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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-12-31, Page 1616 Times -Advocate Wednesday, December 31, 2008 OCTOBER OCTOBER 1 • With two weeks to go in the federal election, Huron -Bruce voters heard their local candi- dates on stage in Holmesville Friday night, as Conservative Ben Lobb, Liberal Greg Mc- Clinchey, Glen Smith of the Green Party, NDP candidate Tony McQuail and Dave Joslin of the Christian Heritage Party (CHP) took part in an all -candi- dates meeting hosted by the Hu- ron County Federation of Agri- culture (HCFA). Independent candidate Den- nis Valenta was unable to attend due to work commitments. OCTOBER 8 • While last week's announce- ment of the closure of Goder- ich s Volvo plant was a shock to many, Huron County is trying to keep a positive outlook on the county s economic future. The county held a press confer- ence in Goderich last Thursday to respond to the Volvo closure, which will see 500 people lose their jobs. Warden John Bezaire said he wanted to make sure the 500 families affected by the closure know the county shares their sorrow and empathizes with them. He said the county will work hard to find new op- portunities for those employees. • After receiving three out of a possible five blooms at the re- cent Communities in Bloom con- vention in Gravenhurst, the local Exeter committee is looking to expand its efforts to include all of South Huron in future Com- munities in Bloom projects. OCTOBER 15 • "I grew up without fear," said Conservative House lead- er and York-Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan, who was speaking at South Huron District High School Oct. 9 along with Huron - Bruce Conservative candidate Ben Lobb. The MPs were speaking to teacher Dave MacLeod and Tra- cy Mclellan s civics class and Van Loan was referring to the advan- tages he has had compared to his family, who lived in Estonia during the Second World War. OCTOBER 22 • "I have a few fingernails left this time, said Huron - Bruce Conservative candidate Ben Lobb in his acceptance speech to supporters Oct. 14 after he was declared the win- ner of the riding in the federal election with 22,202 votes. Lib- eral Greg McClinchey finished second with 16,346 votes. Lobb compared the results of his win to the 2006 election that went down to the wire before Liberal candidate Paul Steckle won the riding over Lobb by 971 votes. OCTOBER 29 • Accused murderer Jesse Imeson showed little emotion on Monday as the details of his killings of Mount Carmel couple William and Helene Regier and Carlos Rivera of Windsor were read out. The court heard evidence from crown attorney Bob Morris and assistant crown attorney Jenni- fer Holmes on the three murders and the subsequent search for Imeson over a period of several days. In his closing remarks, Mor- ris said the couple were well respected people who had their sanctuary violated and described it as a despicable act. NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 5 • South Huron council heard the final report Monday night of its much-discussed water/wastewa- ter rate study. Economist Andrew Grunda of Watson and Associates gave his final report to council, which in- tends to hold a public meeting on the rates at its Nov 17 meeting and adopt the bylaw for the new rates at a December meeting. The new rates are to go into effect Jan. 1, 2009. NOVEMBER 12 • Comments about anonymous complaints as the reason for a pro- posed bylaw to license bed and breakfasts (B and Bs) in Bluewater drew sharp responses from busi- ness owners at a planning meeting. Several said the bylaw would hurt tourism and Claire Soper, owner of Clair on the Square in Bayfield, said the owners were very concerned about the municipality using a few anonymous complaints against all the B and Bs. • Where there is a promise of bar- gains, there is often an abundance of shoppers. This was the case Fri- day at the grand opening of a new Exeter retail outlet, The Bargain Shop (TBS). Located at 193 Main St., the Ex- eter TBS is one of 64 former SAAN locations being converted into TBS stores. Last week 27 new TBS locations were opened across Canada, with more on the way. The addition of the former SAAN locations brings the total of TBS stores to over 250. NOVEMBER 19 • Usborne Central school par- ents want to keep their school open. As previously reported, the school is facing possible closure as the Avon Maitland District School Board looks for efficiencies in an age of declining enrolment and tight economic times. With only 128 students, Usborne is at only 55.5 per cent capacity, a problem for the board in light of the fact school boards receive provincial funding based on the number of pupils they have. NOVEMBER 26 • Councillors received an up- date Nov. 17 on a proposed storm sewer project for the east end of Exeter to improve the town s problems with flooding. Engineer Bill Dietrich spoke at the South Huron council meet- ing, explaining two options for the eastern portion of Exeter that will see surface water diverted to the Ausable River during rain storms. • After making cuts to its bud- get at a Nov. 13 board of directors meeting, the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority is pro- posing a 4.96 per cent increase in its 2009 budget. The board passed draft approv- al of the budget at the meeting, reaching the 4.9 per cent increase after cutting a proposed expense on an all -terrain vehicle (ATV) project which would have cost a total of $20,000. Many families celebrating holiday season together By Carmel Sweeney ZURICH CORRESPONDENT Anyone having real Christmas trees can leave them behind the Bluewater Complex Arena parking lot and they will be picked up there. May we offer our sincere sympathy to the family and relatives of the late Ivan Meidinger who died suddenly on Dec. 25 (especially to his wife Marjorie). Lou and Delores Schilbe recently enjoyed spend- ing two weeks in Mexico at Puerto Vallarta visiting there with son Dan and Terry Schilbe of Edmonton. The lucky winner of the lovely Christmas Lap Quilt at the Bowling Lanes recently was Pat Meidinger. The quilt was a fund raiser for YBC Shawn and Cathy Rau