Observer april 18, 2009 by Woolwich Observer

NEWS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

Out of the ﬁre hall and on to the stage for ETC production.......................»23 Out of Africa a changed person

»10 VOLUME 14, ISSUE 15

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2009

www.ObserverXtra.com

Born under a bad gene

18-month-old Gabbie suffers from cystinosis, a rare disease that slowly destroys internal organs A few weeks ago, Jody Strauss had her 18-month-old daughter Gabbie in the car with her when they passed a wedding dress shop. Gabbie pointed happily to the beautiful dresses in the window, and Jody had to fight back tears. “Honey, I don’t know if you’ll ever be in a wedding dress,” she thought. From the outside, Gabbie looks like any other toddler: wide-eyed, mischievous, smiling when she gets her way and pouting when she doesn’t. On the inside, it’s a different story. The first child of Trevor and Jody Strauss has a rare, incurable genetic disease called cystinosis that is slowly destroying all the organs in her body. Every cell in the body has structures called lysosomes, which break down old proteins into their building blocks, amino acids. With cystinosis, the amino acid cystine builds up inside the cell and crystallizes. The crystals damage cells in many systems of the body, especially the kidneys and eyes. It was the Strauss’ family doctor, Patrick Landy, who first suspected something wasn’t right with Gabbie last October. She still wasn’t crawling at 10 months, so he sent her for X-rays. They revealed what he thought was rickets, a softening of the bones in children. But when a local pediatrician took the films to the Grand River Hospital, a doctor of radiology there said they looked normal and sent the family home.

PHOTO | DAVE FRASER

JONI MILTENBURG

A RARITy Eighteen-month-old gabbie Strauss looks like a happy, healthy toddler, but she suffers from cystanosis, a genetic disease that is slowly destroying her organs.

“We didn’t ask many questions, because we thought, ‘great, that’s what we were hoping for,’” Jody said. A month later they went back to Dr. Landy for routine immunizations, and he told them he hadn’t received any report from the pediatrician. Still concerned about rickets, he referred them to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto.

Doctors at Sick Kids confirmed Gabbie had rickets. Concerned about kidney disease – rickets can be a symptom – they ordered a barrage of tests. The Strausses spent the weeks before and after Christmas taking Gabbie to Toronto for blood work, urine samples, an ultrasound and more blood work. Finally, on Jan. 21, they got the kind of news no parent

ever wants to hear: Gabbie had cystinosis. “At first we thought [rickets] was really bad, and then it just went from bad to worse,” Jody said. “If only it was just rickets …” Cystinosis is caused by a mutation on chromosome 17. Jody and Trevor are both carriers for the disease, meaning they have one normal copy of the gene and one mutated copy.

Children of carriers have a one-in-four chance of getting two copies of the mutant gene and having the disease. Neither Jody nor Trevor knew they were carriers; they didn’t even know what cystinosis was. In the months since Gabbie’s diagnosis, they’ve become experts. The only treatment for cystinosis is cysteamine (marketed as Cystagon) which breaks down the cystine crystals. The drug is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but not by Health Canada. The Strausses get access to Cystagon through the Health Canada Special Access Program, for patients with serious or life-threatening conditions on a compassionate or emergency basis. Cystagon has to be taken every six hours, which means rising at midnight and again at 6 a.m. to give Gabbie her medication. Cystagon helps slow the formation of cystine crystals, but it can’t reverse the damage already done and it’s not a cure. The oldest living person with cystinosis is 44; most die before age 40. Cystinosis also causes photophobia, or sensitivity to light, as cystine crystals build up on the eyes. The only treatment is hourly cysteamine eye drops, which aren’t approved by Health Canada or the FDA. Gabbie doesn’t yet need the eye drops, but she’s approaching the two-year mark where most children do, and she has an appointment at Sick Kids in June. The kidneys are the first organs affected by the disease; one of the symptoms of cysSee CYNSTOSIS »08

SPECIAL SAVINGS THROUGHOUT THE STORE GOING ON NOW! - ONLINE FLYER @ FURNITUREHOUSE.CA

Payments Don’t pay ´til 2010* *No *No Interest GET IT NOW! PAY LATER! TER!! TER

30 Benjamin Rd., Waterloo 519.746.0060 Open 7 Days a Week - Across from the St. Jacobs Outlet Mall

2 | NEWS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

Grant program provides small-scale assistance MARC MIQUEL HELSEN Small organizations unable to qualify for large-scale grant programs will get a chance to apply for mini-grants of up to $1,000 through the Social Planning Council of Cambridge

and North Dumfries. In the past, the council, which doles out grants to community groups, has helped fund some 22 organizations in Waterloo Region’s rural areas. The grant funding is often crucial for the operation of these groups

and their projects. “The difficulty is that these smaller groups don’t have charitable status and that prevents them from getting funding from some of the other sources,” explained social planner Dina Etmanskie. “But this makes it ac-

cessible to very small groups, very grassroots organizations and the intent is that they have an opportunity to address challenges or opportunities or needs in their community. It’s a way of engaging community residents in community betterment projects.” The mini-grants are intended to support new projects that enable residents to apply their skills and talents locally. In some cases grants will be made to support ongoing or existing activities and in particular, those which have grown to involve more residents, new partners, or new strategies. This year a total of 16

» » » » » »

mini-grants, made possible through a contribution by the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, will be awarded. Grant monies will go toward projects and initiatives dealing with issues such as youth development, promotion of education and training, neighbourhood improvement, health and wellness, nutrition, arts and culture, violence prevention, economic development, and preschool programs in underserviced areas. Past recipients include a youth mentor program in New Hamburg, an old colony cooking class in Linwood, and a community barbecue welcoming

newcomers to Wellesley, providing them with resource information. “Some really, really neat things happened – some were very low cost things, but some really great ideas were implemented and many of them have proved to be sustainable,” said Etmanskie. “Sometimes it doesn’t take a whole lot of money to implement a good idea.” Proposals can be submitted until June 1, 2009. Complete grant guidelines and application forms are available on the council’s website at www.socialplanningcouncil-cnd.org or by calling (519) 623-1713.

Decks & Fences Outdoor Fireplaces Waterfalls & Fountains Pergolas & Arbours Tables & Chairs Lights & Torches Ask To R How eceiv e $

Early Bird Bonus Offer

1,350 In Ta x

Book your order by April 30th and...

SAVE

Cred

An Additional

100 OFF

its

(MINIMUM $1000 ORDER) Not valid with any other specials.

St. Jacobs Farmers Market

ld fie rth No

King St. N

445 Conestogo Road | 519.880.9600 www.cedarlandlumber.com

PREVENT

Unsightly Lawn Weeds

BEFORE they take over the lawn

5024-550

Only Until April 25th 2009

CONESTOGA MALL

Visit our showroom at:

. .E Dr

Conestogo Rd.

TURF BUILDER | Weed Prevent

Corn Gluten Meal Herbicide

• Prevents the germination of dandelion and crabgrass weed • Use where established perennial ryegrass and Kentucky Apply Now bluegrass are predominant and in 5 to 6 weeks • Contains 100% corn gluten, a by-product of corn milling overseed to produce a • Ideal for use in municipalities with pesticide bans beautiful weed free lawn!

22 Church St. W., Elmira 519-669-5537

STORE HOURS: M-F: 8-8, SAT 8-6, SUN 12-5

» NEWS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

LEADING OFF

“People with arthritis, it keeps them going instead of sitting at home and feeling worse.” John Gruhl

MEASURE TWICE, CARVE ONCE Irvin Jantzi (left) and Harold Erb work on their projects at the Wilmot Seniors Woodworking and Craft Club. Residents of Wellesley and friends for some 60 years, Jantzi and Erb enjoy coming to PHOTO | DAVE FRASER the club for the fellowship and wealth of knowledge shared by its members.

Coming out for the woodwork Grant helps fund woodworking shop for seniors; Baden facility has proven to be a popular location MARC MIQUEL HELSEN If you’re looking for that one piece of odd fitting furniture but can’t find it anywhere, then the Wilmot Seniors Woodworking and Craft Club (WSWCC) in Baden is quite possibly the place for you. A popular venue for creative seniors with a penchant for woodworking and other crafts, the shop also offers custom services. “Sometimes people come in with a plan for something that fits a certain spot in their house and they can’t find it; well, we’ll make it for them,” said the club’s past-president, John Gruhl, noting that such custom projects help support

EE RY FR IVE L DE

the operational costs of running the facility and also offer an inexpensive alternative for customers. Products made there are also sold at Herrle’s Country Farm Market in St. Agatha. A unique facility, offering retired seniors ages 55 and above a place to work with wood and other materials, the Wilmot Seniors Woodworking and Craft Club last week received a $6,779 funding grant through the federal government’s capital assistance component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which aims to help organizations that support seniors to replace outdated equipment or undertake needed renovations. The money will be used to

upgrade equipment which includes a drum sander, saws, chisels and a grinder for the machine shop. Needless to say, Gruhl and his fellow club members were happy about the news. “We support ourselves, basically. Without the federal government’s help, it would be difficult to replace some of the equipment that needs to be replaced.” Located at 27 Beck St. in Baden, the WSWCC was founded by the late Leonard Bechtel – a former New Hamburg homebuilder who passed away in March – some 20 years ago. Currently, it offers seniors many opportunities to participate in woodworking, metalworking and other craft

W • O • O • L • W • I • C • H

programs. There they can build virtually anything they want, from birdfeeders for their grandchildren to beds and other furniture. People can even order custom-made products, and in the process, help cover the operational costs of the club. Open to seniors from Baden and the surrounding municipalities, including Waterloo, Kitchener and Wellesley, the club is more than a venue where members enjoy their favourite hobby. “It’s a really great place for seniors. We have fellows here who’ve had strokes and stuff like that, and it keeps them active and gets them better; people with arthritis, it keeps them going instead of sitting

at home and feeling worse,” said Gruhl, noting that the local facility is truly unique, a fact that was obviously not lost on government representatives when adjudicating grant applications. “I think that’s one of the reasons why, when we applied, the politicians came here and looked at this: they can see what’s happening here. You can see that this is a really good thing. It’s well run, it’s well looked after, and it’s in really good shape,” he said. The club is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day, except for statutory holidays. Annual membership costs $40. For further information contact Robert Johnstone at 519-634-5357.

• Compounding • Compliance Packaging • Free Blood Pressure Check

10 Church St., Elmira

• Free Blood Glucose Monitor & Teaching • Ostomy & Home Health Care

519-669-8282

CATHY DIAMOND PHARMACIST

SAMER MIKHAIL

PHARMACIST / OWNER

OPEN: Monday to Friday 9am-7pm; Saturday 10am-5pm; Closed Sundays

4 | NEWS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

» FROM THE EDITOR | STEVE KANNON

South of the border, it’s all about causing a sensation Watching television news in the U.S. gives you a newfound appreciation for the Canadian media, which itself has much room for improvement. This assessment extends beyond the futility of waiting for hockey news while in southern California. No, it’s all the yelling. Apparently, the only way to address any issue is to try to yell over the other three or four people in on the discussion. The recipe also includes taking a snippet of information and turning it into a 10-minute rant fest that neither explains the sound bite nor provides any information beyond the superficial. It’s a marked contrast to some of the far more civilized and engaging roundtables we see on CBC or TVO, for instance. Fox, of course, has long since been identified as outside the journalistic box, but many of the other stations exhibit the kind of programming I’ve described, most notably CNBC, where shouting must be a job requirement. It’s no wonder some of the network’s hosts have been fodder for Jon Stewart’s Daily Show, the comedy program that has proven itself more informed and informative than many so-called news outlets. Ironically, CNBC commentator Rick Santelli – a favourite Stewart target – was the inspiration behind what this week is a major news story in the U.S. (other than the Obamas’ new dog, of course): the tea party revolts said to be popping up spontaneously in reaction

to Barack Obama’s economic policies. Fans of Santelli – or, more likely, those following Stewart’s take on events – will recall his Feb. 19 rant about a $75 billion bailout of mortgage holders, which he said “rewarded bad behaviour.” He chided the administration, calling for a new tea party, referring to the 1773 incident in which colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbour. Through the Internet, the message quickly spread, and right-wing groups took up the chant, probably in frustration with Obama’s election win and a seemingly disorganized Republican opposition. Leaving aside the poor analogy – the Boston Tea Party was a protest against oppressive colonial rule, while the White House is now trying to fend off a possible depression – the protest has a less-than-populist smell to it. There are undoubtedly many Americans concerned about the amount of government spending, and now tough choices will follow such massive deficits. Others are genuinely concerned about bailing out corporations and institutions that got us all into this mess in the first place. But I’m willing to bet much of the really heavy lifting is being done behind the scenes by those with an agenda. Even simply watching the news segments for any length of time reveals that something seems off; a bit of digging confirms that sentiment. When it comes to monitoring such things, Nobel Prize winning economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman is a reliable barometer. “It turns out that the tea parties don’t represent a spontaneous outpouring

of public sentiment. They’re AstroTurf (fake grassroots) events, manufactured by the usual suspects. In particular, a key role is being played by FreedomWorks, an organization run by Richard Armey, the former House majority leader, and supported by the usual group of right-wing billionaires. And the parties are, of course, being promoted heavily by Fox News,” he writes in his column this week. The tea parties are symptomatic of a Republican party in disarray, Krugman suggests. “[T]he Obama administration gains a substantial advantage from the fact that it has no credible opposition, especially on economic policy, where the Republicans seem particularly clueless.” Coverage of the tea party issue has the feel of California’s oft-discussed propositions, often added to statewide votes (there are many cars still sporting bumper stickers from last year’s Proposition 8 aimed at gay marriages, for example). A taxpayer revolt was behind the state’s (in)famous Proposition 13, the passage of which back in 1978 resulted in a cap on property tax rates, reducing them by an average of 57 per cent. Essentially, residents pay one

per cent of a property’s value based on the last time it was sold, resulting in remarkably varying rates between neighbours in many instances. Californians, and Americans in general, are very fond of getting extra measures on their election ballots, though many are the creation of special-interest groups. In the next statewide vote set for May 19, there are six measures already on the ballot, with another 10 gathering signatures. Tax and spending issues are a favourite. This time around is no exception, with Proposition 1A aiming to maintain temporarily imposed taxes through 2012, while also imposing a set of controls on state spending. Proposition 1F would prohibit salary levels for the governor, legislators and other top state officials from increasing if the state general fund is expected to end the year with a deficit. These kinds of votes, while often handcuffing legislators – California’s finances are in abysmal shape in large part due to Proposition 13 and its ilk – are also indicative of the U.S. style of politicking. They also make great material for pundits shouting at each other on network television.

Terry Numan

If there was any place in the world you could visit, what would it be? “Any place with mountains. I have been going out west every year for the past five years climbing mountains, it’s a passion.” What do you like best about this part of the country? “There is a little bit of a slower pace and a good sense of community.” Do you have any hobbies you enjoy outside of work? “I like to garden and renovate homes. I like to work on my own house, doing woodworking and fixing up things.”

» ABOUT FACE

EARTH DAY Plant A Tree With The Family!

UPCOMING SEMINARS 10:00-12:00 | Water Gardening + Pond Start-Up & Maintenance 10:00-12:00 | Alan Van Staalduinen + Allgreen Tree Services 10:00-12:00 | Two Master Gardeners Call 519.664.0404 to reserve your seat. Space is limited.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN & BUILD

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

• Custom Planter Design • Annuals & Perennials • Trees & Shrubs • Bagged Soils & Mulches • Planters, Pots & More

• Custom Designs • Garden Installations • Interlocking Pavers • Steps & Walls • Water Features

• Weekly Mowing Programs • De-Thatching & Aeration • Fertilizing Programs • Garden Edging & Mulching • Planting & Pruning

Country Gardens LANDSCAPE NURSERY MON. -SAT. 9:00-5:00 CLOSED EASTER SUNDAY

New

Sawmill Rd.

Conestogo

St. Jacobs

Elmira

Jerusalem Rd.

RETAIL GARDEN CENTRE

HWY 85 Waterloo W aterloo

1661 NEW JERUSALEM RD. PHONE:

519.664.0404

PHOTO | dave fraser

April 18 April 25 May 2

Manager, St. Jacobs Country Gardens

What is your favourite time of the year? “As an annual grower, I guess May. Seeing the plants leave, and the smiles on people’s faces.” What’s been your best moment this week? “The sunshine, and people getting excited about spring.” Is there anything you are looking forward to? “Getting through the spring and then going on holidays camping with my family.”

NEWS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

Future transit concerns to get a $350K study Yet another study is on tap, as Waterloo Region this week received $350,000 from the federal Green Municipal Fund to help pay for the regional transportation master plan, entitled Moving Forward 2031. The plan’s stated goal is to create a sustainable community transportation vision that protects the natural environment, provides opportunity for social cohesion, creates an economically competitive market, and promotes a healthy lifestyle.

Red Cross workers begin strike action Red Cross workers who provide home care services in Waterloo, Kitchener and Guelph began strike action in Waterloo Wednesday. The members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1 Canada are looking to be compensated for their travel time between clients, which can amount to two hours or more of each workday; currently, they’re only paid for the time they spend with clients. Home care workers provide a variety of services, from bathing, grooming, making meals and light housework to helping with medications and moving patients. They assist seniors, people with disabilities, people recovering from surgery and special needs children in their own homes. There are 144 Red Cross caregivers in Waterloo Region, serving approximately 1,000 clients.

Tearing it up before tearing it down Lions event will celebrate the history of Elmira Arena, slated for demolition this fall MARC MIQUEL HELSEN Users of the Elmira Arena and community centre are the most ardent boosters of the Woolwich Memorial Centre now under construction. Still, there will be more than a few pangs of nostalgia when the existing building is torn down later this year to make room for the new project. The arena is certainly dated, but it has been home to many glorious hockey moments, from novice games right through to the accomplishments of the Junior B Elmira Sugar Kings. There will be mixed feelings. “There are a lot of hockey stars that have come out of the Elmira Arena,” said Jess Bender, chair of the End of an Era event scheduled to take place Apr. 25 at the arena. Jointly organized by the Lions clubs of Elmira and Woolwich, the event will feature a number of activities, includ-

ing a fun-day for parents and kids; a memory lane display at the Woolwich Youth Centre, showcasing pictures and other historical paraphernalia; and a dance at the arena from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. “The event is to commemorate the end of an illustrious era at the Elmira Arena. We want to make the community aware of the proud history of the Elmira Arena with the memory lane event,” said Bender. In addition to photographs, that event will display sports equipment belonging to famous local alumni, including NHL greats like Rick and Rod Seiling; Butch Martin, who played in the 1956 and 1960 men’s Olympic hockey team; former Maple Leaf legend Darryl Sittler, who to this day still holds the record for most points in one game (10 - six goals, four assists); the late Dan Snyder, the charismatic forward after whom one of the ice pads in the

SENDOFF IN THE WORKS Tanya Rempel (left) and Jess Bender (right) are helping organize End of an Era, an event full of activities to commemorate the old Elmira Arena.

new Woolwich Memorial Centre is named; forward Cam Stewart, who played with Boston, Florida, and the expansion Minnesota Wild; Jamie Wright, who played for Dallas, Calgary and Philadelphia and won a gold medal with Canada at the 1996 World Junior Championships; and defenseman Dennis Wide-

man, currently a core component in the Boston Bruins’ successful 116 point season in 20082009. “Those are the big names, but there are many, many kids who have gone on to different levels,” said event organizer Valerie King. As noted in Woolwich’s recent Hockeyville bid,

the arena is a cornerstone of local history, home to minor hockey games, the Sugar Kings and beer leagues. The building means something different to many people. Built in 1949 the venue’s story spans a few generations. For Bender, the story includes a husband and See ARENA »09

Local kids happy to pay it forward Woolwich Youth Centre makes helping others its theme for this year’s events JONI MILTENBURG

PHOTO | joni miltenburg

Canadian Foodgrains Bank received $12.4 million in donations during the 2008-2009 fiscal year, $4 million more than its previous annual record. “Despite the recession,” said Jim Cornelius, the organization’s executive director, “we’ve seen the generosity of Canadians increase this year. We are pleased and humbled to see so many people committed to the work of ending hunger regardless of the challenges they may face in their own lives.” Donations to Canadian Foodgrains Bank take the form of both cash and grain. Cash donations have increased by approximately 15 per cent, while the increased value of grain and the higher yields in the Prairie provinces have seen the value of grain donations increase even more significantly.

» DOWN MEMORY LANE

PHOTO | DAVE FRASER

We’re still in a giving mood

HELPING HANDS Bailey Preedon, Kristen Horst, Brian Gruneberg, Tyler Liese and Treyce Pomroi are a few of the youth centre’s users who are repaying the community with small acts of kindness this year.

