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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times-Advocate, 2002-11-13, Page 12Swim and sink? Dear Editor, Farm versus municipal sewage pollution poison- ing our drinking water sources in creeks, rivers, and the Great Lakes was discussed in an article on Page 6 of your newspaper October 23. Ruth Haist of Centralia, who is a remarkable woman for bringing these facts to our attention, reported 850 incidences of untreated sewage over- flows from Ontario municipal treatment plants in 1996, with an additional 265 'accidents'. Turning to page 10 of that same newspaper I read that resi- dential property on the Main Street of Lucan is taxed at a rate of $1,400 per $100,000 property value. Is it any wonder that the water piped into our homes is polluted and poisoned? How can any municipality run itself properly when someone owning a $150,000 home pays property taxes worth only three walking trips per day to Tim Horton's for a coffee and donut. If the donut-eater drives to Horton's the cost will be one or two trips per day. The unfortunate picture, here, is that a farmer can realistically say, "You see .. the municipality is the real evildoer-polluter so I don't have to do a Da__ed thing about my pollution!" While the home- owner, demanding lower taxes, has already said many times, "This is a free country and NO ONE is going to take my da__ed coffee and donut away!" The result is we swim and sink and brush our teeth in sh_t of all kinds. ROBERT MOSURINJOHN,, Grand Bend Interested in hosting a child? Dear Editor, Since July 1998, approximately 100 children from Belarus have travelled to our area for 6- week visits which strengthen their immune systems and lift their spirits. Huron County for Children of Chernobyl is now making plans for Summer 2003, when we hope to welcome 20 more children - some returning, and others invited by new Host Families. Fund-raising projects are progressing, and we continue to be grateful to the local Service Clubs, Church Groups, Businesses and individuals who help us to raise the $1500 for each child's transportation and Emergency Medical Insurance. If YOUR family has ever thought about hosting a (8-12 year old) child, NOW is the time to make con- tact with our group and find out about the Application Process. Host Family Interviews will be conducted soon, so please give me a call if you are interested in learning more. Sincerely, DIANNE WAUN Saying thanks Dear Editor: As the Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters South Huron, I would like to thank each and every person who contributed to making “A Taste of Huron in Black & White” a great success in it’s first year as an annual fundraiser for our agency. Over the years, there are and have been many dedicated volunteers with our organization who give freely of their time and talent to support the children and the programs we provide for our com- munities. Recently we have one volunteer in partic- ular who has ‘Made the Difference’ in a truly ‘big’ way. Barbara Block-Gower, of Catering by Barbara, became a Board member with an interest in work- ing for children in need. For her the true turning point in her dedication to Big Brothers Big Sisters came when she attended our Christmas party and heard the stories of the volunteers and the children as they talked about the value of their mentoring match and how it had affected their lives. Barbara was the driving force in the creation and execution of ‘A Taste of Huron’ and has been truly amazing in her networking, organization and dona- tion of time and talents. As well as being an incred- ible chef, she has an unceasing energy for a worth- while cause and a heart of gold. On behalf of the entire organization we extend a big thank you to Barbara for opening her heart and her kitchen to the children we serve. Sincerely, DIANNE BEACH, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Huron www.shbbbs.on.ca Wednesday, November 13, 2002 5Exeter Times–Advocate Editorial&Opinion 10 YEARS AGO November 11, 1992 - The possible twinning of Lucan, Ontario with Lucan in the County of Dublin in Ireland has become a distinct possibility after a recent visit by two Lucan couples to Ireland. Rev. Bruce Pocock and Bernard Rooney who made the trip with their wives were at the November meeting of local council and pre- sented a scroll and painting from Lucan in Ireland. 25 YEARS AGO November 10, 1977 - It was a sad day when the old belfry had to be removed from its perch on top of the town hall clock tower two years ago this month. It will be a glad day when it goes up again next week. New Canada Savings bonds go on sale this week offering an average annual interest rate of 8.06 per- cent when held to maturity in 1986. Marie Gelinas of Drysdale celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday. Her husband Joseph and neigh- bour Sam Snider were first in the Bluewater area to grow white beans. The beans were pulled by hand and threshed with flails on the barn floor. Woodham area horseman Jim Rundle was the leading driver at the recently concluded summer harness race meet at the Hanover Raceway. R.E. “Ted” Pooley was among the list of Canadians who received a special Queen’s medal in recognition of Her Majesty’s silver jubilee visit to Canada. 40 YEARS AGO November 12, 1962 - Exeter’s second newspaper published by members of Room 13 at Exeter Public School was distributed following its first publication Thursday. The paper was complete with cartoons, news stories, editorials and jokes. Members of the staff were David Frayne, Norman Howey, Karen McArthur, Randy Jones, Ron Durand, Gary Wurm, Graham Hern and Linda Wells. The Meritorious Service Medal, highest award of the Royal Canadian Legion was presented to R.E. “Ted” Pooley during the Remembrance Day service at the Exeter Legion Hall, Saturday night. 