Wednesday, January 3, 2007 · Page 9 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Woodslee subdivision Time to give it up Talk of this subdivision in Woodslee _ the whole idea is absurd. We are told that it has been ongoing for eight years. This certainly tells me something. There are obviously big-time problems. Sounds like some intelligence and common sense has finally come to rule at the council table. This is not the place for a subdivision. It's time for the developer to let it go. I am sure he can find property elsewhere in the serviced area that won't compromise our environment. Life is too short. Mr. Mullins should be enjoying it rather than fighting and threatening city hall. Council should stick to its guns and not give in to this costly white elephant. Robert M. Rocheleau Tecumseh Support for Essex name change I read in the local newspaper that council is looking into a name change for Essex. I, for one, support a name change. Before amalgamation, I spoke to then-mayor Vic McMurren and encouraged him to suggest the name of Colchester for the new municipality. Originally that was the name of this municipality and then it was divided into Colchester North and South and after that came Essex and Harrow. The way it is now is deceiving. For example, when one drives into the town of Essex, there is a sign that reads "Town of Essex, Population 19,100". One would expect to find services that go with a town of that size, but that is not so. A better way would be: "Town of Essex, Population 7,500, Municipality of Colchester". I suggest a name change. Not necessarily Colchester, although I favour it because it reflects the English history in the settlement of our area. You will also find it in our streets names Victoria, Irwin, Laird, Talbot, Wellington, etc. Is a name change going to fix the problem of division and bickering within the municipality? I don't think so. The problem of bickering lies mostly with the councillors. They forget that they are elected for the whole of the municipality and not just their ward. I believe that the ward system is good. The person elected from a ward can best bring the needs of that ward to council. If they are only interested in what is good for their ward, then there is something wrong and that will bring bickering and division. For example, if a local business supports the Chamber of Commerce or the Business Improvement Area only when it is good for his own business, what good would that be? The Chamber of Commerce motto is "What is good for the town is good for business." So also, what is good for this municipality is good for Harrow, McGregor, Gesto, Colchester South and Colchester North. If a name change is not going to make any difference then why do I still support it, especially coming from someone who hates wasting taxpayers' dollars? A name change for the whole of the municipality and the name of Colchester would satisfy everyone and the cost is minuscule compared to some other monies we have spent. Gerry Schinkel Essex Cheers to 2007! I am so proud to live in the Amherstburg, Windsor and Essex County region as the New Year of 2007 begins! What a fantastic place to live, learn, work and play. Wow! We are blessed, despite all the negative news that comes out of the mouths of a very limited few about the auto industry, with more scientific, technological, industrial, agricultural, medical, financial, social and political development than anywhere in the country. As an example of our scientific strength we need only look to GLIER, the Great Deal with more important issues, respondents say CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 He said he received some responses from people of his own ward in McGregor who said they've accepted the name of the Town is Essex and feel proud to be part of an amalgamated municipality. Whatever the outcome of the cost estimate, Ward 1 Councillor Randy Voakes said it is important that council receives more responses from people in the municipality. "If we can absorb the cost responsibly, then the direction is to find out where the people want to go," Voakes said. "It won't be done without the involvement of the people." In a vote held in 1998 on the name of the amalgamated municipality, 2,925 voters selected Essex, with Colchester placing second with 2,344 votes. The names that appeared on the ballot were selected from those submitted by members of the public and also included South Shore, Harrow and New Canaan. Over 7,000 people voted on the issue. Institute for Lakes Environmental Research located in Windsor, or GPCRC, the Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre located in Harrow. World-class scientists and researchers from various countries apply their work effort each day to the enhancement of the world's foodstuffs and to the advancement of environmental knowledge about our aquatic systems, including the Detroit River Systems. While old-style automotive manufacturing has been on the decline, numerous smaller, more adaptive technologies have grown in their stead right here with our ever more educated and motivated workforce in the region. Look at ARDC, the Automotive Research and Development Centre, where the facilities are owned and operated by the University of Windsor but the research is carried out in conjunction with and on behalf