‘Togetherness’ also deadly
Dear Editor:
RE: Loneliness is deadly, Dec. 10.
Loneliness may be deadly, but so is togetherness these days.
I am in my 70s and a grandfather. Do I miss my grandsons? Of course I do. I would like nothing better than to give them a huge hug and tell them I love them. I will settle for telling them from a distance.
I understand that those that live in homes for the elderly can suffer from the distancing from loved ones, but so can the older folks who live in their own homes. However, this is not a time to promote togetherness, or as the writer says, “a disease we can cure by simply letting them join their family and friends. Please consider their emotional wellbeing.”
This is a foolish premise if you consider that promoting their well being would also possibly promote their death. As we age, our defense systems and immunities from disease weaken. Is it worth promoting the older generation joining their family when the consequences could be fatal? Don’t think so.
Not only would you put the elderly at risk, what about the other residents of the homes they will return to? You don’t make your own rules to suit your family. COVID-19 doesn’t care. Science is not an opinion, it’s a fact.
There are alternatives to close personal contact that allow face-to-face, real-time communication. My daughter and my grandsons have not been in our house for months, since May or June, nor us in theirs. But we talk and see each other electronically every day. I don’t want them here in the present situation.
Do I like it? No, no, no. But I also would rather be safe than dead. I would rather they don’t come and we have many more Christmases, than have them come and this be the last Christmas for someone.
Loneliness is certainly not pleasant, but survival is far more desirable.
Terry Filce,
Belwood
‘We deserved it’
Dear Editor:
RE: Old Order Mennonites feel ‘persecuted’ by orders that closed schools, churches, Dec. 3.
We need to hang our heads in shame and honestly confess our wilful disobedience to COVID-19 regulations. We have family in the north Wellington community, so I am aware of the circumstances.
That Mennonite churches followed the 30% capacity and social distancing rules is mostly true, but some didn’t. As soon as members were outside, distancing was cast to the wind and masks, if worn, came off. Visiting other church districts and homes, contrary to the “social bubble” rules, was common practice.
As one man commented, “When did the Old Orders stop believing in practicing the golden rule?”
If that wedding that proved a flashpoint for starting the spread of the virus “did not break the rules in place at the time,” why did the spread occur? Because wearing masks and distancing was not practiced.
The advisory boards for parochial schools decided to continue having classes as usual in wilful disobedience. The number of students is irrelevant. One infected child is all it takes to increase the spread in a non-compliant community.
Is it more problematic to drive with horse and buggy to a testing centre than it is to do shopping or business?
Today many people believe they have the virus but refuse to get tested and many don’t isolate for 14 days. The reason is simple. To submit the possible contacts in the last 14 days would expose their failure to restrict contacts to a social bubble.
We do pay for our own school system and our hospital bills. But what does that have to do with the health unit’s concern of COVID-19 cases contributing to overloading the hospitals?
Nor is the fact many of us are farmers a valid reason for not testing. When our forefathers were quarantined because of smallpox, typhoid fever, etc. the neighbours helped with chores and field work needing to be done – and they avoided any contact with those in quarantine.
We do not have electronic communications technology, but we do have telephones that are regularly used to disseminate important news.
To suggest we are being “persecuted” is an insult to the memory of our Anabaptist forefathers.
We know health care workers in north Wellington were aware of the disobedience of the Mennonite community, and lamented the lack of cooperation, already in mid-summer. Also, the Waterloo Region Police twice complained about non-compliance to our leaders.
There were continually full-page ads in all local newspapers urging the following of regulations. We all knew this.
We did not follow the commandment (Peter 2:13-14) … we failed to be true to what we affirmed we believe about the office of civil government before we were baptized.
The two health units were fully justified in invoking Section 22. We deserved it. We have sown in disobedience and we shall reap the consequences.
There are many of us who have sought to obey the regulations for the protection of us and our fellow man. We are as dismayed at what has taken place as the authorities. If only all of us would have sought to live up to our professed faith, in obedience!
Aden Horst,
Elmira
Poppy proceeds
Dear Editor:
Thank you to the citizens of Erin, the churches, the retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, service clubs, fire department, OPP, the school children and teachers, elementary and secondary, the veterans, MP, MPP, mayor and town council, cadets, girl guides, scouts.
With the current COVID-19 restrictions, a much smaller gathering was in attendance at the cenotaph service, to pay homage to the fallen for the supreme sacrifice on the sea, in the air and on land for our freedom.
Also, your generosity in our poppy campaign helped make it a great success. All donations, including We Will Remember Them books, for 2020 is $13,245 and still climbing.
We, members of Erin Branch 442 sincerely thank you.
Your poppy donations are placed in trust to be used for:
– providing assistance to needy veterans (including serving CF members) and their dependants;
– supporting medical training and research, and the provision of community medical appliances to assist in the care of veterans;
– Canadian Military Family Resource Centres ;
– funding the purchase/construction/maintenance of housing and care facilities for elderly and disabled persons;
– providing bursaries to children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren of veterans;
– supporting drop-in centres for seniors and funding meals-on-wheels services; and
– sponsorship of cadet and youth programs.
Lest we forget.
Verna Bludd,
Poppy campaign chairperson, Erin Branch 442
Support campaign
Dear Editor:
I have had the tremendous privilege over the last two years to volunteer with United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin as the chair of the annual campaign. Occasionally, I am asked why this work is important to me.
