December 06, 2008

NEWS |

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Four Kings named to Midwestern Conference all-star squad.................... »23 THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

Local retailers need extra push

»17 VOLUME 13, ISSUE 48

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2008

www.ObserverXtra.com

cyclist dies after being hit by truck Police trying to determine if road conditions played a role in death of Melvin Martin MARC MIQUEL HELSEN A Woolwich man riding his bicycle to work north of Elmira early Thursday morning died when he was struck by a pickup truck . Melvin Martin, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene of a collision on Arthur Street, near Florapine Road, at approximately 6:40 a.m. He had been cycling on his way to work when he was hit from behind by a pickup truck in the poorly lit stretch of icy road. Waterloo Regional Police are still piecing together what happened, but at this point it is believed that the cyclist and the pickup truck were travelling in the same direcSee FATALITY page »06

THE ToUGHEST PART oF THE Job Woolwich firefighters from the Floradale station gather near the bicycle that melvin martin, 34, had been riding when he was struck from behind by a pickup truck travelling north on Arthur PHOTO | jOe merliHAn street before sunrise on Thursday morning. The cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene north of elmira.

2009: the year of the stand-pat budget Municipalities look to tighten belts, but taxes still likely to make notable rise despite falling costs mitments and services when it comes to setting tax rates for 2009, the budget year now under discussion. In Woolwich Township, for instance, a The economic downturn will curb new spending, but don’t look for any three-year contract with workers calls tax cuts from local government. Hard for an annual pay increase of three per times and lower prices are unlikely cent, reflecting a fixed jump in one of to translate into anything more than the largest items in the budget: labour smaller increases in the rates paid by costs. The new Woolwich Memorial Centre opens next year, bringing with area residents. Admitting there’s pressure to do some it costs for staffing and equipment, IA banner ad - municipal observer_final(v2):Layout 1 11/28/08 10:01 AM Page 1 Dachief administrative officer belt-tightening, officials say added vid Brenneman. they’re handcuffed by existing com-

STEVE KANNON

Those and other demands make it unlikely the township could freeze or roll back taxes. In fact, millions of dollars in spending on new facilities, including the rec. complex, require a twoper-cent additional tax bump. Still, Woolwich will be looking for ways to recognize the current economic climate. “We’re looking for a balance between the tough economic times and previous budget commitments,” he said. “We’ve got some tough choices about

what stays and what goes.” Much the same scenario is playing out in Wellesley Township, where Mayor Ross Kelterborn wants council to take a close look at all expenditures. Other than for immediate health or safety concerns, he’s looking for a budget that contains no new spending. “I have instructed staff and department heads that, other than things that are a safety issue, I don’t want to see any new items,” he said, noting the See BUDGETS page »02

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2 | NEWS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

Stronger measures needed in Breslau trespassing battle

Budgets: Previous commitments leave little wiggle room

Grobe Nursery wins parking concession, but off-roading problems will take more time and money to deal with, says Woolwich

» From cover

STEVE KANNON Perry Grobe argues parking restrictions near his Breslau-area nursery are hurting his business, and doing nothing to deter off-road vehicles from trespassing on adjacent land. That much was an easy sell to Woolwich council, which this week eased parking rules on Greenhouse Road. The off-roading issue remains far more intractable, however. Addressing council Tuesday night at its inaugural meeting in Woolwich’s new council chambers, the operator of Grobe Nursery said parking restrictions approved in August have been largely ineffective in addressing the problem of trespassing vehicles, including trucks, all-terrain vehicles and

dirt bikes. “The bylaw is not solving the problem. It’s causing problems for us.” The company has seen customers use the shoulder of the road during the peak seasons in the spring and at Christmas for the past 40 years. With the new parking bylaw, the overflow traffic had nowhere to go, he explained. Councillors quickly came on side, eventually voting to allow parking along the east side of Greenhouse Road, from Kramp Road to Victoria Street. They were less cooperative, however, on the matter of a Grobe truck parked on Greenhouse Road to act as an advertisement to passing drivers on Hwy. 7. Both the township and the Ministry of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the

highway, have taken issue with the advertising strategy. Coun. Murray Martin suggested the parties sit down to negotiate a settlement, and called on staff to get a legal opinion about the township’s options. Clerk Christine Broughton noted the truck is parked in violation to the bylaw. Even if Grobe applied for a sign at that location, the township’s sign bylaw would not permit it. There are also outstanding issues with the MTO. While that disagreement could be sorted out in relatively short order, far more time will be needed to deal with trespassing off-road vehicles. The township, Waterloo Region and various landowners have been meeting to address the problem. Barriers and signs have been erected, and an enforcement blitz

was undertaken over the summer, to no avail. Grobe told councillors off-road vehicles were using the land as recently as last weekend, providing them with photos of various access points away from the township roads where parking restrictions were introduced in August. He called on the township to deal with trespassers quickly, noting reports to bylaw officers or police aren’t dealt with in a timely manner. “To say the response has been less than swift would be an understatement,” he said. More enforcement has to be done in the evenings and on weekends, when the trespassers are using the land, he added. Broughton noted bylaw officers have been out evenings and weekends, See TRESPASS page »07

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The Circovirus Inoculation Program provides eligible hog producers with financial assistance to offset costs related to testing, diagnosis and treatment of hog herds for Porcine Circovirus Associated Diseases (PCVAD2). Diagnostic testing/clinical diagnosis • Hog owners or herd managers whose herd(s) have had a certified diagnostic test for PCVAD2 since March 1, 2006, can receive up to $150 per test, up to $2,000 per fiscal year, and up to $4,000 for the duration of the program.

municipality must live by the same constraints faced by residents. “The way I look at running the township business is the same as running my personal affairs.” At Waterloo Region, where budget talks are further along, restraint may be the order of the day, but the numbers are still pointing at a tax increase of almost five per cent: 3.3 in general levies, and another 1.6 for the Waterloo Regional Police Service. As with the lower-tier governments, the region has its hands tied by previous commitments, explained Chair Ken Seiling. He’s also bracing for an increased demand on social services, including jumps in the welfare rolls, but council is aiming for a “stand-pat” budget. “We’re not looking to take on anything new, that’s for sure,” he said in an interview. “We’ve got to tread water to a certain degree. We’re going to be as tight as we can.” Property taxes will generally increase even as inflation drops and input costs – most notably those tied to the price of oil – have taken dramatic dips. In the past couple of years in particular, municipalities have been hit hard by rising costs for energy, transportation and construction materials such as asphalt and concrete. The building boom also led to higher prices for infrastructure projects such as road resurfacing and sewer work.

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• In the absence of a certified diagnostic test, a clinical diagnosis must have been performed by a veterinarian between March 1, 2006, and November 15, 2007. Vaccination Hog owners or herd managers whose animals were part of a herd that tested positive for PCVAD2 can receive up to $1 per piglet and up to $7 per gilt, sow, or boar.

Application deadline is December 31, 2008. For more information or for an application form, call 1-800-667-8567 or visit www.agr.gc.ca/cdhi

The annual inflation rate in October fell to 2.6 per cent, down significantly from 3.4 per cent in September, according to Statistics Canada. Real prices actually dropped one per cent in that period, the biggest monthly decline since June 1959. Despite a reversal in that trend, the savings haven’t shown up on municipal doorsteps, local officials say. “We’re not seeing evidence of deflation. In fact, some projects are exceeding budget,” said Seiling. Municipalities also face pressure to take part in a focus on infrastructure spending to stimulate the economy. Both the federal and provincial governments are looking at stimulus packages, with upgrades to roads, bridges, water and sewers high on the priority list. Some of the money funneled into this pump-priming will make its way into the jointfunding programs that have channeled millions into the region and both townships. However, infrastructure funding from Ottawa and Queen’s Park still require the township to spend some of its own money. Recent programs have been split three ways between each level of government. “The township has to cover its own share in such projects,” noted Brenneman. Cutting back on infrastructure projects, while perhaps helpful as municipalities look to control spending, might prove counterproductive under the circumstances, said Seiling.

B

DETAILS IN NEXT WEEK’S OBSERVER

www.observerxtra.com

LEADING OFF

» NEWS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

“I was thinking, ‘how can I help? How can I make a difference?’” Cody Petrosino

3

A CARING GESTURE Cody Petrosino holds an armful of the clothes and toys he collected for St. Vincent de Paul in November. The 12-year-old rallied his school and community to help him collect a truckload of warm winter garPHOTOs | joni miltenburg ments for the agency.

The spirit of can-do

Collecting clothing and toys for those in need all in a day’s work for 12-year-old Conestogo boy JONI MILTENBURG At the Optimist Club charity hockey tournament last weekend, 12-year-old Cody Petrosino of Conestogo was in charge of handing out T-shirts to players and volunteers. When another volunteer showed up to take over for him, Cody had his system all worked out. Shirts are sorted into large, extralarge and 2XL and stacked in piles of 10, he patiently explained to a man several decades his senior, sounding as if their ages were reversed. That’s just the kind of kid Cody is, said his dad John. He sees something that needs to be done and just takes care of it. So when he wanted to do something to help less fortunate families, he took the initiative and organized a clothing drive. “I call this one Panthers Winter Warmth,” Cody explained. “What you do is you collect winter items

EE RY FR IVE L DE

like coats, boots, scarves, mitts, snow pants; anything that can help people in the community.” Between Nov. 1 and 26, he collected a truckload of used clothing, toys and games. “We did toys this year too, like dolls, stuffed animals, but in mint condition. It’s used, but it’s not overly used.” Cody was inspired by his nursery school teacher, a woman named Susan O’Toole. She ran an unofficial community agency from the Conestogo Public School, helping out more than 400 families in need in Woolwich. “Susan always used to come to me, you know, we have a family in need or we have a situation that they need help, clothing, food, money, whatever,” said John Petrosino. “[Cody] would always see me doing that, so he wanted to run with this.” “I was thinking, ‘how can I help? How can I make a difference?’” Cody said. “Our school’s already doing food drives and stuff, so I’m like, ‘what else

HELPING HAND Petrosino has enlisted the support of Kitchener-Conestoga MP Harold Albrecht, who has promised to help with next year’s collection.

can I do that they’re not doing?’” The Panthers are the teams at his school, St. Boniface in Maryhill, where Cody is on the student council. Last year he appealed to his schoolmates

W • O • O • L • W • I • C • H

for help and collected 10 garbage bags full of warm clothing for O’Toole to distribute. Cody vividly remembers when O’Toole’s husband called him last year and told him Susan wanted to talk to him. “She had a little boy come in and he started crying and she asked him why he was crying, and he finally got his first pair of winter boots.” This year illness prevented O’Toole from doing the distribution, so Cody delivered his truckload of warmth to St. Vincent de Paul. Cody is already planning to expand his collection next year. “I want to make maybe a little organization called Winter Warmth. That’s the big picture,” he said. “We were going to do the region, but if we could do it nationwide, that’d be awesome. But I don’t think it’s going get that far, at least not soon. [It would] be good to have it regional.” See WARMTH page »06

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4 | NEWS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

» FROM THE EDITOR | STEVE KANNON

Municipal tax increases just compounding the problem thousand cuts. The Record has run some telling stories about spending in the region and its cities, particularly when it comes to the growing size of government, and the resultant budget increases. Politicians and administrators defend their actions, but the numbers are damning. That’s not to say we have to aim for a tax freeze every year: costs rise, and councillors need to give heed to the longer term, investing in infrastructure and setting aside reserves for future projects. But approving increases by default makes no sense either. That’s especially true in tougher economic times, when politicians of all levels must resist the urge to simply pass the expense along to the public in the form of higher taxes. It’s rare, however, to find politicians onside with that idea. Oh, some will agree to it – in theory. Few will act on it. In that vein, Kitchener councillor John Gazzola has been something of a voice in the wilderness. Although often finding himself in the minority – sometimes a minority of one – he’s usually the voice of public apprehension during debates sparked by the numerous big-ticket spending issues around the city’s council table. This, after all, is the city where council has bought up large stretches of the downtown with little redevelopment on the horizon, despite some off-thewall proposals over the years. The result has been a steady increase in the size of government and its bud-

get and, therefore, taxes. That’s been especially true in this decade, when times have been good indeed. Now, with the economy sinking, you’d think council would be embracing the cuts necessary to cope with a new reality. Apparently not. “Times are tough, but is seems nobody’s told our council and staff that – it’s business as usual in Kitchener,” says Gazzola. “We don’t seem to be prepared to make some tough decisions.” In bad times, some short-term thinking is required in order to help residents weather the storm. Current budget numbers call for a five-per-cent tax increase, which just won’t do as people face losing their jobs and money is harder to come by, he argues. “I want to get us as close to a zero per cent tax increase as possible without cutting services. “We need to leave a few dollars in people’s pockets so they can spend a little in the economy to keep things going.” Now’s the time for municipalities to undo the tendency to look at last year’s budget as the base, and just add onto that without reviewing how they got to this stage, he adds. “Otherwise, it just keeps building and

building – but we can’t do that.” He also wonders why it is that lower costs for such things as energy, transportation and building materials aren’t reflected in municipal budgets. Those savings, along with increased funding from the federal and provincial governments, should be reflected in next year’s taxes, he says, though admittedly he’s not optimistic. “When we do have reduced costs, we tend to find other ways to blow it,” he said of the money. The problem, he argues, is that it’s too easy to come up with excuses to continue spending, because it’s easy to pass the costs along to the public. “It’s a one-way street. And it’s not sustainable.” Even on his own council, he’s not optimistic there will be any positive changes – “I have trouble getting people to agree with me,” Gazzola says of his council colleagues. And sounding more like a journalist than politician, he’s not holding out much hope politicians will move to hold the line on spending and taxes. “If this was an election year, it would be no problem: we would find a way.”

» ABOUT FACE

photo | JONI MILTENBURG

The economic downturn is not to anyone’s liking, but something good might come of it if governments are forced to review their budgets on a line-by-line basis looking for savings. I’ve long argued that many, including local municipalities, simply use last year’s budget as the baseline for this year’s, adding on another inflationary increase (as a minimum), and ignoring the compounding impact that practice has on the taxes we pay. I’ve never bought into the “it’s only four or five per cent” argument or its corollary, the “it’s only X dollars more per year” claim. That’s a poor stance in any given year, but really falls apart when you take five plus four plus three plus four plus three plus … In that simplified five-year example, a person paying $3,000 a year in property taxes would pay $3,150 in the first year of increases, which, as politicians argue, isn’t the end of the world. But after five years, that tax payout would be $3,684.71. Extend those increases year after year – tax jumps are the norm, after all – and the compounding does a real number on what the homeowner shells out, usually with nothing more to show for it. Each new bit of spending, and each year’s increase, always makes sense at the time, or at least finds enough people to say so. It’s only over time that we see the full impact – the death of a

John Albrecht

From the 12th to the 19th. But people with balsam and Fraser firs, they can put them up early.

How long have you been in business? We purchased the first acre of land in 1964. We started this from scratch, my wife and I. When we came, this was just cornfield. Where did you come from? We’re from Germany, from Bavaria. Lots of good beer there. What’s the busiest time for Christmas trees?

When do you start cutting? We cut the first ones Nov. 21. What’s your favourite type of tree? My favorite is still the balsam fir, because it has that nice aroma, that smell to it. With the green movement, do more people want potted trees? When times are bad, there’s more demand for potted trees. When times are good, there’s more demand for cut. It’s a real trend.

