CFTV CORNER

By Troy-Ann Massad

 CFTV34 is your choice your voice and your station.  The volunteers that you see on this station are from your community.  You can be involved in your station here by stopping by or sending in your interest through our website at www.cftv34.tv.

This week CFTV34 has many exciting shows for you to keep an eye out for.  New movies such as “Roustabout” with Elvis Presley, and a Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra Classic “Take me out to the ball game” will be running this week on Classic Movies.

CFTV34 Action News is on every weekend at 12 noon and 5 pm all weekend long. Your new Leamington Town Council will be aired at 8pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  If you would like CFTV34 to cover other councils, events, and celebrations please pass this request on to the organizers of your group and have them contact us.  CFTV34 are new members of the Leamington and District Chamber of Commerce look for our information on their website. 

Sunday is a good day for reflection and relaxation and “The spoken word” brings both to life.  The Mormon tabernacle choir spreads their beautiful harmonies over the airwaves for this week’s show during our Sunday Programming starting at 11am.  The Leamington United Mennonite Church has begun to broadcast their church services at 2pm on Sundays. 

So if you missed their services last week you can see them on CFTV34 this week.  CFTV34 is your community station, come visit us at 164 Oak St. West, Leamington. To view local programming or the newly revised schedule visit www.cftv34.tv.  CFTV34 appreciates your input so if you have comments or questions about any program please call 519-326-4000 as we are always happy to hear from our viewers. 

COUNCIL NOTES

Seacliff plaza

Plan approved

A property owner who waited several years for the municipality to rebuild Seacliff Dr. West is now moving on a project.

Last week Leamington council approved a site plan for a commercial development at the southwest corner of Erie and Seacliff streets.

Council was told the project is a commercial plaza that will be built in two phases and eventual contain four units.

The building on the site was torn down about five years ago and over the years used primarily as a tire auto service.

Award fuel tender

To Windsor firm

A company new to the municipality will begin supplying its gasoline and diesel fuels for the next three years.

The company is Sterling Marina Fuels of Windsor and it submitted the best tender of two to provide the fuel at the marina and public works garage.

Sterling’s tender price is a savings of about $4,000 a year over the other tender.

A third company also submitted a tender but failed to offer any ethanol added gasoline, which the town demands.

Operations manager Cam McKay said all companies will soon be offering gas with ethanol added.

And the town won’t have to purchase as much fuel as it has it past years. The former police services also filled up its cruisers at the public works garage but McKay said the OPP use regular stations. The town switched to OPP last month.

Park project

Close to end

It isn’t close to the costs of the other phases but it brings the rebuilding of Seacliff Park almost to completion.

Council approved a tender of $54,800 to Piroli Construction to  replace the picnic shelter roof and renovate the service building.

The project will see just over $3 million spent on the Seacliff project.

Council was told that two other tasks remain, and one will be sought in this year’s budget. It is the installation of a sidewalk and some paving on Forest Ave.; and the rebuilding of the beach level washroom that was damaged in the June 6 tornado.

That will be paid by insurance and the town has about $150,000 left for the paving project.

MacDonald on

County library bd.

Leamington councillor Hilda Macdonald has been appointed as a board member of the Essex County Library System.

MacDonald told council there were some concerns because a family member works in the library system but she said a conflict of interest would arise only when employee issues were discussed which is not often.

Entire road

Open at last

The last section of Leamington’s east side arterial road was opened on Jan. 10.

The road has been in the planning for about three decades beginning in 1986 when the route was first identified to reduce truck traffic through the urban area.

The road now connects Talbot East with Seacliff Dr. East. The first phase, between Talbot and Oak opened last fall. The second phase is between Oak and Seacliff.

Total cost is about $12 million. The town’s major effort was to spend about $4 million to buy the land

FLASHBACKS

Wednesday, January 19, 1977

Clem Fischer, horticulturist at the Harrow Research Station, received the award from the Essex County Associated Growers at its annual banquet. Mac James, president of the 1975 ECAG, 1976 president Henry Darowski and vice-president Glen Wilkinson presented the award.

———

Hydro rates for Leamington consumers will be going up about 20 per cent this year. The increase will take effect on March 1.

———

Travel was hazardous and sometimes impossible along many roads in Mersea Township. The high winds caused snow drifts up to 10’ deep in some places.

———

There were rumors that so many hamburgers were sold in one day at Leamington’s newest fast-food restaurant that they ran out of buns — but that’s an exaggeration. But when the doors opened, the onslaught of customers was overwhelming to the new staff — and the doors were closed early.

———

Eugene Whelan, Federal Minister of Agriculture, was the guest speaker at the annual banquet of the Essex County Associated Growers.

