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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-05-10, Page 22 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, May 10, 2006 Sewer meeting tonight Continued from front page able. COMRIF program analyst Cecilia Ligon told Fydenchuk COMRIF will not be establishing the criteria until June 21. "If council would contact COM - RIF, they would be aware," says Fydenchuk. Fydenchuk expressed his con- fusion at the meeting as to why council is prepared to pass a motion to not submit another application for the sewer project when, according to Ligon the main criteria for COMRIF Intake Three could be sewers as opposed to water lines. President of Make -Way Environmental Technologies Inc. and Exeter and area representa- tive for Delta Environmental Products, Inc. Bert Knip spoke at the meeting, offering two alter- natives to the sewer project for the residents, although Knip was unable to look into the Crediton - Centralia sewage issue in detail before the time of the meeting. Knip spoke first of a waste- water on-site disposal system, a Whitewater Aerobic Wastewater Treatment Unit that works by using bacteria provided by nature. As a result of air being pumped into the system, bacteria thrives and grows in larger numbers than what would naturally occur. This "overpopulation" of bacte- ria speeds the process of break- ing down the sewage which makes it safe for release into the environment. The other option offered by Knip was a Septic Tank Effluent Pump (STEP) System for effluent collection. The system is a form of pressure sewer with advan- tages over traditional gravity col- lection systems, like unit costs being lower, especially in areas of dispersed dwellings, hilly ter- rain and high water table or rock. Ducharme stressed to the resi- dents the importance of calling council, Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell and MP Paul Steckle with their questions and con- cerns regarding the sewer pro- ject. Fydenchuk said he has gotten the "run around" with both coun- cil and the members of Parliament sending him back and forth between themselves. One resident asked Ducharme if "you think we can get through to them," speaking of council. Ducharme replied, "It's work- ing slowly. These guys can be shamed. Don't let them dictate the rules." A petition has begun in Crediton against pursuing the sewer project with no funding. (The petition is at Jordy's Gas Bar). A petition has also begun in Centralia. The South Huron Residents' Association in conjunction with residents of Crediton and Centralia have invited council, Mitchell, Steckle and other gov- ernment officials to attend the meeting tonight, starting at 7 p.m. at the Crediton Community Centre. After the meeting tonight, the South Huron Residents' Association is requesting council set aside some time for another Crediton -Centralia sewer delega- tion at council's next meeting Monday. School forum tackles Internet addictions By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — "Easy to get involved in and not come out," was how University of Western Ontario (UWO) professor Michael Katchabaw described online gaming at the last South Huron District High School (SHDHS) commu- nity forum of the year May 4. As well as online gaming Katchabaw dis- cussed Internet gambling and what the effects of being connected constantly are hav- ing on society and youth. Katchabaw said games such as Everquest or `Evercrack' as it has been described by players, are "brilliantly designed," since play- ers can't win so they just keep playing. "The immersion level is very high" said Katchabaw who added the games have a social component which "leads to a false sense of relationships and identity." According to Katchabaw, people who may become addicted to online games are prone to boredom, loneliness, depression and low self esteem. While the relationships they form online are not friends in the traditional sense said Katchabaw, gamers find them more reward- ing than real life since they are not judged. He said online addiction is not confined to young people and the results can be as severe as other addictions with relationship breakdowns, loss of work, failure at school and even death. With there has been discussion about the games being labeled with warnings about the possibility of addiction, Katchabaw said it probably won't happen because labels would open up the possibility of legal action against manufactures of the games. Costs for the games are low, said Katchabaw with parents sometimes being unaware their kids are playing. One method of blocking access, according to Katchabaw is a 'Time Scout', which is a Committee meets with MPPVan Bommel Continued from front page Richards said McGillivray's enrol- ment is 158 and can accommodate 212. But Richards said with sewers being installed in Nairn, there could be future population growth in the area. He added the capital plan submitted by the board had no trustee or public input. Richards said on one hand the province seems to want to improve rural infrastructure and strengthen it, but on the other hand is planning to close schools. One thing