John’s Nursery

NEWS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

WCS receives $6,500 from Handymen

Home Hardware Stores Ltd. this week made a $6,500 donation to Woolwich Community Services as part of the celebration of founder Walter Hachborn’s 70 years in the business. In June 1938, Walter Hachborn took a job as a stockboy at a local hardware store and launched what would become a noteworthy career spanning seven decades. The donation was raised by Home employees through various means, all of which served to celebrate Hachborn’s milestone. Home Hardware employees purchased paper bowties, a trademark of the founder, on which they wrote personal messages; purchased autographed copies of the History of Home Hardware book; or, made general donations. The cheque was presented at the company’s St. Jacobs headquarters by Hachborn and Paul Straus, vice-president and CEO of Home Hardware, to Cynthia Hastings, WCS board chairperson, and board member Brenda Sokolowski.

Paisley voted WRDSB vice-chair

Elmira’s Harold Paisley has been elected vice-chairman of the Waterloo Region District School Board. He’s the trustee for Wellesley/Woolwich. Meeting Dec. 1, trustees elected Kitchener trustee Mike Ramsay as the new chairman. The two positions are elected annually at the board’s first meeting in December. A trustee may hold the position for no more than two consecutive years.

$8.6 million reasons to celebrate

It’s been five years since the slots facility opened at the Grand River Raceway following the organization was forced out of Elmira by successive decisions at Woolwich council. The facility is marking its anniversary today (Saturday). OLG Slots at Grand River Raceway has been an economic force in the Township of Centre Wellington and area, creating 157 direct jobs with an annual payroll of more than $6.3 million, which goes back into the community through the purchase of personal goods and services by employees. As the host community for OLG Slots at Grand River Raceway, Centre Wellington has received more than $8.6 million in non-tax gaming revenue since the facility opened.

» MAKING THE SEASON BRIGHTER

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Lighting up the night in Wellesley Village gearing up for annual Christmas tradition, which also serves as fundraiser MARC MIQUEL HELSEN Wellesley will get a shower of light on Dec. 12 as the Wellesley and District Lions Club kicks off the Christmas season with the 17th annual Tree of Light celebration at the village park. Following the Christmas parade at 6:45 p.m., the colourful tradition will make for more than just a cheery experience, said event coordinator and Lions Club member Marilyn Bisch. “It’s very rewarding; I really get excited when I see the money going up … we’re helping out the children and the seniors and the families in Wellesley Township that need help with food. It’s a very, very nice function,” said Bisch, who has been organizing the event for four years. The money collected through the purchase of light bulbs that cover the tree is then donated to the local Meals on Wheels program and the Community Action

ALMOST TIME Marilyn Bisch, organizer of the 17th annual Tree of Light Ceremony in Wellesley Dec. 12, hopes that residents will help make Christmastime a little brighter for others by buying a bulb for the tree.

Program for Children (CAPC). Bulbs can be purchased for $5 each at donation booths located at a dozen stores throughout the village. Businesses as well as individuals may donate as many bulbs as they want, the results of which will

» GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR

be posted at the CIBC. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 31. Last season, the holiday event garnered some $6,305 for local charities, a significant increase from the previous year’s figure of $3,140. This time around, how-

ever, global financial woes have organizers a little worried. “The economy is not very good right now, so, I really don’t know what’s going to happen; I’m hoping that everybody will come out and donate,” said Bisch.

“Hopefully, people will find it in their hearts to donate to this because there are people that need help and now even more than before because of what’s going on with Canada and the economy.” See LIGHTS page »07

Taking the trans fats out of Girl Guide cookies Organization to begin selling popular treats, having found a recipe that retains taste MARC MIQUEL HELSEN Already a popular tradition among Canadians with a sweet tooth, the Girl Guide cookie sales pitch will boast another feature this year: reduced trans fats. “We’ve been working with our baker for the last couple of years trying to find a formulation that doesn’t compromise the integrity of the cookie in terms of flavour or consistency,” said Shauna Klein, manager of marketing for Girl Guides of Canada (GGC).

The newly revamped classic chocolate and vanilla cookies will have 0.1 grams of trans fat in each two-cookie serving – 90 per cent less trans fat than their predecessors – and will be available in the spring of 2009. While the move was promoted by a desire to reflect a growing consumer concern with healthier eating, GGC was also concerned with maintaining the flavour of the chocolate and vanilla sandwich cookies that for many people have become synonymous with the organiza-

W O NO N T LIC! E B OP PU E TH

tion. “My colleagues have [tried them] and they say that they can’t tell the difference between the two cookies … that’s partly why it’s taken us until now to get the cookie reformulated, because we wanted to be sure that the taste wasn’t compromised in any way.” With the taste issue resolved, local Girl Guides, who typically sell boxes of cookies at shopping malls, supermarkets, or by going door-to-door, will be taking pre-orders next month for cookie deliveries in the spring.

Though still too early to assess whether the cookies will sell better than their fattier predecessors, local Girl Guide leader Lynne Snell is confident they will fare well. “I think anybody’s always looking for some way to reduce their fat – especially when it comes to sweets, because we all have a sweet tooth,” said Snell with a chuckle. While pre-ordering cookies should help determine production numbers, it will also provide the girls with another valuable learning

experience, said Klein. “It’s another aspect of the whole cookie-selling process whereby the girls are actually learning entrepreneurial skills by doing this; they’re very involved with the planning and the execution, they’re learning about finance, all of that, so, this is just another step, another aspect .” GGC has been selling cookies for 81 years. The majority of the $11 million raised through annual cookie sales and a chocolate mint cookie sale in the fall go toSee COOKIES page »07

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THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

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ly enthusiastic participants. “There’s nothing that she backs away from,” Drummond said of Strenzke, who won a number of titles this year, including champion junior dairy showman at the Grand River 4-H show. He added that Williams’ parents sometimes have to tell him that he can’t do everything because he would like to try. Drummond said Martin was a natural choice for the Richard Lichty award, which is named in honour of a former director of the associa-

tion. “That’s just the type of person she is, very organized.” Those award winners were chosen from 155 members in Waterloo Region in 2008. The association offers a wide variety of clubs, ranging from veterinary to paintball, trail riding to cooking with milk. Drummond acknowledged that 4-H isn’t just about farming anymore. “4-H has gone so far beyond agriculture. We’re all about health, environment, life skills and agriculture. That’s what 4-H is.”

» From cover

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Several youth in Woolwich and Wellesley townships were honoured recently with awards from the Waterloo 4-H Association. Jacob Nederand of Maryhill was named the outstanding intermediate member for 2008. Emily Strenzke, also of Maryhill, and Zac Williams of Wellesley shared the award for outstanding junior member. And Tarah Joy Martin of Winterbourne won the Richard Lichty memorial award for the

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tion when the vehicle struck Martin, ejecting him from the bicycle. Emergency personnel called to the scene were unable to revive him. “We did CPR on the fellow; that was started by the time the rescue truck arrived on the scene,” said Dennis Frey, Floradale district chief with the Woolwich Fire Department. “The weather had changed. Started getting cold, anyways, after the rain,” he said of conditions at the time. Although temperatures dropped Thursday morning, following a wet and mild night, and ice began to form, at the time of the collision the roads were not icy, said Sgt. Fred Gregory of the police traffic branch. “It was that type of morning where the roads were getting worse as we got there; the road conditions at the time were not as severe as they were, say, two hours later.” Police ruled out alcohol as a factor, but are still trying to determine

RESCUE EFFoRT emergency personnel responding to the scene on Arthur street north Thursday morning were PHOTO | PAT merliHAn unable to revive the struck cyclist, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

whether speed and improper illumination might have contributed to the collision. “It’s pretty dark out there; it’s a dark road, there are no street lights; it was just before sunup,” said Gregory. “I think it’s fairly common out in the rural areas, in Woolwich Township, that there are

bicycles moving around and pedestrians and horse-and-buggies that may not be well lit, but please, pay attention and recognize that they may be out using the roadways,” he added. Arthur Street was closed between Reid Woods Road and Sandy Hills Drive for several hours as police investi-

gated the scene of the fatality. Martin had been cycling alone, and the driver of the pickup truck was its sole occupant, but police believe others may have been in the area at the time – they’re hoping witnesses will contact them with relevant information by calling 519570-3000, ext. 8856.

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NEWS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

» WellesleY resPOnDs

7

One more kick at the amalgamation can Citizens For Better Government looking for municipal input in deciding what comes next MARC MIQUEL HELSEN Looking at its next steps, the Citizens For Better Government (CFBG) is unlikely to get a green light from municipal officials. The organization hosted a discussion Thursday that delegates from Wellesley and Woolwich townships were scheduled to attend. Discussing the issue Monday night, Wellesley councillors laid out a clear position: they’re not interested. “My role there would be, definitely, to tell them that this is not a good idea for municipalities, especially the outlying areas. I certainly want that voice heard there,” said Coun. Jim Olender in an interview before the meeting.

Although the purpose of the CFBG meeting wasn’t to discuss the merits of its recently published final report in which the group advocates amalgamation of Waterloo Region’s municipalities, Olender said his message would be abundantly clear that such a move is not in the rural municipality’s best interest. Furthermore, bringing up the issue in these tumultuous economic times is especially inappropriate. “In theory it sounds wonderful but in practice, as we know, from anywhere in Ontario that it’s been done it hasn’t worked out anywhere. And anybody whom I’ve talked to who came from small places like here, they lost out, big-time. Their services diminished,

Christmas means it’s time for baked goods

their taxes went up, the big centres took all their brand new equipment, dumped off their garbage.” Advocating amalgamation of the region’s seven municipalities, CFBG released a report in October, “Finding a Better Way,” in which it presented a number of alternatives to replace the existing two-tier system. Representatives of the group then attended local councils to present their findings. CFBG’s preferred form of amalgamation calls for the elimination of each of the existing municipal councils (a total of 51 politicians), replacing them with one city council comprising 26 ward councillors and a mayor. Ward councillors would be assisted by 26 unelected community councils intended to provide a local voice on a

centralized government. Historically, such proposals for further amalgamation have met with cool and unenthusiastic responses from both Woolwich and Wellesley councils. Despite the obvious potential for disagreement, however, this week’s meeting was to take a more fluid approach. “Really, the intent of the meeting … is to determine interest and further discussion of the report and its recommendations to see whether or not there is any interest in this,” explained Randy Gosse, director of legislated services/city clerk with the City of Kitchener. “If there is no interest, I would suspect it will just end right there.”

Lights: Community fundraiser » From page 05

Cookies and hot apple cider will be provided throughout the evening by Wellesley Apple Products and the Wellesley and District Lions Club. A carol sing will take place afterwards, led by this year’s Wellesley Idol winner Jordan Goeree.

PHOTO | jOni milTenburg

The lighting ceremony will take place at Wellesley Park following the parade. MP Harold Albrecht (Conservative – Kitchener-Conestoga) will be on hand to turn on the lights, which will remain lit at night until January.

WITH VISIoNS oF SUGARPLUMS jennifer Fenwick, jeneene Kappes and erla Fenwick hold samples of the delicious treats that were up for grabs at the Christmas cookie and bake sale at st Paul’s lutheran Church in Heidelberg on nov. 29.

Trespass: Practice continues » From page 03

but the township has limited resources and manpower. Waterloo Regional Police have stepped up patrols, but enforcement on that end is out of the township’s hands. “We have a big job, a lot of work ahead of us to solve the problem,” she admitted. Chief administrative officer David Brenneman said the only way to

be successful is active enforcement, which will come with increased costs. Even then, the township will have to be in it for the long haul. In a related matter, the township has started the process to close the road stub at the south end of Greenhouse Road, with the idea of discouraging illegal dumping and parking. Council will discuss the matter Tuesday night.

Warmth: Take-charge attitude

» From page 03

He’s already enlisted the help of Kitchener-Conestoga MP Harold Albrecht, who promised to spread the word and set up a drop-off point in his constituency office next year. He’s also hoping to get other schools in the area to spread the word and collect items. Cody’s plan to expand the collection

was news to his father, but John wasn’t overly surprised. “We’ve always tried to encourage our kids – you know, they don’t do without anything so it’s nice to take some time out of their lives to volunteer and help other kids or families. “He’s always a take-charge [person]. He likes to be the leader.”

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8 | NEWS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

Early snow taxes townships’ road-clearing budgets MARC MIQUEL HELSEN After a long and snowy winter in 2008, township works crews in both Woolwich and Wellesley are bracing themselves as they grapple with winter snow removal budgets that are already nearing the red zone. “I would have happily waited until December some time for the snow to come, even regardless of the budget,” said Barry Baldasaro, operations supervisor for Woolwich Township, noting the municipality is $100,000

over its 2008 budget. Township road crews got an early taste of winter last month, as they hit the streets to remove snow as early as mid-November. It was a similar situation in Wellesley. “I would say we’ve got to be pretty close to the wire right now as far as the end of the budget; I think we had about $18,000 two weeks ago and I’m pretty sure that’s’ gone; we’re likely right on the wire right now,” said Will McLaughlin, public works director for Wellesley Township.

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Owing to the heavy winter in the early part of 2008 – which heaped record amounts of snow on the region – coupled with an early arrival of winter this November, work crews in Woolwich and Wellesley are already facing tappedout snow removal budgets. In 2008, Woolwich budgeted $518,000 for snow removal and Wellesley township spent approximately $204,000 to keep its roadways clean. A single Sunday snowstorm last year cost the township $26,000; it costs the municipality approximately $210 per hour to run each of its eight vehicles, which on such a job, would have been working simultaneously. The fact that both townships are now tapping the final dregs of their snow removal budgets doesn’t come as a surprise: snow removal budgets are often expended by March, leaving a shortfall for the tail-end of the year in November or December. Neither McLaughlin nor Baldasaro is in panic mode, however. Both administrations possess reserves in their overall works budgets to cover the costs of freak winter years. Their snow-clearing budgets

PHOTO | submitted

Both Woolwich and Wellesley find themselves plowing through their 2008 snow-removal funds

SNOW JOB A township truck plows snow from Hackbart Road near Ament Line after a heavy snowfall in March of last year. Both Wellesley and Woolwich townships have already expended their snow-removal budgets for 2008.

are based on a rolling average: five years in Woolwich, 10 in Wellesley. Consequently, an isolated brutal winter is no reason to fret. “In council’s mind, we’re still okay, in the big picture,” said McLaughlin. “In the small picture, yes, the snow [budget] is over; in the big picture for public works, no, we’re not over budget.” That said, both McLaughlin and Bal-

dasaro are hoping for a kinder, gentler winter with fewer snow days this season. “We’re going to hold our breath; we do that every year,” quipped McLaughlin. Whether a massive deluge or just a minor flurry, snow removal is a challenging procedure In fact, it is often the minor snow falls that pose the greatest problems.

“Sometimes the little one inch dumps that don’t sound like they’re very much – the problem with those is that they kind of get packed down really quick and they polish up and turn to ice. In some respects they’re more treacherous than three inches of snow,” said Baldasaro. “You can’t ignore anything … any amount of snow you pretty well have to do something.”

Cookies: Finding the right formula » From page 05

wards supporting Guiding activities across the country. Girl Guide cookies were first made in 1927

by an innovative Guide leader who baked and boxed up cookies for her girls to raise money for uniforms and camping equipment. Throughout

the years the endeavour would expand, with recipes and suppliers changing. Since the spring of 2003, Girl Guide cookies

have been produced in a nut-free, peanut-free bakery by Canadian-owned company Dare Foods Ltd., which started in Kitchener in 1892.

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THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

The Twin City Harmonizers will be performing their annual Christmas concert at Calvary United church Dec. 6. The quartets, octet and 45-voice chorus will perform a wide variety of carols.

