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Whenever possible I supply photographs for articles. My freelance writing and photography services are ongoing since 1990
Child Poverty -Food Banks-
What Time is Dinner? Published The Scoop Newspaper Windsor, OntarioCanada
February 2007
by Diane Knaus
When was the last time you
invited your neighbors into your home for a meal? How are they really
doing these days? Are their jobs adequate, can they afford to feed their
families? Do your neigbours have clothes that are warm enough and not
full of holes? Can they get the medications that they need on a regular
basis? When was the last time you had a heart to heart talk with your
neighbor?
330,491 Hungry People
in Ontario Last Year
According to the Ontario Hunger
Report, 330,491 people have been served as of last year in Ontario from
the food banks. A number of food banks closed or were at risk of closing
in 2006, including agencies in communities such as Wasaga Beach, Pars,
and Minden.
40 per cent are Ontario’s
children
“The real face of hunger
is not what we might expect,” said Adam Spence, Executive Director
of the OAFB. “It transcends definitions of geography. The problem
cuts through our towns, cities, and neighbourhoods. No matter where
you live, hunger can be found next door.” More people turn to food
banks in Ontario than any other province. There are over 330,000 Ontarians
served by food banks each month. Since 2001, the number of Ontarians
served by food banks has increased by 18.6 per cent. What is most striking
is who is hardest hit by hunger: over 40 per cent are Ontario’s
children, almost 20 per cent are Ontarians with disabilities, and 17
per cent are working Ontarians. This translates to over a hundred thousand
children being hungry in Ontario every month.
How Much Money has the
Federal Government Spent on Alleviating this Problem
$0.00. The Canadian Federal Government Promised to spend Money to Eliminate
Child Poverty Problem 17 years ago. They Have Done Nothing to Date -We
Have An Empty Promise.
Over 2.9 million meals
a month are being served by the Canadian Association of Food Banks with
no monies from the Federal government received.
People who need food assistance
can go to their local churches for additional information on the local
food banks locations and their hours of operation. Referrals can also
be received from the Social and Health Services Department, legal and
community organizations such as the Kiwanis club etc.
With job layoffs in the car
manufacturing plants so prevalent in Windsor area, and the ripple effect
on jobs from that, we should expect to see more food banks struggling
to meet peoples needs. A January headline said that Ford Motor Company
lost US $5.8 billion dolars in the last quarter of the year. Many people
are on layoff status from their employers in the Windsor area due to
this alone.
What Time is Dinner
What type of dinner is your neighbors favorite, can you remember? When
are you going to invite them over? Do you ever go grocery shopping together?
Buy them something that you know they like once in a while? Do they
have children, what do they like to eat? You know it is just like anything
else, we all need to refocus on what is really important to us and our
social contacts.
Sometimes the easiest thing
to do is to have a potluck, invite many neighbors so you can enjoy all
of them and get caught up on their lives. Not everyone has to bring
a dish, only those who can, or want to. Neighbors helping each other
is a great way to break the ice and alleviate some stresses.. You could
always tailor the get together to help in other ways, maybe a clothing
exchange as well, or job tips, contacts of people who can help.
According to the Ontario Association
of Food Banks “When compared to the world’s richest countries,
Canada falls in the bottom quarter for child poverty, ranking 19 of
26 nations.’
The organization is a network of over 100 communities across Ontario,
and has been in service to the communities since 1992.
The low income rate means that a family who spends more than 63 % of
their income on food, shelter, clothing and other necessities would
be living below the poverty level.
Jumpstart Community Nourishment
Program
Nourishment Program:
The main goal of this organization is to create universal access to
nutritious food for all children in Windsor and Essex County. Nutrition
is a fundamental determinant of healthy child development and good nutrition
enhances a child’s ability to learn. Jumpstart is a coalition of
several community organizations consisting of five main partners, The
Greater Essex County District School Board, Windsor-Essex District Catholic
School Board, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and the United Way/Centraide
of Windsor-Essex County.
Youth & Family Resource
Network of Essex County
Community Food Co-op Program:
This would be a continuation of a program in the towns of Kingsville,
Leamington and Harrow to provide healthy, essential food to an estimated
200 low-income families and their children up to age 17 at a low cost
by utilizing purchase agreements with local suppliers and community
partnerships. Seniors and other individuals on a low or fixed income
will be able to participate if they meet the “means test”.
Food might be delivered at no cost to increase accessibility.
Windsor Community Children's Fund
Birth to Six Parental Support
Coalition (Windsor) a.k.a. Ready-Set-Go!
Sewing For Life/Growing Gardeners-Growing Together: This program
will help 4–6 year old children learn the basics of container
vegetable gardening, teaching them to grow and care for fruit, herbs
and vegetables from seed. During this course they will also do
related crafts and activities about food and nutrition. Volunteer
high school students will be available for troubleshooting and advice.
The target group is families of low-income.
Windsor Goodfellows Club
Shoe & Boot Program:
This initiative will provide up to 1150 requests for shoes and/or boots
for children from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 who are from low-income
families.
Jumpstart Community Nourishment
Program
County Schools Nourishment Program: This program will run during the school year, September 2005 to June 2006 and September 2006 to December 2006 and in partnership with all School Boards. The principal of universal access to food is fundamental to the program, and Jumpstart would ensure that all children have access to nutritious food regardless of the ability to pay. The target population is families of low income
Unemployed Help Centre/Housing
Information Services
Keep The Heat Energy Assistance
Program: This program will provide financial assistance to prevent
the turn-off of utilities and provide coats for children in the Windsor and
Essex County area for an estimated 250 low-income families. The
public and affected families are educated about energy conservation
and provided with tools such as window insulation kits.
East Windsor Community Service
Centre (Drouillard Place)
Food Co-op Program:
This is a continuation of a food co-op that services low-income families/residents
in Windsor East. It works in partnership with Co-ops servicing the west
end and county. It plans to increase participation by 25 percent through
extended community outreach/promotion, and the funds include an impact
assessment by the University of Windsor.
Food co-ops are different than food banks. A food co-op provides foods
at lower prices usually for an annual fee, plus your weekly amount that
you spend. Many times it is cheaper to buy grocieries there than the
grocery stores.
If you would like to donate
canned food, you may do so at the Unemployed Help Centre or call them
519-944-4900 for additional information.
1256 words Published by the Scoop newspaper Wndsor,Ontario February
2007
What is CRASH by Diane Knaus
published January 2007 The Scoop Newspaper Windsor, Ontario Canada
A local organization City
residents Against Super Highway, has come to the conclusion that something
more positive must be done about the proposed border crossing than what
has been proposed. Citing previous studies in a letter to the editor
, they stated “The process has been flawed. Tunnelling was not
an option for any of the other 14 illustrative alternatives that were
reviewed and eliminated.” As a citizens committee they are commmitted
to improving the health and wellbeing of Windsor and surrounding municipalities
by stopping construction of any international superhighway that would
adversly impact our communities.
Members of the Oakwood School Council started this organization in March
of this year as a direct result of the Detroit River International Crossing
proposed detrimental impact to the school and community. The organizations
first rule is that they prevent a superhighway, dedicated to international
traffic and the transportation of hazardous materials, from being integrated
onto municipal streets.
The residents Objectives of CRASH are to:
Insist that a consistent evaluation of all possible alternatives be
employed in order to obtain the best resolution for a new border crossing,
plaza and access route that would improve the quality of life of all
residents.
Demand that visionary traffic engineering principles and the highest
standards of analysis and assessment are applied, i.e. full environmental
assessment of the entire area of analysis, and state-of-the-art technology
is used in constructing and maintaining the international traffic route
and crossing.
Ensure that any process of changing a municipality's infrastructure
will seek and incorporate the involvement and input of the key community
stakeholders (schools, churches,residents and businesses) and that this
process will be transparent at all times.
Their objections include:
Environmental & Health issues, Social the Isolation
of neighbourhoods,
Security of residents in emergency response times significantly
lengthened,
Process weighting of selection factors for different access routes and
plaza and crossing locations based on insufficient community input.
Property Value- Loss of homes and businesses that
will need to be removed
You can believe it when David Suzuki says, “Canada ranks 28th out
of the 30 member countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD) based on 29 key environmental indicators - things
like air and water pollution, heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions,
pesticide use and more. Our performance is only marginally better than
the two countries at the very bottom, the United States and Belgium.”
He continued “It's not as though we're just bad in one area. We're
consistently awful: energy consumption - 28th, greenhouse gas emissions
- 26th, water consumption - 29th, sulfur oxides pollution - 27th, number
of species at risk - 26th, nuclear waste - 30th, and the list goes on.
In fact, Canada did not place first in any of the 29 indicators.
The Ontario Medical Association and Dr. Gerald Diamond, Michael Parker,
Southwestern Region of the Ministry of the Environment says “Ontario
is forecast to suffer in the order of 1,900 premature deaths,9,800 hospital
admissions, 13 thousand emergency room visits and 46 million illnesses
as a result of air pollution.
