Serving Lake Erie’s North Shore Friday March 18, 2016
INSIDE Letters Hi, Is the Lake Erie Beacon a publication that could get sent to my home … can I subscribe to this great newspaper? Thank you. Ps: a great read … full of local STORY PAGE 2 information!
U.S. Company Given Approval For Wind Turbines In Dutton Dunwich
Chili Cookoff A large crowd attended the Chili Cook-Off, held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 410 Port Stanley on Saturday, March 12. The Port Stanley Lioness hosted the event, which included chili tasting by all. Judges were Dave Semple, Melissa Kempf and Central Elgin Mayor David Marr. STORY PAGE 3
A Trip to Port Stanley On Monday March 7th a tour bus filled with almost forty Secondary School students arrived in the village of Port Stanley for the afternoon. The bus had brought the students from Clinton, which is located north of London. STORY PAGE 3 Above one of the many farms in South Western Ontario that have already been impacted by Wind Turbines.
Andrew Hibbert
Port Burwell Report Port Burwell has no lack of assets. The web site Yummy Yummy lists Port Burwell fourth in a list of Ontario's best beaches, you might not know about. STORY PAGE 4
Port Stanley Report Several people have reported seeing these small boats that look like Tiny Tugs tied up in the Port Stanley harbour. STORY PAGE 7
Taylor Made We tend to see the global warming warning as a scare tactic. Well, some of us. Ever hear someone shivering in a whiteout say: Global warming? Bring it on! STORY PAGE 5
Karen Vecchio Promotes Women’s Empowerment Karen Vecchio, Member of Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London and Official Opposition Critic for Families, Children and Social Development has invited Canadians to celebrate International Women’s Day 2016. STORY PAGE 8
LOOK AHEAD Community Events
Page 6
Classifieds & Service Directory Page 7 Business Roladex
Pages 4 & 8
The Municipality of Dutton Dunwich (D/D) is located in the western portion of Elgin County in Southwestern Ontario. Bordered by the Thames River to the north and Lake Erie to the south, D/D is primarily a farming community, with a number of villages and hamlets. With a population of 4000 and growing, many families use the peaceful villages and rural acreages as home base for their employment in the cities of London, Chatham and St. Thomas nearby. In 2012 our Council became aware that an Industrial Wind Turbine (IWT) company, Invenergy, was quietly optioning farm land in D/D for IWT development. A few miles to our west Chatham-Kent has over 500 IWT, and in eastern Elgin there are 66 IWT as well. We began to receive comments of concern from our citizens and businesses.
Left: Cameron McWilliam, Mayor of Dutton Dunwich newable energy projects this week, including one to Invenergy, a Chicagobased company, for a 60-megawatt wind farm project in Dutton Dunwich. Cameron McWilliam, the mayor of Dutton Dunwich, is frustrated by the situation and so are his constituents. licited public opinion through a formal survey. Contract offer comes after survey showed residents oppose hosting wind turbines in community Dozens of wind turbines may be coming to the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich, even though local residents have strongly rejected the idea.
Ontario's Independent Electricity We did our research, provided our System Operator offered more than a citizens with education on both sides dozen new contracts for various reof the IWT debate, and in early 2014 so-
He said the people living in Dutton Dunwich were given the chance to have their say on wind farms in a 2014 municipal survey and their preference was clear. "Eighty-four per cent of the respondents were not interested in having a wind farm in their area," he told CBC Radio's Afternoon Drive in an interview on Friday. The mayor said residents have a variety of concerns about the wind turContinued On Page 5
Accidental 911 Pocket Dials Compromise Safety PC Troy Carlson - OPP Media Officer The Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted an analysis of the non-emergency 911 calls for service in Elgin County in 2015. In total, there were 636 unintentional/accidental 911 calls in 2015. Many of these calls were pocket dials made to 911. 911 "pocket dials" account for many unwanted calls to police. They tie up emergency lines and require police follow-up. Please make sure your phone is secure in your pocket so that it won't accidentally call 911. To reduce pocket dials, you can help by: • locking the keypad/home screen on your device • disabling the 911 auto-dial feature
• carrying your device in a holster or protective case • not letting children play with the device • confirming the number you have dialed is correct • removing batteries from phones not being used If you have dialed 911 in error, remain on the line and explain to the call-taker that you are safe, and that 911 was dialed in error. Officers will still respond to verify your safety. A reduction of calls to 911 for nonemergencies will result in cost savings for residents, and won’t tie up emergency resources. For non-emergency calls, the OPP 24 hour police service phone number is 1-888-310-1122.
Page 2 • The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday March 18, 2016
EDITORIAL The Power Of A Heritage Conservation District Several years ago the village of Port Stanley was given the opportunity of establishing a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) in the core area. Initially this area was to include Main Street, Bridge Street and William Street. Because of the early concern of some residents this area was cut down to Main Street and Bridge Street. Unfortunately even this area was voted down.
The Lony Block at Bridge & Main Streets Heritage Conservation Districts are designated under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act for the purpose of conserving cultural heritage values. They are an important and powerful part of heritage planning. The emphasis in a Heritage Conservation District is the collective character of the overall area, as defined by its historical context, architecture, streets, landscape and other physical and visual features. There is no minimum size for a HCD and they may be comprised of residential, commercial, or industrial areas or any combination of these uses and buildings. Over the past couple of months Port Stanley has been faced with a development that would have seen a nine-storey apartment condo building built on William Street. This building would have in no way fit in with the look and feel of the village and would
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not have been in keeping with height restriction bylaws. We have been told that if an HCD district were in place the Municipality would have been in a much stronger position to counter a development of this kind. Unfortunately the Municipality will probably end up having to go to the OMB to enforce these restrictions. As noted in Linda Easton’s article in our March 4th edition “In Central Elgin’s new Official Plan of 2013, council wisely included a section that required development to “ensure that new development is designed in keeping with the traditional character of the Settlement Areas.” This of course meant that we don’t want a concrete block Tim Horton’s built on Main Street. I should add that Tim’s did build a concrete block coffee shop in Port Dover but there was so much “hue and cry” from local residents about the building that the Municipality forced Tim’s to rebuild a building that was more in keeping with the look of the community, which they did. The new building is somewhat more in keeping with the look of the town. In most towns and villages there are HCD areas. London has implemented several over the years and now has eight districts including Wortley Village and Old South. Toronto also has many HCD’s including a new nine block stretch of Young Street between College and Bloor that has just been designated as a HCD to preserve the look and feel of that district. They believe that the HCD will help to keep the tourist traffic that enjoys these historical areas. As an example there is a small village near Kitchener Waterloo that Linda and I always enjoyed visiting because of it historical nature. The last time we visited the main street had been changed so much with a modern development that we said to ourselves “I guess this is the last time we will be coming here”. I would hate to think that visitors would say that about Port Stanley. Even many of the young people who visited here last week said they really liked the look and feel of the village. See the bus tour article on page 3 of this issue.
