Times Advocate, 1995-11-29, Page 29Your Vi
Letters to the editor
Student answers letter
As for a job, there aren't enough
out there for the adults, let alone
the teenagers...
Dear Susan Dolphin :
I'm writing about your letter in last week's Times
Advocate. I hope you read this letter and don't just
throw it away. After your insulting letter that
slapped both my mom and I in the face I felt a need
to defend myself.
First I'll tell you a bit about myself. In school I've
been a straight "A" student. I received 93 per cent
in Canadian Studies, 94 per cent in English and 95
per cent in Drama. My -teachers are all proud of me.
As for past accomplishments I received the Lan-
guage Arts award in grade eight and have published
a poem. I continue to write stones and poems and
send them to publishers.
Over the past two years I have struggled with
committing suicide. Why you may ask, because I've
lost everyone I love except my niom. At first it was
my dad. As soon as I began to accept that, my
brother left. I turned to my sister as a source of com-
fort. Over the next year we grew very close. She
was the only person I could talk to about my feel-
ings because she was the only person who under-
stood them. I was devastated when she packed her
bags.
In desperation I turned to my friends, only to find
I had none. You see I'm a Christian. I don't know if
you have any faith at all, but if you do you aren't
being a good witness. God is love and He never gets
tired of our 'sob stories'. Being a Christian separ-
ates me from other teenagers like myself. It always
has and probably always will. My one friend that I
do have, can't understand what I'm going through
because her family is together. With all this stress I
think I've done a pretty good job in keeping my life
together.
As for a job, there aren't enough out there for the
adults, let alone the teenagers. I have, however,
been doing a volunteer job at a horse farm. Since
July 24 of this year I have worked diligently every
night possible to assist the hired hand. She herself is
in a tight spot financially, but pays me when she
can. I'm geuing good job experience and I put forth
my best effort. I do not spend my money foolishly
and though I make less I have a bigger bank account
than a lot of people I know.
I'm sure you' re thinking now, 'then why don't
you give the money to your mom?' Just so that you
know, I'm saving it so that I can hopefully attend
university like your son is, some day. I'm already
looking at future options and would like to continue
my education in so far as is possible.
Lastly, I'm glad that I can come home and find
my mom waiting with open arms. With no one else
to talk to it's nice to know my mom is there. Often
when I'll feel lonely I'll have to create fantasy
world to escape to. Do you know how embarrassing
it is to explain to someone that, at my age, I was just
talking to my imaginary friend? It's hard on a 14
year old to try to hold up her collapsing life. As a re-
sult I've skipped my teenage life. I'm glad that you
made it through your situation, but it was obviously
very different from ours.
Thank you for your time and I hope for your sake
that you change your view. We're trying the best we
can and you can't expect more. Again, thank you for
your time.
God Bless,
Crystalyn Cowell
MPP wants balanced budget
"Unless we act now, more and
more of the taxpayers dollars will
be used to pay these interest
costs..."
Dear Editor:
The people of Ontario have asked this govern-
ment to take on an important job: restore confidence
in this province as a place to live, to work and to do
business. In order to restore prosperity and bring
back confidence in our common future, we must
free Ontario from its crushing debt load. That is
why this government is committed to balancing the
budget and taking other needed steps to encourage
people and businesses to invest and create worth-
• while jobs.
In the last ten years alone government spending
has doubled, while the accumulated debt has tripled.
What do the people of Ontario have to show for it?
Eighty-two thousand fewer jobs than in 1990, high-
er une,nployment and nearly three times as many
people on social assistance as ten years ago. Previ-
ous governments paid for some of their overspend-
ing by raising taxes repeatedly. Ontario's personal
income tax rates are now among the highest in
North America. But even these high taxes - which
drove people and businesses out of Ontario. and
fueled the growth of the underground economy -
were not enough to cover the overspending.
Like any borrower, Ontario has to pay interest on
its dein. This year we will pay close to $9 billion in
interest costs - more than double what it was five
years ago. Right now our interest bill translates into
about $800 a year for every man, woman and child
in Ontario. If interest continues to grow at the rate it
has since 1990, it will cost each of us $1,700 by the
end of the decade. We will be paying $20 billion an-
nually in interest costs alone.
Presently, the interest payment we must make on
this borrowed debt equals the total amount this
province pays for education. In five years with un-
checked spending, the interest payment will equal
the amount the province spends on health care. I be-
lieve we must control our spending and in many cas-
es reassess where we spend our dollars so that there
is education and health care available to our chil-
dren and grandchildren.
Unless we act now, more and more of the taxpay-
ers dollars will be used to pay these interest costs,
rather than to fund necessary programs. As a result
of the June 8 election you have set a difficult chal-
lenge for this government. We are committed to re-
structuring government, cutting taxes and balancing
the budget. These measures will restore confidence
in Ontario as a place to live, to work and to do busi-
ness, and allow us to maintain the programs we all
believe are fundamental to our future. The alterna-
tive? Do nothing and let the people who hold our
debt decide. This is not an alternative I want for my
children!
Helen Johns, M.P.P.
Huron
Soc-hop rock
A rook concert broke out In the middle of a scheduled
soc-hop Wednesday at SHDHS. Darryl Romph belts out a
tune while playing the six string. He was backed up by
band members Cam Dougall on the bass, Dave Cream
on guitar, and drummer Pony Wiedo.
