Vol. 2 #12 Grand Bend Strip, October 9, 2008

Vol. 2, No. 12

GRAND BEND’S FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Thursday, Oct. 9 to Nov. 13, 2008

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Strip Special: 2008 Federal Election Guide

2 • Thursday, October 9, 2008

2008 FEDERAL ELECTION

Candidate profiles

Huron-Bruce Get out and vote October 14!

See pages 6 & 7 for issue questionnaires

Dave Joslin Christian Heritage Brussels 519-887-9337 joslin@wightman.ca Age: 54 Hometown: Burlington Status: Married College: Georgian College, Owen Sound Concentration: Welder High School: M.M. Robinson, Gr.12 Employer: Cleaver-Brooks City/Town: Stratford Position: Fitter-Welder Activities: hiking, biking Interests: philosophy, theology, political theory Favorite Music: variety Favorite TV Show: donʼt watch TV Favorite Movie: We Were Soldiers Favorite Book: The Lord of the Rings Favorite Quotation or Motto: Contra Mundum About Me: Kathy and I have been married for 32 years.

We have four children and have lived in Grey Twp. for twenty years.

Dave Joslin did not respond to the five questions posed on pages 6 and 7.

Age: 56 Hometown: Farm outside Lucknow Status: Married to Fran

College/University: Fanshawe and Carleton University Concentration: Alternative Dispute Resolution High School: CHSS in Clinton

Education: University of Waterloo Concentration: Honours Environmental Studies High School: Goderich District Collegiate Institute

Employer: Paul Steckle, MP City/Town: Goderich and Ottawa Position: Executive Assistant

Employer: Self - Meeting Place Organic Farm City/Town: Lucknow Position: Farmer

About Me: I was born in Clinton and I am a seventhgeneration resident of Huron County. While I was raised on a small farm in Hullett Township, I currently live in Blyth with my wife Julie and our two children (two years old & three weeks old). I am an active and contributing member of my community through my involvement in the Blyth Business Association, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and as a Councillor on the North Huron Municipal Council. In addition, I volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society, the MS Society of Canada and with the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Professionally speaking, I am trained in mediation and alternative dispute resolution and I have 15 years of on-the-job apprenticeship experience working on federal government issues both in Ottawa and locally. Most recently, I published a book and I continue to help manage a homebased business my wife and I successfully operate together.

For many years I have worked to help make Huron-Bruce a better place. Whether via my involvement in the community, church or with local youth groups, I have tried to demonstrate my commitment and belief in the philosophy of neighbour helping neighbour. With that in mind, on election day, I would ask for your support.

Activities: Farming and farm organizations, With Fran, I lead couples enrichment workshops and teach holistic management courses.

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Melabu Design & Drafting T. 519.237.3654 C. 519.860.8338 E. melabudesign@hay.net 70352 Shipka Line, RR#2 Dashwood

New Democrat

Birthday: April 3 Hometown: Clinton Status: Married with two children

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Melanie Hartman

Liberal

Clinton 519-482-1428, 1-866-743-7479 info@tonymcquail.ca www.tonymcquail.ca and www.ndp.ca/platform

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Interests: renewable energy, hiking, canoeing, holistic management, woodworking, rotational grazing, workhorses.

Favorite Music: old rock and roll Favorite Book: Small is Beautiful - Economics as If people mattered Favorite Quotation or Motto: Live every day as if it were your last but in a way that will not negate the future.

About Me: Iʼm the husband of Fran and we are the parents of two grown daughters. We are members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). We have been farming near Lucknow for 35 years.

We have revitalized an uninhabited hilly farm into Meeting Place Organic Farm and have built up a small meat retail business. We have been active in farm and community organizations. We helped start and build the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario. I am a past president of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture and am currently president of Local 10 of the Ontario National Farmers Union. I was elected to three terms as a trustee on the Huron County Board of Education.

I served as Elmer Buchananʼs executive assistant when he was Minister of Agriculture and worked with the farm community to develop what became the Environmental Farm Plan program and stable funding for farm organizations. We have worked to make our own farm environmentally friendly and sustainable.

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Strip Special: 2008 Federal Election Guide

Thursday, October 9, 2008 • 3

Dennis Valenta

Ben Lobb

Glen Smith

Independent

Conservative

Green

Clinton 519-482-5043 dennis@dadlovesyoutoo.com www.dadlovesyoutoo.com

Holmesville 1-877-524-6560 ben@benlobb.com www.benlobb.com

Birthday: Feb. 18, 1962 Hometown: Clinton Status: Divorced

Birthday: September 10, 1076 Hometown: Clinton Status: Married

Education: Finished grade 10 Concentration: Working hard

College/University: Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee Concentration: Business Administration High School: Central Huron Secondary School

Employer: Little Rock Farm Trucking Town: Walkerton Position: Truck-driver Interests: camping, motorcycles (a Harley),watching/ learning from people, driving thru countryside, watching thunderstorms from dry place Favourite Music: classic rock, some country Favourite TV show: donʼt have favorite T.V show Favourite Movie: Enjoy most movies that are based on true stories Favourite Book: Been awhile since I had time to read a good book other than the Bible Favorite Quotation or Motto: “Early bird gets the worm” still havenʼt figured what I would do with it when I do get it; or “When dealt lemons, make lemonade.”

About Me: As Independent, I will be free of party, to work for the constituent. And that folks is how democracy works. Thank you.

Dennis Valenta, your independent choice.

Note: Profiles are in order of when they were returned to the Strip.

Employer: Desire2Learn Inc. City/Town: Kitchener Position: Purchasing Manager / Cost Analyst Activities: golf, baseball, mountain biking Interests: investing, politics, fitness Favorite Music: rock Favorite TV Show: Saturday Night Live Favorite Movie: The Usual Suspects Favorite Book: Warren Buffet Portfolio Favorite Quotation or Motto: Carpe Diem “Seize the day” About Me: I was born and raised in Clinton, Ontario and currently reside in Holmesville. The Lobb family is a seven-generation Huron County family.

I attended Lee University in Cleveland Tennessee on a baseball scholarship and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. I worked at Wescast Industries for seven years and currently work for a software company called Desire2Learn as the Purchasing Manager and Cost Analyst. I also still help with our family auction business Lobb Auction as an auctioneer on the weekends. I enjoy playing golf and outdoor activities.

Did not return our questionnaire

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Strip Special: 2008 Federal Election Guide

4 • Thursday, October 9, 2008

2008 FEDERAL ELECTION

Lambton-KentMiddlesex Get out and vote October 14!

See pages 6 & 7 for issue questionnaires

Micheal Janssens

Bev Shipley

Christian Heritage

Conservative

519-245-9458 (Strathroy) micheal.janssens@londonlife.com www.chp.ca Age: 21 Hometown: Strathroy Status: Recently Married

Joe Hill

Education: Athabasca University (Online) Concentration: Political Science High School: Providence Reformed Collegiate

New Democrat

Employer: Freedom 55 Financial City: Sarnia Position: Financial Security Advisor

Sarnia 519-542-2344 joethenewdemocrat@yahoo.ca www.ndp.ca Birthday: April 8,1942 Hometown: Wallaceburg Status: Married High School: Wallaceburg District High School Employer: New Democratic Party City/Town: Sarnia-Lambton Position: Riding association president Activities: running, cycling, triathlons Interests: political activism, cooking, gardening Favorite Music: blues, rock Favorite TV Show: CBC News, The Hour Favorite Movie: Wag the Dog and all of Michael Mooreʼs Stuff Favorite Book: The Shock Doctrine, Naomi Klein Favorite Quotation or Motto: “There are none so blind as those who will not see.”

