Lots of Choice In Municipal Election

The Stratford Beacon Herald reports November's election will see 13 candidates for St Marys Ontario councillor and 3 candidates for mayor.

Gary Boyce, Don Van Galen, Wayne Murray, Bill Mustard, John Near, Helen Pate, Jim Swan and Louis Vermond, as well as incumbents Cunningham, Edney, Luna, Osborne and Symons are running for the 6 councillor positions.

Tony Winter at the last minute has decided to seek re-election. Former 4-term Mayor Jamie Hahn and Councillor Teahen had previously announced their intention to run for Mayor.

Jamie Hahn To Run For Mayor

In this week's St Marys Journal Argus Andrea Macko reports Jamie Hahn will run for mayor in November. He was mayor for 12 years before retiring in 2003. Before that he had been a councillor for 12 years.

Donal O'Connor in the Stratford Beacon Herald reports Councillor Gerry Teahen will also run for mayor. Teahen worked for St Marys Cement and spearheaded the Pyramid Recreation Centre project. Teahen is a former mayor and twice lost when running to become an MPP for the Liberals.

Current mayor Tony Winter has until next Friday, September 29 to decide if he will seek re-election. Runner-up in the last mayoralty race Don Van Galen is also considering running. Since the last election Van Galen has chaired the planning committee.

Update: Jamie Hahn Elected St Marys Ontario Mayor

Enos and Eva Hutton 60th Anniversary

There will be an open house celebrating Enos and Eva Hutton's 60th wedding anniversary Sunday, September 17, 2-4 pm at Thames Valley Recreation Centre, 30 Ann Street.

Wallace Hutton started Hutton Transport with his brothers Gordon and Enos in 1932. They hauled many different commodities including gravel, livestock and corrugated paper. During the 1940's, the company began hauling cement. St Marys Cement purchased the company from the Hutton family in the 1960's.

Perth County Turns Down Annexation

This morning Perth County turned down St Marys request to annex Perth South land (see map).

St Marys and Perth South had previously agreed to the annexation. Perth South would have continued to receive current taxes plus 40% of any additional taxes. St Marys would have received 60% of any new taxes and paid all of the costs to service the land.

First Nation Ethanol Development had expressed interest in building an ethanol plant there. First Nation Ethanol was established by Aboriginal entrepreneur Patrick Waddilove to build an ethanol plant on Munsee-Delaware Nation land near London. Last December they were turned down by the Ontario government when they applied for a grant from the Ethanol Growth Fund. They are still seeking funding to build their first plant.

St Marys Storytelling Festival

The 3 day storytelling festival begins tomorrow at the Flats - Water St and Parkview Dr.

Friday, September 8:

9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 2: 30 p.m.: Local schools visit the festival. Admission: $2

Morning: Storytelling and Historical Interpretation Workshop at the St. Marys Museum, 177 Church St South with Dale Jarvis, historical interpreter and storyteller from St. Johns, Newfoundland.

Five storytellers visit 10 Perth County schools as part of the "Understanding Human Diversity" program.

7:30 to 10:00 p.m.: Concert of Storytelling and Traditional Music for adults and youth, ages 12 and over. In the Family

Tent. Admission: $7

Saturday, September 9:

9:00 to 11:30 a.m.: Three Storytelling Workshops:
- Stepping into Stories in the Classroom Gail Fricker
- Tell It! Storytelling with Young Children Kevin MacKenzie
- Exploring the Magic of Masks and Storytelling Fay Wilkinson

11:00 to 12:00 a.m.: Author/Storyteller Rukhsana Khan visits St. Marys Public Library, 15 Church St North. Open to all ages. Free.

1:00 to 5:00 p.m.: Storytelling in three tents at the Storytelling Festival on the Flats
- Family Tent: suitable for ages 4 to adult
- Adult Tent: for teenagers and adults
- Children's tent: geared to preschoolers and children up to age 7 or 8

Admission: Adults: $7 and Students K-8: $3. Preschoolers free.
There will also be a Toddler's Tent with activities for very young children, food vendors for lunch or snacks, an eating tent, and music.

7:30 to 9:30 p.m.: Family Concert in the Family Tent: Storytellers' Favourite Stories Suitable for ages 4 to adult.

Admission: Adults $7 and Students K-8: $3

Sunday, September 10:

10:30 to 12:00 a.m. Story Swap in the Adult Tent Free

1:30 to 4:00 p.m. Family concert of stories and music by donation

Website: www.stmarysstorytelling.org