Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-08-10, Page 3Wednesday,August 10, 2005 Exeter Times–Advocate 3 Local student reaches semifinals in international writing contest By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Meghan Stuart's goal of becoming a writer is off to a good start. The Exeter teen, a recent South Huron District High School graduate, was recently named a semi-finalist in an international essay writing contest that included submissions from 4,800 students. Stuart sent in her essay to the Ayn Rand Institute's 2005 "The Fountainhead" essay contest in April and found out last month she placed as a semi-finalist, for which she'll receive $50 and a certificate. The top prize for the contest was $10,000. In the contest, students were assigned to use their critical Stuart thinking and writing skills to deal with the characters and themes presented in Rand's acclaimed 1943 novel "The Fountainhead." Stuart's essay dealt with the themes of egotism and altruism in a courtroom scene. Stuart, who is taking English this fall at the University of Western Ontario, said she entered the contest because she always did well on her essays in high school and wanted to see how she'd do in a large competition. It took Stuart about three days to write her 1,500 word essay, but read- ing the nearly 1,000 page book took a while, she admits. Although in the end Stuart enjoyed "The Fountainhead," she says she hated the first half, because it took her a while to get used to the concepts explored. Stuart has her eye on majoring in creative writing in her second year at Western, and names John Fowles, Roald Dahl and Robertson Davies as writers among her favourites. She says she'll read just about anything and writes what she describes as realistic fantasy, "with some- thing a little odd thrown in." In addition to "The Fountainhead," Rand is best known for the 1957 novel "Atlas Shrugged," and the phi- losophy of objectivism. Born in Russia in 1905, Rand witnessed the Kerensky and Bolshevik revolutions and left her native country for the United States in 1926, where, in addition to her novels, she wrote screenplays and essays. Rand died in New York City in 1982. Since sponsoring the essay contests, over 290,000 students have submitted essays to the Ayn Rand Institute, which hands out more than $70,000 in prizes each year. "The judges have a very difficult time selecting winners for these contests because we receive so many quality entries," the Institute's executive director Yaron Brook says. "The number of entries we receive each year keeps increasing and so the competition gets tougher." 'John Doe' ready to rock ag building By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — The Exeter Agricultural Building will be rocking Aug. 13 when several local bands take the stage for the John Doe Show. Confired for the show are Short Change, Pardon My Goat, A Dying Melody, Broken Glasswings and Thisgirlsagun, along with several other bands. Short Change is made up of band members Clint Homuth, Marten Girard, Mike Gaiser and Derek Mead. Homuth said the show has been worked on since the end of the school year. "We'd played so many shows but never really hosted one or put one on...there had never been a show at the Agricultural Building in a while so why not do it there." Homuth said the local music scene has taken off in the past few years. "When Short Change first started, there were us and two other bands within 30 minutes of here. Within the past two years, it's just explod- ed...people are starting to take an interest more in local music." According to Homuth, the music scene in London has contributed to more interest in local bands. "Because of bands mak- ing it big there from local areas it obviously has an effect on the way people think around here and they decide to try it for themselves." Short Change has offi- cially been together for two years, although some of the band members have been playing togeth- er for five years. In the past year, Homuth said the band has started writing its own music, "and get our own sound rather than play chopped up covers of songs we like." Although Short Change has played in several bat- tle of the bands shows, Homuth said the John Doe Show will be the biggest they have played at as well as having a dif- ferent atmosphere. "With battle of the bands, there was always a high tension because everyone wants to win...the thing we're try- ing to do with ours is get people out and listen to -44._ Usborne Hibbert 411110 Mutual Fire Insurance Company Head Office Exeter, ON NOM 1S1 235-0350 • Est. 1876 Residential Farm & Commercial Properties DIRECTORS & ADJUSTERS Joe Chaffe, R.R. 5 Mitchell Ron Feeney, R.R. 2 Dublin Larry Gardiner, R.R. 2 Staffa Jack Hodgert, R.R. 1 Kirkton Michael O'Shea, R.R. 3 Granton Morris Willows, R.R. 2 St. Pauls AGENTS n -- Wayne Maver David Moore Joseph Uniac Barb Warden Exeter Dublin Mitchell Staffa 235.1915 345.2512 348.9012 345.2777 348-9705 345-2360 345-2678 229-6152 225-2600 393-6548 some music and have a good time. That's what it's all about." Doors open for the show at 5:30 p.m. with advance tickets available at Exeter Music Centre for $5 or $8 at the door. For more information contact Homuth at 235- 0704 or Lisa Towle at 235-2689. Correction EXETER — An article in last week's paper incor- rectly identified the indi- vual who recently scored a hole -in -one at the Exeter Golf Course on Kirkton Rd. Denise Smith of Lucan took a swing with her three iron on the number six hole (100 yards) to land a hole -in -one. BIKINI BOB'S Restaurant and Beach Club WEEKLY ENTERTAINMENT Wed. Nights - `Live Bands" Thursdays - Karaoke with Donna Lynn Fridays: D.J. Turtle Saturday Afternoon Live Band Matinee on Back Patio 1-4 pm Sunday Live House Band "My Friend Lewis" - NO COVER - Weekly Lineup Until September Main St., Grand Bend 238-2235 "We'll work for your Business!" SH supports doctor recruitment By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — Council has sup- ported local doctor recruitment efforts to the tune of $3,000. Exeter's Wayne DeLuca, chairperson of a new committee formed to pursue recruitment and retention of doctors in the area, spoke at Monday night's council meeting, request- ing a $3,000 grant from council to help design "first class information packages" to take to doc- tor recruitment seminars. DeLuca said the recruitment commit- tee was formed about three months ago and will use the packages to encourage doctor recruitment and retention, economic development and tourism. He said the committee has already received another $3,000 grant from a health ministry. DeLuca said Exeter needs to be involved in recruitment seminars and present packages that stand up with the best. "If we don't jump on this train as soon as we can, we're going to be left at the station," DeLuca said. Another one of the committee's efforts will be to encourage local high school students to consider careers in medicine and practice in rural areas. Also, medical students will be taken on tours through the commu- nity to show them why they should practice here. Council supported the committee and agreed to the $3,000 grant. "Keeping a doctor is a very important thing," Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin said. Mayor Rob Morley pointed out one of the challenges rural areas have in attracting doctors is ensuring there are jobs for doctors' spouses. He also suggested DeLuca's commit- tee request funds from the municipali- ty of Bluewater. "If we don't jump on this train as soon as we can, we're going to be left at the station;" WAYNE DELUCA, CHAIRPERSON POLICE BRIEF HENSALL —Around mid- night, August 5, OPP responded to a domestic situation in Hensall. A common-law couple got into an argument and a man allegedly assaulted a woman. The woman was taken to hospital by family members and treated for minor injuries. Police later arrested a 25 -year-old man from Bluewater and charged him with assault and breaching probation. JpzLg'rio ' l MATING Y0Concepts E A HOME • Custom Window Coverings • Hunter Douglas Blinds Sandra Rowe Certified Decorating Consultant • •New Samples Have Arrived • Affordable, Personal Service in the comfort of your own home. We service what we sell. CaII Today (51 9) 229-6284 T�katm,ti In this game there are no opponents. Only friends. In a non-competitive environment kids can truly enjoy learning how to play soccer. After all, when you don't keep score, everybody wins. That's why your local Tim Hortons is proud to support Timbits Minor Soccer in Exeter. The first goal is having fun.