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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 44 Issue 17
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.10% 3 Year GIC - 2.80% 5 Year GIC - 3.50% Daily Savings 1.50%
Friday, April 29, 2011
Federal candidates faced large number of questions at debate by David Meyer ALMA - With five political candidates on the dais, it might have seemed impossible they would agree on anything - but one consensus did emerge here on April 19. All of them agreed the Alma Optimists’ new hall is beautiful and a job well done. They made mention of it several times prior to the debate and during it. But when the first question was asked last week for the candidates in the PerthWellington federal riding, that
consensus disappeared. A crowd of over 80 people listened as the candidates replied to a question about a delay in income splitting until the budget is balanced. Conservative Gary Schellenberger said the delay is to get the deficit under control. His party plans deficit reductions for four years, at 25% a year until 2014, and then will introduce income splitting. Green Party candidate John Cowling said his party favours doing it immediately. Continued on page 3
Spaling, McGinn advance to 2nd round of NHL playoffs by Chris Daponte WELLINGTON CTY. - Nick Spaling and Jamie McGinn, both natives of Wellington County, have advanced along with their respective teams to the second round of the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs. Spaling, who hails from Drayton, actually scored two
goals on Sunday - including the game winner - in game 6 to lead the Nashville Predators to a 4-2 series win over the Anaheim Ducks. And Fergus native Jamie McGinn’s team, the San Jose Sharks, defeated the Los Angeles Kings on Monday to win that series 4-2. Continued on page 8
MPs sparring over role of municipalities in process TORONTO - WellingtonHalton Hills MPP Ted Arnott has accused Minister of the Environment John Wilkinson of refusing to account for alleged contradictory promises on industrial wind farm consultations. During a special “late show” debate on April 19 in the Ontario Legislature, which was held at his request, Arnott took the minister to task for statements he felt were less than candid to his constituents. “On numerous occasions,
this minister has failed to clarify his own remarks to his own constituents,” Arnott charged. “For failing to correct his own record, for failing to uphold even the most basic standards of truth, he owes his constituents an apology.” Arnott was referring to a meeting held in May 2010, when the minister appeared to promise that if municipalities refused to sign off on wind farm applications, the Ministry of the Environment would not Continued on page 8
Dynamic duo - David Ellison, left, and Matthew Klumpenhouwer take a seat atop the horses usually ridden by “the Mantracker” himself, Terry Grant, far left, and local guide Garnett Weese. Ellison, of Mapleton Township, and Klumpenhouwer, of Perth County and formerly of Palmerston, will star in an episode of Mantracker at 9pm on May 22 on the Ontario Life Network. submitted photo
Lifelong friends to star in ‘Mantracker’ episode by Chris Daponte MAPLETON TWP. David Ellison and Matthew Klumpenhouwer never really believed their application to appear on the television series Mantracker would amount to anything. Respectively known as “Rusty” and “Klumpy,” the lifelong friends waited for over a year to hear if their video application - three times the suggested length and sent in on a whim simply because they enjoyed the show - would be accepted. Klumpenhouwer, who now lives in Perth County but resided in Palmerston at the time, says show officials called to invite them on last May and
offered only three weeks notice - but he still accepted the invitation on the spot. “I didn’t even call Rusty to see if he was interested,” Klumpenhouwer said with a laugh. “I didn’t even ask my wife.” Ellison, who lives with his family on a farm on the west side of Mapleton Township, says the reaction of their families and friends to the news was “mixed,” but most embraced the idea. “Both our wives knew it wasn’t an opportunity that comes around every day,” said Ellison. So the pair flew out to Colorado and spent several days filming the hour-long
episode for season six of Mantracker, which features real-life cowboy and tracker Terry Grant hunting his “prey” - pairs of Canadians trying to make it on foot to a finish line, usually about 40 kilometres away, before Grant captures them. And on May 22 at 9pm, almost one year exactly after the episode was filmed, it will air on the Ontario Life Network (OLN). Of course, Ellison and Klumpenhouwer are sworn to secrecy about the outcome of the show, but they make no bones about how difficult it was. “It was a lot more dangerous than we thought it would be,” Klumpenhouwer said, not-
ing a scar on his arm from trying to traverse the rocky terrain and cliffs in Delores Canyon. “We never thought we’d put our lives in danger like we did.” But that’s all part of the fun, adds his partner. “We did everything we possibly could to win,” Ellison said. “We left it all out there.” Klumpenhouwer, who acknowledged he is the less “athletic” of the pair, said he prepared physically through a “crash diet” and intense physical regimen. Ellison watched dozens of Mantracker episodes and made notes about where previous contestants had gone Continued on page 2
Mapleton council supports local food group Taste Real with $500 by David Meyer MAPLETON TWP. Council here has supported a local food promotion group with $500 after hearing a delegation on April 12. Gayl Creutzberg came to explain the Guelph Wellington Local Food initiative called Taste Real. “There really is value in the local community supporting local businesses,” Creutzberg said, adding that farmers and businesses are now creating a foundation to do that. She said the Taste Real pro-
gram would make local food more accessible to tourists and residents and also for those who might not be able to afford fresh local food. The next step in the promotion is to get local food placed in schools and day care centres, and at community events, as well as having local restaurants involved. Taste Real will undertake the promotion of such things as farmers’ markets. In 2008 those had economic impacts of $641-million to $1.9-billion. “There are 318,000
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people eating in Guelph and Wellington County,” Creutzberg said in her report. “If a third of regional residents [the survey includes Waterloo Region] had access to and spent $10 of their grocery budget on local foods each week, this would contribute over $1-million to the local economy each year. “Better yet, if all residents purchased 10% of their food locally, there would be $45-million spent locally.” She said for $500, the township would receive a number
of benefits, including the use of the Taste Real logo on marketing and event materials and merchandise (as approved by the brand management group). The township would also receive input on marketing, promotions, Taste Real product development, and use of the brand, as well as committee involvement and rotating membership on the board. That provides council with an inside opportunity to ensure its stakeholders are featured when opportunities arise. The township will also par-
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ticipate in collaborative, region wide projects and funding proposal. The township would also have a chance to be first to take part in new programs such as trails, events, and festivals. Finally, the township would have its logo on the Guelph Wellington Local Food map and website, and collaborative advertising, public relations, media and social media promotions for the township and stakeholders. Councillor Jim Curry asked how such clubs as Rotary could access local food information
to buy locally for its events. Creutzberg said Taste Real has a data base. And, for example, all a club member would have to do is type in “ground beef” in order to find out where to buy it locally. She also noted local producers are listed on the food map. Martin Tamlyn, who has worked in the area for an organic company and was with Creutzberg to support her presentation, said the local fall fair could be a Taste Real event. He Continued on page 2