HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-10-22, Page 29Be "bear wise" when
closing your cottage
The Ministry of Natural Resources is
asking those who are closing down
their cottages to be "bear wise':
A media release from the MNR
offered a number of tips on how to keep
unwanted visitors from your cottage
during the fall and winter seasons.
What cottagers can do:
- Never leave garbage behind. If you
must leave before garbage day, or if
you do not have curbside collection,
take your garbage with you when you
go. Take it to an approved waste dis-
posal site.
- Fill bird feeders only through the
winter months.
- Never feed bears (or other wildlife)
or try to approach them.
- Put garbage in containers that have
tight -fitting lids, and only put it out on
garbage day, not the night before.
- Store garbage in a bear -resistant
container, secure shed or garage. Do
not store garbage in plywood boxes, old
freezers or vehicles.
- Do not stockpile garbage. Take it to an
approved waste disposal site regularly.
- Keep meat scraps in the freezer
until garbage day.
- Remove grease and food residue
from barbecue grills, including the
grease trap, after each use.
- Do not put meat, fish or sweet food
(including fruit) in your composter.
- Pick all ripe fruit off trees, and
remove vegetables and fallen fruit from
the ground.
- Encourage your neighbours to prac-
tise Bear Wise habits.
- If you rent your cottage, tell your
tenants the importance of being "bear
wise'; and make these tips available.
- You are responsible for your own
personal safety. Take precautions when
you are outdoors.
Visit ontario.ca/bearwise for more
information on bears:
- What to do if you see or encounter a
bear on your property
- How to avoid encounters with black
bears while enjoying the outdoors.
- Bear encounters - Who do I call?
Workshops help smokers
turn back the clock
Did you know that within 20 minutes
of being smoke free your body starts to
recover from damage done by smoking?
"Your body turns back time when you
quit smoking," says Julie Verch, Public
Health Nurse. "Don't just turn back your
clocks this fall, tum back to a healthier you:'
To help smokers quit, the Huron
County Health Unit has three STOP
(Smoking Treatment for Ontario
Patients) workshops, with free nicotine
replacement therapy for eligible partic-
ipants, over November and December.
STOP workshops will be held in Goder-
ich on November 6, in Wingham Novem-
ber 26, and in Exeter December 4. Prereg-
istration is required so please register early.
The STOP (Smoking Treatment for
Ontario Patients) on the Road program
offers eligible participants five weeks
of cost-free nicotine replacement ther-
apy as well as tips for making a quit
attempt successful.
For more information, to see if you
are eligible to participate and to register
for the workshop(s) call Julie Verch at
519-482-3416 or 1-877-837-6143.
The STOP Program is put on in part-
nership with the Centre for Addiction
and Mental Health.
Larry McGrath
for
Tuckersmith Ward
Councillor
• Lifelong Tuckersmith
resident
• Over 20 years in Municipal
Politics
• Common sense approach
• Has the taxpayers best
interest as top priority
Wednesday, October 22, 2014 • News Record 29
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Questioning Someone's Gambling? Get Informed and Help Stop the Chase
Responsible Gambling Council encourages those with gambling problems to Stop the Chase
Richard was out of options. He was sleeping in his car and spending his days at the racetrack while
his wife Linda thought he was at work. Gambling more and more, trying to get out of financial trouble,
he had drained his family's savings and was deep in debt. In desperation, he asked his wife's boss for
a loan.
"The first question my boss asked Richard was 'Does Linda know?" explains Linda. "He had to admit
that I didn't. So, part of the agreement was my boss would lend him the money - but Richard had to
tell me."
Linda's first reaction to her husband's confession? Anger. The second overwhelming feeling was guilt:
"How did I miss this?"
According to research from the Responsible
Gambling Council (RGC), one in ten Ontarians
report being negatively affected by someone
else's gambling - that's over one million people.
Problem gambling not only impacts the gambler,
stressors can be felt by family and friends, with far-
reaching emotional and financial repercussions.
During its Problem Gambling Prevention Week
(PGPW), RGC is reaching out to family and friends of
people with potential gambling problems, providing
information about how to spot a problem, protect
finances and get help through local resources. The
campaign highlights one of the key signs of a gambling
problem: chasing losses - gambling more in order to
win back losses or get out of financial trouble.
There hadn't been any obvious signs of a problem.
Yes, money was tight, but it had been for a while. Linda
hadn't seen any of the bills because Richard always
looked after the finances. As far as she was concerned,
it was business as usual.
Chasing Losses & Other Signs of a
Gambling Problem
A key sign of a gambling problem is chasing
losses - the attempt to recover losses or break
even, by continuing to gamble. Each person's
experience is different, but here are other
warning signs that you, or someone
you know, may have a gambling problem:
• Hiding bills, past -due notices,
winnings or losses.
• Gambling instead of spending time
with friends or family.
• Neglecting work and personal needs
because of gambling.
• Increased tension, stress and
arguments relating to money.
In retrospect, she saw things that didn't add up: Richard's uncle had died and left them money. The
couple bought a car and kept the rest of the money in a joint account. One day, Linda went looking for
the statement book and couldn't find it.
Help Yourself and the Gambler
If you are concerned about someone's
gambling, it is natural to want to help:
• Before you raise the issue with the
gambler you should get informed and
have a support system in place.
• When you find the right moment
to talk, raise your concerns using
an "I" point of view.
• Stay calm and make your expectations
clear about future gambling, managing
finances and responsibilities.
• Consider getting help for yourself.
• Visit stopthechase.ca/pgpw for more
ways to help.
Free and confidential
Their finances were in ruins. Her trust in Richard was
truly shaken. "The strangest thing for me is I'm not a
gambler of any kind," says Linda. "For me it's: I worked
hard for this and I want to keep it a bit longer. So it kind
of blew me away."
But Linda has always been a practical person, so she
didn't spend a lot of time dwelling on the anger and
guilt. "Survival kicked in," says Linda. "I had to make
sure the kids were OK. I just thought 'This is what we
have to do' and I came up with a plan."
Our research shows that approximately 3.4% of
Ontarians have a moderate to severe gambling
problem. In the Counties of Huron and Perth, this
would equate to approximately 3,500 adults. RGC
research also shows that approximately one in
ten Ontarians report being negatively affected by
someone else's gambling. This means that another
10,300 people in the Counties of Huron and Perth are
estimated to be negatively impacted.
resources are available. Many agencies also provide help for family members
and friends of the gambler.
Call the Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-888-230-3505 or in your community:
Choices For Change: Alcohol, Drug & Gambling Counselling Centre
1-877-218-0077
RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING COUNCIL
stopthechase.ca/pgpw