Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-01-12, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2012. PAGE 19. “Like Father Like Son” Happy 12th Birthday Brett January 16th Happy 40th Birthday Ron January 12th Lots of Love, Nicole (Mom), Ashley and Allison and the rest of the family Increase in stamps coming due to mail usage dropping For all those euchre players who are keen to get back into action after a Christmas hiatus, the Happy Gang Seniors will not be holding their regular card party at the Londesborough Hall this month. They hope to see you back on Feb.10.The seniors will be holding theirfirst meeting of 2012 on Jan. 25. This is the third year in the three- year program by Canada Post to make changes in their corporation. So, postal rates will be going up again effective Jan. 16. The changes must be helping the company as a whole for Canada Post reported a significant increase in their bottom line in 2011. And grumble as we do about the cost of mailing, we may only have ourselves to blame. It seems to be one of those ‘catch 22’ circumstances. Many folk, for a variety of reasons, are choosing to e-mail rather than write a note or arepaying bills using direct debit orthrough on-line banking.I have noticed a significant decrease in the number of greeting cards sent in the five years I’ve been sorting mail. So, less volume, less revenue, raise the prices. And in those same five years not one parcel tracked through our counter has gone astray; late, perhaps, but arriving eventually. The cost of a regular stamp that carries your mail to any part of Canada will increase from 59 cents to 61 cents. Postage to the United States will increase from $1.03 to $1.05 while international mail willbe $1.80 instead of $1.75. Otherrates will see slight increases as well.Remember any stamp that has that“P” for permanent will be accepted at the current rate of postage no matter when you bought it. And any stamp will be honoured for its labelled value no matter how long you have been storing it. Villagers may feel they have benefitted from the increase in rates for rumour has it that really in 2012 the Londesborough postal outlet will be going high-tech with the implementation of a computer system. The Canadian Press recently released a postal ranking done by aBritish consulting firm. Canada Postranks eighth among the postalservices of G-20 countries in accessto services, efficiency and performance. The United States was at the top of the ranking. Apparently their postal service delivered eight times more letters per full-time delivery employee than Canada Post. That makes all the noise we hear about wages in Canada being very high in comparison to the U.S. ring true, wouldn’t you say? However, the U.S. Postal Service is virtually bankrupt and they recognize they are going to have to make drastic changes in their system. They may no longer offer one-day delivery service across the country and could cut more employees. Nothing was said, however, about cutting out Saturday delivery service. The top 10 countries as ranked by the firm are United States, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Germany United Kingdom, France, Canada, Brazil and Russia. NEWS FROM LONDESBORO By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296 PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO The scripture passage read by Terry Fletcher at Londesborough United Church on Sunday, Jan. 8 was Matthew 2: 1-12. The gospel of Matthew was the only account of the visit of the Magi to the Baby Jesus. Jan. 6 marks that visit in the Christian calendar. During the children’s time at the front Terry told the boys and girls that the first Christmas gifts ever given were made by the Wise Men also called the Magi. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the manger. He explained to them that in Latin/Spanish American countries, Christmas is celebrated at the time of Epiphany. In their prayer together, the children asked God to show them what gifts they might bring to honour Jesus. “Going the Distance” was the title of Terry’s message to the adults. The known world had been awaiting the coming of a new king of the Jews for many years, as prophesied by the Old Testament. The belief was that He would manifest, make Himself known, by a light. The Magi whom history believes visited the manger, were astrology priests. They recognized something special in the skies that convinced them the time was then, perhaps the aligning of the planets, a comet, a new star. Christians are able to believe that they were actually led by a star. In great faith they travelled the great distance to find the new king. In our search for God, we must accept the light into our world; seek Him out by keeping out eyes on the light; recognize we have found Christ and our faith. In his closing prayer Terry asked God to help us all see those in our world who are suffering and in need and to show us how we can help them. The senior choir offered the hymn/anthem “Count Your Blessings” that morning. The Senior choir will gather for practice prior to the service on Jan. 15. The next official board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 31 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Anyone having a contribution to the 2011 annual report is asked to hand it in to the office as soon as possible. Terry Fletcher will be holding confirmation classes this spring. Contact him if you wish to attend. The January meeting of the Londesborough UCW will be held on Monday, Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Emily Phillips of Blyth will be the guest speaker. Confirmation classes set to start in spring Continued from page 1 with the BRA passed, customers would still be able to opt out and use Sunrise Sanitation if that was their wish. Barnim insisted that the arrangement would be no different than when Waste Management, and Chamney Sanitation before them, was making the rounds and many in Clinton chose to stay with Smith’s company. Smith also cited the municipality’s website poll where 38 per cent of residents were against implementing co-collection in Central Huron, the leading of the four options. Mayor Jim Ginn, however, pointed out that the other 62 per cent had voted in favour of co-collection, those votes were just spread out over three affirmative options. Smith also said that if garbage weight came in higher than what was anticipated by the BRA, those additional costs would have to be absorbed by the tax base, which is something that wouldn’t happen with him. Barnim, however, defended the cost, saying that the BRA’s estimates are currently working in 18 other municipalities throughout Ontario and that Central Huron is confident in the numbers. “You could charge $100 [for a small bin] tonight and it would still be a hell of a deal,” Barnim said. Lobb asked if the arrangement with the BRA could be changed from a default system so that people won’t have a bin show up to their home and then they’re stuck with the bill for the entire year. That suggestion, however, was shot down. “A lot of people won’t get around to it and then they’re stuck with the bill,” she said. After the motion passed, Smith continued, asking Ginn what residents were expected to do with their garbage until the program begins on April 1. Ginn said April 1 was the earliest that the program could be rolled out and residents will simply have to make do until that time. “People will have to look after their own garbage until then,” Ginn said. The form being mailed out has to be finalized by the municipality, but should be in the mail soon. Waste plan causes stink in CH Continued from page 10 concerned, Ginn says, he’s just happy to have him working with the municipality and that it didn’t take much to convince him to lend a hand. “Jack’s been a busy man his whole life,” Ginn said, “so he had some free time and decided to help us out.” CH welcomes McLachlan Back to the grind Jacob Josling, left, and Justin Kerr, second from right were ready to get back to Blyth Public School and start getting back into the school groove earlier this week. Also shown are, from left: Cassidy Shannon, Nicholas McDonald and teacher Mrs. Roe. (Denny Scott photo)