Publisher/Editor Andrew Hibbert andrew@lebeacon.ca Advertising Linda Hibbert linda@lebeacon.ca
Letters to the Editor andrew@lebeacon.ca The Lake Erie Beacon is a community newspaper published every second Friday by Kettle Creek Publishing Ltd. Over 6000 copies are delivered by Canada Post to homes, apartments and businesses along the Elgin County north shore of Lake Erie. The Beacon is also available through Variety Stores, Restaurants, Inns and B&B’s in Dutton, West Lorne, Rodney, St. Thomas, Copenhagen and Port Stanley bringing our distribution to 7000. The Lake Erie Beacon shall not be liable for changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of advertisements or other similar material that has been included in this publication. We reserve the right to edit all submissions including letters to the editor which must be signed and include your name, address and phone number, be in good taste and follow the laws of libel and slander. Anonymous letters will not be published. Articles written by freelance writers do not necessarily reflect the views of The Lake Erie Beacon.
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LETTERS Mailing The Beacon Hi, Is the Lake Erie Beacon a publication that could get sent to my home … can I subscribe to this great newspaper? Thank you. Ps: a great read … full of local information! Lori Clark Editors Note: Lori, we mail 6100 copies of the Beacon free but only to postal walks that we have chosen in our distribution area. Additional copies are distributed to counter drops, coffee shops etc. in our distribution area but also into St. Thomas. We have looked into addressed subscriptions but they are both quite expensive and a lot of extra work. My wife Linda and myself do the entire paper ourselves so we have no staff other than a couple of writers who write for us on a freelance basis at no charge. If you are within our distribution area, you could check with your local post office to find out about delivery. Otherwise we can add you on our email distribution list, which is free as well.
Elgin-Oxford Legal Clinic joins Legal Health Check-Up pilot project Dear Andrew The Elgin-Oxford Legal Clinic, a community legal clinic in your coverage area, is one of nine southwest Ontario legal aid clinics starting a pilot project on April 1 for an innovative tool that will further help their lowincome clients. The Legal Health Check-Up is an online and hardcopy survey, created by Colleen Sym at Halton Community Legal Services in Georgetown, that reveals unrecognized
2016 Festival and Event Partnership Program The County of Elgin is please to present the FEPP for 2016. The program consists of a total of $4,000 in contributions for qualifying festivals and events. For more information please visit www.elgintourist.com/ FEPP or call 519-631-1460 x 164
Application deadline: Friday April 8th, 2016
legal problems that commonly occur in the lives of people living in poverty. The CheckUp will be used with clients by the nine clinics and their social service intermediaries. By answering the Check-Up questions, clients can discover their problems have legal solutions and get help before those problems become a crisis. Through getting legal help, clients may avoid ill health, evictions, relationship break-ups and other consequences that happen in crisis. A press release about this important topic is included below. Please contact me if you need any more information or have questions. Could you please let me know if you are going to publish this release or report on this story? Thanks, Patti Vipond Halton Community Legal Services
Letter to the editor Well now…I am absolutely thrilled to see such positiveness in Port Burwell and having come from a newer resident it is even more impressive…The number of newer residents I have met all seem to share similar thoughts, my wife and I included! I would personally like to thank Ms. Jude McHugh for submitting this to the Lake Erie Beacon…published last week. (LEB Mach 4, 2016) I am not sure I know her personally but, I intend to seek her out for her enthusiasm and I sincerely hope that it is contagious! We could use a hell of a lot more of this. To let you know Jude, I know we all appreciate it! Good luck with your new business "Antiques and Collectibles". Please drop by Serge Margot Pieters The Sweet Spot and introduce yourself sometime. Life is swell...in Port Burwell (we have to hold on to that one!). Bring it on…but, only the good stuff! Serge Pieters Port Burwell
The Prespa Development, In Port Stanley This is in response to the proposal of Prespa Construction to Central Elgin to build a 9 storey building on William Street. Unfortunately for reasons of personal health I was not was able to be part of this past meeting, so in response to some of the friends that missed my presence at this meeting, here is my view on this issue. In my personal opinion this development is a DONE DEAL, (maybe not 100% exactly as in this proposal but very similar as is now), and it is a done deal not from this last official proposal of Prespa Construction to the council of Central Elgin, but from day one, when the first meeting took place at the Port Stanley Legion in the year 2005, when the condos and the building was presented to the residents of Port Stanley but specifically to the most affected neighbours of Grimmonds Beach. On that occasion most of the residents of Grimmonds beach opposed the condos and the building. In that meeting I asked a personal question to who is today our Mayor David Marr, and the question was “Why the municipal government did not purchased that land and keep as a green area and as a parking facility for all the hundreds of summer visitors to the beach and as a natural park? And his answer was very clear to me. “This property now just brings $2,000.00 dollars in property taxes and when this land is developed can bring more than $ 300,000.00 dollars in taxes in a year”... and according to the proposal of this company, the taxes will be Continued On Page 5
The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday March 18, 2016 • Page 3
PORT STANLEY REPORT Andrew Hibbert
Chili Cook-Off
A Trip To Port Stanley Andrew Hibbert During the early part of the first week in March the Lake Erie Beacon office received a call from Mary Baxter and Jacqui Vercruyssen, a teacher at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton. The school was planning a bus tour that would bring students to Port Stanley. The Beacon’s Linda Hibbert took on the project to organize their local visit. This would include a walking tour, lunch and local information. Mary Baxter is the editor and publisher of Morel a web-based general interest magazine that serves Southwestern Ontario. www.morelmag.ca She will be publishing some of the student projects on line.
