HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-02-11, Page 7Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - Page 7
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Goderich could claim third Ontario arboreta
To the Editor;
As a business and homeowner in
Goderich, I am often involved in discus-
sions with customers regarding the future of
our town and county, especially since the
downturn in the economy and the closure of
Volvo. Many of my customers, from spring
to fall, are from out of town, province and
country and many are here to camp and hike
our trails.
So, not surprisingly, one of the major top-
ics of conversation has been the Parsons
Court. extension and intrusion on Maitland
Woods. Maitland Woods is a rare pocket of
Carolinian forest this far north in Ontario
and includes a number of endangered spe-
cies and species of significant interest. We
are in a unique position at this moment to
establish what would be the third of only
three arboreta in Ontario (the other two
being in Guelph and Ottawa. What better
way to compliment our town, our beaches
and sunsets; our burgeoning arts and the-
atre, our historic gaol, our world-famous
letters
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Celtic College and Festival, our re -invented
rail bridge over the Maitland River, than
with a world-class arboretum.
Not only would it increase the number of
visitors to our area and create jobs, it would
also give us an educational and research
facility. We have excellent models to explore
in the Ottawa Central Experimental Farm
Arboretum and the University of Guelph
Arboretum (please check out their web
sites); we have the expertise necessary
available to us locally; the land adjacent to
the south of the six acres of woodland
which is under dispute in the town plan (and
should be designated as natural environ-
ment, not industrial land) would be an,
excellent location; and we already have the
Maitland Woods — the backbone of such a
project- in place (including the trail system
supported by the Trail Association).
Instead of using hundreds of thousands of
dollars earmarked for servicing industrial
lots, for which it is unlikely there will be
any interest due to the economy (I under-
stand three existing lots have already have
been turned back to the town, Volvo's prop-
erties will be vacant and there are a number
of other industrial lots to the west of
Maitland Woods still requiring drainage), it
could instead be spent on creating a lasting
legacy for Goderich and area and saving our
natural heritage, undisturbed by man for
thousands of years.
I also understand there could be funding
available from the government for such a
project, which could be started immediately.
Everyone with whom I have discussed the
possibility of creating a Goderich Arboretum
feels it would be a major asset to the town
and a more constructive way of spending
that kind of money than on some unneces-
sary industrial lots.
Should we pave over this land for the
benefit of the few or save and embellish it
for the benefit of many?
Sincerely,
Christine Ferguson
Goderich
Town taxi service appreciated
To the 'Editor;
Kudos to Patti Smith for her letter on Jan.
21 regarding taxi service.
I have used their services for the past five
years and they have been very, accommo-
dating, courteous and going the extra mile
and are extremely helpful. Her defending
the other cabbies in town was a nice touch.
Too bad some people sit at their windows
looking for negativity.
I would personally like to thank Goder-
ich Taxi and their great staff.
Mary Ann Weber
Luxury of eneniv sometimes comes with sound
To the Editor,
I'm writing in support of Mr. Van Beers'
comments in last week's paper. As Dolly
Parton was once quoted "if you want to have
the rainbow you got to put up with the rain!"
All the comments lately seem to about how
far we can get the windmills away from us or
how big they are or that they make noise.
Goderich is full of large, man-made structures
one of which we will be all wishing was still
making noise afterJune. So let's accept that
if we want the luxury of energy we
have to accept what comes with it.
Why don't we think of the opportuni-
ties that would come with windmills -a
local, secure, green energy source.
We see in the news what havoc can rein
when we depend on long distance energy. Take
Reader wonders about Rona
To the Editor;
Where is Rona going to build their new
store in Goderich? About a year ago they
bought. the Timbr-mart and were going to
combine .the two stores in Goderich and
build a new one.Are they still going to do
this?
Where will it be located? and when are
they planning to open?
The month of May is approaching quick-
ly and there are not any signs of it happen-
ing as of yet.
. Lee O'Meara
Zurich
Father inv
the Russia -Ukraine dispute or the gas pipeline
bombings in B.C. We know that how even in
this province protest groups can shut down rail
systems just by blocking one track. We know
that for every one unit of energy we use we
need to produce three to account for transmis-
sion and distribution losses over distances.
