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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2013-11-27, Page 5Much ado at Mullett School The news from Londesborough Brenda Radford HULLETT CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOL A couple of weeks ago in this space I told readers of a parcel received by the school from Japan. Principal Cathy Goetz explained the gift this week. One year when Mrs. Goetz was teaching at the Wingham Public School Mr. Nao and 10 pupils from his Canada School in Japan exchanged in Wingham. The group visited the school for two weeks and were billeted with town families. She reports that it was a unique learning and educational expe- rience for everyone involved. Since then Nao has referred to the visit as "The Friendship Bridge': This 'friendship bridge' has been kept alive and Cathy has received many gifts from Japan. Nao emailed in September for the address of Cathy's new school. She was pleased when the package arrived to see that the 'friend- ship bridge' continues. The Grade 2/3 class is working on two- and three-dimensional shapes by counting faces, edges and vertices. It might be fun to go on a scavenger hunt at home with your children or grand- children and see how many shapes you might find outside of the school environment. In French classes pupils are using a computer program called 'bit strips' to create the ending of stories on the pro- gram. To do this, the children are test- ing their knowledge of French vocabu- lary and written French. This year the Avon Maitland Regional Sports Council has decided to hold a volleyball tournament on December 6 for junior aged students. Team members and coaches are hav- ing a fun time preparing. The 'great amaryllis race' is on in Kindergarten. Each class has their own plant that is measured daily to see how much it has grown. Cathy will keep us posted on the race results. Data management in Grade 6 had to do with Hallowe'en candy collections. These pupils are beginning their study of electricity and creating circuits to operate lights and buzzers. And the halls of Hullett are full of the sounds of music as everyone prepares for the Christmas concert. ET CETERA Making a mistake, however inno- cent it may be, can be a learning expe- rience. And learning is a lifelong expe- rience. So perhaps we have all benefitted from my error in a previous column when I referred to Kittie Mac- Gregor as a Lioness. In the animal world that is what a female of that spe- cies is called and in the past Lions International had both Lions and Lion- ess groups. However things on earth have a way of evolving over time. Apparently Lions International has decided that females will now join the men and be referred to as a Lion. My apologies for any embarrassment my gaffe caused. Kittie is a Lion. On Saturday November 16 the annual milk calendar arrived with the Saturday edition of the London Free Press. I always check out the recipes included. This year I took particular notice of the dairy farmers pictures with each month. This calendar must go nation wide for farmers all across Canada are included. Congratulations to Huron County farmers Nichele Steenbeck of Steenbeck Dairy Farms of Varna and Jennifer Eastman of Centu- ryholm Farm of Kinburn for being included. One month from when you receive this edition of your local paper Christ- mas will be pretty much over. Now that's a thought to start a panic! So here's something to consider as the season advances. "When you make your Christmas wish list, don't forget to wish for those things that can't be bought: family get-togethers, merry laughter, fond memories and peace. These gifts are priceless:' UCW CHRISTMAS PARTY The Sunday school room at Londes- borough United Church was the set- ting for a pleasant early Christmas din- ner on Monday, November 18 for some 60 UCW members and their guests. Minister Terry Fletcher offered a blessing for a bountiful potluck meal and the evening. Over many weeks during the past summer area quilters worked on a large, rather unique quilt called Welsh Beauty. Betty Hulley told the story of the project and on behalf of the UCW presented the quilt to Terry as their Christmas and Ordination gift to him. Harriett Shillinglaw gave a humor- ous reading written by a gentleman whose wife had become enthralled with quilting. A worship/program followed that included carols, scripture readings and a play. It was a very thought-provoking service titled "Christmas and Babies" and spoke about life choices. Taking part were Helen Dale, Gail Lear, Lena Nesbitt, Betty Millar, Jane Hoggart, Kim Roetsicoender, Joan Whyte, Rena Kolk man and Barb Bosman on piano. Six women carrying dolls/babies spoke about their life circumstances surrounding children. We heard the story of a childless woman, a woman on welfare with five children who had left her abusive husband, a woman alone with a child in a war torn coun- try, a young woman giving her child for adoption and a woman for whom hav- ing children meant difficulties. All these women had made life choices around children and were learning to live with those choices. Mary told her story as well, recount- ing the circumstances around Christ's birth. Her faith and family saw her through a difficult time. Her child is reborn every Christmas as the world celebrates His birth. Mary reminded everyone that love comes to us with the birth of every child. And every child should be welcomed into the world and allowed to grow in peace. The Christ candle was lit at the beginning of the service and to end the service each of the women lit a candle of their own and walked slowly around the room with it. Each candle repre- sented a prayer for women in similar circumstances and a reminder to the rest in the room to do what they might to ease the way for others. LONDESBOROUGH UNITED CHURCH The Westerhout family, Brenda Kon- arski and Adrian Salverda assisted Terry Fletcher with the sacrament of Holy Communion at Londesborough United Church on Sunday, November 24. The senior choir offered a Com- munion hymn, "We Gather Here'; as their morning anthem. It was Reign of Christ Sunday and during the children's time at the front