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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-01-19, Page 5Wednesda , Janua 19, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 5 Community Challenging Harper now not good idea Michael Dentandt SMI Agency election fever? Not quite. Let's call It a mild virus. Certainly the three national parties are thinking furiously about it, weighing the odds. Here's how those odds stack up now, it seems to me: If the Liberals pull the plug this spring, without some kind of coalition rabbit to pull from their hats, they're done for another cycle. And they may be done anyway. The plain reason is that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has, ever so gradually, grown in the job. Attacks that stung him a year ago won't register now. But the Liberals haven't figured this out yet. Their playbook is dated. Consider the renewed buw about a Liberal- N1)P merger. Mathemati- cally, it's sound. 'Ihe centre -right is united and the centre-left is frac- tured three ways among Green, NDP and Liberals. Unite the centre- left, goes the logic, and you triangu- late your way to a plurality that Harper, with his perpetual 33% sup- port, could not withstand. • Except for this: What if Canadi- ans naturally prefer centre -right policies to centre-left because they're more practical, common- sensical, and better reflect their shared values? What if, faced with the prospect of Ignatieff-Layton in power, 3:i% becomes 40%? There is always that possibility, after all. What if the fact the New Democrats have never polled much above 15% means precisely what it seems to? Granted, a liberal -NDP coalition wouldn't put Jack Layton in the PMO. But it would necessarily involve passing some of his priori- ties into law. Which ones? Raising taxes, perhaps? Good luck selling that. lgnatieff is already signalling, with his recent rhetoric, that he's abandoned the centre -right in favour of a more NDP -friendly approach. Ile's beating the drum for higher corporate taxes -- a proven job killer. Indeed, lgnatieff recently suggested the Liberals are prepared to fight an election on this issue. Yikes. We know the Liberal leader is against building prisons and buying fighter jets for the Canadian mili- tary. It's his mantra. But do Walk for Memories Jan. 29 at South Huron school Carmel Sweeney Lakeshore Advance The annual "Alzheimer's Walk for Memories" will be taking place Sat., Jan. 29 in Exeter at South I luron District I sigh School from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. For pledge sheets call 1-800-561-5012 for more information. The Junior youth group from the Zurich Men- nonite Church grades seven and eights enjoyed a fun night on Jan. 14 when they went skating, sledding and hot tubbing at a home near Bayfield. 'Ihe Knights of Columbus of St. Boniface par- ish held their annual "Ladies Night" in the hall downstairs Mon., Ian. 17. Their next card party will be Tues., Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. Everyone welcome. The next auxiliary meeting for the ladies at the rest home is on Tues., Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m. with entertainment by 'font and Rose Merrigan from 1lensall. Big Brothers and Sisters will be having their annual "Bowl for Kids Sake" fundraiser at the Town and Country Lanes on Fri., Feb. 25 from 5:30-9 p.m. and Sat., Feb. 26, from 1-7 p.m. Pledge sheets are now available by calling 519-237- 3554. Due to some of the residents having the flu at the Blue Water Rest Ilome recently some of the activities with outsiders had to be cancelled. But everything is okay now and the doors are open to the public again. Harvey Smith and friends will play music on Mon., Jan. 24 at 2:30 p.m. There will be bingo games with Community Living from Dashwood on Tues., Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. and the Lakeview choir will entertain the residents later that night at 6:30 p.m. St. Boniface grade four and five pupils will go 6psee their buddies at the rest home on Jan. 31 at .m. to do crafts.( they go once a month) Mary Ducharme from the Ladies' Auxiliary delivered seven birthday cards during the month of January to the rest home. The Knights of Columbus "Free Throw Basket- ball" competition will be held at St. Boniface School in the Trym at 3:30 p.m. Some students from the Zurich Public School will also he taking part.'Ihe snow date is Ian. 27. Grade seven and eight students of St. Boniface Public School will be going skating at the com- plex on Fri., Jan. 21 from 1-2 p.m. On Fri., Ian. 28 grade 1 to 3 classes go skating from 1-2 p.m and grades four and five, and six and seven are there from 2-3 p.m. All the children are to wear hel- mets on the ice. PERSONALS Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Paul Klopp and his twin sister Linda Earle on Ian. 14. Also to my husband Jerome on Ian. 18. Mary -Ellen and Neil Skinner of Edmonton, Alberta spent last week visiting with her parents Gladys Gingerich and Neil at the rest home along with family members. I Taylee Regier was baptized Sun., Jan. 9 at mass by Father Graham Keep at St. Boniface Church. I laylee is the daughter of Kenny and Lesa Regier of