Central Elgin Mayor David Marr, centre right welcomes the students. from Talbotville Royal (the local community of Talbotville) to Elginfield through London. In 1927, the highway was further extended with the addition of the road from Elginfield to Clinton. In the 1930s, the highway was again extended as far north as the intersection of Highway 10 in Flesherton, and south to Edith Cavell Boulevard in Port Stanley. In the 1970s, Highway 4 reached its maximum length when it was extended from Flesherton to Singhampton. However, in 1998, the Mike Harris government, seeking to balance the provincial budget, off-loaded responsibility for
A large crowd attended the Chili Cook-Off, held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 410 Port Stanley on Saturday, March 12. The Port Stanley Lioness hosted the event, which included chili tasting by all. Judges were Dave Semple, Melissa Kempf and Central Elgin Mayor David Marr. All Presentations Made By Port Stanley Lioness Shela Henderson
This was a working holiday for the students and teachers who accompanied the students. Miss Jacqui Vercruyssen leading the tour teaches a Media class that includes instruction in photography, video and other means of communication. Almost all the students were armed with cameras. The theme of the trip was to study and record one of this areas oldest highways, Highway 4. The history of this highway is quite interesting and I’m sure will make a great project for the students. The King's Highway 4 was originally designated in 1920 when the provincial government assumed the road running
the Clinton–Singhampton and Talbotville-Port Stanley sections of Highway 4 — almost 65% of its total length — back to the local municipal governments. In its present form, Highway 4 travels through Talbotville, Tempo, Scottsville, Lambeth, London, Northcrest, Uplands, Arva, Birr, Elginfield, Lucan, Clandeboye, Mooresville, Centralia, Exeter, Hay, Hensall, Kippen, Brucefield, Vanastra, and Clinton. As of April 2008, Highway 4 officially does not exist within the City of London except south of Glanworth Drive, but instead is now signed with green "TO 4" trailblazer crown signs. The City was considering alternate Continued On Page 7
Prizes were as follows: People's Choice: Foodland, FIRST, Kettle Creek Inn, SECOND, and Port Stanley Lions, THIRD;
Best Table Presentation: Foodland, FIRST, Pierside, SECOND, and Barnacles, THIRD. Thank you to Marg Berry for this report and for photos of the winners. People's Choice: Foodland, FIRST
According to those counting the ballots for people's choice, the race for top chili was very close this year. The Lioness chili, simmered all day in
The students visit the harbour and commercial fishing fleet.
the Legion kitchen under the watchful eye of Lioness Ruth Prentice and her team, although not entered in the contest, proved to be a sell-out dish.
Judges Choice: Kettle Creek Inn, FIRST; That Breakfast Place, SECOND and Port Stanley Lions, THIRD.
Judges Choice: Kettle Creek Inn, FIRST
On Monday March 7th a tour bus filled with almost forty Secondary School students arrived in the village of Port Stanley for the afternoon. The bus had brought the students from Clinton, which is located north of London.
Best Table Presentation: Foodland, FIRST
Easter Egg Hunt The Port Stanley Community Policing Committee, will again be hosting an Easter Egg hunt, this year. The Easter Bunny will be at the Port Stanley Library at 10.15 a.m on Saturday, 26th of March, to gather up the children, and walk across the lift bridge with them to the Legion, where the hunt will start. The hunt will start at 10.30 a.m, with the Legion kindly offering refreshments to all afterwards. Child fingerprinting will also be available for those parents who wish to take advantage of this opportunity. Thanks to Ray Filewood for this note. Continued On Page 7
HealthTalk ZIKA VIRUS The Zika Forest is a lush, sixty-two acre tropical forest in Uganda, Africa. It is this forest, in 1947 while studying yellow fever that researchers discovered a new virus then named Zika. Since its discovery, there have been a number of outbreaks in Africa, South East Asia and the Pacific Islands. (the most recent was French Polynesia in 2013). In 2015, Zika virus emerged in South America with widespread outbreaks reported in Brazil and Colombia and it is now seen in many parts of South and Central America. Fortunately, the mosquitos who spread the virus can’t handle our Canadian climate so local transmission from mosquitos is unlikely. We do know that Zika can be spread through sexual contact. This may be more concerning for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant and their partner has travelled to an affected area. Zika virus causes symptoms in only one-in-five people infected. Symptoms include: mild fever; conjunctivitis (red, sore eyes); headache; joint pain; and/or a rash. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days and resolve spontaneously. Currently, there is no cure or vaccine for the Zika Virus. Standard treatment involves rest, fluids and pain relievers such as Tylenol for pain and fever. A recent investigation in Brazil indicated an average twenty-fold increase in the incidence of microcephaly (abnormally small head) among new-
Steve Bond,
BScPhm, RPh, CDE Pharmacist/Manager
borns which may be linked to Zika. This has led the World Health Organization to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Health Canada is recommending that all travelers to affected areas take protective measures against mosquito bites and that pregnant women discuss their travel plans with their health care provider. If you are travelling to affected areas, the best course of action is to take preventative measures to avoid mosquito bites. Apply insect repellant to exposed skin. When used as directed, insect repellent is the best way to protect against mosquito bites. Higher percentages of active ingredient do not provide higher protection but rather provide longer lasting protection. It is important to read the instructions on the product. If you are using a sunscreen and insect repellant, apply the sunscreen first, allow 15 minutes for it to soak in and then apply the repellant. When weather permits, wear long-sleeved, light coloured, loose fitting shirts and pants. Consider your surroundings: ensure that all you stay in air conditioned or fully screened accommodations.
