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im Erb‘s response to Ray Martin‘s article on the Citizens for Better Governmenit is, to say the least, quite interesting. According to Mr. Erb, only seven people on the committee are busiâ€" ness people. Many are retired. Retired business people? Perhaps with vested interests? It‘s a question that begs to be asked. Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig has stated that the Citizens for Betâ€" ter Government do not solicit finanâ€" cial support by going door to door to the general public, but rather from the corporations that seek to benefit from singleâ€"tier governâ€" ment. If this group wishes to refute this, will they reveal their funding sources for public scrutiny? _ Who‘s behind the amailgamation plan? Jim Erb goes on to say that three of the members are from Kitchener: David Cooke, Joyce Cruickshank and Bill Thomson. Jim Erb, Susan Forwell, David Graham and Martin De Groot are A? 1 write this, I am quivering with anticipation. t‘s like Christmas Eve all over again. Time for the annual golf trip. Or as it has become known, the Myrtle Beach President Ryder Open Invitational Shootout. For the last few years, we have ventured down, in the first week of November, to South Carolina to partake of southern hospitality, and to measure our games against some of the more difficult courses we will ever face. mm We range in age from the midâ€"40s to 106. At least I think that‘s how old Dave is. Truthfully though, he looks better than all of us. We have a broadcaster, an insurance guy, a couple of other sales types, a busiâ€" ness executive, a bar owner â€" quite a wide range of occupations actually. I am always surprised this trip keeps going. Not because of the guys, but because, for the most part, men can get along with each other quite nicely. There‘s no infighting, no real difficulties between anyone. Now, 1 wonder why the wives continue to let us go. They have some serious misgivings about the trip. So in the interests of them understandâ€" ing exactly what we do, I thought 1 would lay it out here. We leave on Friday morning and drive quite carefully at the speed limit through New York, Pennâ€" sylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and off to the coast. We stop every two hours for water and to call our wives to make sure they know we are safe. We stop as well for regular meals, always ensurâ€" ing to pick the healthy restaurants so we can have a salad and a decent amount of fiber. (I think we all know how important that is). We usually stop in Wytheville, Va., for the night, at a clean, reasonably priced motel, which offers a healthy complimentary breakfast of sevenâ€"grain cereals, milk and fruit. Once we arrive in Myrtle Beach we settle into our accommodations and the lads split up. One group heads out to pick up groceries and other such necessities. The other group scouts the area for churches, libraries and places of historical interest. We usually meet back at the house for around five, by which time we have washed the bedding Boys will be boys on annual golf trip from Waterloo. Lloyd Gower appears to be the sole member from Ayt, Ellen Poll the sole member from North Durafries, John Scherrer the sole member from Elmira, Fred Gaskin and Katherine Vanderlaan are the only two members from Cambridge. Is this supposed to represent a broad consensus of support for oneâ€"tier government in this region? I‘d hardly think so. That‘s three members from Kitchener, four from Waterloo, only two from Cambridge, one each from North Dumfries and from Ayt. What Mr. Erb‘s letter does not address is the accusation (from corâ€" respondence apparently written by Mr. Erb himself), that the group is manipulating the press by having letters written by Mr. Erb but appearing in the Record under other names. This, if true, is blatant manipulaâ€" tion of the press. Although the Record‘s editorial policy has, for some years, been quite vocal in its support of singleâ€"tier government, 1 cannot imagine that the publisher BRIAN BOURKE COMMENT originally put on our cots (well, you never know who has been there) and begin to plan supper. Chicken is a favorite of course, broiled without the skin, as is fish. And you know, you‘d be surprised how much salad, broccoli and carrots we go through. I tell you, these guys and their vegetables. After supper, and once the rotation of who does the dishes each night is finished, there‘s an hour of quiet time and we usually gather together around 7 to talk about the day‘s events and to n share our feelings about the trip so far. RKE After the round, it‘s home for a brief nap and then time to do some shopping. I swear, some of these guys would never leave the mall if the stores didn‘t close. And so it goes for seven days. Certainly the most difficult part for all of us is making sure we all get enough sleep. Some of these guys just won‘t go to bed at night as long as there is a conversation going on about how we‘re feeling. So little time ... so many tears. But in the end it‘s all worth it because we‘ve learned about each other. We‘ve discovered there‘s so many layers to each of these men. They are men who care. Men who know the value of a good discussion. We are brothers. And that‘s what the trip is all about. Strengthening those bonds. Expanding those horizons. It‘s a beautiful, beautiful thing. And I know that‘s why our wives encourage us to go. Brian Bourke, a member of the 105.3 KOOL FM morning crew, can be reached by email at bbourke@koolfm.com. By 9 o‘clock we are all tucked hapâ€" pily in our beds. Golf begins the next morning! s Each morning we play a round of golf. There‘s plenty of water in the coolers because it is so important