HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-03-20, Page 19By Jo-Ann
McDonald
Call
887-6570
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2002. PAGE 19.
People around Walton .are on the
road again. Day trips, weekends and
weekdays are keeping e-veryone
busy. - -
Paul and Dianne .McCallum and
Wayne and Joyce Hartman travelled
to Ohio to visit friends. They missed
the storm up here last weekend but
there were wind warnings out. They
had a good time and a-'nice time
visiting.
Judy and Katie EinmriCh travelled
to Windsor for the day last Monday
to look over the university. Katie and
Kelly McDonald travelled to
Kitchener to look over Wilfrid
Laurier on Friday. It will soon be
time to choose where they will go to
school next fall.
Barry and Karen Hoegy took a trip
to Greenvale, North Carolina for
Karen's March break. Their
daughter Sherry is a nurse there at
Greenvale General Hospital in the
ICU unit. It took them 17 hours of
driving to get there and they had no
trouble with weather.
They toured the city and saw some
nice parks and interesting places.
The ocean has an inlet into the city
and seafood is a popular fare. They
had perfect weather and reasonably
warm. They looked like they had
good suntans.
Heading north for a few days of
snowmobiling were Paul, Cheryl,
There's little doubt that raising
children can be challenging in
today's fast-paced society. But when
your child requires special attention
there is additional stress on parents.
Jesse Wesselink is the fifth son of
Dave and Joyce Wesselink of RR4,
Brussels. His condition is
undiagnosed,. but unquestionably
high needs.
Describing her son as "sharp as a
whip, but trapped in his body," Joyce
Matt and COrt Ryan, Ken, Brenda
and Scott Dalton and Mike and Faye
Devereaux. They headed to North
Bay where Ken says they had plenty
of snow and a good time checking
Out the trails. Unfortunately they
only had two days of snowmobiling
and then it rained so they headed
home.
Heading south for a few days was
Marilyn McDonald and Betty
Campbell. They were off to
Schenectady, New York. They
boarded the bus Tuesday morning
and returned home on Thursday
evening.
They attended, the Proctor's
Theatre, which is a beautiful old
theatre which opened in 1926 and
seats 2,700 peaple. It is celebrating
its 75th, anniversary. They attended
the Tuesday evening performance by
the Three Irish Tenors. During the
day Wednesday, theX toured around
Schenectady and stopped at the Van
Dyck fine food and brewery. They
were told the upstairs of, the
restaurant was originally a brothel
and that they believe it is visited by
spirits that have been seen by many.
No such luck for this group.
The Wednesday evening
performer was Engelbert
Humperdinck.
They report they enjoyed
themselves immensely.
Off to Ottawa were four friends
for a March break fling. Tina
McClure, Kelly Ann Dalton, Jenn
Short and Cindy McClure boarded
the train on Friday morning and
spent time checking out the city and
sites until Sunday. Tina reports they
had a great time but came home very
thirsty.
Neil and Marie McGavin were off
to Cambridge but not for fun. They
were attending the funeral of old
chose, rather than to be interviewed
for a story, to write a poem to share
"Jesse's Story". .
My name is Jesse,
I'm almost five years old.
I have some medical issues
That need to be told.
I am developmentally delayed
Which means I'm a little small.
But with four big,brothers
You can't win them all.
friend Wayne McMichael who used
to live just outside of Walton in his
younger days. Neil was giving the
eulogy for the service.
Most of the. Walton community
travelled to Brussels on Sunday to
attend the funeral service for Bill
Shortreed. Our 350 relatives and
friends gathered at the Melville
-Presbyterian Church for the service
of worship and celebration for the
life of Bill. The service was led by
Rev. Cathrine Campbell and
included the reading of Footprints.
Neil McGavin delivered the
eulogy which described Bill from his
early years, to his start at Burke
Electric, his beginnings of married
life and his own business, to his
years with Paul Cook. He described
the warm and caring person Bill was
and that he will be missed by many.
The recessional was the pre-
recorded song You'll Never Walk
Alone, sung by his sister Margaret
Mclnroy.
Our thoughts and prayers go to
Valerie and family.
Visitors coming to Walton last
week were Connie and Holly Cook
.from Mississsauga to visit • with
parents Bill and Marie Coutts. They
came on Thursday and went home
on Saturday.
Just flying in for a short visit was
Michael Warwick from Calgary.
He's in Toronto on Business this
week so came in early to visit Mom
— Karin McDonald and Grandma
Leona McDonald (and us too). Neil
McGavin who was in Toronto for a
meeting, accompanied by Leona,
picked Mike up from the airport
Thursday evening and brought him
.home to the farm.
He returned to Toronto on Sunday
evening to get ready for his week
with cousin Bruce McDonald.
I'm fed through a tube,
I cannot. swallow,
But take my hand
And I'll try to follow.
I cannot walk
But at least I try,
I cannot walk
But I can sigh.
I suffer from seizures
Which are being treated
I have chronic lung disease
But I am not defeated.
I have poor muscle tone
Which is also treated
My motor skills are a little behind
But again I'm not defeated
Incontinence is a problem too,
But this is taken care of.
I have special things at home
Which are minor to the ones
above.