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Page 4 • The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday March 18, 2016
PORT BURWELL REPORT Allan Spicer
Port Burwell Is A Gem Of A Town In a Letter to the Beacon last issue, Ms. McHugh passionately pointed out our local assets. It is great to be positive, but such fervor must be tempered with realism. If we pull together we can prosper. Yes, we need to support new ventures such as 21 Wellington, the Sweet Spot, The Lunch Box and Antiques and Collectables.
ence. The Port Burwell Provincial Park management is counterproductive to Port Burwell's downtown development. Restricting access to our popular boardwalk has been a bugbear for some time. This summer, many campers complained about a lack of maintenance of our great beach, while the Municipality of Bayham did a stellar job of keeping the Municipal beach alluring to visitors. The latest salvo against Port Burwell is the Park’s plans to sell ice cream. Is their ultimate goal to be a complete competitive retail presence in the park? It appears no one is going to help us develop our gem of a town. We do need a positive attitude, but we cannot put our head in the sand. Port Stanley, many years ago, suffered downtown retail decline. A few entrepreneurs changed all that, sticking their neck out and creating both the
County Budget Delivers Lower Than Anticipated Tax Rate Jim Bundschuh Director of Financial Services
Port Burwell has no lack of assets. The web site Yummy Yummy lists Port Burwell fourth in a list of Ontario's best beaches, you might not know about. Two hours from Toronto Port Burwell features 2.5 km of clean sandy beach, hiking trails, Submarine, Marine Museums and an historic lighthouse. Your kids will be having so much fun they will not realize they're learning. Our natural world, from the Otter Creek to Lake Erie, is amazing. We have some of the best bird watching anywhere, from shore birds to forest denizens. We have a treasure trove of knowledge in the Otter Valley Naturalists, including Ron Allenson, proprietor of Monarch Landing, who brings the natural world to life with his encyclopedic knowledge of local flora and fauna. At Monarch Landing, Ron has a host of unique floral species, which he developed. There is no place where one can appreciate and learn about nature, better. Unfortunately, we do not have the retail presence to put all our assets together in a complete visitor experi-
reality and illusion of economic activity. Port Stanley today is a thriving community. One approach might be to form a type of Building Society, a bank-like British tradition in small communities. We need to nurture entrepreneurs to start up diverse retail shops. With a lack of a year round business climate and negative geography, self-contained outlets may not be possible, at least in the beginning of our economic revival. We have several large vacant buildings which could serve as a mercantile centre, housing incubator businesses, such as dry goods, artisans, bakery-deli, green grocer, the list goes on. One thing we have today to fund imaginative ideas is crowd funding. Editors Note: Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people, today often performed via internet-mediated registries, but the concept can also be executed through mail-order subscriptions, benefit events, and other methods.
“Council’s commitment to service is evident through the funding provided to programs and projects that are valAt its March 8, 2016 meeting, Elgin ued by the County’s residents. These County Council approved a $63,202,917 projects include everything from inoperating budget, with a $1.3M levy investment in infrastructure, to support crease in County taxes representing a of economic development, protection 2.9% increase on the average home or of the environment, and enhancement approximately $41. An average cost of health care services,” said Elgin home with no increase in assessment County Warden Bernie Wiehle. will see a $2 or 0.1% increase in County taxes. Highlights include: It is a priority of Council to maintain and expand service levels for residents whilst being able to achieve an affordable tax increase. The County has been able to do this, despite significant revenue losses of over $5 million in OMPF and Ford property tax, through the use of reserves and measured tax increases over ten years. The 2015 operating surplus as well as future Payment-In-Lieu tax increases from the psychiatric hospital and the Greenlane site will allow for a 2.9% tax increase that is well below the previously planned 4% increase on the average home. In 2016, Council will continue several initiatives committed to in the 2015 Budget, including a new building for Terrace Lodge residents, investment in high speed fibre broadband, a Community Improvement Plan (CIP), and the replacement of a portion of Dexter Line. New service improvements for 2016 include added ambulance shift coverage in the east end to improve response times, financing the Health Recruitment initiative, and funding the Clean Water initiative.
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Services (EMS) hours to improve response times in the east end of the County with costs totalling $250,000 annually.
• The County roads will receive $9.2 million in 2016 capital budget funding, with a further $99 million for the next nine years focused on timely investments in existing infrastructure to ensure the lowest possible lifecycle costs. The 2016 capital plan includes rehabilitation of Miller Road, relocation of Dexter Line, rehabilitation of Furnival Road, and resurfacing of Plank Road.
• The purchase of $3.3 million of books for libraries over the next ten years as well as a $0.1 million annual lease increase for new Aylmer and Shedden libraries.
• $40,000 grant to the Clean Water Initiative.
• $75,000 in added funding for Health Recruitment to attract new doctors and nurse practitioners to the region.
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The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday March 18, 2016 • Page 5
LETTERS Continued From Page 2
$367,489.00 in a year. So, maybe I jumped to conclusions, and if that is the case, please receive my most sincere apology, but in my book this proposal is a DONE DEAL especially knowing the love of our municipal government for tax money. Now my question to Central Elgin is this, what more, do we, the neighbours of Grimmonds Beach have to loose in the name of greed of this company and the municipal government? First we lose the land that was part of this neighbourhood since the London Port Stanley railroad decommissioned the railroad service and the land, and for some incredible reason this land was taken from those neighbours, and was awarded to this construction company in order to build these 17 condos. Then we lose our access, view and breeze circulation from the beach, and to the beach, when they installed a solid wood fence between the neighbourhood and the new condos. Then one day I return from work and find our neighbourhood full of signs of NO PARKING (something that never was a problem for anybody in our neighbourhood), and for some magical reason became a task on the agenda for Central Elgin (creation of the paid parking), and without reason and real consultation with the neighbours we lose the right to park our cars on the street in front of our houses. Now the last thing, after all of this, I was enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning, and enjoying some beautiful sunrises from my deck and my kitchen, but now I will have instead a 9 storey, 52 unit apartment building in my back yard, so instead of enjoying my cup of coffee and beautiful sunrises I will be in the shadow of this monstrosity called “Progressive Development of the future of our Community”. In the morning I would have to fight my way to work with not just the local traffic of my neighbourhood but with the traffic created by these 52 units plus the service of the commercial units, and in the mornings I will share my cup of coffee with all residents of this building on my little deck or what at one time was the privacy of my kitchen. I would like to ask to this Municipal Council, if the residents of Grimmonds
U.S. Company Given Approval For Wind Turbines In Dutton Dunwich
Beach are part of this community or not? What our municipal government will do for this neighbourhood and for their residents? What our Tax money does for us, to make our life better in this community that we supposed are part of. As a long time resident (over 24 years in this community), I find myself and my neighbourhood completely alienated, abandoned, and ignored by the municipal government, and in my personal opinion the worst thing that ever happened to the Community of Port Stanley was the fatal decision of the provincial government to include Port Stanley as part of Central Elgin. I hope that things change in the future, but it will take a great amount of good inclusive work from this actual municipal government to change my personal opinion and maybe the opinion of some other people too. I would like once again to ask, why this Municipal government couldn’t purchase this land and keep as the way nature intended. What do we have against nature? Why greed is more important than nature? This town is growing in the last few years, new subdivisions with beautiful homes have taken root in our community without creating all this bad feeling and controversy with all the neighbourhood, these construction companies that are building this new subdivision, are part of our community and their work is part of all of us, they share the land where these subdivisions are taking place and the results are great. Now the question is, why in all these years have we never seen one house built by Prespa Construction in the same area or subdivision with any other of these construction companies that are part of our community? Prespa Construction is the nastiest and greediest construction company that has entered our community. Since 2005 this company has sued many of the neighbours of Grimmonds beach for opposing their developments. Is this a construction company that we want the name of our community associated with? You just take your pick. Well at the end of all this I will have to put my money on the side of GREED, and not on the side of simple relaxing laid back small community that at one time was well known. Good luck Port Stanley, and I hope that you never lose your character of a Small Village. Arturo Martinez Port Stanley.