———

The rink skipped by Stan Jackson won the A Flight and the Al Law Trophy in January curling competition at the Sun Parlor Curling Club. Other members of the team are Claire Sherk, Neil Adamson and Murray Pennell.

———

The Leamington Juvenile Flyers scored six goals in the first period and coasted to an 8-2 win over Essex. Al Patchett led the attack with two goals, while singles were scored by Bill Wheeler, Kevin Leslie, Tim Schiefer, JIm Quick, Nathan Cook and Noel Berthelot.

———

The Wheatley Midgets fell just short in the championship game in the Petrolia Silver Stick tournament — losing to Point Edward. Members of the team are Dennis Pinch, Rick Taylor, Dale Dunmore, Randy and Ron Robinson, Dan Claus, Tim Oliphant, Roger Dundas, Dave Moore, Chris Rivard, Karl Bekaan, Dale Stevens, Rob Willan and Bill Hickson.

———

The Leamington Johnston Beavers outscored the Tilbury Novices 4-1 in action on the weekend. Mike Dunmore scored three goals, and Mark Weil chipped in with a goal and three assists.

W-E County Health Unit offers ‘Losing Weight the Healthy Weigh’

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is offering a tried and true healthy weight loss program with a new approach. Windsor-Essex County residents can join a registered dietitian and learn about how to change old habits, eat better, be more active, and lose weight and keep it off.

New sessions will be starting Tuesday, January 25 in Essex from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Essex Civic Centre.

Cost is $75 per person and classes run for 10 consecutive weeks.  The $75 covers the cost of program materials including a quality pedometer. People wishing to join can register online at www.wechealthunit.org or call the Health Unit at 519-258-2146 ext, 3100. 

Eligibility: 
The Losing Weight the Healthy Weigh program is for people who

°Are between the ages of 19-65.

°Have a BMI (Body Mass Index) between 25-40.

°Don’t have an existing heart condition (i.e., myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery, angioplasty, angina).

°Don’t have Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus.

°Are able to walk for at least 10 minutes at a time without assistance.

°Aren’t pregnant.

 °Aren’t breastfeeding an infant less than nine months post-partum.

Hospital Seeks Input from Public in Developing ‘Philosophy of Care’

Leamington District Memorial Hospital (LDMH) is seeking input from the community as it develops a “Philosophy of Care.”

“The development of a philosophy of care is an important quality initiative the hospital has embarked on this year,” said Roberta Jarecsni, Vice President of Patient Services & CNE.

“In developing this philosophy we are asking the public and our patients about what they most value in the care we provide,” she added.

As part of the government’s commitment to the provision of quality care and excellent care for all, LDMH has committed to the development of a philosophy of care that will guide the provision of a patient service plan for the provision of quality care for all patients and improvements to the hospital’s patient relations systems.

Throughout the next few weeks, a series of focus groups, one-on-one patient interviews and other consultations will be conducted.

“We wanted to ensure the entire community had a chance to provide input into this process, so we are also launching our public survey available on the hospital’s website,” said hospital CEO John P. Stenger.

The survey is available on the LDMH website at: www.leamingtonhospital.com. It is a quick survey of 8 questions and all are invited to provide input.  For anyone that does not have internet access but would like to provide input, please contact Lena West, Patient Representative at: 519-326-2373 ext. 4118 or lwest@ldmh.org.

Library contest to show love of books

The Essex County Library is the second library in Canada to partner with ‘Storytubes’ to help children share their love of books on the internet.

And the ECL is hosting a unique contest for youngsters aged five to 18 to promote books as well as creativity. The contest calls for young people to grab their iPod Touches or camcorders and create a video up to two-minutes about their favorite book.

The videos will be judged by age categories and prizes will be distributed.

Contest entry forms are available on the Storytubes website — www.storytubes.info.

Town turns tree trunks into ‘Tree Legacy Project’

When life hands you lemons — you make lemonade.

But what do you do when life hands you dozens of downed trees? Well the Municipality of Leamington is hoping make works of art.

Following the June 6 tornado, the town was left with 68 trees destroyed or damaged in Seacliff Park alone. But they were able to salvage three large tree trunks for a very special contest — the ‘Tree Legacy Project’.

Through the project, in co-operation with the municipality, the South Essex Arts Association and the Windsor Essex Woodcarvers, the town is hoping to transform these large tree trunks into a unique display of art in the park — a reminder of the strength of the local residents and the renewal that has occurred since the devastation caused by the tornado, according to Amanda Smith, Manager Recreation and Culture.

The municipality, which was in the process of completing a makeover in the park, including walking trails, fencing, parking lot and splash pad, is hoping to attract three-D woodcarvers to compete for the honor of creating a piece of artwork from the tree trunk.