Richards and the 'Save Our School' committee would like to see is the province change the rural school funding formula. "Make the funding fit rural Ontario," he says. They would also like to see school board trustees given more authority. "Are the trustees running our board or is administration running our board? I thought it was to be the trustees. After seeing how it's worked the last six months, I don't think so." He blames the Mike Harris govern- ment with pulling all the power away from the trustees. Another problem Richards points to is the simple fact the Thames Valley board is so big, encompassing not only rural areas, but the City of London as well. He said the issues faced by the rural schools and those in London are vastly different. Richards said McGillivray's closure could also have an effect on North Middlesex District High School. While McGillivray is now a feeder school for North Middlesex, if McGillivray closes and its students go to the new school in Lucan, those students will probably want to move on to Medway High School instead of North Middlesex. Things like this, Richards said, will hurt the community. He said busing will also become a big issue if McGillivray closes. One possible way to help rural areas, Richards said, would be making some changes to rural land severance bylaws, encouraging some housing developments in North Middlesex. He said the school's inclusion on the closure list has hurt the school, but it has also brought the community together. He says closing McGillivray won't just be a case of closing a school, it will be the closure of a community. "McGillivray is a standalone. It's a true rural school ... We're very pas- sionate about our school, but we're very passionate about rural Ontario. This is being fought out all over the province in school boards that have rural jurisdictions. "We're not asking them to save a school that is decrepit or has asbestos or has real problems — this is a viable school." Richards credits North Middlesex council with being supportive with the committee's efforts. card that enables a game to be played for a certain amount of time. While the device could be defeated very easily said Katchabaw, "it's a step forward, anyway." Comparing the card to the V -chip, Katchabaw said "it is another tool for control like a babysitter, but it doesn't replace good parenting." Another online issue is gambling which Katchabaw said has been around since the beginning of the internet and has its roots in early pinball machines. Many of the gambling sites are hosted from countries with questionable backgrounds and downloading the software can bring other software that you don't know you're getting, said Katchabaw. Gambling is a niche market at this time and has been ignored by the mainstream video game developers, but Katchabaw said there is some betting on videogames. Money is earned for every kill or victory but games such as Everquest are not usually bet on since there is no clear victory. Katchabaw said gambling is "very haz- ardous" to the gaming industry which took a long time to remove itself from the gambling stigma. SHDHS principal Jeff Reaburn said years ago kids didn't have the money for gambling. Katchabaw agreed, saying kids today "get the whole package," of books, TV and games. "It's not like marbles," he added. Trying to withdraw from an online addic- tion can bring symptoms such as depression and irritability said Katchabaw but probably not the same as smoking and alcohol addic- tion since there is no chemical dependency. Reaburn said with wireless technology rapidly expanding, kids will soon be connect- ed all the time and parents won't be able to stay on top of it, with laptops that don't have to be kept in living rooms where they can be monitored. Katchabaw agreed saying "in the hands of children, it's a problem." Reaburn said the technology is being seen in schools all the time and soon there will be cellphones too small to see. REGIONAL WRAP All -Girls Band keeps marching SEAFORTH — The Seaforth and District All -Girls Marching Band will continue this September, according to The Huron Expositor. Fundraising events were held this year, the most recent a spaghetti dinner in Seaforth. Money raised will support the band's shortfall in funds since the Trillium Foundation cut off its $33,000 four-year grant. The band "with an awful lot of fundrais- ing" will travel to the Calgary Stampede in July and make its 50th anniversary in 2007. (RnhIIRn TIRE TME JIEEIT'S COMING AMERICAN V EXPRESS HAVE YOUR CAR'S AIR /r CONDITIONING SYSTEM SERVICED NOW AT OUR LICENSED FACILITY EXETER • RETRO -FITTING TO R-134 • RECHARGING •LEAK DETECTION & REPAIR • SMELL ELIMINATION AUTO • ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE SERVICING SERVICE APPOINTMENT! 235-0160 EXT. #1 CALL FOR YOUR • 100 Thames Rd. E. 235-0160 Ian A. MacKenzie Limited PROUDLY CANADIAN OWNED AND OPERATED Mon.-Thurs. 8:00 a.m. - 8 p.m. • Fri. 8:00 a.m.-9 p.m Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 6 p.m. • Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. AUTO SERVICE: Mon. - Sat. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT TODAY! 235-0160 Ext. #1