In those talks with the ministry, McWilliam said it was made clear that the provincial Green Energy Act supersedes any municipal bylaws.
Continued From Page 1
"The final say is with the province," he said. "As far as any recourse that we have, we're very limited as to what we can do at this point."
bines, including how their presence may affect local property values and their potential impact on local wildlife.
McWilliam acknowledged the company given a contract has met with landowners, who are willing to have the wind turbines on their land.
'The final say is with the province' McWilliam said he's also "a bit surprised" to see things turn out this way, given that the provincial government was well aware the community was not supportive of such projects.
But he believes the results of the survey speak volumes about the wider community. "The sentiment from what I've been able to gather…has not changed for the majority," he said.
"We met several times with the McWilliam said it is not precisely Ministry of Energy and expressed our clear where these wind turbines may be concerns with this project and obvibuilt. He believes up to 30 turbines may ously, we're not a willing host," he said. be part of the plans. "There were other applicants or ap"We have not seen any official map plications that were coming from mu- as to where the actual towers are nicipalities that were willing hosts and going," he said. they did not receive an offer of conHe said municipal staff are trying to tract. So it's a bit odd as to why they determine exactly what has been aphave ordered contracts to municipaliproved. ties that were not willing hosts."
TAYLOR MADE Jim Taylor Speaks Out We tend to see the global warming warning as a scare tactic. Well, some of us. Ever hear someone shivering in a whiteout say: Global warming? Bring it on! Still, there was something about this past winter. Oh, it wasn’t really warm and there were storms aplenty…still. Staring out over the ice-free lake last week some long gone winters came to mind. Cold winters. Like one day when Blake Berry, a wellknown Port Stanley trucker, took his son Marvin and me for a ride. We stood on the floor of the truck’s cab so we could peer over the dash as we drove along icecovered Kettle Creek out into the empty white expanse far beyond the lighthouse. We drove forever it seemed before we saw black dots ahead. Dots that grew into trucks surrounded by a gaggle of guys who were using great long saws to cut lake ice into big chunks to toss onto the waiting trucks. When our truck was filled we headed back to shore, a dim line in the distance.
On arrival in the harbour the ice was stored in blocks in a large, heavily insulated room in a building. It was covered with straw to slow melting and ultimately chopped into small blocks to fit into village iceboxes, refrigerators with no electricity.
It was a true ice age. In later years, ice was produced in a plant just below the bridge, long gone now. The plant that is. After school time and summers were often spent, on the night shift, freezing water in containers into big blocks (200 pounds as I recall) that would later be chopped into 25 and 50 pound cakes...ice-box size. When I got my driver’s licence, I spent off-school months delivering the ice to village iceboxes. A favourite memory of my delivery days is of a man who, renting a summer cottage on Edith Cavell in what was known back then as Jungle Town. Need I say more? He bought a 50pound case and asked how long the ice would last in his icebox? It was summer. It was hot. I said, maybe four days. He said he was only staying for three days and could I come back then and he would sell me back the unused portion? Let’s just say I gave him the cold shoulder. Times change. There was reported to be an algae bloom in Erie’s centre, larger than, well, Toronto. About 777 square kilometres of...guck. Lucky seven, eh? Hey, we still swim in it. We still eat its fish. But I’m not sure I’d chill my drink with ice from Erie today. Would you?
Page 6 • The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday March 18, 2016
North Shore Community Events F E S T I V A L S
E V E N T S
AYLMER 2016
PORT STANLEY 2016
Aylmer 50 + Seniors Welcome you to join them for Euchre or Bridge Every Monday 1 - 3:30 pm upstairs at Aylmer Legion Admission $2.
Port Stanley Community Policing Requires volunteers. To help protect your village, call 519-782-3934 or Carroll at 519-782-7616, email pscp@rogers.com Port Stanley Community Policing is hosting an Easter Egg hunt this year. The Easter Bunny will be at the Port Stanley Library at 10:15 am on Saturday, 26th March, to gather up the children, and walk across the lift bridge to the Legion, where the hunt will start at 10:30 am, with the Legion kindly offering refreshments afterwards. Child fingerprinting will also be available for those parents who wish to take advantage of this opportunity. Ray Filewood, Port Stanley Community Policing member. Port Stanley Library 782-4241 304 Bridge St. Mon, Tues, Thurs, 10 - 8:30 Fri 1 - 5, Sat 9 - 1. Google Cardboard Thursdays, 5:00 -5:30pm. Drop in and learn how a piece of cardboard can change the way you play games. Enter a world of virtual fun! Technology Help Scheduled appointments on Thursdays 5:30-8:30pm and on Saturdays 9:00am-1:00pm Book now by calling the library or emailing jpalleschi@elgin.ca Easter Bunny is Here Saturday, March 26 Meet at the library at 10:15am to walk to the legion for an egg hunt with the Easter Bunny! (walk begins at 10:30am sharp)
DUTTON 2016
Dutton & District LIONS Wed. April 6, LIONS Charity Bingo; Dutton Dunwich Community Centre, 7PM start, featuring $500 Jackpot; numerous specials; 50/50 draw!