45 YEARS AGO November 14, 1957 - The new Morrison Dam in Usborne township was unofficially christened last week when rains and melting snow filled the 40 mil- lion gallon reservoir and water rose 18 inches over the top of the spillway. Officials said the reservoir filled in less than a day. A safety patrol program was launched for public school students at Hensall last week. Senior students supervise crossings at four intersections near the school four times a day, headed by captain Jerry Drysdale. Students from Dashwood, Staffa and Crediton were among the seven to be awarded UWO bur- saries recently by the Huron County scholarship committee. They were Robert Clarke, R.R. 3, Dashwood; Donald Dearing, R.R. 1 Staffa and Katherine Ondrejicka, R.R. 1, Crediton, who received a scholarship for the girl from the county with the highest average at the university. Biddulph township public school board has taken an option on eight acres of land on the farm of Frank Hardy for the proposed site of Biddulph Central School. 55 YEARS AGO November 12, 1957 - Plans were discussed at the Lions Club meeting Friday night for setting up an organization to raise and administer a fund for the erection of a hospital in Exeter. 80 YEARS AGO November12, 1922 - The Mission Circle of Main Street Church gave an old-fashioned concert on Wednesday evening of last week. Old-fashioned cos- tumes were worn and old-time songs were sung. There was a good attendance. This year three of the Junior Farmers Improvement Associations of Huron County held plowing competitions. In the Exeter and area event the winners were Oliver Rowcliffe, Harold Jeffrey, Earl Shapton, Victor Jeffrey, Milton Luther, Alvin Pym and Carman Doupe. 110 YEARS AGO November 12, 1892 - The Exeter bylaw prohibit- ing cattle from running at large day or night during the winter months went into effect November 1. This law is not being observed and the constable is bound to enforce it. ROSS HAUGH BACK IN TIME The Turner Report WHEN BUYING REAL ESTATE,THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE The latest news regarding the real estate market is nothing short of remarkable. Last month housing starts - the number of new homes beginning construction - shot ahead to an annual rate not seen for more than a decade. Year-over-year, there were 35 per cent more single family homes being worked on. This is happening for many rea- sons, detailed in this column last week, and it looks like the housing frenzy will continue. But real estate is a long-term investment, and in poor economic times it can also be extremely illiq- uid. If you were trying to sell a house or a condo in the early Nineties, then you know exactly what I mean. Fortunes have been made, and lost, in this market. And because people tend to buy real estate with lots and lots of leverage, putting down just 5% or10% of the purchase price and borrowing the rest, it’s very important to make sure you are buying something now that you can sell later for as much, or more, than you paid. My own view is that many people today are buying the wrong kinds of houses. Thanks to deflation and our aging population, those big single-family homes so much in vogue right now could be white elephants in 15 years. What real estate has a future? Here are my top picks: Urban bungalows, semis and towns. Why is it that a tiny 800-square-foot bungalow on a 30-foot lot in Toronto’s midtown Leaside district is selling these days for $350,000? For the same money you can drive 30 minutes away and buy a 2,500-square-foot, two-storey house on a huge lot. The reason is that these bungalows have what it takes: location - a great neighbourhood, access to transportation and health care, and ease of maintenance. They appeal to people in retirement, and to small, young families. They are ideal for a single person to live in, or some- one who is disabled and in need of special care. This is the kind of housing that has a future, and will not only maintain its value, but grow it over the years to come. Here you don’t need a car. You can walk to the Loblaw’s, the bank or the library. Property taxes on the small lots are low. There are no stairs to worry about. Bungalows are starting to make a big comeback in popularity, after being shunned and ridiculed over the last couple of decades. New bungalows are the hottest form of housing in developments being built and planned for those waves of retirees about to sweep across Canadian society - whether they are in the city, or rural communities. Condominiums. As noted elsewhere, condos are enjoying the biggest boom in almost 20 years, serv- ing several distinct sets of buyers - first-time home- owners, move-down retirees, urban professionals and investors buying one or twelve units to rent out. Condos come in many forms - townhouses, semis, detached homes, rural enclaves - but are most prevalent as high-rise apartment-style complexes, all offering a carefree lifestyle devoid of maintenance responsibilities. They also give owners a heightening level of personal security, elaborate recreational facilities, the potential of worry free travel, a sense of community, a warm, indoor parking spot and a gen- erally lower price than a freehold home in the same location. Are these not precisely the things more and more people will be looking for? Coming now is a housing form that has a great future - condo communities, geared to retirees who want convenience, service and also independence. One such place outside Toronto offers residents five acres of gardens around their condos, along with a cafe, lounge, bank, medical centre, beauty salon and market. Housekeeping and laundry services are available and everybody’s TV set features a channel to view images from the security cameras. It’s like living in a village, a hotel and a fortress at the same time. It changes and challenges our notion of condo- minium living, and it is the future. Golf towns. The Baby Boomers will be a real estate force for the next two decades, as they age, but remain one of the healthiest and most active generations in history. Golf will be a huge industry, as it gets millions more devotees. Many of them will want to live near, a golf course. GARTH TURNER THE TURNER REPORT