The Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-05-27, Page 6Page 6 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Editoriai
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Proprietor and published by Bowes Publishers, P.O. Box 220, /20 Huckins Street, Goderich, Ontario N7A 486
EDITORIAL
Better communities are
a life-long commitment
Community means many different things to many people.
To some it's simply the place where they live and work. To others, it is a
nurturing place what families grow and flourish, where communal, spiri-
tual and personal connections are made that last for a lifetime.
Community is more than a place where people simply live together col-
lectively.
It is a place where people work side-by-side and generate commerce,
products and food for consumption.
Community is a caring place where people respect and look out for each
other and take care of the disadvantaged and those down on their luck. It is
a place where we collectively develop a younger generation to sustain the
viability of community and provide opportunity for future generations.
Community is home. .
At a May 14 meeting of the town's service clubs, former Ontario
Lieutenant Governor, lames K.. Bartleman, spoke to the local volunteers
about the need to develop a sense of community among the country's Native
and Aboriginal peoples. He established that community had to be inclusive,
compassionate and extend beyond our jurisdictional boundaries.
At the conclusion of the Lieutenant Governor's speech, a local commu-
nity resident spoke about the value of community and how single acts of
kindness and caring impact a community, individuals and families for a
lifetime.
Stan Connelly, an engineer by profession and a person committed to the
betterment of the greater community. through service club work and involve-
ment with various boards and professional organizations, humbly offered to
take a public moment to acknowledge and repay a 46 -year-old debt.
It was 46 years ago, Connelly acknowledged, that a math teacher at GDCI
inquired about his plans for university during a chance meeting in the halls.
After not being accepted by University of Western Ontario in London,
Connolly thought he would simply take on the family farm and cavy on the
tradition of farming.
But the math teacher, Harold Bettger, said he had heard some good things
about the university in Waterloo and offered to make a phone call.
Soon, the pair was headed to Waterloo for an arranged meeting with the
registrar, Mr. Gordon.
The soft-spoken educator informed Connolly that the university would
indeed give him a try. The rest is history as the story goes and Connolly
attended and received a degree from the University of Waterloo. He never
forgot the act of kindness. He never lost sight of the fact that Harold gave up
his own time to look out for the welfare of a student, a member of the com-
munity.
Connelly has since been a contributor to the community but he still feels
he owes Harold lunch and a tank of gas. Harold Bettger, president of the
Goderich Lions Club in 1949, still enjoys going to monthly meetings and
contributing to community at the age of 96.
As Connelly summed up, "Harold because you did what you did, I am
what I am"
Simple acts of caring, kindness and compassion build strong relationships
and they help build strong bonds, and great communities. D.S.
The Goderich Signal -Star.
published every Wednesday at Goderich, Ontario is one of The
Signal -Star Publishing Group of Community Newspapers, a division
of Bowes Publishers. The Goderich Signal Star shall not bb liable for
failure to publish an ad for typographical ermrs in publication
except to the extent of the con of that portion of the ad in which the
error occurrrd. The Goderich Signal -Star reserves the right to reject
or edit any advertisement.
The Goderich Signal -Star is a proud member of the Canadian
Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) and The Ontario
Conrnumlty Newspapers Association (OCNA).
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11
Smart metres just a rate -hike in
disguise according to letter writer
To the Editor:
re: Goderich gets hydro -smart
I do not believe everyone is happy about this
new set up. Following is a letter to the editor of
the Toronto Star dated Monday May 18, 2009:
(available at www.thestarcom/editorial)
"Smart metres" disguise rate hike:
The implementation of the new hydro 'smart
meter' is nothing more than a massive rate
increase for the consumer. With the varied time
rates (summer and winter), the only way to keep
your hydro hill at its current dollar level would
be to shut off all electricity between the hours of
7 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week and use power
during the weeknights and weekends only.
How many families can function that way?
What happens to cooking, laundry, cleaning, TV,
Letters
opinion
heating, lights, etc, Are we all going to get up at
midnight and start doing our daily chores and/or
save everything for the weekend?
Wake up! This is a soft sell job for a rate
increase of at least 30 per cent to homeowners.
Businesses are not affected. 1 am surprised that
there is no consumer outrage and confrontations
form the opposition at Queens's Park.
Janice Kogelheide, Mansfeild, Ont."
The above is only the latest complaint I have
heard or read about this topic.
Any thoughts on it folks?
M C McKeon Goderich
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