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Call Pat for details. 519-284-1340 Warranty & more! plus tax CERTIFIED * All rates subject to change without notice 36 Water St., St. Marys • Phone: 519.284.0041 • Fax: 519.284.0042 • [email protected] • Facebook: www.facebook.com/stmarysindy • Twitter: www.twitter.com/stmarysindy St. Marys Independent Serving St. Marys, Embro, Fullarton, Granton, Kirkton, Kintore, Lakeside, Medina, Rannoch, Sebringville, St. Pauls, Thorndale, Uniondale, Woodham Vol. 15 No. 3 Friday, January 23, 2015 IF YOU’RE READING THIS, IT’S FREE HAVE YOUR Mayor Strathdee wants public Little Falls “Forest School” input on budget Receives Grant “Forest School”, a new teaching academic, social, SAY Deputy Fire Chief proposed nature awareness education and physical skills while This week sponsored by The long process for the upcoming budget meetings, and prevention, fire safety program at Little Falls instilling respect for one RADAR Town of St. Marys started this time has been allocated for inspections and enforcement, Public School, is a recipient another and stewardship for AUTO PARTS week, with twp meeting being the public to ask questions and, emergency response. of a 2015 Stratford Perth the natural world. Students 395 Queen Street, West held. Mayor Al Strathdee or make comments. For As a result Chief Brownlee Community Foundation get plugged back into nature This week’s question: said that all through the those who cannot attend the said that help is needed grant. The $4,500 grant by taking on local animal Should the Town cut election campaign, and also meetings, the Independent for annual inspections. He was made possible through names, adopting tree friends, services to try to keep since the election, people has included a question/ noted that there are 12 the Annie and Isabelle spending reflection time taxes down? have told him that the Town comment column for people major residential apartments, Chesterfield Fund - a outdoors, building animal has to keep taxes down. to fill out and we will forward 12 major manufacturing fund held in trust with the habitats, and using natural YES or NO But he says that “we have all the answers returned to facilities, numerous Foundation. materials for learning. (no speeches please) to maintain the things that the Mayor. (please see page businesses not only in the "We are very pleased that As a registered, public, non- To cast your vote by are important to the town”. 4). downtown, plus outside the Stratford Perth Community profit organization created for Mayor Strathdee said that At the first budget meeting, downtown, churches and Foundation has chosen to and by the people of Stratford phone: 519.284.0041 as far as he is concerned the Fire Chief Brownlee schools and vulnerable care support Little Falls Forest and Perth County, the or ON OUR WEBSITE Town has fallen behind on presented Council with a centres. He noted that time School. The generous Stratford Perth Community infrastructure “and we have permitting, every residential www.stmarysindependent. proposal to hire a Deputy funding will allow us to Foundation engages donors to spend money on it”. As a Chief. As far as fire fighting is dwelling should be checked continue connecting as community builders -- com result the Mayor and Council for smoke/carbon monoxide before Monday at 9 am concerned, Chief Brownlee kids with nature and matching donor interests are seeking input from the said that there are three lines alarms. The decision will teaching them how they with community needs. Watch for the results public on what is important of defense, public education be made during the budget can be caretakers of the Through the power of next week. (or not) to them. In the process. environment" said Kendra philanthropy the Community Last Week’s Question: McCotter welcomes Liberal environment critic Martin, Little Falls Forest Foundation currently cares Are you concerned that the School founder and grade for 1.6 million dollars in low price of gas could have as part of local speaker series 2 teacher. "The grant will community assets and has a negative effect on the By Dan Rankin Notable locals in attendance “Throughout my nomination be used to directly support granted over $220,000 to the Outdoor School part of local charities. economy? In conjunction with the included Mayor Al Strathdee and since then I’ve talked and town councillor Jim about how I wanted to put our program. Community Community Foundations federal Liberal Party’s winter and parent support and Yes 37% No 63% caucus meetings in London, Craigmile. Perth-Wellington on the of Canada is the national map,” McCotter said. “To enthusiasm for the program network for Canada’s M & M VARIETY local Liberal candidate for In his introduction for McKay, have been fantastic, and the Perth-Wellington riding McCotter noted that McKay, have the Honourable Mr. more than 191 community McKay here today shows we’re now being asked to foundations. And for 92 years, Corner of Queen Stephen McCotter recently originally elected in 1997, share our ideas and learning announced plans to invite had been re-elected five that we are on the map, and community foundations have and Water Streets on the radar of the Liberal with other educators provided the mechanism several prominent Liberal times. His portfolio over the throughout the region.” politicians to the area. The years has included being Party.” for Canadians to invest 284-3101 first was long-serving parliamentary secretary According to McCotter, the Now in its second year, Little in community, helping to Scarborough-Guildford for the minister of finance, environment has become a Falls Forest School provides build strong and resilient SECRET WORD Liberal MP John McKay, chair of the government “vitally important issue” that primary students with daily places to live, work and play. CONTEST: who visited St. Marys operations and estimates affects both the province and learning through hands- Community foundations are Congrats to last week’s Wednesday afternoon and committee, as well as the locally. on experience in nature to one of the largest supporters winner, M. Hearn who spoke on the topic of the Liberal Party’s defence teach concepts across the of communities, providing “You see the cuts to VIA,” he curriculum. The program more than $143 million in receives three 6/49 environment to a crowd of critic and, currently, their said. “It may save money, but people at the Westover Inn. environment critic. uses the natural world as support of local priorities and tickets plus Encore. Continued on page 5 the vehicle and the venue for organizations in 2012. You can win by finding the secret word and telling us the ad it STRATFORDSTRATFORD HYUNDAIHYUNDAI appeared in, along with Salesperson of 90 DAYSPAYMENTS SELECTNO your name and phone MODELS ONLY number. This week’s the Month word is Feature Remember, the word ANDRE can appear in any ad NESHAW throughout the paper, so happy searching and good luck! STRATFORD The BEST Advertisement rates in town! 2 Friday, January 23, 2015 St. Marys Independent Sally Says “To shorten winter, borrow bank, we have enough and shorts. We are due hardly wait for the garden some money due in spring.” of everything. We are so for a spring like that, I think. centres to open their ~W.J. Vogel grateful for that. By late In February, especially if greenhouses, which by end We are nearing the end of spring, early summer, we it is mild, I look for snow of March or beginning of 566 Queen St. E. • 519-284-4348 January. One more week start to see spaces or holes drops emerging in my April should be overflowing to go. January, for us at develop on our shelves south facing garden. Such with bedding plants of the Salvation Army, seems and that is when we put a strange sight to see a the “you name it, we got it” Senior of the Week to zipping by quickly, but out requests for certain flower unfolding while there variety. My green thumb is that could be because food items. The first things are still patches of snow itching to get to it. Although we are still busy with the we generally run out of here and there. Miracles I do have a worn out pair of fallout from our Christmas are Kraft Dinner, peanut are everywhere if we take rubber boots for gardening, work. It’s good to be busy, butter, tuna, salmon, and the time to see them. There I find I enjoy my outdoor especially because we are other tinned meats. Baked is no doubt in my mind that work the most when I have busy putting away food in beans are always good to a Higher Power is at work dirt squishing up between the food bank, which is a have on hand to give away. when I witness flowers and my toes. Who says you good thing. No complaints Cold cereal is also one of snow at the same time in can’t garden while wearing in that department. This is the things we run out of the same garden.