About Me: Born and raised in Wallaceburg, married with four children and six grandchildren, After graduating high school in Wallaceburg, joined the RBC for two years and then changed to Nortel for 35 years based in London, Dallas and finally returning to Canada in 2002. Presently living in Sarnia.

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Activities: exercise, reading news Interests: economics, politics, religion, philosophy Favorite Music: The kind with sound.

Favorite TV Show: Better things to do.

Favorite Movie: Air Force One Favorite Book: Anything by Robert A. Salvatore Favorite Quotation or Motto: “Atheism: the belief that there was nothing, and then nothing happened to nothing, and then nothing exploded for no reason, creating everything, and then a bunch of everything rearranged itself for no reason whatsoever into self-replicating bits which turned into dinosaurs – makes perfect sense.” - Unknown About Me: You have most of it listed above, Iʼm afraid.

What more can I tell you? I am a devout Christian, attending the Kerwood Canadian Reformed Church twice each Sunday. I was married just this past August to my wife, Sara. I collect medieval weaponry and armour as a hobby, and I enjoy a glass of Coke as much as the next fellow. Iʼm completely addicted to coffee, like most people in my profession, and last, but certainly not least: I am, like most people in the country, sick and tired of watching mainstream parties in power struggles, backroom politics, and back-stabbing treachery against each other and more importantly, against every Canadian they claim to serve.

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BOB DIETRICH INCOME TAX SERVICE Zurich - 519-236-4989

Age: 61 Hometown: Greystead Drive, Denfield Status: Married to Barb for 37 years, three married children, six grandchildren Email: info@bevshipley.ca Phone: 1.866-765-2254 Website: www.bevshipley.ca College: Centralia College of Agriculture and Technology Concentration: Agriculture Business & Administration High School: Medway High School, Arva Employer: The People of Lambton Kent Middlesex City: Ottawa Position: Member of Parliament Activities: Ontario Caucus, Auto Caucus, Rural Caucus, Veterans Affairs Committee, Transport and Infrastructure Canada Committie, a number of Parliamentary Associations, past Member of the Industry Science and Technology Committee Interests: Family, church, friends and travel Favorite Music: Music with a positive message Favorite TV Show: CSI Favorite Movie: Any movie I can watch with my grandchildren Favorite Book: Any book by John Grisham Favorite Quotation or Motto: “God first, family second and me somewhere after that.”

About Me: Iʼve never been particularly comfortable talking about myself and generally like to leave that to others. I believe I am a good husband, father and grandfather and citizen and I am very proud to be a Canadian. I work hard and believe in the value of team work because I understand that no one is an island and the best results are achieved through dedication to the task at hand, cooperation and positive relationships.

Note: Profiles are in order of when they were returned to the Strip.

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Strip Special: 2008 Federal Election Guide

Thursday, October 9, 2008 • 5

Jeff Wesley Liberal 1-866-548-6558 jeffwesley@votejeffwesley.com www.votejeffwesley.com Age: 51 Hometown: Wallaceburg Status: Married 28 years, four children, one grandchild Education: Honours B.A, University of Western Ontario; graduated from University of Windsor Law School last year High School: Wallaceburg District Secondary School Employer: Union Gas Position: Manager of Government Relations.

Activities: certified scuba diver, play and coach hockey and soccer, fishing, duties of a “new grandparent” Favourite Music: Nickelback, The Fray.

Favourite TV show: Law & Order, CSI, House Favourite Movie: no one favourite; enjoy nature and adventure shows.

Favourite Book: anything by Tom Clancy.

Motto: If you work hard, do your homework and persevere, you can succeed.

Jim Johnston Green

Did not return our questionnaire

If you know a young person, aged 6 to 17, who is involved in worthwhile community service; a special person who is contributing while living with a limitation; a youth who has performed an act of heroism; or a ‘good kid’ who shows a commitment to making life better for others, doing more than is normally expected of someone their age – help us recognize their contribution – nominate them today!

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Nominations are now being accepted for the

Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards The strength of our community lies in solid citizens. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders.

Nominations will be accepted until November 30, 2008 Contact this newspaper or the Ontario Community Newspapers Association at www.ocna.org or 905.639.8720

Strip Special: 2008 Federal Election Guide

6 • Thursday, October 9, 2008

2008 FEDERAL ELECTION The Strip asked all of the candidates five questions related to federal issues in our ridings.

The Green Party did not return our questionnaire by press time, and the Christian Heritage Party’s Dave Joslin did not respond to these questions.

Huron-Bruce What is the most pressing issue facing your riding, and what do you plan to do about it if elected?

Greg McClinchey: There is no such thing as one issue that is most important in an election. Elections are never about any one issue. Elections are about Canadians selecting the people who will help guide our nation’s path in the years ahead. Anyone who would try to tell you that elections can be distilled down to a single issue are trying to sell you an overly simplified version of their marketing plan. Elections are a time when citizens should engage in the process, talk to neighbours and discuss issues with those seeking office.

Citizens should make their candidates talk about the issues that are discussed in the milk house, around kitchen tables and at coffee shops. It is not for political parties to tell local citizens what an election is going to be about - the flow of information should be running from the constituency to Ottawa and not the other way around.

Tony McQuail: When I first ran federally in 1980 we said we should be using the windfall profits of the oil companies and invest them in energy conservation and renewable energy. We didn’t do it then and we are now heading into a perfect ecological and economic storm composed of three interconnected components - peak oil, climate change and environmental collapse.

These are real problems that are shaking the underpinnings of our global casino financial economy. So the biggest challenge facing Huron-Bruce and the rest of the world is to make the transition from the global casino economy to an ecologically sustainable economy that uses our local resources to shift away from oil, reduce our contribution to climate change and manage our natural resources in an ecologically sustainable fashion so that we have secure local livelihoods. During this election I have been “test driving” a rural ride share concept that could let us halve our gas use and transportation costs now with our existing vehicles. If elected I would work with our community to develop local solutions and then work in Ottawa to get pilot project funding and support for local initiatives. I would also support the New Democrats plan to cap carbon emissions, make large polluters pay, and use that money to help communities develop green technologies and green collar jobs. Developing a local economy that will offer secure jobs in a sustainable community can be the result of developing a green economy.

Dennis Valenta: LACK OF REPRESENTATION would be the most pressing issue in this (or any) Riding (except where there is an Independent already) as we are not tied to the party and free to work for the very people whom not only elect MPs but pay their wages.

Ben Lobb: I believe that the most pressing issue facing our riding is the economy. If elected, I believe we need to continue to keep taxes low, keep our budget balance and keep paying down our national debt. I would also fight to keep industry and manufacturing

jobs in the riding. Just a few days ago the Volvo plant in Goderich announced that it would be closing doors and heading south of the border. This will leave many people without jobs. We need to invest in retraining these individuals so they can develop new skills to reenter the workforce.

What is the biggest environmental issue facing your riding and what will you do to address it?

Greg McClinchey: Greenhouse gas reduction is important but so is the long-term health of the Great Lakes. So often we fail to address the dire need for a national water policy. I am proud that the Liberal Party has identified Great Lakes health as a priority and I eagerly look forward to working to help make certain that the Lakes get the attention that they deserve.

Tony McQuail: Climate change will affect agriculture, tourism and the global economy. The New Democrats cap and trade plan would limit carbon emissions from Canada’s largest polluters and invest in renewable and green technologies to assist the families around the kitchen table to save money and reduce their carbon emissions. For more details see: www.ndp.ca/platform/environment/ Dennis Valenta: Two things come to mind about the environment: garbage and Bruce Power/heavy water/lake. No I’m not going to promise to get rid of either. I do think federal government should always be watching, not hindering but enforcing regulations to keep our source of power safe for those that produce and use it.

