HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-07-02, Page 14There were misgivings expressedabout closing the only elementaryschool in a community of about
1,000 people, but trustees of the
Avon Maitland District School
Board nonetheless voted
unanimously in favour of a wide-
ranging accommodation review
recommendation that includes the
closure of Blyth Public School.
“I’ve crunched the numbers as
many different ways that I can for
the students attending Blyth Public
School and I can’t come up with
anything different,” commented
Goderich/Northwest Huron
representative Al Sygrove, at a
regular meeting Tuesday, June 23.
Stratford trustee Meg Westley
added, “I hate to see a town lose its
school; I hate to see a town’s student
population split.”
The vote paves the way for the
closure of four elementary schools in
the Wingham area, and the
construction of a new kindergarten-
to-Grade 6 facility at an as-yet-
undetermined location. Grades 7 and
8 students from the new school’s
catchment area will attend an
isolated wing of F.E. Madill
Secondary School in Wingham.
Blyth Public School is unique inthe plan, however, since its studentswill not all transfer to the newschool; some will relocate to HullettCentral Public School inLondesborough.A school catchment boundary
already splits the Blyth Public
community; a portion of graduates
currently attend Central Huron
Secondary School (CHSS) in
Clinton while the rest move on to
F.E. Madill. Minor alterations were
made to this boundary in the June 23
recommendation, and now the
CHSS/Madill and Hullett
Central/new school dividing lines
will correspond.
Other complicating factors are a
right to choose for students living
within the town of Blyth – which
already exists for high school
students choosing between Clinton
and Wingham – and the fact Hullett
Central will remain a K-8 school
while the new facility will only
house students up to Grade 6.
The issue of placing Grades 7 and
8 students into a high school setting
has been a hot topic – and a source
of considerable animosity towards
the board – throughout the Wingham
area, but there has been limited
opposition to closing Turnberry
Central, Wingham Public or East
Wawanosh schools.Some outspoken residents ofBlyth, by contrast, want to keep theirschool.“I was disappointed that anamendment to take Blyth out of theclosure scenario wasn’t even
considered at the (June 23)
meeting,” said Ernest Dow, who
presented an official delegation to
trustees prior to their vote, and
handed them a 71-name petition that
later found its way to the desk of
Ontario’s Education Minister.
The petition calls for an
“Administrative Review” of the
public consultation process that led
up to the closure vote. Suggested
grounds for a review include a
failure to provide ample time for
input following the announcement
of board staff’s final
recommendation, and a failure to
provide all alternative staff plans
during the earlier public consultation
process.
(Various scenarios were discussed
in the months leading up to the vote,
but the final recommendation only
came to light in early June,
following an announcement that the
board would receive $8.8 million in
Local Priorities funding from the
Education Ministry.)
In his delegation to trustees, Dow
compared Blyth Public to otherschools in the recentaccommodation review, saying it hasthe highest enrolment as a per centof school-rated capacity. Estimatedcosts for maintaining the school over10 years are less than some of the
other schools.
And almost half the students walk
to school, he added, meaning
transportation costs will be incurred
with any move outside the town.
“The real culprit is a restrictive . .
. Ministry policy that requires excesscapacity to be filled,” he said,referring to trustees’ insistence thatthey must follow through on the planto put more students into F.E. Madillin order to qualify for the $8.8million.
Speaking in an interview later in
the week, Dow said the petition had
been delivered to the office of
Education Minister Kathleen
Wynne, and community members
are now waiting for a response.
PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2009.Misgivings expressed about closing Blyth PS
Challenge: Conflicting schedules leave no time
to enjoy meals together as a family
Solution:Studies show that eating family meals together is associated with
healthy eating patterns, such as eating more fruits and vegetables, more fibre and
less fat. Eating together also helps develop healthy food habits in children
particularly when parents are good role models. While it’s hard to make family
meals happen all the time — the ideas below will help your family eat well together
as often as possible.
• Be flexible – Try to schedule activities so you have some time everyday to eat
together. You might have to be more flexible with your main meal and vary it
according to daily activities. For example, dinner might be at 5:00 p.m. one night
and 7:00 p.m. another night.
• Make nutritious snacks available – Not everyone can wait for the family meal.
