HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-03-18, Page 57Life in a rural community
What does it mean to you?
by Jayne Brady-Miltenburg
Asmall flock of tundra swans flew overhead the
other day, heading northward. That is my first
signal that spring is on its way. Smoke gently
rising from the maple sugar shack that I pass on my way
to town, is another indicator that Mother Nature is at
work, bringing life to the maple trees and the other
growth in the woodlots.
Spring also means that I can enjoy the rich abundance
of rural life this part of mid -western Ontario offers yet
again. After living in this area for seven years, I am still
amazed at the strong rural communities that have sur-
vived and are thriving. Everywhere I go, whatever I
read, there
are people, groups, organizations that keep the small
towns and their surrounding areas humming.
Where else can you still listen to one of the three
remaining farm directors left on a radio station with
farm news twice a day. "CKNX recognizes the
important role that agriculture plays throughout their
regional market. CKNX-AM/FM boasts one of the
largest farm'audiences in the country and their farm
department provides news and statistical information
that's of interest and necessity to one of the nation's
richest agricultural communities."
Just take the recent ice storm in January to show'
how much rural communities can pull together, and
in a hurry! Living in the snow belt, we know what
nasty weather can blow in off the Great ,Lakes. Our
generator helped out a family somewhere in Eastern
Ontario. We just kept our fingers crossed that we would-
n't need it ourselves during the six weeks it was gone.
The Lucknow Sentinel, like all the
other small community newspapers, is
like the hub on a wheel. It informs
everyone as to what is hap-
pening on a weekly basis. 1
certainly couldn't be without a
subscription. Sports activities,
township council briefs, hamlet
reports, births and deaths,
etc. acknowledge the peo-
ple and the places that
make up the social fabric of these small towns. The con-
cessions and sideroads are the spokes of the wheel, pro-
viding the weekly news; intertwining the lives and love
of rural neighbors.
I always look to Coming Events in any newspaper,
and there is no shortage of events! You can just about go
to anything and do everything. If you can't get to
Toronto for the big acts, they'll come to you. But who
needs the big acts when the home grown talent rates a
10. Soundsation, out of Teeswater, is just one example
that once you've seen their concert, you are committed
to seeing them perform every year.
Children's choirs, Christmas concerts, summer the-
atres, dinner theatres, marching bands, Celtic festivals,
Old Boys and Girls reunions, and township sesquicen-
tennials are just a brief list of the multitude of activities
that happen year in and year -out.
And what makes these activities happen? Volunteers!
Where would rural.communities be without volun-
teers. With government downsizing, more work has
been put onto the shoulders of volunteers. Again you
can volunteer to the 'nth degree if you have the time
and resources available. There are volunteers to run
the agricultural fairs, volunteers to lead 4-H, volun-
teers to assist at nursing homes, volunteers to coach
sports teams, volunteers to help at your children's
schools, volunteers to drive seniorcitizens from A to
B, volunteers to put out fires and volunteers to bake
pies!
• see 'Food', page 2A
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