9

PHOTO | SUBMITTED

The sound of Christmas, in harmony Twin City Harmonizers to perform annual yuletide concert at St. Jacobs’ Calvary United Church JONI MILTENBURG Calvary United Church in St Jacobs will be alive with the sound of carols today (Saturday) as the Twin City Harmonizers perform their annual Christmas concert. The Harmonizers are a 60-man unit singing a cappella in four-part harmony, barbershop style. The chorus celebrated

its 60th anniversary two years ago, and many of the men are longtime members. Lorne Brubacher has been harmonizing with the group for 47 years. “It’s an opportunity to learn a lot about music and it’s a social thing to do too,” he said. “I can’t imagine life without it.” Brubacher said several of the members have been around longer than he has, and there may

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even be a charter member still singing. The group has a dedicated following that comes out to see all its shows. The Christmas concert also draws a lot of people who are singers themselves, because it includes several audience numbers. The Harmonizers perform as several quartets, an octet and a 45-strong chorus. They’ll be performing a wide range

of carols, from classics such as “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “The Christmas Song” to “Who’s that Baby?” by Jay Althouse. The Harmonizers will be joined by the Chord Spinners, an all-female choral group that also sings in the barbershop style. Made up of women from St Jacobs and area, the Chord Spinners promise a resonant sound and mesmerizing

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10 | NEWS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

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NEWS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

New Floradale fire hall scene of CPR training

READY WHEN NEEDED Top, Eddie Gutweinz checks for breathing at the CPR awareness course offered at Floradale fire hall Nov. 29. Above, Ben Lindner and Amberly Priestap attach defibrillator pads to their “patient.” Right, St. John’s Ambulance instructor Karyn Kennedy demonstrates chest compressions.

PHOTO | JOE MERLIHAN

PHOTOS | JONI MILTENBURG

Poor road conditions to blame

11

SLIP-SLIDING Treacherous road conditions led to this roll-over on Church Street west of Elmira, one of several mishaps that kept police and firefighters hopping Thursday morning. The driver was able to exit the vehicle without injury.

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12 | NEWS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

St. Nick to bring extra presents to Woolwich & Wellesley kids.............. »25 Santa Claus is coming to town.

VOLUME 13 13, 3, ISSUE 51

SATURDAY SATURDAY,, DECEMBER 20, 2008

www. ObserverXtra.com

HEY KIDS! WE INVITE YOU TO SHARE YOUR HOLIDAY SPIRIT

What does Christmas mean to you? Draw a colourful picture of what Christmas means to you and submit it for a chance to win.

Your artwork published on the cover of the December 20th Observer PLUS: 11x17 Photo Print of the Front Page The winning entry will also receive a complimentary one-night’s stay at the Hilton Homewood Suites in Burlington for the family AND an Ultimate Webkinz Prize Pack from The Elmira Gift Outlet.

Complitments of the Observer

Deadline: Monday, December 15, 2008 Entries are open to all kids under 15 residing in Woolwich & Wellesley Township. Submission must contain name, age, address and phone number to qualify. Artwork must be at least 8 1/2” x 11“ sheet, but no greater than 11”wide by 15” high. Winner will be contacted by phone prior to publication.

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NEWS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

» LAW & ORDER

13

Christmas lights, but no holiday cheer November 26

A neighbourhood feud broke out between two families over some Christmas lights. Police attending the scene about 11:15 p.m on Dec. 1 reported that one of the families became upset with the residents of a neighboring house because the latter had left their lights on for long periods of time. In retaliation, the other family shone a big spot light into the neighboring residence. Police spoke to both homeowners and mediated the dispute.

»»

November 27

8:40 PM | Some youths were reported to be throwing snowballs at passing vehicles in the area of Arthur Street and Oriole Parkway in Elmira. The area was checked, but the individuals were not located. Police remind the public that people who throw objects at vehicles can be held responsible for damages.

»»

November 28

5:55 PM | A vehicle struck a hydro pole on Scotch Line Road near New Jerusalem Road in Woolwich Township. The vehicle had been eastbound on Scotch Line when the driver maneuvered out of the way to make way for a horse-and-buggy. The driver then lost control while on the snow covered roadway, entered the ditch and struck the

»»

November 29

10:39 AM | Concerned parents attended police headquarters in Elmira to drop off a small quantity of marijuana that they found at their residence. The drugs were seized and sent for destruction by police. 11:20 PM | Police were called to a residence on Eldale Road in Elmira where it was reported that several people were out in front with open alcohol. It appears that a small party had gotten out of hand; police assisted in removing some partygoers from the property. One male was arrested for public intoxication and held in custody until he sobered up.

»» pole. Injuries were minor, and the driver was treated at the scene. There was extensive damage to the vehicle, and the hydro pole required replacement. 2:00 PM | A piece of ice fell off a tractor trailer and onto the windshield of a vehicle following behind while at the roundabout near St. Jacobs. The vehi-

Only minor injuries

cle was towed from the scene.

November 30

10:30 PM | A two-vehicle collision occurred on Arthur Street south of Elmira, near the rail road tracks. A green Ford Explorer was travelling south on Arthur Street when it collided head-on with a northbound VW Golf. Two occupants in each vehicle all received minor injuries, with the exception of the driver of the Golf,

PHOTO | JOE MERLIHAN

»»

7:10 PM | A single-vehicle rollover occurred on Ament Line. It appears the driver lost control of the vehicle while eastbound on Ament Line due to poor weather conditions. The driver suffered minor injuries. No charges were laid.

ICY CONDITIONS This collision at Ament Line and Herrgott Road was one of several reported Thursday morning. Some people were transported to hospital, but none of the injuries was major. who had to be extricated from vided an apology along with the vehicle by firefighters and payment for restitution. transported to Grand River Hospital for observation. Ar»» December 1 thur Street was closed for ap- 10:20 AM |A collision involvproximately three hours while ing two vehicles brought poofficers from the traffic branch lice to Three Bridges Road investigated. There were no and Allemang Place in Woolcharges, as police deemed wich Township. It appears that poor weather conditions one vehicle was southbound had been a factor. on Three Bridges Road when 9:30 PM | Police attended two it passed over a patch of ice. residences on Peregrine Cres- The vehicle moved to the right cent in Elmira, where it was to give a northbound vehicle reported that some Christmas some more room, got caught decorations were damaged. on a snow-covered shoulder Officers followed some foot- where the driver lost control prints in the snow to another of the vehicle and entered into local residence, where two the northbound lane, clipping young males were located. the rear of the other vehicle. The southbound vehicle reThey took responsibility OVER THE EDGE Slippery conditions on Herrgott Road near Wallenstein sawWool-Obs_DEC:Layout this car slide off the road Dec. 1 4. 12/2/08 3:16 PM Page 1for the damage caused and pro- ceived extensive damage, reNo injuries were reported. PHOTO | JOE MERLIHAN

Winter roads take a toll

quiring it to be towed from the scene. There were minor damages to the northbound vehicle. There were no charges. 12:00 PM | Police received a call from North Dumfries, where it appears that a farmer caught two males attempting to break into his farm house. When he confronted them the males fled in a bluish-grey van missing a front license plate. One male was described as white, with a short build. The second suspect was described as being of Asian descent, in his early twenties, clean shaven and with a thin build. The WRPS’ break-and-enter team is now investigating the incident. They believe that this pair has been targeting rural farm homes throughout the region. They remind residents to be vigilant of suspicious activity in both rural and urban areas and to report any information to police. 1:35 PM | An area resident reported the loss of a snowmobile trail pass.

»»

December 2

4:45 PM | Police attended EDSS as a result of a report concerning some property damage. A student at the school reported that on both Nov. 27 and 28 he returned to his car after school to notice that the vehicle had been scratched. There are no suspects.

»»

December 3

11:25 AM | A Palmerston-area resident was northbound on Arthur Street, approaching Elmira, when a large piece of ice fell off the back of a transport truck, striking the windshield; the glass, along with wipers and plastic trim pieces were damaged. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

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14 | COMMENT & OPINION

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

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» EDITORIAL

Divisive Harper must step aside In having the House prorogued, Stephen Harper has missed the opportunity to do the honourable thing by resigning. Even with this move – not unexpected from someone of his ilk – he still must go. All of the events unfolding on Parliament Hill – and all of what will follow – are the direct responsibility of the Prime Minister. He set the fire, and he’s been fanning the flames. The blatantly political move in last week’s economic update was entirely his, revealing his true colours despite claims this would be a more cooperative Parliament. Even with the House suspended courtesy of Governor-General Michaëlle Jean’s ill-considered decision, Harper still does not have the confidence of the majority of Canadians. His position is even less legitimate given Thursday’s tactics. The only way for the Conservatives to regain any credibility is to jettison Harper, who Canadians have three times judged undeserving to lead a majority government. He’s clearly buying time to cling to power, his only goal, knowing his career would be over if the Liberal/NDP coalition forms a government.

Backed into a corner, and seeing power slip away from him, Harper showed he wants to stay at all costs, lying, misleading the public about how parliamentary democracy works and playing the worst kinds of divisive politics. In seeking prorogation, he employed delaying tactics he railed against when in opposition during Paul Martin’s Liberal minority government. Equally hypocritical are his arguments against coalitions and seeking the support of the Bloc Québécois. He’s attempted both, having suggested the same thing to Gilles Duceppe in 2004. And newly revealed documents show the Alliance party seeking a partnership with the Bloc as early as 2000. Since his first minority win in 2006, Harper has often relied on the support of the other parties, including the BQ, to get measures through the House. Since going on the offensive against the Liberal-NDP coalition, Harper has been taking broad shots at the BQ, attempting to paint the support of Bloc MPs as somehow illegitimate, despite relying on them himself at times. This strategy risks

» VERBATIM

alienating Quebecers, a group he had been courting – extra funding, nationhood status – in a bid to gain a majority. His tactics are transparent: polarize the country by shouting “separatist” at every opportunity, including the inflammatory address on national television Wednesday night. Following the decision to suspend Parliament, Harper had the temerity to suggest he’s been preaching cooperation all along. He also referred to a fiscal stimulus plan for the economy as his mandate from October’s election, despite repeatedly telling Canadians there was no economic crisis and that his party would have no part of any bailouts. To be clear, the coalition alternative is no panacea, yet remains a better choice than a government led by a prime minister devoid of his remaining credibility. The time lag – the House won’t sit again until Jan. 26 – should allow the Liberals to push Stéphane Dion aside to bring someone such as Ralph Goodale forward as the interim leader, and perhaps prime minister, when MPs vote on the Conservative budget.

» THE MONITOR

“This is what so many of us were worried about during the election: the context of a Tory victory in an economic crisis, because we know that there is this pattern of using an economic crisis to push through policies that were nowhere during the campaign.”

People living in poverty in the Great Lakes basin may be experiencing an increased burden of high air pollution from industrial facilities in their communities; 37 communities have high poverty rates at or above the national average (11.8%) and high releases of toxic air pollutants.

Naomi Klein reacts to the happenings on Parliament Hill

Canadian Environmental Law Association

COMMENT & OPINION |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

» HARD TALK | RAFE MAIR

15

Coalition versus the Tories? A pox on all their houses Wow! What larks! Could the scene in Ottawa happen anywhere else? We stand on the cusp of a political miracle which might see the rejected and dejected leader of the Liberal party about to become the prime minister of Canada. The facts are not much in dispute. The Conservatives, a minority government, baited the opposition with a bill that would take away the public funds they get for election purposes. Yes, there it is folks. We may have a situation where voters will be asked to support a coalition of Liberals, New Democrats and separatists because these three parties have had their taxpayer dollars for election expenses taken away. Can’t you see and hear voter indignation? Stand up to those wicked Tories who would take away from us good guys taxpayer-funded lolly designed to help us get elected! I can hear the cry rolling across the nation … give the Liberals, BQ, NDP and Greens their slush funds back! Now if that isn’t an emotionpacked issue, I don’t know what is. I have to tell you up front. I don’t like Stephen Harper or his government. The problem is, I don’t like the others much either. But if I were asked to vote for a coalition put together by bringing in the Bloc Quebecois, I just couldn’t do it. Politics and cynicism are synonyms but this would be too much. I have to think that Jack Layton and Stéphane Dion have thought of this and realize that they could be forcing an election

the public doesn’t want over a trivial issue brought on because the Liberals and New Democrats are cynical enough, indeed unpatriotic enough, to bring the Bloc Quebecois into the government. The scent of power, even momentary power, is very tempting. It does strange things to otherwise quite normal people. But I simply can’t believe that Dion and Layton could be so dumb. If they are, no wonder the public gave Harper office instead of them. Now we have the constitutional lawyers prowling through dusty old manuscripts to see what happens if Harper is defeated in the House and pops across the way to Governor General Michaëlle Jean’s digs asking for an election writ. Her Excellency will have been well prepared with the precedent set in 1926 in what’s known as the King/Byng affair, the only problem being no one can agree on what precedent was set. In 1925, then prime minister Mackenzie King formed a minority Liberal government. In 1926, he was defeated on a confidence motion whereupon he went to governor general Lord Byng and sought dissolution of Parliament and an election writ. Byng refused and called upon Tory leader Arthur Meighen to form a government, which he did. It lasted a week, Meighen lost a confidence motion and an election ensued which was fought by King on the basis that Lord Byng was wrong. King was returned with a majority. Before going on, two important constitutional events took place after the King/Byng dustup that may well affect what interpretation one might infer

from that crisis. At the time of the crisis, the GovernorGeneral was seen not only as the King’s representative in Canada but also seen as representing Great Britain. In other words, the GG not only was the king’s Canadian representative, he also represented the residual powers of the monarch as king of the United Kingdom. After the crisis and after King was returned with a majority, the U.K. government issued a declaration that the role of Governor General was as a representative of the sovereign in Canada only. Known as the Balfour Declaration, it acknowledged that the Dominions were equal in status to the United Kingdom, and that each Governor General would henceforth function solely as a representative of the Crown in their respective Dominions, and not as an agent of the British government. Arcane, perhaps, but none the less important for that. Next came the 1931 Statute of Westminster, which changed Canada from being a “self governing Dominion” to a full and equal member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, later simply the Commonwealth of Nations. Here’s what section 2 (2) says: “No law and no provision of any law made after the commencement of this Act by the Parliament of a Dominion shall be void or inoperative on the ground that it is repugnant to the law of England, or to the provisions of any existing or future Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom, or to any order, rule, or regulation made under any such Act, and the powers of the Parliament of a Dominion shall include

the power to repeal or amend any such Act, order, rule or regulation in so far as the same is part of the law of the Dominion.” Thus we had a king and he was also king of England but in Ottawa he was the king of Canada with his prerogatives limited by Canadian law and custom. Judging from what I’m reading, modern, which is to say since I left law school in 1956, legal opinion seems to be that if the Tories lose a confidence vote, the Governor General may refuse to give Mr. Harper his election writ and can ask Dion to try to form a government. I respectfully disagree. I believe that since 1926, the Balfour Declaration and the Statute of Westminster in 1931, combined with our Constitution, parliamentary custom is that if a prime minister seeks dissolution and an election writ, he shall have them. It is a matter of custom in the absence of specific constitutional fiat. The custom in the U.K. has certainly changed to where no monarch would dare refuse a prime minister his election and I believe that’s the custom now in Canada, though I admit this is inferential not stated. Now that’s behind us, let me make what I believe should be the final verdict. In our House of Commons we have an enclave of childish adults who, rather than deal with the immediate and soon to be upon us even worse financial crisis, play with public affairs as if they were the students’ council of a small high school (with apologies to students’ councils across the land.)

» INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS | GWYNNE DYER

Four harsh truths about climate change About two years ago, I realized that the military in various countries were starting to do climate change scenarios in-house – scenarios that started with the scientific predictions about rising temperatures, falling crop yields, and other physical effects – and examining what that would do to politics and strategy. The scenarios predicted failed states proliferating because governments couldn’t feed their people; waves of climate refugees washing up against the borders of more fortunate countries; even wars between countries that shared the same rivers. So I started interviewing everybody I could get access to: not only senior military people, but scientists, diplomats and politicians. About 70 interviews, a dozen countries and 18 months later, I have reached four conclusions that I didn’t even suspect when I began the process. The first is simply this: the scientists are really scared. Their observations over the past two or three years suggest that everything is happening much faster than their climate models predicted. This creates a dilemma for them, because for the past decade they have been struggling against a well-funded

campaign that cast doubt on the phenomenon of climate change. Now, finally, people and even governments are listening. Even in the United States, the world headquarters of climate change denial, 85 per cent of the population now sees climate change as a major issue, and both presidential candidates in last month’s election promised 80 per cent cuts in American emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. The scientists are understandably reluctant at this point to announce publicly that their predictions were wrong; that it’s really much worse and the targets will have to be revised. Most of them are waiting for overwhelming proof that climate change really is moving faster, even though they are already privately convinced that it is. So governments, now awakened to the danger at last, are still working to the wrong emissions target. The real requirement, if we are to avoid runaway global warming, is probably 80 per cent cuts by 2030, and almost no burning whatever of fossil fuels (coal, gas and oil) by 2050. The second conclusion is that the generals are right. Food is the key issue, and world food supply is already very tight: we have eaten up about two-thirds of the world grain reserve in the past five years, leaving only 50 days’ worth in store. Even a one degree C (1.8 degrees F) rise in average global temperature will take a major

bite out of food production in almost all the countries that are closer to the equator than to the poles, and that includes almost all of the planet’s bread-baskets. So the international grain market will wither for lack of supplies. Countries that can no longer feed their people will not be able to buy their way out of trouble by importing grain from elsewhere, even if they have the money. Starving refugees will flood across borders, whole nations will collapse into anarchy – and some countries may make a grab for their neighbours’ land or water. These are scenarios that the Pentagon and other military planning staffs are examining now. They could start to come true as little as 15 or 20 years down the road. If this kind of breakdown becomes widespread, there will be little chance of making or keeping global agreements to curb greenhouse gas emissions and avoid further warming. The third conclusion is that there is a point of no return after which warming becomes unstoppable – and we are probably going to sail right through it. It is the point at which anthropogenic (human-caused) warming triggers huge releases of carbon dioxide from warming oceans, or similar releases of both carbon dioxide and methane from melting permafrost, or both. Most climate scientists think that point lies not far beyond two de-

grees C hotter (3.6 degrees F). Once that point is passed, the human race loses control: cutting our own emissions may not stop the warming. But we are almost certainly going to miss our deadline. We cannot get the 10 lost years back, and by the time a new global agreement to replace the Kyoto accord is negotiated and put into effect, there will probably not be enough time left to stop the warming short of the point where we must not go. So – final conclusion – we will have to cheat. In the past two years, various scientists have suggested several “geo-engineering” techniques for holding the temperature down directly. We might put a kind of temporary chemical sunscreen in the stratosphere by seeding it with sulphur particles, for example, or we could artificially thicken low-lying maritime clouds to reflect more sunlight. These are not permanent solutions; merely ways of winning more time to cut our emissions without triggering runaway warming in the meanwhile. But the situation is getting very grave, and we are probably going to see the first experiments with these techniques within five years. There is a way through this crisis, but it isn’t easy and there is no guarantee of success. As the Irishman said to the lost traveller: If that’s where you want to go, Sir, I wouldn’t start from here.

16 | COMMENT & OPINION

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

» LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

» OBSERVER Q&A

Like Garry Morden, all firefighters deserve thanks

Do you support the opposition bid to topple the Harper government?

class of recruits. Boy! It seems like yesterday that I was sitting in their chairs (1977). Time flies. Aside from joining the clergy, I can’t imagine a way that I could have served that would have been more fulfilling. The fire service is an amazing tradition of service and comradeship.” On Sept. 24, Garry was invited to unveil a plaque and plans for a $30-million fire and emergency training centre that will be named the Garry W. Morden Centre to honour him and his legacy. Our town volunteer firemen and others like them throughout our country will probably never have a building named after them, yet they regularly demonstrate the same heroism as our friend Garry. They risk their health and their lives to protect us and save us from fires, automobile accidents and other emergency situations. I’m thankful to each and every member of our local fire department, past and present, for the heroic service they give our community. You, like our friend Garry, are heroes day in and day out. Donna McFarlane Mount Forest

Coalition proposal a betrayal of Canada To the Editor, NDP leader Jack Layton and Liberal leader Stéphane Dion by joining a separatist coalition have betrayed the country of Canada. This unholy pact with the devil will move Canada closer to a breakup by alienating

the West and giving fresh hope to the separatists in the province of Quebec. The Prime Minister of Canada must be elected by the will of a free people, not by the will of three people. Brian McHugh Elmira

“No, not really. I don’t like Stephane Dion. I think it’s just a power grab.”

“Harper screwed us, he lied … and lied, but if we put the other guys in, you can’t win. No matter who ... we’re screwed. I would say ‘no.’ Everybody wants to get bailed out. If I can’t pay my bills I can’t go to the government and go ‘help me, help me.’”

“Definitely not. For a start, I don’t agree with the coalition and secondly I don’t agree with how they’re doing it. They say they’ve been voted in … they’re not voted in.”

“No. I don’t support that one iota. They’re so far apart with their policies it would never work because they’d be fighting amongst themselves. And I think Harper should have his chance to see what he can do. They’re not even allowing that.”

»» John Eby

»» Brian McKenna

»» Chris Willis

»»Paul Hartwright

» THE VIEW FROM HERE | SCOTT ARNOLD

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To the Editor, Bob and I recently lost a very dear friend, Garry Morden, the fire chief for the City of Mississauga. Garry had to deal with a lot of paperwork and meetings in his job, but he liked to join his crews, sometimes to support and encourage them, but often just to grab a hose and be part of the action. In his years as chief, he helped to develop the Mississauga emergency medical response procedures and advocated aggressive fire prevention and public education programs because he believed there is no honour in fighting a fire that could have been prevented. Some of you will remember the 1979 Mississauga train derailment. A CP freight train carrying dangerous chemicals derailed, forcing more than 200,000 people to be evacuated. Garry and many other brave souls battled the resultant fires. The “firemen’s cancer” that Garry died from probably had its beginnings during that very dangerous time. Recently, after a visit to see Garry, he e-mailed me saying, “Today I was introduced to our latest

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BUSINESS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

BUSINESS » FOCUS ON CONSUMERS

17

Economic gloom hangs over local shoppers MARC MIQUEL HELSEN The economic crisis that has plunged the country into political turmoil and world markets into disarray is not sparing Waterloo Region. “The whole year has been tough. As soon as the stock market crashed we noticed the difference immediately; it’s been really slowing down,” said Elmira Home Hardware dealer and BIA executive member Krista McBay. “People just aren’t parting with their money as much as they have been.” Typically a recession-resistant business, McBay’s hardware store has seen a slide in sales throughout the last year she said and consequently, the dealer has had to implement some changes, such as digging up inventory and slashing prices. She will also likely have to stock fewer items in the near future. “Everything is under a fine magnifying glass right now,” she said. In St. Jacobs, where merchants typically rely on the village’s tourist draw during the summer

months, businesses have had to employ a more rigorous advertising strategy in the lead-up to the Christmas season. “This year we didn’t let up on advertising at all; in fact, we probably advertised more this year in a concentrated period of time than we ever have. We’re hopeful that our retailers will see some good sales this season,” said Jenny Shantz, manager of St. Jacobs Country, the destination marketing brand that includes the factory outlet mall and the farmers’ markets. “We have concentrated more on attracting [local] people to St Jacobs, probably more than any other year.” While sales might have dropped in the village, however, it appears the outlet mall has seen an increase in purchases as shoppers look for bargains. Aware their customers are watching what they buy, retail stores are working harder to lure Christmas shoppers over the threshold. “The retailers are being very aggressive trying to kick-start the holiday season,” said Ron Mc-

PHOTO | marc miquel helsen

Retailers taking steps to encourage us to get out to the stores this holiday season

GOING LOCAL Home Hardware dealer and Elmira BIA member Krista McBay hopes that Ontarians will heed Premier Dalton McGuinty’s call to shop locally this holiday season. Carville, a University of Waterloo professor who specializes in marketing and consumer behaviour. “The holiday season … comprises most of the retail world’s sales for the year and they need to make it go, they’ve stockpiled supplies – this is where they make their numbers. “If managers are worried that they’re not going to have significant

traffic, they will respond,” he said. Big chain stores and retail outlets are slashing prices and offering sales; malls, as they do every holiday season, are dressing the facilities with bright and festive colour schemes in an attempt to make the shopping experience more than just another Christmas task. “The funny thing is shopping should be a

chore and yet it’s one of many people’s favourite leisure activities,” said McCarville. Premier Dalton McGuinty’s recent pleas to Ontarians to spend money where they can isn’t exactly a difficult sell, said McCarville. “McGuinty is just encouraging people to do what they already want to do.” Within this context it is evident that some re-

tailers are struggling to make ends meet while others are doing really well, he added, noting that it is difficult to identify specific trends as all sectors are experiencing both highs and lows, simultaneously. “It’s like a lake: the lake is full of fish, but the fish aren’t everywhere in the lake – they’re in certain spots and not at all in others, so it depends on where you drop your hook.” All the discussion of doom-and-gloom scenarios – bailouts, stimulus packages and the like – by governments and the media seems only to add fuel to the concerns. “The scary thing is the worse the media and the worse the government starts talking about the economy, the less people start spending and that just snowballs the effect,” said McBay. “If people would still spend their money, be smarter about it, but still spend their money locally, then that will help bolster the economy,” she suggested, noting she hopes that local shoppers will act on the low Canadian dollar and shop at home. C r n and ome ew vi loc sit ati on

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18 | BUSINESS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

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The Latest Fashion With Traditional Service

181 Park St., Waterloo 519-741-9993 (between Union St. & John St., near Clarica bldg.) www.marknunes.ca

Finding the right fashions for your image and allowing you to enjoy all the benefits of well tailored clothing is the role of the clothing specialists at Mark Nunes Clothier & Tailors. This company has been dressing men in style since 1999. Owner Mark Nunes brings over 20 years of tailoring experience and is knowledgeable of different body fittings and how they relate to your unique proportions. Mark and the staff can help you to choose colours, fabrics and textures that are complimentary. They may also want to know details of your present wardrobe so that any recommendations will compliment and enhance existing garments. Mark specializes in custom made suits, hand cut and hand sewn using the finest fabrics under their own Bespoke label, plus on-site alterations to ensure that your new garment will fit well and provide unparalleled comfort. From suits and business casual to weekend sportswear and outerwear, something can always be found at Mark Nunes Clothier & Tailors to enliven your fashion sense. Choose from handsome offthe-rack and custom-made suits, shirts, jackets, overcoats, slacks, sweaters, belts and ties. Some of the leading designer labels can be found in their collections. Syd Silver Formals are also available, with attention to fittings second to none. Whether it’s for a wedding, graduation or any other black tie affair, Mark Nunes will ensure you look your best. For personal wardrobe consultation and assistance from people who understand the value and benefits of a long term client/consultant relationship, look no further than Mark Nunes Clothier & Tailors. Also, visit their Styles on Park store at 189 Park Street for fine women’s apparel. Gift Certificates are available just in time for the Holidays!

Real Cars For Real Drivers 1069 Victoria St. N., Kitchener (near Frederick St.) 296 Victoria St. N., Kitchener (at Lancaster St.)

519-342-2614 1-888-342-2614 519-749-9802 1-866-749-9802

The choice of a used car is a bit more complicated than that of a new car. Not only do you have to choose a make and model, you have to contend with decisions such as mileage, condition, and age. Plus, some additional factors such as financing and warranties carry more importance when you consider a used car. That’s why the decision of where to buy may be equally as important as what to buy. Carimex Auto Sales & Service Ltd. has built a reputation as the ideal destination for those looking for a “good used car”. Owner Ziggy Mioduszewski has retained a sales staff that is courteous, knowledgeable and takes the time to determine a customer’s lifestyle, needs and budget to help guide your choices. Rather than using high pressure sales tactics, they let the quality of the vehicle and their low prices speak for themselves. Carimex features a large selection of 200-250 vehicles on inventory, allowing you compare and test drive a number of cars, trucks, SUVs and vans. You can search their inventory on-line at www.carimex.ca and pre-approve your financing! When you choose a used vehicle from Carimex Auto Sales & Service Ltd., it undergoes a mechanical inspection from their certified technicians on staff, and is cleaned, certified, e-tested and ready for the road when you pick it up. They also handle all the licensing requirements on your behalf. You always get fair value for your trade-in. Pre-owned vehicles from Carimex come with either the balance of the factory warranty or available aftermarket Lubrico warranty for peace of mind. Flexible financing can be arranged on-site (OAC).

The Logical Choice for Eyewear 255 King St. N., Waterloo 519-888-0411 (just north of University Ave.) www.opticalillusionsinc.ca

At Optical Illusions they know that looking good starts with seeing well! They are committed to offering only the highest quality frames and newest lens technologies to ensure you of the clearest, sharpest, most comfortable vision you have ever experienced. Dispensing Opticians Randy L. Smart and Doug Sulkowski, the qualified, experienced eyewear consultants at Optical Illusions, have worked with customers to make sure that their eyewear is fitted expertly. Optical Illusions has eyewear fashions to define or recreate your image. Whether it’s something fun and flirtatious, classic and conservative styles, or fashion forward styles that keep from aging you unnecessarily, they have you covered. From plastic frames and strong, lightweight metal frames to hot new “rimless” styles, Optical Illusions has brought together a collection to satisfy the most discriminating tastes. Look to such brands as Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, Silhouette, Gucci, Emporio Armani, Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, Modo, Elizabeth Arden, Fysh, Oxydo, Gant, Jai Kudo, Oakley and others. Sooth your eyes from bright light and the sun’s harmful rays with sunglass solutions from Optical Illusions. You can get cool designer brands, custom clip-ons fabricated on-site, prescription sunglasses, or photochromatic lenses that darken automatically in sunlight. Eye exams can be arranged on-site for your convenience. Repairs and adjustments are no problem. Optical Illusions Inc. has been a truly full service eyewear solution since 1995.

4 Hachborn St., (west off King St.) St. Jacobs 519-664-3307 1-800-203-9623 www.reichards.com

Reichard’s specializes in supplies for quilters. Quilting is a needlework process in which layers of a quilt (wadding sandwiched between two layers of fabric) are attached to each other with continuous stitches, either by hand or with a sewing machine. The stitching of patterns into the quilt layers add strength and decoration to the quilt. The quilt is used primarily as a bed covering, or in different shapes as a decorative piece adorning a wall, folded over a chest, as a framed masterpiece, etc. North Americans have adopted quilts as a symbol of what they value about themselves and their family, local or national history. With a history dating back to 1924 in Elmira, Reichard’s has been operating from St. Jacobs since October 7, 2008. The store is owned and operated by Leslie Irvine, who along with her staff will help you choose the products to meet your needs. Reichard’s can supply everything you need including over 5,000 bolts of beautiful cotton fabrics, plus batting, frames, hoops, notions and more. They are also a dealer for the line of Baby Lock sergers and sewing machines. The staff at Reichard’s will help you cut the right amount of material that you need. They can also offer helpful advice drawn from years of experience to help you succeed with your project. People of all ages and backgrounds are attracted to quilting as an independent activity or done in the fellowship of friends. The quilting bee conjures up an image of community members working together on patterns that have been passed down through the generations. Whether it’s someone who has been creating quilts all their lives or a newcomer looking for quilting classes to learn the art of quilting, Reichard’s is a destination for the supplies, advice and service you need under one roof.