The Woolwich Youth Centre is giving back this year, repaying the community that supports it with small acts of kindness. “Often youth don’t think they can make a difference, but the little things make a difference,” said youth centre coordinator Kelly Robertson. “We’re not going out to save the world, but we’re trying to make a difference in our community.” Last summer, the centre organized a series of activities around the theme of the Summer

Olympics. When the school year started, they realized how much they missed having an overarching theme. Both Robertson and coordinator Karyn Kennedy have experienced random acts of kindness in their own lives, and they thought it was a great idea to have a “pay it forward” year. “We thought, what a great way to have the youth find attainable ways of showing people in their lives, people in the community that they want to give back to them the amount of kindness they’ve received,” Robertson said. See YOUTH »09

TO C! ENUBLI P O P E TH

since

1985

inc.

furniture

BEDROOM • Wall Units • Jewellery Boxes • Vanity Upgrades

Solid Wood Quality | Canadian Hand-Crafted

DININGROOM • Tables • Chairs • Buffets

And much more

Visit www.countrylinefurniture.com to view our online catalog.

7388 3rd Line RR#2, Wallenstein | Phone: 519-669-4118

6 | NEWS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

Music students ramping up for Kiwanis festival With spring come budding plants and trees … and budding musicians showcasing their skills at the annual Elmira & District Kiwanis Music Festival in Elmira. Set to take place at Woodside Bible Fellowship from Apr. 27 to May 1, the festival will wrap up with a Stars of the Festival Concert on May 2 at 2:30 pm, where awards and trophies will

be presented and the top musicians will perform. The event, which in previous years has seen upwards of 150 students participating in some 400 performances, will highlight the efforts and accomplishments of musicians age five and up from the Waterloo Region’s townships. The festival will feature solos, duets, trios, quartets, violin solos, vocals, and ensembles. As a testament to the concept that music is a universal

language, the festival will also feature duets bringing together musicians from different generations. “I have students that are playing with parents, existing friends and making new friends as they play in their ensemble groups, which is a really great experience for all involved. There’s nothing like music to draw people together,” explained music teacher Jackie Wall. Students have been

preparing for months, juggling school, sports, work and other activities to perform their best in front of adjudicators offering up constructive criticism, their families, friends, community members and Kiwanis Club members, without whom the annual event would be impossible, said Wall. That practice will no doubt pay off. “Discipline is the key. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? One day at a time.”

Participants at the festival will perform in a number of classes divided according to grade level, age, and musical ability. A wide variety of music genres will be covered, including baroque,

romantic, rock and pop. Also new this year, are two new instrument categories: flute and violin. New trophies and scholarship monies will be awarded in these categories as well.

photo | dave fraser

MARC MIQUEL HELSEN

TUNING UP Karley Sider (left) and Elise Conlin (right) practice Mozart’s Der Spiegel for the upcoming Kiwanis Music Festival.

PRESSURE POINT THERAPY Complimentary Workshop

with Dr. Bryan Lawrence, D.C.

Pressure Points are Areas of Stored Stress on a Nerve Pathway You Will Learn How to Find & Treat the Pressure Points For:

• SINUS & ALLERGIES • FATIGUE • HEADACHES • ARM AND WRIST PAIN (Carpel Tunnel Syndrome) • LOW BACK PAIN • NECK PAIN • NUMBNESS & TINGLING

(Arms & Legs) Learn how gentle, light touch will assist your body to promote improved health. "Address the Cause. Not the Symptoms." When: April 22, 2009 Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm Where: 30 Dupont St. E., Suite 204, Waterloo

Participants are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the local Food Bank.

CALL 519-746-6022 - SPACE IS LIMITED

The Quality You Demand, the Service You Deserve.

Call Us for Tires!

Where tires are a specialty, not a side line.

FARM • AUTO • TRUCK INDUSTRIAL • ON-THE-FARM SERVICE Monday - Friday

8am - 5pm

Saturdays

8am - 12noon

35 Howard Avenue, Elmira

519-669-3232

NEWS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

DAVE

We’re Pouring

JOHN

The Savings on in April “SUPERIOR MILLS” P.T. DECKING, 2 x 6

SALE

Goodie patrol PHOTOS | JEFF BECHARD

THE MAD DASH Bolender Park in Elmira was a busy place Sunday afternoon as eager children took part in the Optimist Club of Elmira’s annual easter egg hunt.

Youth: Help needed here too » From page 05

They started in January by watching the movie Pay it Forward, and asking the youth to suggest things they could do. In February, Kennedy and Robertson taught the kids how to knit and got them started making scarves that will be donated to the food bank next fall. March’s activity was to go to the WalMart in St. Jacobs and offer to carry bags or return carts. Earlier this month,

they gave up one of their activity nights at the centre to help set up for the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, and in June they’ll be collecting food for the food bank. Robertson said the pay it forward idea has also helped the kids at the youth centre realize that they don’t need to go to the city or developing world to help the less fortunate. “I think the youth are now recognizing that we have impoverished people in our own com-

munity, we have seniors needing assistance in our own community; the people we need to help are right here.” The youth centre has a regular group of 1525 people and 50 or 60 in total who come out Thursdays and Fridays to use the pool tables, play air hockey, computer games, Nintendo or Rock Band. The organizers also put together movie nights, bowling, swimming, guest speakers and offer homework and résumé help.

92 ¢ ft.

STANDARD HARDBOARD 1/8” x 4 x 8

SALE

699 sht

Take advantage of the Home Renovation Tax Credit and let the government pay part of your renovation or outdoor project.

Get a head start on your outdoor project today. See Johnny, Al or Trevor and let them aid you in designing and/or realizing your outdoor dream.

MANY MORE IN STORE SPECIALS 51 YEARS IN BUSINESS

Sale Ends April 30/09

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED

FREE DELIVERY

1205 King Street, St. Jacobs 519.664.2226 | 519.664.3400 Fax: 519.664.3889 OPEN TO SERVE YOU: Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:30; Saturdays 8-4; Sunday Closed for family day

8 | NEWS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

» From cover

tinosis is thirst and the need to urinate frequently. Gabbie needs access to water at all times and her kidneys don’t reabsorb minerals and salts, so she has to drink solutions of sodium bicarbonate and phosphorus. By age nine or 10, most children with cystinosis need dialysis and a kidney transplant. When they figured out how serious their daughter’s disease was, the Strausses immediately reached out to see what kind of support

was available. “We were just like, ‘Who else has it, what groups are out there?’” Trevor said. The answer to both questions was ‘not many.’ Cystinosis affects about 2,000 people worldwide, 500 of them in the United States and probably only about 50 in Canada. There simply was no foundation in Canada; the closest was the Cystinosis Research Foundation in California. Trevor and Jody were both shaken by Gabbie’s diagnosis, but Trevor’s

reaction was to do something about it. So they’ve launched Gabbie’s Wish – the Cystinosis Awareness and Research Effort (CARE) in partnership with the CRF. All the money raised will go to research toward finding a cure. Initially, they planned to start small and gradually build their fundraising effort. Then an anonymous donor offered to match donations to the CRF up to $1 million. That gave them a goal to strive for: Trevor wants Gabbie’s Wish to raise $1

million this year. It’s an ambitious goal, but a necessary one. There’s no government funding for cystinosis research; all the money for research grants has been raised by private donors. The Strausses have already made a start with a bake sale organized by Trevor’s team at Rogers and a pig roast and poker party held by a family friend. Trevor’s family is planning a dance in St. Clements, and they’re hoping other people will step forward

PHOTO | dave fraser

Cystinosis: Family launches support group for rare disease

TEAMWORK Gabbie gets a little help walking from her mom Jody.

to organize fundraisers. They’re also looking for corporate sponsors to help underwrite the administration costs or donate supplies and services in kind. The Strausses have had their moments of despair and self-pity. Learning about their daughter’s disease, how to care for her, and the ins and outs of setting up a charitable organization verged on overwhelming. Adding to the stress is the fact that Jody is eight months pregnant with their second child, and there’s a one in four chance this one could have cystino-

sis as well. In spite of it all, they’ve stayed positive and even optimistic. There have been significant advances in cystinosis research, including the development of a slowrelease drug that could be taken every 12 hours instead of every six. Jody said it helps to see that Gabbie is thriving, in spite of her disease, and that there is work being done towards a cure. “I feel like there’s hope, so that’s what keeps us going.” For more information or to help out, visit www. gabbieswish.com

Results guaranteed, or your money back.*

Lose up to 20 lbs. by Canada Day! “I feel healthy, energetic, and beautiful on the inside and outside.” Christine

lost 47

pounds & 59 inches†

re before befo

A common sense system for weight loss that works: REAL FOOD | PERSONAL COACHING | NATURAL PRODUCTS

Personal Health Coach | Naturalpathic Doctors Scientific Research Team | Pharmacists Cross Reference of any medication

519-669-9299 www.herbalmagic.ca

25 Industrial Dr. Unit 6, ELMIRA

NEWS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

» LAW & ORDER

Work of vigilant witness leads to several charges »»

April 8

A vehicle flipped over in a field in the area of Northfield Drive and County Line in Woolwich Township about 8 a.m. Apr. 12. Two males then exited the vehicle; another vehicle came by, picked up the individuals and drove off. A witness followed the vehicle and notified police, who eventually arrested the suspects. It turns out the vehicle they had been driving had been stolen earlier in the morning. A number of charges were issued, including possession of stolen property, driving without a license and fail to remain at the scene of a collision.

4:50 PM | Police were called to the scene of a two-vehicle collision on Duke Street in Elmira. A vehicle hauling an empty trailer was westbound on Duke Street when it was struck by another vehicle, backing out of a private driveway. One driver was charged with ‘fail to yield from private driveway.’ There were no injuries.

»»

April 9

9:06 AM | Two vehicles were involved in a collision at Arthur Street and Oriole Parkway in Elmira. As a result of the rear-ender collision, one vehicle was written off, but there were no major injuries. One driver was charged with ‘careless driving.’ 1:22 PM | A wallet was stolen from the pocket of a jacket left on a seat at the Tim Hortons restaurant in St. Jacobs. The complainant appears to have inadvertently left his jacket behind at the restaurant for

some 10 minutes before realizing it. When he returned, the wallet, containing approximately $100, was gone. 9:16 PM | Police received an offensive weapons call. Two males wearing paintball masks were seen walking along Oriole Parkway in Elmira. A witness reported seeing one of the individuals place a small gun in his rear pocket. The men continued to walk through Birdland Plaza and towards the Flamingo apart-

Buckle up: OPP launches spring seatbelt campaign stalled. When used correctly, a booster seat provides 60 per cent more protection than a seatbelt alone. In a collision, children using seatbelts instead of booster seats are three and a half times more likely to suffer significant injury, and four times more likely to suffer head injury. For this reason, the OPP will be focusing their efforts on child restraints during the campaign. During the 2008 seatbelt campaign in the second half of April, OPP officers checked more than one million drivers and passengers for seatbelt compliance and issued some 15,000 offences. Seatbelt non-compliance draws a fine of $110 and three demerit points.

The Ontario Provincial Police are in the midst of their 2009 Spring Seatbelt Campaign, which runs Apr. 15-26. The campaign is a project of the OPP, Ministry of Transportation and other road safety partners. In OPP jurisdictions last year, one in four fatally-injured vehicle occupants were unrestrained at the time of the crash; many more were seriously injured for the very same reason. There were a total of 78 deaths on Ontario highways that were attributed to seatbelt non-compliance in 2008. A properly used child seat reduces a child’s risk of injury in a crash by as much as 75 per cent, yet many child car seats are incorrectly used or incorrectly in-

ments. One male appears to have been wearing a bulletproof vest. Police could not locate the suspects.

»»

April 10

5:30 PM | Three youngsters, two boys and a girl, were seen travelling on their bikes in the area of Rhine Meadow Road in Heidelberg, and allegedly looking into area garages. Police would like to remind residents to keep their garage and home doors closed and secured.

11:00 PM | A Floradale resident reported to police hearing someone rattle a rear door. The complainant, a young woman whose two-year-old was sleeping upstairs, saw somebody hanging out by the back door on her deck. Police noted that this incident was among several such calls that have been made in the area in recent weeks.

»»

April 11

9:40 AM | There are no suspects in connection with the theft of a blue, full suspension 21-speed-mountain bike from Gibson Park in Elmira. The complainant claims to have left the bike unattended for a few minutes before heading into the woods. 10:45 AM | Police received a call of a break-and-enter at Ament Line near Hawkesville Road. Several roofers doing work on a neigbouring home advised the complainant of a broken rear window. As a

result of the break-in, which is believed to have occurred some time during the previous night, a 42-inch Hitachi plasma TV, a Bose stereo and a Sonic 37-inch LCD TV were stolen. 3:30 PM | There were no injuries in a collision at Sawmill Road and Arthur Street near Elmira. The two vehicles were involved in a rear-end collision and one driver was charged with ‘careless driving.’

»»

April 12

12:50 AM | Two males behind the LCBO on Church Street in Elmira threw a rock through the windshield of a vehicle and then ran to the Central Tavern. Police were unable to locate the suspects. One was described as a tall and thin white male in dark clothing; the second suspect was described as a shorter male wearing a brown hoodie.

»»

April 13

5:00 PM | A farmer in the area

of Beitz Road west of Maryhill reported to police seeing a vehicle park near the farm property. A man got out of the vehicle and started walking down the tree line. The man had some paper in his hand and appeared to be jotting down information. When police arrived on scene they spoke to the man, ascertaining he was a hunter looking for places to go hunting and had been mapping out the area.

»»

April 14

12:28 PM | Arthur Street, near Memorial Avenue in Elmira was the site of a collision involving a dump truck and a van. Determining that the collision was not serious in nature the two drivers exchanged information and then left the scene. A police investigation was later initiated and the driver of the dump truck was subsequently notified of a previous driving suspension.

INDIAN RIVER DIRECT Arena: Ready to rock for the last time

ST. JACOBS ELMIRA CITRUS TRUCKLOAD SALE

» From page 05

children who have made the arena a regular haunt. “To me it’s important that way because it’s important to them,” she said. The End of an Era event kicks off at 1 p.m. on Apr. 25 with a children’s play area that will include a bouncy castle and other games. Food and snacks including burgers and hot dogs and nachos will be on tap throughout the

course of the day. Upstairs at the youth centre, the memory lane display will run from 6-8 p.m. Following that comes a dance open to anyone ages 19 and up. While most of the day’s events are free, tickets for the dance cost $12 and are available at Pampered and Polished in Elmira or by calling Bender at 519-669-4484. Proceeds from this event will go to the Woolwich Memorial Centre.

SAT. APRIL 25, 10:00am - 12:00 noon Antique Warehouse (Beside St. Jacobs Market)

SAT. APRIL 25, 12:30pm - 2:30pm New Apostolic Church (First & Arthur Streets)

22.00

20lb Box of Florida $ Seedless Naval Oranges OR Ruby Red Grapefruit

PER BOX

IN-STOCK SAVINGS YOU WON’T BELIEVE

CARPET

Hardwood

Installed with Underpad

$1.49

From Only

Sq. Ft.

PAYMENT INTEREST

From Only

& UP TO

‘TIL FALL 2009 O.A.C.

$1.99 Sq.Ft. * $

Home of the $10 Area Rug

Approx. 4’x6’ Tax Incl

1350

IN TAX CREDITS

*Home renovation tax credit. Call for details.

1170 Victoria St. N. Kitchener (across from Harvey’s next to Pioneer Pools bldg.)

519

743-6905

EXCELLENT PARKING

M-T 9-6; W 9-8; Th-F 9-9; Sat 10-5; Sun 12-4

www.thecarpetstoreinc.com

ONE STOP FOR CARPET • ONE STOP FOR FLOORING

WE CARRY MOST MAJOR BRANDS

WEEKLY SPECIALS Specials from April 20 - April 25

Store Made, 4oz

Beef Burgers

Receive a FREE Canvas Tote Bag with a purchase of $20 or more

2.89

(12 x 4oz box) Ib. /$6.37kg. $7.99 ea.

Store Made, 4oz

Breaded Pork Schnitzel

1.25

ea.

Store Made, Smoked

Cheddarwurst or Honey Garlic Sausage Gramma B cares about the environment.

10 CHURCH ST. W., ELMIRA Top Floor Above Village Pet

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

PHONE:

519.669.9996

3.29

Ib. /$7.25kg.

Store Made,

Beef & Pork Wieners

2.49

Ib. /$5.49kg.

Store Made, Deli Sliced,

Macaroni & Cheese or Luncheon Loaf Ib. $ /$8.80kg.

3.99

The warm weather is coming! Try one of our aged Steaks or flavourful Kabobs

All the meat products we make are Gluten, Lactose and M.S.G. FREE. We also have a good selection of Nitrate Free products.

3031 Lobsinger Line, Heidelberg 519-699-4590 Mon.-Wed. 8-6; Thurs. - Fri. 8-8; Saturday 7:30-5 visit us online at www.stemmlermeats.ca

10 | FEATURE STORY

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

Give A Little,

Get A LOT After the initial shock of conditions in Africa, Elmira’s Rachel Clark learned there’s more than meets the eye

s lark i boy C . e h t , g Jacob sponsorin

WRITTEN BY

Bri ng ing a

Clark’s lavish favourite m ing th e kids oments we with a r ffectio e n.

JONI MILTENBURG achel Clark had spent months planning, fundraising and dreaming about volunteering in Africa, but the morning she was to start work at a Kenyan orphanage, she laid in bed scared to go. "I had waited all this time and yet I had all these doubts, like ‘can I really possibly do something, can I truly make a difference?’” Clark recently returned to Elmira from working at the Sidai Children’s Rehabilitation Centre in Ngong, about an hour outside Nairobi. Ontario was in the middle of a cold snap when she left in mid-January, but she stepped off the plane in Nairobi into sweltering 30-degree heat. The temperature was only one change

Clark with a Maasai woman at the market.

Clark had to acclimatize to. There was trash everywhere; there’s no garbage collection and no landfill, so it just gets thrown in the streets. The gap between rich and poor is more of a gulf, and even in middle-class families, there’s little money for extras beyond food, water, bills and education. The most frustrating thing, Clark said, was the corruption that is rife in Kenya. When travelling on the roads, they were stopped at police roadblocks that were essentially shakedowns; the police would find some fault with their vehicle or their papers and detain them until they paid a bribe. The volunteer organization she was working for also turned out to be corrupt, paying her host family and the

ASPHALT PAVING

Ask about Street Print Pavement Texturing

“Asphalt that looks like brick” DRIVEWAYS | PARKING LOTS | FARM LANEWAYS | SAND & GRAVEL FREE ESTIMATES

Since 1929

Since 1926

P.O. BOX 40, MOOREFIELD, ON NOG 2K0

orphanage only a fraction of the money they were supposed to get. Clark was dismayed, but afraid to say anything for fear the funds would be cut off entirely, because the little they got was still better than nothing. “It just finds its way into every part of life,” Clark said. “You hear about it, but living it is much different; it’s very, very frustrating.” In light of the poverty and corruption, Clark was amazed by the sense of community in her village. She was introduced to the entire neighbourhood, and invited to a wedding just a few weeks after arriving. When walking around the village, she was greeted with cries of “Musungu! Musungu!” which means “white person.”

The Area’s Best Selection! SPECIALIZING IN:

1-800-265-8764

• MOVING • RECOVERING | REFURBISHING • POOL TABLE SALES & SERVICE • SUPPLIES & ACCESSORIES • DART EQUIPMENT | SHUFFLE BOARDS • ACCESSORIES | LIGHTS

Monday - Friday 10:30am - 6pm Saturday 11am - 5pm

103 Ontario St., Kitchener

litt to le pie Ken ce ya. of C an r e t ad a of w a g u j a y r r . a e c r t s t en tuden the c Two s back to

519.745.4053 Free Customer Parking

The orphanage has had other Western volunteers so the children had seen white people before, but they were still fascinated – with her eyes, her freckles, and the way her skin changed colour when she tanned and burned under the hot Kenyan sun. They were also enthralled with her long blond hair, playing with it, braiding it and draping it over their own shaved heads. After the initial shock of how dirty, smelly and sick the children were, Clark fell in love. Everywhere she went, she had children clinging to her hands and arms. “My favourite moments were just when I got to hold them,” she said. “They just want physical contact, they don’t have somebody to show them love and affec-

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Dr. A. Keech Optometrist PHONE:

PHONE:

519-669-0012 519-669-0879 Evening appointments Available

63 ARTHUR STREET S., ELMIRA

FEATURE STORY |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

IL EMAUPDATES Excerpts from e-mails Clark sent to family and friends while she was in Kenya:

Jan. 27, 2009 >

My first night in Kenya, I didn’t sleep at all. The walls are so thin and you can hear everything – mosquitoes and bongos in the night and dogs barking and even a rooster!

> I have never been so aware of my white

skin; I stand out so much. People stare a lot but are very friendly.

I’d do anything to make these kids smile. We finish classes and I can’t leave – what could I possibly go home to that’s more important than hanging out with them?

