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Home My WebLink AboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-11-13, Page 4)1 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, November 13, 2013 oanion www.lakeshoreadvance.com kSlieshore Advance PUBLISHED WEEKLY P.O.BOX 1195 58 Ontario St., North Grand Bend ON NOM 1TO phone: 519-238-5383 fax: 519-238-5131 email: Iakeshore.advance@sunmedia.ca SUN MEDIA A Quebecw Media Company Pr 1 ifini NEIL CLIFFORD Publisher/ Advertising Manager neil.clifforddsunmodia.ca LYNDA HILLMAN-RAPLEY Editor laknshore arlvanceat)sunmedia.ca MARK STEPHEN Advertising Sales mark.stephonatCsunmedia ca KATHY YOUNG Typesetting/Classifieds lakeshore.adsidsunnledia.ca www,lakeshoreadvance.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES ADVANCE: Regular 542.00 (540.00 s 2 GST) Two year S78.00 (74.30 s 3.72) Publications Mail Agreement No 400841)83 RETURN UNOE(NERABI1 CANAOIANAt)i)ni SSI S 1t) LAKESHORE ADVANCE CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT Po.Uox 1195 58 Ontario Si North Grand Bend ON NOM 110 or any non -deliveries or delivery concerns phone. 519.238.5383 e•mall lakeshoro advance4Dsunmedla ca Changes oI address, orders for subscriptions, and undeliverable copies (return postage guaranteed) aro to bo sent to lakeshowAdvance at the address indicated hero. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the portion 01 OW advertising space occupied by the erroneous item together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged lor, but the balance 01 the advertise. 11)ent will be paid at the applicable rates We acknowledge the financial support of the (.overnment of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPI/) for our publishing activities, AoCna ia(Ci Menlo ol the tennikin C m mxwty Newspepix At x tonin and 11e Ontario Community unity New lur{ior kariation editorial Thinking of running. . .watch for skeletons If we have learned nothing else --it is that media will go to great lengths to find the truth. As we watched and listened to the Toronto mayor Rob Ford and London's mayor Joe Fantino dramas in the past few months, there has to be some concern from tax pay- ers- about who gets elected to our municipal councils. Research tells us candidates want to make sure, before throwing their hat into the race, even for re-election, that they really want to run for political office. Good step one. 'Tipsters con- tinue by recommending if you are plan- ning on serving you may want to "develop a thick skin, respond to nega- tive attacks positively, make sure you want to serve the community through that office, not because you want to get back at someone. Take a hard look at yourself — make sure you and your spouse have impeccable personal, financial and professional records... and most of all make sure there are no skeletons in your or your family's closet- because they will be exposed:" It is clear that if you decide to become a public figure --everything, in your life, your family's life all becomes public. Be careful; say those who have been there, of 'skeletons in your closet: And "Make sure you have a good rep- utation among your peers, otherwise this will backfire as you run for office, many great candidates have lost once such "skeletons" were exposed. -- Lynda Hillman fraplev LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Lakeshore Advance welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include the writer's full name, address, daytime phone number and signature (for verification. Anonymous letters will not be published. We reserve the right to edit all editorial submissions including letters for clarification, style and length. Letters must be signed and be in good taste and follow the laws of libel and slander. Column Mark Cullen www.markcullen.com Freedom Trees ° 'Ibis past lune, I had the distinct priv- ilege of attending the 1) Day ceremo- nies on Juno Beach in Normandy, France. I attended as a'caregiver' of my 94 -year old friend, I high Beatty, a Cana- dian veteran of the I) Day landings. It was a moving experience, to say the least. While there I could not help but notice that the French have made extraordinary efforts to maintain, in pristine condition, the burial grounds of Canada's war dead. Perennials have been planted at the foot of each head stone, in precise sequence: creating a rhythm of flowering plants that unifies the row upon row of permanent records of each soldier buried there. Trees are planted around the grounds and care- fully peppered within the cemetery itself creating a quiet and contempla- tive environment. From Airport Rd to Veterans 1 highway In London, Ontario, an exciting trib- ute to those who made the supreme sacrifice for Canada is underway. 'Ihe road that leads directly to the London International Airport was recently renamed the Veterans Memorial Park- way. As part of this expansive project, over 600 large sized trees will be panted. Four hundred of them have already been planted. Most have been donated by members of the industry and planted by volunteers. The money raised to support the project started as a simple penny drive at the local Parkwood Hospital in the Veterans wing, 158,320 pennies were collected by the staff, patients, families, and friends. From there, it grew with many corporate and private donors jumping on board as the significance of the planting became known to the citi- zens of London. According to Barry Sandler, the driv- ing force behind this ambitious project, the plan calls for 20 commemorative features: a combination of engraved natural stone and trees. Designed by landscape architect Ron Koudys, the 10 kilometre long highway features 8 'Guards: The oversized natural stones engraved with the words "Gateway, Val- our, Courage, Freedom, Fortitude and Allegiance". The plan calls for 12 more similar stone tributes. Each 4 -metre high engraved stone is linked with the next one using trees. The idea is to include a mix of tree plantings and stone commemorative features designed to create a "driving experi- ence" and to cause motorists to think about the values of public service in the Canadian Armed Forces. A Tribute to Our Armed Forces Barry states, "None of the features are dedicated to particular regiments, bat- tles, or campaigns. Rather, they feature one or two words that are meant to stir the passers by:' Tree planting projects utilize a vari- ety of species chosen for shape, colour, but primarily for survivability in a harsh 'highway' environment: The calliper size trees average 50-60 nun in diame- ter and as such require heavy equip- ment and expert assistance in the plant- ing process. Community volunteers complete the process: back -filling, stak- ing and mulching the trees. 1 am inspired by this project. We should all be inspired by it. Given the London VMP model, 1 ask what can be done to enhance the mean- ing of the I highway of I heroes that runs from Trenton to Toronto? Would a tree planting on a massive scale along th,3 desolate stretch of high speed highway not pay a fitting tribute to those whose lives have been taken in the name of freedom? As we approach, Veterans Day, and we slow down to contemplate the meaning of it all, I urge you to think about this. I personally pledge to help however 1 can to make it happen. After all, we need more trees and we need to be reminded that travelling our free- ways is only free because of tremen- dous sacrifice made by others. For me, l owe my friend Hugh a huge favour. Perhaps this can be part of it. For details about the London Veter- ans Memorial Parkway go to http:// www.treesfortheparkway.ca/plan. Mark (sullen appears on Canada AA e've'ry VV'dnesday morning at 8:40. Ile is spokesperson fur Home Ilardware Lawn and Garden. Sign up for his free monthly ne'wsle'tter at www.markeullevl.e'om.