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The Times Advocate, 2008-11-26, Page 66 Times -Advocate Wednesday, November 26, 2008 OPINION&FORUM&NEWS Local couple needs help Julie Merner, for those of you who don t know her, has lived in the Clinton area her entire life. She is the daughter of Carl and Mary A — Merner and the partner of Marc Fowles. She worked for Anago at a group home for developmentally handi- capped adults, devoting her- self to their care with love and compassion, that is until Aug. 21. Then her world as she knew it changed forever. While at work that day Julie suffered a brain aneurysm and was rushed to hospital, critically ill. She was transferred to London s University Hospital where doctors worked to save her life. Julie spent the next three weeks in the hospi- tal s Intensive Care Unit, with Marc sleeping at the hospital most nights. Those weeks were a roller coaster of emotional ups and downs, as Marc, family and friends rallied around Julie with love and support. Julie, however has an indomitable spirit and a will to live that is unparalleled. After several days Julie awoke and slowly began to recover. While not out of danger from strokes and other medical problems being a real concern, and no way of knowing what the future may hold con- sidering the severity of her injuries, Julie s determination, along with that of everyone s love and support, she began the long journey back. Her recovery so far has been nothing short of miraculous as she has come so far in such a short period of time. Once Julie was out of danger, she was moved to Park - wood Hospital, to the Acquired Brain Injury program to begin the grueling work of rehabilitation. Here Julie under- goes hours of therapy, speech, occupational and physical, among others. Julie has worked so hard to get where she is in her rehabilitation that her doctors feel she is ready for the next stage coming home! Julie s doctors have said she can come home by Dec. 11. This is wonderful news and we can t wait for that day. Un- fortunately Marc and Julie have pretty much exhausted themselves financially, what with the cost of gas and park- ing and other incidental costs involved in this situation. Marc is doing everything possible, but unfortunately the everyday expenses, as well as the extra costs involved have taken their financial toll. There are things that have to be done before she will be able to come home. Modifications will have Letters t,to be made to the house Marc and Julie share in or - to the der to facilitate a wheelchair. The bathroom must Editor be enlarged, ramps and rails installed, a wheel- chair bought, and other modifications that we don t even know about yet. There will be some- one coming out to do an assessment of what else will need to be done to accommodate Julie in her abil- ity to come home. While there are plenty of eager hands willing to help do the necessary work, there is a lack of funds to purchase the necessary materials. This wonderful young couple needs our help now, so that Julie can come home and continue to recover and receive rehabilitation therapy without having to remain in hospi- tal. If you are able to help, either with materials or a few dol- lars towards the things necessary to adapt the house for her homecoming, your help would be most gratefully appreci- ated. As we come into the season of giving, what greater gift can you give to someone else and to yourself, than helping them to realize their dream of coming home? You can make your contribution of materials or financial aid, or for further information by calling Bill Fowles at 519-235-4728. I thank you all for whatever help you are able to give. Jill Westman Panther Profile EXETER We are now in our last week of November, which has a number of stu- dents keenly counting down the 20 -some days until the holidays; I know I am. Last week was our murder mystery week, which went well. Mid-term reports also came out Thursday last week. This week there are grad photos going on all week and a hat day on Friday. In music, senior band started its public school tours Nov 25. We have another on Dec. 1, and are of course playing in the Santa Clause Parade. Dec. 3 is also the Christ- mas Concert in the large gym at 7 p.m. it will be good. That s all for me, but Carrington Regan has done a write-up about the Coffee House on Thursday. South Huron D.H.S Presents: Coffee House 2008 The Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter Committee is holding our annual Coffee House Thursday. This year the performances will be held in the music room of the high school. Tick- ets will be available at the school for $8, and performers are asked to pay a $5 fee. The cost covers all food and drinks for the night. Drinks include coffee, hot chocolate, tea and juice. We encourage any community members to attend, as we hope to see some new fac- es. The Coffee House will run from about 7 to 9:30 p.m. Those who are attending are asked to be in the music room around 6:30 p.m., so we can start right at 7 p.m. All proceeds from this event will go to- wards the Habitat for Humanity build in Exeter this year. Carrington Regan JACE DOUGALL Water rates create winners and losers Council has decided water rates are fixed and as the may- or indicated at the council meeting, there are winners and losers. If you use a small amount of water you will lose and pay more for your water and subsidize a greater proportion of the infrastructure costs for those individuals who use a larger amount of water, the winners. I am not sure that pub- lic policy related to the pricing of water should have win- ners and losers. Water is a necessity of life. We should