> They just want someone to read a book WORLDS AWAY Top, Clark brought a suitcase packed with school supplies, games and toys, including sidewalk chalk. Above, Clark stands outside a Maasai hut, made of sticks, mud and cow dung. Right, a Maasai woman and child. Clark will be showing more images from her trip during a presentation at Trinity United Church May 3 at 11 a.m.

tion, and I have so much of that to give.” With no shower – only a sponge bath There are around 35 children living at – Clark discovered it was impossible to the centre, and about 60 come for day stay clean. The reddish-brown dirt coats schooling. everything with a fine layer of dust. The children who live at the centre are Electricity and water supplies are conorphans, children whose parents can’t trolled by the government, and the wacare for them, or children who have ter lines are opened only a few hours been abused at home. Clark was amazed each week. People fill up big tanks with at how grateful, polite and well-behaved water, and it has to last until the next the children were, in spite of their sad time the lines are opened. With so many stories and how little they had. When children at Sidai, they’d run out of washe was discouraged by all the sufter and have to buy it at a private fering she saw in Kenya, a source, interrupting classes visit to the centre providto haul big jugs back to ed the lift her spirits the school. needed. The village of On her first day, Ngong is on the Clark was handed edge of the Great N O TI a stack of books Rift Valley, A C LO and told she separated only would be teachby the Ngong ing. She was Hills. Ngong intimidated at is a Maasai first – English word meaning is the students’ “knuckles,” reDISTANCE second or third ferring to the FROM HOME language – but shape of the hills. they were eager to There were severlearn and the ones al Maasai boys at Siwho could speak Engdai, and Clark quickly lish translated for those bonded with them over who couldn’t. a shared love of music and There are public schools in Kedance. She was fascinated by Maanya but the classes are packed, with sai culture: their ceremonies, the music one teacher having between 50 and 70; and dancing, and the colourful clothing students and children are turned away and beadwork. because there isn’t enough room. PriThe Maasai are a semi-nomadic peovate schools are the preferred option for ple; they migrate with the season but families that can afford them. live in small huts built by the women. Clark’s host family was considered Their lives centre around cattle, which middle class by Kenyan standards; they are both a source of food and a measure had a fridge, TV, and running water, al- of wealth. though no hot water. Clark couldn’t justify spending money

Ngong, kenya

12,000 km

(1km East of Yatton, On 3rd Line #7223)

I live for these kids and whenever all these negative realities get to me, I visit them and my spirits are lifted.

Mar. 11, 2009 >

All I can say is I just love my work here. Every day has a meaningful purpose.

> Leaving my little friends and wonderful host family is going to be devastating; I honestly don’t know how I am supposed to say goodbye. But I have made the decision that this won’t be my last time here, I definitely want to come back. And I will.

ELMIRA WELLNESS CENTRE 24-B Arthur St. S., Elmira

669-4425

(Located behind W.C. Brown & Sons)

MASSAGE THERAPY AT T H E E L M I R A W E L L N E S S C E N T R E

• Evening Appt's • Relaxation • Hot Stones • Deep Tissue • Gift Certiﬁcate Available • All Registered Therapists

KW • Woolwich • Wellesley And Surrounding Area

H E A R I N G H E A LT H AT T H E ELMIRA WELLNESS CENTRE

• Hearing Tests • Hearing Aids No referrals necessary

» FREE In-home Demo » FREE Pickup » FREE Air Quality Test » FREE Estimates “Buy Once, Not Twice” We Service All Makes & Models

Krista A. Sandelli RMT & Associates

ELECTROLUX CANADA

Emanuel E.M. Martin

7223 3rd Line | RR#4 Elmira, ON N3B 2Z3

ahead where we are from, to have rules and regulations in place. Truly be thankful. Life is just not easy here for anyone. I wish to help everyone and just can’t and so much of it is beyond what I can actually do.

Many of our shade trees are grown in the patent “Rootmaker Product Comany’s” containers which creates the best root system.

> We are just so fortunate to be so far

R FO

EVERGREENS SHADE TREES FRUIT TREES SHRUBS [Lilacs etc]

I’m finding it more of a challenge to stay positive when suffering and sadness are everyday occurrences here, when corruption is in every part of life.

L SA

Container & Field Grown Nursery Stock

Feb. 21, 2009

TREES FOR SALE

on a safari, but she went on a smaller walking tour into Maasai territory, spending two nights with Maasai families and sleeping under the stars on a piece of cowhide. A few weeks before her volunteer time was up, Clark used the money she raised in a fundraiser last fall to get running water at Sidai. She hired men to install pipes and a pump, fix the toilets, unclog the drains and put on new shower heads. With running water, the orphanage will be able to pass inspections and register as a charity. Clark also worked up the courage to confront her volunteer organization about the corruption, and the day after, her host family was paid in full. When it was time to leave, the children made her a Maasai costume as a parting gift. Clark promised to wear it all the way home and did, ignoring the stares she got as she walked through Pearson International Airport. As hard as it was to adjust to life in Kenya, coming home has proven to be a hundred times harder. Clark is acutely aware of just how big the houses are and how much stuff people have; she’s waitressing now, and appalled at all the food she throws out. “I feel like I still have one foot in Africa,” she said. She might be halfway around the world, but Kenya is never far from her mind. Clark is sponsoring one of the boys from the orphanage and her goal is to find sponsors for all 40 of them. And she’s already planning to return next year. “I went with the intention of giving a lot, and I received so much more than I ever could have given.”

with or play with or sit on your lap and be held. That’s why it’s taken me two weeks to write; I just can’t get away from them and it’s only safe to walk to town when it’s light out.

Andrea Richards Audiologist

Juliane Shantz Doctor of Audiology

“ M E E T I N G A L L Y O U R H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S N E E D S ”

CLIFF ROSE SALES REP

CELL: 519-212-0667 OFFICE: 519-893-7344

12 | COMMENT & OPINION

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

» CARTOON Published Saturdays since 1996 by Cathedral Communications Inc. Publications Mail Agreement No | 1004840

WOOLWICH OBSERVER 20-B Arthur Street North, Elmira, Ontario, Canada N3B 1Z9

Phone: 519.669.5790 Toll Free: 1.888.966.5942 Fax: 519.669.5753

General Inquiry | EXT 100 info@woolwichobserver.com Joe Merlihan, Publisher | EXT 107 jmerlihan@woolwichobserver.com Steve Kannon, Editor | EXT 103 skannon@woolwichobserver.com Joni Miltenburg, Reporter | EXT 101 jmiltenburg@woolwichobserver.com Marc Miquel Helsen, Reporter | EXT 102 mmhelsen@woolwichobserver.com Donna Rudy, Sales Manager | EXT 104 drudy@woolwichobserver.com Pat Merlihan, Production Mgr | EXT 105 pmerlihan@woolwichobserver.com Matthew French, Production | EXT 108 mfrench@woolwichobserver.com Lindsay Lehman, Production | EXT 109 llehman@woolwichobserver.com www.ObserverXtra.com

CIRCULATION The Observer is an audited controlled circulation publication. Canadian Media Circulation Audit calculates and prepares The Observer circulation reports | 14,942.

DELIVERY Delivery concerns can be addressed by contacting our office during office hours or by visiting www.ObserverXtra.com and send us a message.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Annual subscriptions are available at a rate of $37.10 (includes GST) for delivery within Canada. Contact the office or email sales@woolwichobserver.com for further details. All issues from 2006 on are available online free of charge. ASSOCIATIONS The Observer is a member of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association [OCNA], Canadian Community Newspaper Association [CCNA], Ontario Press Council, and The Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

LETTER POLICY The Observer welcomes letters to the editor on topics of interest to our readers. Letters may be edited for brevity, grammar, and legal considerations. All letters must be signed and contain the writer’s full name and telephone number for verification purposes. Unsigned or anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. If you have a legitimate concern and cannot sign your name to a letter, please contact the editor to discuss alternative means of resolving the issue. This newspaper declines announcements, poetry and thank-you letters in the opinion section. Maximum suggested length is 500 words.

PRESS COMPLAINTS The Observer is a member of the Ontario Press Council which considers complaints against member newspapers. For more information about the Press Council contact www.ontpress.com.

COPYRIGHT The entire contents of The Observer and online edition are protected by copyright. No portion thereof is to be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the specific permission of the publisher. Reproduction rights can be obtained from ACCESS Copyright located at 1 Yonge St., 1900, Toronto, ON M5E 1E5 FAX: 416.868.1621

» EDITORIAL

Auto woes require big-picture thinking

Pity the poor autoworker, being lumped in with investment bankers, corporate CEOs and public sector employees as symbols of what ails our economy. With the Detroit-based carmakers on shaky ground, the wages and benefits paid to their workers have come under scrutiny like never before. The latest issue has Industry Minister Tony Clement weighing in on Italian manufacturer Fiat’s proposal to prop up Chrysler, backing up the company’s call for Chrysler workers to slash wages and benefit costs by $19 an hour, to $57. As with the U.S. government, the Conservatives have tied further loans to Chrysler cutting its labour costs and reaching a deal with Fiat by the end of the month. The magnitude of the cuts has the Canadian Auto Workers union talking tough. It has already agreed to a $7 an hour cut at General Motors, and proposes the same concessions at Chrysler. Now, with the government calling for deeper cuts at both ailing carmakers, union leaders appear to be digging in their heels. The public reaction, not surprisingly, has been largely negative. Auto workers are seen as overpaid and underworked by many who already resent government

money being poured into GM and Chrysler. The vitriol becomes even more pronounced when figures such as $76 an hour are bandied about – the proposed cuts represent more money per hour than many Canadians earn in total. Much of the anger, however, stems from a misunderstanding of the wage figures used. The $76 an hour figure used represents the total cost as calculated by the employer: wages, benefits, CPP and EI deductions, pension funding and, very significantly, the cost of covering underfunded pension liabilities owed a long list of retirees. The average autoworker’s paycheque reflects nothing resembling $76 per hour. Still, the total cost is significant, and is higher than that borne by the Detroit Three’s competitors. Bringing those costs – which represent perhaps eight to 10 per cent of the price of a car – in line with the others is the goal of the hard-line position adopted by the U.S. administration and echoed by Clement. Union supporters argue the rhetoric scapegoats workers, countering that poor management and excessive corporate perks are really to blame for Detroit’s malaise. Their claim the financial crisis is be-

» VERBATIM “It’s not pleasant, it’s not palatable to the union, I understand that. But we cannot have a situation where the union is resisting the reality of the situation and then expecting the Canadian taxpayers and the Ontario taxpayers to contribute.” Industry Minister Tony Clement says more concessions necessary to save carmakers

ing used to squeeze workers also has some merits, as history is replete with such examples. That said, there’s no question both GM and Chrysler are in rough shape, the latter more so. There’s very real concern either or both could slip into bankruptcy protection – the U.S. Chapter 11 filing. The likelihood of that scenario forms the basis of a game of chicken between the manufacturers and the unions, who must decide if greatly reduced wages and benefits outweigh the risk of having nothing at all if a major restructuring comes. For the rest of us, it’s best to look beyond the skewed positions to where we want to be when the recession – only the latest in a series, albeit more pronounced given the unethical actions of an unregulated financial industry – finally comes to an end. We’ve already seen the damage globalization has done, essentially creating a race to the bottom, where wages, benefits, living conditions and the environment have been sacrificed to the so-called bottom line. Before taking a quick position on the auto industry woes, better to keep our eyes on a loftier goal than to have the terms dictated by the special interests who got us into this mess in the first place.

» THE MONITOR The majority of Canadian households enjoy a higher quality of life because of the public services their taxes fund, says a new report, Canada’s Quiet Bargain: The Benefits of Public Spending. Public services make a significant contribution to the majority of Canadians’ standard of living – worth at least 50% of their income. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

COMMENT & OPINION |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

» HARD TALK | RAFE MAIR

Sleazy politicians and shady politics raise many questions As I write this, I’m coming to the end of a long road trip where I’ve been speaking to groups about the B.C. government’s energy policy, which bids fair to permanently lay waste to 600 to 700 of our rivers and streams in this beautiful part of the country. During this period, I’ve had time to reflect on just what makes our premier such a destroyer of our unique environment. The lessons serve as a warning to others. When Gordon Campbell was leader of the opposition, I was up to my eyeballs fighting Alcan over Kemano II, or as they preferred to call it, the Kemano Completion Project. He wanted

to know more about this matter so he came to my radio studio and looked at my material. He was with me for half a day, whereupon he pronounced himself opposed. Some time afterwards I asked him what had made him take that position and he related to me that he had seen a billboard showing sockeye salmon going into the Adams River to spawn and he didn’t want his kids deprived of this wonder. I was impressed. It surprised me when he became premier and almost immediately took the moratorium off Atlantic salmon fish farms. The issue at that time was the huge escapements of farmed salmon and the question was whether or not they might establish themselves in our rivers and streams. The premier was

deaf to the entreaties of many of us who asked that he bring back the moratorium and apply the “precautionary principle” before anything further was done. Taking him at his word, I assumed that he cared for our environment. Then, in 2003 or thereabouts, a lady named Alexandra Morton from the Broughton Archipelago, on the mainland opposite Port McNeil on Vancouver Island, came upon the scene. Though not a fish biologist, she was a scientist and had come the Broughton to study whales. At the suggestion of some nearby First Nations people, she tested young pink and some chum salmon and warned that sea lice from fish farms situated on their migration paths were slaughtering them. The then minister responsible, John

Van Dongen, wouldn’t listen. Neither did the premier who asked me to do a paper for him. Again, taking him at his word that he cared for the outdoors and our salmon, I did it. I collated all the scientific evidence available and it made an irrefutable case that Morton was right. He never acknowledged my work, let alone thanked me for it. The more the evidence piled up, the more licenses were granted. When a legislative committee and then a commission under John Fraser, appointed by Campbell, confirmed Morton’s findings, the Campbell government issued more licences and expanded others. Now we have Campbell’s energy policy, which mirrors the recommendations of Alcan. BC Hydro is no See MAIR page »14

» INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS | GWYNNE DYER

U.S. attack on pirates a good start to unpalatable situation The United States Navy has more than half the major warships in the world, and there is a pirate threat off the Somali coast. Now that the U.S. Navy has killed three of those pirates in order to free Richard Phillips, the kidnapped captain of an American ship, these two facts are coming together in a promising way. Just to utter that phrase “a pirate threat off the Somali coast” is to plumb the depths of absurdity. What combination of incompetence and cowardice could have allowed piracy to become a threat to a major shipping route in the early 21st century? What are all those warships with their guns and missiles and radars and helicopters actually for? To be fair, a couple of other countries have authorized their navies to use force against the Somali pirates: India did it once, and France has just done it for the third time. The French also go in shooting even when hostages are at risk, and this time one of them died. As President Sarkozy’s spokesperson said: “France has a consistent policy to oppose all acts of piracy and make sure its citizens are never brought ashore as hostages.” But neither France nor India have

enough ships to control what we are regularly told is “a million square miles of ocean” (3.4 million sq. km.) However, that is a deliberate exaggeration, designed to suggest that the job is not being done because it is undo-able. The relevant area is really about 400,000 square miles (1.3 million sq. km.), which is quite a large tract of ocean but certainly not too big for the U.S. Navy. So the abortive Somali attack on the US-registered ship Maersk Alabama last week may have a silver lining. It may get the U.S. Navy to take over the job of fighting the pirates. The biggest problem other navies have faced in dealing with the pirates is the pitiful state of current international law. The old rules on piracy were simple: pirates were the “enemies of all mankind,” and there was a right of “universal jurisdiction” against them. Any country could arrest pirates from anywhere, regardless of nationality, and try them for their crimes. If they were captured in battle, they were even liable to summary execution. The new rules, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, require a warship to send a boarding party led by an officer onto any suspected pirate vessel to confirm its criminal intent. Until that has been done, the warship may not open fire. It is unlikely that the

lawyers consulted with practical seamen before they wrote this clause. But the United States has not ratified the Law of the Sea convention. This was not foresight, just the Senate’s customary reluctance to ratify any treaty that limits U.S. freedom of action in any way, but it is useful in this case. Normally, the U.S. government acts as if it were bound by international treaties that it has signed even when the Senate is being obstinate, but it doesn’t actually have to. So the U.S. Navy, perhaps acting in cooperation with the French and Indian navies and anybody else who has a bit of backbone, could be deployed to deal with the pirates. For a start, they could declare an exclusion zone beginning 12 nautical miles (20 km) off the Somali coast that can only be traversed by vessels that have been cleared by U.S. naval authorities. All legitimate commercial ships and pleasure-craft would be waved through automatically; all other vessels in the zone would be sunk without warning. There would still be a need for warships scattered throughout the zone to deal with pirates that slipped across the 12-mile line, but this sort of exclusion zone would allow most of the naval forces to concentrate on containing them within Somalia’s territorial waters.

Would enforcing the exclusion zone mean that some of the pirates get killed? Yes, of course, but there was a reason why pirates were defined as “enemies of all mankind.” The sea is an alien environment, a place where people die very quickly if things go wrong. Those who prey on other people in this environment have very little call on our sympathy. Would the dead also include a few Somali fishermen who enter the exclusion zone by accident or in desperation? Probably. You try to avoid it, but some innocent people almost always die when you use military force. So let the fishermen put pressure on the local warlords to end their collusion with the pirates. It is not everybody else’s duty to put up with piracy so that Somalis can go on fishing. The world has consistently failed Somalia for almost two decades while it has languished in violent anarchy. The United States bears a special responsibility, because it was behind the 2007 Ethiopian invasion that destroyed the country’s best chance of stabilizing itself since the collapse in 1991. But letting the piracy continue doesn’t help Somalia in any way, so the U.S. Navy might as well get on with the job of suppressing it. Is this actually going to happen? It could, and it should, but it remains to be seen if it will.

bags, coffee cups and any other item that careless individuals happen to leave behind while they are enjoying our beautiful countryside. Imagine our shock when we came across a refrigerator thrown into the ditch. We both asked ourselves, “Who does this kind of thing?” Do people just not care what they are doing? Are they so lazy and wrapped up in themselves that they can’t bother to drop off their garbage to a local transfer station or the city landfill site? We have monthly large item collec-

tion: You don’t even have to have a truck to dispose of such items, just leave them at the end of your driveway and they mysteriously disappear. As a taxpayer, it wasn’t long before I added up the cost of this careless act. As a parent I am very aware of the need for us to do our own part to preserve this wonderful land we call home. Since I consider myself an optimist, I chose to use this sad scene as a learning opportunity for all of us, in particular for our children. We must be responsible mem-

bers of our community. We should know and use the resources that are available to us to dispose of such garbage. We should make every effort to reuse and recycle everything we possibly can. We should also know that if we don’t look after our environment, it won’t really matter if we dump our refrigerators in the ditches because we won’t have those ditches or a land to call our home.

» LETTER TO THE EDITOR What kind of people have we become? To the Editor, I am proud to be a resident of Crosshill in the Township of Wellesley. I have lived here 25 years and have never seen such a display of lack of respect for our community and in particular our environment as I witnessed this Easter weekend. While on our walks, my 14-year-old and I regularly pick up cans, plastic

Heather Massel Crosshill

14 | COMMENT & OPINION

Mair: Politicians’ motives have to be questioned » From page 13

longer allowed to bring in new sources of energy. That must be done by the private sector, which is being allowed to stake rivers like oldtime prospectors staked claims for gold. These private firms then will divert “their” rivers, often through tunnels up to 20 kilometres in length, thus reducing the flow in portions of the river bed by up to 95 per cent. BC Hydro must pay huge contracts for this private power, often twice as much as they can get on the market. All this is done, we’re told, to meet imminent power needs in the province. I will simply deal with the claim by observing that the National Energy Board, which vets export of energy, says B.C. is in most years an exporter of power. Here is the insidious part. Even if B.C. did need new power, they would not be getting it from private operations for this reason: you cannot store electrical power in quantity: it must be used as it is created. You can, and BC Hydro does, “store” power by storing water in reservoirs behind dams but private projects have little or no ability to do that. Thus, private power, for the most part, can only be generated during the spring run-off when there’s enough water to make their generators work. That happens to be the very time BC Hydro’s reservoirs are full so that they can’t use the private power. This means that all private power produced for the foreseeable future will be for export. We have, then, a BC Hydro unable to bring in new energy sources, strangled at this writing with $30 billion dollars in sweetheart deals with the private companies, no longer able to contribute millions of dollars to the public treasury, large companies making the power and sending their profits to their shareholders. Last year BC Hydro gave the public treasury about $500 million for schools, hospitals and the like. Now that money is going out of the

province. Everywhere I go, people ask the same question. Why? The people look at the Basi-Virk “Railgate” court case and see the disappointing Attorney General Wally “Stonewally” Oppal refusing to answer questions about documents being disclosed. The premier does the same on the specious argument that the documents emerging from the trial are sub judice (before the courts). There were the huge fees paid to Ken Dobell, who was in a clear conflict of interest. We all read daily about the money that Liberal backroom boy Patrick Kinsella apparently got for consulting for the purchasers of BC Rail and the private power moguls while advising the government. Last week Sean Holman and Mark Hume, in the Globe and Mail, laid l’affaire Kinsella bare before the public. If this isn’t sleaze, what the devil is? And people, not surprisingly, ask: “What the hell’s going on here?” They reflect on the fact that Gordon Campbell ran for office as a man who loved our precious fish and promised never to give up BC Hydro or BC Rail. People see money that used to come to us now goes to foreign shareholders and they ask again: What gives? How can any decent taxpayer look at all these goings on and not say in Hamlet’s words “there’s something rotten in the state of Denmark.” That doesn’t make it so, I agree, but the air is odoriferous. What I would like to know from Campbell is more about his dealings with the sale of BC Rail, his clear attack on BC Hydro, his favouritism towards fish farmers and private power moguls (especially after posing as an environmentalist and defender of our Crown Corporations) and the conflicts of interest and huge fees paid to political favourites. All of this is bound to make ordinary citizens ask: “Mr Campbell, just what the hell is going on here?”