Service Comes First… Quality Comes Naturally 105 Northland Rd. Unit D Waterloo 519-885-2739 www.brewhouse.ca Whatever your taste, you can make a sensational wine or beer to call your own with the help of owners Wade Borden, Shawn Voisin and the specialists at The Brew House—the oldest operating brew on premises in Ontario, founded 20 years ago. When it comes to Wine, The Brew House allows you to choose from over 100 varieties of red and white wines, fruit wines, sherry, port or ice wine styles, made from the finest 100% pure varietal grape juices and concentrates from Winexpert. They also offer refreshing wine coolers, ciders, and hard lemonade. It takes you just a few minutes to mix the yeast, juice and other ingredients that make your great wine. Then, for four to eight weeks, The Brew House’s staff will monitor and tend to your wine until fermentation is complete. At that time, you come back to The Brew House for about 30 minutes, to bottle, cork, seal and label your wine using the latest in easy-to-use automated equipment. Plus, you can choose from a large selection of wine labels to make your finished wine look as great as it tastes—perfect for wedding wines. If you prefer Beer, a big difference with The Brew House is that their unfermented beer or “WORT”, a boiled mixture consisting of malt, hops and water, can be pre-made for you in custom kettles by the staff. With their “Brew For You Service”, the customer need only add the yeast to a fermenting vessel, cutting the actual brew time from the traditional 45-60 minutes to about 5 minutes. Return 2-3 weeks later to The Brew House to bottle or can your ready to drink, all-natural brew—it’s that easy! A keg and draft set-up is available for parties and special occasions. From the large, clean facility with great parking to the carry-in/out service, The Brew House is all about Service & Quality. Gift certificates are available—ideal for the Holiday Season!

The Home Makeover Specialists! 1486 Victoria St. N., Kitchener 519-570-3380 (at Lackner Blvd. light) www.simpsonsflooring.ca

Your home receives plenty of activity and routine daily. From the viewpoint of how a home makes you feel, each has its own personality and style—just like you. It is the personal touches that make them unique, enhancing their functionality and fashion. If you are tired of the scenery in your home, maybe it is time for a makeover from Simpsons Flooring & Home Makeover Centre. It all begins with a personal visit to their newly remodeled showroom at the 10,000 square foot store, where some of the most current flooring products in the industry are displayed to help inspire you. Let the experienced, non-commissioned sales team at Simpsons Flooring & Home Makeover Centre help you choose flooring that really speaks to you. They offer the newest designs in tile, including ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, stainless steel tile, etc. They have a large selection of hardwood flooring, beautiful carpet and area rugs, resilient vinyl, laminates and more. More than just name brand flooring at big box pricing, Simpsons Flooring has introduced an Extreme Home Makeover division to consult, create, inspire and remodel—a total solution from concept to completion. Owners Dwayne & Karen Mitchell have brought together a team of qualified designers, licensed insured trades and other specialists whose aim is to ensure the highest quality service standards backed by a full warranty. They want to provide practical and affordable renovations that will enhance your lifestyle and leave you smiling. From bathrooms and kitchens to decks, basement finishing or additions, they can do it all. Stop in soon or call to arrange your inhome consultation.

BUSINESS |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

» FOOD FOR THOUGHT | OWEN ROBERTS

19

Molecular farming targets magic bullets New companies forming in the current economic environment are rare, but here’s one: Plantform. It’s a biotechnology enterprise, emerging after years of research which have established Guelph and Plantform’s co-founder, University of Guelph environmental biologist Prof. Chris Hall and his research group, as leaders in molecular farming. Hall described the fledgling venture as part of a presentation he made last month at the university for the News@ Noon newsmaker series, sponsored by the University of Guelph/Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs partnership. It’s a testament to how far he’s come in the past decade that he’s been putting diseasefighting antibodies into plants, part of that time as the prestigious Canada Research Chair in Recombinant Antibody Technology. Antibodies, says Hall, are magic bullets. They’re the defense mechanisms the animal world naturally mounts when an infectious agent enters the body. When they’re introduced through biotechnology into the plant’s genetic code, the plant will go on to produce seed with the antibodies. Later, grown plants can be harvested and the antibodies extracted. In these plants, antibodies are relatively easy to find, because they don’t occur there naturally. Hall’s been us-

ing tobacco for his studies, because it’s a non-food plant, and compared to most North American plants, its leaves are huge, so it generates significant biomass. That means he can harvest more antibodies per plant. And those antibodies are needed now. A treatment for one type of breast cancer is a commercial antibody-based drug, administered to as many as 10,000 Canadians annually. It’s expensive – more than $30,000 for a year’s treatment – and Hall believes a generic version of this antibody could be created much more affordably, in plants. Indeed, his research group has already produced small quantities in tobacco. Now, they’re testing it to make sure it behaves the same way as the commercial version, and to decide whether it goes on to clinical trials. Antibodies have many other uses, too. And that’s where Hall’s Ontario Agricultural College training comes in – antibodies can also be left in plants to give them resistance to certain environmental contaminants. For example, some 17 students and technicians in Hall’s laboratory are working with him on a way to give greenhouse plants resistance to a pesky blight- and rot fungus called Pythium aphanidermatum. It spreads quickly by spores, and currently has no effective control. The antibody they’re working towards would help plants put up resistance to infection caused by the spores of the fungus. Another use being developed in Hall’s laboratory is bioactive paper, in which the harvested antibodies can be bound

to paper as a coating, to capture disease-causing agents called pathogens. Pathogens that come in contact with the antibody on the paper would be captured, and then taken out of commission. Hall envisions filters can be made from this antibody-based paper to remove pathogens from water in home applications, as well as largescale city water facilities. In fact, Hall believes all kinds of products are possible with this antibodybased paper – protective clothing, air filters, face masks, food packaging and biohazard detection, just to name a few. A company’s start-up costs for this kind of antibody technology is signifi-

cant. But after that, Hall says, production costs are low, less than a few dollars per gram. He’s certain they’ll be needed – in fact, he’s predicting a capacity crunch. But the process needs streamlining to extract the antibodies in pure form from tobacco, and new technology must be developed to make purification from plants efficient and affordable. That’s where Plantform comes in. Hall hopes it’s an answer to not only the production of inexpensive antibodies, but also to the purification problems associated with getting the antibodies out of plants. We can hope he’s right, and that his magic bullet is not far away.

Confused? We can help. Tax-Free Savings Account A Fresh Approach to Your Savings Your Values Your Credit Union

Serving members of Mennonite, Amish and Brethren in Christ churches across Ontario.

www.mscu.com

Home Holidays for the

25%

OFF

All Regular Priced, In-Stock

!CCESSORIES s #HRISTMAS $ÏCOR s 7ALL !RT #ANDLES s -IRRORS ,AMPS s !ND -UCH -ORE * Sale Ends December 24, 2008

7E ARE PROUD TO BE A 7ISH 4REE ,OCATION FOR 7OOLWICH #HRISTMAS 'OODWILL

No high pressure sales, just quality products at competitive prices. Visit our ce p p a lian t. p e d HOURS Mon.-Thurs. 8-6 | Fridays 8-9 | Saturdays 8-5 | Sundays 12-5

1421 King St. N, Downtown St. Jacobs | 519-664-3301 www.homefurniture.ca

CELEBRATING

30YEARS 1978 - 2008

NOW EARN AEROPLAN® MILES ®Aeroplan is a registered trademark of Aeroplan Limited Partnership.

20 | GIFT IDEAS FEATURE

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

GIFT IDEAS FEATURE |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

It’s Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas Golf & Supplies

FORE SALE Elmira Golf Shop Open

Monday-Friday

10am-6pm

(only until 1pm on christmas eve)

Saturdays 10am-4pm

Golf Club Sets $249.99 & UP

Elmira

Your Entertainment Headquarters

15 Ball Packs $19.99 & UP Clothing $29.99 & UP Many other golf items on sale! Fruit Baskets t Meat Platters t Cheese Trays

Gift Certificates

And much more!

Available for any amount

Visit us at our new location

Visit our website: www.elmiragolfclub.com

315 Arthur St. S.

519.669.1652

1. PICK A CV UNIT 2. PICK A HOSE KIT 3. SAVE $100.00

519-669-5403 or 519-669-3550

Stocked with Everything You Need for the Christmas Season! Toys | Clothing | Gloves | Hats Collectables | Coats

30% OFF In Stock

CIH Hand Tools

s "/.53 s "2).' ). !$ !.$ '%4 $100.00 ). !##%33/2)%3

VALID TO DECEMBER 24TH 2008

Located on the corner of Line 86 and the Floradale Road | 519.669.1561

519.669.0524

%LMIRA S 6AC #ENTRE

519.669.8362

®2007 CASE CORPORATION

Visit us on the World Wide Web at www.caseih.com Case IH is a registered trademark of Case Corporation

(Reist Industries)

www.echo.ca

100

Oriole Pkwy

Arthur St. S.

RETAIL STORE STORE RETAIL

TIM HORTONS

South Field Dr.

Union St.

100 Union St., Elmira, Ontario

21

22 | GIFT IDEAS FEATURE

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

It’s Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas Wide variety of Chocolates & Truffles Belgian Chocolate Letters Personalized Gift Baskets Festive Chocolate Pizzas Stocking Stuffers

We’ve Made Gift Giving Easy!

www.brittles-n-more.com

Come enjoy a FREE sample while you browse throughout our store. 1429 King St. N., St. Jacobs | 519.664.1440

The Gift of Flight

Holly Jolly Nail Duo Bu g perso y the Makin ght Manicure & i n r sB list a on your Spirl,itSpa Manicureot, Pedicure g we k ift card Facia dicure & H now $55 Spa Pe Massage t love hey’ll Stone i t ! $175

Introductory Flight - Gift Certificate

$49.95

Aviation Giftware: Books, Tshirts, Sweatshirts, Caps, Mugs, Clocks, Desk Sets, Business Card Holders and more. Shop in person or phone

The Pilot Shop NOW AT 2 LOCATIONS

OPEN 9AM-7PM 7 Days Per Week Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre Cessna 152 or Cessna 172

519.648.2213

National Flyers Academy Cessna 172 or Diamond Katana

519.648.3797 5

Buy a gift card for $50 or more and your name will be entered in our draw for a gift basket of fabulous products valued at $100

Buy a gift card for $100 or more and your name will be entered in our draw for a luxurious Spa Day valued at $190

112 Oriole Pkwy, Elmira

519.669.8234

Looking for a New Career?

The Quality You Demand, the Service You Deserve.

“WHERE TIRES ARE A SPECIALTY, NOT A SIDE LINE.”

Sampson’s Clothing Outlet

We sell great tires for vehicles of all makes and models. We’ll get you back on the road in no time with tires that will deliver what we say they will... GUARANTEED.

Helicopter Flight Training

Gift Certificates starting at $175.00

Call Us for Tires!

Farm • Auto • Truck Industrial and we have On-the-farm service

35 Howard Avenue, Elmira

519-669-3232

+GST

1369 King Street. South, St. Jacobs

519-664-3008

Great gift idea for the ‘hard to buy for’ person! Located at the Region of Waterloo Airport

TO BOOK YOUR FLIGHT CALL:

1.877.648.3732 www.greatlakeshelicopter.ca

32 | CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM

2007

CLASSIFIED DEPT. SALES & SERVICE

HELP WANTED

AUTOMOTIVE

SALES & SERVICE

WAREHOUSE POSITION EGS Electrical Group Canada, a leading manufacturer of industrial electrical equipment is seeking a Warehouse worker. Prospective applicants must have good communication skills and a grade 10 education. The position involves preparing various products for shipping by consolidating packages as per customer orders. Complete miscellaneous warehouse duties including the receiving of all in-coming supplies or customer returns and ensures proper documentation. Interested applicants would send their resumé in confidence to: EGS Electrical Group Canada Ltd. 99 Union Street Elmira, Ontario, N3B 3L7 Attn: Human Resources Email: Human.Resources@egscanada.com We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls please.

HELP WANTED

47 Northside Dr., St. Jacobs, ON

519-664-2281

HEALTH CARE

»»Mature Care Giver with

WOOLWICH 2 1/2 years agency experiWilling to assist seMEMORIAL ence. niors. Please call CENTRE ICE 519-669-3535. 47 Northside Dr.,TRAINING St. Jacobs, ON & TIME 519-664-2281 LESSONS

HELP WANTED Weekday Kitchen Help

20-40 hours/week Please send resume or application to: Anton Heimpel At The Crossroads Family Restaurant Ltd. 384 Arthur St. S., Elmira or fax to 519-669-0430

Call Recreation Office 519-669-6025 to request ice at the NEW COMPLEX Starting in September 2009

FAX | 519.669.5753 EMAIL | sales@ObserverXtra.com

FOR SALE

FLOATING

Elmira’s LARGEST selection

CHRISTMAS TREES

of major brand computers

Kept indoors & out of the weather! 51/2 to

2006 PT CRUISER Aluminum Wheels, Automatic finished in White. 44,000KM. $11,500. 2005 HONDA CIVIC 5 Sp Transmission finished in Silver. 71,000KM. $10,995. 2005 GMC ENVOY 7 Passenger, Leather, finished in Titanium. 63,441KM. $18,500. 2005 ESCAPE XLT 2WD Automatic. Finished in Blue. 83,000KM. $12,500. 2005 F150 XLT 4X4 Extended Cab, Automatic, finished in Blue. 52,000KM. $16,500. 2005 EQUINOX AWD Finished in Red. 69,000KM. $12,000. 2001 WINDSTAR SPORT Quad seats, Finished in Blue. 189,000KM. $3,995.

RENTALS

519.669.5790 | 1.888.966.5942

christmas trees

2008

»»Give the Gift of Music this Christmas! Guitar & Bass Lessons, Musical Instruments & Accessories. Gift Certificates available. Call 519 -669-5885. CHILD CARE

»»F/T & P/T position available. Nutritious meals, themed units. Near »»Taxi Drivers Wanted. weekly Fax resume to: 519-669- Catholic school and on 0071 or email jobs@acetaxi. Public School bus route. 519-210-0080. ca No phone calls please. HELP WANTED

It’s all about community service

Premium Quality

Corner of Hwy 6 & Sideroad 18

519.843.5394

& @B Cdgi] d[ 9dlcidlc ;Zg\jh dc =ln + AZ[i ijgc dcid H^YZgdVY &-

FOR SALE

»»Hauser Bevelled Glass

top dinette table. 42”X42” with black wrought iron base. 4 grey, padded, black wrought iron chairs, shell shaped back. $1000. 519-746-2518. »»Ikea Single Loft Bed with desk, forest green, metal construction. $50 or $75 with mattress. Call 519-210-0080. »»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. »»Roxton Colonial Diningroom set. 8 pieces including buffet/hutch. Table 41” x 61” and two 18” leaves, 4 chairs and 2 captains chairs. $700. 519-746-2518. »»New Mattress Sets! All sizes- from $298/set/taxes included. Call about our free sheet offer. Footwear, household, toys, baby items, and much more. Nearly New Centre, Linwood, 519698-0088. Tues. - Fri. 9-5, Sat. 9-3. We can deliver.

FIREWOOD

»»Winter Is Coming! Order now! Seasoned firewood, will deliver. Phone 519-698-2781. PETS

»»Megamutts Dog Training - Gift certificates available for 2009 classes. Next session starts Jan. 21. www.megamutts.com or 519-669-8167.

WANTED DOING THEIR PART Members of the 1st Elmira Cubs, discovering there was a need for certain items at the Woolwich Community Services food bank, took up the challenge in earnest. On Dec. 2, the boys and their leaders presented what they’d collected to WCS volunteer Iris Brindley.

12 ft. tall

;gVhZg [^g 7VahVb [^g HXdiX] e^cZ 8dadgVYd hegjXZ

Phone:

»»Wanted - Pine & Spruce logs. Any size over 3” x 3 ft. Call Steve at 519-575-3658.