I think we should be looking at incineration, as a practical way of getting rid of our garbage.

Ben Lobb: This riding borders one of the Great Lakes; I believe protecting this freshwater reserve is a concern for many residents in Huron-Bruce. The Conservative government is investing $48 million dollars to clean up eight areas of concern on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes. We will continue to work with our neighbors to the south to protect this natural resource.

We have also restated our commitment that Conservatives are strictly opposed to the export of bulk water.

I also believe Canada, along with the rest of the world, needs to tackle climate change. That is why we have introduced tough mandatory targets for industry right here at home. Canada will also play an active role in negotiations to develop a new international agreement on climate change with contributions from all major emitters, including the United States, China and India. We should be seeking to ensure that global emissions are cut at least in half by 2050.

Do you believe your riding needs federal infrastructure funding, and if so, what will you do to bring it here?

Greg McClinchey: I am a local councillor so I struggle with this question each and every day. The answer is unreservedly YES! Infrastructure renewal is one of the most pressing issues we face today. In some communities, such as Hensall, Crediton and Belgrave, people are being forced to pay thousands of dollars from their own pocket just to have fresh water to drink. This reality is bankrupting business and it is forcing people from their homes. This is unacceptable. If the Harper government would stop making foolish choices like cutting the GST (something which offered little help to the average Canadian), perhaps we would have the fiscal capacity to help people update their infrastructure without forcing hard-working Canadians to leave

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their homes. Infrastructure must be a national priority and must not be shuffled off to the municipalities or to private homeowners.

Tony McQuail: Yes, and also federal funding to support the retooling of existing manufacturing in the riding so that we can produce the emerging green technologies and parts for the small and low- and no-emission cars that we are proposing in our green car strategy. I would work with local municipalities and industries to identify needs and opportunities. I would represent these to Ottawa and seek to find the appropriate programs and departments from which to obtain support.

Dennis Valenta: Yes. Let’s remember, any money that Federal Government has IS OUR MONEY!!! The taxpayer has earned the right to spend their money as they see fit, and I will voice that opinion until we in Huron-Bruce get our fair share. That would be total amount of cash, divided by total number of ridings equals amount per riding Ben Lobb: I believe that infrastructure is an ongoing issue. Last year the Conservative government implemented the Building Canada Plan. This plan is a $33-billion, seven-year plan to contribute to a competitive economy, a cleaner environment and strong and prosperous communities. Last year alone, the Conservative Government invested money in wastewater treatment and water systems in four municipalities in Huron-Bruce. If elected I will fight to bring more money to this riding to provide cleaner drinking water, safer highways and expanded public transit. This will mean new projects, construction and jobs for the riding of Huron Bruce.

What will you do to stimulate the economy in your riding?

Greg McClinchey: The current infrastructure deficit in Canada is about $123 billion. Imagine the economic boom that would take place if the federal government was serious about dealing with crumbling water systems, roads, sewers, etc. Mr. Harper’s cutting of the GST by two per cent cost the federal government about $12-billion per year. Had we put that money towards infrastructure it would have completely renewed our national infrastructure in 10 years and it would have touched off the largest national construction effort in our history. It would have employed hundreds of thousands of people for a decade. Innovate out-of-the-box thinking like this is what our country needs. Not shortsighted policies designed to buy votes.

Tony McQuail: In the post=petroleum economy, we need to stop thinking of “stimulate” and “growth”.

These have been the watchwords of the speculative bubble economies of Wall Street and Bay Street. The economic assumptions underpinning these words were made possible by a century spent squandering the planet’s oil reserves that had taken millions of years to accumulate. Wall Street and Bay Street have “stimulated” themselves to economic collapse and “grown” the economy to the point of cannibalizing nature. If we are going to have a future we can be proud to pass on to our children, we need to think about how to stabilize our local economy so that it is durable and frugal and meets the needs of the families around the kitchen tables across Huron-Bruce for now and into the future. I’ve spent the past 35 years of my life helping farmers shift to more ecological forms of farming that offer them greater stability and control of their

http://www.GrandBendStrip.com lives. I’ve also been studying ecological economics and holistic management and would work with the people of Huron-Bruce to do serious sustainability planning.

The New Democrats platform includes provisions for improvements to EI and transitional funding to help individuals and communities shift from old employment and technologies into the green collar jobs in the emerging economy.

Dennis Valenta: Bring community college to riding, which helps keep youth in riding. Have schools teach farming/manufacturing/tourism, whatever. Eliminate government red tape so industry can prosper. Look at building better four-lane highway to connect us to major centres.

Ben Lobb: I believe that we need to keep our spending focused, our budget balanced and our taxes down to protect the living standards of Canadian families at a time of global economic uncertainty. We need to keep industry in the riding, attract new industry and invest in retraining initiatives so those that have lost their jobs can develop new skills to re-enter the workforce and hopefully into a higher paying job. To help attract new industry, the Conservative government has committed to reducing corporate taxes and by 2012 Canada will have the lowest corporate tax rate among the G7 nations.

Tourism is an important industry in our readership area. Do you believe the federal government should fund arts and culture projects, and if so, what kind?

Greg McClinchey: The Harper Government recently announced dramatic cuts to arts and culture funding and I feel that this is a tremendously shortsighted policy. Tourism is essential to the survival of places like Grand Bend and Blyth and cutting culture is cutting tourist attractions. Also, tourism is a major industry in Canada - worth billions of dollars. Cutting the arts is yet another serious blow to Ontario’s economy; an attack that we could have done without. The Liberal Party is opposed to any such cuts and would reverse the move without hesitation. Tourism needs to be bolstered - not slashed.

Tony McQuail: Yes. We would restore the arts funding arbitrarily cut by the Harper Conservatives.

Increase public funding for the Canada Council for the Arts. We believe in supporting local theatre and festivals and community arts programs. We would also develop a strategy for funding, supporting and preserving Canadian museums, historic buildings and heritage lighthouses.

Dennis Valenta: Yes I do. Only the ones that would draw people to spend their money to see! Government should be run like a business, not in competition with, but like, and it will thrive.

Ben Lobb: I think we should engage Canadians in their communities through the expression and celebration of local culture. The economic impacts of tourism in this riding are important to a strong economy. The Conservative government provides $2.3 billion annually to arts and culture and has increased the funding by eight per cent over the previous Liberal government.

The Conservatives have committed $100 million to our national museums and national art centers to address operating and infrastructure pressures. Just recently, the Conservatives awarded almost $100,000 for Southampton’s 150th anniversary celebration, which included performances by local artists and musicians.

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Lambton-Kent-Middlesex What is the most pressing issue facing your riding, and what do you plan to do about it if elected?

Micheal Janssens: The most pressing issue facing this riding, this country, this world, is the demoralization of western society brought on by the disintegration of the family. We kill our children, trample marriage, ignore the elderly, and then we wonder why the whole world seems to be going crazy. When you remove God, you remove his morals. When you remove his morals, you destroy the basis for family. When you destroy the family, you destroy the bedrock on which our nation sits. Our children grow up in families. Without families, our children aren’t raised, and when they take over the country, it falls apart. It’s been going on since the 60s, and it has to stop.

Joe Hill: The downturn in the US economy, and specifically the downturn in the automotive sector, has caused global corporations to close their SW Ontario operation.

If elected, I would work with our new Prime Minister Jack Layton to implement legislation to make it more difficult for global corporations to close and move their operations Bev Shipley: The economy, especially as it relates to jobs, protecting families, agriculture and tourism. Ontario has experienced a slow down in the manufacturing sector and I believe we have to continue on the course set by our Prime Minister of balanced budgets, lower taxes and debt reduction. To be clear, I believe we have a responsibility to retrain our workforce and make investments in technology as well as research and development. In support of these initiatives we must build on the investments we have made in agriculture, and ensure our new programs reflect the ever-changing needs of farmers in a global marketplace.

