HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-08-24, Page 44 Lakeshore Advance • Thursday, August 24, 2011
opinion
www.iakeshoreadvance.cam
tesIuorofiAdvance
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
P.O.BOX 1195
58 Ontario St., North
Grand Bend ON NOM 1 TO
phone: 519-238-5383
fax: 519-238-5131
email: Iadvance@bowesnet.com
SUN MEDIA
A Quebecor Media Company
NEIL CLIFFORD
Publlsher/Advertising Manager
nd IffordObowesnet. com
LYNDA HILLMAN-RAPLEY
Editor
ladvance6bowesnet.com
STEVE NORTHEY
• Advertising Sales
MARK STEPHEN
Advertising Sales
JULIE HARRISON
Typesetting/classlfleds
KATHY YOUNG
Accounts Recelvable
wvintiakeshoreadvancacem
SUBSCRIPTION RATES ADVANCE
Regular $39.95 (38.0!, r 1.90 GS1)
Online subscriptions avallable—same rates
Publications Mall Agreement
No.40084883
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO
LAKESHORE ADVANCE CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT
P.O.Box 1195 58 Ontario St. North
Grand Bend ON NOM 1TO
For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns:
phone: 519-238-5383
e-maN: IadvanceOboweanet.com
Changer (il address, cyders for subscriptions, and undel/verable copies
(retum postage guaranteed) are to be sent to Lakeshore Advance at the
address indicated We. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that in
the event of a typographical erns, the portion of the advertising apace
occupied by the erroneous Rem together with a reasonable allowance
for signature, will not be charged tor, but the balance of the advertise-
ment will be paid at the applicable rates.
We acknowledge the Anancial support (Atha
Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical
Pund (CPP) for our publishing activities.
Canada
AAs.0Cfla. pommy Iwocwa, one the Ontario
Community Nswspapsrs Association
letters to the editor
Reader confused about dune grass plans
Dear Editor,
1 ant confused/concerned
with the last article 1 read
concerning dune grass.
While! understand that it has
been planted to control erosion
- i guess would I would like to
know is how did the beach last
all this time without it?
'there is talk of actually
adding MORE species of grass
to what is already there? 'that
just does not seem; the right
path to go down in my opinion.
Maybe dune grass has its
place - but I would argue that
In the center of a busy beach is
not the best place for 1t.
If you look at what is down
there now - I think perhaps an
argument can be made to keep
a 'smaller' ribbon of grass to the
north and south of the bath-
house along the board walk.
But do we really need
those chunks of grass in the
center of the beach - I think
not.
And why would we consider
taking the boulders out? Why
would you spend $30,000 to
take something out that is nice
to sit on when watching sunsets
and events - and actually
performs a valuable function In
holding some of the sand back
while really being much more
aesthetic than the grass could
ever he - while nicely compli-
menting the boardwalk. And if
the sand is burying the
boulders and you take them out
- does not logic dictate that it is
now going to bury the board-
walk instead?
I think we have intruded on
this public space enough.
Why wouldn't we look at
youth Job creation projects that
have more students maintain
this area rather than just resort-
ing to hauling boulders away
because there is sand on them?
We have beach space being
usurped at a significant rate
and we have planted and
invasive species that is allowed
to grow wild where humans
used to lie.
Somewhere up there - I think
Mother nature is saying - "1 am
ok with the 20 linear miles of
dune grass along the coastline
that has allowed about a 20 foot
ribbon of usable beach in Horny
areas - so I ant cool with a few
acres of beach in town for
public use"
1 am all about conservation
but all 1 am saying is that the
beach is a valuable asset, a
social space and a commercial
space as well. t am concerned
about how we have continued
chip away at is sire.
Cause at the end of the day
what good is a beautiful beach
full of dune grass and no place
to sit don't people count too?
Jim Archibald
Archies
Lack of attention to detail contributing
factor; reader
I )ever Editor,
I found the letter to the editor
regarding the election expenses
of Mr. Dowson of Bluewater
very interesting. According to
the author this issue is
symptomatic of the Bluewater
problems between the " takers"
and the "makers, and that
Bluewater should be de -amal-
gamated to the citizens benefit.
It seerns to the that the issue is
about rules, regulations and the
law. If Mr. Dowson has violated
any of these, then he should be
subject to an audit and judged
accordingly. According to the
articles in this newspaper, he
seems to be indicating that the
filed election expense report
was prepared incorrectly by
some other person and that he
paid little or no attention to the
details. Whether it was inten-
tional or not, is not the issue.
I le is responsible for the
reports accuracy. if this is his
method of reviewing data then
maybe this carries into his
governance of the financial
affairs of Bluewater.
The author correctly speaks
about the huge increases in the
operating costs since amalga-
mation. One common factor in
the ten plus years in the history
of Bluewater is the mayor,
Mr. Dowson. Maybe his lack of
attention to details is a
contributing factor.
Don Bulloch
Bluewater
From the tower
Scott Ruddle
Lakeshore Advance
"I low do I help my young kids stay safe at the beach?"
When you come down to the sand from the parking lot the first thing
to do is orient your children to their location. Point out landmarks to the
kids that will help them find you if they get separated. "Okay gang we
have the three blue lawn chairs beside the Lifeguard 'rower close to the
pier." But, please don't park directly in front of the tower. We need a
clear path when we come down for a rescue.
Remember sun safety. Slip, Slop, Slap! Slip on a sun shirt. Slop on the
sunscreen. Slap on a hat. You can always pop onto YouTube and watch
"Dear 16 -year-old Me'; if you want to learn more about why we should
be sun smart. But, make it fun. Let your kids pick out their cool
sun -swimming hat.
Now that you're set up, greased up, and ready to enter the water head
down and (.O SLOW! First time in the water, every time you visit, go
slow. Walk in and see what the bottom is like. 1las the sand bar shifted,
is there a rock, broken sunglasses, or a water logged stick to step on'?
Sprinting in and cutting your foot on the first swim of the day really ruins
a beach day. Diving into a sand bar and cracking your neck can really
ruin a life. Walk in and check the bottom. Our beach has many different
bottom profiles across its length. If you want a shallower spot with a
gentle slope ask the Beach Patrol and we'll help you find a location that
suits the size of kids you have.
Swint between the red and yellow flags and close to a lifeguard tower.
In front of the tower is safest because we can get to you the fastest. Also
set limits for your kids. "You can't go any deeper than the letter S on
your Spidertnan sun shirt."
Little children should be within arms reach of an adult or an older
child strong enough to pick up and support the smaller child. This
means you have to put down the book, get out of that lawn chair, and ge
into the water. Sitting twenty feet up on the sand glancing up betwet
pages of a magazine doesn't count. Water wings, lifejackets, ancr
swimsuits with sewn in floatation do not absolve you of this responsibil-
ity either. 1f the waves or current are too much to safely handle, enjoy
the splash pad and playground equipment.
Last suggestion i'll make, parents you're not a super hero. Don't try to
swim out with one or, worse yet, two kids around your neck. Each year
we rescue adults who are surprised when a small child over powers them
on a swim in deep water. The quickest way to deflate your hero status in
the eyes of your kid is to take them out over your head, get in trouble,
and both of you need rescuing.
So enjoy your day at the beach. Be sun safe, beach safe, and water
safe. Let the kids have fun and whatever you do, don't mention anything
about back to school shopping. Summer is short enough.
Stay close and stay safe.
Any comments, questions, have you enjoyed the articles so far? Please
e-mail the Lakeshore Advance and let me know.