Entry forms are available at the Arts Centre or downloaded from the website (www.leamingtonartscentre.com). The deadline for entrants if April 1 and the winners will be announced on April 17.

Work on the carving is expected to begin on May 1 and be completed by June 1.

According to Smith, the final works of art will be unveiled on June 4.

For further information contact Smith at 322-2337.

Flyers Blank Sarnia 7-0

by C. Scott Holland  

Suddenly the Leamington Flyers have found all the right  ingredients for success as they played solidly on home ice for the second straight game.

The Flyers whitewashed the

Sarnia Legionnaires 7-0 on Saturday night as Leamington starter Colin Greeley got the shutout - his third of the season - by making 16 saves.

From the outset, the Flyers dominated and didn't let up until the final buzzer rang.

They led 1-0 then 5-0 as they chalked up their second consecutive victory.

They have outscored their opposition 19-1 and outshot their opposition 130-36 in the last two contests.

The Flyers' attack began at 4:40 of the first when Matt Ogden and Kyle Bowman set up Brett Babkirk`s blueline powerplay blast which baffled Sarnia starter Kyle Washer. The game remained close until near the 13 minute mark of the second when Ron Soucie and Tony Spidalieri assisted on Alex Seguin`s powerplay goal from close range. One minute later Babkirk and Dylan Solecki hooked up with Jarred Dennis who lifted the puck high into the left side and then Cheyne Matheson found Nicholas Nicodemo who unleshed a backhander which found an open hole in the net`s left side. Matheson and Nicodemo collected assists when Kyle Bowman thrust his own rebound into the Sarnia net for the Flyers`fifth goal.

Early in the third Soucie and the Legionnaires`Jeff Schroeter squared off to exchange fistcuffs, but that was the extent of the roughness. Austin Mattson completed the Flyers`offensive work by drulling a pair of third period goals. Austin’s second tally was a marvel as he took Eric mayor`s feed, weaved through the defense and fired a cannon shot that hit the target.

The win leaves Leamington tied with Sarnia and Chatham for sixth place and trailing fifth place St. Marys by three points. The Flyers are now one game above .500 with an 18-17-3 record. With Leamington appearing to gel into a formidible team it will be interesting to see if they can build on their recent success and carry it into the playoffs.

SCHEDULE: Wed. Jan. 19 - Leamington @ LaSalle 7 pm Thurs.  Jan. 20 - Chatham @ Leamingtton 7:10 pm Sun. Jan. 23 - Leamington @ Strathroy 7:30 pm

Haiti earthquake—MCC’s response one year later

KITCHENER, ON – “In the midst of enormous challenges, the lives of countless vulnerable Haitian people affected by the earthquake have been touched by Mennonite Central Committee and its partner organizations in the country,” comments Rick Cober Bauman, Executive Director of MCC Ontario. 

Immediately following the January 12, 2010 earthquake, donations totaling $14.1 million began to pour in for MCC’s disaster response. In addition, within the next months, MCC distributed material resources, such as relief kits, comforters and canned meat valued to $3.1 million.

To date, approximately a third of the $14.1 donated to MCC for its Haiti Earthquake appeal has been allocated for projects already underway, or for projects that will be underway shortly, says Cober Bauman. He goes on to explain that MCC has developed a five-year plan for the remaining $9.5 million that will include projects such as building and repairing homes, small-business support, agricultural development, education, trauma healing and water and sanitation projects.

Over the past years, Haitian people have been forced to leave their rural communities and settle in Port au Prince, the only centre for education, employment and economic stability. The rural flight to the capital heavily over taxed the city’s infrastructure and has been seen as a major contributor to the high vulnerability of hundreds of thousands of its residents when the earthquake struck.

Immediately after the quake, many survivors fled the rubble and returned to their rural roots and communities that were not affected. MCC’s commitment to strengthen community capacity is reflected in its decision to focus much of its long term relief and development efforts in these rural areas so that people are not drawn back to the capital city. 

MCC has also applied for $2.8 million in matching funds from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Approved projects will be announced by CIDA in February, 2011.

MCC has worked in Haiti for more than 50 years and does most of its work through, and in collaboration with trusted Haitian partner organizations.

“Our disaster response builds on the relationships we already have and meets both the urgent and the longer term needs of the communities in which our partner organizations work,” said Cober Bauman.

At least one group has organized an event to encourage continued commitment to a healthy and hopeful future for Haiti. “Hope for Haiti – Strengthening the Community” is a benefit concert featuring Kevin Coates and The Interesting People. It will take place at Floradale Mennonite Church (22 Florapine Rd. Floradale, on Saturday January 29, starting at 7:30pm. No admission. It will include a free will offering in support of MCC’s long term capacity building in rural Haiti.