In terms of protecting families, seniors and those who are at risk, a growing economy, jobs, debt reduction will allow us to make the selected investments so that all Canadians prosper.

Jeff Wesley: Issues vary according to what part of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex you’re from. Certainly agriculture and jobs are vital. But tourism and the ongoing Ipperwash issue are important in Grand Bend. Before my present position, I specialized in municipal and aboriginal relations, visiting almost all the First Nations in Ontario.

I believe my background provides a unique perspective to help with the situation, in addition to my law degree. And as Mayor of Wallaceburg, I know the tourism opportunities that are available if we just work together, especially for such a beautiful place as Grand Bend and area.

For farmers, we will fund the federal share of the Risk Management Program, and support the hog and beef sector.

A new Liberal government will implement a five-point economic action plan within the first 30 days of being sworn in to provide Canadians with needed certainty and clarity in times of economic turmoil. Canadians are rightly worried for their savings and value of their RRSPs, mortgages, household finances and their jobs. Canadians expect their government to offer more than assurances that all will be well. They expect action. Mr. Harper’s response to financial instability and economic uncertainty has been to lecture Canadians that things are fine. I believe governments have a responsibility to protect Canadians from undue economic harm and to take prudent, responsible action to respond at a time of crisis. And we will deliver.

What is the biggest environmental issue facing your riding and what will you do to address it?

Micheal Janssens: Lambton-Kent-Middlesex faces no more problems than any other riding in Canada. We’ve all got pollution woes. As a whole nation, we need to rethink our stand on the environment. To start, the CHP would scrap the Kyoto Accord. It doesn’t work. Pollution didn’t get better when we got into it, and in fact, what was accomplished was billions of taxpayers’ money pumped into Chinese and Russian economies to buy “pollution credits” that they weren’t using. That money would be much better

Miss Pia Jane

Strip Special: 2008 Federal Election Guide spent subsidizing research into renewable energy sources, like water, wind, and solar.

Joe Hill: Years of abuse by the oil companies, chemical companies, manufacturing industry and the coal-fired electric generating stations in Michigan and Indiana have poisoned our environment by spewing toxins into our air, soil and water. In the rural farm communities of our riding we put our citizens at risk with the uncontrolled use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers by the global agri-business.

Bev Shipley: Industrial pollution, whether it is discharges to the St. Clair River or the Great Lakes ecosystem in our riding would be the first but not the only issue that comes to mind. This is why our government provided $3.3-million in support of clean up efforts in the St. Clair River. I have and will continue to work with stakeholders, including WATCH, the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Great Lakes and BPAC to ensure their input is sought and acted upon.

Jeff Wesley: Climate change is the issue of our generation; it creates lower lake levels, more hail (as we saw this summer in the area, destroying crops), more thunderstorms and hurricanes. We have an action plan to deal with it; all can read it and see how much income tax they’ll save by visiting www.thegreenshift.ca. I have a lot of experience dealing with businesses in Chemical Valley, for example, which were responsible for 300 chemical spills into the St. Clair River in the 1990s. People in Wallaceburg had to line up behind water trucks at the local mall to get their drinking water like refugees. We now, thankfully, have provincial laws in place that mean, “you spill, you pay.” I congratulate our MPP, Maria Van Bommel, who was instrumental in developing that plan of action. I will work with the municipality and the province to develop a local action plan to help reduce the number of beaches closed locally. We must all do our part.

Do you believe your riding needs federal infrastructure funding, and if so, what will you do to bring it here?

Micheal Janssens: The Liberals’ proposed infrastructure bank has a glaring fault. The Liberals know that our infrastructure is in bad shape, and they know that they don’t have the funds to fix it. So they are going to sell equities (shares), and sell bonds (debt), and borrow from Canada’s chartered banks to get the money to rebuild infrastructure at a low cost of interest.

Right idea; wrong execution. This plan would plunge Canada further into debt, stealing even more money from future generations.

The CHP would instruct the Bank of Canada to make interest-free loans to provinces and municipalities to improve infrastructure. As economic revenue increases from the upgrades, the lower levels of government would pay off the loans, which the Bank of Canada would then remove from circulation to prevent inflation.

Joe Hill: Yes, I believe that our riding needs federal infrastructure funding; I will do my best with Jack Layton and our team to ensure that downloading of federal funds reaches the areas that it is most needed to benefit the working families of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.

Bev Shipley: All municipalities across the country need the support of all levels of government to address infrastructure funding. Through COMRIF and a number of other programs we have begun to address many of these issues. But of course there is still more to do which is why our government established Build Canada, a $33-billion fund to partner with provinces, private and municipalities to address these issues. For specifics regarding federally funded projects in our riding, please contact me at info@ bevshipley.ca Jeff Wesley: Yes, absolutely, and not the phony cheques given by our MP to some area municipalities, whereby no money was attached, and local mayors had to come up with two-thirds of the funding, hurting local taxpayers.

The Liberal government created the rural infrastructure program, and we have committed to a new $70-billion program over 10 years. Our roads, bridges, sewers, waterlines, are all important to keep our economy on the move.

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Thursday, October 9, 2008 • 7 my, and I would take their ideas and help implement them.

Tourism is an important industry in our readership area.

Do you believe the federal government should fund arts and culture projects, and if so, what kind?

Micheal Janssens: Canadian culture is powerful and deeply rooted in Judeo-Christian ideals. If our culture needs welfare, then we’ve truly degenerated into a sad nation indeed. I’m okay with local governments giving scholarships to talented potential artists, but to suggest that Canadian culture would die out if it didn’t have funding from the government, to me, debases and humiliates Canadian culture. We’re Canadian. We don’t need Ottawa’s money to protect our Canadian identity. We’re better than that!

Joe Hill: Yes, I believe the federal government should fund these projects.

Presently, the federal government has focused its spending on the “bricks and mortar” and cut programs that support the actual “artists”: musicians, filmmakers and visual artists. I believe that we should continue to oppose Harper’s narrow-minded cuts to programs that support cuts to Canadian artists, cuts to local artists and cuts to museums.

Bev Shipley: I do, which is why our government has increased funding to arts and culture by eight per cent ($2.3-billion annually) since coming to office, which is far more than the previous government spent. However, we were elected in 2006 to manage taxpayer money effectively and efficiently and in that regard we have undertaken a strategic review, which resulted in reallocating funding from programs that were not working or that had achieved their objective to programs that required additional funding.

Jeff Wesley: Yes, the federal government should fund arts and culture. I was very disappointed when Mr. Harper cut $10-million from the museums budget. That hurt our smaller museums in particular.

A new Liberal government will double the budget of the Canada Council for the Arts to $360-million annually, while simultaneously reversing the cuts recently announced by the Conservative government to arts and culture.

Canada’s diverse arts and cultural community plays an important role in our national identity. We are committed to helping revitalize a vital sector of the Canadian economy that is under threat by Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s ideologically driven mismanagement.

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What will you do to stimulate the economy in your riding?

Micheal Janssens: Aside from playing around with corporate taxation and easing up on regulative legislation, the government really doesn’t have that much control over the economy; the businesses do. The CHP would do just that; we would arrange a system of taxation and regulation that would allow for businesses to open and run profitably.

One idea that we would implement is a Fair Tax system for all Canadians. We believe that if you earn a dollar, then that dollar is yours – you’ve earned it. The finance minister has no right to ask you what you earned last year and even less right to say “Send me half.” We would eliminate the income tax and replace it with a consumption tax. That puts you in charge of how much tax you pay. The incentive to earn less to save on taxes will be gone, we’ll be encouraged to save and invest more, and we’ll all become wealthier.