all pay the same amount for water and those individuals who choose to use water for non -discretionary uses like watering lawns or re- fuse to try to conserve water should not be rewarded with lower costs. Trying to understand what you pay for water is extremely difficult as it changes every time you turn on the tap. Water use is determined by the number of consumers in a house- hold. The use of a fixed cost determined by having a meter results in the more consumers you have the cheaper your water as the large fixed costs, which is not influenced by consumption, creates a wide range of water costs per con- sumer. Who are the winners and losers? Let us get away from water and use the example of buying a steak: • If you are a single person living in a small apartment, you will pay $9 a pound; • If you are a single person living in a small residential home, or 800 -plus square -foot apartment, you will pay $8 a pound; • If you are a couple living in an apartment or residential home, you will pay $5 a pound; • If you are a family of four you will pay $4 a pound; • If you water your lawn, or do not put in water saving devices, lower your cost for a steak by 50 cents; • If you put in water saving devices, use rain barrels and try to conserve water, increase your costs for a steak by 50 cents. • The cost of a steak for a large commercial user — $2 a pound. The cost for manufacturing should be considered a separate issue as it is hard to consider them winners even if infrastructure costs are minimized per cubic metre by pri- marily residential consumers. Council believes this is an appropriate way for consumers to purchase water for the next 10 years. Clearly we have to agree but I am not sure many of us would purchase any- thing this way. FRED SIMMONS Exeter New Exeter -area abattoir owners hope to be here a long time By Ben Forrest TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER My dad has an abattoir in Embro, said Matt Miedema when asked what prompted him to open a similar operation on Thames Road near Exeter. We were getting calls for cus- tom butchering down in Embro from up in Huron County and surrounding area North Mid- dlesex, and whatnot, he said. This prompted Miedema and his wife Sarah to begin search- ing for a butcher shop in the area. Not long ago, they found one, and Miedema s Country Meats was born. Matt has been working in the meat business for 10 years, but his family has been in it far lon- ger. In addition to his father Leo, Matt s grandfather Lloyd was in- volved in the same type of work. This is the fifth shop for the Miedema family, said Matt. Matt grew up in the family business and found that he liked it. The lifestyle of a small family operation means a lot to him, he said That s what I grew up in, and that s kind of what we re hoping for for our children some- day. He and Sarah have been mar- ried since October, and both see their business as a partnership. What one doesn t do, the other will pick up, said Matt. Sarah admitted she has much to learn yet, but is enjoying things so far. It s something I have to get used to, she said. There s a lot to learn and a lot to pick up over- night. It s going to take a lot of work and a lot of effort. So far, however, business has been good. So far we ve had a good rap- port, said Matt. I don t think a lot of people realize that we are reopening up here again. As far as customers coming in, so far I believed they ve enjoyed it and are satisfied with what they get. Sarah noted a number of peo- ple have been stopping by to see what kind of products Miede- ma s offers. Among the visitors, says Matt, is the original owner of the abba- toir, Ross Veal. He comes in just to make sure we re doing everything right, which is nice, said Matt. It s always a pleasure to have him in for coffee. Those who visit will find a va- riety of fresh and cured meats, including bacon, smoked ham, smoke sausages, pepperettes and a few deli meats. Matt noted beef and pork are now offered, and that chicken will be brought in as well. If there is anything that sets Life and business partners Sarah and Matt Mie- dema stand behind the counter at their abattoir, located on Thames Road, east of Exeter.The two are recently married and recently branched out into a line of work that has been in the Miedema family for decades.(photo/Ben Forrest) Miedema s apart, Matt believes it is freshness and quality. We really strive to make sure everything s fresh, and at a good price for everybody, he said. The consumer s more knowl- edgeable now than they ever have been as far as what they re eating, Matt added. When they buy a product from you they want to know that it s fresh. Here, they know it s local- ly grown and grain -fed ... we take pride in what we produce, and make sure that it s always fresh. Matt added later that he and Sarah hope to be part of the local community for some time. We hope to raise our family here and be here for many years, he said. Miedema s Country Meats, lo- cated at 41130 Thames Rd. East, is open Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exeter shuffleboard scores Nov 17 - 4 wins: Jean Crerar 395; 3 wins: Marge McCurdy 304, John Horn 264, Wilmer Adkins 250, Louise Kopp 239, Bob Booge- mans 228; 2 wins: Conrad Sitter 256, Millie Ross 211, Bernice Booge- mans 175, Don Overholt 168, Jeanene Hayter 155, Clare Hayter 152, Jerry Mathers 140, Phyllis Mathers 97 Nov 18 - 4 wins: Clare Hayter 368; 3 wins: Marge McCurdy 353, Eleanor Hendrick 326, Bernice Boogemans 324, Esther Hillman 278, Geraldine Smith 167; 2 wins: Jerry Mathers 231, Marg Prout 225, Conrad Sitter 223, Millie Ross 196, Irene Dyck 193, Jean Crerar 173, Bob Boogemans 155