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Lakeshore Advance, 2012-11-07, Page 194 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesda , November 30 2011 Opinion www.lakesjlureadvance.CO n ofte AMoco 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 ndiff ordebowesnet.com LYNDA HILLMAN-RAPLEY Editor ladvance@bowesnet.com STEVE NORTHEY Advertising Sales MARK STEPHEN Advertising Sales JULIE HARRISON Typesetting/Classtfieds KATHY YOUNG Accounts Receivable SUBSCRIPTION RATES ADVANCE: Regular $39.95(38.05+1.90GST) Online subscriptions available—lime rates Publications Mail Agreement No. 40084883 RETURN UNDELNERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO LAKESHORE ADVANCE CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT P.O. 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Canada A MMnieu d 11s ,p(3p Ceram Community NwipoxAsoasecnsodireona ca OXIMu itYNnvrpapsriApocraaa, letters to the editor A sincere thank you to our volunteer fire departments Dear Editor, In the late afternoon of Tuesday, November 22, 2011, within twenty minutes, our family 80 year old log cottage in Oakwood Park was engulfed with flames. Although our family has experienced a huge emotional loss, a much more seri- ous outcome would have resulted if the dedicated and professional volunteer firemen from the Grand Bend and Dashwood divisions, with their irnpressive equipment, had not arrived so promptly. Our cottage met the same fate as the equally old original Oakwood Pub many years ago. Most of the older log cottages have been subjected to the "wrecking ball" and replaced by more modern year round homes. It is near the end of an era, with only five or six of the original cottages still standing. Several factors prevented an even more disastrous outcome. Early detection, the relatively light wind, the fact that the cottage was unoccupied and the expertise of the volunteer fire fighters. Although it seemed like an eternity for them/ to arrive, it could not have been more than 1010 12 minutes, but in that time the flames were exiting the roof. This cottage was one of the originals in Oakwood Park. It was built in the early 1930's by Mickey Webb for the Thurston family of Stratford and eventually was transferred to their daughter Irene McFarlane. The Barr family purchased the cottage in 1969, so for over 40 years it has been our summer home, with all of the wonderful memories that cottages etnbrace. It was purchased five years ago by my daughter Brenda with her husband, Bob McFarlane and they continued to maintain the structure, adding their personal touch with furniture, pictures, etc. Everything was lost in the fire, but the situation could have been so much worse. We are grateful to our neighbours who also sounded the alarm. Volunteers, thank you for your response to our crisis and for staying until midnight to make certain that the fire did not rekindle. We are indebted to you and we encourage all of the readers to contribute generously and to support all fund raising events for the Fire Department in your area. Hugh & Cathy Barr Brenda Barr & Bob McFarlane Remembering Prosper Dear Editor, Grand Bend has lost a good citizen with the death of Prosper Vanbrueane this week. Prosper was an icon of the community. He was an stalwart member of the Grand Bend Lions Club for many years. One could always see him at the fund raisers quietly doing his assigned tasks for the club with grace and enjoyment.. Prosper was a long time member of the Grand Bend Fire Department serving as chief for a number of years. He served in this role well and with the same tireless manner that was Prosper's trade mark. When he relinquished this post the department was the better for his time of service. Prosper was a long time member of the Grand Bend PUC serving as the Chair of the utility for many years. He was always at the forefront of trying to ensure that the utility gave the best service, had good equipment and served the people of Grand Bend well. The utility and the village people benefited from his efforts. Prosper's Garage was a staple of Grand Bend. Your auto needs were handled as if it was their vehicle with great attention to ensuring that the clients needs were explained in a clear and understandable way. This tradition continues today. A simple but poignant plaque marks the establishment of the shop beside its entrance. Grand Bend is a better place for Prosper having graced us with his long stay in the village. Rest in Peace my friend May his family know that his life and efforts on the communities behalf was appreciated. Our thoughts are with you as you go through this trying time. Bob Sharon Grand Bend GBPS Home & School's 3rd Annual Ladies Night Thank You Dear Editor, On Thursday, Nov. 17th, the (;KPS 1 tome School Association hosted the 3rd Annual Ladies Night at the t;rand Bend Legion. This was a wonderful evening; that brought tl� women of our community together, while raising over $20t. that will be used to bring different experiences to the students of GBPS. Our community has been very generous in supporting the needs of our students providing new supplies and up-to-date resources for every classroom each year. In 2011/2012, the GBPS Home.\ School Association's mission is to provide our students with experiences - inviting various presenters and educational groups to out school, who will contribute to the development, growth and education of our students. The success of the :ani Annual Ladies Night will ensure that we will indeed be able to oriel these new experiences to the students of GM'S. '/here are many people to thank and many who contributed to making this evening such an amazing sac cess! Many thanks go to Michael \'anhevel for his Mil edible. inspiring performance, Stephen and Barbara of Custom Catering for providing the delectable treats for the evenii , and Shannon Ryan of the Garden Gate for the informative workshop concerning holiday decorating trends. "batik dolt to the many businesses in Grand Bend who so getlertltlsl\ donated door prizes and items for the Silent Auction table. We would also like to thank the many vendors for bringing, their goods to the evening and it's Thyme and the Garden Gate for allowing people to purchase tickets at their motes. 'Thank you as well to the five senior GAPS students who vol unteered their time and allowed us to offer free babysitting, for the evening. Of course, we must thank the Legion and Sharon Crown for allowing us to use their venue and prop id ing amazing service for the evening! last, but certainly not least, we would like to thank YO11 for tacking the time out 01 your busy lives to come and support the students of GBPS! Once again, we feel very grateful and blessed to live in such a wonderful community with such generous suppot and such incredible women. We look forward to next 'eau and hope that you will join us again for a night out with the friends and families of Grand Bend Public School. Sincerely, The Grand Bend Horne and School Association Political landscape changing, says reader Dear Editor, On Monday the Legislature returns to Queens Park following the provincial election , and it seem the political s landscape has changed. The big question has the prettily) - come to grip with his reduced strength. While the electorate failed to fire the liar, we gave (lint a strong performance review, which indicated a failing job, If McGuinty plows ahead as if he is the power house in Ontario then eve maybe, regrettably in for another election sooner than we expect. 'Ibis because both opposition parties seem also to be prepared to do the traditional job, that being to Oppose at every opportunity. So we now have a government that is rural against Big City, fiscal conservativism clearly opposite to the Liberal spend on any make happy project . We need to rentelnhei the reckless spending is your tax dollars, and the tax dollar s of your children and their future children because the debt is that deep and only growing larger as government involves itself in more and more. Rob Webb Grand Bend 4