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

» OBSERVER Q&A Do you feel optimistic about the economy?

“I sure do, all the governments are working to get things back on track.”

“I think Canada is on the right track. I don’t think Canada has much to worry about.”

“Money seems to go out the same as it always has: it comes in, it goes out. I don’t see a big difference for me.”

“I think it will turn around, not fast, but it’s going to turn around.”

»» Lavern Brubacher

»» Trisha Lee

»» Janet Wagner

»» Kim McKenzie

» THE VIEW FROM HERE | SCOTT ARNOLD

THE FRENZY SURROUNDING THE OBAMAS’ NEW DOG TAKES A LOCAL TURN FOR THE WORST.

PRoPERtY mAIntEnAnCE SERVICES • Full Lawn Maintenance • Full Flowerbed Maintenance • Lawn Edging & De-thatching • Shrubbery/Tree Trimming • Aerating & Fertilizing • Lawn Topdressing • Mulch, Topsoil, Garden Mix, etc. • Manure • Excavating • Delivery • Commercial & Industrial Snow & Ice Control

Basics Beauty & Beyond 35 Arthur St. N., Elmira | 519-669-0237 Find the services you need all at one convenient location: Phone:

L A S E R & E L E C T R O LY S I S HAIR REMOVAL

Effective removal of skin disorders & blemishes including broken capillaries, warts and skin tags.

G Cetifiift Avail cates able

WEEKLY & monthLY SERVICE PLAnS AVAILABLE

519-669-0237 Phone:

519-210-0327

OWNER OPERATED • FAST & RELIABLE • EXPERIENCED & PROFESSIONAL

Phone:

For a FREE written estimate, please call Jeff Mitchell at:

519-699-9424

“No Job Too big or Small” Serving KW Area for over 10 years

HAIR LOFT

519-210-0411

COMMENT & OPINION |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

» LETTER TO THE EDITOR Woolwich fast becoming Bedrock To the Editor, There is a significant change underway in Woolwich Township, and I fear that without action, the beauty and uniqueness of our home will be damaged for decades to come. I am referring to the proliferation of gravel pit applications that have been submitted to Woolwich council this year. There are no less than three brand new applications underway, all within four kilometres of each other and completely surrounding the small village of Conestogo. The aggregate industry is a very well connected and funded one, and their ability to steamroll opposition is well documented. The decision to allow or disallow the operation of a specif-

ic gravel pit rests in the hands of the local, and ultimately, the provincial government. Many concerned residents have formed the ConestogoWinterbourne Residents Association to ensure that our quality of life, safety and property values are not hijacked by commercial interests. But this is not an easy battle for us. It is expensive and time-consuming. There are some real dangers posed to all of us if these pits are approved. There will be a ridiculous number of large gravel trucks driving through Conestogo via Northfield Drive and Sawmill Road, as well as through the notoriously dangerous Crowsfoot intersection. Having reviewed in detail one of the applications, their ‘traffic expert’ did not see any increased risks to life or property by potentially having 27 gravel trucks per hour go through the Crowsfoot

intersection. And that’s just the ‘expected’ traffic for a single gravel pit. This is why citizen involvement is critical. Gravel trucks are incompatible with communities. School buses and Mennonite buggies are no match for a fully loaded gravel truck. We all came together as a community to establish Woolwich as Hockeyville. And although we didn’t receive the official recognition, it’s clear to all who live here that this is Hockeyville. But there are commercial interests that wish to turn Hockeyville into Bedrock, the home of the Flintstones. I for one love this community too much to sit idly by while farmers’ fields backing onto homes with swing sets are turned into noisy, dusty and potentially fatal gravel pit operations. Let’s join together to fight this. We have a community meeting sched-

uled for Apr. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Conestoga Golf Club. The official Hunsberger pit application public meeting is on May 4 at 6:30 p.m., at the Conestogo Public School. If you are a resident of Woolwich Township, please find the time to attend these very important meetings, or prepare yourself for the persistent rumble of gravel trucks. We can effect the change necessary to preserve our quiet community, and ensure that our children grow up in a safe and protected environment. Without citizen involvement, I fear that this letter will once again be re-printed after a gravel truck and one of our loved ones has what the commercial interests would call an ‘incident.’ Mark J. McArdle Conestogo

M&S

S A L E S & R E PA I R S

VETERINARY SERVICES

Farm Tires & Batteries Hay & Grain Cutting Parts Tillage Parts

3860 Manser Rd., Linwood • 519-698-2610

RR#1 Linwood • 519-698-2180

R-W Electric Ltd. For all your electrical requirements

Commercial • Residential Maintenance 1019 Church St. E., St. Clements • 519-699-5324

NEXT CLINIC WHERE: Linwood Community Centre DATE: Friday, April 24, 2009 TIME: 2:00 - 8:30PM JONES FEED MILLS LTD.

Custom kitchens & vanities www.chervin.ca 3541 Broadway St., Hawkesville • 519-699-5661

Linwood • Heidelberg • Wroxeter 1-800-265-8735 • 519-698-2082

Heating & Air Conditioning Air Purification Systems Natural Gas Piping 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Mon - Thurs 9 - 5 Fri 9 - 8, Sat 9 - 5

www.lwcb.org

3865 Manser Rd., Linwood • 519-698-1198

Propane Gas Piping

Mike Krukowski 3836 Manser Rd., Linwood • 519-698-1137

W. Forwell Electric Inc. Residential • Commercial • Industrial

45 Park St. St. Clements • 519-699-5315

1421 King St. N., St. Jacobs | TEL: 519.664.3301 1421 King St. N., St. Jacobs • 519.664.3301

Pine Hill

MACHINING INC ST. CLEMENTS, ON N0B 2M0

RR1, 4405 Lobsinger Line 519.699.4050

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL • POLE LINE CONSTRUCTION 1025 Alfred St., Linwood • 519-698-2472

Gerber

Meats Ltd. Crosshill • 519-699-4441

Reist & WebeR butcheRing

Cleason Weber Custom Killing Wholesale Pork

RR #1, St. Jacobs • 519-664-2656

WITT’S HOME HARDWARE 5158a Ament Ln., Linwood • 519-698-2060

FABRICS & QUILTING SUPPLIES CHINA DINNER SETS • CUTLERY WATCHES • PENS • POCKET KNIVES

One Kilometre south of Winterbourne on Waterloo Regional Rd. 23

RR #3 - Reg. Rd. #17, Wallenstein • 519-698-2152

Regional Rd. 23 • 519-664-3701

16 | BUSINESS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

BUSINESS » NEW FORMAT FOR VENDORS

Mercedes goes back to market

Former site of Waterloo Farmers’ Market now home to Market Road Antiques in St. Jacobs Everything old is … now under a new roof in St. Jacobs. Since the beginning of the month, Market Road Antiques has been taking on vendors and merchandise in a spot once home to the Sunday market. Though just opened, one of Mercedes Corp.’s most recent ventures already boasts some 70 vendors. That list is expected to grow to 100. Even under the current economic conditions, business appears to be going well for the young outfit. “It’s good. We’re fairly pleased. We’ve been open two weeks now and we’re very happy with how things are going,” said Sheila Shantz, Mercedes’ director of marketing operations. “We’re very pleased.” The new facility, located at 845 Weber St. N., is home to 22,000 square feet of shopping space, pending the completion of current renovations. Awash in natural light, the building makes for a pleasant shopping experience, Shantz said. The plethora of vendors means that shoppers can

PHOTO | DAVE FRASER

MARC MIQUEL HELSEN

GOOD TIMING Sigfred Knudsen, who restores antique clocks in his home shop, finds the format ideal at the newly opened Market Road Antiques in St. Jacobs. count on a steady supply of always-changing lines of vintage products, including antique furniture, china, goblets, jewelry, books, collectibles, records and books. “What’s nice about it is that because there are so many vendors they’re restocking, basically, daily. Because we have different dealers coming every day and restocking their

Need Help Navigating The Markets? Your objectives for investing are unique to you — but an objective that we all share is a desire to see results.

booths, there’s always new products coming in and turning over,” said Shantz, counting carnival glass, Depression glass, and Lladro figurines among her personal favourite finds. Open for business since Apr. 1, plans for the new antique shop got underway after the Waterloo Farmers’ Market closed in January. Heeding the

call from several dealers who used to operate out of the Waterloo County Antique Warehouse, Mercedes decided to turn the former market building into Market Road Antiques. Some of the dealers who had previously called the King Street facility their home subsequently moved into the new venue; a number of

Put Money Back In Your Pocket

MANUF RING ACT DISCOUURER’S NT Up to $ 1,000 O FF Select M odels OFFER EN MAY 25DS

JOYCE REIMER B.A.

Elmira Theatre Company Inc. — PRESENTS —

The Fire Inside BY TERESA BROWN

Heat Multiple Buildings, Domestic Water, Shops, and more

Call me to talk about getting results.

Financial Management Advisor Certified Senior Advisor

new dealers also signed up. Vendors at Market Road Antiques get a booth to showcase their products. But instead of staffing the booth, vendors rely on a full-time and parttime centralized staff and billing system. Sales are looked after by the staff, and a commission percentage goes to the house.

Though not a new formula, the system appears to be working, said Shantz. “A lot of the dealers are used to that model and they do like it. “It allows them to set up in a number of different locations and they can still do different antique shows and it also gives them time to do their buying as well,” she said. For Kitchener’s Sigfred Knudsen, who restores antique mechanical clocks from his home shop, the new store offers an indispensible opportunity, one that makes his business viable. His primary work comes in restoring old clocks, mostly ones that date back to the 1920s and 1930s, but also some that go as far back as 1850. In addition to restoring clocks, Knudsen hunts for them at flea markets, garage sales and antique sales, restores them and then resells them, as well as other collectibles, at the antiques market. “They staff it, and you pay a small rent. If you had to rent your own store and pay a staff member, it would be impossible. This is the only way.” Market Road Antiques is open seven days a week.

DIRECTED BY DEB DECKERT

Tickets: $18

Burning wood results in no net increase in carbon monoxide, a major greenhouse gas emission

Produced by special permission of the Playwright

Experience the excitement, triumphs and tragedies of a volunteer firefighter.

BMO

NESBITT BURNS

Bank of Montreal 53 Arthur St. South Elmira, Ontario N3B 2M6

All performances held at

PUMPS PLUS LTD.

P.O. Box 311, Elmira ON. N3B 2Z7 PHONE: 519-669-4622 TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-6148

519-669-5004

Elmira Theatre Company at 76 Howard Ave. Elmira www.elmiratheatre.com Tickets are available through the Centre in the Square box office

BOX OFFICE | 519-578-1570 | 1-800-265-8977 or online at www.centre-square.com

BUSINESS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

» FOOD FOR THOUGHT | OWEN ROBERTS

Food’s value should anchor national plan In the next few weeks, Ottawa is likely to announce a $100-million plus commitment over four years to create agricultural research clusters, focused on industry priorities. The federal government believes these clusters will address the immediate needs its officials heard about on an earlier eight-city fact-finding tour, during which representatives from universities, industry groups, and federal employees, among others, suggested where Ottawa should be putting its emphasis. I don’t know which industry priorities will be addressed. But given some of the recent problems in the food system, it would be reasonable to expect food safety to be among them. However, Ottawa has an even bigger, longer-term strategy in mind. It wants to hear what it calls “blue sky” ideas about how it can make agricultural research pertinent to Canadians. No holds barred, anything goes, fuelled by an annual budget nearly twice the size of the entire four-year cluster program. Marc Fortin, deputy minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, stopped in Guelph Wednesday for a seminar at the university to explain Ottawa’s approach. He believes great opportunities exist for the federal government – which he says has about

half of the agricultural research capacity in Canada – and universities, which have the other half, to work more closely together. The timing for scoping out a united plan is important. Up to 40 per cent of the 500 federal researchers who work with agriculture and food could retire in the next five years. Those who replace them will have new skills and potentially new interests, depending on who gets hired. That’s why a plan’s needed, so the respective parties can determine the core priorities and determine who will take the lead. Fortin asked the unexpectedly large crowd of about 100 people gathered to hear him what values and principles should guide such decision-making about research. As well, he wondered what new services Canadians could be offered from such a concerted research endeavour. He thinks it’s reasonable that more funding be sought, given that some emerging powers are pouring more per capita into agricultural research than Canada. But he believes more funding will only follow new services and ideas. “We haven’t told Canadians what we want money for, and I’m not sure we will be successful if we ask for money for the same thing,” he said. “Taxpayers get cheap food and [farmers] are generally doing OK, so how can we ask for more money?” No doubt researchers will accept Fortin’s invitation to offer ideas about collaboration and the way forward. A

Buy Smart Buy ECHO! GT-200R

PLUS get a

FREE ECHO Cap!

Chain C hain S Saw aw 14 14””

$169.95

PB-200

SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS

Blower

ECHO power ECHO dealer.

$179.95

Log Splitter Model LS21160

$2099.95

2.75” Chipper Shredder

Model SC3206

Model SC2206

$1499.95

$999.95

Proudly Renting, Selling & Servicing

Courtesy Warranty Repairs on Echo & Bear Cat Products

DONATE...

Your gently used articles-clothing, housewares, toys, books, furniture...$1.00 coupon towards store purchase for every donation

a bargin with daily 1/2 price sales and the $1.00 clothing rack! SHOP... Find Hundreds of new items daily! Your purchase makes a difference! ...Enter the draw for a $20.00 gift certificate for purchase in the store every time you use your own bag or don’t take a bag

Special pricing is in effect until May 31, 2009 at the following participating ECHO Dealer(s).

3” Chipper Shredder

APRIL 20-25 OPEN LATE EARTH DAY

For Earth week...

ECHO was the first manufacturer to offer a five year consumer warranty on all of their products including lifetime ignition. Plus, the new Power Boost Vortex™ engine is more powerful, fuel efficient and environmentally clean.

www.echo.ca

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY with MCC Thrift & Gift (early shopping of new 1/2 price sales after 5pm)

$229.95

with purchase of any tool.

food’s value to Canadians, and get them to take another look at the cheap-is-best approach. That point was made to a panel of Liberal MPs, including Guelph’s Frank Valeriote, who were in Guelph Tuesday on a fact-finding mission of their own. The Liberals are trying to create an all-encompassing food policy, and like federal agriculture officials, they’ve been touring the country to seek expert opinion. They’ve heard time and again that farmers are being squeezed, despite what Ottawa thinks. And if farmers can’t make a living, a national food policy is for naught.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 UNTIL 9PM

CS-310 C S-310 S310

Trimmers

compelling case can be made to Canadians for research support for agriculture and food, based on a combination of human health, environmental health and economic prosperity. Right now, agriculture, Canada’s secondlargest industry, is being heralded as an economic engine, lauded for its stability compared to the auto sector. It’s ironic that in the future, agriculture is poised to become a significant part of the auto sector by providing biomaterials that can make car and truck production more sustainable. That, as a research priority, should really be a part of the bigger plan. And so should efforts to explain

519.669.0524

100 Union St., Elmira, Ontario (Reist Industries)

See www.woolwichrentals.ca for our growing list of rental equipment.

clothing or housewares... call or VOLUNTEER... Sorting drop in and talk to Betty KIDS! List how many things we recycle in the store! Clues are in the store! ENTER THE DRAW for a $5.00 Gift Certificate to spend in the store. For details ask a cashier (for 12 years of age and under) Proceeds from the MCC Thrift & Gift Shop benefit the relief work of Mennonite Central Committee in 56 countries around the world. In Ontario MCC supports Aboriginal Neighbours, Low German Program, Refugee Assistance, Restorative Justice and more...

Where every purchase is a gift to the world. THRIFT & GIFT

visit www.mcc.org

59 CHURCH ST. W. | 519-669-8475 STORE HOURS: Monday to Friday, 9:30 to 5:00 Saturday 9:30 to 4:00

18 | SPORTS

SPORTS

» RINGETTE

» COACHING

Fostering the coaches behind the athletes PHOTOS | SUBMITTED

SCENES FROM A VICTORY Above right, the St. Clements Junior AA ringette team erupts in cheers after winning the gold-medal game against Alberta 4-1. Above, Lana VanFrankenfoort looks for a clear shot on Alberta’s netminder. Right, Paige Nosal competes for a ring.

St. Clements squad claims national ringette title Junior team goes undefeated, taking out tournament-favourite Alberta in final match JONI MILTENBURG The St. Clements Junior AA ringette team put up a solid gold performance last weekend, capturing the title at the Canadian ringette championships in Charlottetown, P.E.I. “It’s like a dream, everything we have worked so hard for,” said co-coach Terry Nosal. Playing as Team Ontario, St. Clements went undefeated through the entire tournament, downing Alberta 4-1 in the final game. On Apr. 6, the first day of round-robin play, Ontario defeated Nova Scotia 11-4 and Manitoba 8-1. The fol-

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

lowing day, Tuesday, they racked up an 11-4 victory over B.C. and a 3-1 win over Quebec. Team Ontario faced its toughest challenge on Wednesday, as it came up against Alberta, the favourite to win the tournament. The St. Clements squad handed Alberta a 7-6 loss, its first of the entire season, and followed that up with a 10-3 win over New Brunswick. Ontario notched another pair of wins on Thursday, over P.E.I. and Saskatchewan, earning a bye into the championship game. On Friday, they watched Alberta and Quebec face off in the semifinals, waiting to

see which team they would meet in the gold medal game. “We didn’t know whether we wanted to play Quebec or Alberta,” Nosal said. “Alberta was all fast, and they were all good, every single player; they could shoot – you never saw the shot. Quebec was very rough, but their goalie was amazing.” Alberta edged out Quebec 5-4 in overtime, meaning St. Clements would battle Alberta again. Nosal said she and cocoach Scott Nosal were a bit nervous about going into the championship undefeated, especially after not playing any games on Friday. “Scott and I knew that

skill-wise we were OK, but mentally it was going to be harder just because of that.” The coaches made sure the entire team watched the semi-final game to study Alberta’s play, and stressed a strong defence. “Everybody had a defensive role, even the forwards, so we didn’t allow Alberta to control the ring between the bluelines,” Nosal said. “I had said to the girls before the game started, we will win or lose this game between the bluelines.” The girls took the message to heart and took control of the game, scoring twice in the first half and adding See RINGETTE »22

Ontario Coaches Week runs Apr. 18-27; local events planned for Woolwich MARC MIQUEL HELSEN The men and women behind the bench, in the dugout and on the sidelines will be honoured during Ontario Coaches Week, which runs Apr. 18-27. Coordinating events in almost 30 communities throughout the province, the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO) will host a week of activities in an effort to draw more people to the fold and recognize those who are already coaching young athletes. “We’re trying to recruit more people into coaching because we think it’s a very valuable role that the coach plays in the sport community, and also, it’s about recognizing and celebrating all the positive coaches who are out there and who are volunteering their time to develop young athletes,” said Jessica Taggio, the organization’s manager of marketing and communications. Throughout the week, free workshops targeting new coaches, including women, aboriginals and youth, will be offered. Also on tap is a wide range of fun and interactive events providing coaches, from the novice to the veteran levels, with access to experienced coaches, free resources and networking opportunities. The week-long celebration is funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport Canada. Locally, Woolwich will offer a free NCCP clinic Apr. 25-26. The course will delve into topics such as designing a basic sports program, teaching and learning and basic mental skills, said Taggio. There are no prerequisites for this course. See COACHES »19

SPORTS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

» THE NOT-SO-GREAT OUTDOORSMAN | STEVE GALEA

A bad case of them ol’ reloader’s blues I have reloaded my own shotshells for more than 30 years; so you think I would have known better than to start reloading cartridges for my rifle. I took up this dangerous pastime this year on the advice of a friend of mine who has been “rolling his own” for as long as he can remember. “You’ll get just what you want,” he said. “And you’ll save money.” I should have taken this as a sign. Those are the two reasons I rationalized marriage, and look how that worked out.

Reloading is dangerous, but not physically. In fact, if you are careful and follow instructions, few things are less perilous. It’s only dangerous in that it might drive you to the poor house. Sure, you save money on the cost per individual cartridge; but that only offsets the money you have spent, or will spend, on the initial equipment and the more technologically advanced stuff that you have your eye on. Plus you’ll shoot far more often, and that isn’t cheap either. Believe me, if Obama mandated that every American took up this pastime, the world would be out of a recession in about a week. On the plus side, you get to work up a load.

