Lakeshore Advance, 2011-03-16, Page 4,
4 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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tosilON
AIt 00110 Grand Bend Optimist Club
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
P.O. BOX 1195
58 Ontario St., North
Grand Bend ON NOM 1TO
phone: 519-238-5383
fax: 519-238-5131
email: Iadvance@bowesnet.com
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st>teentrr enc ol'aids, Mrough Me Publi,a*"sAalrtlsnoe Rogan,
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The Grand Bend Optimist Club has been
an important and integral part of the Grand
Bend area since the group's formation in
1998. We have been successful in raising
and giving back to the community over
$1,000,000 for various youth activities and
community projects over the last twelve
years. As an organization firmly rooted in
the interests of our treasured community
and its youth, we feel it is our duty and right
to let our stance regarding the use of our
public beach be known.
We have been blessed to live in a commu-
nity with the natural gift of an incredible
beach and world class sunsets. We are very
fortunate to have passionate and financially
able residents who have contributed their
own money to the magnificent beach house
and main beach enhancements. We are also
extremely fortunate to have had our local
politicians and their very capable adminis-
trative team work diligently to gain govern-
ment funding to allow the beach house,
beach enhancement and main street
upgrades to be completed in a relatively
short time frame.
To not capitalize on these investments
and restrict the use of the beach for public
events based on the opinion of a few
disgruntled but very vocal residents would
be a decision that will have a negative
impact on our community for many years to
come.
One doesn't have to go far to see how
other Iakeshore communities build upon
their public beaches to bring in more tour-
ists to stimulate their local economies and
provide residents with various activities to
enjoy. For five years, Wasaga Beach has
hosted a multi -day Beach Fest billed as "fun
for the whole family" The festival features a
wide range of musicians, family-oriented
shows, and busker acts that run throughout
the weekend and attract a great cross -sec
tion of visitors.
Tourists conte to Grand Bend in the thou-
sands to shop in our stores, eat in our restart
rants, stay at our hotels, cool oft in the lake
on hot summer days and enjoy an occa-
sional event being hosted on the beach,
Visitors may also look at purchasing cottages
as a vacation, rental property or retirement
home, however they certainly would not
plan for their retirement years to he spent
here if it were not for our vibrant community
and public beach.
Oakwood invests in tourism
We at Oakwood Inn Resort would like to
encourage everyone to attend the March 24th
public information centre at the Grand Bend
Legion. This is an opportunity to allow Lamb -
ton Shores council hear what you want for
Grand Bend's beach. This is a town built on
tourism and we at Oakwood have done our part
to accommodate our visitors here at the Inn
and then direct them to the public beach -be-
cause that is where the action is. We believe in
community and have been here for a long time.
There needs to be a happy medium for those
who come to the beach for 'stuff to do' and for
those who come to the beach to relax.
The tourist season is a short season and we
must welcome people- not close doors.
Oakwood spends thousands of dollars a year
to advertise Grand Bend- we have made this
investment in support of the 'limn because we
love Grand Bend.
We have the option at this March' 24th rerun,
to determine what uses should be permitted on
the beach. Council want public input on what
activities and tees should be allowed on the
beach, including service club events. not for
profit events, and c ommercktl events.
Don't sit back and complain --go to the
Legion on the 24th and make your voice
heard. They want public input. We are the
public. We are being encouraged to
Where is the logic with wind turbines?
lb the Ftitor:
Here are 10 things to think about with regard
to wind -turbine projects.
1. In Ontario, the velocity of the wind constantly
changes. This means that no useful power
comes from wind turbines approximately 75
per cent of the time.
2. When no useful power comes from the wind
turbines, consumers still consistently want
120 volts on their lights.
3. When wind turbines produce no power, our
power must, therefore, come from some
other source (i.e., coal, oil, water, uranium or
gas).Only y when the wind blows at approximately
30 miles per hour, do wind turbines produce
their rated power.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The formula forwind power production is:
power = the cube of the wind speevd.'lhis
deans that, as the wind speed changes, the
power output from the wind turbine changes
incredibly fast.
As they wind speed changes, some other
source of power must pick up the slack, so
that we can keep a steady 120 volts on out
electric system.
This standby power supply must Ile instantly
available when the wind dies down. Other
wise, we will get brownouts. That power has
to be shut off instantly when the wind picks
up or we will get dangerous spikes on ot1'
power. Both brownouts and spikes will mill
promise our electronics.
Thus, when wind turbines are producing
111e leanly is that the vast majority of
residents in the greater l;ta1111 Bend area are
in favor of told suport most, if not all of the
events that are belt 00 the beach. mewl w
been 0 101 of negative energy expended on •
limiting the enjoyment of public sporting,
cultural and musical events 00 the beach, It
the same amount of energy was chtuuleled to
create positive connnuntty iIll proVelllellts it
%%mo111 1e11etit everyone ill the area.
1 continue to make great memories for
yearns 10 come by keeping our town vibrant
and progressive. We shtur% the vision and
1,V0111 10 build 011 all the positive improve
-
molts that halve occurred in recent years. We
believe in encouraging visitors to conte to
l;ratnd Bend as a gorily dratirlatiull,10 enjoy
various events 00 the beach and tell others
about 0)11 great community.
If you shave our positive vision, we urge
you to attend the Grand (tend Beach Study
public information centre on Mauch 24th at
the 1,egion between •Ipm and 7pm and let
your voice he heard. We encourage you to tell
your elected officials that you expect thein to
act in the hest interests of the entire commit
111101. a11d 11111 0 vocal few.
Respectfully,
Grand Bend Optimist Club
pat titillate, \\'e live here, shop here, support
all service club activities here and although
our business pays taxes to 500111 1luron we
spend a lot of entertainment dollars and
raise donation dollars for Grand Bend.
It is our responsibility 10 work with this
municipality for the better rent to all. If you
can't come to the meeting, send a letter to the
municipal leaden. \Ve need tourism to survive
but tote fists are not coming to l;rand (tend if
we have nothing to octet.
David Scatchettt
Oakwood Inn Resod
power, the standby supplier most have its
genenttor constantly rutting hill tilt so that it
can Lie instantly ready for a change in plower
production by wind turbines because of
Changes 111 wind speed,
9, 'Ihetetore, consumers now 'mem pall' (o
keep the standby supplier going lull tilt anti
at the Sallie 011ie, 1111151 P0\' 13.5 cents per kil
Doan tor wind power, "bat 's like Paying
lolly,!
10, 'INS 41150 means that bevause the Statndby,
polver supply Must 1011 fill tilt, no talion
dioxide savings can 1u►I1d through this
use of wind Vowel, 'Ihus "green energy" is
not so green alley all,
So, the logic otwind power is completely
1'alulty,
and, as t1111s11nler, we'oe puiytng the price.
Alford Dykstra
Central Huron