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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-11-18, Page 16PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2010. NH Food Share holds Christmas concert Students research soldiers Christmas Bureau begins another season THE EDITOR, Soundsation will be putting on a concert to benefit the local Food Banks. On Sunday, Nov. 28 at 2:30 p.m. Soundsation will present: “I Believe” – a Christmas concert. The first part will consist of new and old Christmas favourites followed by the Cantata – “Merry Christmas” with Dale Edgar as Charlie Roberts. The name Soundsation alone readily ensures a topnotch musical experience. This event will be held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Josephine Street, Wingham across from the Town Hall. Tickets are only $10 and are available in advance from The Gift Chest, MicroAge, King Music, choir members and also at the door prior to the performance. What a wonderful way to start the Christmas season by listening to great music and in turn helping local Food Banks. The North Huron Community Food Share is delighted that this great choir has chosen to raise badly-needed funds for local Food Banks. The North Huron Community Food Share has recently sent out over 70 letters to local churches, schools and service clubs describing in detail the number of clients now being serviced and the desperate need for donations. Wow, the response has been amazing. Many local schools had food drives, service clubs are planning events and the food share has received donations from many churches. Our local financial institutions – Libro, TD Canada Trust and CIBC are in the midst of a friendly competition to raise as much food as possible by Dec. 15. The Food Share will also be having a float in the Wingham Santa Claus parade on Saturday, Nov. 27 with the Lions Club collecting food along the route. Even one or two items add up when combined with all other donations. We at the Food Share are well aware that everyone needs to be prudent with the earned dollar these days and to have people reach out to those less fortunate in such giving ways, makes us proud to be on the board of directors. Thank you to everyone who has and continues to support our cause. Gord Kaster, Chairperson North Huron Community Food Share. THE EDITOR, Almost 50 years ago, the Huron County Christmas Bureau was organized around the idea/ideal that no child should be forgotten at Christmas. You have been providing Christmas cheer for the children (and their families) over all these years, children whose parents are unable to “Santa” them. Every year, about 1,000 children have a Christmas made merry through your generosity. The original goal of the Christmas Bureau continues: to ensure that no child will be without a Christmas and no parent will have to say “Sorry, Santa forgot us this year.” We can all be Santas! This is a critical year; the economic downturn hit us hard and, in fact, we may have former donors who are recipients this year, a difficult role change, but we hope that anyone in this situation will remember that to give and to receive are both acts of gratitude. The Christmas Bureau is a county- wide volunteer group that organizes five gift centres (“bureaus”) for disadvantaged families. The gifts (toys, clothes, food, food vouchers) are donated, or purchased with cash donations (for which the donor receives a tax receipt). Hundreds of volunteers and donors participate each year, this is a community program. How does the Christmas Bureau work? The Christmas Bureau is an independent, community-wide, volunteer organization, but we could not function without the support of the Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society (office space, phone lines, administrative assistance), our community churches, and you, the caring members of our community. There are actually five local bureaus or gift centres that provide for our communities each year (Clinton, Exeter, Goderich, Seaforth, Wingham). The gift centres are located in churches in these communities and the members of these churches donate many, many hours collecting (each community has drop boxes), sorting, organizing, displaying the gifts, then helping people choose their children’s gifts. How does the Christmas Bureau work for you? If you are the custodial parent and you need help with your Christmas this year, call “Christmas Central” (519-524-7356 x3271 or 1-800-265-5198 x3271) from Monday to Friday (Nov. 29 to Dec. 10). When you call, be sure to have ready the ages and clothes’ sizes of your children. You will be given an appointment (for the week of Dec. 13 to 17) at your closest Christmas Bureau. You will privately choose suitable gifts for your family at that time. How can you help the Christmas Bureau? First, open your hearts, then open your wallets! Please donate new toys, new clothing, non- perishable food stuffs or money (cheques or cash to the Goderich Children’s Aid Society offices, clearly marked “Christmas Bureau”). Do keep in mind the teenagers as well. Gifts can be delivered to your local church gift centre or to the drop boxes between Dec. 6 and 10 so they are ready for the families’ Christmas shopping the next week. Perhaps you would like to give the gift of time to the church group in your community. Perhaps you would consider organizing your neighbours, your workmates, your sports team, your club, your school chums? Working together as Santa groups increases the pleasures of giving! This is an important year for all of us. The community’s needs are great. The rewards are also great – the opportunity to share the true meaning of Christmas by sharing the joy of the season. A gift to a child is a gift to yourself. Here are the 2010 Bureaus/Gift Centres: Clinton – Clinton United Church, 105 Ontario Street; Exeter – Exeter Pentecostal Tabernacle, 70670 London Road; Goderich – North Street United Church, 56 North Street; Seaforth – the Agriplex (hosted by St. James Roman Catholic Church); Wingham – Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 220 Carling Terrace. Gail Grant, PR Chair, Christmas Bureau. Continued from page 3 Courage for Kids” by Bradley Trevor Grieve. They have also discussed things that can give them courage when they need it most. They attended the Remembrance Day service at Memorial Hall where they had the opportunity to remember the courageous men and women who fought for Canada to ensure its many freedoms. They are continuing to think about the people in the local and global communities who have shown courage in a variety of ways. In this way, they are able to think and link and make text- to-world connections. The Junior Kindergartens have been studying modes of transportation this week – with various sorting and classifying activities. They sponge-painted a class poppy wreath and individually painted pictures of poppies to display at the Legion during the Remembrance Day service. They also talked about how brave Canadian soldiers were, and still are, as they protect and provide citizens with great care. Both Kindergarten classes loved receiving and putting on poppies in order to have their own moment of silence where they thought about those who died in the war. The students concentrated on remembering this week and had many discussions, especially one where they were talking about things we no longer see within the month of November, like butterflies, days at the beach, the Easter Bunny and green leaves/apples on the trees. The Senior Kindergarten class spent the week reviewing the colours and colour words that make up the rainbow, finishing an earlier language unit of study based upon a book called, “I Went Walking” learning more about the letters S, T and N, along with defining what things come in groups of one and two. They too made poppies and practised many safety measures. In the library, the school has received some new non-fiction books. They are books that are about real-life heroes, robots in fiction films and how to write biographies and other genres. There is a also a book called “My Grandpa George” which is a book that teaches people about Alzheimer’s Disease. Letters to the Editor COMMEMORATE THE NEWEST FAMILY MEMBER'S 1ST NEW YEAR Join the gallery of faces in The Citizen's baby photo display January 6, 2011 Send or bring a picture of your little one born in 2010 along with a writeup which includes full name, birth date and parents' names, to be featured in The Citizen's Gallery of Faces on January 6, 2011, for only $20.00 (HST included). Please send picture (with name on back), along with a cheque, to The Citizen prior to December 17. Photos may be picked up after January 6. THIS MUST BE PRE-PAID. - Sample - Please Complete Baby's Full Name______________________ Birth Date_____________________________ Parents' Names________________________ $20.00 Enclosed DEADLINE - December 17 2 pm in Brussels • 4 pm in Blyth ❑ Alex John Smith May 18 son of Mike & Laura Smith B a b i e s o f t h e Y ear 2010 At the Nov. 10 meeting of Huron County Council’s Committee of the Whole, the issue of a Deputy- Warden for the County was raised. Councillor George Robertson said that with the Warden travelling all around Canada during his term, he felt that the system of “next in line” should be discussed, and potentially revised in case of an emergency. Robertson said he knew the policy, which is that in the event of an emergency in Huron County where the warden cannot be present, the past warden would be called upon. Robertson was concerned that when the new council takes over this December, several past wardens will no longer be members of council, and the procedure would revert back to Goderich’s Deb Shewfelt, as Bert Dykstra, Oke and John Bezaire will all not be returning members of Huron County Council. Chief Administrative Officer Larry Adams said he would prepare a report for council to consider. Robertson specified that he didn’t want the Deputy-Warden to have any political power above any of the regular County Councillors, that the position would just be put into play should there be an emergency in Huron County that the Warden was unable to attend to govern. Huron County may elect deputy-warden 9 Rattenbury St. E., Clinton 1-888-235-9260 Ph.: 519-482-9924 Res.: 519-524-9260 If you enjoy paying income tax - contiune to. If not, see Lawrence for a no-fee investment consultation.