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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-02-05, Page 7• Colour Printing • Posters • Letterheads • Envelopes • Business Cards • Business Forms • Brochures • Flyers • Carbonless Forms BLYTH PRINTING INC. BLYTH 523-9211 DOUG GOUGH, R.I.B. (ONT.) CAIB, Manager IVES INSURANCE BROKERS LTD. - BLYTH OFFICE 184 Dinsley St. W. Box 428 Blyth, ON NOM 1H0 Tel: (519) 523-9655 Fax: (519) 523-9793 All Classes of Insurance es WWW.IVESINSURANCE.COM THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2004. PAGE 7. Celebrating a milestone Brussels Curling Club marks 40th season By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor It's a big year for the Brussels Curling Club. While many organizations and clubs have struggled to stay viable, the enthusiasm for curling in Brussels has kept the sport alive for 40 years. Jim Smith, who celebrates his 95th birthday next month, was one of the first club members. He recalls that it was Hugh Pearson who first came up with the idea of organizing a club in Brussels. With the arrival of artificial ice in the village arena, the many curlers who had travelled outside of town to enjoy their sport enthusiastically supported the idea. The first meeting was held on Nov. 9, 1964 and the Brussels Curling Club formed. The executive was: president, D.A. Rann; first vice-president, Ken Tyerman; second vice-president, Stewart Lowe; treasurer, Cecil Parker; secretary, George Mutter. Among those working hard to get the club up and running were For over a year now, I have not been sleeping well. Sleeping problems are all too common, with one out of four Canadians being .impacted. Not getting enough sleep or not sleeping well can significantly affect your health, daily performance, alertness and productivity. Sleep is a very beneficial staple in life. My night of sleep deprivation usually follows its same routine, leaving me with a feeling of not being refreshed, even after sleeping for an extended period. An adult, ages 16-65 requires six.to nine hours of sleep in a 24-hour cycle. I do meet this requirement; however, my sleep is often disrupted several times throughout the night. I have very poor circulation in my legs and feet. This problem results from my disorder. Because my feelings of sensation are undistinguishable due to the progressive nerve damage, I find that my skin is very cold and uncomfortable. Experience has been that it usually takes an hour for my lower body to regulate its temperature with my upper body. So, I often lie awake and wait for the numbness in my feet to disappear — finally I relax enough to fall asleep for a couple hours, anyway. Not only is living with increasing nerve damage worrisome, it is frustrating too. I do not suffer with prolonged, intense pain, but I do feel discomfort in my legs. My knees and feet will collapse inwards, and I wake up in the middle of the night suffering from stiffness. This problem occurs about three to four times a night and to alleviate some of the discomfort, they need to be repositioned in order to get back to sleep. Whenever I reach to move them, I have to muster up so much energy to do this that it acts as a stimulator — I end up lying awake for an hour afterward. Another "new" problem I deal with is temperature control; I go Donelda Pearson, Tom and Betty McDonald, Idella Wilson, George and Eileen Mutter, Don and Barb Dunbar, Stewart Lowe, Max and Jeanne Oldfield, Reinhardt Bauer, Harold Thomas, Frank Carter and Jack Bowman. Ninety paid-up members were ready to play in the January draw. Nord Stephenson and Orville Bauer were two of those curlers. They are still avid members today. Bauer recalls in his first year, playing at his regular time and as a spare. "I was at the arena all the time." Once asked to help with the ice machine, he got handed the keys, he said, and the job was his until the new arena opened in 1977. When they first started curling, said Bauer, he remembers using a garden hose to flood and a lawn sprinkler to pebble the ice. Pebbling make the ice rise so the rocks float over the surface rather than drag. Smith said that in those early years, there were two draws on each of Monday and Tuesday nights. "There would be 128 curlers on those two nights." Beyond Limitations from one extreme to the other. My legs and feet get so cold that a pulse won't even register, then become unbearably hot a few hours later. I find that sleeping without the covers cools me down, however, I must lift them off me, and I end up expending too much energy again. About an hour later, I begin to feel uncomfortably cold, and I must wrestle with