Coaches: Developing athletes » From page 18

The workshop, which welcomes coaches of all sports, will take place at Woolwich Gymnastics Club at 97 Earl Martin Dr. in Elmira. “We are excited about that because we know how difficult it is for coaches to find time and it’s expensive to upgrade, so, it’s good of the coaches association to actually offer this up once a year,” rainbarrel ad 2009:rainbarrel ad 2005 said Charlotte Foell, head

coach of the Woolwich Gymnastics Club. “I think sport for kids, regardless of what sport they participate in, is so important for them to become strong-minded, strong participants in community as adults – a lot of self-confidence is built through sport,” said Foell. Throughout coaches week, work shop leaders will explore issues like 1/15/09 3:44 PM Page how parents and1coaches

can work together to provide positive sports experiences for their children. “Everything is based on a long-term athlete development model: trying to get kids enjoying sports and being active at a young age so that it will be a lifelong pursuit of leading a healthy active life,” said Taggio. For more information about Ontario Coaches Week, visit www.coachesontario.ca.

Essentially, this means that you develop a very accurate custom cartridge for your rifle. Yesterday, I finally achieved that. Using cartridges I loaded, I fired a five-shot group within a one-inch circle on target at 100 yards. Usually, the only way I achieve one-inch groups is by shooting one bullet. In any case, today, I will modify the load a bit to try to improve this. That’s what reloaders do. It doesn’t matter that I’ve never achieved this kind of accuracy before. Now, I’m suddenly unsatisfied with it. So I’ll spend more money on premium bullets. See how this gets dangerous? With these dollar-a-bullet custom jobs, the right atmospheric conditions, a uniform heart-rate, a good night’s sleep, a $200 custom bench rest, proper technique, a $500 spotting scope, several books on the psychology of shooting, and a lot of luck, I might be able to shave an eighth of an inch off the size of that group. But that won’t be enough. Why, you ask, do reloaders do this? Simple really; with my homemade custom cartridges, even the smallest deer doesn’t stand a chance. If a buck three

Savings on electricity-saving products are back

It’s time for the Rainwater Harvest!

$30 eoanclhy cash

inches at the shoulders stepped out from behind a mushroom at 100 yards, he’d be good as in the freezer. When put this way it makes perfect sense right? Of course, if that same deer stepped out at 200 yards, I’d need a more accurate load or rifle. Ah, but you are saying that there’s no such thing as a deer that small! Right, but there is a three-inch hole in the brush that you have to thread a bullet through to get a full-sized deer. There are literally millions of those. OK, I’ll admit it; this reloading hobby has now taken on a life of its own. It’s just a lot of fun to make your own cartridges, go to the range and squeeze the best performance you can out of your rifle. It’s nice to know that the rifle you have can invariably shoot far better than you are capable of, and it’s nice to see your own shooting improve simply because you are shooting more and removing a few negative variables. It’s good clean fun. It’s relaxing. It’s precise and scientific. You’ll get what you want. And you’ll save money. Yeah right!

Saturday, April 25 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (while quantities last) The Region of Waterloo is distributing Rain Barrels at a subsidized cost of $30 (cash only).

Save $ 25 on ENERG qualifi Y STAR ® ed cei ling fa ns

Purchase your Rain Barrel at one of three locations:

Fairview Park Mall, Kitchener Cambridge Centre Mall Conestoga Mall, Waterloo RAIN BARREL RULES • One per household maximum. • Waterloo Region residents only (proof of residency required). • First come, First served!

The Power Savings Event is back for spring! Visit participating stores and pick-up money-saving coupons on electricity-saving products like specialty CFL light bulbs, clothesline kits, pool pump timers and more.

Get your coupons today!

Questions: 519-575-4021

Valid only until May 22. For details and participating stores visit: everykilowattcounts.ca

www.region.waterloo.on.ca/water OM

20 | SPORTS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

WHEN IT DOESN'T BELONG, IT STANDS OUT.

Notice of Statutory Public MeetiNg SecoNd draft of the New regioNalofficial PlaN Date: Time: Place:

May 12 and 13, 2009 5 p.m. Regional Council Chambers 150 Frederick St., 2nd Floor, Kitchener

Regional Council would like to invite all community members to come and share their thoughts on the second draft of the Regional Official Plan (ROP) at a public meeting on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 5 p.m. at 150 Frederick St., Kitchener in Council Chambers. An additional Public Meeting on the draft ROP may be held the following night Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at the same time and location if the number of registered delegations exceeds what can reasonably be heard at the first meeting. The ROP is a legal document, required under the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P. 13, which contains a variety of goals, objectives and policies to guide land-use planning in Waterloo Region over the next 20 years. The Region is developing a new ROP to address the many challenges and opportunities affecting our growing community, including new Provincial policy and legislation that influences where and how we grow. Section 12 of the Places to Grow Act, R.S.O 2005, c. 13, requires the Region to amend the ROP to conform to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (Growth Plan) no later than three years after the enactment of the Growth Plan, that is, by no later than June 16, 2009. The public meeting regarding the second draft of the ROP is being held pursuant to Section 17 of the Planning Act, for the purpose of providing information and receiving comments from the public. No decision will be made on the second draft of the ROP at this meeting. If you wish to be notified of the adoption or refusal of the recommended ROP in June 2009, you may sign a register available at the meeting or make a written request to the Regional Clerk, Region of Waterloo, 150 Frederick Street, 2nd Floor, Kitchener, ON N2G 4J3.

Tim Hortons wants to get together with you to clean up our neighbourhood and put litter in its place. Because it’s not just any community, it’s our community. So come out and join us on Saturday April 25, 8:30am till 12noon. For location details, please call 519-669-6027.

If a person or public body that files a notice of appeal of the decision of the Region of Waterloo Council regarding the ROP does not make oral submissions at the public meeting or make written submissions to the Region of Waterloo before the recommended ROP is adopted, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss all or part of the appeal. If you wish to speak at the public meeting, please register in advance by calling the Regional Clerk’s Office at 519-575-4420 by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2009. The second draft of the ROP was prepared following a four-month community consultation program regarding the first draft of the ROP, which was released on September 26, 2008. Throughout the community consultation period for the first draft of the ROP, Regional staff received 145 separate submissions and 38 delegations at two public meetings held on January 28 and 29, 2009, and many more verbal submissions at each of eight public open houses and individual meetings with external stakeholder groups. A Draft ROP Response Document has been produced, which summarizes all of the submissions received and provides short answers to all of the questions posed in those submissions. To view a copy of the Draft ROP Response Document or view a copy of the second draft of the ROP and all of the submissions received please visit: www.region.waterloo.on.ca/newrop. Copies of these documents may also be viewed at the Planning, Housing and Community Services Department on the 8th floor of Regional Administration Headquarters, 150 Frederick St., Kitchener. If you would like further information on the second draft of the ROP or if you require any special assistance to participate in the Public Meeting please contact any of the following staff: Bridget Coady at 519-575-4500 ext. 3112 or by e-mail cbridget@region.waterloo.on.ca Cushla Matthews at 519-575-4087 or by e-mail mcushla@region.waterloo.on.ca John Lubczynski at 519-575-4532 or by e-mail lujohn@region.waterloo.on.ca Kevin Curtis at 519-575-4794 or by e-mail cukevin@region.waterloo.on.ca

Call for Nominations The Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation is seeking nominations for: • Awards of Excellence, to recognize outstanding contributions to the preservation of Waterloo Region’s heritage; • The Sally Thorsen Award of Excellence, to recognize a person who has demonstrated, for at least 10 years of his/her professional life, an outstanding commitment to the preservation of Waterloo Region’s heritage; • The Dr. Jean Steckle Award for Heritage Education, to recognize an individual who has demonstrated leadership in heritage education through teaching, writing or by example, and who has encouraged and mentored others in the understanding and appreciation of the natural or cultural heritage of Waterloo Region. The award ceremonies will take place at the Annual General Meeting Tuesday, June 9, 2009 The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 1, 2009 For further information, please visit the Foundation’s web site at www.wrhf.org Or, contact Michael Grivicic, Foundation Secretary, By telephone (519) 575-4493 and by email gmike@region.waterloo.on.ca

Or write to us at: Draft Regional Official Plan c/o Region of Waterloo Planning, Housing and Community Services 150 Frederick St., 8th Floor Kitchener, Ontario N2G 4J3 All comments and information received from individuals, stakeholder groups and agencies regarding this project are being collected to assist the Region of Waterloo in making a decision. Under the Municipal Act, personal information such as name, address, telephone number, and property location that may be included in a submission that becomes part of the public record. Questions regarding the collection of this information should be referred to the people indicated above. Accessibility: This event is accessible for people with disabilities. Accessible Parking is available. If you require assistance to attend or participate in this meeting, or to access information in alternative formats, please contact Regional Staff (as above) at least five days prior to the meeting.

For more detailed information about the Foundation and its programs, visit www.wrhf.org, or call the Region of Waterloo offices at (519) 575-4493 Joseph Schneider Haus, Kitchener

SPORTS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

EDSS player headed to CWOSSAA JONI MILTENBURG Badminton is a deceptive game. The hardest smash travels faster than the hardest tennis serve, but the bird slows more quickly. Advanced players can make the bird spin, dip and tumble to confuse their opponent. Learning the game is also much harder than it looks. “A lot of people think it’s easy, but it’s definitely not,” said Mel Blake. Blake is representing Elmira District Second-

ary School at CWOSSAA this week, after advancing from last week’s WCSSAA competition. At WCSSAA, she won six matches and lost two to finish fourth in her category. Blake was the only member of the badminton team to make it to CWOSSAA. A five-sport athlete, Blake took up badminton because it filled the gap between volleyball and track. All the sports she does, including baseball, basketball and javelin, involve upper body strength, but that didn’t

mean it was easy to pick up badminton. Blake joined the badminton team four years ago, and this is the first year she’s had any kind of success. She started out playing mixed doubles, but switched to singles in her second year. “I like the fast pace in singles and just the skill level you have to have,” she said. Training this week in advance of CWOSSAA, badminton coach Mark Carlin had her practicing footwork and covering the entire court.

“She’s a very strong hitter,” Carlin said. “She can hit the bird from one end of the court to the other very easily.” “I have to work on drop shots; I usually get them smashed back in my face,” Blake said. EDSS sent 21 players to WCSSAA; a full squad of 16 seniors and only five juniors. The senior boys’ doubles team of Brendon Martin and Justin Raimbault were the school’s other big hope, but they came up just one match short of advancing.

VO I S I N PHOTO | DAVE FRASER

CHRYSLER LTD

WATCH THE BIRDY Mel Blake lifts the bird back over the net on Wednesday. Blake was getting in a last practice before heading to CWOSSAA on Thursday.

361 Arthur Street South Elmira ON N3B 3N2 PH: (519)669-2831 FAX: (519)669-1384

Voisin Chrysler would like to welcome our

NEW Service Manager Murray Kellington! Murray has come to us with a great deal of knowledge and experience. We are very excited to introduce and welcome him to Voisins!

WCS seeks those up for a challenge JONI MILTENBURG Woolwich Community Services is looking for people with a sense of adventure and some fundraising skills for the third annual Wild Woolwich Challenge May 2. Based on the popular reality TV show the Amazing Race, the Wild Woolwich Challenge has teams of two people following cryptic clues to community landmarks and completing tasks. The stops on this year’s challenge are top secret, but in the past teams have had to do things like perform a gymnastics routine at the gymnastics club, take apart a computer at Reality Bytes and make Rice Krispie squares blindfolded. “Last year they just absolutely had a blast,” said WCS community resource coordinator Kelly Christie. The past two years, the challenge has raised more than $5,000, and Christie is hoping to push that figure over $10,000 this year. There is space for 20 teams, and so far 12 have registered.

There are prizes for the first, second and thirdplace finishers, and for participants who raise more than $200. Anyone who raises more than $200 will also get a ballot for the grand prize draw, with an additional ballot for every additional $50 in pledges. The top prize is a laptop computer and carrying case reconditioned and donated by Reality Bytes. The challenge is just one of seven or eight fundraisers WCS organizes every year to raise money for their programs. The money goes toward the Woolwich Youth Centre, the Kids and I Resource Centre, the St. Jacobs Family Support Centre and the backpack program and birthday cupboard at WCS. “I would really encourage people to come out,” Christie said. “People just have a riot with it; it’s a really fun way to spend a Saturday morning.” To register your team, stop in at WCS, 73 Arthur St. S, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. For more information, contact Christie at 519669-5139.

At Voisins our Service Department is dedicated to customer satisfaction and getting the job done right the first time on all automotive repairs. Our Service Manager and technicians are professional experts in diagnosing and repairing all makes and models of vehicles. We are confident that Murray will continue to provide the excellent customer service that we pride ourselves on. Voisin Chrysler is a family owned and operated dealership that is dedicated to achieving the highest level of customer satisfaction through its Sales, Service and Parts Departments. Our team will go above and beyond to make you feel like a part of our family. Allow us to demonstrate our commitment to excellence! We offer rental vehicles for overnight repairs, as well as a shuttle service within Elmira and surrounding area for your convenience.

Keep your vehicle running its best with our SERVICE SPECIAL Refreshing and Responsible. In the spirit of keeping things green, we’re pleased to offer this Mopar stainless steel beverage bottle as our gift when you care for your vehicle with a featured service special.

Free with Purchase

Peace-of-Mind Maintenance Service

†

available at additional cost

Service Includes: • Up to 5 litres of 5W30/5W20 Mopar® oil • Mopar oil filter • Rotation of 4 tires • Peace-of-Mind Inspection of cooling system, all fluid levels, electronic battery test, front and rear brake systems, exhaust system, suspension system • Written report of findings Additional charges may be applied for diesel, V10s, HEMI® engines, V8s, fluid disposal, semi-synthetic and synthetic oil.

Call us at 519-669-2831 www.voisinchrysler.com

22 | SPORTS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

Ringette: Everything comes together in genuine team effort » From page 18

two more in the second. With 40 seconds left in the game, the crowd of 1,000 parents and players in the stands started counting down with the clock. “I was thinking, ‘oh no … it’s not over yet.’ I knew they weren’t going to score four goals, but you never know,” Nosal said. In the last few seconds, Alberta got possession in Ontario’s end and pulled their goalie, pouring four attackers on the ice. One quick pass and they blasted a shot into On-

tario’s net with a second left in the game, making it 4-1. The St. Clements squad had a little help for the nationals; with only two lines, they were allowed to pick up some extra players from anywhere in Ontario. That resulted in the addition of Sydney Grainger and Kaylee Whitcroft from Dorchester, Sarah Gross and Kali MacAdam from Ottawa and goaltender Alana Raymond of Ajax. The Nosals knew Alberta would be looking to shut down their top scorers, Josie Scott and Sam

APRIL 19-25 The work of the volunteer is essential work. National Volunteer Week (NVW) pays tribute to the millions of Canadian volunteers who donate their time and energy.

Caregiving Centre - Elmira Leisureworld Elmira would like to take the opportunity to thank its many volunteers for their dedication to our residents. THANK YOU!

519-669-5777 • 120 Barnswallow Dr., Elmira

Nosal, so they asked the new recruits to step up. And they did; MacAdam scored a pair of goals in the final match, and Whitcroft added another. “They’re the ones that came up big in the final game,” Nosal said. “It’s sad because [now] we have to go back to our own teams and play against each other.” Josie Scott led the tournament in scoring, with 23 goals and six assists. Sam Nosal tied for second with 25 points, and Paige Nosal was tied for fourth with 21. It was the way the team

NATIONAL The Volunteer Action Centre VOLUNTEER WEEK would like to

APRIL 19 to 25, 2009

THANK our community volunteers for their contribution of Time and Talent!

www.volunteerkw.ca

Elliott CoaCh linEs STC Elmira Division School Buses Available for Charter

175 Union St. • 519-669-5198

“Thank you to our incredible volunteers; we couldn’t provide our services without you”

gelled and played together that took them to the top, Nosal said.

“We didn’t have the most talented team there, player-wise, but they all

knew how to use each other, so I think that really helped.”

SCORECARD WOOLWICH ATOM AE BOYS Lincoln tournament

Kieswetter, Brant McLaughlin, Sheldon Metzger x2)

Apr. 3 – Game 1

Game 3

Woolwich 5, St. George 1 Goals: Nathan Schwarz, Colby Bond, Mathew Uhrig, Sheldon Metzger x2 (Gareth Rowland, Cameron Rose, Brett Henry, Mathew Uhrig, Nick Kieswetter x2)

Woolwich 8, Lincoln 1 Goals: Brant McLaughlin x3, Sheldon Metzger, Nick Kieswetter, Nathan Schwarz, Cameron Rose, Gareth Rowland (Alex Taylor x3, Aaron Weigel, Colby Bond, Brett Henry, Mathew Uhrig x2, Sheldon Metzger, Jacob Dubue x2, Gareth Rowland)

Apr. 4 – Game 2

Woolwich 6, Paris 1 Goals: Nathan Schwarz x2, Sheldon Metzger, Alex Taylor, Mathew Uhrig x2 (Gareth Rowland, Mathew Uhrig, Nick

Apr. 5

Petrolia 4, Woolwich 3

Goals: Nathan Schwarz, Brant McLaughlin, Sheldon Metzger (Cameron Rose, Earl Schwartz, Mathew Uhrig)

WOOLWICH NOVICE LL #1 BOYS Mar. 31

Woolwich 2, St George 1 Goals: Brody Waters X2 (Owen Hill-Ring, Ryan Elliott, Garret Reitzel) Apr. 3

Woolwich 2, St George 0 Goals: Bradley Hale, Jacob Code (Brad Hale)

The Council of the Township of Wellesley thanks ALL of the volunteers who serve our Municipality for their continued support in helping our Community Grow.

THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WELLESLEY 4639 Lobsinger Line, St. Clements PHONE

519-699-4611

9 Mill St. • 519-669-5161

Leeanna Pendergast , MPP Kitchener-Conestoga

National

Volunteer Week April 19 – 25, 2009 Thank you to the outstanding volunteers who are helping build safe, caring and vital communities across our region.

RR#2 Breslau • 519-648-2608

Together We Can! Caring, Compassion, Commitment for Kitchener-Conestoga

Community Office

8 Snyder Ave. • 519-669-4111

1170 Fischer-Hallman Road, Suite 230 - Kitchener, ON N2E 3Z3 T: 519-571-3276 F: 519-571-8660 E: lpendergast.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org www.leeannapendergast.onmpp.ca

April 19 to 25, 2009

The Township of Woolwich "Proudly Remembering Our Past;

Thank you! Did you know that Woolwich Community Services Volunteers are the "Diamonds" of the Community?

Together, we’re strong in the fight against cancer.

Celebrating Volunteers Recognizing the commitment and contributions of Canadian Cancer Society volunteers, who are at the centre of it all in communities across Canada.

"Thank you for all you do!" r we make a difference! to g e t h e

come join our team

73 Arthur St. S. • 519-669-5139

Make Cancer History Visit www.cancer.ca or call (519) 886-8888

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

Confidently Embracing Our Future."

The Mayor and Council of the Township of Woolwich would like to commend all volunteers. The unrelenting dedication of volunteers in Woolwich communities is deeply appreciated.

Thank You! 24 Church St. W., Elmira

519-669-1647 or 519-664-2613

www.woolwich.ca

The Region of Waterloo Library thanks our dedicated volunteers for their efforts and contributions in support of excellent rural library service. Volunteers: Building a Stronger Community. If you would like information on becoming a library volunteer, call your local branch: Bloomingdale Branch Elmira Branch Linwood Branch St. Clements Branch St. Jacobs Branch Wellesley Branch

519-745-3151 519-669-5477 519-698-2700 519-699-4341 519-664-3443 519-656-2001

ENTERTAINMENT |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

ENTERTAINMENT » LIVE THEATRE

ETC ready to set the stage on fire Volunteer firefighters at the heart of The Fire Inside, which makes its premiere in Elmira Theatre Company production STEVE KANNON For the next couple of weeks, there’ll be no place safer than the Elmira Theatre. That’s because you can expect to find a sizable contingent of township firefighters taking in The Fire Inside, which runs Apr. 23 to May 9. The play, written by Baden’s Teresa Brown, is a two-act drama about volunteer firefighting in a small town. The plot follows the rookie John McConnell (Joe Brenner) over the course of one year as a volunteer firefighter. He joins not knowing what he’s getting into, and indeed soon discovers that the job is not entirely what he expected. Increasingly, John is torn between excitement and boredom, triumphs and frustrations, camaraderie and horror, and he begins debating whether he’s “got it in him” to do the job. For the Elmira Theatre Company’s Deb Deckert, whose son is a third generation firefighter in Linwood, the script had an immediate resonance. When reading it, she laughed at times in recog-

HEATING IT UP The ETC production of The Fire Inside, which opens Apr. 23, offers insight into the perils and rewards of being a volunteer firefighter. At left, Jeff Dakin and Kimberly Young rehearse a scene. Above, Cathy Read-Wilson, Andrew Frey, Joe Brenner, Thom Smith and Dakin. Right, Deb Franklin and Brenner. nition of how true-to-life the scenarios are, situations that will be recognized by firefighters and their families. The reality reflects the fact the playwright’s husband is a longtime volunteer with the fire department in Baden. Taken with the story, Deckert was a little hesitant about the technical requirements of staging the play, but eventually overcame those concerns. Audiences will experience the drama of the rescue calls through radio dialogue as images flash

on the back wall. It’s the first time ETC will be using this kind of projection, she said, adding the productions she directs are known for taxing the technical and acting range of the company. “I always want all the bells and whistles,” she chuckled. The theatre company also found plenty of support from fire stations in Woolwich, Wellesley and Wilmot in putting together the gear and equipment needed. Though dealing with some serious issues, The

Fire Inside has its lighter side too. “There are some funny moments in it. You can see how they use comedy as a coping mechanism. And you see the camaraderie of the crew,” said Deckert, applying the “dramedy” label. The play includes fire and other emergency scenes, personal moments both dramatic and humourous, and ordinary day-to-day duties. There is no melodramatic heroism in the play, but there is one unifying question: “why does someone be-

come a volunteer firefighter?” Though open-ended, the question is central to the play, she explained. In a small town setting, firefighters are more likely to be confronted with emergency situations involving family, friends and neighbours – making the job that much more difficult to cope with. “It’s tough when you’ve got a personal stake in it.” Originally entitled Fire Red Blood and set in Baden, the play has been renamed and moved to Linwood, Deckert’s home

for 30 years before she moved to Elmira. The changes, made in conjunction with Brown, come to a story that’s making its world premiere on the Elmira stage. The Elmira Theatre Company production of The Fire Inside runs Apr. 23 to May 9, with 8 p.m. shows Thursday-Saturday, and two Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. at 76 Howard Ave., Elmira. Tickets are $18, available at the Centre in the Square box office in Kitchener by calling 578-1570 or 1-800265-8977.

woolwich minor hockey annual meeting TUESDAY APRIL 28, 2009 - 7:00 PM ST JACOBS FIRE HALL

Spring Special Edition Central Vacuum System Priced with Beam Standard Electric Cleaning Package...

