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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-10-13, Page 44 Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday, October 13, 2004 zkxna =CNA 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, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Iletroland i 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIALS Rate proposal too much Times -Advocate readers are by now probably aware of the new 2005 water rates that have been proposed by consultants Dillon and Tera Trends. A plethora of numbers have been bandied about, and nothing has been decided yet, but numbers proposed by the consultants would see significant water rate increases for many South Huron residents. A typical home in Stephen would see its quarterly bill increase 60 per cent — from $43.60 per quarter to $70.50 per quarter. Exeter water customers would jump from $73.75 per quarter to $80.40 per quarter, but they would also see another $32 per quarter added to their bills to pay for the planned $12 million Lake Huron water pipeline. Exeter customers also recently saw their quarterly bills increase from $10 to the current $40 to pay off the Exeter water sys- tem's debt. Some cottagers will see their rates go up over 100 per cent. These increases are too much too soon and ratepayers have every reason to be unhappy. While it may be true that water rates have been too low for years, leading to the current debt situation, that isn't the fault of the ratepayers. As these new rates are proposed for 2005, it doesn't give water customers much time to pre- pare for the increases they could face. If it turns out the municipality does go ahead with the increases, they should be implemented gradually. Councillors expressed their concern about the new proposed rates at an Oct. 4 council meet- ing. In the end, they decided to have more dis- cussions with the consultants to look at alterna- tive rate options. Also, a second public meeting is planned for early November at the South Huron Rec Centre. This is another chance for ratepayers to let council know how they feel about the water rates. Of course, all council meetings are open to the public, but attendance is almost always sparse at best. If you disagree with the proposed rates, you need to let council know. Editorial Opinion NOBODY's FUITIN'A Co **ft I.EkSH ON MY PITBULL! A holiday for the rest of us If there is such a thing as a perfect holiday, Thanksgiving would be the odds on favourite to win every time for one reason. It's the holiday time forgot because with advertisers at full speed for Halloween and the big day in December, Thanksgiving is the exception to the holiday rule of 'buy me something or else.' It has no presents to buy, no songs to sing and not a TV special in sight. Usually, the only pressure felt on Thanksgiving is that of cold steel on the bird's neck although the holiday does come with its own unique tradition of the `Thanksgiving Dump.' The tradition goes whereas when high school sweethearts reunite after weeks apart, one will have realized the person they had vowed to spend the rest of their life with can't compare to keg night on campus and toss them overboard. Breakups aside, the holiday is minefield free for men barely recovered from the spring whiplash of Valentines Day as well as trying to navigate the class -five rapids at Easter of a significant other asking whether her new spring hat with something resembling a bird perched on it looks `nice.' But with Thanksgiving in the rear view mirror, the first gentle fingers warning of the need to begin the Christmas present search claw across the back of a man's neck, telling him the free ride is over. But on the day itself there is little for the cooking challenged to do but sit back and watch female sib- lings cook themselves into a sweat to prove they can outdo their mothers in putting on a spread. Deficiencies noted in the meat and/or desert department can usually be corrected with a subtle yet well timed "don't worry about it, I think Mom said she was bringing a ham/dressing/pie anyway." Afterwards it is not only acceptable, but expected only the most energetic will be heading for the kitchen to clean up the carcasses and empty pie shells. Food aside, Thanksgiving offers a multitude of blessings from what bigger holidays offer. Other than watching John Candy spoon Steve Martin in `Planes, Trains and Automobiles', or turkeys getting dumped out of a helicopter, the selection is non existent for dusty old `classics' to be dragged out to PAT BO BACK 40 VIEW LEN take the place of preferred options such as NASCAR and football. Musically again, the October holiday offers little for those inclined to wander the neigh- bour day and night in gangs, assaulting others not with the usual weapons of choice, but with offkey renditions of something about their chestnuts roast- ing. If only it were so. And suggestions for a family singalong around the piano are equally rare. So while rolling over the bones of the bird looking for enough scraps to make one sandwich, think about all the day offers and even more important what it doesn't, and give thanks. About the Times -Advocate 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. Closed on Holidays. Contact Us By Phone or Fax Classified ad & subscription sales (519) 235-1331 24-hour automated attendant (519) 235-1336 Fax number for all departments (519) 235-0766 Subscription Rates One year rate for addresses in Canada: $37+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $68+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada: $104 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $10.00 for 20 words, 20c for each addition- al word+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announcements, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $15.00 + GST for up to 50 words, All ads must be pre -paid. The classified ad deadline is Monday at 10 a.m. Display Advertising To place a display ad, (519) 235-1331 weekdays 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. or evenings (519) 235-1336 (leave mes- sage) or toll-free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Fri. 4 m. -mail Us Web site: www.southhuron.com TA e-mail addresses consist of the person's first initial and last name followed by @southhuron.com. 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 Michelle Sereda ext. 110 Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 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, Diana Hardy ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Christina Scott ext. 108 Marg Pertschy ext. 208