of Daimler Chrysler's Research and Development Centre. We should also note that recently, Ford Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation held talks, just as one is struggling and the other is poised to become the world's largest and most profitable automaker. Ironically it was Eiji Toyoda, the nephew of Sakichi Toyoda, who learned how to build automobiles from Henry Ford when Ford was the largest producer of automobiles in Japan, so it would seem the area will likely benefit again from renewed interest by Toyota's technological developments. We are quickly becoming the "Silicone Valley" of the North! Agriculturally, Essex County now houses the largest concentration of greenhouse vegetable growing in North America. In fact, Leamington's greenhouse vegetable industry is now larger than the entire corresponding American industry, making Essex County home to more greenhouse operations than the state of California! Once again, the use of new technology has allowed this growth to take place. Despite the claims often proffered about an inability to gain access to medical care in the region, I have only been here since June of 2005 and have been able to land two excellent practitioners, my optometrist and my medical doctor. The area benefits from a strong presence in medical technology in areas such as diagnostic imaging, cardiac care, stroke and neurosurgical work, the highest level of oncological care, and paediatric child life services through Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital and Windsor Regional Hospital. Socially we boast a cosmopolitan flair based upon our multi-cultural, multiracial, multi-ethnic, and multi-faith based traditions that are rooted here already or are new to the region. We have a tradition of rich harmonious community development with the fourth largest immigrant population in Canada. As well, Amherstburg is home to the North American Black Historical Museum, and Windsor itself is home to the Art Gallery of Windsor, which is currently housing an exhibition of "Orientalism and Ephemera". Better yet, despite all the nay-sayers, if you want to visit a "meeting place" that feels like one of the great train stations of modern history such as Grand Central Terminal in New York City or Union Station in Toronto, visit Casino Windsor's Rotunda which might as well be an Italian Piazza with Romanesque sculptures and a six-story domed ceiling! How much better could it get? Well, with all of our integral social, medical, agricultural, technological, and scientific components, we have an abundance of interest in our municipal, regional, provincial and federal affairs as witnessed by the immediate responses to our politicians' overtures during the recent municipal elections and when the local Conservative MP jumped on the "party bandwagon" after the Liberals elected their new leader. We were quick, as free speakers, to have our say in the local press and chastise the lack of innovative thinking by the current MP! Wow! What a place to live in 2007! Amherstburg, Windsor, Essex County! Cheers to a New Year! James D. Godfrey Amherstburg Correction In last week's issue of The Essex Free Press we reported that plans are underway for the construction of a McDonald's restaurant in Essex. The actual site is located adjacent to the new Tim Horton's store on the south side of Maidstone Avenue West approximately 250 metres east of Highway 3 in Essex. Happy New Year From The Essex BIA Thank you for your loyalty and all the best in 2007. May a bright and prosperous New Year bring happiness to you and yours! A very special thank you to the following that help make the Essex BIA Christmas events a success... Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it... Essex Retirees Choir Diana Dennis Essex United Church Roger Meloche Skilton Family Essex Community Living First Steps Daycare (The Town's black squirrel loved the frootloop ornaments!) Tim Horton's Maplewood School children Holy Name School children Window & Parade judges Home Furniture Essex Dave Hitchcock CHYR Radio Brandon Walker Lorna Baker Vice - Chair Louise Freitas Beryl Nazeil Quality Homes Renovations & Additions - ESSEX (519) 776-7200 Essex Rotary Club Reid Funeral Home Kennedy Funeral Home Bill Gay Essex Parks and Rec. Dept. Essex Public Works E.L.K. Energy Parade helpers Essex Baptist Church Harmony Plus "Guys Who Like to Sing" Essex Gospel Tabernacle choir & volunteers EDHS Jazz Band Tony de Ryk Tim Byrne Mel-o-Diva's Cheryl Skilton - Chair Jack Simpson Ib Fynbo Without you we could not have done it! Essex Free Press Bennigins Santa Claus & Mrs. Claus Ken Knapp Ford Essex Police Services Mayor Ron McDermott & Council Councillor Randy Voakes Countryside Dodge Essex Auto Sales Essex Foodland Zehrs Market A-Channel Jacobs Farm Equipment The Essex Voice CFTV-34 Matthew Hayes Winners of the Christmas gift draw are: 4 Hours of Beauty from Estheticare Jeannie Cainen Daily Grind Coffee basket Sharon Landgraff How Fitting Gift Certificate Brenda Andres Oldtimers Pro's vs. Police Hockey Tickets Bernadette Szejgut Tastie Treats Basket Brittany Beneteau WORKING TOGETHER FOR ESSEX ... BIA Board of Management 2006 Cheryl Nikita Councillor Peter Timmins Marlene Markham-Gay Manager If we missed anyone, we are truly sorry. Your participation was very much appreciated.