According to Derek Coronado of the Citizens Environmental Alliance “Our
province is far behind in sustainable solutions to reduce power use.
There is an imminent legislation package where the province wants to
expend 8 billion dollars on new energy supplies, however, 50% of that
is earmarked for nuclear energy which does not bode well for the future
because it doesn’t work for the long run.
There is more to this story than we can put intoour pages at this time,
so check out their web site. The CRASH organization is affiliated with
the Oakwood School, and the Windsor International Press Club. How can
you get involved?, by writing to a city official, displaying a yard
sign, join one of their teams, and you may surf their web site by going
to http://www.crashwindsor.ca
Election Candidates in Windsor The Scoop November 2006 - Coming Soon
Olde Sandwich Towne Task
Force/ The Scoop Newspaper June 06 Windsor, Ontario Canada
As the Chairperson of an all
volunteer committee dedicated to a positive progression for their community
of Olde Sandwich Towne, Hildegard Ashe says “As a committee, each
person brings to it a redefinition which comes out as a consensus for
the long term. We have priorities of purpose and are working toward
them. Belief in all of the Task Force plans is our ultimate goal, and
I do believe in them all, however, some of them as “high vision”
will be implemented at a later date. “Kevin Alexander at the City
Planning Department is one of our great resources we have from the City,
his vision is good for downtown Sandwich Towne and the water spaces
as well.” Hildegard Ashe is the Executive Director of Sandwich
Community Health Centre Inc. she was elected chairperson of the Olde
Sandwich Towne Task Force in November of 2005. She stated that “as
an immediate goal, our committee is to get together the community development
plan and begin the implementation of it in progressive steps.”
Kevin Alexander MCIP RPP of
the Windsor City Planning departments says “The purpose of the
Sandwich Community Planning study is to provide strategies and actions
to inform a potential Community Improvement Plan and provide a path
that can be implemented by a proposed Community Development Corporation
(CDC) for the area .” The committee started to meet last year and
had a pre planning and expanded planning meetings from April to July.
From August of 2005, through last month, they have met and created a
committee which is now named The Olde Sandwich Towne Committee Task
Force in order to develop a vision statement which is “Olde Sandwich
Towne is a Vibrant Waterfront Community.” A community outreach
meeting was held informally in December last year to listen to stake
holders and hear the communities thoughts on the initial strategies.
According to Kevin Alexander
“Then in March this year the Task Force held a charrette to visualize
and initiate strategies, and actions which were developed in earlier
meetings.” The city helped with maps and illustrations to further
visualize their concepts. “As you may or may not know, the Ontario
government provides funding for many projects, and getting that funding
is what will propel these projects as we fulfill the mandates which
the government has set out for us, “ and added. “We need to
improve the visual and perceived appearance of Sandwich through the
use of existing and new innovative community programming.”
To Improve the Olde Sandwich
Towne Area
A Summary of the Draft of the Strategies and Actions Needed Includes
the following:
1. Attract a diversity of business that provides essential goods and
services, while preserving the historical setting.
2. Preserve and maintain current buildings in the area by encouraging
owners to apply for heritage certification through historic districts.
3. Develop a marketing plan for the area.
4. Improve communication between residents and expand on neighborhood
traditions in the area.
5. Improve and expand on existing health care facilities within the
boundaries of Sandwich towne.
6. Support and find opportunities to expand existing schools and education
resources in Sandwich Towne with Community based schools.
7. Expand the parks and open space system and improve existing open
space areas throughout the Olde Sandwich Towne Community.
Priorities and Strengths
As priorities were set, the towns’ top strengths were identified
as were the weakness of the area.
Top Strengths are:
Appearance of the Community- designated heritage buildings, historical
murals,trees and landscaping.
Parks and Open Space- River front access, several neighborhood parks.
Safety and Crime - Neighborhood police station and local crime prevention.
Community Image - Loyalty and sense of pride, “Four Corners”
- intersection of Brock and Sandwich street, strong sense of history/
heritage.
Commercial Development - Potential development of vacant buildings.
Schools and Education - Schools provide most services for diverse community,
which is local and accessible at all levels.
Health Care- Sandwich Community Health Centre
Opportunities for Friendships - Sandwich Towne Festival which is Bi-National
Neighborhood Land Use- Four community gardens and bicycle paths.
Weakness’ are:
Lack of a bank
Health Care - need a family physician, need more facilities, need more
health services and clusters of health services, we need an emergency
room at the hospital.
Appearance of the Community - Gravel yards, boarded up storefronts/homes,
looks “poor”, unkept lots.
Community Image - Need to build on history,poor image, reputation
Safety and Crime - No presence after hours,lack of after hours policing,
hours of operation - Community station.
Park and Open Space = Ice Rink, need more central park,swimming pool
now has limited hours, basketball court.
Schools and Education- keep schools open.
Communication Among Residents- Poor communication, language barriers
For additional information see the city web site at:
http://www.citywindsor.ca/000489.asp
800 words
Heritage Properties Information
by Diane Knaus / The Scoop Newspaper May '06
The Windsor Heritage Committee
“Honors”
The Ontario Historical Society is honoring Windsor Heritage Committee
members for their innovative and proactive community outreach. The Board
of Directors of the Ontario Historical Society is presenting them with
this year’s B. Napier Simpson Jr. Award of Merit for special contributions
to heritage conservation in the community. The presentation will take
place in Orillia on May 6 at the Ontario Historical Society’s annual
meeting. The Windsor Heritage Committee deals with requests for heritage
designation, the administration of the City of Windsor’s heritage
funds, and advises City Council on any matter dealing with built heritage.
According to the Heritage Canada Foundation Advocacy organization, “conservation
saves energy, and saves natural resources as well.” Not only that,
but, conservation makes a community sustainable because older buildings
are being reused.
While Many people think that municipal heritage designation is an encumbrance
on a property. It’ is not true! Most of the time when a property
is upgraded and improved the value of it goes up, just like when you
improve any other property. However, this type of improvement also makes
the township more interesting to visitors and can create tourism, which
is a clean industry so to speak. This enhances the livability of the
area, and promotes business, which promotes more jobs for the area residents
involved.
When city politicians and residents commit to change and improvements,
it can only help the people living there as well as the business’.
Property owners can contact city hall leaders to ask about what help
is available for preserving and or restoring designated heritage property.
The city of Windsor has a mandate to identify, recognize, protect, enhance
and properly manage the heritage resources of the city by the Windsor
Heritage Committee. The loosely formed committee has made a motion to
their By-laws to establish the Windsor Heritage Committee. In their
April 12 meeting, the committee discussed the possibility of designating
the Sandwich Towne as a Conservation District as a well as new funding
for Restoration on Ontario Heritage Foundations Easement Properties.
Among the Windsor Heritage Committee’s winning activities are:
· Heritage Highlights The Windsor Heritage Committee (WHC) has
partnered each year since 1999 with the local branch of the Architectural
Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
(CBC) to produce a series of short videos highlighting important heritage
resources in Windsor and the surrounding area.
· Heritage Week Coloring Contest - Each year since 2000 the Windsor
Heritage Committee has sponsored a Heritage Week Clobbering Contest.
This initiative, which costs the committee about $3,000 annually, is
designed to engage school children and their teachers in the appreciating
of our local built heritage.
· Windsor History Web Site / Walking Tour
The Windsor Heritage Committee produces walking tour brochures in order
to promote the appreciation of Windsor’s heritage properties..
This information also appears on the City of Windsor web site www.citywindsor.ca.
The committee is also committed to getting all of Windsor’s designated
heritage properties listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places
(80 in all).
· Doors Open Windsor- Since the introduction of Doors Open Ontario
in 2002, the Windsor Heritage Committee has been supporting this very
important and effective heritage celebration. Members have shown support
personally by opening their heritage homes to visitors.For additional
information:
Greg Heil is Chairperson of the heritage committee. Nancy Morand is
the Heritage Planner for the city she can be reached at:255-6543 x 6179
573 words
5 Areas to Control for
Better Air Pollution Results in Windsor, Ontario / Published The
Scoop April 2006
by
Diane Knaus
Global warming affects us
all, everyday. Many countries are using the newest guidelines to protect
their citizens and companies as listed by the Kyoto Protocol Treaty
guidelines (international agreement), which became law on February 16,2006.
35 countries are required to reduce their greenhouse gas by 2008 according
to the Kyoto Protocol which Canada is in agreement with at this time.
According to Environment Minister
of Canada Laurel Broten her office filed comments with the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) February 17, 2006 detailing the
Ontario government’s concerns with the U.S. government agency’s
plans to allow higher emissions from coal burning power plants.
“Air pollution from U.S.
coal fired generators is hurting Ontario’s health, and the people
of this province are counting on our neighbours to do better,”
Broten said. “I am calling on my colleagues on both sides of the
border to join Ontario in cleaning up the air we share. We know that
smog-casing pollution is taking an unacceptable toll on our health and
economy,” said Broten. “I am here today to support our American
friends who are fighting to improve the quality of air we all breathe,
and to ask leaders on both sides of the border to join me at this year’s
Shared Air Summit.”
