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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-12-07, Page 44 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, December 7, 2005 =CNA Editorial Opinion 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 Deb Lord – Production Manager Scott Nixon – Editor tirt Published by iroland Printing, Publishing Distributing& Ltd. 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Metroland Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIAL The door keeps swinging Our revolving door prison system swung open even wider last week with taps on the wrist for two of Canada's worst con- victed felons. Most of the restrictions that were placed on Karla Homolka after she was released from serving a 12 - year sentence for the manslaughter of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy. Homolka was released from her restrictions by Quebec Superior Court Justice James Brunton, who admitted she could reoffend. But Brunton said since it is unlikely to occur, Homolka no longer has to report to police and is also able to contact her ex-husband Paul Bernado, as well as the families of her victims. Meanwhile in Edmonton, one of Canada's most noto- rious pedophiles is back in the community after serving a 13 -year sentence. Karl Toft was convicted of sexually abusing 200 boys over a 35 -year period at a youth training centre in News Brunswick where he worked as a guard. Toft faces several restrictions on where he can go and who he can associate with and it will reassure the public to know that when he visits grocery stores or shopping malls he will be using the buddy system to prevent him from reoffending, although it may not reassure them to know he will be accompanied by another recovering sex offender. Police are also not releasing the address of the apart- ment where Toft will be living since even the rights of a man who destroyed the lives of 200 boys has to be pro- tected. It's a great system. Christmas Bureau It's easy this time of year to be overwhelmed by the volume of advertisements telling us to buy our way to happiness with a bigger TV, bigger tree, and just more of everything. Added to the usual racket this year are the politicians telling us all the good things they are going to do for us with our money. But there are those around us whose idea of a Merry Christmas would be not to have to worry about whether there will be more than a can of tuna on the table for Christmas dinner. They would be more than happy with just a warm sweater under the tree, instead of the latest iPod with a camera phone that can also play video games while telling you what a great person you are. The Huron County Christmas Bureau has been attempting to fill those empty stockings and bare tables since 1967 and the needs never go away. While you are shopping (hopefully locally) to find that special something for that special someone, think about some- one less fortunate and what they can use and maybe we can all get by on a little less this year. E Closure list brings back memories It was with some surprise last week I noticed my old high school, Central Elgin Collegiate Institute in St. Thomas, has been recommended for closure. Central was one of nine high schools a consultant recommended the Thames Valley District School Board close over the next 15 years as a way to deal with declining enrolment and the 15,500 sur- plus student spaces it has, a number expected to jump an additional 8,000 spaces by 2020. Nearly a third of the board's schools were recommended to be closed. Locally, McGillivray, Biddulph Central and Lucan Public could be affected by the report, although it's too early for anyone to say what the board will decide. A new school could be built in Lucan to replace Biddulph, McGillivray and Lucan Public. But back to my old stomping grounds. In St. SCOTT Thomas, the consultant recommends two NIXON high schools there close — Central and doze the place. It's just a building, and not a par- ticularly attractive one. Whatever memories I have of the place — good and bad — will live on even if the school closes. One of my former elementary schools, Broadway Public in Woodstock, closed a few years ago. A grand old building, the last I heard it was still empty. That's the problem with closing schools — what do you do with them after they're empty? Huron Park residents know all too well what can happen when a school closes. Some fairly significant people have attended Central Elgin, including new San Jose Shark Joe Thornton and actresses Rachel McAdams and Helen Shaver. Of course, I didn't know any of them — Shaver (she of "Desert Hearts," "The Amityville Horror" and "In Praise Of Older Women") left long before I attend- ed. Thornton and McAdams attended Central after I had already graduated, although I'm fairly certain McAdams never would have associated with the likes of me had we attended at the same time. Mike Weir's caddy, Brennan Little, also went to Central and played on my hockey team, as did Thornton's older brother, Alex. That's about as close as I've been to a real celebrity, although two-time Oscar winner Jason Robards once mistakenly elbowed me in a lineup to see David Letterman in New York. My friend and I thought the guy with Robards was Omar Sharif, but I can't confirm that. Arthur Voaden. In their place, one new high AND ANOTHER school will be built. So it's a good news, bad THING news thing — the aging Central and Voaden sites would close, but the city would get a brand new school. No doubt, some of my former Central classmates will be upset at the thought of our old school clos- ing. Some people look back on their high school years with blind sentimentality, remembering those bizarre teen years as some kind of Utopia. Not me. I'm fairly indifferent about my high school. I still have some great friends from Central, and I remember some of the teachers with fond- ness. But overall, I won't shed a tear if they bull - 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: $38+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $70+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada: $130 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $11 for 20 words, 20c for each additional word+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announcements, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $15 + 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 p m. E-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 Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 EDITOR Scott Nixon ext. 105 REPORTERS Pat Bolen ext. 113 Nina Van Lieshout ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Kim Hern ext. 102 COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 103/114 Heather Bilcke ext. 103 Kelly Gackstetter ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Christina Scott ext. 108 MargPertschy ext. 111 Heather Clarke ifiAjW-65 APol.o&tEs To 5 1.1LtLZ- r lit Iiir i 0 • V e 11) ) .• 4 I I a i b . A dj La mom E Closure list brings back memories It was with some surprise last week I noticed my old high school, Central Elgin Collegiate Institute in St. Thomas, has been recommended for closure. Central was one of nine high schools a consultant recommended the Thames Valley District School Board close over the next 15 years as a way to deal with declining enrolment and the 15,500 sur- plus student spaces it has, a number expected to jump an additional 8,000 spaces by 2020. Nearly a third of the board's schools were recommended to be closed. Locally, McGillivray, Biddulph Central and Lucan Public could be affected by the report, although it's too early for anyone to say what the board will decide. A new school could be built in Lucan to replace Biddulph, McGillivray and Lucan Public. But back to my old stomping grounds. In St. SCOTT Thomas, the consultant recommends two NIXON high schools there close — Central and doze the place. It's just a building, and not a par- ticularly attractive one. Whatever memories I have of the place — good and bad — will live on even if the school closes. One of my former elementary schools, Broadway Public in Woodstock, closed a few years ago. A grand old building, the last I heard it was still empty. That's the problem with closing schools — what do you do with them after they're empty? Huron Park residents know all too well what can happen when a school closes. Some fairly significant people have attended Central Elgin, including new San Jose Shark Joe Thornton and actresses Rachel McAdams and Helen Shaver. Of course, I didn't know any of them — Shaver (she of "Desert Hearts," "The Amityville Horror" and "In Praise Of Older Women") left long before I attend- ed. Thornton and McAdams attended Central after I had already graduated, although I'm fairly certain McAdams never would have associated with the likes of me had we attended at the same time. Mike Weir's caddy, Brennan Little, also went to Central and played on my hockey team, as did Thornton's older brother, Alex. That's about as close as I've been to a real celebrity, although two-time Oscar winner Jason Robards once mistakenly elbowed me in a lineup to see David Letterman in New York. My friend and I thought the guy with Robards was Omar Sharif, but I can't confirm that. Arthur Voaden. In their place, one new high AND ANOTHER school will be built. So it's a good news, bad THING news thing — the aging Central and Voaden sites would close, but the city would get a brand new school. No doubt, some of my former Central classmates will be upset at the thought of our old school clos- ing. Some people look back on their high school years with blind sentimentality, remembering those bizarre teen years as some kind of Utopia. Not me. I'm fairly indifferent about my high school. I still have some great friends from Central, and I remember some of the teachers with fond- ness. But overall, I won't shed a tear if they bull - 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: $38+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $70+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada: $130 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $11 for 20 words, 20c for each additional word+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announcements, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $15 + 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 p m. E-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 Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 EDITOR Scott Nixon ext. 105 REPORTERS Pat Bolen ext. 113 Nina Van Lieshout ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Kim Hern ext. 102 COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 103/114 Heather Bilcke ext. 103 Kelly Gackstetter ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Christina Scott ext. 108 MargPertschy ext. 111 Heather Clarke