»

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

COMPUTERS LAPTOPS MONITORS and SERVICE Come see our showroom at:

112 Bonnie Crescent, Crescent Elmira r ra

519-669-5551

AUTOMOTIVE

COMING EVENTS

»»Will pick up your unwanted or scrap car or »»Florapine Stables - truck. I will pay you up Horse boarding, newly to $150 for your full-size renovated facilities. Rid- scrapper. Call Brad @ ing corral, bush trails, 519-572-0987 for quick full board and outdoor and free removal. Locally made pottery, board with good sheljewellery, organic soap RENTALS and so much more! ter. Outside board $175; with stall $275. For more Saturday, Dec 6, 10am-4pm information call Galen »»2 Bedroom Spacious Sunday, Dec 7, 12pm-4pm & Kathy Weber at 519- apartment in century home. 2 Elmira Locations! Incl. laundry, hydro, gas, 26 Arthur St. N., 669-4227. water. No smoking, no pets. (519.669.3012) & $800. Available Jan. 1, 2009. AUTOMOTIVE 10 Riverside Dr. W., Call 519-669-0648. (519.669.3408) »»2008 Dodge Caliber »»Elmira - 2 bedroom Unique gifts for SXT - 24E sport pkg. town house. Please, no everyone on your list! 2.0L, CVT Trans, air, smoking, no pets. $875 tilt, cruise, pw. pdl, AM/ plus utilities. Suitable for FM CD radio, alum. road quiet tenants. Call 519-743wheels. Finished in sil- 7479. One parking space RENTALS ver. Only 22,600 kms. included. »»One Bedroom Apart$17,900. Voisin Chrysler »»Elmira - 2 BR basement ment for rent, downtown 519-669-2831. apt. available Dec. 1st. Elmira. No pets. Available »»2004 Jeep Gr. Chero- Only $750 + util. Please call immediately. $525/mth plus hydro. 519-502-9051. kee Laredo 4X4 - 4.0L 519-744-3711. 6 cyl., auto, fully loaded including alum. road wheels, finished in sil- auctions ver. Only 88,000 kms. Monthly PUBLIC Vehicle $14,900. Voisin Chrysler 519-669-2831. to be held at »»2005 Dodge Gr. CaraBreslau Airport Road Auction Complex van SE - 3.3L V6, auto, 5100 Fountain St., N. Breslau (Kitchener) fully loaded including rear heat/air, quad seatth ing, pwr. driver seat, 90+ Government, Police, Repo, Bankruptcy, Fleets & Others alum. road wheels, DVD 2008 Ford RANGER XLT S/C Pickup entertainment system. 2006 Chevrolet AVEO Finished in black, only 2006 Kia RIO LS 74,250 kms. $12,900. 8 + 01/06 Crown Victoria’s 2005 Crysler PT CRUISER GT Voisin Chrysler 2005 Bulck LeSABRE 519-669-2831. 2 - 2005 Chev CAVALIER’s 2003 Chev AVALANCHE 4x4 »»2006 Dodge Gr. Cara2 - 03 Chev & Dodge Cargo Van’s 4 - 01/03 Ford E350 Diesel Amb’s van SE - 3.3L V6, auto, 2003 KIA SEDONA LX Wgn Stow N Go, fully load8 - 00/01 Chev, Ford & Dodge Pickup’s ed including rear air/ 5 - 01/02 Taurus, Gr AM, MARQUIS & Intrepid’s 99 Ford F250 4x4 Dump/Plow heat, pwr. driver seat, 99 Ford F450 Diesel Dump alum. road wheels, 10 - 95/98 Ford & Dodge Dumps, Vans & Pickups 99 AVENGER * 99 VENTURE 5yr/100,000 kms, gold 96 Saturn SL-1 * 97 Honda CR-V plan plus service con3 - 97 Harley-Davidson Police Motorcycle’s tract, finished in magne99 STERLING LT9513 TA CANUK Rolloff sium. Only 61,702 kms. 2000 IHC 4900 Diesel SA 24’ Alum Van $16,500. Voisin Chrysler 3 - Ford, Flat-Allis & JD 4x4 Loader Backhoes 95 Ford C800 SUNVAC II Sweeper Vac 519-669-2831. 2 - 79/80 Ford LTS8000 TA Dumps »»2006 Dodge Gr. CaraPARTIAL LIST ONLY van SXT - 3.8L V6, auto, All Vehicles Driven through Heated Sales Arena!!! Stow N Go, fully loaded Including Cars From The Kidney Foundation! including rear heat/air, No Buyer’s Premium!! pwr. driver seat, Pwr. VIEWING: Friday, December 12th, 2008 - 1pm to 5pm sliding doors, alum. road TERMS: $500.00 Cash Deposit on Each Vehicle, or as announced wheels. Finished in inferno red. Only 46,345 kms. $17,700. Voisin Chrysler www.mrjutzi.ca 519-648-2111 519-669-2831. HORSES

Christmas Artisan Sale

AUCTION

Sat. Dec 13 9:30am

M.R. Jutzi & Co

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, December 06, 2008

33

Puzzle answers, games, opinion polls and much more at:

www.kidscoop.com

Read on for some great fun and games that teach about life in the Philippines!

he _________ was once made up of the Sky (on top), the Sea (at the bottom), and a large Bird which flew constantly between the first two. The Bird grew ________ of flying since he didn’t have any place to ________, so he started an _________ between those two best of friends, the Sky and the Sea. The Bird told the Sky that the Sea wanted to ________ him with her mighty waves. Then

the Bird told the Sea that the Sky wanted to hit her with _________ . The Sea reacted by throwing _________ of water towards the Sky. The Sky moved even higher, but when he saw the Sea’s waves _________ some more, he then threw soil towards the Sea. The soil quieted the Sea and also made the Sky lighter. The soil turned into 7,000 ___________ and that is how the Philippines came to be.

Children in some villages in the Philippines ride to school in a three-wheeled vehicle instead of a school bus. Use the code to find out what these are called.

People in the Philippines use every part of the coconut palm. Unscramble the answers to find out what each part is used for:

4

3

A=7 E=3

1 B=2 I=8

8

5 C=5 P=4

7

2 D=1 S=6

LEAVES: dashe COCONUT SHELLS: doofriwe

COCONUTS:dofo

The national flag of the Philippines was adopted in 1898 when the Philippine Islands declared their independence from Spain.

FLOWER NECTAR: a sweet nikrd TRUNK: brumel

The coconut palm is so treasured that many families plant one whenever a child is born. Can you find each palm’s identical twin? Can you find the one palm with no twin? Rewrite headlines from the sports pages so that they mean the opposite.

Do the math to learn how to count to 10 in the Philippines.

COCONUT MYTH UNIVERSE WAVES ARGUMENT DRINK PALM SOIL LUMBER QUIETED BIRD CHILD PEOPLE PLACE HIGHER

Find the words in the puzzle, then in this week’s Kid Scoop stories and activities.

The red band stands for courage and the blue for noble values. The white triangle stands for the country’s struggle for freedom from Spain. The sun in the center of the triangle stands for liberty. The eight rays of the sun stand for the eight provinces that first fought for freedom. In the corners of the triangle are three stars that represent the three main regions of the Philippines.

D E T E I U Q A C A M H I G H E R E O Y E C A L P G S T C S H S A R U R P B O D K O E M E E A I N L U N E V O B L T U I C N I

P A R M Y T H

T N L R E W A U T C U E I O D R I B L N

Do you think it is important to have friends from other countries? Why or why not?

34 | CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM MEDIUM

EASY

BY THE NUMBERS

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

HARD

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. Find the answers to this week’s puzzles on page 39. Š2008 Cathedral Communications Inc.

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

PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT Public Notice of Intent to Stop Up and Close Part of Greenhouse Road (untravelled portion of road allowance) TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Woolwich will consider a by-law on December 9, 2008 that proposes to stop up and close the road stub at the south end of Greenhouse Road to discourage illegal dumping and parking. Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Municipal Act as amended and the Township’s Public Notice By-law. At the meeting, Council SHALL HEAR ANY PERSON WHO CLAIMS THAT HE SHE WILL BE adversely affected by stopping up and closing the road stub. Any questions concerning the above notice may be directed to the Deputy Clerk of the Township of Woolwich by calling (519) 669-1647, Extension 6005.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT Public Notice of Intent to Rename A Highway (Dorathea Place) TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Woolwich will consider a by-law on December 9, 2008 that proposes to rename Dorathea Place as Kraftwood Place in response to a request from the owners of property fronting onto Dorathea Place. Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Municipal Act as amended and the Township’s Public Notice By-law. At the meeting, Council shall hear any person who claims THAT HE SHE WILL BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE ROAD NAME change. Any questions concerning the above notice may be directed to the Deputy Clerk of the Township of Woolwich by calling (519) 669-1647, Extension 6005.

OVERNIGHT PARKING BAN Effective December 1st to April 1st, parking is prohibited on all Township roads and streets from 2:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. to facilitate winter road maintenance operations. Vehicles found parked overnight on Township roads during the parking ban or on Regional roads at any time will be ticketed. For further information, please call 519-669-1647 extension 6009 or 6005.

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

RECREATION WINTER PROGRAMS Starting week of January 5, 2009 ADULT FITNESS

ADULT VOLLEYBALL

MONDAYS, TUESDAYS AN THURSDAYS (9 WEEKS) 7:00 – 8:00 PM AT PARK MANOR SCHOOL

TUESDAY (16 WEEKS) 8:15 – 10:15 PM AT ELMIRA HIGH SCHOOL (SINGLE)

YOGA CLASSES MONDAYS, TUESDAYS O WEDNESDAYS (9 WEEKS) 7:00 – 8:30 PM AT PARK MANOR LIBRARY

BALLROOM DANCING TUESDAYS (9 WEEKS) 8:30 – 9:30 PM AT ST. JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH

PILATES CLASSES TUESDAYS OR THURSDAYS AT PARK MANOR (9 WKS) TUES. & THURS.. 7:00 – 8:00 PM LEVEL 1 - BASIC TUES. 8:15 – 9:15 PM LEVEL 2 – ADVANCED

ADULT BADMINTON MONDAY OR THURSDAY (15 WEEKS) 8:15 – 10:15 PM AT PARK MANOR

LINE DANCING THURSDAY (6 WEEKS) 5:00 – 6:00 PM AT ST. JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH

IRISH DANCE WEDNESDAYS (9 WEEKS) 6:15 – 7:15 PM AT PARK MANOR SCHOOL RECREATION OFFICE WILL REMAIN OPEN WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH UNTIL 7:30 PM FOR REGISTRATION PURPOSES. (FRONT DOOR ONLY) Email: gspencer@woolwich.ca Registration Forms available at www.woolwich.ca Completed Registration form and post dated cheque (dated January 2, 2009) may be dropped at 24 Church Street West. REGISTER AT RECREATION OFFICE, 24 CHURCH ST. W., ELMIRA OR CALL 669-6025 OR 664-2613 ext. 6025 FOR MORE DETAILS. The Township reserves the right to cancel classes if insufficient registration.

2009 DOG TAGS Dog Tags for 2009 are now available to be purchased at the following locations: s Township of Woolwich Office at 24 Church Street West, Elmira. s Village Pet Food Shoppe, 10 Church St. W., Elmira s Creature Comfort Pet Emporium, 1553 King Street North, St. Jacobs s Eldale Veterinary Clinic, 150 Church Street West, Elmira s Breslau Animal Hospital, 2057 Victoria St. North (Unit 3), Breslau, Ontario.

The fees before April 15th are: s .EUTERED 3PAYED s .ON NEUTERED NON SPAYED And after April 15th are: s .EUTERED 3PAYED s .ON NEUTERED NON SPAYED ! REPLACEMENT TAG COSTS If you have found a dog or lost your dog please call the Township Office at 519-669-1647 Extension 6106.

»

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

HOME HUNTERS Coach House Realty Inc. Brokerage

ELMIRA REAL ESTATE Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage SERVICES

BONNIE BRUBACHER Broker of Record

SHANNA ROZEMA Broker.

DARREN ROMKEY Sales Rep.

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

DALE KELLER Sales Rep.

MONIQUE BRUBACHER Sales Rep.

PARADIGM HOMES 42 ROBERTA ST. ELMIRA

www.thefreyteam.com

$320,000 | Base price for this spacious open

concept bungalow, great potential in the unspoiled basement. Also offered 4 Bdrm 2 storey 2050 sq ft, still time to pick your colours. Come and see the quality standards and options offered. Excl.

Edith McArthur * 519.638.2509 Marg Sorensen * 519.343.4489 Kathy Robinson * 519.343.4816

OPEN HOUSE - SATURDAY | 2-4PM

ON THE FREY TEAM

Len Frey

Mildred Frey

SALES REP*

BROKER**

frey@golden.net

Lisa Edwards

Spacious home on big lot 81’x159’. 3+2 bedrms, 3 bathrms, spacious kitchen w/ pantry & inviting eating area, separate diningrm, gas fireplace in livingrm, finished basement, central air & vac, dishwasher, water softener, walkout to deck. Call Marg Sorensen to view 519.343.4489 and put this home on your Christmas wish list. Excl. $369,900. R.W. THUR REAL ESTATE LTD. 45 ARTHUR ST. S., ELMIRA

BROKERAGE

519-669-3192

OPEN HOUSE - SATURDAY | 2-4PM

17 Church St. W., Elmira

*SALES REPRESENTATIVES:

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

LAURIE LANGDON Sales Rep.

35

THIS WEEK'S FEATURE PROPERTIES

519-669-1544 24hrs

OFFICE PHONE: 519.343.2124

T AY DR

CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM |

519-669-2772

Wendy Taylor

Mary Lou Murray

BROKER**

SALES REP*

wendy@thefreyteam.com

THE PERFECT SETTING! 18 SMITH DRIVE

$249,900 | DRAYTON | This home built in 1977 on a 1/2+ acre lot features crown molding in living area, main floor laundry, a pristine patio, an electo-magnetic water softener, newer windows, central air, an inviting family room with gas fireplace and lots of storage space. Mmmm...especially pleasant! New MLS.

marylou@mmrealestate.ca

- SALES REP* lisaedwards@rogers.blackberry.net

OVER 2000 SQ. FT.

OPEN HOUSE - ELMIRA

OPEN HOUSE - ELMIRA

$249,900 - 111 OAKCLIFFE, ELMIRA. Better than New! Approx 1,414 sq. ft. Newly fin. Basement, Basement, eat-in kit, maple cabinets, main floor hardwood& ceramics. Ceramic backsplash, updated light fixtures, master bdrm ens., 3 bths & rough in basement. Walkout from gr. rm. to deck w/pergola shed and privacy fence. MLS. CALL WENDY** TO VIEW.

$209,900 - 13 ASPEN CRES. ELMIRA GREAT DEAL. Perfect for first time buyer needing lots of space. Nice open kitchen with large dining area. 3 bedrooms, 1 in finished basement, rec room, gas heat stove and moveable bar w/fridge. MLS CALL MARY LOU** TO VIEW.

Sunday December 7, 1:30-3:30PM

$384,500 ST. JACOBS | This 1923 home has been thoughtfully and perfectly restored including the 2002 two storey addition with beautiful charm and character. Grand kitchen, spacious master with luxury ensuite. Not to forget the captivating enclosed front porch and studio/ attic. MLS.

Sunday December 7, 2-4PM

MAKE YOUR MOVE!

$299,900 ELMIRA | 60ft wide mature lot, mainfloor family room with wood burning fireplace, eat-in kitchen, living/dining room. MLS.

MARTIN GROVE VILLAGE

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

OPEN HOUSE

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

CLOSE TO FARMERS MARKET $96,000 WATERLOO | Many generous updates. Offers 2 Bdrms, 4pc bath, laundry, bright kitchen, 4 appliances and a great yard. MLS.

