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Wednesday, December 13, 2006 · Page 12 "Rehab With A Personal Touch." For the child who has everything. . . MEET THE STAFF Graduated from the Academy of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Poland with a Masters of Physiotherapy degree and is currently seeking her registration in Ontario. Sylwia has worked at Erie Shores Rehab since June 2005. She is presently working at the Essex clinic and running an exercise program at Southgate Residence and the Essex pool. I SYLWIA WIDECKI 375 MAIN STREET EAST, KINGSVILLE 519.733.4008 SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MERCHANTS SALE OF LAND BY PUBLIC TENDER Municipal Act, 2001 HELP SUSTAIN YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY... 35 VICTORIA AVENUE, ESSEX 519.776.7222 TAKE NOTICE that tenders are invited for the purchase of the land(s) described below and will be received until 3:00 p.m. local time on January 5, 2007, at 419 Notre Dame, Council Chambers, Belle River, Ontario. THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF LAKESHORE Description of Land: 1. Part Lot 3, Concession East of River Peche Maidstone, Part 8 12R579 Except Part 1 & 2 12R18041; S/T R566723; Lakeshore, in the Town of Lakeshore, County of Essex, Province of Ontario. 472 Blanchard Drive, 380.00 frontage, Roll #3751.210.000.07700.0000. Minimum Tender Amount: $ 228,593.10. Description of Land: 2. Part Lot 3, Concession East of River Peche Maidstone, Part 10 12R579; Lakeshore, in the Town of Lakeshore, County of Essex, Province of Ontario. 486 Blanchard Drive, 150.00 frontage X 165.00 depth, Roll # 3751.210.000.07800.0000. Minimum Tender Amount: $ 6,322.67. Description of Land: 3. Part Lot 3, Concession East of River Peche Maidstone, Part 9 12R579; Lakeshore, in the Town of Lakeshore, County of Essex, Province of Ontario. 487 Blanchard Drive, 150.00 frontage X 165.00 depth, Roll # 3751.210.000.08400.0000. Minimum Tender Amount: $ 6,348.42. Description of Land: 4. Part of Lot 30, Concession 8 Rochester as in R495196; Lakeshore, in the Town of Lakeshore, County of Essex, Province of Ontario. 3073 Rochester Townline, 100.00 frontage X 150.00 depth, Roll # 3751.450.000.03000.0000. Minimum Tender Amount: $ 13,487.29. Tenders must be submitted in the prescribed form and must be accompanied by a deposit in the form of a money order or bank draft or cheque certified by a bank or trust corporation payable to the municipality and representing at least 20 per cent of the tender amount. The municipality makes no representation regarding the title to or any other matters relating to the land to be sold. Responsibility for ascertaining these matters rests with the potential purchasers. This sale is governed by the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Tax Sales Rules made under that Act. The successful purchaser will be required to pay the amount tendered plus additional accumulated taxes and penalties and the relevant land transfer tax. The municipality has no obligation to provide vacant possession to the successful purchaser. For further information regarding this sale and a copy of the prescribed form of tender, contact: Sylvia Rammelaere Director of Finance and Performance Services or Patti Atkinson Manager of Accounting Services Town of Lakeshore 419 Notre Dame, Belle River, ON, N0R 1A0 519-728-2700 f we were to look for the perfect collective gift to pass on to our children for the Holiday Season this year, what would it be? John Lennon once offered up "world peace" as that gift, predicting a bright and promising future for our children as he called upon us to "Give Peace a Chance" and have a "Happy Christmas (War is Over)". On-going conflicts in hot spots around the globe today would indicate that peace and goodwill towards others is a concept seemingly still beyond our universal grasp. It seems to me that it's doubtful we are ever going to become tolerant of the points of view of others if we can't see beyond our own narrow self-interests. Maybe what's needed is a new generation of children who are respectful of the opinions of others, responsible for their own actions and willing to give this "peace" thing a try. This year let's give our kids a gift that requires no wrapping ­ and won't be any less expensive on Boxing Day ­ the gift of accountability. Experts have no shortage of terms to describe children who once might have been dismissed as harmlessly "spoiled". They are often referred to now as "enabled", "overindulged" or (my personal favourite) . . . "self-involved." We know these children well. They are the ones who, when faced with some potentially unpleasant consequence for their actions, are bailed out by their well-meaning but overly-protective parents. Did Melissa get cut from the hockey team? No problem. Mom will have a word with the coach. Did Justin stay up too late playing video games to get his homework done? That's all right. Dad will call the school and take care of it. Did your baseball shatter the neighbour's picture window? Just deny that you had anything to do with it. If you didn't get caught in the act, how can that be your problem? You're entitled to do whatever pleases you without feeling the least bit of guilt or remorse. After all, it really is all about "you", isn't it? Most overindulging adults are merely trying to do what they think best for their child. Rather than insisting that young people be held responsible for their actions, many seem afraid of causing irreparable damage to their children's selfesteem, believing that imposing anything on them that causes even the mildest duress is tantamount to abuse. Just the opposite may, in fact, be true. When we do too much for our children and ask so little in return, they are likely to grow into adults who are immature, know nothing about limits and have a precariously low sense of self-worth. If this trend continues, our children are going to be occupying a world full of narcissistic, self-centred, attention-seeking egomaniacs. (Add "talentless" to that list and I think we've just described Paris Hilton.) We don't have to look far to find other i've got issues randy chedour famous, or infamous, examples of adults who exhibit the same kinds of "me first" behaviours. Professional athletes, once considered appropriate role models for our children, may be the worst offenders. The advice to "deny, deny, deny" has become the mantra for athletes accused of using performance-enhancing drugs. How refreshing it would be to have at least one of them step forward and say, "Yeah, it was a stupid thing for me to do and I'm guilty. I was just trying to get an edge on my competitors." But that would mean accepting responsibility and would run contrary to the "deny everything" strategy employed by an endless list of athletes from a wide variety of sports. Perhaps, in spite of overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary, they are all innocent and honest citizens. The public perception, however, is that they are getting away with something because of their money and fame and that only fools would actually admit to such indiscretions. The lesson our children learn? Cheating is OK. There's no need to be accountable for your actions. Do what you want, when you want and as often as you want. Rules are for losers. Call it the "O.J. Syndrome." Extreme examples of overindulgence abound ­ from the tantrum-throwing bratchild we've all seen in the aisles of the grocery store to the cheerleader wannabe whose Mom conspired to "take care" of one of her competitors. However, the poster child for self-involvement would have to be the New Jersey high school senior who, with the backing and encouragement of her litigious parents, sued her local school district for $2.7 million in 2003 as a result of the "pain and suffering" she had to endure when forced to share valedictorian status with another student. She ended up settling for a mere $60,000, enrolled at Harvard and was soon thereafter "de-admitted" for plagiarism. Justice prevails in mysterious ways sometimes. That so many children turn out to be honest, respectful, responsible and accountable young people is a profound tribute to the skills of their primary caregivers (Mom and/or Dad, grandparents, foster parents, etc.). They are the beneficiaries of caregivers who set limits, expect that standards be met and, in turn, grant increasing authority and control over their own lives to their children. Let's not give up on John Lennon's dream. If we can't look forward with some degree of optimism about our children's future, what else is there? It just seems to me that this world would be a far better place if all of us could make an attempt to ensure that our children are responsible, respectful of the opinions of others and accountable for their own actions. Will world peace ensue overnight? Not likely-- but hey, it's a start.