According to David Suzuki
“Canada ranks 28th out of the 30 member countries in the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) based on 29 key environmental
indicators - things like air and water pollution, heat-trapping greenhouse
gas emissions, pesticide use and more. Our performance is only marginally
better than the two countries at the very bottom, the United States
and Belgium.”
He continued “It's not
as though we're just bad in one area. We're consistently awful: energy
consumption - 28th, greenhouse gas emissions - 26th, water consumption
- 29th, sulfur oxides pollution - 27th, number of species at risk -
26th, nuclear waste - 30th, and the list goes on. In fact, Canada did
not place first in any of the 29 indicators. We are decent at a few
things, like recycling, but our list of failures is long and depressing.
What's more, our performance has not improved over the past decade.”
Mayor of Seattle Greg Nickels
is in the lead to organize a US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
to forward environmental concerns by making advances faster than what
the Kyoto Protocol Treaty set up. The group wants to find 141 cities
to match the 141 countries that have signed the Treaty to sign up as
a city involved to fight gas greenhouse emissions. "The reality
of global climate change is urgent. The stakes are high - locally and
globally - and we need to act. As a City government, we've already cut
our greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60% compared to 1990 levels.
But, it's not enough - we need to work together as a community to set
responsible limits on global warming pollution."
-- Mayor Greg Nickels, Seattle,
WA, USA
If you really think that this is a bunch of hype, then I think you should
look at what happened in the Philippine’s a month ago. An entire
village was wiped out because of the extreme logging that has gone on
there for years, and there were no tree roots or other shrubs to hold
back the water. Thousands of people were buried alive in that one instance.
Pollution affects our health,
Ontario has the worst cancer rate in the whole of Canada.
According to the Canadian Cancer Statistics in 2004, Cancer is the number
one cause of early death in Ontario. While Canada has a national project
to create a healthier environment and a stronger economy by combining
the efforts of all Canadians to build a more sustainable future, they
have not told citizens what they can do on a daily basis to help keep
our cities cleaner, and make our air less polluted. We understand that
newer utilities and new home appliances are better for the environment,
but these items will cost taxpayers big bucks when they go to replace
their old models.
Reduce Windsor’s Emissions
For instance, Windsor residents can do a lot to reduce emissions, however
we are actually suffering from pollutants from upper Michigan and their
coal plants as we in Windsor are downwind from there. Changes to the
EPA’s New Source Review program would allow coal burning power
plants to operate for longer hours and pollute more per year. So Windsor
residents suffer the consequences of an international government (the
US) that doesn’t care about people only big companies profits,
which has become increasingly clear in the past two years with the administrations
actions.
Transboundary air pollution
has a significant and adverse impact on Ontario’s economy and its
citizens’ health. Last year, Ontario had its worst year on record
for smog advisories. There were a record 15 smog alerts covering 53
days in the province. And a 2005 provincial study showed that air pollution
causes nearly $10 billion in total damages to Ontario, including $6.6
billion in health costs.
“Smog does not respect
international borders, neither do the ill effects," said Dr. Greg
Flynn, President of the Ontario Medical Association. "We know that
smog can contribute directly to cardiac and respiratory illnesses that
can result in death and without a real commitment to cleaning up the
air, people will continue to pay the ultimate price - with their lives.”
The government of Ontario has begun to do its part by setting a target
of generating five per cent of our electricity from renewable sources
by 2007 and committing to close down all of the province’s coal
powered generators by 2009.
More than half of the air
pollution in Ontario originates in the United States, in particular
from the electricity production sector. At some Ontario locations, including
Sarnia and Windsor, more than 90 per cent of the air pollution can come
from U.S. sources.
What is the City of Windsor
Doing to Alleviate some of the pollution problems?
According to the Citizens environmental alliance;
Windsor, Ontario – In a 8-1 vote Windsor City Council enacted a
bylaw to restrict and virtually eliminate the use of cosmetic pesticide
products in Windsor. The bylaw will come into effect in April 2006 while
the ban will come into effect beginning January 1, 2009. The bylaw follows
the City’s commitment of October 2000 to eliminate the use of pesticides
on municipal property.
“The enactment of legislation
to restrict the cosmetic use of toxic chemicals has been an arduous
process for the environmental movement in southwestern Ontario”,
stated Derek Coronado, Research and Policy Coordinator of the CEA. “We
began this campaign in the early 90’s and we still have a long
way to go. The weight of evidence against these chemicals and the environmental
degradation that results from their use is accumulating. We must prevent
the dispersal of toxic substances in order to protect environmental
and human health,” said Coronado.
2004 Preliminary Report from Windsor’s Ambassador Bridge Related
to Traffic Congestion
According to the Ontario Medical Association and Dr. Gerald Diamond,
Michael Parker, Southwestern Region of the Ministry of the Environment
“Ontario is forecast to suffer in the order of 1,900 premature
deaths,9,800 hospital admissions, 13 thousand emergency room visits
and 46 million illnesses as a result of air pollution.
According to Derek Coronado of the Citizens Environmental Alliance “Our
province is far behind in sustainable solutions to reduce power use.
There is an imminent legislation package where the province wants to
expend 8 billion dollars on new energy supplies, however, 50% of that
is earmarked for nuclear energy which does not bode well for the future
because it doesn’t work for the long run. The city of Windsor has
looked into wind power, but it is not economically feasible at the moment.
5 Areas of Action we can use
as Individual Citizens
Gardening
Use poison free garden products. They all get washed into the rivers
eventually and can harm the fish we eat. Grow your own vegetables and
use organic soil. Look for organic foods in your supermarket.
Cars
Choose a fuel efficient vehicle if you are going to buy a new car, or
if you drive a car that is more than ten years old, be sure that you
change the spark plugs, air filter, at least once a year. Check the
tire pressure at least once every three months. Don’t drive on
bald tires, get new ones they will help you with car performance, which
slows down the harmful emissions from your car. Walk, bike, carpool
or take public transit, and don’t idle your car for more than 10
seconds because of gas emissions.
Your Home
If you are buying a new home, choose a home close to work or school.
Reduce your home energy use as much as you can. If your furnace, air
conditioner, washer, dryer, gasoline lawn mower, stove, is over ten
years old consider replacing it. Change the filters in the furnace every
three months, replace automobile spark plugs, every six months, and
air filter in the lawn mower, and air conditioner every year. If you
can wash the filters in the air conditioners, do so three times a season.
The air conditioner unit won’t work so hard, and will save on your
electricity bill. Replace windows in your home over ten years old with
fiberglass ones. Get a water filtering and air quality devices for your
entire home.
Renovating
If you are renovating, choose environmentally safe products , you will
save more money, and be happier. Make sure that you put the old pieces
in the proper place for reclamation.
Plant Trees
Landscape your property, plant evergreen trees or bushes, and other
native plants. Trees remove carbon dioxide the dominant greenhouse gas
from the air and cleans the air for all of us.
To get specific cancer information in Ontario
go to http://www.cancer.ca/vgn/images/portal/cit_86751114/48/28/401594768cw_2005stats_en.pdf
1651 words
Side Bars
Ontario currently has ongoing working relationships with the states
of New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, among others, on transboundary
air issues. Ontario currently has ongoing working relationships with
the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, among others, on
transboundary air issues.
Earth Day April 23, Noon-4 p.m.
You're Invited! Celebrate Sunoco Earth Day 2006 Earth Day Canada, the
Essex
Region Conservation Authority and the Suncor Energy Foundation would
like to invite all corporate and community groups in Windsor and Essex
County to do their part to promote positive environmental action. We
are extending an invitation to your company or group to enter the Team
Green Challenge and take part in our annual Sunoco Earth Day Celebration
in the City of Windsor
The Suncor Energy Foundation, ERCA has partnered with the City of Windsor
to plant more than 1,000 trees at Malden Park - Windsor's largest urban
park. These Earth Day celebrations will take place at the Matchette
Road Entrance to the park, which is easily accessible from EC Row Expressway.
The Green Team Challenge - What's Involved?
. Participation and registration are free!
. Your task is to assemble a corporate or community volunteer "green
team"
comprised of employees, family and friends to help plant the trees.
. Wear your company t-shirts or order some customized Earth Day t-shirts
with your company's name on them (call 1-877-566-4999 for details) and
show
off your team spirit (optional).
. The group with the largest number of team members will win an incentive
prize.
. All groups will be recognized and receive a plaque during the official
greetings which take place at 1:00pm
The Toronto Shared Air Summit June 2006 will bring together political
leaders, leading scientists, health care professionals, environmentalists
and industry representatives from across North America to discuss air
quality issues and the impact they have on our health, environment and
economies.
A copy of the government’s comments to the EPA, the 2005 Transboundary
Air Pollution in Ontario report and an executive summary of the EPA
comments can be found at: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/air/transboundary/index.htm.
