‘Disgusted’ reader
Dear Editor:
RE: Belwood man to be sentenced to life for murder of grandfather, Nov. 2.
The start to this article is unbelievably unnecessary. Your paper is not a movie script; the scene described was that of the result of a tragic real life horror story.
George Gemin deserves respect from the paper in his community. I did not know him, but he was a person, a once-living man, who was obviously a father, a grandfather, presumably a husband, a man who most likely had friends and he died a horrible and possibly a very scary and painful death.
To have the scene of this incident dramatized in your paper as it was is unacceptable. Yes, you have a disclaimer prior to the start of the article, but that doesn’t make it “okay” – have some compassion!
I am a disgusted avid reader of your paper.
Nancy Richardson,
Fergus
Spare harmful details
Dear Editor:
RE: Belwood man to be sentenced to life for murder of grandfather, Nov. 2.
It was with shock and absolute disbelief that I had the misfortune of reading your article describing with unnecessary graphic detail, the account of the murder of George Gemin.
As an immediate family member (George was my father in law), I want to publicly express my disappointment in your decision to publish such horrific and violent details of this crime.
What you are failing to understand or comprehend is that there are many surviving victims of this tragedy.
Had you taken even just a moment to ask yourself, would you want details of a very personal tragic situation published, had this happened to your family? Was the horrific account of the crime really necessary?
Sure, the article starts with a disclaimer, but your disclaimer of graphic details acts as clickbait, daring readers to read the article.
How about not printing them at all? Provide an accurate account of the event, sparing harmful details which the general public need not know.
Of course as a family we have no issue with the news being reported, just have an ounce of compassion and respect for the family, the surviving victims. Shame on you for your choices here.
Our family has endured three and a half years of pain, and just when we are able to close a chapter of this brutal and violent tragedy with the court proceedings mercifully coming to an end, we are again subjected to further torment with articles such as yours.
I would also urge readers who agree with me to contact the editor and express their displeasure at this needless/graphic reporting.
Articles such as this, written with extreme violent descriptions, need to stop, which will protect surviving victims of crime from further emotional stress and torment.
Robert Cleghorn,
Guelph Eramosa
‘Miraculous power’
Dear Editor:
RE: County students design experiments destined for outer space, Nov. 2.
Thank you very much for the uplifting front page story about our young students doing such exciting work that will be sure to be remembered for years to come. No doubt, their families will also be inspired!
You have inspired me to be sure, and it was such a welcome diversion from so many of the “worldly” concerns we are facing today.
Your paper matters. Without it, we would never hear these stories, and people like Mr. Benyair and his team would not be recognized as the heroes of equipping our (future) generations that they are.
While all of the students involved may not go on to become scientists in their own right, perhaps some of them will be inspired by the miraculous power of a tiny seed.
Lyn Marfisi,
Eden Mills
‘Out of touch’
Dear Editor:
With everything in the news these days it is easy to miss that 2024 budget deliberations in Wellington County and Centre Wellington are in full swing. And what is being proposed is disturbing.
Centre Wellington is discussing residential tax rate increases between 4.5 and 6% in addition to a 2% asset management levy plus a 1% termite mitigation levy. That adds up to an increase between 7.5 and 9%!
That is unprecedented and out of touch with financial challenges faced by residents. Not only out of step with the issue of housing affordability, but also at cross purposes with the Bank of Canada’s efforts to bring inflation back to 2%.
The proposed new asset and termite levies are especially concerning. As the existing 2% bridge and culvert levy (which is now actually 10%) demonstrates, designated levies tend to become permanent, continue to increase and are less likely to be challenged going forward.
Wellington County is looking at tax rate increases of 4% or more – well above inflation rates projected for 2024.
These high tax rate increases would impact 2024, but also set a base for higher taxes in future years. The post-pandemic economy demands more prudent municipal spending, more disciplined “needs versus wants” project prioritization and a tight lid on tax increases.
Councillors want budget input from residents. I encourage renters and home owners to tell local councillors about their budget concerns.
Information about the 2024 budget proposals and timelines can be found at connectcw.ca for the township and attached to the Oct. 5 county council meeting summary at wellington.ca.
Peter van Vloten,
Fergus
‘The chosen victims’?
Dear Editor:
So now we have just had our second visit from the bylaw inspector regarding our well known, friendly, gentle, beloved canine who does not go off our property unleashed.
This time he tells us that we must keep our dog leashed even when sitting on our porch! His opinion is that dogs have the ability to go off a property at any time! I call this harassment!
The first contact was instituted by a vindictive resident who is out to get us, whose previous dog was never on a leash off property! We are law-abiding, neighbourly, community-oriented seniors just wanting to live out our retirement years in peace and harmony in Rockwood.
We know the bylaws concerning canines and follow them strictly. We are feeling threatened and singled out by the bylaw inspector, whose last words to us were, “You have been warned!”
Has anyone else dealt with this bylaw inspector on this same issue? Or are we the chosen victims?