Terry explained to them that when a king or queen leads a nation they are said to reign. The children knew that Queen Elizabeth was Canada's queen and Charles was her son. Using a mir- ror Terry showed the children all the princes and princesses of Elizabeth's realm. Jesus is a Christian's Lord and King. Ergo the children would be princes and princesses of His realm as well. The message to the adults was titled, "Christ Our King": The supporting scripture was Colossians 1:11-20, verses which state that Christ is the head of the church who gives redemp- tion through His blood on the cross. When Christ was asked by Pontius Pilate about His realm, Christ replied that His Kingdom was not of this world. The people of that time had been awaiting a new king but didn't under- stand that He would not fit their under- standing of a 'king! Although born a king His life demanded no great status in the earthly world. Instead His king- dom defied the standards expected by the times and offered compassion, for- giveness, salvation and hope. His crown was one of thorns not gems. Terry asked congregants, "How do you see King Jesus? Do you act and exult as though Jesus is your King?" He has invited Christians into His family. He accompanies us on our journey through life. We need to respond with love, hope and faith. The morning's order of service included a Minute for Missions, a story about Rose Porter of Nova Scotia. Rose is a very conscientious collector of recyclables, the money from which increases her church Mission and Service fund. She evens offers pies to those who assist hers efforts. The Sunday school will be celebrat- ing White Gift on December 1. Con- gregants are encouraged to bring along a gift for the Huron County Christmas Bureau. Fellowship will follow the church in the church basement. Please bring along finger food to share. Wednesday, November 27, 2013 • News Record 5 letters to the editor Please donate to Huron County Christmas Bureau To the Editor, The Christmas season is quickly approaching and the Christmas Bureau is gearing up for another year of operation. This year it is St. Peter's parishioners turn to man- age the Clinton Bureau. The Clin- ton Legion has graciously offered their facilities for our use. It is through this type of generosity and that of the numerous volun- teers, churches, schools, local businesses and merchants and, you, the donor, that we are able to ensure every child is remembered at Christmas. The Christmas Bureau is a vol- unteer group that organizes and operates, on a two year rotational basis, five Bureaus in Huron County for disadvantaged fami- lies. The Clinton Bureau is respon- sible for Blyth, Vanastra, Bayfield, Varna, Brucefield, Londesbor- ough, Holmesville, Kippen and Clinton. The gifts (toys, clothes, food vouchers and gift certificates) are donated or purchased with cash donations (for which tax receipts are provided). All shop- ping by the Bureau volunteers is done locally and we encourage others to do the same. Many mer- chants provide discounted pricing and shopping assistance for the Bureau and their generosity is appreciated. One major change this year is that no food will be col- lected. You are encouraged to donate food items to the local food banks; unfortunately, there is always a need. We are looking for donations of new toys, new clothing, gift certificates or money (cheques can be made payable to the Chil- dren's Benefit Fund and dropped off at a local Bureau or to the Huron -Perth Children's Aid Soci- ety, 413 MacEwan St., Goderich). Deliver your unwrapped gifts to your local church or to a commu- nity donation box between now and Dec. 6. Donation boxes are located at: Memorial Hall (Blyth), Municipal Office, Curves, and United Communities Credit Union (Clinton), the Recreation Centre and Buckey Joe's General Store (Vanastra), and the Library and Michael's Pharmacy (Bay- field). We hope you will take this opportunity to share the true meaning of Christmas by sharing the joy of the season. If you are a custodial parent with children 18 years of age of younger who are living at home, attending school in Huron County and need assistance, call 519-524- 7356, x3271 or 1-800-265-5198, x3271 from Monday to Friday (until Dec. 6) to register. When you call, you will need to provide the age, sex and clothing size for your children. You will be given an appointment (between Dec. 9th and 1 lth) at your local Christ- mas Bureau to privately choose suitable gifts for your family. All calls are confidential. We hope that this Christmas will be a happy one - for those receiving the gifts and those giving them. Denise Morris, Manager Diane Weber, Manager Christmas Bureau Clinton Ottawa needs to stop double standard for veterans To the Editor, Every Remembrance Day, the Conservatives have hypocritically laid wreaths at the foot of the Cenotaph in Ottawa in respect and honour to our Veterans. I say hypocritically because since they were elected our Veterans have not been treated with the respect and honour they should receive from the government they laid down their lives for. The government has clawed back on veterans' benefits even after the class action lawsuit the veterans went through to stop them. They have given veterans lump -sum payments instead of pensions, and not to add more insult to injury they came up with the drastic plan to close down nine Department of Veterans' Affairs offices. This is atrocious. These offices are lifelines for our veterans whom genuinely need and depend on them. The Conservatives in all con- science cannot do this to our vet- erans. They have to be left open - the government owes this much and far more to our veterans for the sacrifice they made for us. We all know that debt owed to our veterans can never be repaid in full. The government should not hesitate in doing the right thing by our veterans. Instead of giving lump sum payments to veterans, vets and their families should be financially secure for the rest of their lives with a substantial disa- bilitypension. The Conservatives have made life for many of our veterans and their families miser- able since they were elected. Sincerely, Joyce Carter, St. Peters, NS