For further information please contact Rick Cober Bauman at 519-745-8458 or 519-404-1927 (cell)

Hoys says Ontario’s economy growing again

MPP Pat Hoy says its more good economic news, as Ontario’s economy continues to grow with real gross domestic product (GDP) rising at an annualized rate of 1.0 percent in the third quarter of 2010 – the fifth consecutive quarter of growth.

“Ontario’s economy has grown 3.6 percent since turning the corner on the recession,” said Hoy.  “This quarter’s growth was led by business investment and continued gains in consumer spending.”

“Business spending on machinery and equipment increased more than 10 per cent. This reflects the positive impact of the HST that, combined with other tax relief, cuts taxes on new business investment in half. Ontario’s tax changes are aimed at making Ontario more competitive and encouraging new business investments,” said Hoy.

He said additional changes include:

° Reducing overall business taxes by 28 per cent over 3 years

°Reducing small business income taxes by 18 per cent; and

°Eliminating the small business deduction surtax entirely.

°Five straight quarters of economic growth is a good sign, and we will keep working to strengthen the economy and encourage job creation. Our Open Ontario plan is working – businesses are investing in Ontario, we have recovered virtually all the jobs lost in the recession and economic growth is gaining momentum,” said Finance Minister Dwight Duncan.

° Real consumer spending, which contributes more than 60 per cent to real GDP, increased 0.6 per cent in the third quarter, marking the sixth consecutive quarterly gain.

Ontario has regained 96 percent of jobs lost during the recession. In 2010, Ontario’s economy generated 119,700 net new jobs with almost 85 percent of them being full-time employment.

Capital spending by Ontario businesses increased 8.7 per cent, the strongest quarterly gain since the fourth quarter of 1998.

Read the Q3 Economic Accounts at: www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/economy/ecaccts.

Talent showcase to help young people with disabilities remain active

An idea proposed by 11-year-old Ally Dimenna has grown into a talent showcase fundraiser to help support an active life for children and teens with disabilities.

On Feb. 3, 40 acts (selected from auditions in November) will showcase their talents in the 1^st Annual Windsor Essex Loves Talent Showcase at L’Essor High School.

It will feature a wide variety of acts from young people between the ages of 8 and 21 — from singers, dancers, musicians, martial artists and actors.

Proceeds from the event will be used to help those with a disability be active within their communities to maximize their opportunities for social interaction and sports and recreation. “There is a myth that government provides a lot of funding to families,” said Lisa Raffoul of Ensemble, “when indeed, the opposite is true, especially during the times when school is out.”

“Families struggle to get enough support for their children and it can be very stressful with out it — for both child and family,” Raffoul added. She said for optimal health and well-being, it’s important for all children to be active and involved in community activities.

The showcase, she said, “is a pure example of kids helping kids.”

In addition to the talent onstage, Raffoul said the event will also feature visual artwork from students throughout the community.

“We want the young people from our community to be up front and centre at this event,” she aid.

Raffoul said the venue is capable of holding up to 600 people and she is hoping for a sell-out.

For ticket information visit www.ensembleunderstands.com.

Leamington man arrested, following online bomb threats

A 20-year-old Leamington man was arrested after bomb threats were posted on the internet — targeting Cardinal Carter Secondary School and Kingsville District High School.

According to Leamington OPP, several concerned parents and students alerted police on Sunday to the bomb threats that were posted on www.Formspring.me. The threats were made specifically for Monday, Jan. 17.

Kingsville and Leamington OPP officers attended both schools that day and worked with school staff to ensure the safety of the students. The schools were searched while classes went ahead as scheduled.

Meanwhile, members of the Essex County OPP Crime Unit worked behind the scenes tracking the suspect online and conducting interviews.

Their investigation led to the arrest of the Leamington man who has been charged with utter threat to cause death or bodily harm and public mischief (report an offence which had not been committed).

He was released on a promise to appear in court here on Feb. 3

Police seek suspect in attempted armed robbery in Kingsville

The Leamington OPP Crime Unit is looking for a young man who attempted to rob a Kingsville gas station at knifepoint on Wednesday evening.

According to police, the male entered the Division Street North gas station about 8 p.m., threw the cashier a white plastic bag, pulled out a knife and told them to ‘empty the till’.

Police said the victim spoke to the suspect, who eventually grabbed the bag and ran off, heading south.

The Emergency Response Team and K-9 Unit were called in and searched the area but were unable to find the suspect.

He is described as Caucasian, about 20, 5’8” to 5’10”. He was wearing a red winter coat, with a red plaid coat underneath, baggy jeans, no belt and spoke with an immature voice.

Police said the suspect had been at the gas station earlier in the day.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Leamington OPP Crime Unit 519-326-5373 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-22