Imagine if we produced our energy locally and
could promote ourselves to business on a
secure energy source and they could
market products that were produced
with green energy.
How it would compliment Goderich - the
Prettiest Town in Canada - Canada's Green
Town along with our Farmers' market promot-
ing,
romoting, local food We could develop a compli-
mentary solar system and use smart meters t�
encourage energy use during times of natural.
production and in the future maybe our electric
cars will become our collective batteries to
store energy during times of production also.
Sound expensive? Yes. Is it perfect? No. But
we, like all generations before us, have the
obligation to sacrifice and try and leave this
world a better place for our decendants.
The cost of status quo energy?
North America uses over $1 million /minute
in imported oil .-who gets this money? -not our
economy. The estimated cost to society above
the cost of oil for pollution, health care, water
etc. TWvo trillion dollars a year for North
America alone - all mortgaged in our air, water
and soil for future generations to pay the price
of our extravagence.
We find reasons to worry about the safety of
windmills and yet accept that car accidents kill
50,000 North Americans a year and injure
three million more - let's put the risk in perspec-
tive.
John M. Brand
lvement workshop to return next month
To the Editor,
Rural Response for Healthy Children has
once again been asked by the Father
Involvement Initiative -- Ontario Network
(FFI-ON) to host a one day Regional Father
Involvement Workshop. We invite everyone
who attended the first regional workshop in
March of 2007 to join us once again. Bring
your success and challenge experiences and
share them with community service pmvid-
ers, business and community representatives.
Also, we invite anyone who could not attend
the March 2007 Workshop to join us this year
as we continue to support, educate and advo-
cate for father involvement.
Brian Russell, Chair of FII -ON will be our
lead facilitator for the day. He brings with
and promoting fathering involvement. He
will share the latest information on issues that
affect father involvement in family, work
places and community.
There will be no registration fee for this
one day workshop, but pre -registration is
required so that we can plan for lunch and
refreshments. Please register by fax to 519 -
him years of experience working with fathers 482-8340, or email to mail@rrhc.on.ca. We
ask that you have your registration filed with
us no later than March 16th.
Join us. for this dynamic workshop and
explore ways that we can all encourage/
strengthen father involvement in their fami-
lies, in their workplaces and in our communi-
ties. "Father Involvement....it makes a real
difference"
Rural Response for Healthy Children
Candlelit walk an illuminating experience for volunteers
To the Editor,
On Feb 6, the Maitland Trail Association
(MTA) hosted the 15th annual Candle Lit
Walk in the Maitland Woods as part of the
Town of Goderich Winterfest Celebrations!
In addition to the 1.6 km candlelit trail we
were pleased to offer some new trail experi-
ences with the labirynth and Scamble Moun-
tain.
One hundred local citizens and members of
the MTA put in 400 hours of service to make
this event possible. The exceptional efforts
of the. Thursday work crew must be noted.
Clearing 200 meters of ice from boardwalks
and bridges to make the traditional route ser-
viceable for the event was above and beyond
anything I could have predicted to be possi-
ble from a volunteer group. Obviously I was
wrong and am reminded that the strength of
a committed group of volunteers is the most
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effective human force known.
1 think Patrick Capper deserves special rec-
ognition for the ice steps cut into transitions to
and from the cleared boardwalks and numer-
ous other efforts in clearing, improving and
decorating the trail. Let me also thank Karen
Melady for continuing to provide lantern con-
struction workshops in advance of the walls.
Thanks to the individuals who made and in-
stalled their beautiful lanterns around the trail.
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The hospitality and public outreach efforts of
the 15 volunteers indoors at the Columbus
Center were fully appreciated by the 400 plus
participants that moon (and candle) lit night.
Cindy Fisher's contributions here provide the
fuel for the fire. Together we produced a won-
derful experience that was enjoyed and will be
remembered by everyone that attended.
Thank you s0000 much!
1
Con Melady