Exeter. Godparents are Jennifer and Greg Kegler. Rosie and Jeff Rothenberg and their two chil- dren, Jacob and Kacey enjoyed a nice vacation in Florida recently for a week. While there they also visited with Jeff's cousin. A three week holiday was had recently by Gwen and Pat O'Rourke of RR#3 Dashwood. The rutin purpose of their trip was to attend the wed- ding of their daughter, Keriann to Kelso Beggs that was held in "Phuket 'Thailand" on New Years Eve. Several fatuity members were also there. The couple are now living in Singapore. Greg and Deb Thiel spent the day with his mother Reta'Ihiel recently. A birthday party was held for Eva Digou at the Maple Woods Apartments in the common room. Eva celebrated her 89th birthday Ian. 9 with cake and ice cream. Michelle Wilder and fiance Kevin Maraz from Alberta are spending ten days visiting with her parents, Vicki and Lionel Wilder and family members at RR#1 Varna. The couple are plan- ning to be married in May. Canadians agree with him enough on these issues to snake them vote Liberal? If so, they're not showing it. We know what lgnatieff is against. What is he for? Isere again, centre- left motherhood: Gun control, pen- sions, "helping families cope with aging parents," and the like. Some- how, while spending more on fed- eral programs, lgnatieff also plans to balance the budget. Ilow, he doesn't say. It's thin gruel. Meantime, harper himself is a moving target. I lis Achilles heel has long been, for lack of a better way of putting it, himself. That is, his icy reserve and supposed mania for control. Mr. Mean. Merno to Liberals: Don't look now but Mr. Mean has left the build- ing. I Iarper's rock star bit In Decent - her was just the beginning. Recent photos have shown him smiling and relaxed. There were the shots of hint in his hockey sweater, just another avid fan, watching the world juniors. I le looked happy. When he speaks he consistently sounds moderate, sensible and steady. In a recent interview with the National Post, I larper comes off as comfortable in his own skin. With five years in the job he now quali- fies as seasoned. Canadians like seasoned -- especially in uncertain times. No one can think this is coinci- dental. It's by design. And it's work- ing. It's an aura that lgnatieff, with his repeated threats and climb - downs, can't now nuttch. A merger with the NDP could backfire on hint, spectacularly. Bold, innovative polices could help hien. But where are they? As we head into a possible elec- tion season, Harper holds the high cards. michael.dentandto_psunmedia.ca Back into routine at Stephen Stephen Central Emily and Baylee This is our third week back to school and it has been very exciting. Students are getting back into routine finally. Last Wednesday, our soon to be grade 9s had a open house at the high school. They got a feel of what high school is going to be like. We had the opportunity to walk around the high school and talk to the teachers and some of the students already in high school. The grade 8s have received their application sheets and are debating their next school year! The students were very excited that the high school offers ipod touches to help with math, we are also very excited that the teachers are so dedicated and enthusiastic. Basketball is really taking off, with our first year players proving their skills and the second year players starting where they left off last year. Both teams are com- ing along very well with hard work during morning and night practices with our dedicated coaches. But for now, we will end it off till next weeks update. Lots happening at St. Anne's Menne Lane Lakeshore Advance This week at St. Anne's consisted of the usual athletic, club, and academic activi- ties. 'Ihe athletes ctalmed many victories as the junior girls volleyball team dominated over their many competitors, the boys hockey team won an amazing 6-0 against GDCI and the swine team also claimed many titles at the Huron Perth meet on Jan- uary 13th including overall girls amongst all other competing school hoards. The band ventured to St. Mary's Elementary School in Goderich to display their musical skills. Habitat for Ilumanity is seeking new members and they have an awesome line up of future activities planned! On a special note, on January l2th, 2010 the students and staff joined together for a prayer service to pay respect and remem- brance to those who suffered in the Haiti earthquake disaster which occurred a year ago. We wrote cards of encouragement to our friends at the Father Wasson Centre in !lain, a building that we have connected with through our prayers and financial donations. Students in our Grade Ten French immersion Religion class and our Me to We group put forth a tremendous amount of effort into the assembly. 'Their motivating video, prayers and details regarding the tragedy influenced students and staffs members to appreciate all that we have in Canada and it helped remind us of our responsibility to those who are in need. We will be entering into the world of Quiet Week, where we prepare ourselves for final assessments and exam prepara- tion. We wish everyone a joyful and relax- ing week. Mikenna Lane, Minister of Public Relations.