$30 million funding partnership to help accelerate diabetes research

Pictured following Monday's announcement about a $30 million partnership between the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada and the federal government are, from left, Nadine Ahrens, University of Waterloo president David Johnston, Harold Albrecht MP Kitchener-Conestoga, The Honourable Gary Goodyear MP for Cambridge and Minister of State for Science and Technology and Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, and New Hamburg's Lesley Schnarr and Michael Schnarr.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Canada announced a $20 million partnership with the federal government designed to speed advances in finding a cure for the disease that affects over three million Canadians.

The two-year partnership will be matched by a contribution of $10 million from JDRF to accelerate diabetes research by implementing a clinical trial network for diabetes research.

The hope is southern Ontario will become an international centre for the development and commercialization of treatments, cures, and medical technologies to improve the lives of people living with diabetes and its complications.

New Hamburg’s Leslie Schnarr was at the University of Waterloo with her son Michael when the announcement was made Monday.

Michael, 14, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2003. He was named JDRF’s 2009 youth ambassador and has been working with politicians in Queen’s Park and Ottawa to increase awareness and funding for the disease.

Leslie Schnarr says diabetes too often gets “swept under the rug” as more prominent, life-threatening illnesses take precedence for government funding.

“They realize the importance of JDRF,” says Schnarr, adding this funding is crucial for them to make headway to find a cure. “This was huge today.”

Michael Schnarr has been able to meet with several key players in Ottawa with the help of Kitchener-Conestoga MP Harold Albrecht, who was at Monday’s announcement.

Jaspa’s Journey

New Dundee author Rich Meyrick was at the New Hamburg Library last week reading from his book Jaspa’s Journey: The Great Migration. Last week was Canadian Children’s Books Week, in which Canadian authors were being promoted. Meyrick was also named a finalist in the Best Books 2009 Awards.  Aimed at kids 9-14, Jaspa’s Journey is the story of a 500 mile, dangerous migration of two million animals. The main character, Jaspa, is a Giraffeses, a distant relative of the giraffe which could fit in the palm of your hand. For more information visit Jaspa’s website at http://www.jaspasjourney.com.

Police want public’s help identifying robbery suspect

Oxford OPP have released surveillance video images of a suspect in the robbery of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) in Plattsville on November 10.

At 2:43pm a lone male entered the bank on Albert Street and approached a teller who said the man displayed a knife and demanded money. The teller gave the man an undisclosed amount of cash and the suspect then fled the bank.

The investigation has resulted in surveillance photos of the suspect and a description of the vehicle associated to him.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 170 cm (5’7”) tall, between 25 and 30 years old, and having a medium build. The suspect was wearing a blue coloured baseball cap, faded dark-blue coveralls with a darker coloured rectangular patch over the right breast pocket (possibly where a tagged has been removed), a black t-shirt and sunglasses.

The investigation has also put this suspect in a light coloured mini-van with tinted windows that was parked around the corner from the bank on Mill Street.

Anyone who knows who this man is, or has information on this bank robbery, is asked to contact the Oxford OPP at 519-688-6540 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-T.I.P.S. (8477).

The investigation is continuing.

Fire fighter orientation day

It isn’t everyday one has the opportunity to chop the roof off a car,drive a fire truck, or willingly go into a burning building.
But members of Wellesley council, township employees and members of the media had just that chance on Nov. 15.
The Township of Wellesley fire department organized an orientation day to familiarize people with what fire fighters do. Fire chief Andrew Lillico, who was hired earlier this year, organized the day.
The day begin at 10 a.m. with a history lesson of fire fighting.
Then, attendees were given a full fire suit and split into groups.
The first stage was a simulated auto extrication. One brave fire fighter sat inside a car destined for the scrap yard while the new recruits learned how the jaws of life work.
The heavy hydraulic equipment is capable of wedging open doors and cutting through to reach trapped victims.
Everyone had a chance to see speciality tools to break windows and reach victims of car accidents.
Following a lunch break, the next station involved taking a fire truck on a quick spin around the training facility.
The drive ended at a pond, where the fire fighters were able to make a pitch to council about the benefits of purchasing an upgraded hose for faster refilling of the tanker truck.
The freshly filled truck was then taken to a controlled burn building.
Those who dared enter the building were given resperators and sent inside with trained fire fighters. Inside, a demonstration of how a thermal imaging camera works was offered, along with techniques to control heat and fire with a water hose.
For more photos, go online to http://www.nhindependent.wordpress.com.

Remembrance Day

Veterans and their families gathered on Nov. 11 in New Hamburg to remember the fallen.

A dance fundraiser

Centre Stage Dance Studio held a fundraiser this past Sunday. Dancers served lunch at Boston Pizza on Ottawa Street from 11 a. m to 4 p. m. The restaurant offered 20 per cent of the proceeds to the studio.

The dancers are trying to raise cash to send 85 dancers to Ottawa in July of 2010 for a national competition. The studio is trying to fundraise $40,000.

Pictured are Kim Stemmler and Karen Clinton with a sign. The girls in the five-person group shot are Olivia Barber, Sarah Johnson, Tess Zehr, Sarah Bowman and Alexa Bender.

Lest we forget

Helen Ehrat contacted the Independent with photographs of a family relative lost in action over Burma in World War 2. Jack Guest, who lived in Toronto but visited New Hamburg regularly, was shot down. He was a member of the 215 Squadron. Along with the photo, Ehrat also still has a letter written to “Cousin Lizzie,” detailing how he looks forward to coming home and introducing her to his new wife. She also showed us this Victory Bond from World War 1.