Healthy snacks can contribute to daily nutrient intakes. Prepare raw vegetables or
fruit plates ahead of time and keep in the fridge for after school or after work
snacks. Keep snacks in the car or in your bag to avoid the vending machines and
fast food stops. Handy snacks include: trail mix made with dry cereal, nuts, and
dried fruit; whole-grain or graham crackers; yogurt and cheese; individual
containers of fruit; water bottles and juice boxes.
• Keep track of winning meals. Mark up your cookbooks with comments like,
“too much work” or “tastes amazing!” or any additions/substitutions that worked for
a recipe. Make notes on every recipe you try so you know what you and your
family’s reaction to it was.
CAREER TRAINING
MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION TRAIN-
ING. Learn from home or on-site!
Work from home or on-site! Financing
may be available. Contact CanScribe
TODAY for FREE information. 1-800-
466-1535 or info@canscribe.com.
COMING EVENTS
WWW.ONTARIOBERRIES.COM -
Ontario Strawberries Are Here! Buy
Local, Buy Fresh, Buy Ontario.
Strawberries, Raspberries,
Blueberries & more. For Berry Farms
in your community, recipes and more,
visit: www.ontarioberries.com,
www.berryfestivals.com
WIN A CHEVY TRUCK plus many
other prizes. Aug. 13-16, 2009 -
Randy Travis, Jo Dee Messina, Kellie
Pickler, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Reid
and many more!!! www.havelock
jamboree.com. 1-800-539-3353.
EMPLOYMENT OPPS.
ARE YOU LAID OFF? Government
Funding Available to obtain your AZ or
Heavy Equipment Certification. Call
Ontario Truck Driving School Today
Toll-Free 1-800-799-JOBS (5627),
www.otds.com.
The North West Company: Store
Manager, Pharmacist & Meat Cutter
Careers in the North! NORTHERN
CANADA RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES -
The North West Company, over 140
stores, leading provider of food, every-
day products in Northern Canada.
Almost cost free living, fully furnished
subsidized housing, food, relocation
assistance, and paid vacation travel,
are seeking individuals/couples for:
Store Managers, Meat, Pharmacists,
Pharmacy Interns, Pharmacy
Technicians, Grocery, Produce, Fast
Food Service, Entry Level and
Regular Full-Time. Applicants must be
able to relocate to Northern Canada.
Send resume to:
retailinthenorth@northwest.ca or Fax:
204-934-1696. TNWC equal opportu-
nity employer. Additional Information:
www.northwest.ca or call 1-800-782-
0391 x8862.
DISCONNECTED? Need cheap reli-
able phone service? Guaranteed best
reconnect rates! Calling features, long
distance and internet options. Free
ADSL connection! Phone Factory
Reconnect 1-877-336-2274;
www.phonefactory.ca.
INSURANCE
CLEAN DRIVING RECORD? Grey
Power could save you up to $400 on
your car insurance. Call 1-877-505-
0487 for no-obligation quote. Open
weekends.
PSYCHICS
LOVE, MONEY & CAREER. Our psy-
chics are there to help you! By phone
1-900-643-1415, $2.85/min. or by cell
Rogers, Fido & Bell Mobility dial the
pound key and this number (633486)
(#medium) at $2.99/min. 18+.
www.mediumcanada.com.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
DEBT CONSOLIDATION PROGRAM.
Helping Canadians repay debts,
reduce or eliminate interest, regard-
less of your credit. Steady Income?
You may qualify for instant help.
Considering Bankruptcy? Call 1-877-
220-3328 FREE Consultation
Government Approved, BBB Member.
$$$ DEBT $$$ CONSOLIDATION $$$
Decrease your monthly payments up
to 75%! 1st, 2nd & 3rd Mortgages &
Credit Lines. Bad credit tax or mort-
gage arrears, NO PROBLEM.
Ontario-Wide Financial Corp. (LIC#
10171), Toll-Free 1-888-307-7799,
www.ontario-widefinancial.com.
$$ NEED MONEY $$ Have RRSP or
locked in pension plan from an ex-
employer (LIRA) or (LIF) 3 easy ways
to help. Call: 1-866-976-7336.
$500$ LOAN SERVICE, by phone, no
credit refused, quick and easy,
payable over 6 or 12 installments. Toll
Free: 1-877-776-1660.
