Letters June 10, 2004
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Please return these items
This is a message from the Kaladar Youth Centre. We would like to thank the person(s) who took our webcam from the youth centre earlier this year. The youth barely had a chance to use it.
Also we would like to thank the person(s) who took our Cyberhome DVD Player, which was BRAND NEW, never used.
To the person(s) who took these items, they were donated to the youth centre from kind, generous people in our community.
We operate the youth centre for the youth to have something to do, and a place to go.
If you take something from the youth centre, you are taking from the youth in our communities. If you are a youth who took these items, you are truly taking it from yourself.
We would appreciate having these two items returned to the youth center. You can return them privately without consequence.
Teri Woods, Kaladar Youth Centre
VON provided wonderful care
As I was reading the letter to the editor from the Tysic family re the VON, it evoked many memories for me. Our family too was very grateful for the wonderful care provided by the VON, as well as area doctors and homemakers, during my mother's terminal illness. I doubt my mother would now Qualify for the level of nursing care and homecare provided back then.
What is happening with the VON in our area is an example of where private health care doesn't work. We have a highly respected agency with committed
professionals losing a contract because some other organization claims they can do it cheaper. I would bet some of the former VON employees will end up working for the new organization at reduced pay and benefits, probably for longer hours. And such scenarios are repeated across this country. The lack of respect and job security for these professionals astounds me. In long established organizations we are creating a high stress climate for health care workers who are already performing their work in often stressful conditions.
The Liberals and Conservatives glibly talk about a mix of public and private health services. That's often a recipe for pitting them against each other, creating chaos for health care workers. It's time to return to the roots of public health care in this Country. It's time to vote NDP.
Mary Stinson, Mountain Grove
SSWA not a small group
Further to your report on a recent meeting of the South Frontenac Council, I would like to point out an apparent misconception, as stated by Councillor Davison, that the Sydenham Safe Water Association is a very small action group. On the contrary, the S.S.W.A. was formed by the 92% of property owners in the village who are against the proposed water system to represent them and to speak for them when appropriate. As for the accusation that scare tactics are being used, I can tell you that we have all been very scared for the last couple of years at the prospect of borrowing thousands of dollars or using hard earned life savings to provide chlorinated water to pour down the drain. We do not need it and do not want it. There are other methods of providing clean water to those few who need it.
I understand that under the new environment bill the municipality will use point of source methods in their public buildings to purify water and I am puzzled as to why the council does not consider this a viable option for individual wells.
George W. Knights
C.N.I.B. in need of volunteers
I had occasion a few weeks ago to visit the Canadian National Institute for the Blind housed in a beautiful Heritage building on Princess St. in Kingston and was made to feel welcome by the staff and volunteers, who were very kind and helpful in giving me assistance and advice. We spent some time discussing my needs and they told me a bit about their work and problems.
The C.N.I.B.s chief problem is the lack of volunteers to deal with people such as I am, who are newly vision challenged in outlying areas of our districts. They need people to be volunteer drivers, to visit the clients to give them information on all the help that is available for their benefit, such as the Talking Book Program. They have a store of items available, such as telephones with extra large dial keys, needle threaders, and special needles that have a slot in the eye that the thread slips in with little effort.
They have heavy lined paper and a writing guide that lets you write within a slot and keeps your writing even, and pens that write like a marking pen, but have ink that does not run or smear.
If anyone has a bit of time available, this is a wonderful cause to assist the folks who are having real difficulty with their vision. Why not drop in to see them at 826 Princess St. in Kingston, or give them a call at (613) 542-4075. The staff at CNIB can answer your questions.
Georgina Wathen
Please return Porta-potty
This year, following many requests from tennis players, the township rented a "port-a-potty" that was placed near the tennis court in Maberly. Well it didnt last there long before someone decided they wanted it more than the community and it has disappeared! The township is liable for a considerable cost and a possible replacement if it is considered safe to do so. If you have any information about its removal please call the townships public roads department at 264-0730. Better still, please bring it back!
