HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-09-09, Page 3Laura Broadley Clinton News Record
Marilyn Blake started collecting cash donations and Canadian Tire money to
buy hockey sticks to donate. Her initial goal of 100 has been surpassed and she
is aiming for 150. She donated 60 sticks to the Salvation Army is Clinton for its
Christmas hamper program. Pictured here, from left to right, Pauline Thompson,
Shannon Daniels, Marilyn Blake, Abigail Leduc and Clara Leduc.
Thinking of Christmas
in the summertime
Laura Broadley
Clinton News Record
A little boy getting his first
chance to play in a neighbourhood
hockey game because he finally has
a stick of his own makes it all worth
it for Marilyn Blake.
Blake became aware of families
that don't have hockey sticks for
their children after someone
refused to take three old sticks she
had for free and insisted on paying
her for them. The woman thanked
her in a heartwarming letter and it
inspired Blake to continue to give
back.
After starting the collect dona-
tions in the form and cash and
Canadian Tire money she realized
how much a stick would cost a fam-
ily. She has donated 60 sticks to the
Clinton Salvation Army to help its
hamper program for Christmas.
The program relies exclusively on
community support and donations
like Blake's allows for the Salvation
Army to going into the holiday sea-
son prepared, said Shannon Dan-
iels, community and family service
coordinator.
The original goal of 100 sticks by
Christmas was surpassed by the
beginning of August and Blake said
she is overwhelmed by the support
of the community. She's upped her
goal because of the positive
response and is still collecting
donations.
If you want more information or
want to donate go to the Facebook
page "Pik up Stiks
The Salvation Army provides
support to the community
throughout the year. It just finished
the Huron County Backpacks for
Kids program. This program is a
collective initiative of the Huron
County Health Unity, food banks
and the Huron County Food Bank
Distribution Centre.
Over 325 backpacks were filled
and the two Salvation Army sites
helped 67 children. Daniels said
that this program also relies on
community donations throughout
the year. Backpacks, lunch pails
and pencil cases are always needed
to fill next year's program. Registra-
tion for families who want to take
part in the program finishes at the
end of July each year.
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Wednesday, September 9, 2015 • News Record 3
Voters `appalled' by political
system: Green Party candidate
Dave Flaherty
Postmedia Network
Although this is her first foray
into federal politics, Huron -Bruce
Green Party candidate Jutta
Splettstoesser's passion for the
party is nothing new.
Splettstoesser believes that the
Green Party has "the best political
direction for our children" and
their platform is "about smart eco-
nomic decisions."
"My goal is to show people what a
great opportunity they will get voting
from for a Green Party candidate. It's
a party that cares about the environ-
ment, pollution and the people:'
Splettstoesser recently gradu-
ated from an advanced agricultural
course, which spurred her interest
in running.
"I decided in 2011 that I'd love to
serve Canadians," she said.
She also ran in last year's munic-
ipal election.
To her, the future of Canada's
economy depends on the success
of small businesses.
She said the government needs
to improve the county's tax base
getting more revenue from
corporations.
"It's very important in building
our communities," Splettstoesser
said. "There is a growing gap
between rich and poor."
Splettstoesser said voters have
been "amazed" when she tells
them about the Green Party's pro-
posed carbon fee and dividend.
Through this program, a carbon
fee would be levied only when fos-
sil fuels come out of the ground.
The money raised through the
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Green Party candidate Jutta
Splettstoesser
fees would be provided back to
Canadians through a dividend,
called "fiscal recycling" on the
Green Party's website.
Splettstoesser said this program
is different than a "cap -and -trade"
program and would reduce pollu-
tion and poverty.
She said from speaking with vot-
ers, "people are appalled by our
political system:'
"We need a good, collaborative
government," she said.
Splettstoesser credited Green
Party leader Elizabeth May for
being the first party leader to pub-
licly release her expense reports.
"Voters love that," May said.
In her view, Canadians would be
better served by proportional vot-
ing and it would be fairer to less -
mainstream parties.
"The Green Party received one
million votes in the 2011 election
but only have one MP," Spletts-
toesser said.
Another important issue for the
Green Party is the proposed burial
of nuclear waste deep within Lake
Huron.
"Not everyone is even aware of
this big decision," Splettstoesser
said. "There are a lot of people
who want their candidates to
speak out on this."
Splettstoesser argued that the
risks of the potential burial are
being understated by those behind
the plan.
Specifically, she said the envi-
ronmental assessment had urged
the need for an alternative site, but
those warnings are being ignored.
"We are very concerned that the
public is being kept in the dark,"
she said.
Splettstoesser also believes there
is a lack of proper media coverage
for Elizabeth May and her party's
policies, criticizing May's exclusion
from certain debates.
She said there was a by-law in
Bruce County prohibiting the
placement of election signs until
45 days before Election Day (which
has since been changed), but said
the Liberals and Conservatives
ignored that by-law.
"I try to play by the rules," she
said, adding that in general she felt
the early election call was "a waste'
"There is no justifying it and I
think every Canadian realizes that:'
Splettstoesser can be contacted
at jutta4huronbruce@greenparty.
com, 519-386-5803, jutta4huron-
bruce.weebly.com and vvww.face-
book.com/Jutta4HuronBruce.
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