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< 16 THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2003 Rockwood Parade of Lights delights thousands An estimated 10,000 people from all over Ontario were in Rock: more spectacular each December. Local farmers conver as wide as 20 feet, have 20 to 40 strings of lights on them. Murray Swanson, one of the original organizers. visual confections on wheels they also have the o tail end of the parade on a massive combine. Th no set route or legal considerations. Now an organizing committee ens permit. - Photos by Ted and Angela Tyler. Community on back burner as coffee sho To the Editor; Id like to give "kudos" to M. Tutzi for her intui- tive comments in her letter to the etlitor, "Meeting Stacked in Tim Hortons Favour" in the Acton Tan- ner and ~ Wellington Advertiser regarding the "open house" that took place December 8 at the Rockmosa Centre. She asks a question on many people's minds, "Why was the already for- "nally communicated (i.e. « Mits). Wellington Advertiser) "public meeting" changed?" Answer: At the request of Tim Hortons (one elected official ad- Interesting development wouldn't you say considering many political platforms were not in favour of the coffee shop at all. M Tutzi_ fur- ther asks, "And why did Tim Hortons want the venue changed?" Answer: Well it wasn't because Maurice Luchnich, the Tim Hortons representa- tive need worry about the "wrath" of the community turnout as there was more than a 2:1 ratio of present and past elected officials and Guelph Eramosa staff to community members. I counted more than 10 elected officials and staff. You do the math on how many community mem- bers were there. It all adds up to a very empty hall except for what appeared to be Tim Hortons selling their po- sition to council rather than the public...did I just quote M. Iutzi again? For those that didn't see or understand the minus- cule column in the local paper announcing the change and didn't attend.. I did, and I would like to share with you some rather disturbing informa- tion that could have a very real negative impact on our entire community. The proposed 24/7 drive-thru has the drive- thru lane bordering a seniors' apartment build- wood on Thursday, Dec. 11 for the 11% ge on the village with festively lit farm equipme . Farmers start to decorate their machinery as There's no advertising, fundraising or fees associated with the Parade of pportunity to see some of big and antique farming equipment with Santa e parade started out 11 ing. Asking Maurice Luchnich how his com- pany could support potentially disturbing eld- erly peoples' sleep and maybe their health, he in- formed me that a line of cedars on that side would hide the site and "You wouldn't know we are there." How will trees mask exhaust fume odors and dampen the con- stantly idling engines? The proposal calls for an exit/entrance onto Inkerman Street -- an al- ready busy road with Knechtels and the school annual Farmers' Pai much as a month ah buses coming to and from the school on Guelph Street. Now adda 24/7 coffee shop with exiting cars using Guelph/Fall Street as an alternate exit and you have several po- tential accidents -- a disturbing fact that in- volves the safety of our children. Further, the proposal calls for using parking space behind the coffee shop that is currently used as extra parking for the medical center for coffee shop overflow business. Has the coffee "hit" be- come a matter of life or death? Would seem so to some. So between the health and safety of our elders, PARR ee rade of lights. The event seems to get nt ablaze with tens of thousands of lights. The floats, some ead. The parade is strictly for fun, says Lights.Not only can spectators see some Claus and the Mrs. riding in style at the years ago when a number of farmers just got together and drove through Rockwood with ures the parade is conducted in a safe and organized fashion with police escorts -- and a p issue heats up children, infirm and ill community members, I am not sure that another (what is it 7,8, or 9") cof- fee shop is the best idea for Rockwood. I echo M lutzi, "The community came together the last time over this is- sue and public opinion prevailed. We need an op- portunity to meet with our new Mayor and Council and discuss this as acom- - munity". We were allowed to do this the last-time. Call, e- mail, fax or talk to our Mayor and/or councillor and let's make sure that the "right" thing is done again. Ann Habart Rockwood