MORTGAGES
0$ ARE YOU SINKING IN DEBT? 1st,
2nd & 3rd Mortgages - Bruised Credit
- Bank Turndowns - Debt
Consolidation - Refinancing - Power of
Sale - Past Bankrupt - Home
Renovations. We can lend a Hand
(Brokerage License # 11384).
CANADALEND.com, Email:
paul.pabla@canadalend.com, Toll-
free 1-877-999-9133 CALL NOW!
$$$ 1st, 2nd, 3rd MORTGAGES - Tax
Arrears, Renovations, Debt
Consolidation, no CMHC fees. $50K
you pay $208.33/month (OAC). No
income, bad credit, power of sale
stopped!! BETTER OPTION MORT-
GAGES, CALL 1-800-282-1169,
www.mortgageontario.com (LIC#
10969).
A BELOW BANK RATE, 1st and 2nd
Mortgages from 3.79%, 95% - 100%
o.a.c. Financing, 1st TIME HOME
BUYERS, Debt Consolidation, Self-
employed, All Credit Types consid-
ered. CALL 1-800-225-1777,
www.homeguardfunding.com, EST.
1983. LIC #10409.
LEGAL SERVICES
DISABILITY CLAIM DENIED?
Toronto's Leading Disability Lawyers
will fight for your rights! We offer a
Free Consultation for Group & Private
Disability Claims. No Fees until we
Settle. www.ShareDisabilityLaw.com.
1-888-777-1109.
FOR SALE
#1 HIGH SPEED INTERNET $18.95 /
Month. Absolutely no ports are
blocked. Unlimited Downloading. Up
to 5Mps Download and 800Kbps
Upload. ORDER TODAY AT
www.acanac.ca or CALL TOLL-FREE:
1-866-281-3538.
AFREE TELEPHONE SERVICE - Get
Your First Month Free. Bad Credit,
Don't Sweat It. No Deposits. No Credit
Checks. Call Freedom Phone Lines
Today Toll-Free 1-866-884-7464.
HOME PHONE DISCONNECTED?
Call Home Phone Reconnect Toll-free:
1-866-287-1348. Reasonable rates,
friendly service. Don't be without a
home phone. 1-866-287-1348.
SAWMILLS from only $3,495.00 -
Convert your LOGS TO VALUABLE
LUMBER with your own Norwood
portable band sawmill. Log skidders
also available. www.norwood
sawmills.ca/400t - FREE Information:
1-800-566-6899 Ext:400OT.
HEALTH
SKINFIX QUALITY ALL-NATURAL
MEDICINAL PASTE: relieves psoria-
sis, eczema, rosacea, sunburns, rash-
es, bites, accelerates healing for dia-
betics. Available at most pharmacies
and grocery chains. www.skinfix.ca 1-
866-927-2783.
HELP WANTED
REMOVE YOUR RECORD: A CRIMI-
NAL Record can follow you for life.
Only PARDON SERVICES CANADA
has 20 years experience.
Guaranteeing record removal. Call: 1-
8-NOW-PARDON (1-866-972-7366).
www.RemoveYourRecord.com.
*FULL/PART-TIME RESP SALES
AGENTS URGENTLY NEEDED! Due
to Education Savings Grants from the
Federal Government, one of Canada's
Leading Registered Education
Savings Plan (RESP) providers is
experiencing EXPLOSIVE GROWTH.
Excellent marketing support. FULL
TRAINING. Car a must. Call Toll-Free
1-866-323-RESP (7377), Fax: 1-866-
355-RESP, Email: Lesley_Hibbert
@HeritageRESP.com.
PERSONALS
DIVORCE SURVIVAL STRATEGIES -
Don't Be A Victim! "Separate Smart"
Discounts on legal fees. Uncontested
Divorce (Separation Agreement
included). Let The Family Law Centre
Guide You. Toll-Free 1-866-472-4529
(4LAW).
5 REASONS TO JOIN MISTY RIVER
INTRODUCTIONS - You're too busy
to meet people on your own - You
don't like the bar scene - Internet too
risky and weird - All your friends and
co-workers are married - Don't want to
settle. Sound Familiar? We can help!
CALL (519) 658-4204, www.misty
riverintros.com.
