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The Times Advocate, 2006-03-29, Page 22 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, March 29„ 2006 Times -Advocate staffers had a successful night at the 2005 Metroland Editorial Awards ban- quet, held March 22 in Mississauga. Pat Bolen, right, received first place in the Best Feature Photo category for his photo of a girl catching a water balloon, while Nina Van Lieshout fin- ished in second in the Best Profile category for her story on local aviation legend Gus Chisholm. (photo/Pat Payton) Farmers head to Toronto Continued from front page Writing letters was stressed at the Grass Roots income crisis meeting recently in Holmesville. Vermunt says what the farmers would real- ly like is funding equal to a cup of coffee per person per week as far as money goes. "We want to get the Risk Management Program (RMP)," says Vermont. Vermunt says there are rumblings and thoughts from farmers about shutting off the food supply until the government and the general public understands how bad the income crisis is. Vermunt also spoke of how unfairly the Canadian farmers are being treated in com- parison to the farmers in the United States. Wayne Hamilton agrees farmers in Canada are treated poorly. Hamilton is also frustrated with the farm- ing income crisis and is disappointed in the government, saying someone has to be lying somewhere because things are not adding up. "We need a level playing field," says Hamilton. Hamilton says another rally is coming up April 5 in Ottawa with interest being shown by other provinces including Quebec. Expanded toll-free calling for Quadro By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE KIRKTON — Up until Feb. 1, all telephone users in the Granton exchange territory had to pay long distance charges to call someone in the Thorndale exchange, even if they could see the other person's home across the exchange bound- ary. For long-distance customers of the Quadro Communications Co-op in the Granton area, that's all changed. It's the same for Quadro customers in three other rural exchanges in the area: Kirkton, Uniondale and Sebringville. "Quadro chose to do this to meet its customers' needs in an area in which there has historically been an inequity that could not be reme- died within the current regulatory framework for free local calling," explained general manager Tim DeWeerd from the company's Kirkton headquarters. It's not the traditional toll-free calling that's always been in place for calls placed within the same exchange, or for some neighbour- ing territories. In some cases — even in some neighbouring exchanges — government regula- tions continue to prevent expan- sion of that type of service due largely to a relatively low level of calls between the two territories. So calls from Granton to Thorndale, or Uniondale to Embro, or Kirkton to Centralia, are still technically Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle, seen sitting with Queensway residents Ina Russell and Leona McKellar, took questions March 24 at the residence in Hensall during a visit. (photo/Pat Bolen) Steckle speaks to Queensway residents Continued from front page According to Steckle despite being better off and only spending 10 cents of what we make on food, "we are a society of waste...it galls me when I see people throw stuff out the window." Despite the problems, Steckle stressed the positive aspects, saying "there is a lot of good in society...we are generous." The MP said when talking to stu- dents he stresses the peer pressure they face will continue throughout their lives whether it is shoes, clothes, and choosing the right schools jobs and marriages. He added there is peer pressure in Ottawa with MPs "trying to get to the front row." Another changing aspect of soci- ety according to Steckle is that with people retiring young, they have more opportunity for volunteering, an idea he agrees with. "While living use your talents and keep giving," said Steckle who added he is looking forward to the new session of Parliament. "It will be a different environment and my role will be different," said Steckle who noted he has served in majority and minority governments and now in Opposition. He said there will be "pointed questions," for the agricultural minister. "I truly believe we need to take action. The money is there...we should return the money to farm- ers. It needs to be done quickly." With the Liberal party going into a leadership race, Steckle said he is looking forward to the party rebuilding itself and building bridges. "We need to change the way we operate, we haven't been as kind to one another as we should have been." Despite the leadership contest, Steckle said he isn't backing any- one yet but will make the decision at some point. Steckle said the Liberal Party will go through the same thing the Conservatives did while they were out of office. But Steckle added the Conservatives will have to put together a platform Canadians can identify with, "or they will be reminded at election time." long distance calls. As of Feb. 1, however, Quadro is covering the cost for all customers subscribing to the company's long distance ser- vices: paying the long distance charge but not recording it on the customer's monthly bill. Other calls which will now be free to Quadro long distance sub- scribers include: Granton to Uniondale (and vice versa), Kirkton to Hensall, Kirkton to Uniondale (and vice versa), and Sebringville to Monkton. It doesn't work in reverse, however; telephone users in exchanges not served by the Quadro co-op (most are served by Bell) will still have to pay long dis- tance charges. There's another catch: Quadro customers will still have to dial 10 digits instead of the existing seven - digit local calling protocol. But DeWeerd notes that will all change in short order; this June, all tele- phone users in the 519 area code will begin getting messages that they must start dialing 10 digits for all local calls, and by next October it will become mandatory. Quadro annual meeting Quadro Communications Co-op will hold its annual meeting April 6 at Downie Central Public School near St. Pauls. Two of the co-op's six directors have completed their three year terms. The Uniondale representative, Linda Greason, has not been chal- lenged for re-election and will be returned by acclamation. The Sebringville representative, Oliver Davidson, will seek re-election at the annual meeting, and will be challenged by Steven Riehl. REGIONAL WRAP UP • Bi bike for stroke HUlION — The Heart and Stroke Foundation is hosting a big bike event May 25 and May 29, according to The Citizen. The fundraiser held in Clinton, Seaforth and Listowel will raise money for research and provide disease prevention and lifestyle information. The 30 -person bicycle is travelling across Canada from April to September, stopping in nine provinces and over 200 communities. Participants will ride about two to three kilome- tres, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Listowel holds the event May 25 and the Clinton and Seaforth events are May 29. Cruizers come to Goderich GODERICH — The Circle City Cruizers "Memories Then and Now" car show is coming to Goderich, according to The Goderich Signal -Star. The Zehr's Plaza is hosting the event May 20. The first cruise night is May 24 with 35 to 40 cars for show. This will occur every second Wednesday evening until September. The Circle City Cruizers have earned several awards for their cars. They're celebrating their 10th anniversary in Toronto at The Courthouse Square July 22. Seaforth competes in national event SEAFORTH — The Seaforth and District Horticultural Society is competing in the national Communities in Bloom program, according to The Huron Expositor. The volunteer organization maintains 10 flower gardens and several boxes, barrels and baskets of flowers throughout Seaforth. Seaforth and District Horticultural Society presi- dent Janny Streutker says, "If everybody helps, it will go. "It would be great to get lots of groups and even whole streets involved."