you'd rather be?