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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-01-08, Page 5Wednesday, January 8, 2014 • News Record 5 r7r www.clintonnewsrecord.com letters to the editor Pension yet another nail in the Liberal coffin To the editor, Kathleen Wynne nowwants to create a made in Ontario pension plan to supplement the Canada Pension Plan. That means higher payroll deductions for both employees and employers. The feds have rejected the idea. It doesn't take much intelligence to understand that workers can't afford increased payroll deductions and employers are already leav- ing Ontario, like rats deserting a sinking ship, because of the already astronomic costs of doing business in Ontario. The Feds seem to recognize the need to improve CPP but con- sidering the problems and consequences of such a move have said, now is not the time, let's improve the economy first. Ontario's Liberals, recognize problems, dif- ficulties, complications, consequences, costs? You have got to be kidding. These are the people who since Wynne took over as Premier have: 1. Thrown $400 million at the horse racing industry (with no implementa- tion plan) to fix a problem they created by ending the slots at racetrack program. 2. Allowed $21 million in performance bonuses to be paid to public service manag- ers despite a wage freeze they implemented. 3. Pushed ahead with divestment of ONTC which they said was going to save Ontario 625 million only to find outitwill costtaxpay- ers $820 million. 4. Misappropriated $1 bil- lion dollars to close gas plants in Toronto so that they could win an election. 5. Created 36 expert panels to advise the government made up of liberal lackeys... if there are five persons on a panel making the usual $100,000 each that works out to another 18 million. My "Liberal FIASCO List" which is now over 40 items, also includes the fiascos Wynne had a hand in as the Right Hand Man to Premier McGuinty. Things like Omge, OLG, OPG, the Ring of Fire, Pan Am Games, Green Energy Plan etc, etc. Even if this pension idea is a good one in the future. What sane person in their right mind would want these Liberals, who have no real electoral mandate to govern, and have screwed up Ontario's economy so badly, to be responsible for implementing and run- ning a pension plan that will govem your economic future. Gail Smith, Paisley, ON REACH still adding to taxpayer's woes/pockets To the editor, Further to my original let- ter of Jan. 1, I would like to add the following: I asked a number of ques- tions at Central Huron Coun- cil in October and November about the operations and finances at REACH. I had not received any answers from REACH's CEO Jeff Marshall so I presented council with a copy of my questions on Dec. 3. Not surprising, I still have not received any written answers to those questions - some are over a year old now! At the Dec. 17 council meeting, a motion was brought forward and council again voted to reallocate from the tax reserves $38,000 addi- tional funding to REACH Huron. Council also passed a Recapping Christmas in Londesborough Londesborough News Brenda Radford Christmas Concert Mrs. Claus, [aka Laura Scott], had a helper from the North Pole at Londesborough United Church's annual Christmas Concert on December 23. Honey, [aka Harriett Shillin- glaw], was on hand to keep the children in par- ticular amused with her antics and jokes. Barb Bosman, who organized the concert again this year, had once again searched out some inter- esting'acts' This concert is a chance for community folk to display their talents in front of an under- standing audience without fear of criticism. And there were many adult debuts that evening. Helen Lyons revealed that she had taken piano lessons as a youngster and decided she could play a couple of carols for us, "Wmter Wonderland' and "Deck the Halls': With the accompaniment of Barb Bosman, Tom Pollard amused everyone with "The Laughing Song" and gave voice to the feeling of all of us with "I Believe in Father Christmas': Mark and Laurel Mitchell impressed everyone with their duets, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "Drummer Boy Song of Peace': A close to home original recitation by Robert Hunking was penned in the form of "Twas the Night Before Christmas': It spoke of the people and work of Londesborough United. This concert always welcomes repeat per- formers like John Jewitt, who accompanied by Barb Bosman, played Christmas music on his violin including "0 Holy Night" Mel Knox sang "Pretty Paper" and "Holly, Jolly Christmas': Gordon Shobbrook was back to recite a Robert Service poem, "The Three Bares': In aprons and with a few appropriate props, Barb Bosman and Jane Hoggart presented an amusing look at the work of the women of any church with "Marching On'; sort of the battle hymn of UCW" Younger members of the community also had their chance to shine. Home for the holi- days, Louise and Darlene Lobb sang "Mary's Little Boy Child". They brought along some familiar items, wooden spoons and a shaker, to add some instrumental effects. Fourteen - year old Naomi Filiatreault sang a beautiful rendition of "Somewhere a Child Is Sleeping". Ten-year old Sara Hunking treated us to "Let It Go" with the support of her dad and sister. Shayna Hunking wearing antlers and Elianne