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

SUN. DEC. 7th, 2-4 PM

71 Edward St. S., Drayton

SPACIOUS - 4-level back split in the quiet village of DRAYTON. Oversized kitchen w/ walkout to covered deck overlooking deep lot. 3+1 bedrooms, 2 baths, dble garage. MLS. $234,900. EXISTING CHURCH! Seating capacity 175+, Major addition at rear in 1986, incl. full basement. Ideal for office, lofts, etc. C-1 Zoning. MLS. $649,000.

MAPLETON $399,900- Lovely 2 storey home 3+1 bedroom home on just under 5 acres. Wooded lot. Secluded, appliances included, basement finished, w/ extra bathroom, except carpet on balance of Floor. If your looking for country within 30 min of waterloo, don’t pass this one up. MLS. CALL MARY LOU TO VIEW

ELORA STREET LAND

ELMIRA $299,900- Large lot with mature trees. Presently being used as 2 units with sep. metres, furnaces & hot water tanks. One unit has some updates. 2nd unit has unique older fixters. (ie) cookstove with pipe to chimney. Carpet free. Roof replaced 2006. Main floor laundry & cold cellar. MLS CALL WENDY TAYLOR** TO VIEW.

1.9 ACRE BUILDING LOT $74,900 ELORA | Just East of Rothsay, backing onto reforested area and across from open farmland. Zoning for hobby barn as well. MLS.

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

ELMIRA $349,900. Remodelled century home on mature street. Updated dining room, pocket french doors, garage/studio, 2 gas fp., new f/r addition. Lots of wood and wide baseboards. Cedar deck at rear. MLSCALL WENDY TAYLOR** TO VIEW.

Solid Gold Realty (II) Ltd., Brokerage

MAPLETON $299,900- Approx. 1/2 acre in the country backing to farmland. 3 + 1 bdrm, 2 bth in small rural community. Renovated kit w/island. Newly finished basement with stone fireplace. Walkout to deck, fenced yard and inground pool. MLS. CALL WENDY TAYLOR** TO VIEW.

Independently Owned and Operated

4B Arthur St. S. Elmira t www.remaxsolidgold.biz OFFICE: 519-669-5426

DIRECT: 519-572-2669 EMAIL: bert@remaxsolidgold.biz

BERT MARTIN, BROKER

COMMERCIAL Bldg. approx. 3450 sq. ft. avail. close to downtown. (2 storey addition - 1987) Storefront, office space & suspended ceilings. Gas heat & air cond. Other adjoining lots available. MLS. $289,900.

INVESTMENT PROPERTY ELMIRA maintained 5 plex,

always fully occupied! Laundry in each unit. One 3 bdrm. unit. New roof (‘05). Lots of parking. Shows a good return on your investment! MLS. $509,000.

You’ve Come to the right place to find a home. Barry Kurtz

RE

ED DUC

RED

U

$247,500

COUNTRY BUNGALOW! Good home on large lot with mature trees offers three bedrooms, country kitchen with custom cabinets, family room, recroom, detached garage/ workshop and paved double drive. MLS.

$127,000

GREAT STARTER! Great home in small community offers main floor family room, three bedrooms, formal dining and living rooms, renovated bathroom, some new windows, hi/eff gas furnace. MLS.

$1,450,000

FARM! Square 100 acres, 90 workable, cash crop and hog operation with finishing and nursery barns, drive shed, older livestock barn, 1500 s/f 3 bedroom bungalow with new kitchen and attached double garage. MLS. Call Bert to View.

CED

Broker of Record Tel: 519-763-4500 Fax: 519-837-1442

490 Woolwhich St., Guelph, ON N1H 3X5

00 8,9 2 $2

READY FOR CHRISTMAS! NEW HOME (to be built) by

ELMIRA New home w/an open concept main floor. 3 baths (ensuite) Walkin closet. Large kitchen. Main flr. laundry. Walkout basement. Dble. garage. Lots of upgrades. MLS $355,000.

quality builder. 1521 sq.ft. Open concept main floor, incl. kitchen, dinette and great rm. w/cathedral ceiling. 3 bdrms, incl. huge master with double closets. MLS. $269,900.

Super clean 3 bedroom backsplit, Eat in kitchen, living room with laminate flooring, rec room has walk up. New heating and air conditioning system, updated bathrooms, Great family home backing on to park. Immediate possession possible.

OPEN HOUSE - Sunday Dec 7, 2-4PM 12 Aspen Cres. Elmira

LEASE SPACE! Approximately 2,000 s/f of commercial with office and warehouse. Zoning allows many uses. Located in a busy plaza with lots of parking. Only 10 minutes to Waterloo. MLS. Call for details.

Your referrals are appreciated!

36 | CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM

WORD-UP

SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 38

CREATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE OBSERVER

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THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

ACROSS

1. Actor Pitt 5. Crow’s home 10. Golden Triangle country 14. Apple’s apple, e.g. 15. Egg producer 16. ___-bodied 17. Missing from the Marines, say 18. Bright circle? 19. Au naturel 20. Doofus 21. Like some wells 23. Free from obscurity 25. Second person singular past form of do 28. Amateur video subject, maybe 29. Kosher ___ 32. “Bingo!� 33. Beauty 35. Big sheet 36. 40 winks 37. The brightest star in the sky; in Canis Major 40. Shallow briefcase 42. “___ say!� 43. Arctic ___ 45. “Absolutely!� 46. ___ maison (indoors): Fr. 47. A short time 48. Toni Morrison’s “___ Baby� Š2008 50. “The Playboy of the Western

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LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1-866-669-7607

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GENERAL CONTRACTING

â&#x20AC;˘ Concrete removal & replacement â&#x20AC;˘ Siding work up to 66â&#x20AC;&#x2122; high

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(Behind the old Trylon Building)

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E L M I R A

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TEL: 519-664-1202 / 519-778-6104 FAX: 519 664-2759 â&#x20AC;˘ 24 Hour Emergency Service

AUTOMOTIVE

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519.669.9160

Cell: 519.998.4094

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YOU NAME IT: WE FRAME IT!

GLASS SYSTEMS INC.

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

fax: (519) 653-7949

CUSTOM FRAMING

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tel: 1-800-525-4022

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PAINTING

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For all your home decorating needs

27 Arthur St. S., Elmira

519-664-9999

GLASS SERVICES

Specializing in Paint & Wallcoverings

519-669-3658

â&#x20AC;˘ 14 ton BoomTruck

â&#x20AC;˘ 35 ton Mobile Crane

ST. JACOBS

6982 Millbank Main St., Millbank 519-595-2053 â&#x20AC;˘ 519-664-2914

DYNAMIC BALANCING SINCE 1961

CRANE

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CONSTRUCTION INC.

THOMPSONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

21 Industrial Dr. Elmira

22. Dostoyevsky novel, with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theâ&#x20AC;? 24. Introduces a conditional clause 26. Persian potentates 27. Bind 29. Bride and groom say â&#x20AC;&#x153;I __â&#x20AC;? 30. Brio 31. On, as a lamp 33. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Holy smokes!â&#x20AC;? 34. Eurasian rose 35. At liberty 37. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Buenos ___â&#x20AC;? 38. Dry (off) 39. Trick taker, often 41. Dairy cattle from Ayr, Scotland 44. At the same time that DOWN 1. A white sauce of fat, broth, and 48. Treeless plain in the Arctic regions vegetables 49. Indefinite article appears 2. Part of a spur before words beginning with 3. Ancient assembly area vowels 4. A state of inactivity 51. Small lizard 5. Fruit often confused with a 52. ___ boom vegetable 6. â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ Heartbeatâ&#x20AC;? (Amy Grant hit) 53. Walked nervously 54. Companion of Artemis 7. Breathe hard 55. Lingerie item 8. European tongue 57. New newts 9. Unfledged or nestling hawk 58. Mouth, in slang 10. Hawaiian island 59. Arizona Indian 11. More than adequate quantity 61. Tokyo, formerly 12. Aged 62. When itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s broken, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good 13. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t I tell you?â&#x20AC;?

CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTO CLINIC

Worldâ&#x20AC;? author 52. A cooler area on the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photosphere 56. Television program, esp. one to raise funds 60. Aesopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also-ran 61. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beowulf,â&#x20AC;? e.g. 63. Fern leaf 64. Decorated, as a cake 65. Dungeonlike 66. Animal with a snout 67. Go through 68. Sundae topper, perhaps 69. Brightest star in Virgo 70. Countercurrent

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at

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35 Howard Ave., Elmira

519-669-3232

CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

37

Âť STRANGE BUT TRUE | BILL & RICH SONES

The future of marriage appears to be on the Internet Q. If not in heaven, where are marriages more often made today? A. Finding true love on the Internet has become more likely than at work or a party, at least in the U.S. and especially if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re over 45, says New Scientist magazine. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s according to a Harris Interactive online survey of more than 10,000 Americans who married in 2006-2007. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wanting to get married and not going online will soon be seen as equivalent to trying to find an address by driving around randomly, without using a map,â&#x20AC;? says Galen Buckwalter of eHarmony, a Pasadena, California, matchmaking company. By one survey, 19% of couples met online compared to 17% at work and 17% through friends. For those aged 45-54, this rose to 31%. (Younger people may find it easier to meet potential

partners through avenues such as college.) As online dating spreads, so too will techniques for gauging the attractiveness of potential mates, says Andrew Fiore of the University of California, Berkeley. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that great at describing themselves accurately, so expect more experiential online dating activities and games that help you get to know someone.â&#x20AC;? Q. There are exactly five strawberries in a small basket when five people come along and each takes one of them. Now how can it be that one strawberry remains in the basket? A. Easy if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not guilty of jumping to conclusions or reading in assumptions, says Danica McKellar in Kiss My Math. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s say the last person gets to the basket and seeing the sole remaining strawberry, takes both the strawberry AND the basket together. This way there is still one strawberry left in the basket, fulfilling the above assumption-free inquiry. Q. Identify the toroid-shaped some-

thing that used to be in our cars four at a crack, though not so much anymore. But you still may find toroids in your cupboard, even in the occasional swimming pool. A. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the shape of an old automobile tireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inner tube or a pastry donut or a piece of breakfast cereal called a Cheerio. In geometry, a â&#x20AC;&#x153;torusâ&#x20AC;? is a surface formed by moving a circle through 3-D space, the word being Latin for a cushion of this shape. Q. What ever happened to Oscar Digby in The Man Who Disappeared and to a certain dead cat at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), said to have suddenly disappeared one night? A. Digby, as the story unfolds, is tricked into dining with people who are after his knowledge of a vast treasure, says Jearl Walker in Flying Circus of Physics. The police, learning of the danger, surround the place, and during their wait hear a muffled banging and nothing more. At midnight they march into the house and search it thoroughly,

SERVICE PROS HAIR

HOCKEY

PAINTING

PLUMBING

HAIR LOFT

ELMIRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HOCKEY HEADQUARTERS

519-210-0411

Destiny Rhame SALT

free estimates

interior/exterior painting wallpapering & Plaster|Drywall repairs

519-669-2251 36 Hampton St., Elmira

Mon-Wed. 9-6, Thurs, Fri. 9-8, Sat. 9-5, Sun. Closed

SELF STORAGE

SEPTIC

Superior Salt Products ° Fast, Friendly Service ° Convenient Delivery Times ° Discounts for Seniors °

519-747-2708

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!

Plumbing and Maintenance Inc.

RESIDENTIAL â&#x20AC;˘ COMMERCIAL â&#x20AC;˘ INDUSTRIAL

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For all your Plumbing Needs.

BRUBACHER LTD.

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19 First St. E., Elmira

Steve Jacobi

519-669-3362

ELMIRA

519-669-3652

HEADQUARTERS Various sizes & rates

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SIGNAGE | VINYL & DIGITAL

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PLUMBING & HEATING SPECIALISTS!

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(Send STRANGE questions to brothers Bill and Rich at strangetrue@compuserve.com)

EXPERT ADVICE | QUALITY SERVICES LOOK UP A PROFESSIONAL.

Destinyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 35 Arthur St. N. Elmira, ON N3B 1Z6

even ripping out walls. No Digby. Then one of the searchers finds blood on a stone-crushing machine located near a large vat of liquid air. Apparently, Digbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body, after being dipped and frozen in the cold liquid, had been pulverized by the machine and then scattered before the police closed in. Without a body or todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DNA technology, the police in the case could do nothing but cringe at their discovery. Regarding the cat, when Walker was a student at MIT, the story circulated of a quarrel between dormitory roommates, prompting one to sneak into the room with a dead cat and a large vat of liquid nitrogen taken from a campus lab. Holding the cat by the tail, he dipped it into the liquid, waited for it to freeze, then hurled it at the wall, shattering it into myriad pieces that littered his roommateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bed and thawed into a horrible mess. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hope the story was fictional -- an urban myth invented by older students.â&#x20AC;?

Call

519-669-4964

100 SOUTH FIELD DRIVE, ELMIRA

TOWING

TRUCKS

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

s 4ON #URTAIN 3IDE &LAT "ED LONG WIDE s #ARGO 6AN s 0ASSENGER !STRO 6AN 7ITH X TRAILER s #AR

PHONE 519.503.0888

Septic Tank Cleaning Inspections for Real Estate Septic System Repairs & Restoration Catch Basin Cleaning Waterloo Region â&#x20AC;˘ Wellington County

519-648-3004

or

Have your skates sharpened with us four times, and the fifth oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s FREE!

Knife and Scissor Sharpening See store for details.

519-896-7700

www.biobobs.com

TRUCK REPAIR

22 Church St. W., Elmira

Tel: 519-669-5537

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

window coverings

Qualified Licensed Mechanics Ready to Serve Your Needs. OPEN Monday-Fridays 6am-6pm Saturday 6am-2pm

270 Arthur St. N., Elmira, ON TRUCK & TRAILER REPAIR & MAINTENANCE

Mobile Services | CAT and Cummins Diagnostics Government Emissions Testing | Air Conditioning Aluminum and Steel Welding | Hydraulics Government Safety Inspections

raperies & Blinds â&#x20AC;˘ Curtain Hardware Custom D

40 Memorial Ave, Elmira CALL KIRBY, Service Manager | 519.669.8420 After Hours Cell: 519.577.1459

519-669-8309

38 | CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM

FAMILY ALBUM

Birth notice

engagement

Telephone....................519.669.5790 Toll Free .......................1.888.966.5942 Fax...............................519.669.5753 Email............................ads@observerxtra.com

birthday

Thompson - Marcia, Rob and big sister Samantha are excited to announce the safe arrival of Cole Roger Robert on November 25, at 3:55am weighing 8lbs 6 oz. Proud grandparents are Marlene and Roger Ritchie of Elmira, Grace Thompson of Wingham, and Bob Thompson of Wingham.

»

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

birthday

Mervin B Snyder Is 80 Years Young!

An open house to celebrate

Edna Habermehl’s

Kirk & Mary Ellen Genereux are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter Opal Martine to Colin Lawrence son of Larry and Janice Partridge. The wedding is planned for September 12, 2009 at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Elmira. retirement

thank you

FREEDOM 54!!!

BILL NORRIS

Heidelberg Roads Supervisor

Bill is retiring on December 11th, 2008 from the Region of Waterloo, Roads Department after 33 1/2 years of service. Bill will be spending his spare time at R.W. Thur Real Estate Limited in Elmira. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! Love Ruth, Jodi, Alli and Dana

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

Come to an open house and celebrate with his family and friends Sunday Dec. 14, 2008 2-4pm at the Elmira Legion. Best wishes only please.

100th birthday will be held Sunday, December 7th, 2-4pm at Chateau Gardens, Basement Activity Room, 11 Herbert Street, Elmira. Your treasured memories are a valued gift. Best wishes only.

