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VALLEY EAST TODAY 
ONLINE WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2006 ISSUE

    
Grade 12 Students From Bishop Alexander Carter Secondary School Enjoy Presentation During Fire Safety Prevention Week
It was a cold and rainy day, and perhaps the last thing any of the Grade 12 students from Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School were thinking about on October 11, 2006 was fire safety. 

However, by the time Public Safety Officer, Leo Frappier was finished, they all left the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre with much more respect for the devastating impact fire can have in residential and commercial settings.

The Fire Services section of the Greater Sudbury Emergency Services Department conducted many school and public demonstrations and displays during the week to try to bring a higher level of awareness among the public, and in particular the younger segment of the population, of the major issues with respect to fire safety.

"There are still some people who are unaware of our smoke detector policy which requires all residential establishments to have at least one smoke detector on each floor," explained Frappier. These public presentations give us an opportunity to drive home some of the responsibilities we all have to prevent fire from destroying our lives and the lives of others around us.

"Sparky", that lovable mascot that always draws the attention of the younger crowd, was on hand.

Besides the presentation to the students, representatives from the Fire Services Department were available all day long to talk to the general public and to hand out information brochures and children's colouring books.

Phoebe Rouse, shown in the photo on the left, is on a placement with the Fires Services Department during the first semester. She will remain on a full-time placement until the end of January when she will return to Confederation Secondary School to complete the rest of her Grade 12 credits. 

Despite the fact that Phoebe may have to return to school during the fall 2007 semester to take a few other credits before qualifying for a university program, she stated that she is very glad that she took part in the cooperative education option. The experience has done her a world of good and she has definitely learned a lot by working with the staff of the Fire Services Department.

The Community Shows Their Support For Monique Laderoute & Her Family On October 15 

A steady flow of traffic was the order of the day on Sunday, October 15, 2006 at the St. Jacques Parish Hall in Hanmer as hundreds of family, friends and acquaintances showed their love and support for Monique Laderoute and her sons. The Laderoutes are hoping to get themselves back on their feet and start life all over again now that they are back home in Canada. 

Joanne Kinney, on the far left, Jean Somers, sitting beside Joanne, and Sabrina Kinney, standing with the red top, spent most of the afternoon greeting guests at the entrance. Joanne and Sabrina are cousins, while "Aunt Jean" has been referred to as Monique's "lifeline" as she was attempting to escape from the ravages of war-torn Lebanon just a couple of months ago.

For more photos from the afternoon, and more of the story about how Monique ended up in this state, click here>>>>

Redwood Acres Public School FundRaising Committee Is Very Active In The Community
It is extremely difficult to introduce Mrs. Mary Picciottoli-Lyons. Here she is show with her two children, Erik Lyons (6) and Jessika Lyons (9). Erik is in Grade 1 and Jessika is in Grade 4 at Redwood Acres Public School of Hanmer. On this day Mary is introduced in her capacity as the Fund-Raising Coordinator for the Redwood Acres School Council. This particular project involves the selling of chocolate bars and chocolate-covered almonds to generate revenue for school field trips which will enhance the curriculum program at the school. Mary has a very ambitious plan for the year and will be setting up at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre several times during the year for Penny Table Sales and Gift Basket Raffles.

As Past Chair of the School Council Mary finds that it is important for schools to get out into the community. "I just love spending time letting the general public know what we are doing at the schools. I think it is important for everyone, not just the parents of children in the school, to be aware of what is going on with the activities at the school.

Besides her responsibilities at Redwood Acres, Mary is also a Full-time student in the Child & Youth Worker Program at Cambrian College and is currently on placement at Immaculate Conception School in Val Caron. She is also a Guide Leader with the 1st Valley Guides which meet at Immaculate Conception School every week. On top of that, Mary operates an "after-school" Day Care Program out of her home. When asked how she manages, Mary simply states, "Well you do what you have to do when you are a mother. I think it is important to be involved with my children and I just love helping out in any way I can." Mary also indicated that she still has a few hours open in case something else comes up.

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses Provide Information Display Every Month
The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses have scheduled one weekend every month when they will be at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre with an information display and free literature for anyone who is interested in finding out more about their organization. Above, Marie and Jennifer Dawson took the first shift on Saturday, October 14, 2006, while Cassandra Porter and Linda Vincent took the second shift.
The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, located on Hwy 69North just across from Carol Richard Park in Val Caron,  includes approximately 150 "members" or "publishers". Recent renovations to the structure which was built in 1990 have been completed and it is expected that Valley East Today will be taking our readers on a "Virtual Tour" of the facility in coming weeks. In the meantime, if you have any questions you would like to address to the Jehovah Witnesses or if you are interested in becoming a member, simply email Philip Dawson by clicking on his name.
Teens Are Starting To Realize That The Valley East Youth Centre Is A Place They Can Call Their Own

Susan Johnston was elated on the evening of October 13 when about two dozen teens from the area dropped in to take part in a special social evening at the Valley East Youth Centre. 

For Susan, who has seen both the highs and the lows during the 25 years she has been involved with the Centre, it was music to her ears to listen to the young people filling the rooms with laughter and conversation.

Today, as Chairperson for the Board of Directors, Sue finds herself facing an uphill battle to keep the centre open. At the present time the facility is open to youth on Friday evenings only, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. 

She is hopeful that a new City Council may place a higher priority on youth and will perhaps provide sufficient funding so that she can once again hire two staff and keep the facility open five days a week. 

Darleen Hillier, shown on the right, the only other active Board member with the Valley East Youth Centre along with Susan Johnson, is convinced that they can once again bring the Youth Centre back to where it was when it was at the height of its popularity. 

"Many people have given up on the Valley East Youth Centre, but Susan and I just wouldn't throw in the towel. We are going to keep fighting and plugging away to keep this Centre open and provide young people with a place where they can have some good, wholesome entertainment and meet with their friends."

Mike and Nicole Savoie, of Hanmer, were parents who had heard all kinds of bad things about the Valley East Youth Centre. "When we told some of our friends that our son wanted to go to the Youth Centre, they warned us to keep him away. We told them that we were not just going to drop him off, but that we were going to visit the place and check it out first. Now that we've seen the place and met with Susan and Darlene, we are very happy with what we saw."

In fact, both Mike and Nicole have offered to volunteer to help out in any way possible to ensure that the Centre continues to function. "If you have any negative perceptions of the Valley East Youth Centre, all you have to do is visit it once and your perceptions will change," indicated Nicole, who is a teacher at Ecole Secondaire Hanmer.

We took a few pictures of the young people in their activities at the Centre. Click here to see some of those photos >>>>

The City of Greater Sudbury owns the building, so that is at least helping to keep the Youth Centre going with volunteers such as Sue Johnston. However, it is likely going to be up to the Corporate Sector to step in with private sector funding if this community is going to continue to have a Youth Centre much longer.

The Valley East Youth Centre needs the help of the community. If anyone is interested in stepping forward, call and leave a message for Sue Johnston. She is willing to listen to anyone who is in a position to help out. And right now, Sue could sure use a helping hand.

  
 

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