Joe Hill: I will work with Jack Layton and our team to continue to confront the manufacturing crisis by reviewing unfair trade rules, investing in manufacturing upgrades and improving worker transition programs. This would include continuing to promote our green-collar jobs strategy and a green car strategy to reposition Canada’s auto industry as a leader in producing the fuel-efficient cars that the world is demanding.

Bev Shipley: First I would say we need the kind of strong decisive leadership demonstrated by our Prime Minister Stephen Harper. I have had the honour of working with him and our caucus to deliver balanced budgets, especially in these times of global economic uncertainty, lower taxes ($3,600 in lower taxes for the average family of four) and debt reduction ($40-billion), which we are committed to passing on the interest saved in the form of even lower taxes for hard-working families. We need to build on investments already made in retraining our skilled workforce for the in-demand jobs of the future as well as in new technology and research and development. What we do not need is reckless irresponsible spending which will spiral us into deficit as the opposition parties in this election are proposing.

Jeff Wesley: Set up a local committee of representatives of chambers of commerce, business associations, employers, unions, tourist operators, to tackle the problem head-on.

Too often, Ottawa seems like some foreign capital, when it shouldn’t be. The MP’s role is to not make big speeches and attend ribbon-cuttings; it’s to roll up your sleeves and shake things up. Small businesses are the backbone of our econo-

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8 • Thursday, October 9, 2008

Strip on Film

Were you a Star?

By Casey Lessard Photo courtesy UWO

UWO is selling DVD copies of Rev. Roy Massecar’s Stars of the Town.

Libraries in Zurich, Exeter and Parkhill each have a little gem hiding in their DVD catalogue: archived 8mm film from the late 1940s featuring each town and its residents from the era. Stars of the Town is a collection of 85 films profiling towns from across southern Ontario, distributed as an enterprise of the University of Western Ontario archives.

“They’re fascinating,” says Benson special collections librarian John Lutman, whose mother grew up in Zurich, “because they summarize a way of life in the old Ontario before mass suburbanization. Parkhill, for instance, is not as vibrant as it was. People move away or go to London for recreation and small towns couldn’t compete with the big chains. It shows

http://www.GrandBendStrip.com towns at the peak of their prosperity and vibrant activity.”

The films were made by Rev. Roy Massecar between 1946 and 1949. Rev. Massecar made the films to supplement his income; he would travel to towns, film them and perform a show for an admission fee.

UWO acquired the films in 2005 and have been selling DVD copies of each town’s film for $15.

“The films average 30 minutes,” Lutman says. “You see people shopping in the town, driving down the main street in their cars, tractors, and horse drawn carts, and you see a lot of the fashions of the times.”

You can borrow the DVD from the libraries, or you can order a copy (Zurich, Exeter and Parkhill are the only ones in our area currently known and available) by calling 519-6614046 or by emailing archives.services@uwo.ca If you are in one of the movies or think you know of another film (for example one for Grand Bend), we’d love to hear about it. Call the Strip at 519-614-3614 or email us.

http://www.GrandBendStrip.com

Strip at the Beach

Thursday, October 9, 2008 • 9

Beach project begins Planners move to block splash pad from wind, make more attractive for pedestrians Story and photo by Casey Lessard Diagram courtesy EDA Collaborative Snowbirds and visitors won’t recognize Grand Bend’s beach next summer. The beach enhancement project will be finished in June 2009, and the planners have made some major changes that should ease some of the concerns residents had at meetings last year.

Among the highlights: the splash pad will be moved east of the bathhouse and out of wind range; a renewed wood boardwalk with seating areas will stretch from the pier to north of the condo building; dune grass will line the boardwalk and reduce sand blowoff toward Main Street; Government Road has been demolished and will be rebuilt with a new design and name.

The $3.5-million project started several weeks ago, and fundraising co-chairs Jim Southcott and Dr. Jim Jean are seeking donors in exchange for naming rights for each piece of the beach project. The most significant would be Government Road for $200,000; smaller portions can be named for a minimum $25,000 donation. They are also seeking smaller donations from $1 up as they try to raise $1.5-million of the project’s cost.

“This will help mitigate the tax burden to the municipality,” Southcott says, “and (naming rights) will leave a legacy for people interested in Grand Bend.”

The project is an ambitious one, and contractor McLean Taylor has the reins. The lead and many of the contractors have close ties to the area. Southcott is eager to see the end result.

“This is going to be a place to come,” he says. “This will be where families will want to bring their kids. There’s going to be a lot more

98 Ontario Street South, Grand Bend Dr. Jim Jean and Jim Southcott are aiming to raise $1.5 million to offset almost half of the project’s cost.

amenities, with a splash pad for little kids, a play area, a terrific boardwalk with gazebos to sit and watch our tremendous sunsets.

“And it should encourage the people on the main drag to take a second look at their properties and see how they can improve and extend their summer activities into the shoulder months.”

The project’s completion is the last step in the municipality’s quest to achieve Blue Flag status for the beach, he says. Dr. Jim Jean notes the incorporation of dune grass along the boardwalk will be an important part of that accreditation.

“We’ve had great success with dune grass where it’s been planted and it has retained the beach,” Jean says, noting it has been used elsewhere in Grand Bend. “I think that will add to the beauty of the project. One of the facets in the Blue Flag designation is that you try to maintain an environmentally sensitive area on your beach.”

“The beach defines Grand Bend,” Southcott affirms. “We want to make it more people friendly and better for families. We want to make it so our sunsets can be enjoyed to their fullest.”

Jean agrees.

“We’ve always had a great resource here, and this enhances our ability to use that resource.”

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444 STORE HOURS The refreshed design includes a splash pad and play area east of the bathhouse, a long wooden boardwalk lined with dune grass, and more access points with better parking design. Fundraisers are seeking donors to grant naming rights for all parts of the project, including a redesigned Government Road.

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Will Imeson get plea deal?

There’s a dangerous game being played in Goderich, at the court where Jesse Imeson faces first-degree murder charges in the deaths of Bill and Helene Regier of Mount Carmel.

The London Free Press’ John Miner reported Monday that Imeson’s lawyer Don Crawford suggests Imeson may plead guilty to a lesser charge than first-degree murder in relation to the death of the Regiers and Carlos Rivera.

We’ll see what happens October 27.

If Imeson is indeed guilty, I struggle with the concept that he may receive a lesser punishment than he deserves, considering the horror of the crime. If the court accepts a plea that will see Imeson go to prison and be eligible for parole in as few as 10 years, is that better than taking the risk that he could be found not guilty at trial? It’s not surprising that a

first-degree murder conviction (the law lumps multiple convictions into one concurrent sentence) is unappealing to Imeson and his lawyer; such a conviction carries a mandatory 25 year sentence before parole can be considered.

The question is, will the Crown and the judge believe that’s punishment enough?

It’s an emotional issue. Ultimately, if convicted, Imeson will have to pay for his crimes.

I’m reminded of the testimonials given in this newspaper last summer, when I questioned the role of forgiveness in this circumstance.

“In my heart, I am sure that both Bill and Helene would forgive him,” said Marion Sullivan, “because until you forgive you will continue to bleed.”

“This is something that’s going to take a long, long time,” Father Ray Lawhead added.

“Forgiveness doesn’t mean you excuse what happened. It doesn’t. He’s responsible for his actions.”

Some day, these murders may be forgiven; they will never be forgotten. Personally, I hope the system ensures that “some day” is far enough in the future that forgiveness is possible.

