Loading...
Lakeshore Advance, 2012-08-29, Page 6• 1.� 1• •It I,�,: • i•J 1...>1 opinion .. , 1.11 i,.. adore Awe PUBLISHED WEEKLY P.O.BOX 1195 58 Ontario St., North Grand Bend ON NOM 1TO phone: 519-238-5383 fax: 519-238-5131 email: Iadvanceebowesnet.com SUN MEDIA A Quebecor Media Company NEIL CLIFFORD Publisher/Advertising Manager nclltfordObowesnet. com LYNOA HILLMAN-RAPLEY Editor IadvenceGbowesnet.com STEVE NORTHEY Advertising Sales MARK STEPHEN Advertising Sales JULIE HARRISON Typesetting/Classifieds KATHY YOUNG Accounts Receivable www.lakeshoreadvancacom SUBSCRIPTION RATES ADVANCE: Regular $39.95(38.05 + 1.90 GSI) Online subscriptions available --same rates Publications Mall Agreement No. 40064883 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO LAKESHORE ADVANCE CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT P.O.Box 1195 58 Ontario St. North Grand Bend ON NOM 1 TO For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519.238.5383 e -mall: ladvanceabowesnet.com Changes of address, orders for subscriptions, and undeliverable copies (return postage guaranteed) are to be sent to Lakeshore Advance at the address Indicated here. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical ertor, the portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous Item together with a reasonable allowance for signature, Mil not be charged for, but the balance of the advertise- ment wWl be paid at the applicable rates. Wo acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Pund (CPP) for our publishing activities, Canad1 Member a the Canadian yo *wow! Association and the Ontario Community Nayspspers Asoxialbn 41 editorial Goderich Tornado weeks later By Zdenek Stan Spacek Special to OMI Agency The reporters have left, there are no cameras, there are no new dramatic images or footage to capture. We are off the broader "news" radar. We seem to only be newsworthy to the local newspaper. Ironically, the real story, ... the full story, is being played out now, largely unnoticed by most Canadians and com- pelling me to, for the first time in my life, write a note and send it to a news organization. Goderich, 2 weeks after the tornado, is a story of devastation. The tornado tore a ruinous path through the entire town, right through its very center, pick- ing a route that could not have been more destructive to our spirits and economy. Two weeks after the tornado, there is still no post mail delivery anywhere in town. The library just opened. The first bank opened its doors on Friday, the other 4 or 5 remaining closed. The courthouse and many legal offices remain closed. The optometrist building is gone, the only barber in town also still closed, Two of three chiropractor offices were closed with one still not opera- tional. The gallery, family restaurants, coffee shops, realtor offices, police office, local meat shop still closed or gone all together. "Ihe cemetery remains closed. 1 could keep going, because the list goes on. Entering at the harbour, the tornado destroyed the Sifto salt mine during a time when it works at full capacity to fill the salt depots in preparation for winter. It knocked out the grain elevators just as the farmers were bringing their crops. With this, the shipping industry and tug boats are all idle. Departing the town, the tornado destroyed a lumber yard and the salt processing plant. It damaged a large industrial building vacated a year ago by Volvo graders (previously Champion) . Few smaller ventures started to seed in this building, but all are sitting quiet now. The structures are destroyed. It is unclear if they will be rebuilt. This has resulted in many people being without a job and their future remains uncertain. As for the residential structures and trees lost, there are too many to count. With insurance claims people are com- ing to terms with the details of their pol- icies and limits on any coverage. The Ontario government is helping with $5 million dollars. The Federal gov- ernment so far remains silent. I suspect the 5 million dollars was spent in first days in clearing up the debris alone, 'Ihe emotional scars are harder to see, but as a physician I see it daily. It affects people many different ways, but most upsettingly, 1 have noticed addiction creeping in as a way of coping for some. I see the tornado's effect in my five-year old daughter, who incorporates terrible destructive storms into the fairy tales she makes up. 1 see it in myself as 1 look to the sky with trepidation when a storm approaches - and there seem to be so many lately. There are thefts of property out of opportunism, possibly desperation. Some of those "helpers" who came and offered help, insinuating volunteerism are now issuing invoices to those whom they helped. Ironically, there is notice- able congestion of cars, passing through the hardest bit areas, driving very slowly, staring and even taking pictures from their cars. They don't obey signs restricting traffic or boundaries of pri- vate property. 'Ibis is my town these days. 'Ihe pretti- est town in Canada: Goderich. People are resilient and working hard to rebuild, doing the best they can with what they have, trying to stay positive and hopeful. 'Ibis weekend I saw a wed- ding at one of the churches. 'Hie schools are ready to receive students. But it will take years to hide the scars. We can't do it alone. My daughter's stories always have a happy ending, and as the story of Goderich continues to be written, 1 hope for something similar. I ask for your continued awareness of our rebuilding and for your help. Visit our town's website to track our progress (www.goderich.ca). Visit us for our beaches. Visit our shops and support our businesses as they come back. Make it a "Goderich vacation" next year. Don't tune out just because the media cover- age did. Respectfully submitted, Zdenek (Stan) Spacek, MD. Resident of Goderich, , www, lakeshoreadvance,com Sands of Time Lynda Hillman-Rapley Editor, Lakeshore Advance Fair representation for all Even if there is only one taxpayer from Lambton Shores who wants a collection sys- tem- the newly formed Adhoc group must represent everyone from this mnicipality. At the last Sewer Adhoc meeting, councilor Doug Bonesteel took this group to task, going so far as suggesting a bias. There are four members of council including the mayor, the deputy mayor, and two councilors; Dave Maguire and Doug Bonesteel. There are six members from the community. The mayor, CA() and vice chair were all away- and one has to wonder if the tone of the meeting would have been different had these people been in attendance. As the report authored by Belke was being read, Bonesteel reminded the committee this was a working document, lie asked that the language be tempered. He felt that some of the comments being made were litigious. Ile said they were giving the public the impres- sion they were biased. "We are supposed to be objective." To that the deputy mayor said she was shocked to see so many misleading statements from the consultants in this report and member Ernest Lewis said the report information outlining the past showed a manipulation of the truth, The mandate of these adhoc meetings was to review the issue pertaining to the erten. sion of waste water services to the residen and businesses of Zone 3 and 4 and make* recommendation to council on need and preferred option to service these areas if need is established. 'Ibis group represents every- one in these two zones and by the tone of last week's meeting; the media was not the only one who thought there was a forgone conclusion. Iakeshoreadvance.com Get all of your news, sports and more. Serving Grand Bend and surrounding area 1