of RR 2 Zurich and their two daughters spent the school Christmas holidays in Florida. Mark and Candace Soudant of Exeter spent a week during the holiday season in Mexico for their belated honeymoon. Phil and Patty LaPorte of RR 2 Zurich recently travelled to Wasaga Beach for three days before Christmas to visit with son Michael and Gillian LaPorte along with other family members. Once again the Monday night Ladies Bowling League enjoyed a delicious pot -luck snack after the game on Dec. 22. The Duttman family Christmas get together was held recently on Dec. 20 at the home of Rose -Mary and Ivan Bedard. The family of Dave and Ruth Siebert celebrated Christmas together at their parents home on Dec. 20 coming from Kitchener, Exeter and Clinton. Members of the Screenan family recently met together at the home of Marc and Shannon Crane in Zurich. Francis and Cindy Denomme along with her sister Lynn Conliffe visited with their brother Guy Garnhum in Niagara Falls recently before Christmas. Once again the Sweeney family Christmas dinner and fun day together was held on Dec. 25 at the home of Paul and Heather Klopp RR 2 Zurich. Christmas light winners The winners of the Christmas lights decorations in the village were: #1 Cam and Cathy Steckle (Hess Woods Subdivision); #2 Peter and Jeannette Regier on Goshen St. North and #3 Lewis and Marlene Gingerich on Centre St. Meagan Sweeney of Toronto spent the holidays with her parents Carmel and Jerome and family members. We also enjoyed going to see the play A Christmas Carol at the Grand Theatre in London on Dec. 28. There will not be any skating lessons at the Zurich Complex on Sat. Jan. 3 due to a hockey tournament at the arena. Reminder: dog tags Don t forget that dog tags for 2009 are now due ONTARIO '�+�f"�, THANX MOM an SMOKE-FREE RIDE — If you're a parent who smokes, you know it can be hard to resist lighting up in the car. But it exposes your kids to the risk of serious childhood illnesses. Even on short trips. Even with the windows rolled down. Campaign for a Smoke-free Ride is asking parents across Ontario to protect their kids by not smoking in the car. It may not be easy. But your kids will thank you for it. Call 1 -888 -344 -LUNG (5864) for more information, or visit smokefreeride.ca CAMPI6Nf0AA THE $ LUNG ASSOCIATION" Ontario SMOKE•FREER/DE before Feb. 28 at which time a late fee of $10 will be added on to the regular amount. If you are new to the village and own a dog please pick up the tags at the Bluewater Municipal Office on Mill St. (236-4351) ext. 232 Shuffleboard Morning group 4 games: Leo Hoffman 3 wins 323, Mary Regier 3 wins 291, Judy Voogal 3 wins 258, Elaine Weido 3 wins 247 Afternoon group 4 games: Joan Powell 3 wins 288, Charlotte Norton 3 wins 221, Lucille Masse 2 wins 290, Harvey Norton 2 wins 173 I would like to wish all of you a happy and healthy new year in 2009 and may all your troubles be small. Capsule Comments by Ernie Miatello As 2008 draws to a close, it's time to start thinking I t of the promises we made ourselves last year at this time. Remember we were going to exercise more, eat healthier and take more time for ourselves and family? Here's some more you may want to consider for this year... Reduce the amount of cola soft drinks. There is some link between these drinks and bone loss and diabetes. As well, increase your fibre intake by eating bran cereals rather than others with less fibre. The target is to consume 14 grams of fibre for every 1000 calories you take in. Eat more salmon rather than tuna. The fattier fish like salmon have more omega-3 oils which some experts say reduces triglycerides in the blood, helps prevent blood clots and lowers inflammation of plaques in the arteries which, if they break off the blood vessel lin- ing, can cause a heart attack. If you can't get fresh salmon, use the canned type. If you feel you'd like dessert after a meal, choose fruit. You'll be keeping your saturated fat intake down which in turn helps your weight. Losing weight is on many persons' resolution list. Some of these suggestions may help. We'd like to thank you for all your kind comments about Cap- sule Comments. It's a feature that compliments our practice of pharmacy. Happy New Year to you all! Huron Apothecary Ltd. Phone: 235-1982 440 Main St., Exeter �eXalD "YOUR HEALTH CARE PHARMACY" CONSERVATION ZONE Peter Love Chief Energy Conservation Officer of Ontario New Year's Resolutions to Shed Extra Kilowatts 10 easy tips to save you money in 2009: 1. Schedule a home energy audit. The auditor can tell you which home energy efficient changes are eligible for provincial and federal grants. Call 1-888-668-4636 and make an appointment today. 2. Install a programmable thermostat in your home. Every degree you drop the heat reduces costs by up to five per cent. 3. Change your furnace filter regularly - dirty filters make the fan work harder. Similarly, a clogged clothes dryer lint trap uses more energy and clothes take longer to dry. 4. Inspect exposed heating ducts and where you feel warm air leaks seal the ducts with special metallic tape. This keeps heat going where you want it. 5. Tum off the lights when you're not using them. Replace old, incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs use 75 per cent less electricity and last longer. 6. Participate in Energy Conservation Week (May 17-23, 2009) and World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour on March 28, 2009. 7. Pull the plug on your old fridge and call the Great Refrigerator Roundup (1-877-797-9473 ). Older refrigerators can cost four times as much to run as newer ENERGY STAR models. 8. Buy cold -water soap for doing laundry. 85 to 90 per cent of energy used by washing machines goes towards heating the water. 9. Dryers alone account for six per cent of total household energy use in Ontario - use a drying rack indoors or an outdoor clothesline if possible. 10. Install weather stripping and caulking around windows and "sweeps" that seal the bottom of your outside doors. This can cut your heating bill by ten per cent. A special feature prepared and funded by the Conservation Bureau of Ontario www. cons ervationbureau. on. ca www. everykilowattcounts. com