I have many doctors
Who take good care of me.
My nurses, Morn and Dad
They also care for me.
These are the many things,
That I cannot do.
But let me tell you
About the things I do.
I can laugh
I can cry
Hold my hand
And you'll hear. me sigh.
I really like the Tubbies
And little puppies too
When I get a little tired,
I'll cuddle up with you.
I have a special walker
They call it my caddy
It was made just for me
With love by my Daddy.
Things are looking good at the
Walton Inn, as the painting has been
completed. Graeme is getting around
a little better as his foot is
recovering.
The annual Easter contest held by
Val's Custom Sewing and Family
Crafts reminds everyone to stop in
by April 28 to guess the number of
candies in the jar. You could be the.
lucky winner of the candies, a fabric
basket and two BooBoo bunnies.
The Walton Little School held its
registration night on March 7 with a
really great attendance. Lots of
interest was shown for the Music
Program for the young children.
Anyone who has a keyboard or
piano that they would like to donate
to the school is asked to call the
school or Shannon. Also being
offered are summer programs,
toddler program and after school
programs.
This past week, the program
centred on an Irish theme for St.
Patricks. The wearing of green and
shamrocks and learning about
Ireland was explored by the classes.
There are lots of people having
birthdays in March and as I forgot
last wee's bunch, today's list is long.
Congratulations go to celebrants
Sandra Watson, Josh Beisinger,
Brian Wilbee, Dean Hackwell, Andy
Pethick, Nicole Stevenson, Neil
McDonald, Mark Mclllwain, Bob
Blake, Maryanna Ryan, Ruth
Axtmann, Fred McClure, Carali
McCall, Alex Melady, Vera
McDonald, Colton Hastings, Allison
Baan, Danny Achilles, Janet
Webster, Karla Kale, Lisa Gingerich,
Ross Mitchell, Murray Sholdice, Jim
Humphries, Jack Nelemans,
Cassandra Banks, Ray Huether and
Art McNaughton.
To play with others
To go to school
To have special equipment
Would be really cool.
Jesse, like other children in the
area, has many medical issues that
require special equipment. The
Wesselinks explain that contrary to
what many people may believe there
is little government funding
provided for these children.. Parents
must find the necessary costs to
cover the much-needed equipment.
Recently, the family received
$1,000 from the Blyth Legion to
help with some of Jesse's expenses.
The Brussels Legion has contributed
as well, while a community dinner in
Auburn a couple of years ago,
assisted with the purchase of a
stroller.
There are, as noted, other families
like the Wesselinks in need of
assistance. Anyone who would like
to do something, could contact local
service clubs about making a
donation, which would then be
distributed to any families requiring
help. '
FROM WALTON
Duff's marks
4th Sunday
of Lent
Duff's United Church, Walton
celebrated the fourth Sunday of
Lent with the fourth verse of
Throughout These Lenten Days.
The Sunday school children came
upstairs for communion during the
latter part of the service.
The scripture reader was Jo-Ann
McDonald. Joan Tuchlinsky's
reflection centred on the scripture
reading and looking beyond.
Christians need to look beyond
outward appearances and realize
that there is more to people than
what is seen.
The Hebrew reading dealt with
the rejection of Saul by God and
how Samuel was sent to find
someone else. God challenged him
to see beyond the appearances and
into the hearts of Saul's sons.
People are also challenged to see
God at work in others and beyond.
They need to open their eyes and
hearts to see what God wants them
to do.
The collection was taken by Don
Baan and Darrell McClure. The
sacrament of communion was
served by Laura Black, Michael
Craig, Jennifer McClure, Adam
McClure and Jamie Mitchell.
Sunday's greeters will be Marilyn
and Sarah McDonald. The
discussion group is seeing /Ain Sum
on Tuesday evening at Goderich.
The Walton-Bluevale official
board meeting is Thursday, March
21 at 8:15 p.m. at Bluevale. All
board members are reminded to
meet at the church at 7:30 p.m. in
Walton.
Joan has a block of tickets for a
performance of Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor Dreanicoat
for June 15 at 8 p.m. Adults are $20
and children are $15. Call Joan if
you would like tickets. Their
daughter Bethany is in the show in
the choir.
With thanks
Crystal Taylor of the Blyth Legion presents a cheque for
$1,000 to Dave and Joyce Wesselink to assist with the costs
of special needs for their son Jesse. (Bonnie Gropp photo)
Family gets help from local organizations
The Legacy of
Ontario March
of Dimes
Originally founded in 1951 to help find a cure
for polio, Ontario March of Dimes is celebrating over
50 years of promoting independence for all °norms
- regardless of their physical disability from aokoos,
mike, M.S., post polio or acquired brain injury.
Please consider how your legacy to Ontario March
of Dimes could help so many lead productive and
dignified lives.Take the first step: Call toll free
1-800-263-3463 ext. 383 for a free copy of "My
Personal Organizer", a handy estate planning tool.
ONTARIO MARCH OF DIMES
10 Overlea Blvd., Toronto ON M4f-f TA4
Telephone: 1-100-263-3463
Fox: 41 6425.1920
Website: www.dimes.on.ca
Email: infoOdimes.on.ca