EDHS GRAD PENS CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS BOOK Gina Wood Joseph believes! HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR VISITS HOLY NAME Brings message to youth RAIDERS FACE TOUGHER COMPETITION Boys' hockey gets underway See COMMUNITY Page 8 See SCHOOLS Page 15 See SPORTS Page 17 $1.00 "Serving Essex and Community Since 1896" Adding a fireplace Adding a firepl can return can return (GST included) Whole Number 6215 Registration No. 08565 138% 138% on investment at on investment resale! resale! Volume 127 No. 49 Phone: 519-776-4268 Fax: 519-776-4014 519-776-4021 32D Arthur Ave., Essex Wednesday, December 6, 2006 http://essexfreepress.reinvented.net Meloche named deputy mayor of Essex BY DANIEL SCHWAB Essex Mayor Ron McDermott will be joined by Richard Meloche in representing the municipality during county council's next term after the Ward 2 councillor was named deputy mayor Dec. 4. In a recorded 4-3 vote, council confirmed the recommendation of the striking committee naming Meloche as deputy mayor. "There are many items on the agenda that have to be tackled in the upcoming four years," Meloche said. "We have an arena issue, water systems, residential and industrial development, the expansion of Highway 3, (Colchester) Harbour, McGregor library and many more important issues." Meloche said he'll be fighting to keep the McGregor branch of the Essex County Library open as county council considers eliminating the region's smaller branches in an effort to save cash. "I'm opposed to that trying to save money in that manner," Meloche ANTLERS AND ART LaSalle youngster, Madison Dugdale, 8, was in the Christmas spirit at the Essex District High School Arts and Craft Show, Dec. 2. Visitation Parish brings communities together BY DANIEL SCHWAB COMBER After the closng of three Lakeshore hurches in recent years, the rea's Roman Catholics ave a new place to worship ith the opening of isitation Parish in Comber. Hundreds of churchgoers lined up in front of the new church Dec. 2, awaiting the arrival of Rev. Ronald Fabbro, Bishop of Catholica Diocese of London, to formally begin the ceremony. "It will bring our parishes together in this one building and begin a process of healing," Fabbro said of the new church after the inaugural service. "It will be a strong witness to the people of this community that they are together as Catholics." The parish is built to accommodate 750 parishioners and includes a hall that can open up to seat more people. It also features a day chapel for masses during the week for smaller groups and a Sunday school room. SEE NEW CHURCH, PAGE 3 Fundraiser supports family of cancer victim BY DANIEL SCHWAB A fundraiser for the family of the late Chris Jackson fed nearly 600 people Nov. 29, during an all-you-can-eat pasta dinner at Holy Name Parish Hall. Jackson, a father of four, lost his battle with cancer three weeks ago. Before his death, surgery was performed to attempt to remove the tumour in his brain. "It was sudden and it wasn't," said Florence Jackson, Chris's aunt. "He had type four cancer. We knew it was terminal." Florence has been a member of the local St. Vincent de Paul for more than 20 years. The charity teamed up with the Essex Knights of Columbus to organize the fundraiser. Terry Ducharme, grand knight for the local K of C, said Jackson's widow Stacy approached the group seven weeks ago with the hopes of putting together a fundraiser for the family. "Their financial condition was pretty poor," Ducharme said of the Essex family. "It was short notice, but we wanted to get it in before Christmas. There are four things the K of C lives by one of them is charity." SEE PASTA DINNER, PAGE 2 said. "I think it's important to keep our libraries open wherever we have an urban centre. I'll be fighting for that at the county level, that's an important issue as far as I'm concerned." Resolving the "north-south" issue After being sworn in, Ward 3 councillors Paul Innes and Ron Rogers, the only new members of Essex Town Council, spoke about eliminating the perceived rift between Essex and Harrow and bringing the municipality together to function as one entity. "The mandate which I heard at the doors is very strong the south of Essex is a forgotten land," Innes said. "They feel they have not been represented. I will use all of my intelligence, education, creativity to work with (council) to do a job that is necessary and make Essex one town." Ward 1 councillor Randy Voakes also said there is a need to address the socalled "north-south" issue. SEE PRIORITIES, PAGE 6