FINGAL 2016
Knox Presbyterian Church Worship 10 am. Coffee, cookies, fellowship follows: Sunday school/nursery 10 am. For info (519) 769-2157. Come and worship with a warm and friendly group of people, we are barrier free. Good Friday worship service. Hot cross buns and coffee at 9:15 am service to follow at 10 a.m.
SHEDDEN 2016
Shedden Library Hours: Tues. 2:30-8:30, Thurs. 2-5, Fri. 10 - 5, Sat. 2 - 5 764-2081. Special Programs & Events Knit & Crochet Group Tuesday, March 22, 7-8pm Join us for an informal group to sit and share, learn from others and pick up new tricks! Technology Help *Drop in hours every Tuesday from 6:007:00pm *Scheduled appointments on Tuesdays 5:006:00pm or 7:00-8:30pm and Saturdays 2:00-5:00pm. Book now by calling or emailing jpalleschi@elgin.ca Shedden Soccer Registration ALL games in Shedden – NO TRAVEL $60/player $75 /player. Shedden Complex Youth 4-18, Ladies 5 on 5 Mens 5 on 5 info: www.sheddensoccer.ca 519-636-1521 Shedden Fair board is hosting Quilt Show, “Quilts in Bloom” as a fundraiser April 8th - 9-6 and April 9th – 9-4. Cost $5.00 There is a Lunch Room and Merchants Mall.
Partnership with Port Stanley Community Policing
Children’s Programs Maker Mondays Mondays, March 21, 5:30-6:15pm Calling all makers! Come for a hands on maker session as we explore a multitude of mediums! Ages 6-12 please preregister. Pajamarama Mondays, March 21, 6:30-7pm Stories & songs for all ages & their caregiver please preregister. Preschool Story Time Tuesdays, March 22, & 29, 10:15am-11:00am. Join us for songs, stories and crafts! For ages 0-5 and their caregiver please preregister Read with Maggie, *NEW DAY & TIME* Saturdays, March 26, 10-10:30am Sign up for a reading session with our special friend Maggie! For reluctant readers ages 6-12. Please preregister as space is limited Optimist Club of Port Stanley Spring Fundraiser 12” Oval Spring bulb pot - just in time for Easter. Available March 23rd, $12. each. To order call Lin Welsh 519 782-4991, Emily Finch 519-769-2514 or Donna Vievine 226-658-1019 Optimist Club of Port Stanley Minor Ball Registration for girls & boys agess 4 to 10 - T-ball, 4 pitch-Atom Jenn Kostyria 519-870-0373 - portstanleyoptimists.ca - Registration fees $40 and up -Late registration fees may apply. Christ Anglican Church Sunday Morning Service, 9:30 am with Eucharist. We invite all to join in worship with us. Coffee follows downstairs. St. John's Presbyterian Church Tom Jeffrey Pastor. Sunday Worship 10 am followed by Fellowship Hour. The Door is always open, why not join us? Sunday School starts at 10:20 am. St. John's Presbyterian Church, will be holding their Good Friday Service on March 25, 10:00 a.m. Please join us. No fooling, St. John's Presbyterian Church, will be having a Spaghetti Dinner, on April 1, 5-7 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults. To reserve you ticket call 519-782-3971. Port Stanley United Church Service of Worship at 10:30 am followed by a time of fellowship. Come join us. We are now wheelchair friendly and barrier free. Heritage Port March 24th 1:30 at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre. Get your Port Stanley the First 100 Years Book, $25 at the Lake Erie Beacon, 204-A Carlow Road, side door, 1-5 pm. Proceeds to Heritage Port. 519 782-4563. Port Stanley Village Association meets the second Thursday of the month 7- 8:30 pm at the Legion. All welcome. Al-Anon Meeting, Christ Anglican Church 7:30 pm every Friday. If there is an alcohol/drug problem of a family member or friend that is affecting you, the Alanon Family Groups may be able to help you. Port Stanley & Community 55+ Club Meets every Monday 1:30 -4 pm to play Euchre at the Port Stanley Arena. For info call 519-782-4801 (John Brenders) or 519-685-2101 (Marie Geerts). Port Stanley Legion Branch #410 Winter Hours: Mon. 12-7, Tues., Wed., Thurs., & Fri., 12-10, Sat. & Sun., 12-7. Port Stanley Legion Branch #410 Don’t forget the Legion offers the following: Seniors Bridge, Tues. night, Euchre: Wed. night Legion Darts Tuesday night 8 pm Men’s Darts Saturday Afternoon Meat Draws 3-5 pm Port Stanley Legion Bottle Returns Mon & Thurs- Closed, Tues, Wed., Fri, Sat 12-4 pm. Port Stanley Legion Ladies MahJongg, Fridays 1:30pm. We are looking for beginners as well. If you like to play MahJongg come on out! Port Stanley Legion Port Stanley Karaoke, Every 3rd Friday of the month, 7pm - 11pm. Come for the fun.
SPARTA 2016
Sparta Stitchers Every Tuesday 1- 4 pm, Sparta Community Hall. We quilt, tat, knit, embroider, smock, crotchet, etc. Everyone welcome. Cost is $5. session. Come learn a new skill. Sally Martyn (519-775-2292). Qigong will run every Sunday from 1:00 till 2:30 pm. Call Christine for more information 519-775-2748. Easter Bunny visits Sparta Saturday March 26, 12-3pm. At the side room of the Spartahouse Tearoom. Free picture with the Easter Bunny and Robsons Studio will mount it for free. Free draws at participating stores. Donations to the Caring Cupboard greatly appreciated.