2000 words Diane Knaus
National Women’s Month
by Diane Knaus
Published 3-3-2006 in The
Scoop Newspaper Sandwich Towne,Ontario, Canada
The Olympic Games are the
pinnacle of achievement in athletics for those participating. It is
also the top of international communities playing and learning together
as people sharing the earth together without prejudices and enjoying
each other. This year, women have highlighted the opening ceremony by
their upfront participation. Multiple Olympic medalist Stefania Belmondo
ignited the Olympic Cauldron by putting the flame into the apparatus.
Celebrating women from across the globe this month has to start with
the first time ever women holding the Olympic flag coming into the Olympic
stadium in Torino, Italy 2006. Women from around the globe include:
Italian actress Sophia Loren, U.S. actress /activist Susan Sarandon,
Wangari Maathai Nobel Peace Prize winner and notable Kenyan environmentalist.
Also Isabelle Alllende a Chilean author, Maria Mutola, the first person
to win a gold medal from Mozambique, Somaly Mam, fighter for women’s
rights from Cambodia, Nawal El Moutawakel, the first Muslim woman to
win an Olympic gold medal and Italian Olympian Manuela DiCenta were
representatives. Canadian hockey athlete Danielle Goyette (member of
the Canadian National Women’s team since 1991) carried the Canadian
flag into the arena for Canada. She won an Olympic Gold Medal with Canada
in 2002 and a silver in 1998. Five - time Olympic speed skater Chris
Witty carried the US Flag, she also has the distinction of being a three
-time Olympic medalist. She has qualified for more Olympic Games than
anyone else in the American delegation.
The first woman to open the
Olympic games was Princess Ragnhild in 1952. She was representing King
Haakon ad Crown Prince Olav, who were attending the funeral of King
George VI of England who had suddenly died.
Other notable women in the
headlines this year included the new Liberian President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf, she was graduated from Harvard University, then she went back
home to spread the intellectual information which she had learned. She
has also held positions with the major banks including the United Nations
Bank, and the World Bank. Elsewhere, Finland’s Tara Halnen was
re-elected as the first woman president. Women from the past who have
been positive reinforcements to civilization in many countries where
women are not equal include such notables as: . Rosa Parks US civil
rights activist who would not give up her seat on a bus to a white man
in Little Rock Arkansas. Rosa Parks changed America and started the
country on a march of equality never seen before the Civil War. She
passed away last year (2005) at her home in Detroit Michigan. She was
the only woman who was accorded the honor of being laid out in the US
Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D. C.
. American Coretta Scott King,
author and wife of Reverend Martin Luther King who marched in Alabama
for civil rights after Rosa Parks made history with her refusal to give
up her seat. She founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent
Social Change. Coretta lent her support to many world leaders including
Corazon Aquino President of the Philippines, Kenneth Kaunda founding
President of Zambia, and Nelson Mandela South African civil rights leader
and Nobel Peace Laureate." Mrs. King passed away January 31,2006.
. Agnes McFail the first woman elected to Canadian parliament also was
known as a fierce equal rights believer she spoke out on the Cape Breton
miners, farmers needs, and women’s equality. She could be an outspoken
proponent of women’s rights and at the same time deal with the
frailties of men's and women's beliefs of social male dominance.
. Nellie Mc Lung was the only Canadian delegate to the League of Nations,
in Geneva, Switzerland. One of her strong interests was that of prison
conditions, plus she wanted to make divorce laws more liberal. After
much success, she was later appointed to the Dominion War Council and
was the only woman on the council. Her interests revolved around social
and humanitarian reform.
. Elizabeth Bushell was the first Canadian Printer. Her father originally
from Boston launched the Halifax Gazette and during his working days
his daughter Elizabeth helped him to print the newspaper. She became
a compositor and press woman, together father and daughter launched
the first printing office and the first newspaper in Canada.
. Ellen Fairclough was Canada’s first woman Federal Cabinet Minister
and first acting Prime Minister. She served as the Minister of Citizenship
and Immigration, and was the minister responsible for Indian Affairs
and the Postmaster General. (From the web site http://www.collectionscanada.ca/women/index-e.html)
Other notable Canadian women include Nellie J. Cournoyea she was the
First Aboriginal woman government leader, Gladys Strum was the First
woman president of a political party in Canada and Manitok Thompson
was the first woman member of the Nunavut legislature.
Canadian athletes who have
distinguished themselves in other Olympics include in 1928 at the Summer
Olympics in Amsterdam, the Canadian track-and-field team dubbed the
"Matchless Six", who finished with the highest standing, ahead
of U. S. and German teams. Myrtle Cook and Bobbie Rosenfeld were members
of the 4 X 100 relay team whose world, record gold, medal performance
catapulted them into international prominence.
What all of these women have highlighted by their accomplishments is
that no matter what field of endeavor they were active in, they didn’t
give up. They did not give in, they kept believing that the could make
a difference in not only their lives, but the lives of other people
and they did make that difference. There are still inequalities going
on in today's society, and we can make a difference with our own actions
toward equality, but it takes one step at a time and a determination
to go forward. A linking of arms if you will, to help each other in
society, in work, in law, in fun, in family, in polite society to accept
each other with our differences, should be our goals for each of us
in our own field.
Other references include http://collections.ic.gc.ca/wawanesa/E/people/mclung/activist.html
1004 words
Diane Knaus
Tiny Bubbles in Olde Sandwich
Towne / Wine Doctor
by
Diane Knaus/ Published 3-3-2006 in The Scoop Newspaper Sandwich
Towne,Ontario, Canada
Looking for the “Wine
Doctor,” that is Denis DeHart, you just might find him in Windsor’s
Historic “Olde Sandwich Towne District.” In fact, if you look
for the old Jules Robinet Winery building (circa 1879-1935) Dennis’s
new shop is on the side of the building. The building itself has the
distinction of being known as a winery for 56 years. I am told that
there are still “wine cellar tunnels below the floorboards.”
Wine doctor Denis says his “Great Fermentation's” store will
continue the wine service business by providing customers with “On
- Premise” wine making in the historic facility. The wine cellars
in the basement can provide 2,000 square feet of storage, and stocking
of his most common wine varieties which will guarantee a six week turnaround
for customers. The new store has the capacity to make over 200 batches
of wine at a time.
Denis DeHart and new partner,
noted businessman John Bewsher ‘jb’ and “partner in training”
want to provide an alternative that is fun and affordable for wine enthusiasts
throughout the city and surrounding counties. They can service people’s
wine preparation planning for weddings, large corporate events, to small
intimate evenings for friends. According to ‘jb’ when planning
these events you need to order wines up to 8 weeks ahead of time, and
sometimes more for proper aging. Wine Doctor Denis DeHart has over thirty
years experience as a member of the famous Vintners Guild. His On-Site
premise wine brewery is the oldest one in the Essex Windsor area. He
said he “Chose Olde Sandwich Towne because of the ambiance and
walkability of the area, the historic atmosphere and the upscale mobility
of residents., such as students, and University influences, “ etc.
Denis prides himself on providing
the best wine produced in the city, because, he filters the wine twice.
This also gives your wine ultimate clarity, and we only use natural
corks. Other vintners only do the filter once to save on cost, however
Denis believes that the customer wants quality and provides that with
the process which he uses. He says “ that is the best way for it
to be done to ensure the end-product quality preferred by home based
wine vintner connoisseur's. That way we guarantee uniform taste, batch,
after batch, after batch.”
A free service that the duo
provides is a sugar test for your grapes before the process is begun,
so that you know how much alcohol you will have. Because there can be
significant differences in making wine, most times it is in the sugar
content of the grapes that is critical to the process. There is a difference
in the grape concentrates, and grape juices used. They also provide
natural corks, which ensures a secure seal and prevents leakage. Can
you go into the store and buy a couple of bottles of wine? The answer
is no. “Great Fermentation's” is not a retail winery, but
a retail wine producer, who does so with the customer’s grape products.
Partner ‘jb’ brings
to the business his many years as a private sector business consultant,
and an array of ways to make business fun and valuable to customers
service based industries. He has worked with more than 250 Windsor and
private sector small to medium sized business clients in the last five
years.
Denis describes the benefits
of making wine at his establishment as “ the best of the best,”
he guides peoples choices with his 30 years of experience in the wine
industry and will explain the choices in different grapes, as he uses
his temperature controlled rooms to ensure proper fermentation, twice
filtered wines, which guarantees that all fermentation gases have been
dispelled and use of purified makeup water where needed will provide
a truly wonderful wine experience. Choices for the customers include
California Premium Whites, from Chablis to Zinfandel Blush, to Pinot
Chardonnay. Red wines choices can be from Ultra California Premiums
to include Burgundy and Cabernet/ Merlot. Ultra European Premium White
choices can be Chablis to Pinot Blanc, while the Reds start with Chateaneuf-du-Pape
to Shiraz, and Ultra Classic Premium White Italian wines Verdicchio
to Pinot Chardonnay then the Italian Reds include Montepulciano to Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
There are even Fruit wines
to choose from whites, reds, and blush. There are also choices for the
grape juices of whites and reds and Pinot Chardonnay.