As a member and past chief of police with the Guelph Police Service, I was able to see first-hand both the significant needs in our community, and the regular occurrences of key partners coming together to find innovative solutions to community issues.
I witnessed how United Way, as our largest non-government funder of social services, was regularly at the table as we were implementing strategies. I saw their commitment to creating a strong, thriving community.
At United Way, we have identified impact areas which include providing adequate basic needs, promoting positive mental health, supporting seniors and youth, and creating a sense of belonging in our neighbourhoods. These impact areas help us prioritize our efforts and guide our funding decisions.
Before 2020, I knew the funds raised during our campaign assisted with the critical work which is carried out by some 50 local agencies and 70-plus programs. I could not have imagined how greatly the pandemic has amplified the significant issues within our communities and highlighted that those who are receiving support from United Way funded agencies need our assistance more than ever.
I continue to be motivated by the courageous stories I hear from those who are struggling and are shown kindness at a critical time in their lives. I am also touched by the shared stories of the many frontline staff and volunteers, who on a daily basis show compassion as they walk alongside those who need a helping hand.
I am proud to continue to live in a community where we help our neighbours and where we can still be motivated to respond to the needs of those around us. It is a privilege to volunteer my time, and also financially support the United Way.
I am grateful for the opportunity to work with many people across Guelph, Wellington and Dufferin who raise funds each year during the campaign. Our communities have faithfully supported the United Way for 80 years. Thank you for your generosity.
This year, more than ever, local agencies in our communities need our support. If you can, please consider making a donation to this year’s United Way campaign.
Jeff DeRuyter,
2020 United Way Campaign Chair,
Retired chief, Guelph Police
‘Pro-development council’
Dear Editor:
RE: Erin’s proposed sewage plant.
I hope more readers are making themselves aware of the potential costs to each home by doing a comparison with the disaster in Nobleton, which has a very similar population. Just Google Concerned Citizens Erin. Cost overruns are tremendous.
Erin’s costs (in my opinion) will be much higher, as I personally do not see any grant monies coming from a deficit-laden provincial and federal government. I feel that forcing residents with this proposal is basically subsidizing the financial wants and needs of developers who will pave the town over.
These developers should incorporate their waste systems into their own projects. A good example is Stanley Park and Centre 2000 that have their own systems. Heaven forbid, that might mean these developers will have to allocate some land for their own wastewater system and they miss out on building some of their cookie cutter homes!
Now, the lunacy of putting the effluent pipe on the west side of the Winston Churchill culvert which is Wellington County and releasing a possible 7.2 million litres daily across the border to Peel Region on the east side. This is into the pristine water that has a healthy brook trout population.
My concerns are also for the residents and people of Belfountain and south, who might have the river as their water source. I would like to know if this has the potential to contaminate wells and the local quality of the aquifer.
I cannot understand Peel Region officials allowing such a travesty. Also, I feel outflow readings are not accurate as a family of beavers could drastically change this flow in a couple of days. And they have done just that west of the 10th line bridge north of Bush St. This dam is just 30 meters upstream of the flow monitor station and now the dam has been breached which obviously has picked up in flow.
I have made contact with the Town of Erin, CVC and also MNRF was contacted and nobody knows who opened up the dam.
I sure hope opposition mounts against this pro-development council. Maybe, if we get lucky we will get our own Walmart and Home Depot! Not the legacy I want to leave for future generations.
Ken Cowling,
Erin
Farmers lit it up
Dear Editor:
Wow. The Rockwood Farmers’ Parade of Lights drive-by light show was a hit! Almost 2,700 cars passed by the 26 pieces of beautifully decorated farm machinery.
A lot of work goes into making sure the parade is successful and safe. The organizing committee would like to thank:
– Guelph-Eramosa public works and roads department;
– Wellington County OPP;
– Guelph-Eramosa fire department;
– Rockwood and District Lions;
– 4th Line farmers for parade parking; and
– Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Finally, a huge thanks to all the farmers and farm businesses who put in countless hours to turn their machinery into amazing Christmas floats.
Glenn Storey,
Rockwood Farmers’ Parade of Lights Committee
Use brain to avoid ‘fog’
Dear Editor:
Thank you for your strongly worded editorial last week.
More strong words should be added. In case anyone is thinking of defying the public health protocols set for the red zone we are in, here are some things to think about. If you are a Christian, celebrating Christmas is actually not mentioned in the Bible but obedience to governing authorities who are asking you to do good is required (Romans 13), so no visiting other homes unless you live alone.
Christians can worship God anywhere, any day and in group sizes of two or three so no gatherings in church buildings are needed for Christmas. Non-Christians should stop their religious appropriation this year and/or limit gatherings to their own household. No visiting!
Some may not like how the authorities have handled the pandemic – delayed treatment of medical conditions not COVID-19 in nature and government financial aid that is unequally and inadequately distributed causing great distress come to mind. These you can contact the government about to protest, but we still have to obey the protocols.
If none of the above moves you, think about this possible side effect of COVID-19 while you can: brain fog. Studies show the virus can enter the brain of any age person. It can cause the long-term effect of early onset dementia-like symptoms with memory loss.
Even cases where other COVID-19 symptoms are mild can suffer this effect. Data from the U.S., where the virus is totally out of control, indicates 10 to 35% of people getting COVID-19 are getting brain fog. Scary stuff. Obey the health protocols!
Jane Vandervliet,
Erin