SHOWS:
Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
Written by Bernard Slade
Rosemarie Ens Directed by Joe Brenner
Produced by
APRIL 17 to MAY 2, 2015
Tickets $20 all performances at
For Tickets Call Centre in the Square 519-578-1570 · 1-800-265-8977
76 Howard Ave., Elmira 519-669-3230
THU, FRI, SAT 8:00PM SUN 2:30PM
www.elmiratheatre.com
www.facebook.com/groups/elmiratheatrecompany
04 | 04 | 2015 VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 14
Taking their game to the next level SPORTS PAGE 11
COMMENT PAGE 8
Weakening labour market must be considered
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
Councillor’s bid for hiring freeze shot down in Woolwich Reluctant agreement reached to provide staffing numbers and costs in bid for more accountability STEVE KANNON Resisting any oversight role to get a handle on Woolwich’s growing staff costs, councillors shot down Coun. Pat Merlihan’s bid for a hiring freeze. Coun. Larry Shantz was the sole supporter of the bid for more accountability. Merlihan’s motion centered on getting information about staffing costs and the increase in numbers and expense to taxpayers. He’s been requesting information since last fall, and getting no response, he said as he and his colleagues met March 31. “Currently, council is blind,” he said, noting that councillors were given no information about the expense that makes up half the annual operating budget. “We have to start the conversation about staffing levels,” he argued, saying that the public perception – real or not – is that the township is staffheavy. His motion called not for an absolute hiring freeze, but management would have to come to council to make the case for filling any vacancies rather than simply going ahead accountability | 6
Kings win Cherrey Cup With 5-1 victory on home ice Wednesday night, team skates past Stratford Cullitons in five games The jubilant Sugar Kings gathered for the customary “number one” group photo following the big win Apr. 1. Inset, Kings veteran Mitch Wright hoists the Cherrey Cup. [Scott Barber / The Observer]
SCOTT BARBER The Elmira Sugar Kings captured the 20142015 Cherrey Cup Wednesday night with a decisive 5-1 victory over the Stratford Cullitons. More than 1,500 spectators packed the Woolwich Memorial Centre to watch game five. Leading the series 3-1, the Kings were eager to clinch the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Midwestern Conference championship on home ice; and so were their fans.
With outstanding performances throughout the lineup, including a 32-save night for netminder Jonathan Reinhart and a hat trick for rookie forward Ethan Skinner, they didn’t disappoint. Asked to describe the key to his club’s success, head coach Jeff Flanagan drew on what has been a common theme for the team all season long: defence. “Our guys were very defensively minded,” he said. “Our battles were better. Kings | 28