At the present time the shop provides “On-Site” wine making
services for customers who have purchased or ordered the products on
site. To further enhance the international community flavour that is
so unique to Windsor and Essex County future items to the wines may
include cheese from Canada, beer making supplies, and possibly specialty
coffees.
In a century past (1896) ,
Jules Robinet produced and shipped 355 tons of Essex County grapes to
Quebec for the industry from the same location where the “Great
Fermentation's On-Premises Wine Shop” is located now. Then in the
early 1900’s he wanted to sell his wine in grocery stores., but
was not permitted to do so. Most of the wines made then were from the
Pelee Island and Essex County areas, now the wine supplies can come
from anywhere around the globe.
Since then the government
of Ontario and the federal government has made the business of making
wines more restrictive for retailers who are serving the public. If
you want to have wine at a wedding, your coordinator has to make sure
that the place where you are having the event can serve the wine in
the first place. There are day licenses that have to be bought in some
circumstances from the LCBO (Licquor Control Board of Ontario), and
not all of the permits are granted either.
The Great Fermentation's
Shop is located at 3200 Sandwich Street Unit 2 on the Mill street side,
there is parking next to the building. The telephone number is 519-258-1911,
and
Denis DeHart can be reached by e-mail at YeoldeWino@aol.com
1,000 words
e-mail Diane Knaus
mdknaus@911info.net or call 258-9357
"Hold Hands When You Cross the Street" / Pride Guide July
2006
What is it about some of us
“getting it “and others “not getting it?” That depends
on what you are talking about! “Getting it in a social atmosphere
could be as simple as not leaning all over someone's fabulous body,
male or female just to get something from them. “Not getting it,"
can be as simple as being too aggressive in a place where people don’t
know you well and they are not sure of your motives when you are leaning
all over them.
Yet leaning can be a fun and
frivolous activity when everyone knows what is going on. If you are
at a party and someone starts to lean, then someone yells lean, activities
can lead to loads of fun. You can lean with your eyes, squint them in
someone's direction and wink at them during that flash of an erotic
instant. That can scream kiss me!
Leanings can be toward some
kind of work, social work, the arts, engineering, architecture, etc.
Another type can be toward keeping what you already have, taking steps
to insure that what you have, is also in good condition. Your personal
relationships, work relationships and ethics, family, spiritual life
- your spiritual center, your work, and personal assets are all important.
Most of have been heard to
ask “God, how can this happen?” at different times in our
lives. How is your clothing closet? Is it fabulous? So how is your spiritual
closet? Is it full, or half empty, or half full like the glass in your
hand? Do you want the glass to be full to the brim?
Oh sure, we all have our friends, and we share our hopes and dreams,
and wants and needs mostly with them. However, do those friends have
the ability and capability to get you somewhere you really want to be?
Did they make fun of you when you said to them that you really were
concerned about someone who had been thrown out of their home because
they were gay? Laughing hard were they! Well, are you still smarting
over that, or have you actually been looking into helping that person
who has been on the hunt for better and safe housing? Have your
friends been chipping in to help pay for a place, providing food, furniture,
etc.? Well, maybe they would if it was you huh, but not necessarily
anyone else.
And God said to you as he
whispered in your ear,” Go ahead, help someone else, help them
to turn their lives around, into a more positive and energizing life.”
So what was your answer, what did you say to God?
Do you visit with your higher
being on a regular basis, or just when one of your friends or you need
it? Lots of the time it depends on what kind of habits you got into
when you were a child. Like whether you parents took you to church,
or made you say your prayers before you went to bed, or even if you
went with your grandparents to a church. Many of us don’t want
to talk about these things because we think it might make us look weak,
or a thousand other reasons I won’t go into here. Having a relationship
with a higher being takes the onus off of you in having to shoulder
all of the burdens of the world. Trust me, you can’t handle it
all by yourself, it is just too much for one person to do. I tried and
could not do it alone. So give it up, get down on your knees and talk
to your higher being no matter which that is. Find a spiritual home
and go every week, sometimes twice a week. Involve yourself in the social
programs that they support, or help organize one that you see a need
for, but for your sake and others who need you whom you don’t even
know yet, involve yourself your fortune, and your time. It is called
time, treasure and talents that you can share with others to help one
another.
We only live once, what we
do with our time besides partying and partnering is important, and it
is good to make changes in our lives to help someone else. Change can
be good and bring other good things and people into your life. Lean
on your good instincts, get others to help you and support you when
you lean in to help someone else.
So listen to that voice you heard when you were a tot, “hold hands
when you cross the street” it can be the most important phrase
you will ever hear.
Oh Those Fifties pulished
online http://www.911info.net/detroitcarshow2006.html May
by Diane Knaus
What's read and white and
black, if you said a newspaper, you will only be half right. if your
second answer was a checkered race flag you would only be partially
right. If your third answer added a 1950's Diner you would be exactly
right. That is where all of the hot rod cars were after 10 pm on the
weekends during the 50's. Oh my those good looking guys and their shiny
hot rods, what a combination! Believe me when I tell you that, lots
of girls hung out at the drive ins back in the 50's. They did so just
to look at the guys with their hair slicked back and their shiny rods
just spoiling for a race. The guys were wanting to put someone else's
car down and show off their spiffy cars and loud mufflers. Going to
the drive in to get a milk shake was only one of the skimpiest reasons
we gave Dad so we could go.
That was one of the ways the
guys would get their frustrations out back then. The best looking sparkly
cars took hours and hours of painstaking work to keep them looking sharp.
One of my cousins was washing his car twice a day to keep the dust off
of it, especially if he was going to go into town. A hefty supply of
Turtle Wax and clean rags, a mainstay of anybody's toolbox and maintenance
program was a requirement. Some of the boys then would work at a garage
to learn the trade of fixing the motors and repairs, then buy junkers
and fix them up. They certainly were the precursors of today's Nascar
drivers and owners.
Those kind of cars and the
guys that drove them made the diners interesting, they brought that
extra tingle to people eating at the diners. What with their white tee
shirts and their pack of smokes rolled up in their shirt sleeves, and
clean pressed jeans, they looked cool. Can't forget to mention their
work boots and some Penny loafers as well!
Of course then we had to bring
Dad a milkshake as a reason to make the drive in the first place. The
drive ins were bright and colorful, and clean. The menus featured good
hamburgers, french fries, and thick shakes. (Oh we didn't even think
about cholesterol back then) The diners had bright colorful jukeboxes
and flashing lights inside, so we could play our Ricky Nelson, Fats
Dominoe, The Beattles, and finally Elvis Presley songs.
At the 50's Diner in the Canadian
Transportation Museum, you can get grilled burgers and dogs to your
liking. If you want to recreate those memories, you can take your antique
car or go to see other cars at the Canadian Transportation Museum &
Historic Village in Southern Ontario. You can actually dine in their
new 50's Diner as did many in their first ever "Cruise In"
on May 18, 2006 . With dine in facilities, and an outdoor patio area,
as well as an inside bar and banquet facilities their offering to the
public is one in a hundred. While sitting on their red and white chairs,
listening to the jukebox you will think you are reliving history as
you watch the classic cars rumble in on the blacktop driveway. Cruise
Ins are scheduled for Thursdays during the summer.
For additional information see:
http://www.ctmhv.com/
565 words plus pictures
mdknaus@911info.net
Taking Day Trips to the
Canadian Transportation Museum & Historic Village in Southern Ontario
Published online http://www..911info.net June
by Diane Knaus
If you really want your family
to experience a taste of the "olde world" and find out about
Canada's Transportation history at the same time, the best place to
find an authentic atmosphere is at the Canadian Transportation Museum
in Essex County. From the wooden Red River carts that farmers used to
pile their vegetables into to the first cars built by the Henry Ford
Company and others, you can see them all in the museum.
Restored antique cars that
sparkle, old motorcycles, touring cars, a 1904 hearse, an antique LaFrance
700 series fire truck, the Champion Spark Plug Truck which was driven
all across the country to prove that the plugs were reliable, can be
seen at the museum. Along with fabulous antique cars some of which have
been restored with love on site by volunteers, there will be an Emergency
Medical Service Museum on the grounds as well. Most of these EMS vehicles
were donated by Len Langlois, the former director of the Chatham and
District Ambulance Service. A variety of their equipment that was used
on a daily basis will be on display from the actual switchboards from
a dispatch centre, to a bunkhouse, to operating tables.
The heritage village area
is an authentic refurbished village of homes that have been moved from
their original home sites. It offers the history buff a place as a way
to quicken the beat of a young person's heart, "a truly remarkable
experience to be in the moment, yet in the past. " From the naturalist
Jack Miner, his homestead which he hewned with his own hands, was donated
by the Miner foundation to the heritage village, as was a barber shop,
and post office.
