cktimes.ca Archives for Notes from a Garage


Notes from a Garage

With John Gardiner

A very busy and exciting time

Tuesday, September 17, 2002

Well, Chatham-Kentites, it's been a very busy and exciting time for this writer over the last couple of months. I've been busy criss-crossing our huge municipality, which I'm told is about the same size as Prince Edward Island. Actually, I received this information from new Director of Economic Development, Greg Borduas, while making the rounds and introducing cktimes.ca to some of the people who make this community tick. I've met a large number of movers and shakers in Chatham-Kent, but still have a long way to go. In an effort to try to make this a true "community" newspaper (although my wife thinks it's really a magazine), I'm trying to get as many groups and organizations as possible to participate. What I've discovered in my travels is that many of you are fairy suspicious of the media and aren't really sure what to do when it comes calling. Let me just tell you that I'll always do my best to deal with each and every one of you in a fair and reasonable manner. I don't consider myself a "journalist" – I'll leave that tag for those who want it – I'm just a community newspaper editor and that means I'm here to try to boost and support our community and help to make good things happen. I need your help to do that, so feel free to get in touch with me at any time. In the meantime, thanks to everyone who visits the site – I hope you enjoy it and that I've made it a good read. Most newspapers just don't do it for me anymore and I'm hoping to make this one different. For one thing, I'll try to stay as positive and upbeat as possible in the weeks and months ahead. So, kick off your shoes, get comfortable and enjoy the Times.

You'll find this issue of cktimes.ca a mixture of the old and the new. That's because I've decided to keep some of the material from the sample site in the current issue for another week because I'm anticipating that lots of new people will be visiting the site and I'd like them to have a chance to see the slightly dated (but still excellent) stuff as well. Response to cktimes.ca has been overwhelming to say the least. Everyone who has checked out the site has been suitably impressed and that is a huge credit to Internet Kent and particularly web design guy Mike Perry, who, I think, has created the most reader friendly news product I've seen on the net. Way to go, Mike! Huge thanks are due to my excellent columnists who have joined the cause in an effort to keep you better informed and entertained in the time ahead. As mentioned earlier, it is my hope that this will be truly a community effort and people like Jim and Lisa Gilbert, Hank Bos, Mary Ann Holland, Kris Lee, Blake Mann, Glen Turner and Philip Shaw are making it just that. Special welcome to Chris Ford and the Arts Enhancement Association folks from down Ridgetown way. With writers from Morpeth, Ridgetown, Dresden, Chatham and Wallaceburg, we're on our way toward building a product that will truly represent our community. But don't forget that there's a long way to go yet.

Want to congratulate all who've been involved in the formation of the Mayor's Youth Council. I think this group of fine, young people will really work hard to try to make a difference in Chatham-Kent - and we need our young people working for us if we're going to amount to anything in the overall scheme of things. I liked what I saw when I met Ben Labadie, Pat McLarty, Candice Trepanier and Sarah Wathy - these are young people who want to make a difference – and they only represent part of the MYC. Watch for the Youth Council to become a contributing part of cktimes.ca in the near future. I've approached the group and offered to give them space in the paper to try to promote themselves and to network with other youth in the community and they've accepted my offer. More to follow and a pat on the back to Mayor Diane Gagner for helping make it happen.

I was hoping to get to the smoking issue in this edition of the paper, but haven't quite made it. I'll shoot for next week. Let me say this. While I appreciate the Health Unit's efforts to try to make this a better, more environmentally friendly and healthier place to live, don't lose sight of the forest for the trees. For better or worse, smokers are part of the population of Chatham-Kent and they deserve some consideration and respect – and rights. Forcing an all-inclusive no smoking bylaw down people's throats is draconian and divisive - and we don't need that. Think about allowing exemptions for places like bingo halls, bars, Legions and other private clubs and coffee shops. If a business owner wants to allow smoking in his or her place of business, they should be allowed to. It's a free country - or it's supposed to be. Yes, I'm a smoker, but starting smoking is a huge regret for me and I'll be trying to quit until the day I die – probably prematurely from my bad habit. But I'm basically a nice guy and I just think we should all try to get along. Forcing through legislation that 25-30% of the population doesn't support is wrong-headed and smacks of bullying and power tripping.

I'm looking for writers from throughout Chatham-Kent. I can't afford to pay you right off the bat, but that may come as I can establish a budget for freelancers - if we can pick up some business sponsorship for cktimes. If the business community doesn't support us, the effort will soon collapse, so we need your help - talk us up to your friends and neighbours – tell them you read it in the Times.

Welcome aboard Judith Bellamy who has joined the staff of cktimes.ca as a Sales Associate. She's the one who'll be out there pounding the pavement trying to line up those sponsors. Good luck to Judith – hope things go well. Reach her at: advertising@cktimes.ca.

You know, you never run out of space in cyberspace and that's scary for a newspaper guy. Get out and support United Way's fall campaign. If Greg and Michelle Hetherington aren't simply the most positive and upbeat couple I've met, I don't know who is. What a great couple to be spearheading our United Way fundraiser! Give them your support.

Take care 'til next time, and remember..."Hew to the line; let the chips fall where they may."



John Gardiner is a 25-year-veteran of the community newspaper business, but he is also a prolific writer of moralistic short fiction he refers to as "emotional thoughtscapes" or "adult fables". Samples of his fiction can be found at:

He has also produced a noteworthy piece of humanist philosophy which can be found at: http://www.xs4all.nl/~aboiten/ad502.htm He welcomes comments on his work.