The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Wednesday, November 29, 2006 · Page 5 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A big thank you for all the support We are the parents of Cpl. Mike Barnewall, the Essex soldier who was wounded in Afghanistan on Tuesday, Nov. 21 and who was profiled on the front page of the Windsor Star on Thursday, We wish to Nov 23. acknowledge all our Essex family, friends, Mike's friends, our neighbours and co-workers who have called, emailed, sent cards and personally offered their support to us and Mike's brother Jamey and his family during the past few days. Thank you is not enough for the outpouring of concern, love and prayers for Mike's recovery. It has been overwhelming and is much appreciated. We also want to commend the Canadian Military for their personal involvement, outstanding professionalism, concern and efforts to ensure that we have been kept in contact with Mike and in contact with all the medical and military personnel involved in his safe return home. We will be reunited with Mike in the next few days and look forward to his full recovery. Dave and Terry Barnewall Jamey, Danielle and Allie Barnewall Smoke alarms save lives Every year in Ontario, people die in fires that could have been prevented. These fires occur in homes and communities just like ours. Tragically, in many of these fatal fires, there is no smoke alarm warning to alert the occupants and give them the precious seconds they need to safely escape. Since March 2006, 28 fatal fires have occurred in Ontario where smoke alarm performance has been documented. Of these fires, 12 did not have a smoke alarm installed, three had their power sources disconnected and one was too far away from the fire to sound a warning. This is unacceptable. As Fire Chief of the Essex Fire Department, I am very disturbed by these facts because I know that most home fires can be prevented by taking care when cooking, smoking, using candles or heating your home. I also know most of those lives could have been saved if the homeowners had installed smoke alarms in their homes and kept them in good working order. The Essex Fire Department will do everything within our power to prevent a fire tragedy from happening in our community. I urge all our residents to make sure they have working smoke alarms on every storey of their homes and outside all sleeping areas. This is the law in Ontario and this fire department will be enforcing it. For homeowners, tenants and individual landlords, non-compliance with the Fire Code smoke alarm requirements will result in a ticket for $235 or a fine of up to $50,000. Compare this with the cost of a smoke alarm, which can be as little as $10. When someone dies in a fire, it is a tremendous loss to the family, the fire department and the entire community. I never want to read in NOW TAKING ORDERS FOR CHRISTMAS: FRESH TURKEYS, HAMS, DUCKS, GEESE & CAPONS the pages of the newspaper about a resident of our community dying in a fire. Help protect yourself and your family from fire by installing the required number of smoke alarms, testing them every month and replacing the batteries once a year. Anyone who has questions about smoke alarms or other fire safety issues are welcome to contact the Essex Fire Department at 519- 776-6476. From our family to yours, we wish you all the best for a safe and happy holiday season. Ed Pillon Essex Fire Chief Barnewall victim of land mine CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 EDHS guidance counsellor Ron Ricci remembers Mike as a star player on the school's soccer team in 1999, Mike's graduating year. "He was one of our best players," said Ricci, who served as assistant coach on the team that year. Ricci recalls Mike being "a good kid" who did well in his graduating year, both athletically and academically. Everybody got along with him," Ricci said. "He was very focused." So far, 200 Canadian soldiers have been injured and 44 have been killed since troops first arrived in Afghanistan in 2002. Christmas in the Country Sunday, December 3 John R. Park Homestead 519-738-2029 www.erca.org Santa's Cause for Kids There has been a new amalgamation in the Town of Essex. The Essex Police Service has joined with the Essex Fire and Rescue Service to bring some happiness to children this holiday season. The Santa's Cause for Kids campaign, which was started by Const. Joe Meloche of the Essex Police Service three years ago, is kicking into high gear. Meloche, who is also a volunteer firefighter for the Town of Essex, has recruited Const. Jim Chauvin to assist this year. Unwrapped toys for children can be dropped off at any of the participating locations, including Home Hardware, Canadian Tire, Essex Police Stations in Harrow and Essex, and the municipal building in Gesto. Financial donations will also be accepted and cheques can be made out to the Essex Police Association. All money raised will be used to purchase toys from the participating retailers. Toys collected will be delivered to the local Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul locations for distribution. If you have any questions regarding this campaign, please contact Const. Joe Meloche or Const. Jim Chauvin of Essex Police Service at 519-738-2222. HOLY NAME OF JESUS RAFFLE 50/50 Prize Winner Beatrice Asmar - Windsor Raffle Prize Winners Barbecue Rocking Chair Table Jewelery Box Sun Catcher Ron Bondy - Essex Nick Glowa - Cottam Lou Romano - Windsor Cheryl Markham - Essex Ken Stiers - Cottam HOURS: Mon., Tues., Wed. 8-6; Thurs., Fri. 8-8; Sat. 8-6; Closed Sun. Fresh Ontario Corned Beef Grades AA-AAA OUTSIDE ROUND 68 Talbot St. N., Essex, Ontario N8M 1A2 · Phone 776-7541 MEAT MARKET LTD. Quality Service and Value Since 1962 NOV. 30 - DEC. 6 RUMP $ ROAST $ EYE OF ROUND ROAST HUNGARIAN BRATWURST $ 59 $ 59 SAUSAGES 2 SSUUPPEERR ORANGE $ 99 ROUGHY Gift Baskets PPRRIICCEE!! Frozen Fillets Made Fresh in Store 2 3 /LB. 99 /LB. Fresh Extra Lean Beef Cubes 99 BEEF STEW 3 VEAL STEAKETTES Smoked or Oven Roasted Deli Scliced Frozen Breaded Veal Patty $ 49 49 $ /LB. S p ec ia ls Thank you to all the hard working volunteers who prepared and served dinner. To all the supporters who graciously donated baked goods and raffle prizes and the community who made our CWL Turkey Dinner and Baazar a great success! $$ 49 49 /LB. G & T LANDSCAPING INC. 227 Cty. Rd. 34 E. Cottam · 519- 999-5338 /LB. We have a great Starting at selection of $ 99 $ 99 9 3 $$ 99 99 TURKEY BREAST 6 Frozen Seasoned Fries $$ 49 49 RED SKIN 2 POTATOES /LB. CHRISTMAS TREES ARRIVE NOV. 25TH · · · · · Cedar & Fraser Fir Branches Holly Berry Branches Juniper & Pine Red Dogwood Branches Cedar Roping & Wreaths Grave Blankets Plain 5' blanket $29.99 Decorated 5' blanket $39.99 Order before Dec. 1st and save 10% Custom Orders Available Free Draw with purchase for a Decorated Cedar Wreath Free Hot Chocolate & Goodies GARLIC & ROSEMARY /LB. STORE HOURS: CHECK IT OUT @WWW.SCHINKELS.COM 7 WE MAKE GREAT PARTY TRAYS MEAT - CHEESE - VEGGIE - FRUIT SWEETS - SANDWICHES - CRACKERS THURSDAY - SUNDAY 11 AM - 7 PM OR BY APPOINTMENT