Huron Expositor, 2005-10-26, Page 7Huron East
waits
on grants
A number of provincial grants
Huron East has not yet received
was the topic of conversation dur-
ing a review of the 2005 budget
last week.
While OSTAR (Ontario Small
Town and Rural Development)
funding of $1 million was granted
to Huron East more than a year
ago for upgrades of the water sys-
tems in Brussels, Brucefield and
Vanastra, the funding has not yet
been received.
Deputy Clerk Brad Knight said
the OSTAR funding is expected
sometime in November.
As well, Huron East applied for
$480,000 in COMRIF (Canada
Ontario Municipal Rural
Infrastructure Funding) for the
Vanastra sewage plant but was
turned down.
Knight said the municipality
will apply again, this time for
$624,000 as the project expands
to include a retention plant.
Also, Huron East is still waiting
for the fourth installment of this
year's Ontario Municipal
Partnership Funding.
"Now you can see why I'm not
in favour of going for government
grants - they don't pay their bills,"
quipped Mayor Joe Seili.
Seili, however, was banking on
$94,000 in federal gas tax to put
into a reserve fund for Huron
East bridge repair.
"If the gas tax money comes as
promised, I'd like to see that
devoted to bridges," he said.
The Huron Expositor • October 26, 2005 Page 7
News
Poverty a disgrace in the Canadian
land of plenty, says speaker
Susan H u n d e r t m a r k
It's a disgrace that in Canada, a
land of plenty, there are still people
going hungry, said the keynote
speaker of a workshop on Huron
County poverty last week.
"What is the value of a hungry
child on the stock market this morn-
ing?" asked Rev. Dr. Margaret
Myers, of Wingham.
"This is not Africa. We don't have
devastating diseases and we haven't
had a disaster. It's disgraceful that
people are going hungry in Huron
and have to make the choice of pay-
ing their rent or feeding their chil-
dren," she said.
Speaking to a room full of service
providers and addressing the issue
of "building a united response to the
reality of local poverty," Myers dis-
cussed the definition of community.
"The world has become a smaller
place through technology. We're a
global village. But, we're losing
more and more our sense of commu-
nity," she said.
She said people today seem more
able to turn off their emotions and
Story
idea?
CaII
Susan
or Jeff
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Rev. Dr. Margaret Myers
find justifications to separate them-
selves from the suffering of others.
"What has happened to the social
safety net that Canada enjoyed for
so long," she said.
Myers said today's politicians are
AvonDISTRICT
SCHOOL
Maitland
t'nkeeklaa Ike Potential Within All of Oar Leorwen
speaking to the voters' lowest
instincts, such as greed, pride and
selfishness and are being heard.
"Be careful when your tears dry
up, when you can look at the face of
poverty and not feel it deep inside.
Be careful when you don't want to
make a difference," she said.
"Be careful when you hear the
term, 'Let them pull themselves up
by their own bootstraps' because
maybe they have no boots," said
Myers.
She said poverty is out of sync
with the human desire for commu-
nity because poverty means that a
community has stopped taking care
of its own.
The minister was even critical of
churches, which she said used to be
very good at looking after the weak
and the needy.
"Not so much anymore - churches
are losing their sense of community
like everyone else," she said.
She said hunger poses "strong
moral questions" for Huron County.
"We must begin by speaking up,
speaking out and being heard," she
said.
The Avon Maitland District School Board and its community public
elpmentary schools are proud to offer a quality leaming opportunity for
our young citizens entering school in fall 2006.
A new initiative for future kindergarten students takes place this fall
for children eligible to begin school next September.
The new fall registration will include developmental screening to help
parents assess how their child is developing. The "Calling All Three
Year Olds" initiative allows parents ample time to link their child to any
needed services and supports so that children are better prepared
for school entry next year. To celebrate the registration, there may
be activities at many schools, such as crafts, story time, music and
refreshments.
Tu
Seaforth Public School - 527-0790, Huron Centennial Public School - 524-8306,
Brussels Public School - 887-9361, Grey Central Public School - 887-6601
For Junior Kindergarten
Children who are 3 years old by December 31, 2005, are eligible for junior kindergarten in 2006.
For Senior Kindergarten
Children who are 4 years old by December 31, 2005, are eligible for senior kindergarten in 2006
For further information call 1-800-592-5437 or visit our website at:
Geoff Williams
Director of Education
www.yourschools.ca
Meg Westley
Chair