blankets to get covered up again. There are many causes for sleep deprivation, but the main culprits are often stress, drugs (caffeine, alcohol), pain and depression. I battle with stress due to inactivity during the day because I lack physical energy. I find that my body needs to rest during the day so it will continue to function, yet' there are some days that I cannot be bothered with resting my body. In the end, my body usually causes me - difficulties -- nothing lethal as, of yet, but these difficulties are annoying. They tend to cause problems that I am unable to cope with, and I they leave me feeling depressed. Unfortunately, I do not get much quality in my sleep, but I am not ready to turn to medication just yet. It is important to avoid caffeine and alcohol before bedtime. Studies show that caffeine can stay in the body for up to 14 hours. Caffeine can decrease overall sleep and may increase how many times you wake up during the night. Alcohol, which is often thought of as a sedative may aid many people into falling asleep, however, once asleep, alcohol may cause sweating, intense dreaming and headaches. Maintaining a regular sleeping schedule (waking up and going to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends), exercising regularly (in the morning preferably), sleeping in a comfortable bed, and avoiding heavy meals before going to sleep can also greatly enhance your sleep quality. It was also common in those days for clubs and businesses to host bonspiels so there was typically one at the arena every two weeks. "For the first few years when there was a bonspiel, we'd have the meals at the Legion," recalls Bauer. "Yes, but some couldn't curl the third game, after," said Smith. If there had been any concern for the club's future it may have been in 1977 when a move was made to the new arena. Some curlers left because they had felt a separate curling facility should have been built alongside the arena. The following year, however, a boost came with the organization of a junior club, spear-headed by Jack Bryans. The first trophy, which Bryans donated was presented to Jim McDonald, Mary Ireland, June Bremner and Brad Knight. That infusion of young blood is back again. The club's membership for the anniversary season sits at 54, higher than 10 years ago as a result of many younger players signing up. "We are picking up ones in their mid-20s who don't feel they can play hockey anymore, while there are others who want exercise, but in a sport with no body contact," said Mery Bauer. Today there is only one bonspiel held in February and a jitney, held during the March break. While the busy-ness of life may have brought about the lower membership and activity, members are no less enthusiastic for their sport. Many talked about the social time being as much a part of the game as the competition. Ruth Bauer said, "curling is as much about competing against yourself as it is another team." Her husband, Orval agrees. "It takes four to make a team. If someone is new to the game, the others can help out." That patience, members agree, has also contributed to the club's longevity. "No one's made to feel uncomfortable about learning the game. Everyone's always willing to help," said Merv. To celebrate their success, the club executive and committees are busily preparing for the anniversary. On Feb. 21 there will be the usual all-day mixed bonspiel with "great food." Then on March 27 there will be a dinner and dance at the arena. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m. Cardiff Catering is serving the meal, while the entertainment will be provided by the Westernaires. A mailing is being done to over 400 members past members to invite them to the festivities, and the club is interested in hearing from anyone who knows of someone who may have played in the past. The executive for the 40th anniversary year of the Brussels Curling Club is: past president, Murray Pepper; president, Dona Knight; first vice-president, Marilyn Jones; second vice- president, Gary Pipe; secretary-- treasurer, Susan Alexander; bonspiel committee, Orval Bauer; draw committee, Brenda McIntosh, Steve Steiss, Brian Warwick; prize committee, Jeff Cardiff, Murray Pipe; ice committee, Mery Bauer; press reporter, Nora Stephenson: auditor, Madeline Steiss. The anniversary committee is: Mery Bauer, Bob Alexander, Jo- Ann McDonald, Ernie Lewington, Susan Alexander, Birdinda McCutcheon, Murray Pepper and Orval Bauer. On ice The Brussels Curling Club has seen an infusion of young members, such as Catrina Josling, as it prepares to celebrate 40 years of curling. (Bonnie Gropp photo) Good night, sleep tight!