To the Editor, After our successful ‘Home and Garden’ tour on July 5, the Horticultural Society asked our members for suggestions on spending some of the money to improve areas around the Bend. Sharon Solden asked that we consider doing something with the very neglected front at the public school. The executive decided that because the school/library is used by so many residents, it was a good idea and we, some of the students and a parent, Joe Hotson (he roto-tilled the area for us) completed the work.

P a u l a n d A n i t a f r o m We s t l a n d Greenhouses donated beautiful fall mum

plants and everything was completed in time for ‘Meet the Teacher’ night on Thursday.

In the spring we are going to plant pink and purple coloured plants so the gardens will be ready for the ‘Community in Bloom’ judges to have a look at next year. Pink and purple are the colours they are suggesting for next year and we are going to talk to as many people as we can reach in the area to plant their gardens in pink and purple.

Please mark your calendar for June 27 next year. That is the date for our next ‘Home and Garden’ tour.

Bob Putherbough Grand Bend Horticultural Society

View from the Strip

By Casey Lessard

Publisher/Editor: Casey Lessard Advertising Sales: Casey Lessard Chief Photographer: Casey Lessard Grand Bend Strip P.O. Box 218 Grand Bend, Ontario N0M 1T0 CANADA Phone: (519) 614-3614 Fax: 1 (866) 753-2781 mail@grandbendstrip.com http://www.grandbendstrip.com

http://www.GrandBendStrip.com

Strip Thoughts

10 • Thursday, October 9, 2008

Distribution: Joan McCullough, Rita Lessard and Casey Lessard Contributors: Tom Lessard - my dad Rita Lessard - my mom Anjhela Michielsen Jenipher Appleton - nature/birding Tamara Nicola - VisitGrandBend.com

Sewer meeting exceeds expectations

By Casey Lessard Turnout at the recent sewer meeting (previewed in the Sept. 25 edition of the Grand Bend Strip) was more than double what the municipality of Lambton Shores expected, community services director Peggy Van Mierlo-West said Monday.

“We proposed we would get 200 people. We had 400 show up. It’s great to see there’s great interest in the project.”

“People had a lot of great comments, pro and con, for the collection system. We realize we have a lot of work to do to answer questions, but we’re ready to go ahead with that.”

Public comment on the project must be received by October 24. The two options available to get sewage from homes to the sewage treatment plant are gravity-based, which costs $23,000 per lot, or a hydro-based system,

which costs $10,000 per lot. Municipal staff told the meeting they recommended the latter due to cost. Federal and provincial funding may bring these costs down.

Either system requires homeowners to link into the system privately, which costs an additional amount. In our Sept. 25 issue, Dashwood resident John Mason predicted that amount to be at least $10,000 per home.

Van Mierlo-West anticipates there will be more meetings to discuss this project.

“We want to know how homeowners are feeling, so having those comment forms come in is an important tool for us.”

Clarification: When John Mason suggested in our Sept. 25 issue that effluent should be used to fertilize trees at the Pinery, he meant only the Pinery’s effluent, not that of the entire sewer coverage area.

To the Editor, Every year for six years our family has participated in The Walk to D’feet ALS, as my grandfather died from ALS in October 4th, 1985. This year my daughters, aged four and six, wanted to raise money and brainstormed for ideas.

First my daughter Abby wanted to sell live turkeys to people but we explained why that could not happen. Instead, they held a charity barbecue at Hayter’s Turkey Products and raised $450, and with other donations they raised over $850 this year. Abby and Emma wrote letters to No Frills and Sobeys for donations, which the support they received was amazing and we thank them so much for their support as well as Hayter’s for donating all of the turkey burgers and turkey hot dogs.

Emma is in one in the huge t-shirt, Abby is in the pink, then there is me (in brown) and my mom Jean Mclean (Nana) it was the 4 of us just after we all finished the walk.

Jenn Maguire Grand Bend

Thanks to our distributors Thank you to all of our distributors for another great summer. Our thanks also to the great folks at the Canada Post locations we use to distribute the Strip!

Advertising is accepted on condition that, in the event of an error, the portion of the ad occupied by the error will not be charged for, but the balance will be paid at the usual rate.

It is the responsibility of the advertiser to check their ads on first publication, and the publisher accepts no responsibility for errors in multiple insertions.

The Grand Bend Strip reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement likely to offend community standards and/or the law.

All material herein, including advertising design, is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any form.

Grand Bend Strip is printed every other Wednesday in the summer; 7383 homes and businesses in Grand Bend, Zurich, Dashwood, Port Franks, Crediton and Exeter received this week’s Strip in their Canada Post mailbox. An additional 1000 copies are available to residents and visitors at local stores and restaurants.

Alert Canada Post if you live in one of the towns above and want to receive Grand Bend Strip but are not receiving a copy in the mail.

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Strip at the Cove

Steve Bianchi is George Ecclestone and Dave Fuggle is Eric McIlroy.

Thursday, October 9, 2008 • 11

Isabel Sweeney is Marje in Grand Cove’s Babes of the Bend, which played to a full house each night.

Babes of the Cove Grand Cove presented its musical comedy, Babes of the Bend: 1915 to 1945, this weekend to sell-out crowds each show.

Here are some scenes from the play.

Photos by Casey Lessard

“Constable” Ron Russell and “Fifi” Claire Castle, harem dancer Shirley Clark, bathers Stan Norris and Isabel Sweeney, and narrator Jim Newell.

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Strip Thoughts

12 • Thursday, October 9, 2008

Running for office

Election issues Or, how to get into real trouble Advice from mom

Keeping the Peace

By Rita Lessard

By Tom Lessard, C.D.

Since we are preparing to go to the polls for another election, I suppose my column this week should reflect on the matter. Like most people I’m not too sure who I want to vote for, but I will vote and hopefully my choice will be a wise one. I suppose you can view politics like a dating game – those you date and those you marry. The question is, do you want to date or just fool around for a while?

Sometimes marriage and politics can be similar; at the start of either you make promises like loving, honouring, and sometimes obeying. But as time goes by, these promises are hard to keep and eventually some of us get disillusioned and want to change partners and try to go with someone else with a better plan.

I know all politicians have to make all these promises in order to get votes, but the time has to come eventually when they have to keep at least some of these promises and quit fooling around.

Taxes are a big issue with any election; like death, there is no escape from either one, but at least death doesn’t get any worse.

October tips Singing my praises for vinegar again.

Everyone seems to know if your dog gets too close to a skunk and gets sprayed you should use tomato juice liberally to get the smell out.

Well, you can use vinegar as well, and get the smell out just as effectively. It especially is better if your pooch is white because if you tomato juice the poor dog will be either red or pink. I’m sure this would embarrass Brutus immensely. Vinegar is cheaper, too.

Do you have a fear of flying? My friend Margaret told me she got this tip from a pilot.

Once you’re seated on the plane, cross your ankles and place your hands on the armrest with the palms of your hands upright. This relaxes you and your fears apparently will subside.

Tips for tastier burgers: replace bread crumbs with potato chips (any kind you desire). Quite yummy!

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October 18 & 19, 2008

Many years ago, there was an upcoming municipal election looming. I resided in Huron Park where there was probably the largest number of voters in Stephen Township.

I was pretty well known as a helper, a doer and a goer in the community, therefore, I was approached to run as a candidate. My backers said no one else in Huron Park would runagainst me. Ha ha. When it came time to declare our intentions to run, three Park residents submitted their names. Well, you can guess the outcome; none of us got in.

The next time I was asked to run in an election was with the UAW. I was at the time an employee at one of the union plants. The UAW committee was dominated by mainly women. We were not very pleased with the situation and felt that there was enough dominance at home. Since we couldn’t do anything about the homefront, we thought there was a chance to change things at the union level.