Wendy Groskopf,
Rockwood
Disposal policies
Dear Editor:
As an owner of a farm operation I would like to alert you to the Ford government’s attempt to “water down” the already weak policies in place concerning waste disposal and water taking (i.e. ERO019-6951 and others).
These new potential policies will allow industries to start activities related to waste disposal and water-taking without public or government review of the proposed activity. Companies just have to register on the Environment Activity and Sector Registry (EASR) instead of going through the formal approval process now in place.
This change will not help the government improve Ontario’s environmental permissions. What will help the government is better public transparency with respect to hazardous deposal and better monitoring of industries involved in generating waste as well as taking water and/or disposing of waster water.
The government also recommends that aggregate operations are good candidates for the EASR pathway. The ministry as well as the public must be involved upfront in approving any activity related to stormwater and aggregate wash water used in aggregate operations. Removing any kind of public evaluation (ERO posting and commenting) via EASR before aggregate activities occur would be disastrous for the environment.
As a farmer I am already worried about negligent disposal/storage of wastewater or soil in pits with very little monitoring of impacts to water quality being completed by any ministry staff. Sector-specific rules were created for one reason: to protect the public and the environment. The aggregate industry and the government always state that aggregate extraction is an interim use of the land. The land cannot be returned to the same agricultural use designation and with quarries the land is lost permanently.
EASR use in aggregate operations is like letting the fox guard the hen house.
Stephanie DeGrandis,
Guelph/Eramosa
‘Last opportunity’
Dear Editor:
On Remembrance Day, look at the old veterans gathered at your local cenotaph, standing proudly, or seated with a warm blanket on their lap. Try to imagine what they experienced many decades ago when they were young, and the world was at war.
The great invasion to kick the Nazis out of France took place on June 6, 1944. The largest allied armada of war ships readied for the battle of Normandy. Those onboard would face an array of deadly obstacles; barbed wire, mines and heavy concrete fortifications containing cannons and machine guns.
This was the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany’s grip on Western Europe. Many years of preparation had taken place to get the allies ready for this day. Canada was already fighting in Italy, slowly pushing their way up the Italian boot. What had been called the soft underbelly of Europe was instead a meat grinder where battles like Ortona were hard won by the men of Vancouver’s famed Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, Alberta’s Loyal Edmonton Regiment and Quebec’s Three Rivers Regiment.
The D-Day landings on the French coast and subsequent liberation campaign saw Canada fighting against an experienced and ruthless enemy. With every footstep taken, soldiers died and many more suffered injuries, and for some, their injuries would remain with them for their entire lives. The D-Day landings itself cost our nation 359 war dead.
Nearly 80 years have past, and these brave men and women who were once young have grown old and sadly, very few remain. It is their eleventh hour, probably the last opportunity to properly thank them.
The government of France would like to pay tribute to all living Canadian veterans who participated in the D-Day landings, Dieppe raid or campaign to liberate France in 1944. If you were in the Canadian army, navy, air force or merchant navy, you may be eligible to receive France’s highest award, the National Order of the Legion of Honour.
If you would like more information, please send an email to Korea19501953@yahoo.com. The subject line should say “Veteran.” I am an unofficial volunteer who is willing to help.
Guy Black,
Coquitlam
Done biting tongue
Dear Editor:
I have been biting my tongue for some time. The construction on Mill Street from Princess to Metcalfe street in Elora.
Over the summer it’s been dug up at least 25 times, causing a real disruption to local business.
I go to the convenience store to buy lotto tickets, get water and a few other things. Many times I could not go there because of construction. I am disabled and it’s really hard for me to walk on very uneven ground.
I know of two business that had to sell out. The restaurants and local businesses have to suffer dearly over it. The citizens of Elora have had to put up with a lot of construction in downtown Elora.
I was just down there on Nov. 2 to get lotto tickets and guess what? They’re digging up the street again.
It’s November now, winter can come any time. If it does who’s on the hook for a big delay? The citizens of Elora paying there property taxes are getting nothing for it.
When will the township start fixing side streets and fix Colborne Street once and for all? I am sick of banging my truck up and down it over pothole after pothole.
It’s time to spend money fixing streets in town.
Gery Thomson,
Elora
We Remember Them
Dear Editor:
To those who answered the call to duty
When their country called upon them,
To join up and serve, our freedom to preserve,
We remember them.
They gladly traveled to foreign lands
Into harm’s way they went;
To deliver a blow, that would vanquish the foe
Of this, they would never relent.
We are a grateful nation
Of this there is no doubt.
We’re thankful they served, our nation preserved,
We remember them.
To those who made it safely
Into the arms of loved ones,
Have nary a fear, for they’d quickly volunteer
Once again, to take up their weapons.
To those who did not make it Who paid the ultimate price,
Our gratitude won’t cease, may they ever rest in peace
We remember them.
Dennis Bridle,
Mount Forest