Editorial

Listen : I'm not going to tell you this again. As if. We always think that what we have to say is important enough to repeat. If not once, then twice.
This past week, I had a complaint and took it to someone I trust. He passed it on to the person who could address my complaint; this person called me and asked if I had anything more to add. Being listened to by both of these busy people meant a lot to me, I realized. And even though I want something done, being listened to by them at least makes me feel that they took what I said to heart.

Our country cheered loudly on Sunday. As the minutes ticked down during the Canada vs. U.S. hockey game, you could say that everyone was on the same team.
In these busy times, getting everyone's attention long enough to get everyone on the same team is a challenge. Fractured views, tough economic times, no time to give to one's family, one's community, or the cause of the moment is common.
But we all know that if times got really tough, we'd hang together. Take the ice storm of  '98. Take threats to our community, our families, our schools, our country.

The province with the highest crime rate is Saskatchewan. Ontario and Quebec have the lowest crime rates. In Canada, Quebec City is the safest city in which to live; Regina has the highest crime rate.
Chasing down crime news is not our favourite job and although city media is criticized for using crime stories to sell papers, small town community newspapers have to look elsewhere for hot stories.

During the  past few weeks, I've been talking to many of the business owners in our town, encouraging them to attend a February 24 meeting where elections and a mini-workshop will take place - both of which relate to our town's future:  a scary and monolithic prospect, if ever there was one.
Dealing with each other as business owners is a bit of a test at the best of times. As each other's customers, we all want to please. But as independent thinkers, we need to express ourselves and not get too personal.

This week's story about the updated plans for the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital expansion contains surprising news. The $21-million expansion announced a few years ago has become a $93-million redevelopment project, set to overhaul the existing facility, which is now 25 years old.
The hospital, originally built to see around 15,000 patients per year, is now attempting to serve more than 32,000 patients per year. The updated plans would see the hospital double in size, if the project is approved by the provincial ministry of health and long-term care.

If you live in Hawkesbury, East Hawkesbury or Champlain, the cost of recycling is more than three times higher than some neighbouring municipalities.

You don't have to wonder why. It's simple. In these three municipalities, there is not enough recyclable material collected to enable effectiveness and efficiency of the recycling program. Consistent annual increases of about 7.8 per cent between 2002 and 2007, followed by a 12.9 per cent increase in 2008 are expected to lead to a three per cent decrease in recyclables collected in 2009.

As the future of the Vankleek Hill Business and Merchant Association seems bleak, imminent closure seems to fly in the face of so many past successes. Yet this business association, viewed by many on the outside as a going concern, has had its internal challenges, like so many of the merchant groups, or chambers of commerce, across the region.

As you read this, it is hoped that the ice storm retro look has melted away.  As the freezing rain descended on our region on December 26, it is certain that our collective thoughts went back 10 years to the ice storm of 1998, especially when the lights flickered and went out.

Most Canadians live paycheque-to-paycheque and nearly 60 per cent of Canadians would have trouble paying the bills if their paychque were delayed by one week, a nation-wide survey suggests.
The survey revealed that 59 per cent of respondents were living paycheque-to-paycheque and were unable to set aside money for their retirement.