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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 02 2012 THE NEW TANNER 11 Concern for All Rockwood Students Dear Editor, I am very upset over the current decision made by the Upper Grand District School board over the boundary review for French Immersion students from Rockwood now being shipped off to Brisbane. Our families' decision to move to Rockwood two years ago was based on our daughter attending school in Guelph for the FI program. We NEVER would have moved here if we had known that she would be send to Brisbane and eventually Erin schools. The distance is far too great for a 4 year old to travel on the bus 2 hours a day, every day. I know that they say it will only be a 25 minute bus ride but they have not indicated or accounted for extra pickups along the route, which I am assuming there will be. Never mind the fact that the kids will be forced to attend grade 7-8 at Erin and high school as well, which is an even greater distance. She will not get home until well after 4 pm and then is expected to have down time and to do homework as well. Currently the children that go to Edward Johnson arrive in Rockwood at approximately 3:40pm. As a parent to two children under 4, 20 minutes is a world of difference. I also own a small business in Rockwood. If I choose to drive my daughter (even though my tax dollars go to her bussing) I would have to close my store every day for 1.5 hours to get her. We live in a small town and most people would understand but that is no way for anyone to run a business. As it has been said before by many parents, Rockwood is tied to the community of Guelph, not Erin. We have no issues with the community of Erin and the schools in their area. But we are strongly tied to Guelph. It is a matter of distance; a matter of after school activities; it is a matter of the environment (increased emissions based on extra driving to her school and then to Guelph for everything else). As a parent I have to look to her future education. How is she to get a part time job when she won't get home until after 4 on the bus and then I will have to drive her to a job she will have in Guelph. I see no job growth in Erin in 10-15 years. In being realistic she will have to get a job in Guelph. We moved here to further our daughters' education but I cannot rationalize forcing her to be on a bus for so long and travel so far to school. To say I am disappointed to not enrol her in the FI program is a gross understatement. I am disappointed that other options were not truly investigated. I am disappointed that this decision was rushed through in two months over the holiday season. I am disappointed that Erin's lack of student enrolment is affecting Rockwood's children. I do not believe that they will stop at the FI kids and eventually all children from Rockwood Centennial will be sent to Erin as well, so this is not just a "FI issue". It is an issue for all parents of Rockwood. Lisa Clarke Head Gardener at The Pumpkin Patch Rockwood, ON Sweepstakes swindle Everyone loves to be a winner and many people continue to enter contests or sweepstakes in the hopes of hitting the big jackpot. Most of these contests are run by reputable marketers and non-profit organizations to promote their products and services. A few lucky winners even received millions of dollars or valuable prizes. Capitalizing on the popularity of these offers, some con artists disguise their schemes to look legitimate. Sometimes these con artists can convince people to take the bait. Recently a lady from Wellington North Township received a phone call stating that she had struck it rich ­ to the tune of $12-million. All that stood between her and the giant windfall was a small processing fee. The caller, with all the fog horns and bells and whistles in the background, wanted her to wire $900 over Western Union to an address to pay this fee. The smart Wellington County resident didn't fall for the scam. She called police. Wellington OPP would like to remind people to be cautious of this type of scam. If you win something legitimately in Canada, you don't have to pay a fee. You don't have to purchase anything to win a prize. If it sounds too good to be true ­ it likely is. Editor's not: This letter to an Upper Grand School Board Trustee was submitted to The Rockwood Miller Dear Trustee Borden, I am a parent of a 3-year-old Rockwood boy. In a few weeks, I will have to register him for Junior Kindergarten. I have always intended on sending my son to Guelph for French Immersion (FI), however, in light of the recent decisions made by the Upper Grand District School Board, my son will now be reassigned to Brisbane. This decision has given me no choice but to abandon my hopes for French Immersion; Brisbane