RETURN Over Seas with Bill “BOOTS”

We had been assigned to take over a position on the front line it. The next day we were told to pull back, as another unit was to take over. As the driver, I checked out my tank and find a pair of boots on my seat. I hold them up and ask, “Who owns these?” No one claims them. So I assume ownership. They are excellent boots, but of no use to me except as ‘trading material’. Lady luck plays into my hands. At one stop there is an Italian walking down the road towards us and has a turkey under his arm. I do some quick negotiations and trade the boots for his bird. He goes on his way while I try to think of a way to get this bird cooked.

We stop for the night beside a small house. The only person in there is a very elderly woman. Waving my hands and in the best use of my Italian, we come to an agreement. She will cook the turkey for us and we will give her half. This turns out to be the best bird I have ever eaten.

My crew and I are sitting around a fire enjoying this treat. It was cooked in olive oil. The juices are running down our cheeks, when our officer walks by. We ask him to sit and share our bird. He accepts and digs right in. Thanking us, he starts to walk away, then turns back and says has anyone seen my boots? A heavy silence follows.

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GPA EDC Charts Direction for 2007

Andy Mitchell,

President & CEO

GPA EDC

The Board and Staff of the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation (GPA EDC) have been working steadily over the past several months to compose a work plan for 2007. When considering where our focus should be in the new year many factors were taken into account. It was important that our strategies be in-line with the 2006-2010 Strategic Plan, the mandate of the corporation and the modern business climate. Following the approval of our budget at the Joint Services Steering Committee on January 16^th, 2007 the GPA EDC now has a direction charted for 2007.

Business Development

The business development activities will focus on DNA and Life Sciences, Tourism Development, Rural Development, Business Development and Community Outreach. With this in mind the GPA EDC will be undertaking several initiatives including: a newly entered into Memorandum of Understanding with the DNA Cluster which will expand and accelerate commercialization and job creation related to the cluster, targeted sector investment attraction programs in food processing and advanced manufacturing including implementation of the $850,000 Manufacturers Training Initiative, a new partnership with the Kawartha Manufacturers Association (KMA), expansion of the Business Advisory Centre’s rural outreach program, plans to implement recommendations from the agricultural impact study and the official launch of the “Made in Peterborough” promotional campaign.

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism

While the staff of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism are getting ready to move into a new state-of-the-art building on the corner of Crawford Drive and The Parkway later this year, we have set many goals to compliment the relocation. A modernized service structure will be offered to the tourism businesses in the City and County of Peterborough as of July 1^st, 2007. There will no longer be a membership fee charged to tourism businesses that wish to be showcased in the Visitor Information Centre. A basic set of services will be offered to all tourism operators as a part of the core mandate of the GPA EDC. In addition, these businesses will have the opportunity to choose additional services from a menu of fee-for-service options. This will allow each business to have the flexibility they require to target individual market segments.

Tourism staff will also be working towards the launch of the “Premier-ranked Tourism Destination” initiative, the implementation of an improved Motor Coach Destination initiative and the roll-out of recommendations from the 2006 Business Retention and Expansion tourism study.

In order to support these new initiatives, we have reallocated staff efforts and have created new positions. We have recently hired a Development Officer, Tourism and are currently in the process of hiring individuals to fill two postings, Development Officer, DNA Cluster and a Marketing Officer to cover a one-year maternity leave.

2007 promises to be a busy and productive year in the Greater Peterborough Area. The GPA EDC looks forward to working with the community, area businesses and our many partners in order to ensure the success of our endeavours.

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Marlene Seeking Your Nomination for the
Liberal Party

To my neighbours, friends and colleagues in North Kawartha, I am pleased to announce that I am running for the Liberal nomination in the next Federal election.

I am a resident of Apsley and I would be pleased to serve you as a Member of Parliament for the Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock electoral district.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a representative from our area to advocate for the needs of North Kawartha in Ottawa? I would like to be that person but before the election itself I must obtain the nomination for the Liberal Party. This is how it is done.

A nomination meeting will be held which my supporters would attend and a vote would take place. If enough people from our small, rural communities attend the meeting then we would be successful in having “one of our own” run for MP in the upcoming federal election.

If you would like to be a support to Marlene here’s how you can help:

~ join the Liberal party of Canada for $10.00

~ come to vote on nomination day

I would be pleased to discuss this further with you and can be reached at teammarlene@nexicom.net

Let’s give Apsley a voice in Ottawa!

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	Over Seas, GPA EDC Charts Direction for 2007, Marlene Seeking Your Nomination