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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-03-10, Page 44 Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday,March 10, 2004 TIMES ADVOCATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 We acknowledge the Financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing casts. Jim Beckett Publisher and Editor Deb Lord Production Manager &Published by Metroland Printing, rt Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Metroland 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIALS Preparing for a federal election While the federal Liberals fight among each other in light of the sponsorship scandal and over Prime Minister Paul Martin's attempts at clearing out Jean Chretien loyalists (goodbye, Sheila Copps), Huron -Bruce Liberal MP Paul Steckle now knows who his opposition will be in the next federal election. Barb Fisher of Kincardine took the Conservative nomination on the weekend, defeating David Yates. Fisher was a former MPP for the Bruce riding before she lost to Helen Johns when that riding merged with Huron. The question is: will the popular Steckle be able to withstand voter anger against the Liberals, or will voters opt for the Conservative Fisher, who is not as well-known in Huron as she is in Bruce. It has been suggested by many that Steckle should actually be a Conservative, given the fact he has spoken against the Liberal party line on several noteworthy issues, including the gun reg- istry. Steckle was also among those MPs a couple of years ago who spoke in favour of Martin replacing Chretien. But while the newly -formed Conservative party still hasn't chosen a leader, the Liberals are also in a state of flux. Longtime MP Sheila Copps was unseated on the weekend in the Hamilton East - Stoney Creek riding. Copps is considering a chal- lenge to the vote but it's clear she was pushed out by her own party because of her Chretien connection. What's left is for Martin to make up his mind on when to call an election: does he roll the dice and call a spring election, or does he attempt some more damage control over the sponsorship scan- dal and wait awhile? Improved meetings Lest we be accused of never saying anything positive about politicians, let it be noted that South Huron council's meetings have vastly improved over the last few months. Instead of the long, drawn-out meetings this space complained about before Christmas, council discussions have for the most part been focused and succinct. Of course, this could simply be because January and February are traditionally slow months and dele- gations at council have been few. But whatever the reason, it's a welcome relief from the marathon sessions council used to hold. About the Times -Advocate Editorial Opinion 2044 'NO r,b,,!ed by Carud,rto Artists S iditate Inc. Between the covers of a good book Anyone who knows me can tell you how much I love a good book. There are millions of books in the world. I walk into a store like Chapters, and I am immediately in awe of just how many books there are and how long it would take me to read them all. I am overwhelmed by the decision to just pick a few to take home with me. Out of all those books, how can I choose? I can't remember not knowing how to read. I know I was reading before I started school, so for me, it has been a way of life. I read anything I could get my hands on, going through a stage where I could be found curled up reading the Little House on the Prairie series or anything by L.M. Montgomery. In the latter part of my teen years I discovered Canadian fiction and began reading such authors as Margaret Laurence, Margaret Atwood, Alice Munro (who enthralled me even more because she grew up in my own home- town of Wingham and used it as a setting for some of her short stories), Timothy Findley and Michael Ondaatje. It was also during that time that I went through my classics phase, enjoying the novels of the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Now in my 20s I still love a good read and can't imagine a life without books. Books by all of these talented writers hold places of honor on my bookshelves. They are as much a part of my growing up as any friend I had. Whatever my mood or situation, books have always been there for me. The characters I met and the places I went in those thousands of pages were an amazing world for me to experience. Books can thrill you, comfort you, teach you, scare you, humor you, sadden you, challenge you, inform you, bore you, enlighten you, calm you, upset you, inspire you, stabilize you, shock you and entertain you. Books are a constant. They are always there for you. The characters that you picture in your mind as you read the story or novel will never change. I think that is why many people do not enjoy seeing a movie made out of one of their favorite books. The director has his or her own version of the people in the story, and he brings that image to the screen, and it may not be anything like the version that came alive as you were reading the words. Books are probably some of the best invest- ments you can make, not for the monetary value, but for the gift of time you give to you and your loved ones. I try to encourage my own love of reading in my nieces and nephews as well. Some of my own favourites have made their way onto their bookshelves and I often give books at Christmas and birthdays. I can't think of a better way to foster their imagina- tion than to give them the opportunity to explore a new world through the pages of a book. MAR SIMM PENNY THOUG ONS FOR MY HTS Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. 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For example, Jim Beckett's e-mail address is <jbeck- ett@southhuron.com> Our general e-mail address is ads@southhuron.com. The Times -Advocate Team Publisher/Editor Jim Beckett ext. 109 Advertising Barb Consitt ext. 110 Reporters Scott Nixon ext. 105 Pat Bolen ext. 113 Mary Simmons ext. 107 Customer Service Sue Rollings ext. 101 Carol Powe ext. 102 Composition Department Manager Deb Lord ext. 114/103 Sharlene Young ext. 103 Jacky Westlake ext. 103 Accounting Staff Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Carol Windsor ext. 111