to stay hydrated. The best part for me is watching all the boys working togethâ€" er, encouraging each other as they test the boundaries of their golf abilities. We don‘t care about the scores, it‘s all about coming together as a group and helping each other over some of life‘s barriers, even if they are just on the golf course. would approve of such unscrupuâ€" lous tactics. Was the Record‘s pubâ€" lisher and those associated with the Record who are members of Citiâ€" zens for Better Government aware of this behaviour? As far as the accusation by Mr. Erb that the mayors and councillors of Cambridge and Waterloo who have expressed their opposition to oneâ€"tier government are only proâ€" tecting their jobs ... rubbish! They are simply aware that a municipal government that is more remote cannot respond to the constituents needs as well as a more localized form of representation can. 1 don‘t think that many people in the entire region are in the least bit interested in singleâ€"tier government outside of a few who may have vestâ€" ed interests in it or who could possiâ€" bly benefit from it. L can only quote a resident of St. Clements, who recently said, "Sinâ€" gleâ€"tier government? Over my dead Brad McEwen Cambridge child of the 70s, toy stores at Christmas time for me were A.indeed a holiday wonderland of decorated trees, revolvâ€" ing displays and twinkling lights. Now a parent of two young girls, I find the magic of Christâ€" mas can still be found, not in today‘s disorganized clutter of big name department stores, but at locallyâ€"owned toy shops. "We‘re not trying to compete with Walâ€"Mart and Toys "R" Us," said Rob and Lisa Boulianne, the owners of Toy Soup in St. Jacobs. "We wanted a store that was spacious and interactive, with lots of demos, where kids can try out the plasma cars." "Rob always wanted to open his own business, and was inspired by Dancing Bear Toys (a familyâ€"owned and operated specialty toy store) in Frederick, Md.," said Lisa. "We thought, if we don‘t try it, we‘ll never know." The Bouliannes opened Toy Soup in July 2006, after moving from the U.S. to Waterloo when Rob took a partâ€"time position at Wilfrid Laurier University, teaching courses in biology. Like me, Rob grew up with unforgettable toys like G.1. Joe, Evil Knievel and the childâ€"faced space adventurer Billy Blastoff. As well, he fondly remembers the preâ€" cursor to holiday shopping was receivâ€" [R ing the Simpsonâ€"Sears Christmas Wish MARSHALI Book, the department store‘s specialty AliAné U Ai s catalogue filled with glossy pictures of ARTS the newest toys and games. I, too, could spend countless hours lying on my stomach on the livingâ€" room floor, gazing at pictures of superâ€" hero action figures like Green Goblin, Spiderâ€"Man, the Joker, Batman and Robin. 1 also loved Big Jim action toys, with my favourite being Zorak "the Ruler of the Underworld," with his two faces that could change from normal to a nefarious greenâ€"faced villain. And while Toy Soup has its share of MAnoPMLLL nostalgia for big kids like me, like the WARD amazing live Sea Monkeys, it‘s finding quality toys, with my daughters in mind, that brings me the most joy these days. With young children of their own, Rob and Lisa are selective about what they bring into the store, especially when it comes to dolls. Who wants their child to be a Bratz? The Only Hearts Club poseable doll series, they agreed, was something young girls could relate to, combining beautiful, realistic looking girls with content that delivers a much needed positive message. An antithesis to the scantily clad, makeâ€"up and "blingâ€"bling" wearing â€" yet extremely popular â€" Bratz dolls, nicknamed by critics, "stripper dolls" or "Slutz." "Why would I want my child to grow up to be a brat?" Lisa questioned. Rob agreed, "There are some pretty trashy dolls out there." Looking years ahead to when my daughters are older, I was most impressed with some of the latest educational products by Thames and Kosmos, like the Microcontroller, a computer sysâ€" tems engineering kit that introduces kids to microcontrollers, sensors and programming through 100 experiments. Another one I liked was the Power House science kit, teaching kids about sustainable living in the 21st century, fossil fuels, regenerative energy and basic concepts and principles in physical science. For those who like strategic thinking games, there‘s Stoneâ€" henge: An Anthology Board Game, where five talented game designers created five different games using the same board. And for stocking stuffers, l found fascinating the mysterious flipâ€"over spinning tops, along with the uniquely packaged Bananagrams, an engaging, familyâ€"fun, boardâ€"less word game, which Rob and Lisa have coined "the antiâ€"Scrabble." Just another reason why locallyâ€"owned toy stores, where owners beam with pride and know their products, are an inteâ€" gral part of the magic of Christmas â€" a place where a kid can be a kid, and feel good about being a kid. Toy Soup will be part of St. Jacobs Sparkles, a fourâ€"day vilâ€" lageâ€"wide kick off to the holiday shopping season amid thouâ€" sands of twinkling lights, with extended evening hours, Nov. 8â€" 11. Arrive aboard Waterloo Central Railway‘s Sparkles Special Evening Train. Visit www.stjacobs.com for more info. As for me, I‘ve got my eye on the remote control tarantula. Rob and Lisa let visitors see it in action, scurrying across the hardwood floors (my wife would love it I‘m sure). Marshall Ward is a visual artist and independent filmmaker, teaching courses in continuing education at Conestoga College. Email is welcome at marshall_ward@hotmail.com. WATERLOO CHRONICLE + Wednesday, November 7, 2007 * 9 MARSHALL