Guess what? I won. Whoop dee doo.

There was only one small problem. I had no idea how to do any of the objectives of a president. I tried but to no avail and had to resign and send the job back to the ladies. I began to take courses with the UAW to learn what unions are intended to do for the workers.

One course I took at Port Elgin (which is the UAW school) was a women’s course; there were two males and 128 women. Boy, did I learn a lot.

I was later involved in some intense negotiations, which at times were scary. One set was held in Stratford. The deadline was set for Sunday at midnight. All day at a motel, with the company reps in one room and four or

five of us in another, an arbitrator moved back and forth between the rooms bringing offers or rejections for the two teams. The men back at the plants had barrels, signs, picket duties and wood for burning all set to go.

At about 11:30, word came down that the company people wanted to see us in their negotiating room. Up we went. They were all smiles and we were told they had accepted all of our demands. Then the party began.

In the 40 years that I have lived in Stephen Township, I have never been approached by a federal or provincial candidate to give them my vote. I have had correspondence with parliament members and did go with a delegation to see Carol Mitchell in Goderich about funding for our sewers, which were being shoved down our throats.

We finally got some help but not by politicians but by the super efforts of one of our residents. She went and talked to the provincial finance minister and somehow got us $1million, which worked out to about $3,500 per household. As I resident, I thank you for that.

In the London Free Press two weeks ago, how to reach your federal party: Conservatives – www.conservative.ca Liberals – www.conservative.ca Who are they backing?

Since Rita and I always use our right to vote, we are going to do so a little differently this time. We don’t know any of the candidates, but we do have favourite colours. Mine is red and hers is green. Now our ballots are not a secret.

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Strip Thoughts

Thursday, October 9, 2008 • 13

What are you selling?

Technically Speaking

By Tamara Nicola http://www.VisitGrandBend.com Are you ready to give selling over the While you need not be a technical expert, a Internet a try? There are a host of tools avail- good understanding of web basics is required. able; many of them are free or very low cost.

Whether you have an existing website or you are starting from scratch, your web hosting company should specialize in e-commerce.

Cleaning out the closet Many hosting companies offer free e-comMost of us remember the days when costly classified ads or yard sales were the only merce software as part of your monthly fee. option. Today consider turning to kijiji.ca or They also provide web security, customer paycraigslist.com to sell that dusty treadmill. You ment solutions and the technical support you can list your items for sale, free of charge, on will need. The hosting company can create both of these very popular websites. This is an a new a website address for you, for example especially good solution for bulky items that www.bestwidgets.com, or they can transfer you would not want to ship to a buyer. Just your existing web address to a new e-commerce account. Once your account is created note, “Local pickup only” in your ad. you are typically provided with a web link to your new online store for customization.

Crafts or small inventories Exposure to as many potential buyers as Usually there will be several design templates possible is critical to successful online sell- for you to choose from as you create the look ing and this is especially challenging for and feel of your new store.

Next step is adding your inventory and those with limited budgets. Ebay.ca and etsy. com are both excellent solutions. Either of product pictures. Your hosting company can these services can function as the main web- assist in setting up a payment gateway. This site for your operation. Ebay.ca has a store- will allow you to accept credit cards in real f ront feature that allows you to create a time as well as calculate shipping charges fully functioning online store. Etsy.com is using carriers such as United Postal Service, set up this way by default. They have built UPS. in payment options that allow you to create a paypal.com account that can easily and Recommendations securely link to your personal bank account.

There are two web applications that I highIf you already have a website and you want to ly recommend mivamerchant.com and/or sell items on your own web page, using tools oscommerce.com. They are both full service available at paypal.com you can integrate a solutions including options such as integrashopping cart and checkout feature into your tion with your existing accounting software existing site. This will allow you to accept like QuickBooks. The options are unlimited major credit cards. While this is a simple and you will need to do your research. My solution, keep in mind that you also need best advice is to choose your e-commerce web plenty of visitors to your website to generate hosting company carefully, then jump in and sales. start selling.

Selling large inventories There are several tools on the market today designed for the Do It Yourself entrepreneur.

! IPPING! G N I R T P S IPTC G RH U T A C S AUGHT S T UGH

CA

TRIP

Mom’s Stripping this winter!

ARE YOU? You may not associate winter with Stripping, but once the cold hits, nothing will warm you up like reading the Grand Bend Strip.

Grand Bend Strip VIP subscribers will be the ONLY people receiving the Strip’s monthly publication from November to April.

Starting in November, you won’t be able to find find the Strip anywhere unless you are a member of the Strip Club.

VIP members also get exclusive access to www.grandbendstrip.com.

NOW IS THE TIME TO SUBSCRIBE! As your MP Tony McQuail will focus on...

Jobs

DON’T MISS OUT - GET SIX MONTHS OF THE GRAND BEND STRIP FOR ONLY $12

• Protect jobs in manufacturing and agriculture • Create green collar jobs in the New Energy Economy

Consumers • Protect consumers from rip-offs and gouging by big oil, cell phone giants, banks and credit card companies • Reduce soaring costs of education, training, childcare and seniors care

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• Shorten wait times by training more doctors and nurses • Stop privatization of the healthcare system • Improve access to prescription drugs, home-care and long-term care

Environment • Set absolute emission standards by law • Make big polluters pay • Invest in environmental solutions

Tony McQuail Jack Layton and the New Democrats A New Kind of Strong Leadership for Huron-Bruce www.tonymcquail.ca info@tonymcquail.ca 519-482-1428 1-866-743-7479 Authorized by the official agent for Tony McQuail

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14 • Thursday, October 9, 2008

Strip Outside

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Get your woodpeckers straight!

Living in Balance

By Jenipher Appleton “There’s a hairy woodpecker on the suet feeder.”

“No, that’s a downy!”

This is the sort of banter you hear around our place. Truth be told, the hairy and downy woodpeckers are pretty much identical in appearance except for size. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish which is which because of distance (or poor vision).

Roger Tory Peterson, father of the field guide, states that the downy woodpecker is like a smaller edition of the hairy: about 2.5 inches smaller. At a distance this doesn’t always help with identification. Both birds are white-backed and black-winged, with regular white spots. Two white stripes adorn a black head and the male of each species sports a small red patch at the back of its head. The main differences are body size and the bill.

The downy’s bill is small; the hairy’s is proportionately larger and quite prominent.

These woodpeckers are regular visitors to feeding stations and are fun to observe.

Comfort foods for us may include chili, soups and stews; for a woodpecker it is definitely suet. It provides necessary heat energy to surTom Appleton’s photo of a hairy woodpecker in Algonquin Park. vive the winter’s cold. Congealed pan drippings mixed with peanut butter or trimmings in their skull that reduces and absorbs the our night’s slumber would come to an end. woodpecker family. I shall reserve the details from meat stuffed into net bags provide tasty, force of strokes. It has special softening tisPeople sometimes mistakenly call the hairy on them for a future column. energy-filled treats as well. or downy woodpecker a ‘red-headed woodsues between the bones of its skull.

While in our campsite in Algonquin Park During my childhood, at the cottage in pecker’. The red-headed is aptly named, as its this past summer, we were visited by a large The ability of the woodpecker to effectively Muskoka, we often awoke to the rapid percus- entire head is bright red. They are not com- hairy woodpecker. The object of his attraction drill holes into a tree seems to defy physics. sion of a hairy woodpecker as he drilled away mon at feeders, preferring hedgerows, groves was a fallen pine log, loaded with juicy grubs I can only imagine what it might be like to on the metal chimney-pipe on the roof. We and fields. I have only seen a couple over the and beetles. As he did not seem to care much repeatedly and relentlessly thrust my face into never knew why he did it; perhaps he liked years on our Ailsa Craig property. about our presence, Tom (my better half ) was a solid object. Some quick research revealed to hear himself. The sound would reverberate Flickers and sapsuckers are common in the able to get a few good photos of him. that woodpeckers have a suspension system throughout our little wooden structure and area as well, and are actually members of the

THANKSGIVING, OCTOBER 12TH

IS OUR LAST SUNDAY OF THE SEASON. Don’t miss this opportunity to pick up your fall arrangements, pumpkins and gourds. This is your last chance to pick up that item you wanted and get final day deals.