ST. THOMAS 2016
Abundant Life Fellowship Join us at the Timken Community Centre - Doug Tarry room (2 Third Ave.) at 6 pm on Saturdays for a free meal followed by our celebration service. For more info call 519-633-9207 or go to www.abundantlifestthomas.ca Knox Presbyterian Church, Rummage/Boutique Sale, Hincks St., March 19th8:30-11:30 am, Special clothing in Boutique, men’s & women’s clothing, shoes, purses, children’s clothing & toys, flea market including dishes, etc, books and other items. Trinity Anglican Church, March 23, Lenten Lunch Recital Series 12:00pm, Featuring Andrew Dr. Wayne Carroll 12:30 Lunch- Homemade Soup and Sandwiches, Desserts, Tea, Coffee, $8.00, call 519-631-7000. St. Thomas & District Horticultural Society's Meeting will host Kate Holt of Canadale Nurseries discuss 'New Plants for 2016' at their meeting on Wednesday, March 23rd, 7:00 p.m. at the Canada Southern Railway Station, 545 Talbot Street (behind the Giant Tiger Store). Information: Richard at 519-633-3939. A Musical Journey Through Holy Week - Sunday, March 20, 7 p.m. at Central United Church,135 Wellington St. Performance by the Lunch Bunch Choir (RMHC Tableau performers). Co-hosts St. Andrews and Central United. Freewill donation in support of The Inn out of the Cold and Grace Café. Refreshments to follow. Rotary Club of St. Thomas - Music Festival Keynotes Concert Friday April 8, Salvation Army Citadel, 380 Elm St., 7pm. Local talent. Good will offering. Call Ron Somerville 519-631-0852.
TYRCONNELL 2016
Backus-Page House Museum, 29424 Lakeview Line, 519-762-3072. Backus-Page House Museum Clean Up Day Saturday, April 16, 9am – 4pm
UNION 2016
Union United Church, 6008 Stonechurch Rd., Rev. David Mitchell leads worship with Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. March 24 Maundy Thursday service 7 p.m. March 25 Good Friday service 9:30 a.m. Easter Sunrise service 7:00 a.m. at Sparta Cemetery Easter Morning service 9:30 a.m. at Union church Everyone welcome and we are barrier free. 519-631-0304 www.unionunitedchurch.ca Family Easter Event Union Community Centre March 26th, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Come and join the fun clowns, balloons, Easter egg hunt, Visit from the Easter Bunny. No charge -everyone welcome! Sponsored by the Union South Yarmouth Optimist Club
PORT BURWELL/VIENNA 2016
Port Burwell Trinity Anglican 11:30 am Port Burwell Lighthouse Gospel Church 10:45 am Trinity Anglican Perish Hall 25 Pitt St. Port Burwell Port Burwell Legion Br. 524 Trivia on Monday evenings, start 5pm. In the club room, all welcome. Order of the Eastern Star Areme Chapter #15, OES meets the first Tuesday of every month, at 7:30 pm at the Vienna Community Centre, Vienna. Otter Valley Naturalists Monthly Meeting is the second Monday of the month, 7 pm to 9 pm. Please call 519-874-4028 for information. Museum Bayham meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month 7pm, Municipal Office in Straffordville. Call 519 874-4135. Port Burwell - Bayham Horticultural Society, Meets Every 3rd Monday, 7 pm at the Port Burwell School, Strachan Street. For more Info 519 874-4260. Oriental Masonic Lodge meets the 4th Tuesday of the month at the Vienna Masonic Hall, 7:30 pm. New Members Welcome! Call 519 874-4135.
The Lake Erie Beacon 204 A Carlow Road Port Stanley, Ontario N5L 1C5 Phone: (519) 782-4563
&
VIENNA 2016
Bayham Historical Society meets the 2nd Thursday of the month, 7:30 pm at the Vienna Community Centre. All are welcome. Call Bruce at 519 874-1822. Photographers of the Otter Valley (POV) meet the last Monday of the month, 6:30 pm, Vienna Community Centre. All are welcome. Call Bruce for details at 519 550-1822.
WEST LORNE 2016
The Treble Makers Women's Choir, presents "A Feast of Favourites", Saturday, April 30, 7:30 pm at West Lorne United Church, 273 Graham Road, (chair lift available). The concert will feature the choir’s musical favourites performed over the last nine years, as they prepare to celebrate their 10th anniversary season in September, 2016. Call 519-768-1717 for information & tickets.
The Lake Erie Beacon is pleased to support your local community events. We will make every effort to post promptly and accurately. If you would like to have your event posted on this page contact us at: See The
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A Trip To Port Stanley Continued From Page 3 routes for Highway 4 through the city in the early 2000s but this never materialized. Further north in Clinton, Highway 4 ends at the southern limits, though it remains signed. The bus load of students and teachers arrived in Port Stanley around 11:30 after a stop at the Elgin County Museum on Sunset Drive. With a busy schedule awaiting the tour bus the students started their local tour almost immediately. Linda had arranged for a “Meet and Greet” with His Worship, Mayor David Marr and the students. Mayor Marr welcomed the students to Port Stanley and gave a brief background of the politics of the Village, being a two tier government. He also brought Elgin County Pins for each of the students. After spending some time with the students Mayor Marr left for a meeting. Heritage Port Chair John Morrow began the walking tour with the students from the public parking across from the Legion to the Port Stanley Terminal Rail then to the Lift Bridge and from there through the village to visit the Commercial Fishing vessels tied up in the harbour. At each stop John gave a short talk about these interesting Port Stanley attractions. During the walk the students were avidly shooting photos and videos. One of the students handling a large video camera asked if Mr. Morrow would mind being recorded and so fitted him with a microphone and remote broadcaster. Miss Vercruyssen noted that each student would be working on a presentation that would enhance some aspect of the Highway 4 project.
After the walking tour of the village centre the students boarded the bus to head for Main Beach where they again shot photos and video. The weather was sunny and reasonably mild for March and the students seemed to enjoy their beach visit and would like to have done the pier walk if it had not been closed for the winter. The Beacon has Mayor Marr to send a link for the Pier Opening Ceremonies for the students, which he did that afternoon. Linda was also asked to help organize lunch and had asked Chris at the Buccaneer if he could put together a special menu. Miss Vercruyssen had said to Linda that lunch had not been a planned expense and that some of the students may not have been able to afford eating out. Optimist member Linda then asked the Port Stanley Optimist Club if they would sponsor the lunch. The club had agreed and Chris was pleased to put together a special menu for the students.