779

Available with Standard Air Package...

57900

BEAM HAS ALL THE TOOLS YOU NEED FOR A SUPERIOR CLEAN!

with a Beam central

NOW ON

• 600 Air Watts of cleaning power • Sound insulation System • 10 Year Warranty

SALE!

Central Vacuums, Cleaning Packages & Accessories are On Sale Now!

Get a superior clean vacuum system. The best selling brand in Canada for more than 50 years.

All parents and members are welcome & ENCOURAGED to attend. Various executive positions are open for the 2009/2010 Season. Please consider volunteering. Mark your calenders and plan to attend.

RACERS WANTED Driver Search is on Now!

REGISTRATION OPEN HOUSE Sunday, April 19 from 1 until 4pm

Summer Race League • Summer Kart Camp Training, F1K Race Kart and Equipment Included

Dealer may sell for less. *All Serenity Quiet Series models com e with an Exclusive 10 year motor warranty. All Classic Seriesmodels come with a 7 year motor warranty. Ask your Beam expert about the Total Confidence Warranty.

CENTRAL VAC PLUS A DIVISION OF DORKING GENERAL STORE LTD.

DORKING ONTARIO

519-698-2605

TOLL FREE 1-888-219-3338 | FAX 519-698-9919 WWW.BEAMCANADA.COM

k a r t w a y

a Division of Fries Motorsports, Inc.

YOUTH•T

ROOKIESW EEN•ADULT

www.erbsvillekartway.com

ANTED!

519.884.5650

675 Conservation Drive, Waterloo

24 | CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM

CLASSIFIED DEPT. HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

AUTOMOTIVE

RENTALS

»»Hiring Immediately for Deli Sales, one fulltime, one part-time. Apply in person with resume to: Stemmler Meats & Cheese, 3031 Lobsinger Line, Heidelberg. »»Part Time Potter’s Assistant: shop organization, sales, pottery assembly and handling. No pottery experience necessary. 15 - 30 hours per week including some weekends. Call 519-664-2630 between 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tues. through Sat.

»»Clearance Centre now open! Items priced below cost to clear. From power and hand tools to housewares and gifts. Located on the upper floor. Elmira Home Hardware, 22 Church St. W. Mon. - Fri. 8-8, Sat. 8-6, Sun. 12-5.

»»2007 Dodge Charger SE - 3.5l V6 auto “leather interior” pw. pdl.tilt/telescopic steering wheel, speed control, air cond. Only 6,600kms., finished in inferno red/gray interior. $18,900. Voisin Chrysler 519-669-2831. »»2008 Dodge Caliber SXT/sport. 2.0l 4cyl. variable cvt trans, loaded included alum.road wheels, keyless entry, am/fm cd radio, air, previous rental. Only 22,569 kms., finished in silver/gray int. $16,900.Voisin Chrysler, 519-669-2831. »»2008 Dodge Gr. Caravan SE - 3.3L V6, auto trans, fully loaded including Stow N Go seating, rear air/heat. Pwr driver seat, finished in black. Only 30,532 kms. $18,900. Voisin Chrysler, 519-669-2831.

»»2 0 0 8 D o d g e Gr.Caravan SE - 3.3l ohv V6 auto trans. All SE features plus sliding door pwr. window group, 3 zone climate group, full stow n go seating, pwr. driver seat, am/ fm CD MP3 radio, pwr. quarter vente windows, supp. side curtain air bags, abs brakes, tire pressure monitoring, block heater , keyless entry, manual driver lumbar adjust, pwr. heated mirrors, previous rental, only 26,279 kms. finished in silver/gray interior $19,900. Voisin Chrysler 519-669-2831. »»2008 Dodge Avenger SXT - 2.7l v6 auto. pw. pdl. tilt/cruise, air, am/ fm cd radio, alum. road wheels, previous rental, only 31,197 kms. Finished in lt.sandstone/beige int. $ 16,900. Voisin Chrysler 519-669-2831.

»»1 Bedroom Apartment in century home. Laundry hookup and private patio. $640.00 includes utilities. Available beginning of May. 519-669-0648. »»36 Memorial Ave., Elmira. 2 BR apartment, available May 1st. Only $745 + utilities. Parking - $25/ mo. Please call Bob Eby at 519-744-3711.

»»E l m i r a - U n i q u e One Bedroom in newer sixplex. Centrally located. $665/mth. Call 519-669-2212. »»Looking For Female roommate. 3 bedroom townhouse with parking and laundry. Clean, respectful, fun. $400 shared utilities. Contact Nadie at 519-591-6237.

FOR SALE

»»Hip Barn Roof (classic)

109ftx32ft, hand made truss, double wide, original 2x4, 6, 8, etc. Tobacco scaffold complete, Conklin lumber, bottom to top and 1946 plus WW2 galvanized steel needs only paint. 1pc. move possible, to move to new foundation or disassemble. Must see to appreciate strength. Also 40x60ft barn, 1934, barn Board, beams, 1963 galvanized roof. Phone 519-984-2604 Kingsville. »»June 1, 2009 Deadline for Canadian Passport to enter the United States. Passport photos at Elmira Photo 519-669-3456. »»Special Buy! White W e s t i n g h o u s e To p Mount Fridge. 18 cu. ft., sliding glass shelves, 3 door racks, Sale $499; save $100. Limited quantities. Elmira Home Hardware, 519-669-5537. »»Yardmachine Riding Lawn Mower - B&S 17HP, 42” deck, “new condition”. $1450.00. 519-669-3510.

AUTOMOTIVE

»»2004

Dodge Dakota Club Cab Sport 4x4 - 4.7l V8 auto trans. one owner, pw. pdl. tilt/cruise, trailer tow group, box liner, alum. road wheels, keyless entry, sport plus group, only 49,705 kms. finished in silver/gray interior. $ 15,900. Voisin Chrysler, 519-669-2831. »»2 0 0 4 D o d g e R a m 1500 SLT quad 4x4 5.7l hemi,auto, fully loaded including alum.road wheels, box liner, low kms of only 65,000. finished in alantic blue/gray interior balance of 7yr/115,000km. warranty. $ 16,900.Voisin Chrysler, 519-669-2831. »»2004 Jeep Gr.Cherokee Laredo 4x4 - 4.0l economical 6 cyl. auto trans. loaded including alum. road wheels, roof rack, new tires, finished in silver/gray cloth interior. only 88,000kms. Balance of 7yr/115,000km warranty, $ 13,900. Voisin Chrysler 519-669-2831. »»2 0 0 6 D o d g e Gr.Caravan SXT - 3.8l auto trans. full load including pwr. door group, overhead console temp/comp, alum. road wheels, rear air/heat, pwr.driver seat. only 47,000kms. Finished in inferno red/gray interior. $17,900. Voisin Chrysler 519-669-2831.

auctions ANNUAL SPRING

PUBLIC

AUCTION — for —

WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE — to be held at —

BRESLAU AIRPORT ROAD AUCTION COMPLEX 5100 FOUNTAIN ST. N., Breslau (Kitchener)

Sat. APRIL 25th 9:00am Stolen, Recovered, Lost & Found Ring #1 - 300+ Bikes

No Buyer’s Premium!!

INSIDE --RAIN or SHINE

Two Action Rings!!!

VIEWING & REGISTRATION: Friday April 24th/09 - 1 to 4pm, Sat 8am to sale

TERMS: CASH & CARRY => Cash, Interact, Master Card & Visa.

M.R. Jutzi & Co www.mrjutzi.ca

P L A C E S O F FA I T H

519-648-2111

LOCAL CHURCH

RENTALS

Continued on Page 29

auctions E l M i r a P r o d u c E a u c t i o n c o - o P E r at i v E i n c .

Spring

FLOWER SALES

SALES EVERY FRIDAY

trades & services

• Manufacturing of Landscape & Snow Removal Equipment • Custom Manufacturing and Machining • Agricultural, Industrial, Transportation & Construction Equipment Repairs

519.669.1501

100 Union St., Elmira, ON Toll Free 1.877.467.3478 www.reistindustries.com

GRANTS

is accepting

AT 9:00 AM (Starting April 24)

Grant Applications

We will also have TUESDAY & FRIDAY SALES at 9:00 am starting May 5

from community-based, charitable and not-for-profit groups. until May 7, 2009.

pRE MOTHERS DAY FLOWER SALE WEDNESDAY MAY 6 AT 9:00 AM

Due to festival day weather conditions there will be limited funding available.

WHOLESALE AUCTION

App’s forms available by:

(you must be registered for PST to buy)

Ring #2 - Tools, Electronics & Sports Gear

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

PHonE 519-669-3884 SaleS dayS only • otherwise, call

NELSON WIDEMAN at 519-699-9358 or LORNE BAUMAN at 519-846-2972 7400 Reid Woods Dr (at Arthur St. N., Elmira)

BILL HORST • AUCTIONEER

SERVICES DIRECTORY

RENTALS

e-mail: info@elmiramaplesyrup.com or by phone at 519-669-6000

Come Taste The Tradition

Elmira Maple Syrup Festival Saturday, Mar. 27, 2010 HEARING ASSISTED

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

NURSERY PROVIDED

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Welcome to

Calvary United St. Jacobs

SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2009 Lightening Your Load

Sunday, April 19, 2009 9:15am & 11:00am

casual dress l contemporary music l christian church

“When God is at Work”

Sundays @ 10:30am John Mahood PS

200 Barnswallow Dr., Elmira • 519-669-1296

5 First St., Elmira • 519-669-1459

Check out our website www.woodsidechurch.ca

Trinity United Church ELMIRA

Sunday School During Worship

Minister: Rev. Dave Jagger Sunday Worship: 10:55am

Visit our new website on: www.wondercafe.ca 21 Arthur St., North • Church Office 519-669-5560 “Our mission is to love, learn and live by Christ’s teachings”

www.elmiracommunity.org

Join us

sundays at

10:30am & 6:30pm 290 Arthur St. South, Elmira • 519-669-3973

www.ElmiraAssembly.com (Across from Tim Horton’s)

Bloomingdale Mennonite Church Sundays - 9:45 am Family Worship Service 11:00 am Sunday School for all ages

1151 Snyder’s Flat Rd., Bloomingdale • 519-745-2411 www.bloomingdalemennonite.com

Upbeat Family Worship & Sunday School 10:00 am

Wheelchair accessible • Nursery Care provided • Hearing Assisted

48 Hawkesville Rd. • 519-664-2311

“Making Faith Live” Sunday Worship 9:15 am - 10:15am

Faithsteps 10:30am - 11:50am

2 First St., Elmira • 519-669-5030

St. Teresa Catholic Church Holy Week Services

Holy Thursday - 8pm Good Friday - 11am (family), 3pm Easter Vigil - 8pm Easter Sunday - 9am, 11:15am

19 Flamingo Dr., Elmira • 519-669-3387

AD RATES | Residential 20-Word Ad $7.50 Extra Words 20¢/word | Commercial 20-Word Ad $12.00 Extra Words 30¢/word | Bold Headline Add $1.00 /line | Display Ads are quoted individually. PLACING A CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT | Classified ads can be obtained in person, by phone | fax from Monday to Thursday 8:30am-5pm or Friday 8:30am-4pm. Email queries to classifieds@woolwichobserver.com 24/7 - email will be replied by next business day. All classified ads are prepaid by Visa | MasterCard | Debit | Cash | Cheque unless on account. Deadline is Thursdays by 10am.

ADVERTISING POLICY | All advertising is accepted subject to the Publisher’s discretion. The Publisher will not be responsible for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which the error occured. Please check your ad on the first day of publication. The Observer’s responsibility, if any, is limited to the charge for the space for one insertion only.

CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

Community Information Page THE TOWNSHIP OF WOOLWICH "Proudly remembering our past; confidently embracing our future."

P.O. BOX 158, 24 CHURCH ST. W. ELMIRA, ONTARIO N3B 2Z6 WEBSITE: www.woolwich.ca

TEL: 519-669-1647 or 519-664-2613 FAX: 519-669-1820

AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY: 519-575-4504

FAMILY ALBUM stag & doe

stag & doe

Stag & Doe

VOLUNTEERS ARE INVITED TO HELP AT:

April 18, 2009 St. Clements Community Centre

NEWLY CONSTRUCTED BUILDING ALERT: If you have been paying taxes on land only, you may be subject to a Supplementary Tax Bill later this year.

Ken Dunn & Leah Coburn

$10 per ticket DJ, Games, Great Prizes

STAG & DOE

Stag & Doe for

Erin Klassen & Robbie Jewitt

Remember: Every Litter Bit Helps!

IS DUE FRIDAY MAY 8, 2009

for

8pm - 1am

T-shirts, gloves, bags and refreshments will be provided by Tim Horton’s Restaurants. Please call Ann at 519 669-6027 for a location near you.

THE SECOND INSTALLMENT OF 2009 INTERIM PROPERTY TAXES

Stag & Doe

for

Jen Nissen & Todd Nelson

ThE WoolWIch coMMUnITY clEAn-Up DAY When: Saturday April 25, 8:30 until noon Where: Several locations throughout Woolwich Township Hosted by: The Township of Woolwich Environmental Enhancement Committee (TWEEC) and Tim Horton’s Restaurants, St. Jacobs and Elmira.

April 25, 2009

Friday May 1st Elmira Lion’s Hall 8:30pm-1:00am Tickets $10

8pm-1am Lions Hall, Elmira

DJ * Prizes * Games Lunch Buffet Provided

Great Music, food & raffles

stag & doe

Tickets $10

stag & doe

YOU ARE INVITED TO A

Stag & Doe for

Brent Walton & Lisa Witt

DIDN’T RECEIVE A BILL? Non-receipt of a tax bill does not waive your obligation to pay and you may incur a penalty. If you did not receive a bill, contact the Tax Collector as soon as possible at (519) 669-6016.

Stag & Doe

Marion Pollard, CMTC (A) Manager of Revenue/Tax Collector

DOG TAGS REMINDER! As of April 15th the new price for 2009 dog tags will be: - Neutered/Spayed - $25.00 - Non-Neutered/Spayed - $30.00

for

Saturday May 2, 2009 8:00pm - 1:00am Elmira Lions Hall

If you lose your tag a replacement tag costs $5.00

April 18th Doors open at 8pm St. Jacobs Community Centre

Lunch provided • DJ • Raffle Draws

Tickets $10.00 at the Door

BIRTHDAY

Dog Tags are available at the following locations: • The Village Pet Food Shoppe, 10 Church Street West, Elmira* • Creature Comfort Pet Emporium, 1553 King Street North, St. Jacobs* • The Township of Woolwich, 69 Arthur Street South, Elmira • Eldale Vet Clinic, 150 Church Street West, Elmira* • Breslau Animal Hospital, 2057 Victoria Street North (Unit 3), Breslau

Paula DeSousa & Dave Geerlinks Tickets $10 Great Music, Amazing food, Raffles, and door prize

BIRTHDAY

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY Krista Frey

HARRY WASYLYCIA

Happy 90th Birthday April 15, 1909

PLEASE! LEASH YOUR DOG AND REMEMBER TO STOOP AND SCOOP. Anyone found violating the Animal Control By-law #75-2006 will be fined. To report an offence under the Township Use by-law, please call the Municipal Law Enforcement Division action line at 519-669-1647 extension 6106 and leave a message. Please see the Township website for more information on the by-law including set fines at www.woolwich.ca.

From the Martin & Frey Families

Please join the family of Harry for a celebration of his 90th birthday, on Sunday, April 19, from 2-4pm at the Elmira Legion Love & Best Wishes from your family

MORE FAMILY ALBUM ON PAGE 30.

26 | CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM

HOME HUNTERS Get a FREE Market Evaluation

EN OP

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Solid Gold Realty (II) Ltd., Brokerage Independently Owned and Operated ADDRESS: 180 Weber St. S., Waterloo DIRECT....519-503-9533

HOME ....519-669-3074

FAX | 519.669.5753 EMAIL | sales@ObserverXtra.com

NEW LISTING

$375,000 6 Bedrm plus office, hardwood & ceramic on mnflr, kitchen with peninsula, patio/deck with BBQ gasline, insulated & painted garage.

Paul Martin

WEBSITE: www.remaxsolidgold.biz

U HO

519.669.5790 | 1.888.966.5942

236 PARK ST., ELMIRA - SAT APR 18, 2-4PM

$500 donation to John Mahood Public School when you buy or sell in Woolwich Township with...

U HO

18 FALCON DR. ELMIRA - SUN APR 19, 2-4PM

OFFICE ...519-888-7110 EMAIL: paul@remaxsolidgold.biz

$237,000 Great Starter Home 3 bedroom, 2 bath, newer flooring on main floor, hallway & main bath. Patio/deck, double drive with carport, side entrance. MLS

$269,900

ELMIRA - Perfect location!

Large lot close to downtown and new rec. complex. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, sidesplit. This home offers newer kitchen cabinets and new laminate floor. Walkout from dining area to private yard offering loads of green thumb opportunities as well as two sheds, hot tub with heated change room behind the house.

$549,000 ELMIRA Open concept, rec rm, exercise rm, master bedrm ensuite, ceramic in foyer, kitchen & bthrms, hardwood livrm & dinrm, Double Width driveway, separate dinrm, family rm. MLS

$529,000

ST. CLEMENTS 4 Bedroom Bungalow, Oak kitchen cabinets, cedar lined cath ceiling family room, mnflr laundry & master bdrm, Patio, deck, 616 sq. ft. heated workshop w/ extra circuts. MLS.

You’ve come to the right place to find a home. TEAM

LEON MARTIN

Solid Gold Realty (II) Ltd., Brokerage | Independently Owned and Operated

TWIN CITY REALTY INC.

LOTS FOR SALE Country Lots with high speed internet access, 40 to 45 minutes from K/W or Guelph. They are located in the small hamlet of Carthage. Individual well and septic. Great opportunity to build your own house or get us to customize a home for you. For more information please call Leon MLS.

BROKERAGE

519-579-4110 OFFICE

sold@clickthathouse.com

Peri Moyer Client Care Manager

Minto Twp Country bungalow only 13 years old on an acre of property. Three large bedrooms, good sized kitchen and dining area, open concept. $254,900. MLS.

EXTENSIVELY RENOVATED

00 4,9 3 $3

OPEN HOUSE - Sun April 19, 2-4pm 17 DUKE STREET, ELMIRA

Updated century home on double lot! 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, main floor laundry, spacious principle rooms, new garage addition with future bonus room (unfinished), wrap around porch. Mature area with big yard, trees and lots of parking. Updated windows, doors, flooring, bathrooms, insulation, wiring, plumbing, roof & furnace. A must see!!

ADDRESS: 4-B

OPEN HOUSE - Sat April 18, 2-4pm 121 SCOTT STREET, MAPLE GROVE VILLAGE, WATERLOO

0 ,90 4 9 $3

*SALES REPRESENTATIVES:

Totally renovated in 2004 with all new windows, roof, furnace, appliances, water heater and flooring. Newer wooden shed in back included. Freshly painted and well maintained. 3 bedrooms, 1 bath with laundry. Conveniently located close to the expressway, St Jacobs Farmer’s Market and Conestogo Mall. Shows well!

CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR HOME’S VALUE IN THIS CURRENT MARKET? CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE CURRENT MARKET EVALUATION MODEL HOME! 51 Ridgeview Dr., Drayton 0 ,90 29 $4

LARGE LOTS

30 MINUTES FROM WATERLOO

• 5 Lots Available • Model Home Available For Sale • 10 Plans to Choose from

17 Church St. W., Elmira

or by appointment

SAT. APRIL. 25, 1 - 3 pm 6105 Conc. 12, R.R.#1 Harriston NEW LISTING - Perfect country setting. 13.83 acres- ideal for hobby farm. Great opportunity for horses. Driving shed 50x26 allows many options-shop, barn, etc. Immaculate 3 bedrm, 1400 sq. ft., 7 yr old brick bungalow, 2 baths, diningrm, recroom, mn flr laundry, deck. Come have a look! Call Edith McArthur 519.638.2509 MLS

$379,000

TWIN CITY REALTY INC. BROKERAGE

519.885.0200

Wendy Hirschmann Sales Rep.

OPEN HOUSE

www.thefreyteam.com

SUN APRIL 19th 2-4pm 86 Muscovey Dr. Elmira

THE FREY TEAM

Len Frey

Mildred Frey

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

BROKER**

frey@golden.net

RIC WP

Wendy Taylor

Mary Lou Murray SALES REPRESENTATIVE

BROKER**

wendy@thefreyteam.com

marylou@mmrealestate.ca

Estate Lots Available

$999,000

$384,900

MAPLETON | 100 acre farm with 35,000 sq. ft. single level barn set up for hogs and well-kept 14 yr. old, 2000 sq. ft. 3 bedrm, 3 bath home. 90 acres cultivated, 32x68 quonset style drive shed. Home features mainfloor laundry, separate diningrm, eat-in country kitchen, separately fenced inground pool and much more. MLS Call Len Frey.

MAPLETON TWP | Quiet country property on over 5 acres of wooded area. Huge eat-in kitchen overlooking family room with heat stove. Deck to rear yard off kitchen. Detached workshop 30 x 30. Great for the handy man!! MLS. Call Mildred or Len Frey.

• Quality Standard

Features include:

Visit our website for photos & more details. PRICES STARTING AT

$299,900

$289,900

Need 5 BEDROOMS? Perfect 2005 built family home on quiet street. Walk to school & parks. Lovely open concept, 3 bathrooms, fenced yard, professionally finished basement. Super Value!!! MLS 0917267.

3 Acre

- 9’ ceilings on main floor - 200 amp service - Fruit Cellar - Ceramics - Ensuite & Main or Upper Laundry

OPEN HOUSE SAT & SUN 1-4

OPEN HOUSE

Arthur St. S., ELMIRA • EMAIL: leonmartin@remax.net • OFFICE: 519-669-5426

519-669-1544 24hrs

GREAT VALUE!

Beautiful 3 year old, 4 bedroom, 4 bath home with all the upgrades. Hardwoods, ceramics, lux ensuite, m/f laundry, 2 fireplaces, finished basement, cedar deck and much more. All this located near schools and backing field.

Edith McArthur * 519.638.2509 Kathy Robinson * 519.343.4816

DIRECT: 519-503-2753

YEAR ROUND LIVING

00 4,9 8 $

$239,000 ELMIRA 3 Bedroom, 3 bath, new laminate floor in living room, kitchen maple cabinets and island, large master bedroom with 4 pc ensuite and two closets, single garage. MLS.

OFFICE PHONE: 519.343.2124

159 William St., Palmerston (Across from Home Hardware)

Melanie McNeil Sales Representative

$449,000 ELMIRA Quality at every corner throughout this beautiful home, 4 bedrm, 3 bathrm. Maple kitchen, extra height ceilings, Master bedrm w/ deluxe ensuite double garage. MLS.

Coach House Realty Inc. Brokerage

McNeil

Warren McNeil Sales Representative

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

MAPLETON TWP. Approx. 1/2 acre in the country backing to farmland. 3+1 bdrm, 2 bath bungalow in small rural hamlet. New kitchen & newly finished basement with stone fireplace. Walk out to deck, fenced yard, and inground pool. MLS. Call Len Frey.

ID# 117888

$250,000 Hawkesville, ON

(519) 575-6314

R.W. THUR REAL ESTATE LTD. 45 ARTHUR ST. S., ELMIRA

519-669-2772

BROKERAGE

BRAD MARTIN Broker of Record

JULIE HECKENDORN Broker Res: 519-669-1068 Res: 519-669-8629 MVA Residential

ALLI NORRIS Sales Rep. Cell: 519-577-6248

BILL NORRIS Sales Rep. Cell: 519-588-1348

TRACEY WILLIAMS Sales Rep. Cell: 519-505-0627

ELMIRA REAL ESTATE Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage SERVICES

BONNIE BRUBACHER Broker of Record

SHANNA ROZEMA Broker.

DARREN ROMKEY Sales Rep.

LAURIE LANGDON Sales Rep.

519-669-3192

90 Earl Martin Dr., Unit 1, Elmira N3B 3L4

DALE KELLER Sales Rep.

MONIQUE BRUBACHER Sales Rep.

THIS WEEK'S FEATURE PROPERTIES

OPEN HOUSE SAT APRIL 18 | 2-4 PM JUST LISTED!!!

10 EBY ST., ST. JACOBS

37 EVENINGSTAR LANE, CONESTOGO

46 MAIN ST. E., DRAYTON $154,900. This recently remodeled and

very unique turn-of-the-century semi detached home features 9' ceilings, original trim & moldings, new laminate flooring, newer furnace, main flr laundry and main flr master bedroom. NEW MLS.

OPEN HOUSE SUN APRIL 19 | 2-4 PM

LARGE LOT /Quiet street! MLS WELCOME HOME /Close to the REDUCED to $297,500. Village. MLS. $289,900.

13 WEIGEL AVE., ELMIRA

10 ERB ST., ELMIRA

27 SUGAR KING DRIVE, ELMIRA $259,900 WOW! Spacious 1642 sq, ft.

end unit townhome + finished basement, 3 bdrms, 4 baths incl. ensuite, large foyer, attractive kitchen with breakfast bar/ island, sliders to patio & fenced yard with gates, appliances, central air & vac!!MLS.

OPEN HOUSE SAT, APRIL 18 | 2-4 PM

PARADIgM ELMIRA HOMES MODEL

42 ROBERTA STREET, ELMIRA

COURT LOCATION / Great INVESTMENT PROPERTY /5-plex! MLS. $499,000. condition. MLS $264,900.

71 EDWARD ST. S., DRAYTON

17 QUEEN ST., ELMIRA

Homes starting at $312,000. 2 storey and bungalow plans to build, open concept plans, ensuite baths, fireplaces, HRV, and more. Model for sale. Only 3 lots left.

OPEN HOUSE SAT APRIL 18 | 2-4 PM

14 ROBERTA STREET, ELMIRA $322,400. Attractive 2 Storey, gorgeous kitchen with all the appliances, vaulted ceilings, mainfloor family room open to 2nd floor look out. Mainfloor den, 3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths. MLS.

SPACIOUS HOME /Close to SPACIOUS 4-level back split/ downtown! MLS. $264,900. Oversized kitchen! MLS $229,900.

PRIVATE SALE

Fully finished custom built 2 storey home. Top quality construction and finishes throughout. 2500 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms. Open concept with 18’ ceilings in great room. Professionally finished basement with maple bar and built-ins. 3 gas fireplaces including see-through in master ensuite. Beautiful cherry kitchen. Hardwood and ceramic throughout main floor. Deck and shed in fenced yard backing onto farmland.

$519,000

OPEN HOUSE - Sat Apr 18 2-4pm 38 Muscovey Dr., Elmira

home (519) 669-3338 mobile (519) 577-1379

shanley@mantelsplus.com

gREAT OPPORTUNITY

$214,900 ELMIRA | Just move in!

Nicely decorated freehold link home, appliances incl., bright kitchen with breakfast bar, sliders off the dinette to fenced yard, huge master with cheater ensuite, steps to downtown. MLS.

BUNgALOw TOwNHOME $245,900 ELMIRA | NEW PRICE!

Well kept townhome offering hardwood and ceramic flooring, open concept living/dining room w/walkout to backyard, main floor master with ensuite, CALL TO VIEW. MLS.

SINgLE DETACHED FAMILY HOME $259,900 ELMIRA | Excellent starter home, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, open concept mainfloor, oak kitchen with island, vaulted family room with walkout to spacious deck and fenced yard. NEW MLS.

LARgE TREED LOT

Terry Kaye

Solid Gold Realty (II) Ltd., Brokerage Independently Owned and Operated

180 Weber St. S., Waterloo

Sales Representative

519-888-7110 Office 519-885-1118 Direct

OPEN HOUSE | SUN APR 19 2-4:30PM | 14 ROBB RD. ELMIRA

$254,900

Nearly New! Bright 3 bedroom 2 storey home. Tastefully decorated. Numerous upgrades. Spacious kitchen with sliders to yard. Main floor powder room. 5 appliances included. Gas heat. Unspoiled lower level. Situated in recently developed subdivision in Elmira. See MLS virtual tour.

Village of Palmerston. Opportunity

$139,500

CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

awaits! This spacious 1 1/2 storey offers the creative buyers or handyman a chance to renovate and enjoy Full two car garage. Spacious yard. Main floor master bedroom, dining room and spacious eat-in kitchen. Gas heating. Don’t miss this!! MLS.

$273,000 ELMIRA | Bright and spacious

home on 1/2 acre of land; recent renos, finished basement, walkout from family room to covered patio, breakfast bar; MLS.

BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY PROPERTY $279,900 DRAYTON | Bungalow on huge lot overlooking green space; featuring cedar deck and patio; professionally landscaped lot looks attractive in spring and summer; 2 fireplaces for cozy evenings. MLS.

» From page 24

GARAGE SALES

RENTALS

»»Port Elgin - on Lake Huron, beautiful, quiet, sandy beach, two bedrooms, one bath, full kitchen, sunroom, living room. Available May, Sept., Oct. $80/day or $500/ week. Call 519-699-9449. REAL ESTATE

»»2 Storey- 2200 sq ft. 3 bedroom, 2 bath house on 1/2 acre lot in Linwood. Immaculate condition inside and out. $390,000. Call for details 519-698-2464. »»OPEN HOUSES ADULT COMMUNITY Saturday, April 18, 2009, 11:00 - 4:00 p.m. Several models ranging from $74,900 to $134,900. Amenities include swimming pools, lake, trails, fishing etc. SPRING VALLEY ESTATES / PARK 7489 Sideroad 5E, Mount Forest (5 miles south of Mount Forest) Hosted by Bill Nelson, Broker Coldwell Banker Padfield Realty, Brokerage Mount Forest 519-323-3022. Commercial RENTALS

»»Elmira Store - Main Street. 1560 sq ft. plus unfinished basement with shelving, front & rear entrances. Move in condition. $1170.00/ mth. plus utilities and taxes. Coach House Realty Inc. Brokerage. 519669-5431. TRADES & SERVICES

»»Exceptional House

Cleaner Available. Honest and reliable. Call 519-3426751 (Elmira number). »»CRD Accounting Services - Income Tax (E-File Services), Small business accounting, payroll, and government filings. Chuck Downs, 95 Aspen Cr., Elmira. 519-6691498; cell 519-569-1744.

PERSONALS

»»In Thanksgiving to St. Jude for

favour received for special family intention; with promise to publish. Debbie.

»»Downsizing Sale, household and garden contents, Saturday, May 2, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., 5024 Crowsfoot Rd. (at Sawmill & Katherine Street). »»Garage Sale - some antiques, new mens hockey equipment, household items, one set of china dishes. Sat. April 18, 8 a.m. 89 Oriole Pkwy, Elmira. »»Garage Sale Rain or Shine! Our annual family sale. Some brand new/and or hardly used items, good condition. 1681 Floradale Rd., beside Elmira Golf Course. Thurs. April 23, 9 a.m. - Sat. April 25th. »»Mission Trip Yard Sale for Romania. Sat. April 25th, Emmanuel Church corner of First & Arthur St., Elmira. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. BBQ lunch available. »»10 Grosbeak Rd., Elmira. April 18, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Furniture & Misc. »»Multi Family Garage Sale - Rain or Shine. 39 Hawkesville Rd., St. Jacobs, Fri. April 17, noon til 6 p.m., Sat. Apr. 18, 8 a.m. til noon. Linens, dishes, kids clothing & toys, 2 sets men’s left golf clubs & bags. Some furniture, variety of other things. »»Multi Family Garage Sale. Fri. & Sat. Apr. 24, 25. 7:30 a.m., 4780 Herrgott Rd., Wallenstein. 3-in-1 carseat, baby items, clothing, all sizes, dishwasher, washer, dryer, fridge, couch and more. »»Multi Family Garage Sale. Quality bedding, household items and misc. All priced to sell. Fri. Apr. 24, 1 - 7 p.m., Sat. Apr. 25, 9a.m. - 12. 10 Canary Crt., Elmira. Weather permitting. »»Multi-Family Garage Sale. Sat. April 18, 7:00 - 12:00 weather permitting. 108 Barnswallow Dr., Elmira. Kids toys, bikes, books, furniture and household items. »»The St. Teresa of Avila C.W.L. is holding a garage sale at St. Teresa of Avila Hall, 19 Flamingo Dr., Elmira. Fri. Apr. 24, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. and Sat. Apr. 25, 7 a.m. - 12 noon. For more information please call Carol Kieswetter at 519-669-5392.

DEATH NOTICES BOWMAN, Delton B.

– On Monday, April 13, 2009 at his home, RR2, West Montrose. Delton B. Bowman in his 75th year. DIETRICH, Donald

– Passed away peacefully following a brief illness, at KW Health Centre, on Friday, April 10, 2009, at the age of 71 years. MARTIN, Mary Ann

– With family by her side at Chateau Gardens, Mary Ann Martin of Elmira, age 91, went peacefully to be with her Lord on Saturday, April 11, 2009.

THORNTON, Richard)

Dorothy

(Mrs.

– On Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Dorothy Thornton, age 84 years, of Elmira, Formerly of Burlington and Montreal. WELKER, Edna Holzworth)

Salome

(nee

– Edna died peacefully in her sleep, on Good Friday morning after a courageous battle with colon cancer. She was born in Elmira March 31, 1924.

CENTURY HOME

$309,000 ELMIRA | Charm and Character

of original beauty is evident throughout this home. The natural cherry kitchen, updated baths & finished recroom with fireplace adding the convenience of today. A bonus is the walkup attic for future potential. MLS.

OPEN HOUSE SAT APRIL 18 | 2-4 PM

85 ORIOLe Pkwy, eLMIRA

BEAUTIFUL LARgE BUNgALOw $379,000 MOOREFIELD | This beautiful

home backs onto open fields; treed and nicely landscaped; oversized double garage; finished top to bottom. A PLEASURE TO SHOW!!!! NEW MLS.

Further Information: WEBSITE: www.royallepage.ca EMAIL: Elmira@royallepage.ca

$199,900

Why rent when you can own this fabulous, updated semi-detached home. Features include, 3 bedrooms, 2 renovated bathrooms, living room, large eat in kitchen with garden door to deck and fenced yard, finished basement with cold storage, gas furnace, AC, updated windows, new flooring, garden shed, new driveway to be completed, backs onto greenspace. Call 519.574.6105 to view.

Âť

28 | CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM

WORD-UP

SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 31

CREATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE OBSERVER

ÂŠ2009

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

ACROSS 1. Autocrats 6. â€œBeowulf,â€? e.g. 10. â€œSchindlerâ€™s ___â€? 14. A rival 15. ___ lamp 16. Eye 17. A miner who took part in the California gold rush in 1849 19. Cloud 20. Alpine transport 21. â€œRocksâ€? 22. A broom made of twigs 24. Visual images of varying electrical quantities 27. Bank offering, for short 30. â€œAre we there ___?â€? 31. â€œDo ___ others as...â€? 32. Holy text 34. Carry on 35. ___ fruit 39. Mirage 43. Home, informally 44. Kind of wheel 45. Kosher 46. Catâ€™s scratcher 48. Barbieâ€™s beau 50. â€œWalking on Thin Iceâ€? singer 51. The father of your spouse 56. Peninsula between the

SERVICE PROS CARPET CARE

CONSTRuCTION

Have You Paid Enough Taxes? Call Us For Our

PAY NO TAXES SPRING CLEAN UP! Call for Details

Coupon holds no cash value. Valid March, April, May 2009.

â€˘ Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning on Location â€˘ Area Rug Cleaning Drop-off and Pick up Service â€˘ Bleached out Carpet Spot Repair â€˘ Janitorial â€˘ Grout Cleaning â€˘ Carpet Repair & Re-Installation â€˘ Pet deodorization â€˘ Floor Stripping www.completecarpetcare.ca

ROB McNALL

519-669-7607

LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1-866-669-7607

GLASS SERVICES

CONCRETE FOuNDATIONS

Concrete Foundations Limited

519-846-9066

RR#1 Elmira

fax: 519-846-9319

Custom Homes â€˘ Cottages â€˘ Additions â€˘ Shingling + Siding

GROSHAW BROS. CARPENTRY 519-669-5588 (cell) 519-897-6238

AuTOMOTIVE

â€˘ 14 ton BoomTruck

â€˘ 35 ton Mobile Crane

519-664-9999 ST. JACOBS

6982 Millbank Main St., Millbank 519-595-2053 â€˘ 519-664-2914 DECORATING

CARPENTRY

JOHN GROSHAW 7449 8th Line Drayton, ON

YES... WE DO RESIDENTIAL WORK!

24 Hour Service 7 Days A Week

Readâ€™s Decorating

Specializing in Computerized Dynamic Balancing

Specializing in Paint & Wallcoverings For all your home decorating needs

519-669-3658 27 Arthur St. S., Elmira

AuTOMOTIVE

Complete Collision Service

GLASS SYSTEMS INC.

â€˘ Store Fronts â€˘ Thermopanes â€˘ Mirrors â€˘ Screen Repair â€˘ Replacement Windows â€˘ Shower Enclosures â€˘ Sash Repair

TEL: 519-664-1202 / 519-778-6104 FAX: 519 664-2759 â€˘ 24 Hour Emergency Service

57 Arthur St. S., Elmira

519-669-FILM

www.elmiraphoto.com

Over 15 Years Experience

On-Site Balancing Fans, Rotors, Armatures, Pump Impellers, Drive Shafts & Many Styles of Rotary Equipment Available

tel: 1-800-525-4022 AuTOMOTIVE

fax: (519) 653-7949

AuTOMOTIVE

PAINTING

519.669.9160

Cell: 519.998.4094

AuTOMOTIVE

TIRE

ST. JACOBS FREE ESTIMATES

E L M I R A

PHOTO

Mike

COMMERCIAL â€˘ RESIDENTIAL

1600 King St. N., Bldg A17 St. Jacobs, Ontario N0B 2N0

YOU NAME IT: WE FRAME IT!

PAINTING

DYNAMIC BALANCING SINCE 1961

Âť

CuSTOM FRAMING

& Equipment Ltd.

GENERAL CONTRACTING

Marty Trapp

CRANE

WEICKERT& ORTLIEB CRANE MEIROWSKI

commercial â€˘ industrial â€˘Pole Structures â€˘Remodeling & restoration

DOWN 1. 1920â€™s chief justice 2. High-hatter 3. City on the Yamuna River 4. Back in 5. Arch 6. Bring out 7. Control ___ 8. â€œ___ fallen ...â€? 9. Compound of metal and carbon monoxide 10. A stew of meat and vegetables 11. Block house? 12. Noticeable decline in performance 13. Breviloquent 18. â€œGood going!â€? 23. â€œCâ€™___ la vie!â€?

EXPERT ADVICE | QUALITY SERVICES LOOK UP A PROFESSIONAL.

CONSTRUCTION INC. â€˘ Concrete removal & replacement â€˘ Siding work up to 66â€™ high

25. Harmony 26. Break 27. Religious image: Var. 28. Catch, in a way 29. Song and dance, e.g. 33. Beef including the H-shaped rump bone 34. Napoleon, e.g. 36. Garbage in and you get garbage out 37. A little lamb 38. â€œWhatâ€™s gotten ___ you?â€? 40. Caryopsis 41. Parts of a code 42. Arm bone 47. â€œFantasy Islandâ€? prop 48. Bells rung slowly to announce a death 49. Dresdenâ€™s river 51. A bundle of sticks and branches bound together 52. Bouquet 53. Idaho, e.g. 54. Fireplace 55. Look attentively 59. Houston university 60. Lionsâ€™ prey 61. Shrek, e.g. 64. ___ Claire, Wis. 65. Bunk

Red Sea and the Persian Gulf 57. Colo. neighbor 58. Cornstarch brand 62. Attend 63. Leave out 66. Black cat, maybe 67. Farfetched 68. Arise 69. Container weight 70. Colors 71. The other one from that (plural)

AUTO CLINIC

101 Bonnie Crescent, Elmira, ON N3B 3G2

519.669.8330

21 Industrial Dr. Elmira

519-669-7652

FAX: 519.669.3210 AFTER HOURS

519.669.8917

RUDOWâ€™S CARSTAR COLLISION CENTRE 24 Hour Accident Assistance

1-800-CARSTAR

Body Maintenance

WHERE TIRES

RUDOWâ€™S CARSTAR COLLISION CENTRE

SPECIALTY, NOT A SIDE LINE.