Times -Advocate, November 29,1995
"Secret of the Century"
You made the
night come alive...
Dear Editor and Community:
WOW! You talk about being crafty, the secrecy,
the team work and as the saying goes I quite often
use; "To handle yourself, use your head; to handle
others, use your heart". The firefighters and wives
definitely used their hearts. This surprise retirement
party put me in complete shock and amazement.
1 hardly know where to start with this sincere
thank you, not wanting to miss anyone. I'd like to
thank all those who worked so hard and long put-
ting this evening together, those who sent cards and
gifts, and especially the best wishes sent by those
who were unable to attend.
Special thanks go to my Miss Stress of the eve-
ning Jackie Wells who was superb; for the address
and presentations by Mayor Ben Hoogenboom,
Town of Exeter; Tom Tomes representing the Exet-
er and Area Fire Board; Bill Rowley from the Of-
fice of the Fire Marshall; Bill Armstrong, President,
Exeter Firefighters Association and O.P.P. Consta-
Page 29
ble George Finch of the Exeter Detachment.
Now the Roasters: Fue Chief Jim Hoffman; Co-
medianCouncillor Imbert Drummond; Peter Snell;
Fire Chief John Morgan; Firefighter Peter Arm-
strong; The Sock -Chop Doctor, Fire Chief Robert
Pertschy and his assistants.
From "C" to "V" (Cadets to Video Technician)
and all those in between and behind the scenes who -
donated their time and talents or participated in any
way to this special evening. To my wife Jo -Ann and
kidnappers Jim and Donna, the officers, firefighters
and wives for initiating and carrying out the "Secret
of the Century".
Last and most importantly, to all those who took
time to be in attendance. You made the night come
alive. Not to forget the Exeter Times Advocate for
their years of excellentcoverageand support over
the years.
You're all very special people and the warmth,
smiles and caring shown us, made my family and
myself feel very spxial too.
God Bless and Sincere Thanks to All
Gary T. Middleton
Making Hay receives
tremendous response
HAY TWP. - Release of the
much -anticipated "Hay Township
Highlights" will take a bit more
time than originally expected, but
in Bum, you're going to get a much
more detailed volume of local and
family history at no
extra cost.
Because
of the
tremendous re-
sponse from local
residents who sub-
mitted many more
family histories
than originally an-
ticipated, the book
has swelled from
the planned 400
pages and 500 pho-
tographs to 750 pag-
es and more than
1,400 photos.
While the deluge of family histo-
ries has meant much more work
preparing the book for printing, the
stories were too interesting to leave
out.
The original price for the book
hasn't increased by as much as a
penny, and copies remain available
for $55.
HAY TOWNSHIP
HIGHLIGHTS
We hoped to have the
book out for Christmas,
but the extra effort has
meant a slight delay,
with publication now
anticipated early in the
New Year.
Many of the books
have been presold. If
you planned to put
"Hay Township High-
lights" under the
Christmas tree, or
would like to, gift cer-
tificates for the book
are available from Don-
na Thiel (519) 236-4060 and Ian
McAllister (519) 236-4034.
Correction
USBORNE TOWNSHIP - The following are clarifications regarding the
Usbome Council minutes reported in last week's T -A.
A delegation attended the Nov. 7 meeting to discuss zoning regulation
on property located at Part Lot 13, Concession 1. Irene Blais-Howarth is
solely proposing a hair salon, not with Ray Howarth, as• stated in the arti-
cle. The salon will be owned and operated by Blais-Howarth.
The minor variance application would allow for a non-resident to oper-
ate a business. The applicant does not intend to apply for rezoning of the
property to Village Commercial as suggested by council. The delegation
requested council to "turn a blind eye for a while," not to "overlook" a
temporary violation of the bylaw. Council responded they would not com-
ply with this request.
According to Howarth, the history of the property includes the operation
of a hair salon for six years, two of which were operated by a non-resident.
Last week's report indicated council appointed Bill Dietrich, W.E. Kel-
ley & Associates to prepare a report on the Penner petition.
The motion #343-1995 was lost and a second motion #344-1995 was
carried to appoint Tony DeVos, P. Eng., Spriet Associates London to pre-
pare a report regarding a drainage petition submitted by Gladwin Penner
for Lots 12 & 13, Concession 10, Usbome Township.
The T -A regrets the errors and any inconvenience they may have
caused.
c,+
•
ki
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SEASONS
GREETINGS
For Some,
Christmas is the saddest time of year
Our fondest memories of Christmas are often those of childhood. The wide-eyed expectation.
the thrill of receiving a much wished -for toy. the excitement of emptying a stocking filled with
treats - those are the memories that stay with us a lifetime. But for some youngsters.
Christmas is the saddest time of the year. a time when there is no hope for special surprises.
In this. the most prosperousd nation in the world. there are still millions of families facing
poverty and deprivation.
With your help. The Salvation Army would like to reach them and others whose lives are in
turmoil. Each year. The Salvation Army's holiday ministry provides meals. gifts and words of
comfort and inspiration to millions.
It is the generosity of compassionate donors that makes this outreach possible. Can you help
us bring a ray of hope to someone in need this year?
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Send Receipt To:
ENCLOSED IS MY GIFT OF:
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P.O. Box 29
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