is just too far. Although my son has now lost the opportunity to attend an accessible FI programme, I am happy for my fellow community members. The Board has granted Out-of-Area accommodation for current French Immersion students from Rockwood, Everton and Eden Mills. These students will be granted two years at King George Public School in Guelph. Young siblings of these students will also be granted Out-of-Area until 2014. My son, unfortunately, does not qualify because he does not have an older sibling in the French Immersion track. I can't help but wonder how many other families in Rockwood, Everton or Eden Mills share my situation. The Rockwood, Everton and Eden Mills parents are working hard to collaborate with the Board to determine the potential for a dual-track school in Rockwood. At the earliest, it would open in 2014. I wish them all the best, yet I am saddened that my son will have "missed the boat". If all new JK enrolments were permitted to be held together at King George until 2014, I would then be able to consider French Immersion as a real option for my son. I am asking you, Sir, to please keep our community of young children together so that we all have the option of enrolling them in French Immersion. Olivia Morreale Check out our upcoming FREE workshops: Pre-Diabetes: Your Chance to Change the Future Erin: Rockwood: Erin: Rockwood Thursday January 26, 2012- 6:30 to 8:00 pm Thursday Feb 23, 2012 ­ 6:30 to 8:00 Thursday Feb 2nd 9 to 11: 15 am Thursday March 1st 6:30 to 8:00 pm Tuesday Feb 7th 6:30 to 8 pm Wednesday March 7th 6:30 to 8 pm Living Well with Diabetes Carbohydrates and You Rockwood: Erin: Preventing Repetitive Strain at Computer Tasks Erin: Rockwood: Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012, 7:00-9:00pm Wednesday, February 15th, 2012, 7:00-9:00pm Welcome Tims to Rockwood To the Editor, I just read the article in The New Tanner; Luke Warm Reception for Tim Hortons coming to Rockwood. I have lived here for 25 years. When we first came to this village there were many beautiful stores that we could shop in. It has turned into a ghost town and does not look very attractive at all. I am tired of hearing the negative responses to putting a Tims in Rockwood. I have talked with many friends, neighbours and shop owners and have not heard one negative thing about a Tims. It is the few people that make the most noise, but if you did a thorough survey, I bet the majority would welcome a Tims. It would bring jobs to retirees, teens and mothers. It is nearly impossible to find a job for your teen in Rockwood unless you have a connection. Many of us drive our teens to Acton or Guelph to work at Tims or McDonalds. Tims also sponsors teams which maybe would help with uniforms, equipment. Highway 7 will not become more congested. Traffic will not re-route to drive to a Tims in Rockwood and maybe if they did, it would bring tourism back to this dying town. I really don't think that Council can stop Tims going in as the land is privately owned and zoned commercial. The owner is willing to make changes with the MTO. I just hope that counsel and petitions do not make this difficult for something that might help Rockwood. The people that go to their local donut shops will continue to do so and the many of us that have never stepped foot in them will go to Tims. We drive to Acton or Guelph now anyways, as most places are not open after 3 p.m. Yes, it would be nice to preserve a small town, but when there is not much left, maybe we have to open our eyes to changes and prosperity. Thank You Karen Durski Rockwood, ON Healthy You- 6 week series - A group weight management approach that focuses on Lifestyle Changes- a non- diet approach to achieve a healthier weight. Session one is an orientation session to help you better understand what the Healthy You Program is and decide if it's the right time for you to take a look at what's affecting your health and start to use the strategies presented. Erin: 1. starts Thursday, February 23rd, 2012, 9:30-11:30am 2. starts Thursday, May 3rd, 2012, 3:00-5:00pm Rockwood: 1. starts Tuesday, February 21st, 2012, 3:00-5:00pm 2. starts Tuesday, May 1st, 2012, 9:30-11:30am Heart Health Nutrition Erin: Rockwood: Thursday, February 9th, 2012, 9:30-11:30am Thursday, April 12th, 2012, 9:30-11:30am Tuesday, February 7th, 2012, 3:00-5:00pm Tuesday, April 10th, 2012, 3:00-5:00pm Thursday, February 16th, 2012, 9:30-11:30am Tuesday, February 14th, 2012, 3:00-5:00pm Nutrition and High Blood Pressure- prevention and management Erin: Rockwood: You must pre-register by either calling 519-833-7576 ext. 341 or by going to www.ewfht.ca and clicking on "Workshops" All Erin sessions are held at the Erin Wellness Centre, 6 Thompson Cres. All Rockwood sessions are held at 175 Alma Street