ARE A

Call Us At

519-669-3373

33 First Street, East Elmira, ON

Farm â€˘ Auto â€˘ Truck Industrial â€˘ On-The-Farm Service

35 Howard Ave., Elmira

519-669-3232

CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

» STRANGE BUT TRUE | BILL & RICH SONES

It really does help to put on a happy face passed within striking range, a patiently waiting VC would set off the charge. The infuriated insects delivered painful stings and drove the soldiers into dangerous disarray.” The North Vietnamese reportedly trained their insect conscripts to attack anyone in an American uniform, a not implausible tactic as bees are capable of associative learning, such as relating particular colors and shapes to rich sources of nectar. While communist forces were running training camps for bees, the Americans attempted to develop chemicals that would redirect the bees to counterattack. “Although bees were hardly decisive weapons, the insects played one of the strangest roles in the history of unconventional weaponry.” Q. When man yawns, what does “man’s best friend” do? A. Dogs watching a person repeatedly yawn will yawn themselves, reports Atsushi Senja of the University of London, in Biology Letters. When confronted with wide, sighing yawns, breeds ranging from dachshunds to

SERVICE PROS

AUTOMOTIVE

appliance repair PAINTING

THOMPSON’S

OFFERING FAST, PROFESSIONAL SERVICE REPAIRS ON ALL MAJOR IN-HOME APPLIANCES

Auto Tech Inc. Providing the latest technology to repair your vehicle with accuracy and confidence.

Accredited Test & Repair Facility

519-669-4400 21 HOWARD AVE., ELMIRA (Behind the old Trylon Building)

Darryl Kuepfer

519.347-2792

5463 Perth Rd. 155 RR2 Monkton, ON

5.00 OFF

20 years experience

free estimates interior/exterior painting wallpapering & Plaster|Drywall repairs

519-669-2251

YOUR FIRST SERVICE CALL EXPIRES DEC. 31,2009

36 Hampton St., Elmira

SELF STORAGE

SERVICE PROS

Dobermans followed suit. But when the trigger person only opened his mouth quietly, this did not do the trick. Of the 29 dogs tested, 21 yawned at least once. This strongly suggests dogs may have some empathic capacity, says Gordon Gallup Jr. of the State University of New York at Albany. Empathy, or the ability to grasp what someone else feels, may depend on some of the same neural circuitry triggered in contagious yawning. Though it’s not clear why the yawns spread, concludes Susan Milius in Science News, studies do suggest that domesticated dogs have evolved superior powers to read and react to the waves, shouts and whatever of the primates that fill their food bowls. Q. What’s a fascinating way we all “put ourselves in other people’s shoes,” at least from the neck up? A. We humans are obsessed with faces, our own and others, says Carl Zimmer in Discover magazine. Also, we all tend to mimic the facial expressions of those we see around us, from infancy onward, which is why human

emotions in a group are so contagious. Further, when the face forms a certain emotion, another part of the brain that becomes active during facial mimicry sends emotional signals to the rest of the body (dubbed “facial feedback”). In other words, we don’t just go though the facial motions, we also go through the emotions: Smile with the people around you and you’ll actually feel some of the same happiness. In an inadvertent test of this theory, European cosmetic researchers used Botox and other drugs to make frowning more difficult, in hopes of slowing the growth of unwanted lines around the eyebrows. A bizarre side effect of this was to reduce patients’ susceptibility to the angry or unhappy faces around them and thus via facial feedback to make them feel happier overall! (Send STRANGE questions to brothers Bill and Rich at strangetrue@compuserve.com)

EXPERT ADVICE | QUALITY SERVICES LOOK UP A PROFESSIONAL. PLUMBING

PLUMBING

YOUR

PLUMBING & HEATING SPECIALISTS!

C.J.

BRUBACHER LTD. 19 First St. E., Elmira

519-669-3362

roofing

Steve Co.

Plumbing and Maintenance Inc.

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL

For all your Plumbing Needs. 24 HOUR SERVICE Steve Jacobi

ELMIRA

519-669-3652

AMOS R O O F I N G

INC

Q. Which have been perhaps the fiercest 6-legged soldiers in the history of warfare? A. In Rudyard Kipling’s Second Jungle Book, the hero enlists the aid of a colony of bellicose bees to beat back a pack of wild dogs, says Jeffrey Lockwood in Six-Legged Soldiers: Using Insects as Weapons of War. The creature Kipling may have had in mind is the giant honeybee of Asia, or “Apis dorsata,” described as “the most ferocious and deadly stinging insect on Earth.” These bees are not only larger but attack in huge numbers (a colony comb can be 10 feet across) and will pursue an intruder 100 yards or more. During the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong are said to have carefully relocated colonies of these bees to enemy trails, then attached a fire cracker to the comb. “When a patrol

• Specializing in residential re-roofs • Repairs • Churches Serving Elmira and Surrounding Area for over 30 years!

CallSCOTT sCottSEILING seiling FOR for your CALL YOUR free FREEestimate. ESTIMATE. Call now and book for spring. BOOK NOW! HAVE YOUR ROOFING DONE BEFORE WINTER OFFICE

519.698.2114 • 519.746.4544 In Business since 1971 • Fully Insured

service

SEPTIC

THIS SPACE FOR RENT Call Donna at ext 104

Various sizes & rates

CLEAN • DRY • SECURE 519.669.5790 | 1.888.966.5942 www.ObserverXtra.com SIGNAGE | VINYL & DIGITAL

graphfix ltd. Signs & Banners

www.remingtongraphfix.com

Vehicle Lettering Logos & Graphics Large format printing Decals & Safety Stickers

BILL SCHENKEL

519-664-1809 1600 King St. N., Unit #18

ST.JACOBS

FAST, FRIENDLY SERVICE AT COMPETITIVE PRICES!

Call

519-669-4964

Septic Tank Cleaning Inspections for Real Estate Septic System Repairs & Restoration Catch Basin Cleaning Waterloo Region • Wellington County

519-648-3004

100 SOUTH FIELD DRIVE, ELMIRA

BICYCLES

With an expert spring tune up

parts extra

5 from each tune up goes to “Fit for the Future” fundraiser campaign. $

22 Church St. W., Elmira

Tel: 519-669-5537

STORE HOURS: M-F: 8-8, SAT 8-6, SUN 12-5

519-896-7700

www.biobobs.com

TOWING

BICYCLE SALES & REPAIRS GET YOUR BICYCLES READY

• Free Estimates •Tree Trimming and removal • Aerial Bucket Truck • Stump Grinding • Arborist evaluations • Fully insured and certified

TRUCKS

window coverings

JOHNS TOWING AND RECOVERY

CASH PAID

FOR YOUR UNWANTED SCRAP VEHICLES CARS, TRUCKS OR VANS WE PAY CASH WITH FREE TOWING PLEASE CALL

519-568-8666

TRANS IT! VEHICLES • 10 Ton Curtain Side/Flat Bed 26’ long, 8’ wide • Cargo Van • 7 Passenger Astro Van With 4’ x 8’ trailer • Car

PHONE 519.503.0888

raperies & Blinds • Curtain Hardware Custom D

40 Memorial Ave, Elmira

519-669-8309

30 | CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

SERVICE PROS

LAWN CARE

FAX | 519.669.5753 EMAIL | sales@ObserverXtra.com

excavating

CUSTOM COVERS & REPAIRS

Call Donna at ext 104

Eric Plein

519.669.3924 Elmira

contracting

Excavation â€˘ Grading Trucking â€˘ Snow Removal

Decks â€˘ Sheds â€˘ Garden & Retaining Walls Decorative Stonework & Much More FR ESTIMEE

CALL RICK 519-210-0108 08 r-bygrave@rogers.com

27 Brookmead St., Elmira

519.669.1188 landscaping

ATES

REASON ABL RATES E

LAWN CARE

Poole, ON

MEDIUM

T R

519-669-9081 Mobile

519-505-0985 ever-green@sympatico.ca

We call Elmira home but we service the surrounding area.

rozell_soehner@yahoo.ca

519.669.5643

Cell | 519.504.5934

LAWN CARE

topsoil

HOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once. Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. REMEMBER: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.

Planting | Garden Design Lawn Maintenance All Your Gardening Needs

Telephone

Owner|Operator

Anita Soehner Clean Up | Mulch

HARD

â€˘ Climb with Ropes to Avoid Bark Injury From Spurs â€˘ Based in Floradale

Complete Garden Maintenance

â€˘ Removal of Trees or Branches of Any Shapes or Sizes in Almost Any Location

Just Gardens

Lawn Maintenance Landscaping Snowplowing Ice Control

Gardening

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

519-669-1836

LAWN MAINTENANCE

Jeff Basler

17 Aspen Crescent, Elmira

519-897-8725

519.669.5769

J.SCOTT HARRIS ELMIRA, ON

* Lawn Aerating & Rolling * Lawn Care also available

CARE CALL JON:

IN LAWN & SHRUB

TREE REMOVAL

E HOLELEER ROL

ÂťPUZZLE SOLUTIONS

W N NE ATIO C LO

7 $ ) 7

6 1 2 %

$ * 5 $

5 ( 7 5 2

, . 2 1

5 2 3 (

) $ * 2 7

$ 5 2 0 $

$ 5 $ 7 , 6 7 & 7 + $ % 7 2 ( 1 5 (

6 / < 1 , 6 & < ( 1 & $ 0 / $ ( 5 , $ 1 7 +

( / , & , 7

3 $ 1 ( /

, & 9 $ ( 5 % / 2 8 1 3 / < / , / / $ * : . ( 6 , 1 / 1 ( % ( * / ( $ / / 8 ( 6

( 6 7

/ 2 % 6 & 2 8 6 (

8 / 1 $ : $ & 7 2 & 7 +

, * / 2 2

6 / 8 0 3

7 ( 5 6 (

* , * 2

/ 2 , 1

, 1 7 2

5 , & (

* 1 8 6

2 * 5 (

EASY

LAWN CARE & LANDSCAPING LTD. ORGANIC LAWN CARE PROGRAMS

Triple Mix â€˘ Top Dressing Screened Top Soil â€˘ Sands Gravels â€˘ Natural River Rock LO NE CA W TI ON

Snow Plowing & Removal

519.595.4830

SPECIALIZING

THE

Complete Lawn Maintenance

General Repairs

EJ Lawn Care BUILD IT â€˘ FIX IT â€˘ DISPOSE OF IT INTERIOR & EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE

LAWN CARE

CONTRACTING LTD.

LAWN MAINTENANCE

â€˘Ratches, Hooks, Straps, Webbing etc. â€˘Canvas, Vinyl, Polyester, Acrylic Fabrics

PHIL WILLMS | 519-669-2551

Clare Bauman 519.669.3495 cell 519.504.2826

20 Green Warbler Cr., Elmira N3B 1A6

home renovations

Framing Âˇ Renovations Decks Âˇ Sheds Basement Finishing

BY THE NUMBERS EASY

Lawn Rolling and Aerating

THIS SPACE FOR RENT

519.669.5790 | 1.888.966.5942 www.woolwichobserver.com

519.669.5790 | 1.888.966.5942

899 Bridge St. E. Waterloo (Corner of Bridge & McMurray)

Pick-up or Delivery

519-888-1007

â€˘ Aerating â€˘ Dethatching & Verti-cutting â€˘ Fertilizing - Granular & Liquid â€˘ Weed & Crabgrass Preventer â€˘ Chinchbug Preventer â€˘ White Grub Control â€˘ Sod Webworm Control â€˘ Cranefly Control â€˘ Tree & Shrub Fertilizing â€˘ Horticulture Vinegar â€˘ Granular Compost â€˘ Soil Testing

LANDSCAPING & OTHER SERVICES

â€˘ Landscape Design â€˘ Landscape Build â€˘ Hydro-seeding â€˘ Slit-seeding â€˘ Over-seeding â€˘ Sodding â€˘ Planting â€˘ Interlocking Stone â€˘ Retaining Walls & Steps â€˘ Water Ponds â€˘ Backhoe & Skid Steer Services

ELMIRA | 519-669-1278

HARD

MEDIUM

CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

FAMILY EVENTS CALENDAR ALBUM Kleensweep DENTURE “A GOOD JOB DONE EVERY TIME”

ANNIVERSARY

Carpet Care

HAPPY 40TH ANNIVERSARY Paul & Evelyn Hoffman!

West Montrose, ON

T. 519.669.2033 COLLEEN

Cardlock Fuel Management

THANK YOU Thank you! VHF crew and everyone that contributed to the Peter Schmitt fundraiser, if anyone would still like to make a donation can do so at the Bank of Montreal branch 3055 #3617825.

COMMERCIAL 24 CARDLOCK FUEL DEPOT HOUR

Thank you.

MATERIAL HANDLING & PROCESSING SYSTEMS

IN MEMORIAM

Susanna Freeman April 18, 2008

Cell: 519.581.7868

Truck & Trailer Maintenance

Love Lori, Dan, Andrea, & Karen and family

• Design • Installation • Custom Fabrication

MILLWRIGHTS LTD.

519.669.5105

Love Art & Janette, Anthony & Erin, Jason, Laura and Erica.

24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE

TOTAL HOME ENERGY SYSTEMS

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

YOUR OIL, PROPANE, NATURAL GAS AND AIR CONDITIONING EXPERTS

11 HENRY ST. - UNIT 9, ST. JACOBS

519.664.2008

Allen Morrison, Agent/Owner

Auto

Allen Morrison Insurance Inc.

Life

Investments

25 Industrial Drive, Elmira, ON N3B 3K3

Group

3435 Broadway St. Hawkesville

519-699-4641 www.freybc.com APRIL 18

»» Alternative Energy Tour – 1-4 p.m. Solar energy: tour Paul Parker’s solar-powered home at 112 Grandview Dr., Conestogo. Strawbale home: visit Paul Psutka’s strawbale, geothermal home, 10 Chalmers, Winterbourne. Ride the YMCA veggie bus. Free shuttle buses leave for the tour approximately every half hour from the St. Jacobs arena, 29 Parkside Dr. »» Green Technology Fair: Green Living On A Budget – 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Learn about simple inexpensive ways to reduce your energy use. Talk with solar, geothermal and other green energy providers/consultants, buy green products, learn about simple inexpensive ways to reduce your water and energy use, home energy audits, carsharing and much more! St. Jacobs arena, 29 Parkside Dr. Free admission. E-waste collection – bring your unwanted computers, monitors,TVs, printers, fax machines, mice, keyboards and cell phones to the Green Technology Fair. Free drop-off courtesy of Greentec. »» Country Gospel Concert & BBQ Beef on a Bun Dinner – St. Peter’s Outreach Committee is hosting with The Pine River Country Gospel Band. Performance 6-7 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 2925 Lobsinger Line, Heidelberg. Two sittings, 5-6 p.m. or 7-8 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Special prices for families of four or more. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Erla at 519-699-5964. »» A Concert of Praise with Zion Worship band, 7:30 p.m., at Floradale Mennonite Church, 22 Florapine Rd., Floradale. Followed by an ice cream sundae party! Support Floradale Youth Group getting to their convention in Ohio.

P.O. BOX 247, ROUTE 1, ELMIRA

Your presence we miss, Your memory we treasure, Loving you always, Forgetting you never.

Home

Rugs and Upholstery

•Residential •Commercial •Personalized Service •Free Estimates

Since 1987 - DentureTech Since 1995 - Denturist

Skilled craftsmanship. Quality materials. CONSTRUCTION STARTS HERE.

APRIL 19

»» Two-hour birding hike on the Health Valley Trail in St. Jacobs, 2 p.m. Join Mark Bauman for birding and hiking. Meet at the kiosk at the trail entrance behind the fire station in St. Jacobs. Take King St. N. to Albert St., turn right on Albert St. and continue to the kiosk at the back of the parking lot. The trail rating is first half stone dust, second half natural path. Call Paul Miller (664-3643) to confirm meeting times and locations. »» Scripture Interpreted through Floral Design, 7:30 p.m. with Rhoda Oberholtzer from Lititz, Pennsylvania at Floradale Mennonite Church, 22 Florapine Rd., Floradale. Rhoda uses flower designs to illustrate biblical principles to depict a 21st century parable of flowers. APRIL 21

»» Lunch at Gale Presbyterian Church, 2 Cross St., Elmira, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Ham and scalloped potatoes, salad, roll, desert lemon meringue pie squares, beverage. $9 per person, wheelchair accessible, takeouts available, everyone welcome. »» Wilmot Family Resource Centre, and the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region are partnering to offer a support group for women who have experienced violence in their lifetime. Eight-week group in New Hamburg. Free of charge, confidential and childcare can be provided. For more information, call Karen at 519-662-2731.

Bus.:519.669.2632 Fax: 519.669.4282

Business

FREE CONSULTATION

After Hours Emergency Services: 1-800-465-2667

Farm

• Total Denture Care Travel

Email: allen_morrison@cooperators.ca

www.cooperators.ca • Same Day Service Disability

on Repairs and Relines • Metal Partial - Soft Relines •Since Implants 1987 - DentureTech •Since DENTURE SPECIALIST 1995 - Denturist

Denture

DENTURE Vinolea Jahandari DD

• ELMIRA Total Denture Care • Same day service on and relines 15repairs Memorial Ave., Since 1987 - DentureTech • Elmira Metal Partial - Soft Relines 1995 - Denturist (Behind Bank of Montreal) • DENTURE SPECIALIST

519.669.1535 KITCHENER

FREE CONSULTATION 519.744.9770 ELMIRA • Total Denture Care KITCHENER 519-669-1535 • Same Day Service519-744-9770 15 Memorial Ave., Elmira (behind Bank of Montreal) on Repairs and Relines • Metal Partial - Soft Relines • Implants • DENTURE SPECIALIST

Elze’s Vinolea Jahandari DD

Wonderful 519.669.1535 ELMIRA

15 Memorial Ave., Elmira

Wines

A Fine Wine Establishment

(Behind Bank of Montreal) KITCHENER

519.744.9770

29 Church St. W., Elmira

519.669.0799

New to the Community? Do you have a new Baby? It’s time to call your Welcome Wagon Hostess. Elmira & Surrounding Area

SHARON GINGRICH 519.291.6763

elmirawelcomewagon@sympatico.ca

APRIL 24

»» Ham & Scalloped Potato Dinner with Kirk’s baked beans, $6 and all the extras. Royal Canadian Legion, 11 First St. E., Elmira, downstairs at 6 p.m.

IN MEMORIAM

APRIL 25

SANYO CANADIAN

MACHINE WORKS INCORPORATED

33 Industrial Dr., Elmira 519.669.1591

Remembering Mary June 18, 1932 - April 20, 2008 There is a very special place between earth & sky In our cottage by the lake we let the world go by Your Summer Sister ~Audrey~

RETAIL STORE STORE RETAIL

• Electrical Supplies • New Vacuums • Vacuum Repairs • Parts & Accessories • All makes and models 9 CHURCH STREET EAST, ELMIRA

519.669.8362

»» Niagara Casino Bus Trip, $10 per person. Leaving from Royal Canadian Legion 9:45 a.m. departing from casino 5:15 p.m.

519.669.2884 Spring is Coming!

»» End of An Era event hosted by the Woolwich Community Lions Club. Say goodbye to the old arena. Family fun memorbillia, 1-4 p.m. Take a walk down memory lane, 6-8 p.m. These events are free. »» 105.3 Retroactive Much Music Video Dance 8 p.m. – 1 a.m. Tickets $12/person. Food available for purchase. All proceeds to Woolwich Memorial Complex. Tickets at W.C. Brown’s Menswear ( Elmira), Pampered & Polished (Elmira) or by calling 519-669-0003. »» Community Clean Up Day 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Join with others in Woolwich to help beautify your community. Call Ann for details at 519-669-6027 or 519-6642613 x 6027. »» Giant Silent Auction 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., New Hamburg Arena. More than 600 new and collectible items. New this year: pancake breakfast 8-10:30 a.m. Live auction and entertainment, kids’ events, lunch counter. Sponsored by the Lions/Lioness Clubs & Interfaith Counselling Centre. For information please call the Interfaith office at 519-662-3092. Proceeds go to support Interfaith Community Counselling.

21 Industrial Dr., Elmira

NANCY KOEBEL

Bus: 519.895.2044 ext. 217 Home: 519.747.4388

Individual life insurance, mortgage insurance, business insurance, employee benefits programs, critical illness insurance, disability coverage,

RRSPs, RESPs, RRIFs, LIFs and Annuities.

Submit calendar listings to info@observerxtra.com

Suite 800, 101 Frederick St., Kitchener

32 | BACK PAGE

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, April 18, 2009

Earth Day all Year Round Come celebrate with us!

Visit NextEnergy on Earth Day! NextEnergy would like to invite the Kitchener-Waterloo, Woolwich and Wellesley communities to join us for our annual Earth Day Celebration. This event will take place Wednesday April 22 between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm at the NextEnergy head office located at 35 Earl Martin Drive in Elmira. Join the staff of NextEnergy for a Renewable Technologies Workshop and learn first hand from our in-house experts about the many environmental benefits of installing a geothermal system in your home. For more information contact the NextEnergy head office at 1-800-367-9810 or go online at www.nextenergy.ca/earthday.

Celebrate with us April 22 at 35 Earl Martin Drive in Elmira.