As an added attraction, there
will be a 1950;s working diner inside the main building.
Decor consists of black and white tiles, red and white covered chairs,
an old time jukebox which works and has CDs for the old tunes of the
'50s, a full chrome kitchen where you can see people prepairing the
food that truly creates a reflection of the best part of your or your
parents' memories. The diner will open on May 26, 2006.
The Museum is owned and run by the Historic Vehicle Society of Ontario, a registered charity. They do have some paid staff to run the centre, an administrator, a media and tour interpreter meaning guide, and a teacher who is in charge of their education programmes to children and their teachers, as they offer Grades 2, 3, and Grade 6 day classes. The rest of the daily operations of the centre are carried out by some of the 140 member all volunteer staff. There are common areas that can be rented for antique cars shows, overnight camping, dinners, theatre, and other events. The organization features a cancer fundraiser walk for cancer each year, last time they raised over $77,000.00.
Visit the Museum's web site
at:
http://www.ctmhv.com/index.htm
or call toll free 1-866-776-6909
Dave Tanner Pattern Maker Extraordinare
Published The Scoop Newspaper May 2006 Windsor, Ontario Canada
by Diane Knaus
There was a truck once upon
a time that was driven from Windsor to Vancouver in 1917, a "Model
T" to get orders for the Champion Spark Plug company by President
Charlie Speers, and Cal Evans. A year ago, Dave Tanner was talking about
the truck and the idea to rebuild the entire truck was born, so he was
asked by members of his car club, the Canadian Transportation Museum
to rebuild it.
To start from scratch was
a challenge indeed, as Dave had to cut individual pieces to create the
spine of the car, the mould so to speak. In his garage, designed and
equipped to make almost anything, Dave constructed the car right here
in Windsor. Most of the pieces were glued then screwed into place as
Dave began fulfilling the original creation of the Champion Spark Plug
Truck . Using the space between the wheelbase of 100" as a beginning
for the pattern, he built it to its original specifications. The whole
process took about a year to complete the truck during his spare time.
Today, the truck runs, and is shown at the Canadian Transportation Museum
in Essex County.
The trip taken by Charlie Speers and Cal Evans is thought to be the
first cross country tour for a car. Some of the tour was taken with
the truck on the flatbed of a train. Then when Charlie and Cal got to
individual towns, they would take the car off of the train and go conduct
their sales for the spark plugs which the company manufactured.
As a trained pattern maker,
after Dave moved to Windsor in 1965 with his family, he teamed up with
a few fellows to start a company here. The company called TEAM was made
up of himself, Dave Tanner, Ellis, Anderson, and Mullindorf, and they
did patern making in Windsor. As he became interested in antique cars
and vehicles, he began to make model cars, only life size. One of his
creations that produced a lot of buzz on the car circuit was the "Model
T Depot Hack." Someone gave him a radiator cap and he began talking
about it and talked himself right into building it when his fellow car
enthusiasts asked him to actually do it. The car was called a Depot
Hack because it was used to pick up people from the train station and
take them to the hotels or resorts, thus the "Depot Hack "
was born. His reputation as a perfectionist took off. He has been known
to take something apart as many as tree times to get it just right.
The rebuilding of this car the Model T Depot Hack was the catalyst that
actually led to the creation of the Champion Spark Plug Truck last year
because Dave had done such a remarkable job on the Model T Depot Hack.
Dave Tanner is originally
from Lutterworth, England. He was trained because his uncle in England
wanted to give him a chance to earn his own way. Dave was an indentured
apprentice as a teen at the age of 15 until he reached 21 years of age,
and became a pattern maker at that time. Dave says " it was really
a term for slavery at the time". Pattern makers then were trained
to make wooden molds that created molds for the foundry industry. These
wooden molds were used to cast metal parts, like a cylinder head or
bolt. As Dave says "technology has changed that method now."
He describes his rebuilding of antique vehicles as a "Labor of
Love."
You can access more information by seeing: http://www.ctmhv.com
606 words
Families and Their Cars
by
Diane Knaus
My father came back from the
Army in 1953, after spending a few years in Korea . While in the service,
he learned to like the work of fixing cars and engines in the Motor
Pool. He drove a tank that he named after me. I wasn't too sure about
that, why he named a tank after me that is. His later life tag of "Mr.
Fixit" experience came from the time when he was at the Motor Pool
in the service.
When I was younger, I remember him working on his cars, changing the
spark plugs, the oil, and filters. Most of the cars were Fords . A few
years later I remember him buying a 1956 Ford Fairlane. At the time
I was 16 and not very interested in cars all that much. Although I did
want to get my driver's license, I waited until I turned 17 to do so.
When it came time to change the brake pads on the Ford Fairlane I became
pretty adept at giving him the tools that he requested, like a 3/8"
wrench rather than a 3/16". Seemed like every time when he was
fixing the car, I was right there by his side. Soaking up the information
about how the car was supposed to run, my knowledge about car repairs
grew as I did. There have been times in my adult life when I have changed
spark plugs, tightened wires, changed the battery and checked the oil
level and refilled it to the mark on the oil stick. Not great things,
but satisfying to me in the knowledge that I could do it if I had to.
I remember when my father
was trying to fix my first car, a 1952 Ford. It was a light green 52
Ford convertible with a white top. He went through a series of, if the
problem isn't this then it is this. If it won't start, then maybe we
can clean the spark plugs with sandpaper or run a wire brush over them
to get the "ick" off. Then of course he went to the parts
store and bought new spark plugs. That helped but he wasn't satisfied,
so he replaced some little square looking rubber brushes in a metal
cylinder, and the car ran much better. The next problem was the battery.
So we charged it, but it was too weak, so then he went out and bought
a new one. A few months later I had taken the car through a field a
few times just for the fun of it, guess that was when the muffler became
loose. I never told him how it came loose.
My uncles would also fix their own cars, but then there weren't any
electronic starters: there were fuses that occasionally needed to be
replaced for the headlights and dashboard lights. Oil was everywhere,
I had to watch where I stepped at least when my uncles were around.
My father was much better at changing oil and not spilling it all over.
He eventually took the used oil to a gas station where they reclaimed
it. He kept his cars in good running order and in later years then in
his garage.
During his lifetime my father
bought me a few used cars. I'll never forget one in particular, it was
an orange taxicab he bought from a junk yard. I wish he had left it
in the junk yard! The brakes were nonexistent. He even bought a junked
police car one time. We had a curious relationship!
Usually I was right with him
when anything had to be repaired, no matter if it was a screen window,
or a furnace filter, the car oil, the car oil filter, or air filter.
I watched him do the repairs and learned my lessons well. Like Alfalfa
in The Little Rascals (you remember the kid who had the one spike of
hair sticking straight up), "Amazing, simply amazing! " It
amazes me today how car engines actually perform in a vehicle.
Some of the things I learned
from him was to pay attention to the normal car sounds and the feel
of the car while I had my hands on the steering wheel. Tactile is the
word I believe that tells you things through your hands. Like if the
right wheel is wiggling, you may be getting a flat. He taught me some
things that I do with my car now to keep it in good running condition.
When the oil gets nasty and dark looking that it is time to take it
to have the oil, the oil filter, the air filter changed and then I check
the antifreeze in the radiator. Regularly I check my tire pressure for
safe inflation, windshield wipers for wear, and the spark plugs annually.
He taught me well, and I remember the lessons.
Now there are times when I go into an automobile parts place, and the
men behind the counters don't look at me as if I don't know what I need,
because I tell them exactly what I need, sometimes by brand.
I chuckle at the times when I have watched my son change the motors in his cars, the spark plugs, and he explains to me what they are for sometimes. He does know that I know about cars when he tells it as if I understand it all, and I make believe even if I don't because cars are made a little differently these days.
Hi-Ho Drive In Restaurants
by Diane Knaus
Years ahead of their time,
the Fortin brothers opened Hi-Ho Service Limited, otherwise known as
Hi-Ho Drive in Restaurants during the depression in 1937. The brothers
Leo and Frank Fortin actually built their own building with foundry
sand for their parking lot priced at $1.00 a load in Windsor, Ontario
Canada.
Their first diner was 20’
by 30’ located at 4033 Tecumseh Street East where they had plenty
of space to park. They flipped hamburgers and hot dogs for $.10 a piece,
they did so with hydro for cooking and lights because there was no gas
and for heat they used a coal stove. Their only other equipment was
an electric bun toaster and a grill.
At the time the drive in opened,
Windsors population was approximately 36,000 people and Tecumseh road
was a paved two lane highway.
They were overwhelmed at their
success because people came from everywhere to try out their menu items.
Soda pop was selling for .05 each, a double dip of ice cream was .05
and a single .03 cents, coffee was only .05 a cup. Hmmm, I wonder how
much Starbucks pays for theirs at this day and time.
Because Leo Fortin had joined the Army, Frank worked the diner by himself.