Making it count in Toronto tourney

OUR THANKS

We wish to express our heart felt appreciation and thanks to our friends and neighbours for the kind expressions of sympathy following the loss of our dear son Garry on October 22, 2008 at the Mississauga Credit Valley Hospital. The many calls, cards, and flowers received were comforting and treasured. Garry received his schooling in Elmira; he was married to Denise Dunn, had two sons Jason and Shawn, and a grandaughter “Lindsay”. He joined the Mississauga fire department in 1977 - and was appointed the Fire Chief in 1999. He loved the job he shared with so many. The city of Mississauga and fellow fire fighters bestowed great honour and respect upon Garry. Mayor McCallion said in part “we have been blessed by his leadership and dedication”. We thank everyone for your kindness.

~Edwin & Joyce Morden

LOCAL CHURCH

TORONTO TRIUMPH The Woolwich Midget A team swept to victory in a tournament in Toronto last weekend, with four shutouts in five games. Back row: coach Rick Moser, assistant trainer Jeremy Wideman, assistant coach Ryan Dowler and trainer Kevin Moser. Second row: Devon Mantler, Josh Wade, Nathan Van Gerwen, Troy Bauman and Rob Hinschberger. Third row: Kevin Howarth, Nick Timmerman, Jonathan Weber, Steve Clement and Mark Fackoury. Fourth row: Luke Shantz, Nick Roth, Ben Ahier, Caleb Redekop and Alex Dunn. Front: Andrew Moser and Brandon Death.

SERVICES DIRECTORY

HEARING ASSISTED

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

NURSERY PROVIDED

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Welcome to

CALVARY UNITED St. Jacobs

DISCOVERING SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH

Sunday, December 7, 2008 9:15am & 11:00am

( 9\efg Fg! 8_`\eT 519-669-1459 www.elmiracommunity.org

Check out our website www.woodsidechurch.ca

ELMIRA

Sunday School During Worship

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

Visit our new website on: www.wondercafe.ca %$ 4eg[he Fg! Abeg[ 6[heV[ BYÐVX ($, )), (()# ÄBhe `\ff\ba \f gb _biX _XTea TaW _\iX Ul 6[e\fgÇf gXTV[\aZfÅ

'+ ;Tj^Xfi\__X EW! 519-664-2311

Sundays @ 10:30am John Mahood PS

%## 5TeafjT__bj 7e! 8_`\eT 519-669-1296

Trinity United Church

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SUNDAY, DEC. 7, 2008

Series: In The Beginning “Near Sighted Tower Builders”

JOIN US

SUNDAYS AT

10:30AM & 6:30PM %,# 4eg[he Fg! Fbhg[ 8_`\eT 519-669-3973

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

Upbeat Family Worship & Sunday School 10:00 am

B M C Pastor: Mary Mae Schwartzentruber Sundays - 9:45 am Family Worship Service 11:00 am Sunday School for all ages

$$($ FalWXeÇf 9_Tg EW! 5_bb`\aZWT_X 519-745-2411 www.bloomingdalemennonite.com

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

Faithsteps 10:30am - 11:50am

% 9\efg Fg! 8_`\eT 519-669-5030

S. T C C

No God, No Hope; Know God, Know Hope! Celebrate Eucharist with us Mass times are:

Sat. 5pm, Sun. 9am and 11:15am

$, 9_T`\aZb 7e! 8_`\eT 519-669-3387

EVENTS CALENDAR Âť

CLASSIFIEDS | SERVICES | REAL ESTATE | FAMILY ALBUM |

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A GOOD JOB DONE EVERY TIMEâ&#x20AC;?

Kleensweep Carpet Care

West Montrose, ON

T. 519.669.2033 Cell: 519.581.7868

Truck & Trailer Maintenance Cardlock Fuel Management

COMMERCIAL 24 CARDLOCK FUEL DEPOT HOUR MATERIAL HANDLING & PROCESSING SYSTEMS â&#x20AC;˘ Design â&#x20AC;˘ Installation â&#x20AC;˘ Custom Fabrication

MILLWRIGHTS LTD.

519.669.5105

P.O. BOX 247, ROUTE 1, ELMIRA

24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE

Allen Morrison Insurance Inc.

Investments

25 Industrial Drive, Elmira, ON N3B 3K3

Group

3435 Broadway St. Hawkesville

519-699-4641 www.freybc.com DECEMBER 6

Âť Breakfast With St. Nicholas â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8:30 a.m. (before the Elmira Santa Claus Parade). Trinity United Church, 21 Arthur St. N., Elmira. Hosting a Pancake and Sausage Breakfast is $5 per person. Bring your camera and have a picture taken with Santa. Advance tickets only â&#x20AC;&#x201C; available at the church office or at Readâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Decorating, 27 Arthur St. S. Everyone welcome! For more information, call 519-669-5560. Âť Twin City Harmonizers Annual Christmas Concert â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Calvary United Church, 48 Hawkesville Rd., St. Jacobs. There will be two performances, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. featuring special guests The Chord Spinners from St. Jacobs. Admission $12.50 for adults, children under 12 are free. Tickets can be purchased at the church office 519-664-2311 or 519-885-5012. Refreshments will be served after each performance. The church is wheelchair accessible and has hearing assistance. Âť The Paradise and District Lions Club in St. Clements â&#x20AC;&#x201C; new fundraiser â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Tree Of Light. Bulbs can be purchased for $5/bulb and may be purchased in memory of a loved one if desired; $50 purchases a string of lights. Official lighting will take place at 6 p.m. beside the library in St. Clements, Lobsinger Line. Join us for caroling and complimentary apple cider. To purchase bulbs, please contact Annette Kuhn at 519-699-5917. Âť Christmas Tea and Cookie Walk â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1-4 p.m. Afternoon tea, sandwich & squares $3; fancy cookies $3/dozen. Hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary R.C.A.F. A. Wing 404, 510 Dutton Dr. Waterloo. For more information call 519-885-9978. Âť Nith Valley Singers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:30 p.m, Steinman Mennonite Church, Baden. Millennium Choral Organization, Glory! Glory! A Christmas Journey. Alfred Kunz Artistic director/conductor. Guest choir â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Gloryland Chorus. Adults $18, Children $10, Seniors/Students $15. Tickets available Upper Case Books. For information, call 519-662-3291. Âť Celebrate Christmas Nativity Set Display open house at Alma United Church, 2-7 p.m. See diverse interpretations of the birth of Jesus. Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s display too. Light refreshments, free admission.

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

DECEMBER 7

YOUR OIL, PROPANE, NATURAL GAS AND AIR CONDITIONING EXPERTS

Âť Breakfast With Santa â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hungry Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Breakfast at the Elmira Legion; 8:30 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1 p.m.; $5/person, all you can eat. Proceeds to Canadian Riders Association.

519.664.2008

Allen Morrison, Agent/Owner

Life

TOTAL 11 HENRY ST. - UNIT 9, ST. JACOBS

DENTURE

Auto

Âť Third Annual Songs of The Season with Jeff Poolton; 7:30 p.m. at All Saints Anglican Church, 685 Highpoint Ave., Waterloo. Free admission. Donations gratefully accepted to benefit Anselma House. Additional information and music samples available at www.myspace.com/jeffpoolton.

HOME ENERGY SYSTEMS

Since 1987 - DentureTech Since 1995 - Denturist

Home

Rugs and Upholstery

â&#x20AC;˘Residential â&#x20AC;˘Commercial â&#x20AC;˘Personalized Service â&#x20AC;˘Free Estimates

COLLEEN

Skilled cra ftsmanship. Quality materials. CONSTRUCTION STARTS HERE.

Bus.:519.669.2632 Fax: 519.669.4282

Business

FREE CONSULTATION

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

Farm

â&#x20AC;˘ Total Denture Care Travel

Email: allen_morrison@cooperators.ca

www.cooperators.ca â&#x20AC;˘ Same Day Service Disability

on Repairs and Relines â&#x20AC;˘ Metal Partial - Soft Relines â&#x20AC;˘Since Implants 1987 - DentureTech â&#x20AC;˘Since DENTURE SPECIALIST 1995 - Denturist

$%.452%

DENTURE

SANYO CANADIAN

MACHINE WORKS INCORPORATED

33 Industrial Dr., Elmira 519.669.1591

RETAIL STORE STORE RETAIL

s %LECTRICAL 3UPPLIES s .EW 6ACUUMS s 6ACUUM 2EPAIRS s 0ARTS !CCESSORIES s !LL MAKES AND MODELS

Âť H.U.G.S. Program, 9:15-11:45 a.m. For parents and their children (0-5 yrs) at Woolwich Community Health Centre. Topic: Spend some time with Santa and cookie exchange; 519-664-3794. Âť St. Teresaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual Christmas Dinner will be held at St. Teresa of Avila Church, 19 Flamingo Dr., Elmira. Meal begins at 6 p.m. Take-out can be picked up at 5:30 p.m. Tickets available at the parish office Monday to Friday 9 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1 p.m. or by calling 519-669-3387. Adults $15; children 6-12 yrs $7.50; children under 5 free. Door Prizes. Last chance to purchase tickets is Dec. 8. All Welcome! DECEMBER 14

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? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to call your Welcome Wagon Hostess. Elmira & Surrounding Area

elmirawelcomewagon@sympatico.ca

519.669.8362

Be Prepared For Winter!

519.669.2884 21 Industrial Dr., Elmira

NANCY KOEBEL

Âť Christmas In Winterbourne â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Come join our annual sing-along at 7 p.m. Music by Monday Night Jam Club and guests. Refreshments and bake sale. Fun for the whole family. Chalmers Presbyterian Church. Free-will offering will be taken. Donations for the food bank would be appreciated.

Home: 519.747.4388

Bus: 519.895.2044 ext. 217 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

Âť SUDOKU SOLUTIONS EASY

HARD

MEDIUM

Wonderful Wines

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T.M.I. TOO MUCH INFORMATION is sometimes a bad thing.

Âť â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Gifts Of Christmas Revisitedâ&#x20AC;? will be presented by The Cantata Choir of Knox-Elora and St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Presbyterian churches; 7:30 p.m. at Knox-Elora Presbyterian Church, Elora. Free-will offering and fellowship hour.

9 CHURCH STREET EAST, ELMIRA

Peacefully passed in to the presence of the Lord, surrounded by her loving family, on Friday, November 28, 2008, at KW Health Centre. Edna (Sauder) Weber, in her 76th year, of St. Jacobs.

KITCHENER

DECEMBER 12

Âť CBC Reading of A Christmas Carol at Woodside Bible Fellowship; 7:30 p.m., 200 Barnswallow Dr., Elmira, with CBC personality Kerry McKee. All proceeds go to the Family Violence Prevention Program â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Woolwich Community Services. Tickets $15 available at the church office 519-669-1296 or Woolwich Community Services 519-669-5139.

WEBER, Edna (Mrs. Urias B.) â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

FREE CONSULTATION 519.744.9770

Elzeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Passed away peacefully, on Tuesday, November 25, 2008, at KW Health Centre, age 72 years.

Passed away peacefully at Leisrueworld, in Elmira on Thursday, November 27, 2008 at the age of 85.

519.669.1535

SHARON GINGRICH 519.291.6763

Âť Community Carol Sing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to sing Christmas carols by the lit tree in front of the Elmira Public Library. Ask a friend, neighbour or colleague to join you. Hot cider provided. Info â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Marilyn 519-669-5548.

WOODS, Verna â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

HUMMEL, Ann (nee Wilhelm)-

â&#x20AC;˘ ELMIRA Total Denture Care â&#x20AC;˘ Same day service on and relines 15repairs Memorial Ave., Since 1987 - DentureTech â&#x20AC;˘ Elmira Metal Partial - Soft Relines 1995 - Denturist (Behind Bank of Montreal) â&#x20AC;˘ DENTURE SPECIALIST

Âť â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Gifts Of Christmas Revisitedâ&#x20AC;? will be presented by The Cantata Choir of Knox-Elora and St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Presbyterian churches; 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Presbyterian Church, Alma. Free-will offering and fellowship hour. DECEMBER 11

DEATH NOTICES

Vinolea Jahandari DD

ELMIRA â&#x20AC;˘ Total Denture Care KITCHENER 519-669-1535 â&#x20AC;˘ Same Day Service519-744-9770 15 Memorial Ave., Elmira (behind Bank of Montreal) on Repairs and Relines â&#x20AC;˘ Metal Partial - Soft Relines â&#x20AC;˘ Implants â&#x20AC;˘ DENTURE SPECIALIST

39

Suite 800, 101 Frederick St., Kitchener

Breaking down the information overload WITH HEATHER CALDER

Âť Health Âť Parenting Âť Politics & much more... www.ObserverXtra.com/tmi

40 | BACK PAGE

THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008

T SUPPOR YOUR LOCAL

OFFERING KNOWLEDGABLE, FRIENDLY SERVICE FOR PETS AND PET LOVERS

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ELITE

DOG TRAINING E

lite Dog Trainingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is to unleash your dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potential through training programs that result in a happy, confident and obedient dog. They work closely with you whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s helping to house train a new puppy, working on improving the listening and obedience skills of your dog or problem solving a behaviour. As the owner of this training school, Cherylâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal is to teach you and your family how to train your dog to focus, learn and work together with you. It is important for the dog to have confidence, manners and good social skills to be an outstanding family pet. Through positive reinforcement methods, you and your family will find the training fun and easy to learn as you see fast results.

MARTHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

MIXES WILD BIRD CENTRE Large selection of bird feeders and stands, seeds, books and accessories.

ELMIRA FEED & SUPPLY

10 Maple St., Elmira 519-669-5502 CONESTOGO RIVER

Cheryl has been involved with dog training since 1985 when she became interested in having a great family pet. It was not long afterwards that her focus also took her to obedience competitions. Over the last 21 years, Cheryl has competed in both Canada and the U.S. obtaining obedience titles on my dogs. She has also enjoyed competing in both agility and flyball. Cheryl is a 17 year past member of the K-W Kennel Club where she has chaired many committees. She has also had the pleasure of working as a Head Instructor for McCann Professional Dog Trainers in Flamborough, as well as being the past Training Director for Wag and Train Inc. Cheryl is a 20-year member and a licensed Obedience Judge for the Canadian Kennel Club. In addition to her experience, she is continuing to further her knowledge by attending seminars to keep her up to date with current tools and techniques.

Feel the breeze upon your face as you pass through open pastures, woodlands and numerous river crossings in the quiet nature on horseback

4RAIL 2IDES s 0ONY 2IDES s 3LEIGH 2IDES 7AGON 2IDES s #AMP 0ROGRAMS ,ESSONS s "IRTHDAY 0ARTIES 535 Northfield Dr. E., Waterloo, ON N2J 4G8

Tel: 519-888-6503 www.horsebackadventures.ca

Reservations Required | Gift Certificates Available

Along with my husband Russ, our family consists of our three dogs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Merlinâ&#x20AC;? is an 8 year old Sheltie, along with our 6 year old Golden Retriever â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trackerâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gryphonâ&#x20AC;? our 9 year old German Shepherd. I am also very thankful and blessed for all of the wonderful help and support I have received from all of my family and friends. The idea and success of Elite would not be possible without them.

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DOG TRAINING

Elite Dog Training loves to have spectators. Anyone is invited to come out at anytime and watch classes. The training classes offer a very flexible schedule to fit into your busy life. It is never too late to start building a rewarding relationship with your dog through effective training that lasts a lifetime.

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UNLEASH YOUR DOG'S POTENTIAL

For a complete list of services and training classes, please visit our website at www.elitedogs.ca

We work closely with you whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s training a new puppy, improving your dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s obedience and reliability, or fixing problems.

Effective training that lasts a lifetime.

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Located in Uptown Waterloo | 207 King St. South, Waterloo www.groomingwithfinesse.com | 519.743.4000

Owned and operated by Cheryl Bishop

519.342.6231 | FAX 519.342.6232 | cheryl@elitedogs.ca

1595 Victoria St. N., Ktichener ON