Christmas is just around the corner, so start your shopping early.

Thank you to all of our customers for a wonderful season.

See you next year on May 3rd for our opening Sunday!

What’s fresh this week? apples, squash, cabbage and tomatoes

FLEA MARKET & FARMER’S MARKET 3 MILES SOUTH OF GRAND BEND ON HWY 21

FREE ADMISSION BEFORE 9am 519-238-8382 we open at 8am every Sunday! pineryantiquefleamarket.com

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Things to Do Community/Charity EVERY TUESDAY  p.m. - Grand Bend Legion Bingo

To Do List CHC Adult Day Centre Oktoberfest Lunch. Drop in and enjoy turkey sausage on the bun, sauerkraut, black forest cake and drink. $6. Entertainment featuring “Rambling Rose” Draw prizes!

Take out available if ordered by Oct. 6.Contact Tammy at 519-238-6289 for details or to order lunch in advance.

WEDNESDAYS TO OCTOBER 29

Thursday, October 9, 2008 • 15

0-6 years. Call Miranda at 519-238-1556 ext 222.

Health & Fitness

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

MONDAYS

 to  p.m. - Grand Bend Legion Live Music with Bob Finlay

Zurich Mennonite Church,  Zurich-Hensall Rd, Zurich.

Ten Thousand Villages Festival Sale - sale of work of artisans from Third World countries, who create beautiful crafts, jewellry, and gifts and would otherwise be unemployed. The sale of these products helps pay for their food, education, health care and housing. Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit program of Mennonite Central Committee. There will also be a bake sale and tea room. Great time to start your Christmas shopping!”

Workout for Your Life. $8 per class; $5 for spouses and students.

 to  a.m. - Lions’ Pavilion, G.B. Workout for Your Life. $8 per class; $5 for spouses and students.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12 : a.m. -  p.m. - Pinery Flea Market Live Music with Brian Dale

 a.m. – Grand Bend CHC Healthy Lifestyle Exercise Program. Free.

October 18&19 - Poinsettia Tour Port Franks businesses celebrate the season

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17 - 3 TO 9 P.M. SAT., OCTOBER 18 - 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M.

 a.m. to  p.m. - Port Franks THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 Community Centre Blessings Community Store, Zurich Beginner and Intermediate Bridge. Cost Cooking Outside of the Box. Drop in and is $45.00. Call 519-238-1239 for details. taste test great recipe ideas for yummy low cost meals. Call Miranda Burgess Grand Bend CHC dietitian 519-238-1556 ext.222.

EVERY FRIDAY  to  p.m. - Grand Bend Legion  to  p.m. - Schoolhouse Restaurant Meat Draw Socrates Café Discussion Group. Hosted

by Partners in Learning. For more informaTUESDAY, OCTOBER 14 Saturday, October 18 & 19 tion call 519-238-1114 or 519-238-5337 : to : a.m. - Grand Bend CHC 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Lambton Heritage community room Museum and Thedford Community Centre Grand Bend Women’s Probus Club. Guest FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17 Lambton Fall Colour & Craft Festival.

Mark Vockencanz speaks on “The Ultimate : a.m. to  noon - Grand Bend Admission $4. For more info call 519-243Cycle of Fitness.” Everyone welcome.

Public School Alphabites Program. Explore various 2600. activity centres, make a tasty snack all based WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15 on a special book. Parents and children ages : a.m. to : p.m. - Grand Bend

Arts & Entertainment

Don’t Miss:

 a.m. – Grand Bend CHC Healthy Lifestyle Exercise Program. Free. : a.m. – Grand Bend CHC Gentle Exercise Program for seniors. Free.

October 18&19 - Lambton Fall Colour & Craft Festival Lambton Heritage Museum & Thedford

October 19 - Pinery Road Race Pinery Provincial Park

November 1 - Kause for Kids Motorcycle Parade through Grand Bend

JOIN US FOR OUR

OKTOBERFEST THEME DINNER FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24

F.I.N.E. A RESTAURANT PHONE FOR RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE FOR CATERING (519) 238-6224 42 ONTARIO ST. S. (HWY 21)

OCT. HOURS - OPEN TUES. TO SAT. LUNCH: 12-2 PM DINNER: 5 PM

FRIDAYS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17

: a.m. – Grand Bend CHC Gentle Exercise Program for seniors. Free.

 to  a.m. - Lions’ Pavilion, G.B. Workout for Your Life. $8 per class; $5 for  a.m. to  p.m. - G.B. Art Centre spouses and students.

The Best Painting You Never Thought You Could Paint with Mary Abma. For TUESDAYS details, call 519-238-8978 or 519-238-6874  to  p.m. - McNaughton Park, Exeter FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10 or email grbartcentre@hay.net.

Workout for Your Life. $8 per class; $5 for : a.m. – Grand Bend CHC spouses and students.

Conversation Maps (Diabetes Group Education Class). Do you want to learn SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 more about diabetes in a fun interactive way?  to  p.m. - Grand Bend Legion WEDNESDAYS Refreshments provided. Call Aileen Knip Live Music with Murray Andrew  to  a.m. - Lions’ Pavilion, G.B. Workout for Your Life. $8 per class; $5 for RN, CDE. at 519-238-1556 ext 226. Next class opportunity October 27. spouses and students.  p.m. – Pt. Franks Comm. Ctr. Octoberfest Dance presented by the Port Franks Seniors club. Advanced tickets $12. : to : a.m. - Grand Bend Legion TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14 Call Betty at 519-243-3157 for more inforExercise Club  p.m. - Grand Bend CHC mation.

Pre-Diabetes Class. Have you been told your blood sugar is slightly elevated? Want  to : a.m. - Grand Bend Legion to learn more on how to prevent diabetes.

Line Dancing SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1 Call Patricia Baker RD, CDE. at 519-238 to  p.m. - Grand Bend Legion 1556 ext 235 to register.

Horse Races THURSDAYS  to  p.m. - McNaughton Park, Exeter

Planning a family weekend?

Book now for Thanksgiving!

North Fork Kennel & Grooming

519-234-6879 69484 PARR LINE, CREDITON www.northforkkennel.com

FINAL SALE: CLOSING OCT. 11 5PM - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

HOUSE OF LADIES’

80% OFF! Fashions APPROX

Over 100 items - $888 plus tax Blouses, Shells, Slacks, Jeans, Skirts, Shorts, Slippers, Shoes

Over 20 Prom Dresses $19 plus tax BALANCE OF STOCK PRICED BELOW COST!

15 Sauble River Road, Grand Bend (off 81 Crescent)

NEW HOURS: Wednesday to Saturday - 1030 A.M. - 5 P.M. FOR SALE: Steamer, Portable AC, Wall Boards & Hooks, Hangers - 519-238-1077 or 519-238-2938

Strip at School

16 • Thursday, October 9, 2008

Running for Terry Students at Grand Bend Public School raised $424 for cancer research through the Terry Fox Run Sept. 26.

Left: Raegan Hayter leads the pack.

Right: Grayson Heathcote, Danny Thomas, Erinn McCreathFrangakis and Ryan Brown finish the run.

Photos by Casey Lessard

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