All the students agreed the Buccaneer did a great job, everyone enjoyed their lunch, and made a point of thanking the Port Stanley Optimist Club for hosting them. None of the students had ever been to Port Stanley and all seemed impressed with the village and the beach. We are sure that some of them will be asking their parents to bring them back in the summer.
The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday March 18, 2016 • Page 7
Seniors Healthy Lifestyles VON Community Services VON Community Support Services compliment the task of helping seniors and adults with a disability in maintaining healthy lifestyles independently in their own home for as long as possible. For example, the LHIN funded SMART (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together) group exercise classes are specifically designed to keep seniors and adults with a disability active through exercise, but also in addressing concerns such as balance, flexibility and strength, all of which can help reduce falls. Blood Pressure clinics are free and available every Thursday morning at Pharma-Choice Wellington Medical Pharmacy. Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is integral to preventing heart disease and reducing the risk of strokes. The Meals On Wheels program has been helping people in the community for
over 40 years. During which time the program has expanded and grown substantially speaking to the need in the community. Proper nutrition plays a key factor in preventing a number of age-related concerns and can often go hand-inhand with issues of balance, blood pressure, stress, fatigue and depression. A healthy lifestyle also includes going beyond the physical factors. A number of studies indicate that volunteering in your community can significantly impact your mood, decreasing instances of social isolation and depression while being socially engaged in the community. For more information on the many available programs and services or to hear more about the volunteer opportunities available, please contact the VON office at 519-637-6408 or toll free 1-800201-0909.
North Shore Community Classified Serving over 7000 Homes, Apartments, Farms & Businesses
Tom & Lola Groves Port Stanley were married 60 years on March 10, 2016. An Open House celebrating their 60th Anniversary will be held Sunday, March 20, 2016 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. at Valleyview Home 350 Burwell Road, St. Thomas Best Wishes only!
COTTAGE FOR RENT Port Stanley The Beach House – 2 bedroom Beach. Artist Cottage – 1 bedroom Beach. Available: NOW till 31 May 2016. No smoking, no pets.
Port Stanley Merchants “support” the 23rd Annual Alzheimer Society Silent & Live Auction & Dinner Event at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn, February 27, 2016 Gary Badalato, resident of Port Stanley & Volunteer Community Engagement and Awareness contact for the Alzheimer Society London and Middlesex would like to thank the following merchants for their Donations: • Kettle Creek Inn • Harbourview Bed & Breakfast • James Street Home Decorating • Home Hardware • Port Stanley Festival Theatre • Apropos • Port Stanley Train Rides • Art Emporium Gallery & Gift Boutique • St. Thomas Golf & Country Club • Sharlene Gardner • Port Stanley Beach Hotel Approximately $48,000 was raised from this event to support The Alzheimer Society.
Port Stanley Optimist Club Spring Flower Pots will arrive March 23, 6:30 pm.
350 Carlow Road, Port Stanley N5L 1B6 Phone: 519-782-3983
Principal: Ms. Sheila Pinder Secretary: Mrs. Debbie Sutherland
School Activities March 14 -18 March Break
Several people have reported seeing these small boats that look like Tiny Tugs tied up in the Port Stanley harbour. No one seems to know what they are used for although a sign on each of the three tugs would indicate they were built by Kanter Marine of St. Thomas. We emailed Kanter’s sales department to ask about these unusual small craft but had not received a reply from them by press time. On Tuesday March 15th, while we were busy putting the paper together,
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Tiny Tugs in Port Stanley Harbour
the tugs were lifted out of the harbour onto flat bed trucks. An observer, Sue Bassett-Gold of Port Stanley, asked about the tugs and was told they are used for buoy removal. She also took the photo below that was sent to the Beacon.
Office consultations by appointment in London and Port Stanley
Thinking of Summer Vacation on the beautiful shoreline of Lake Erie. For Summer Rental in addition to the above: The Snug – 1 bedroom suitable for 2 people. No smoking, no pets. Check us out at: or for details call 519-434-2229.
Port Stanley Report Continued From Page 3
Free Kittens!! We have all seen the signs and most people realize that there is nothing for free. However, there are still some people who are of the opinion that cats can look after themselves so, when that "free kitten" grows up, goes into heat or starts spraying everything in sight, what do they do? Well, they drop it off at the end of someone's driveway in the country. The "lucky" ones find a kindhearted soul who end up taking
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on more than they can handle. Katrina is just one of 19 recently rescued from just such a situation when the elderly woman was placed in a nursing home and the cats were left to fend for themselves. Just under 5 lbs. Katrina was originally thought to be a kitten but, since she is in need of extensive, expensive dental work ( a few of her friends are also in need of dental work), we place her age as much older. She is adorable, cuddles, loves to be petted and aches for love and is very lucky to now be with us. Hopefully, we will be able to get her teeth looked after. We would like to think that this situation is a rarity but, unfortunately, it isn't. The country seems to be a favourite disposal location and it's not right. There are other options available. Ad sponsored by
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Page 8 • The Lake Erie Beacon • Friday March 18, 2016
Karen Vecchio Promotes Women’s Empowerment International Women’s Day 2016 – Women’s Empowerment Leads to Equality – recognizes the need to empower women and girls as we work together to achieve gender equality. Without empowerment there can be no equality.
Kaylie Kuipers Office of Karen Vecchio, MP
brate women’s contributions to our commuKaren Vecchio, Member of Parlianities, our country and ment for Elgin-Middlesex-London and our world.” said VecOfficial Opposition Critic for Families, chio, “It is also a time to Children and Social Development is inreflect on progress tovited Canadians to celebrate Internaward equality for tional Women’s Day 2016. Canada’s women and to reflect theme this year was Women’s Empowon the significant chalerment Leads to Equality. lenges that remain.” “March 8 was International Canada’s theme for Women’s Day. This is a time to cele-
To celebrate Interna-
T H E L AKE ER I E BEAC ON
tional Women’s Day 2016 and to show the many faces of empowerment, Vecchio asked Canadians to use social media to tag a woman who inspires them using the hashtag #YouAreEmpowerment. Visit www.women.gc.ca for shareable graphics and other tools to spread the word about empowered women, and to find a list of resources to help women empower themselves.
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