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Lakeshore Advance, 2011-03-02, Page 9Wednesday, March 2, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 9 Loss of school kills a part of communities Christina Blizzard QMI Agency Like so many rural communities across this province, this small village nn Lake 1 iuron feels like it's had its heart ripped out. Along with the nearby communi- ties of Myth and Brussels, Zurich will lose its elementary school next year. Kids from kindergarten to (:rade 6 will be bused to a school a half hour away in 1 lensall, And, In a move that has angered Zurich parents even more, Grade 7 and 8 students will he sent to a high school in Exeter-- a 40 -animate bus ride away. Students in the other two commu- nities will go to Winghatn, What irks parents in all three communities is all three schools were at or near capacity -- and the Zurich school consistently exceeded the Avon and Maitland school board avenge in EQA() testing. "'ihey can't argue that it was empty and they can't argue that there was poor academics going o» here," said businessman Steve 1laberer, who grew up in the village and went to the school. Truck driver Greg McAdams is upset that when his daughter gets to Grade 7, she'll be riding to high school 40 minutes away with 18-year- olds in Grade 12. "It's going to hurt the community. "We're very close. We look out for each other's kids and we feel we've been dealt a raw deal," said McAdams. like many parents, he's planning to send his daughter to the local Catholic school in order to keep her close to home. Right now, 80% of the kids walk to school. In 2012, they'll all he bused, So not only will they get less exer- cise, they won't be able to take part in after-school sports and other activities. It's a double whammy. 'Ihey can't stay late at school to play hockey or be in the school play. And they won't get home in time to take part in those activities in their home communities. So much for healthy living. it's just one more step in a devas- tating trend that is killing rural Ontario, saki Bayfield Corm. Geordie Palmer. "It started 15 years ager with factory fauns, which have virtually destroyed the family farm, "We're going to green energy, but now we're building factory -style windmills, "The bottom line is we are now developing factory schools --consoli- dating them all in one spot, so the children are spending more time on buses than they are on education," he said, Many fear the loss of the school will have an economic impact as well As long as the school was there, villages were able to attract young people. Now they fear the loss of those young families will nuke it more dif- ficult to sell their homes. Who will want to buy in a village with no scluol? These villages are not unique. Runts school closures are happening all across the province. 'I'heesee ones just don't make sense. And they demonstrate that bricks ane mortar aren't what education is all aloof -- especially in small communities. It slakes no sense to shut down local schools and shove young peo- ple onto buses just because a big city bureaucrat crunched some numbers and came up with it one -size -fits -all model that doesn't really measure up for anyone. It seems to me Pink Floyd was right after all. We don't need no education. We don't net'd no thought control .,. Ali in all, you're just another brick in the wall. e'hriSlirul, bpi::NHY1(2es1U1 r11etila. c( Pressure from Ministry; Bluewater looks at environmental impacts Vanessa Brown QMI Agency Hluewater's utilities superintendent last week presented council a report on this year's cost to continue work to clean up) the 1 tensall Landfill. With pressure from the Ministry of the Environment, the municipality last year began studying the environmental impact leachate has on the landfill, l,ea- chate is a contaminated liquid that drains from garbage and compost. Ele- vated levels have been seeping into one of the dump's drains, apparently harm- ing fish. Utilities Superintendent Brent Kittmer said this year's projected cost of the project, if approved, would be $112,985, "What we want to do is really show a proactive approach and show the minis- try we are taking it seriously, we want to do something," Kintner said. "'Ihe worst- case scenario is that they (Ministry of the Environment) order us to comply, and then they get to call the shots." The ministry has taken an interest because the water in the drain is a classi- fied coldwater fishery containing brook trout. Council last August approved a three-phase remedial action plan based on a three-year study by the Ausable Hayfield Conservation Authority that ended in 2008. Each phase Is brought before council for approval before work starts. The entire project will cost Blue - water Just under $50(,000. Phase one, at a cost of $86,850, was approved and began last year, 'Huai 2010 spending was just under $47,1)00, taken 'pm the llensall Landfill reserve. It il+olves testing the water and trout in the drain to identify the primary source of contamination. Kittmer said 2011 work should include the completion of phase one testing, and the beginning of phase two, which is an engineered alternative design at the landfill to remedy the con- tanliltation,'Ihe final phase is tendering and construction, Deputy Mayor Paul Klopp questioned the project's total cost, "We're talking half a million dollars here," he said. "I think, for all the resi- dents of Bluewater, we have to make sure we're spending money that is doing some good." The contamination, which does not affect drinking water, has been "a thorn in our side for the last number of years," (;oun, John Hecker Way East) said. In 2005, composted materials were dug away from the drain, but leachate persisted. "My sense of what's going on here is it hasn't gotten any worse," Klopp said. "'ihere's fish living in it that are breeding. 'Ihe farmer In me tells me that if an ani- mal is breeding, it can't be that unhealthy" But the Ministry of the Environment wants the trout pnrteected. If council votes against the project during budget delib- erations, ministry officials could take matters into their own hands. "'They've made It clear to us that they will issue an order for us to comply, which means that they we basically com- plete the remedial action plain as they see Kittmer warned. Because the drain in question only contains six to 12 inches of water, the existing trout are minnows. Coon. Kay Wise (l lensall) said she's never seen or heard of anyone in the area fishing for brook trout. Councillors unanimously voted to visit the landfill in the spring to see the prob- lem and better understand the situation. This year's projected costs will be pre- sented to council during budget deliber- ations as part of the !tense!! Landfill's 2011 operating budget. Recognizing Exemplary Service Beginning next year, the Municipality of Bluewater will award its firefighters certificates of recognition. 'this year's long service and exemplary service medals were distributed at the Bluewater fire chief's Ian. 26 meeting. Long service is recognized when a fire- fighter has worked for 25 years, and again after every five subsequent years of service. Bluewater's fire department is an essential component of the community, Fire Chief Dave Johnston said in a sub- mitted letter to council. "'The activities of the fire department support the organization and delivery of public services that are important to and valued by the residents, that contribute to their quality of life and that create a distinctive character and foundation for the community," Johnston wrote, The provincial long service medals were awarded to Bill 'Thompson, Paul (;ridr.ak, Ron Thompson, Don Mc(;linchey, Greg Dayman, Jim Regier and Greg Campbell. Gerard Boon and Charles Broadfoot were recognized for 30 years of service; Iit11Collins for :15 years; and Rick Burdge for 40 years with the fire department. The federal fire services exemplary service medal and service bars are 511111 - tarty awarded. Firefighters are recog • nized after 20 years of service, and again after each subsequent decade. Exemplary service medals were awarded to Dave Johnston, Brian'lltllot, Bill Thompson, Dave Roy, Jeff Allan, Paul Gridzak, Rick Fisher, Greg (:tunplxell, Jim Rieger, Bob Campbell, Greg Dayman, Ikon McClinchey, Ron'Ihompson, Randy Geoffrey, Dale Erb, Kim McKinnon, Dave Brodie, Kevin McKinnon and Dan 'lUrkheim, Jim Collins, Bob Merner and Gerard Boon were recognized for 30 years; and Rick Burdge for 40 years of service. Choices for Seniors Information on Independent Living Home Care Supports Caregiver Wellness ('aregiving firings with it many rewards the satisfaction of giving back to an aging parent, the sense of loyalty to a sponse who 11418 developed health challenges, 14101 tho positive emotions we fool when helping older relatives who are important to IIs. 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