Delivery service was instituted, but soon discontinued, due to drivers
wrecking the cars too many times, and their menu list was huge. It was
too large to have the deliveries made and the food in good condition
at the same time. As real community people, they sponsored teams and
bought a bus to transport the neighborhood kids to school. The diner
was closed during the winters because Frank was holding down two jobs.
Within a few years times there
were another five Drive Ins to be built and their wild success enhanced
their reputation. Their reputation was so good that Walt Disney Company
gave them permission to use their Seven Dwarfs images on the menus.
Remember the “Hi-Ho, Hi -Ho It’s Off to Work We Go” song
from the movie “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” made in 1937?
It has been said that Leo and Franks’ mother gave the boys the
name of Hi-Ho for the restaurant when they first began in 1938.
Although the restaurants have
been closed since 1985, Franks daughter Annette and son Norman Fortin
remembered the hard work that was involved, and how hard their father
Frank Aime Fortin and their uncle Leo worked. Sounds to me like Canada
had another first by the brothers Frank and Leo opening the “Hi-Ho”
Drive Ins. Franks son Norman Fortin made some of the signs for the original
diners. Norman Fortin as an artist has replicas of the Hi-Ho Logo, in
his Lincoln Street studio in Windsor.
The Canadian Transportation
Museum has an exhibit which features the front of a Hi-Ho drive in,
complete with images of the waitresses in their fifties uniforms. Dave
Tanner, pattern maker extraordinary provided the talent and technical
skills to reproduce the exhibit.
500 words
The Senior Moments Program
(published May 2005 in the
City Times Newspaper of Windsor)
by Diane Knaus
Detective Wayne Halpert donates
his time to an intensive program aimed at seniors to protect them from
fraud schemes. The program named "Senior Moment" urges seniors
to take a moment to protect yourself by calling the fraud line at
966-2032. Some of the volunteers are retired policemen who have had
years of street experience and can relate to
the problems that most people encounter. along with the retired police,
there are knowledgable local construction people, and even lawyers who
can asses a situation and provide a referral in a specific situation.
Detective Halpert says "Fraud is really theft through deception".
At least if a thief steals something from you on the street you know
it is gone, but fraud is a silent thief and a person is betrayed by
a breach of trust". Police presence on the street does not affect
fraud, because it is a silent thief. Fraud
happens when you either give someone money without a contract and expect
them to come back to do the work and they never show up again, or your
personal information, such as a bank account number is accessed and
they take money or your credit cards and use them either on the street,
or for online charges and even mortgages in some cases. If you get an
e-mail supposedly from your bank
asking you to confirm your account numbers, go offline and immediately
call the bank to check it out before doing putting in any information
whatsoever.
If someone comes to your door
and says they can fix your roof, tell them to come back next week, as
you have a contractor who is due there anytime and you need to see contracts.This
type of a delay will give you the time to check things
out and possibly call the hotline that the Windsor Senior Moment task
force police have set up just for this type of incident. Do not let
strange people into your home without an official badge even if they
say they are from a utility company. There have been cases where con
men have said that they were from utility companies and want to check
your basement, or other areas of the
house while one of them stays in another part of the house or supposedly
goes to the car and is in fact going through your wallet or purse to
get your credit information.
Door knockers are not usually
local contractors who are known in the community. A reputable construction
company will be bonded and insured, and advertise how many years they
have been in business in the local yellow pages telephone book.
You can usually ask them for referrals and names of satisfied customers
that you can call and check out their work, reliability, and their crews
workhabits. These companies don't usually go door to door. If you can
see that they are doing work in the neighborhood, call the neighbor
that they are workng for. According to Detective Halpert, "the
goals of the Senior Moment project are to
reduce the incidences of crimes against seniors, and to provide them
with a local telephone number where there is a live person at the other
end of the telephone who can help them out, with no elevator music".
This project is aimed to make seniors aware of current scams that
are being used against them. It doesn't matter whether it is by a person
at your door or someone on the
telephone, or someone on the faceless internet wanting you to give out
your personal banking or credit card information. There are scams to
help these con artists get large amounts of money out of a foreign
country like the Nigerian e-mail letters,.Then they ask for your help
to do that by getting your bank account information so that you can
transfer their money and supposedly make a
percntage, don't fall for that scheme. Detective Halpert is a 27 year
veteran of the Windsor Police Force.
If you have actually won a
prize, there is no fee involved, and you shouldn't pay contractors in
cash because you do not have any proof that you have paid them.
Did you know that people over the age of 65 are targets for con artists?
Furthermore, you have ten days to cancel most contracts. This advocacy
group provides seminars for groups of people 50 and over to give out
dos and don't tips.
This group is sponsored by
other community associations by providing services or items that are
needed on an ongoing basis and donations are accepted. Senior Moment
is a joint initiative of Citizen Advocacy, Windsor Crime Prevention
Services, the Windsor Police, National Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, CBC,
Canada Trust, De Thomas Financial Group, Bank of Montreal, and Collins
Barrow. If you would like to be a volunteer, or have a problem for the
Senior Moment Team to
help you solve, call the number at 966-2032.
The hotlines at Senior Moment
program are available from 9:00a.m.until 5:00p.m.,
and they are closed at lunch time.
Published by the City Times
May 2005 Windsor Ontario Canada
online www.citytimes.ca/
The Canadian / U.S. Border International Infrastructure Trucking, Trade
and the
Environment, Mayor Eddie Francis and the Residents of the City of Windsor!
By Diane Knaus
When faced with a new century’s problem, “one inherited from the last century of outgrown traffic congestion and more trade and local environmental pollution”, Windsor’s Mayor Eddie Francis and City Council members have taken on the problem. They are ready with a solid foundation of facts, and a real plan to get trucks off of city streets and across the border faster and more secure. “We have a solution for our truck traffic problems that addresses today’s needs and provides for tomorrow and that will be admired the world over. We all want the safest, cleanest, healthiest, most efficiently-run city possible. We want a better place for our children and the best quality of life for Windsorites,” said Mayor Eddie Francis. Citing a quote by Robert Kennedy “Our future may lie beyond our vision, but it is not completely beyond our control." The work of our own hands, matched to reason and principle, that they will determine our destiny.” He continued, “we have focused on getting the basics right this year, with good management and good relationship building essential things to make a city work well, now and for the future, said the Mayor.
A World Renowned Traffic and Engineering Expert
“By hiring Sam Schwartz,
a world renowned transportation expert, /engineer we recruited him to
"Fix the Problems" so to speak. His research studied every
proposal and work that had predated his involvement including the Lauzon
EC Row solution as proposed by senior levels of government in the past.
He provided a solution that will take our transportation problems and
turn it into an opportunity for our city to become a hub of international
trade, and manufacturing. His plan is the organ for change”, according
to Mayor Francis. “Something I have learned during the past year
is the importance of is sequencing”, said the Mayor. When thinking
about just that, sequencing, you need to remember just where all of
these plans began in the first place. In 2002 the Federal Provincial
government on the heals of signing the smart Border Accord with the
United States and against the backdrop of truck grid lock in the City
of Windsor announced $300 Million dollars to fix the existing system
and the approaches to the existing crossings. The Joint Management committee
under the direction of the Provincial and Federal government, with no
local input reported back 90 days later in December of 2002. The plan
devastated the Windsor Community. Then Mayor Mike Hurst responded to
the plan by issuing a media release on December 20, 2002 stating: “simply
put it is poor planning. It will be damaging to the neighbourhoods along
the route and in any event, it is not doable within the 3-5 year time
frame…”
Mayor Francis and the current
city council came into office in 2002.
When they came into office, Mayor Eddie Francis and the City Council
members were the first people to say "we don't know all of the
answers, but we are going to get them". In June of 2003 the Nine
Point Plan was introduced by the senior levels of government with EC
Row as its cornerstone. After which, the Point Plan was rejected by
the City Council because they couldn't see any practical reality of
adding 10,000 trucks to the E.C Row Expressway. Consideration Mayor
Eddie Francis took into consideration just how devastating the alternatives
would be by stating "We don't want to make the same mistakes that
were made fifty years ago. We have a billion dollar problem that we
need to solve, and we have done everything that the Federal and Provincial
Governments have asked us to do. We cannot look into the future with
todays lens. I am against the twinning of the bridge as that would be
disastrous. and I am opposed to that idea. We will continue to strongly
advocate for the best plan for our community and country, as we are
an international hub of industry between two major countries, and we
honor that position by using our integrity to insist on the best solution
possible for our residents and our industries. There are international
implications here, not just local concerns, but they are equally important.
We need to strike a balance and be ready for the future at the same
time, and we have the ability to reason". Last year in March the
Prime Minister told Windsor that it is up to local communities to say
what they want and to provide a solution to their own problems. The
Windsor city council officials have spoken and actually taken action
to have the necessary studies done it is called the Schwartz Report.
