Huron Expositor, 2003-12-03, Page 9News
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, DECEMBER 3, 2003-9
Red Hat Society has two Seaforth members so far
By Susan Hundertmark
Expositor Editor
Mabel Turnbull's husband Harry gave her a red hat for
Christmas several years ago but she never found an occassion
to wear it.
But, since joining the Red Hat Society six months ago, the
Seaforth-area woman is having a great time wearing her red
hat while meeting old friends and making new ones with a
group whose sole purpose is to have fun.
"I belong to a lot of organizations but this one is strictly
fun. I've been meeting a lot of women I went to school with
in the Seaforth area and a lot of former students," says the
retired teacher.
The local Red Hat Society, based in the Exeter and Bayfield
area, was started by Dianne Waun and Zib Jones after they
learned of the group, which is very popular in the United
States.
Since its inception locally last February, the local group has
been so popular that members have formed their own groups
in'St. Marys, Harriston, Wingham and Wiarton.
"We had 10 members in March and we would have 65
members if we all showed up at the same time to an event,"
says Waun.
Based on the poem Warning by Jenny Joseph that begins,
"When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple with a red hat
which doesn't go and doesn't suit me," members are women
over 50 who wear red hats and purple clothing. Members
under 50 are expected to wear a pink hat and lavender
clothing.
The group's aim is to celebrate life and feel good about
aging.
"We're really a disorganization. We just like to have fun,"
says Waun.
The group meets for tea, as it did recently in Seaforth at
Peggoty's Bed and Breakfast and Tea Room.
It has also been to garden tours, fall fair parades, lunches
and dinners and the slots in Clinton.
So far, two Seaforth-area women are members of the loci
group.
Lorraine Peck, of Seaforth, has been a member since she
learned in April about Waun beginning the group.
"My brother-in-law's daughter (Waun) is the originator of
the local group and I told her I was joining as soon as I
opened up Focus (newsmagazine) and read about the group,"
says Peck.
"It was a fun idea, getting together with other women. I
wish more women from the Seaforth area would join," she
says.
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Wearing her red hat and purple outfit, Gail Currie, of Goderich
plays a kazoo during the opening ceremonies of a Red Hat
society meeting in Seaforth recently.
County considers
hiring
media consultant
to reassure that
Huron beaches safe
By Jennifer Hubbard
Goderich Signal -Star Staff
It's time for damage
control.
Huron County council
passed a motion at their
Nov. 26 meeting to hire a
media consultant to "put a
positive spin" on the Lake
Huron
pollution
situation, as
deemed
necessary by
chief
administrative
officer Larry
Adams.
The motion
was approved
after health
unit director
Penny
Nelligan,
expressed her
disappointment in
stressing the county is the
"bread basket" for Ontario
and provincial funding
should be available.
However, both Shewfelt
and Doug Layton (North
Huron) agreed that
council
couldn't
afford to
wait for
provincial
mone' .
" T h e
n e w
council is
going to
have to
take a hard
look at
water
source
protection,
because we just can't wait
for the province to give us
money," he, said. "Water is
a huge issue and it will
either make or break us."
Council did not discuss
specific costs of hiring a
media consultant, but
under the Ontario
Municipal Act they are
allowed to spend up to
$50,000 during the "lame
duck period" between
councils.
More than half of that
money has already been
spent — $27,000 to extend
the Lakeshore ambulance
service from Oct. 15
(when provincial funding
was exhausted) to Nov.
15.
"Yes, we realize there's
a problem. We're all part
of it, but we need to part
of the solution as well,"
said Warden Dave Urlin.
"We're living in a glass
house and there are a lot
of people throwing stones
at us."
Adams said Monday he
had yet to hear reports
from council and staff
members who attended
Friday's meeting. He
plans to make the decision
to hire or not to hire a
media consultant after
,receiving those reports.
Quoted
'We're living in
a glass house
andalotof
people are
throwing
stones at us,' --
Huron County
Warden Dave Urlin
the
written media coverage of
the problem, during her
report to council.
"The results haven't
changed over the last 10
years, but we just cannot
get that message out," she
said. "It's a very complex
issue, but in general our
beaches are safe. Our
beach water testing
program is proactive and
one of the best in the
province."
Diane Denomme
(Bluewater) agreed on the
importance of getting the
county's message out
"loud and clear."
"I've heard of several
lodges that have already
received calls from as far
away as Toronto
cancelling reservations,"
she commented. "This
will impact our economy
if we don't get our
message out there."
Council asked Adams to
make the decision pending
the results of a water
quality meeting at the
health unit on Friday
morning.
Deb Shewfelt
(Goderich) said lake
pollution was not an issue
that should be pin -pointed
solely to Huron County.