DATING SERVICE. Long-Term/Short-
Term Relationships, FREE CALLS! 1-
877-297-9883. Exchange voice mes-
sages, voice mailboxes. 1-888-534-
6984. Live adult casual conversations
- 1on1, 1-866-311-9640, Meet on
chat-lines. Local Single Ladies 1-877-
804-5381. 18+
* PAST*PRESENT*FUTURE * #1
Psychics! *1-877-478-4410* Credit
cards / deposit or phone 1-900-783-
3800 $3.19 min (18+) For a psychic
NOW! Meet us at: www.mystical
connections.ca.
SERVICES
A CRIMINAL RECORD? Have trouble
getting a job or travelling to the U.S.?
We'll clear your name. Better
Business Bureau Certified.
Pardons/Waivers Toll-Free 1-800-507-
8043, www.pardongranted.ca.
STEEL BUILDINGS
FUTURE STEEL BUILDINGS
Durable, Dependable, Pre-engi-
neered, All-Steel Structures. Custom-
made to suit your needs and require-
ments. Factory-Direct affordable
prices. Call 1-800-668-8653 ext. 170
for free brochure.
A-Z Technical Bldg. Systems Inc.: Pre-
Engineered Steel Buildings. Since
1978! Stamp drawings & leasing avail-
able. Ask for Wally: Toll-Free at 1-877-
743-5888, Fax (416) 626-5512.
www.a-ztech.on.ca.
ALL STEEL BUILDINGS! We sell
FULL PACKAGE BUILDINGS &
FOUNDATIION KITS for the DO-IT-
YOURSELF'ER; or we install any type
Steel Building on a turn-key basis. 1-
800-504-7749. www.pioneer
buildings.com SINCE 1980.
VACATION/TRAVEL
WHOLESALE TIMESHARES - 60-
80% off Retail! Qualified Buyers Only!
Call for Free InfoPack! 1-800-496-
5964. www.holidaygroup.com/ocn.
AUTOMOTIVE
MOTOR VEHICLE dealers in Ontario
MUST be registered with OMVIC. To
verify dealer registration or seek help
with a complaint, visit
www.omvic.on.ca or 1-800-943-6002.
If you're buying a vehicle privately,
don't become a curbsider's victim.
Curbsiders are impostors who pose as
private individuals, but are actually in
the business of selling stolen or dam-
aged vehicles.
SAVE UP TO $400 ON YOUR CAR
INSURANCE. Clean driving record?
Call Grey Power today at 1-866-473-
9207 for a no-obligation quote. Open
weekends.
NEED A VEHICLE? EASY FINANCE!
Low Payments! $99 Delivers 24 Hour
Approval. WE DELIVER! 3,000
Vehicles to choose. CALL NOW! Mr.
Green 1-204-232-6559. BIG DIS-
COUNTS!
AUTOS FOR SALE
100% AUTO FINANCING APPROVAL
- We can get you approved for an
automobile no matter what your cir-
cumstances are. Drive a little and
save a lot. Over 300 vehicles to
choose from. Apply online
www.gabies.ca. GABIES AUTO
SALES, 250 Springbank Dr., London,
ON, 519-472-8815.
BUSINESS OPPS.
PERFECT POST - CANADA'S
LARGEST FRANCHISE NETWORK
of builders and installers of fences,
decks and post settings, has
Territories available throughout
Canada. Enjoy the benefit of brand
recognition, national marketing, vol-
ume discounts and customer referral
program. LOW INVESTMENT. For
information contact 1-877-750-5665,
franchise@perfectpost.com.
A WHITER SMILE IS WHAT EVERY-
ONE WANTS! Wavelight Tooth
Whitening business, YOU can EARN
UP to $1,000./day in cash. FT/PT. Full
training. Turnkey. $11,995. Call 647-
477-1495.
BUSINESS SERVICES
LOOKING FOR NEW BUSINESS and
added revenue? Promote your com-
pany in Community Newspapers
across Ontario right here in these
Network Classified Ads or in business
card-sized ads in hundreds of well-
read newspapers. Let us show you
how. Ontario Community Newspapers
Association. Contact Carol at 905-
639-5718 or Toll-Free 1-800-387-7982
ext. 229. www.ocna.org
Network Classifieds:Advertise Across Ontario or Across the Country!
• It’s Affordable • It’s Fast • It’s Easy • It’s Effective • One Bill Does It All • All Ontario $429 • National Packages Available! www.networkclassified.org
For more information contact
Your local newspaper
By Stew SlaterSpecial to The Citizen