However, on April 21, 2005 the Mayor received notice that the Federal and Provincial Governments want additional studies done to the tune of $21 million dollars. It must be noted that no project can proceed without the agreement of the Federal and Provincial Governments blessings, and they have not made a commitment to improving the infrastructure of the rail ferry, and roads of Windsor. Sam Schwartz’s recommendation included rail and ferry infrastructure links which are key components of his report, and the main organs for change. And, his research included every thing that had been proposed prior to the study that recommended the Louzon acccess to E.C. Row Expressway, and more.
Chambers of Commerce
Sam Schwartz's plan was backed by Chambers of Commerce, labor and other third party influential community groups Industry, communities, and City Council members. Our citizens now need to get more involved, they need to be vocal, and not take anything less than what we deserve so that we can do the right thing not only for now, but for the future. We also need to remember that we have to work with the bureaucracy that is already in place. I know that the residents of Windsor want trucks off of the roads, and an environmentally safe place to live. I am also against a twin bridge. Our City Council wants to recommend solutions, not cause more problems", says Mayor Eddie Francis . “We fully understood that the Schwartz report has some kinks in it that need to be worked out along the way. We never believed that this report was going to satisfy everybody, but we are deeply pleased and surprised ourselves of how much support the plan has generated from our community, industry, third party interests and the many independent traffic engineers who approved of the plans as a whole”, said the Mayor. According to Francis “What was announced on April 21, 2005, a willingness by the Federal and Provincial governments to spend $21 million dollars in studies. This does not mean that a commitment was made to fund any building projects whatsoever! There was no specific plan to fund construction projects related to those studies. A commitment to fund studies is not a commitment to fund construction. That announcement does not represent the end of the story, merely the beginning of a new chapter. Nor does this announcement mean that the Federal government has committed to the bypass road, which is a key organ to the Schwartz plan. We have a world-class plan. But, as we wait, other jurisdictions- like China, India, and parts of Europe-are moving forward. We will not be deterred by divisive political tactics. I remain determined to see how it can be done, council and myself remain determined to ensure that the integrity of the Schwartz report is retained in full to protect all of Windsor’s interests”, said the Mayor.
The Mayor's Thoughts
"The city of Windsor
has provided a smart, local solution-with a national vision. And you
have my word that your city council and I are more committed than ever
to resolving our border infrastructure challenges. We don’t want
to simply get the job done, but, get it done right for our benefit,
and for generations to come. We have provided the plans and I don't
think they are taking us seriously after we have undertaken, and completed
the plans that we were asked to do. Our city is competing for jobs and
investment on a global scale, competing for attention and respect. There
are nearly six million people within a hundred mile radius of our city.
We live in the 8th largest metropolitan area in North America. The 39th
largest in the world. The value of goods that cross our border makes
it the world’s biggest and most comprehensive trade and economic
partnership. This is not only the world’s most important border
crossing, but, the world’s most critical supply chain and distribution
channel “, said the Mayor. “The worst part of this problem
is that the involved parties need to recognize that the problems will
still be there after we are all dead and gone if nothing is done now.
Because of that fact, they all need to work together for the best possible
solution. Everyone, needs to work together to find a solution now, not
in another six months or six years. Even if they have to have a special
commission to go over the current recommendations and give them a specific
time frame in which to approve the plans and actually start construction.
We need to leave this in the hands of the traffic experts and let them
do their jobs”, Mayor Francis said.The Mayor is frustrated over
the fact that no one outside of Windsor is giving this project the attention
that it really deserves. This project gives
us a window of opportunity which opens up to us to all kinds of possibilities
for our community, industry, our environment, and our infrastructure
###
1631 words May 2005
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Community, What is it? How can we get
it? And why is it so important?This is a copy of an article printed
in the Windsor 2005 Pride Guide written by Diane Knaus
So why do you need comunity?
Oh sure you have the bars, the hot tubs, and foam bath parties, pot
luck parties, the fragrant soaps, and the soft lit candles! Right! Sure,
but, what is behind that, what more do you want in your life besides
a good job, friends,nice apartment or home?
Could your answer possibly
be some real friends, who you can talk to about the real things in your
life? Your fears, happiness, or lack of them makes you a whole person.
Maybe you want to go back to school, or change career pathsss to something
less stressful or more exciting. Maybe you just need or want someone
in your life to talk to once in a while who doesn't want anything from
you.
Possibly you might want to
do something more genuine in your life, like volunteer for a cause,
get religion again, or for the first time. Maybe you want to find out
if there are people who think that God really exists in todays topsy
turvy world.
My friends that is what community
and commitment is all about, and yes you can get it even if you don't
have it now. The scary word commitment comes in all sizes, it just depends
on what you really want out of your life for yourself and your community
and what you are willing to do to get it!
Windsor itself is a growing
community, where a voice has been heard saying it is onward into the
future now. No backsliding allowed by anyone. Put your words into actions
to make your commuity a better place to live for all of us, and your
own family as well.
If you really think we need
a beautification project and you are environmentally interested or even
challenged there are others who have some of the same interests. Maybe
your neighborhood is the place to start or not, maybe it is somewhere
else, but there are people out there to help. We build community by
giving each other a helping hand. It does not matter where you live,
you only need to have an interest, and then act on it.
If your search is one for
cosmic and religious beliefs, Windsor has a Metropolitan Comunity church
that welsomes all people. this Christian church was started by a minister
who was thrown out of his church because he was gay. Over thirty years
ago in California, he started his ministry. His own mother encouraged
him to start a church for other gay people like himself. Today the church
is active internationally.
Today this church is offering
activities on a regular basis in Windsor, from Sunday services to open
discussions, to bible discussions to ladies and mens dances, potlucks,
bingos, to large fundraising activities.
Windsor has an active AIDS Committee which provides educational programs
and service referrals for those dealing with AIDS issues. They always
need volunteers. Not to leave the bars out, they do support our lives
in providing fundraising opportunities, as you will see throughout this
publication.
There is a busy arts life in Windsor, galleries to join, shows to gt involved in, and opportunities to be had in the surrounding areas. This community, your community is getting together to work on building a community together. It is up to you to take part in, to make Windsor a better place to live in. Come on over and join us! It is important because the future of Windsor is in your hands, by way of taking our hands while we walk across the busy street of life! Let's make Windsor a destination instead of a place to leave.
THE SEVERNA PARK VOICE (newspaper 1992)
A SERIES ON PROFESSIONAL WOMEN IN THE AA CO AREA
MICHAELE COHEN
“The cuts that the Department of Human Resources is implementing
are going to have a devastating effect on our programs. This comes at
a time when there are more people on waiting lists for services than
ever before. We have good services in Anne Arundel County, and this
comes at a time when there are more demands for those services. These
cuts contradict everything that people want and need. There are some
people and important programs that will suffer if these cuts go through.
There is a movement in the county of people who want to cut taxes (yet
keep services). People who say this are mistaken. Someone will have
to pay the price. The proposed cuts will increase welfare, and have
a detrimental effect on business as a whole. There are many businesses
whose employees come to us for a variety of services. The YWCA provides
many programs for many people especially for women and children, and
these are indeed the services that will be cut,” says Michaele
Cohen Director of the YWCA Women’s Center.
“One of the most important
things that makes the YWCA work so well is the give and take of the
people who work in the offices. Most of the decisions are made by a
consensus of opinion. There is a collective input between staff and
volunteers that is invaluable. It lets me know what ‘s really working
and what’s not. That is what makes our programs effective,”
says Michaele.
Michaele has been Director
of the YWCA Woman’s Center in Annapolis for the past 11 years.
In this capacity she administers all of the Womens Center programs and
personnel throughout Anne Arundel County, Including the Career Resource
Program, the Displaced Homemaker Program, the Single Parent/Homemaker
Program, the Life Skills Program, the YWCA Counseling Service, the YWCA
Battered Spouse Counseling and Shelter Program, and the Annapolis Women’s
Network, the Anne Arundel County Women’s Legislative Coalition
and Child Care Committee, workshops and conferences. Her responsibilities
include program and personnel; management, fund raising and financial
development, financial accountability, budget and grant proposal preparation,
statistical record keeping, program development and implementation,
public relations, volunteer development, legislative and women’s
issues advocacy, and community liaison and training.
Michaele currently serves
on several boards and steering committees, including the Maryland Legal
Services Corporation, the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence,
the Women’s Alliance of Maryland, the Anne Arundel County Child
Care Advisory Council, The Family Leave Task Force, and the Anne Arundel
County Affordable Housing Coalition. Michaele has assumed leadership
positions in several of these organizations as well as being an active
participant.
Michaele has been an advocate
for women’s and family issues for many years, educating, training,
mobilizing, and coordinating the efforts of citizens in order for them
to have “input, influence, and impact” on public policy decisions
made through the political process. She has received awards from the
Md. Commission for Women, Annapolis Business and Womens Club,and the
Brenda C. KopoAward for a Professional in Community Service presented
by the Council for Community Services. She received her B.A. in 1968,
he M.A. in 1972 and was a candidate for a Ph.D., all from the University
of Ca at Los Angelos.
Word Count 506 ###
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