Kreuger wearing a Santa hat sang "Rudolph" Both nine-year olds had red noses as well. Eli [5] and Sadie [4] Baxter returned this year and encouraged everyone to "Light a Candle for Peace': Demonstrating their progress with piano lessons were Elianne Kreuger, Shayna Hunking and Madelaine Yantzi, all of whom played Christmas selections. Of course the much anticipated and final act of the night was the arrival of Santa Claus who gave all the young folk his undivided attention and a treat bag. Congratulations and thanks to all the partic- ipants for adding to everyone's Christmas spirit. Christmas Sunday Service Recognizing that in the Advent Season the Christmas Sunday service and the lighting of the fourth Advent candle, the candle of love, is important Terry Fletcher chose to present that service on Sunday, December 29 at Londes- borough United Church. The original service motion to apply for a Rural Economic Development (RED) grant for $12,500, where Central Huron has to match the $12,500 to hire someone to do a REACH business plan. We have already seen two REACH business plans - one in 2007 prepared by Richard Hardin and another in 2012 prepared by CEO Jeff Marshall. Neither of them is working. You can write any numbers you want on a piece of paper - ie: Business Plan - it doesn't make it work in reality. Why would we put another $25,000 into another one? Why are Central Huron tax- payers paying when we have a REACH Board and employ- ees that should be spending their own budget (but that's taxpayers' money anyway)? In 2008, Central Huron's spending budget was $3,506,088 and in 2013 the budget has ballooned to $5,289,900, an increase of 50.8 per cent! Council is pro- posing an increase in spend- ing of 7.4 per cent in 2014. Is it any wonder people are upset with their taxes? Dur- ing my presentation to coun- cil on Dec. 3 I made several suggestions how I thought they could reduce the 2014 budget. I can only hope that someone was listening. With an election coming in the fall of 2014, I sure hope we get some candidates that are capable of practicing financial restraint. Carol Dutot fell victim to the ice storm. It was also reassur- ing to sing for a last time the songs of Christmas. When God gave His son, Jesus, to the world that first Christmas Eve it was a true gift of self. Giving of one's own self whether it be a gift of time or a gift made by one's self is the most precious kind of gift. This was the idea behind Terry's conversation with the children that morning. He went on to tell them about a very special gift he and Mary had received at Christ- mas. The season is busy for everyone and especially for a house of two ministers. His daughter arrived home with all the ingredients and prepared for them a very special meal - a gift of time and self. The senior choir, accompanied by Barb Bos- man on piano and Bonnie Jewitt on the organ sang "Good Christian Men, Rejoice'. Later in the service they offered a lively number, "The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy': "Keeping Watch" was the title for the mes- sage to the adults that morning. Supporting scriptures were Psalm 95 and Luke 2: 8-18. One maywonderwhythe shepherds around Bethlehem were the first to receive the news of Christ's birth. After all, in the time of the birth shepherds were generally considered lowest on the social scale. This was due in part to the fact that their occupation prevented then from observing the rituals of their faith. That being said the shepherds around Bethlehem were somewhat special in that their flocks provided the sacrifices for each day's religious gather- ing. Consequently these shepherds were always alert and attentive to their flock. King David had been one of this band of shepherds. Hills around Bethlehem were full of caves where flocks were stabled at times and where the shepherds lived. It may have been in one of these caves/stables where Mary gave birth. At the time of the birth there was much noise in the city. Yet on the hills where it was quiet the shepherds were alert to any unusual noise or occurrences. Thus they heard the news of the angels. Similarly the Magi had been on the watch for some time for the new star to appear. Terry asked the congregants to try to be more alert and watchful about the events of Christmas. To focus on the real message of the season he suggested we might be surprised at what we hear, see or discover. Et Cetera We surely are in the midst of what one might call a real winter. And the snow just keeps coming. However on the flip side is the fact that winter activities can be enjoyed. In recent years one was hard pressed to run a snowmo- bile, cross country ski or just toboggan. This year the holidays for the young folk have been full of these outdoor things. Mother Nature must have heard the call for more `participaction: Don and Joan Goodall received a wonderful Christmas gift this year delivered by the stork. Their newest grandchild, Hayden William Goodall, arrived early Christmas morning. The arrival of 2014 means an upcoming annual meeting for Londesborough UC slated for February 23. Reports for the annual report must be in the church office by January 22. The next regular meeting of the official board happens on Feb. 5 beginning at 7:30 p.m. The UCW should be meeting for their first gathering of 2014 on Jan. 20.