HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2003-12-10, Page 5Opinion
I'm on ambivalent terms with Santa
as consumerism rules Christmas
From Page 4
pocketbook and your child's character.
But, surrounded by a dwindling group of parents who use
that same magic word, it's often purely economics that help
you keep your resolve.
If I am on such ambivalent terms with Santa, I can imagine
the frustration of those needing to register with the Christmas
Bureau to provide Christmas for their families.
As Joan Van den Broeck, of the Huron County Christmas
Bureau put it to me, one measurement of poverty is what you
can afford in comparison with others in your community.
While North Americans are affluent compared to most in
third world countries or refugee camps, the numbers of
Canadians slipping under the poverty line as we define it is
growing. Local food banks are feeling it and local Christmas
Bureaus are expecting it.
They're also feeling fairly confident that the community
will respond to the need. At Christmas, in particular, we
remember the less fortunate even if we don't necessarily work
towards any political goals during the rest of the year that
would make such charity unnecessary.
Still, it seems to me that Christmas is increasingly about
wants, not needs.
As the almost cliched message of finding meaning behind
all the glitter preaches from every Christmas television
special, the interspersed ads continue to urge the need for
greed.
And, as much as I love Dr. Seuss, it's Jim Carrey's version
of the Grinch who speaks to me most as he rages at the
Whovillians, reminding them how most of their gifts end up
all too soon on the mountainous landfill he's made his home.
Letter
Ovarian cancer has highest mortality
rate of all women's cancers
From Page 4
women will die from this cancer in 2003. Ovarian cancer
has the highest mortality rate of all women's cancers.
Some risk factors are familial link for ovarian cancer in 10
per cent of cases, never being pregnant, family history of
breast, endometrial, or colorectal cancer, history of
infertility and early menstruation and late menopause.
There is no single early detection test available such as the
mammography in breast cancer or the colonoscopy in
colorectal cancer.
The Pap test is not a test for ovarian cancer. Knowledge is
the most important and the best weapon in the fight against
this disease.
All women need to be aware of the following possible
symptoms and signs of ovarian cancer
* Generalized discomfort in the abdomen, bloating, pelvic
pain
* Persistent but vague stomach upset — gas, feeling of
nausea, indigestion.
* Non-specific bodily discomfort that persists or a feeling
of uneasiness that you cannot explain.
* A feeling of early satiety -- feeling too full for no valid
reason
* Loss of appetite.
* Unexplained changes in bowel habits - feeling
constipated or needing to urinate frequently in the absence
of an infection.
* An unexplained weight gain. "Swelling in the abdomen
with no pain" or unexplained weight loss.
* Pain during intercourse.
* Fatigue unrelieved by bed rest.
* Back ache.
* Sometimes unusual bleeding from the vagina.
If you have any of these symptoms and they persist for
longer than two to three weeks, make an appointment to see
your doctor immediately.
It is important though to remember that these symptoms
and signs are not unique to ovarian cancer. If after seeing
your doctor, you still have concerns, go see him or her again
to discuss these concerns. Ask for a referral to a
gynaecologist.
All women should have a yearly recto -pelvic examination.
For those women who are at high risk of developing
ovarian cancer, a CA125 blood test with a transvaginal
ultrasound may be used as a screening tool.
To find out more about this disease visit
www.ovariancanada.org.
Yours sincerely,
Carol M. Martin
Courtenay, B.C.
Marcy returns as Catholic board chair
By Stew Slater
Spedol to The Expositor
Stratford trustee Ron Marcy
will chair the Huron -Perth
Catholic District School
Board, returning to a .post he
has held five previous times
since first joining the board in
1974.
The five -Huron -Perth
trustees, all of whom were
returned by acclamation
during the recent municipal
elections, chose who would
serve key positions for 2004
during the board's annual
"inaugural meeting" Monday,
Dec. 1.
North Perth//Perth
East/Huron East representative
.Vince McInnes, another long -
serving trustee, was chosen
vice chair.
Outgoing chair Bernard
Murray of Perth South will be
the Management chair, Mike
Miller will fulfill the same role
in the Personnel portfolio, and
Mary -Catherine McKeon will
handle Education duties.
Asked if he's concerned
about the lack of turnover in
the trustee positions during the
recent election, Marcy pointed
out the board just replaced
both its director of education
and education superintendent.
"We're getting new ideas
because we've got a new
director, a new superintendent
-- new administration," he
said.
Most recently, Marcy was
Huron -Perth chair three years
ago. This time around, he
expects the newly -elected
Liberal government will
provide a new set of
challenges for the board.
"They'll make changes. I
know that," he said.
He's unimpressed, however,
with some of the Liberals'
campaign promises. Plans to
increase the mininnum drop-
out age and decrease the class
size in primary grades have
yet to become reality, and
Marcy wonders whether
they'll ever come to pass,
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considering how costly they'll
be.
In the case of the drop-out
age, he argues such a move
would create hardship for
teachers asked to deal with
older teenagers who just don't
want to be in school.
And in the case of the
primary class sizes, he notes
such promises have been
made by previous
governments, but never
realized.
As a board, Marcy says,
Huron -Perth Catholic handled
the financial challenges
handed down by the previous
Conservative government
well. And he's confident that
will continue.
Major developments facing
the board in 2004 include the
construction of new
elementary schools in
Listowel and Clinton, both of
which will replace aging
facilities labelled by the
province as "prohibitive to
repair."
Marcy is confident the
construction in Clinton will
definitely be complete by the
end of 2004, and with the
board's purchase of property
in Listowel within the last
couple of weeks, the
relocation of Hesson's St.
Marys school could also be
complete at that time.
The board is currently
undertaking a study of
accommodation issues in
Stratford, with the most likely
outcome being a major
addition at St. Joseph's
elementary to relieve current
and projected overcrowding at
St. Aloysius:
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DIRECTORS & ADJUSTORS
Made, R R. 5 Madre! 3489705
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"idled O'Shea R R 3 Granton
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AGENTS
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A similar study will soon be
launched into all Huron
County schools, with the aim
of identifying any possible
changes in boundaries.
THE FLU SEASON
HAS ARRIVED.
HOMEOPATHY
CAN HELP.
Hometown Health, A. Gingerich, ND
42 Goderich St. W. 527-0196
Also in Huron, St. Joseph's
school in Kingsbridge faces an •
accommodation review of its
own, as it tries to cope with
severely declining enrolment.
COUNSELLING
• Marriage
• Family
• Personal Growth
• Leaming Disabilities
BRIAN O'REILLY, PACT':
BRUCEFIELD 525-0622
Church
Services
BEREAN COVENANT
CHURCH
A CHURCH PLANT OF
GRACE TRINITY COMMUNITY CHURCH
527-0029
Fellowship M 7:00 pm
Pastoral Team:
Pastor Bob Psnhsarow
Pastor Ron Matthews
Pastor Royal Namsl
You are invited
to attend these
area churches
St. Thomas
Anglican Church
Jarvis St. Seaforth
Fr. Michael Atkins Parish Oslos 482-7861
Sunday, December 14
TIN Third Sunday of Advent
WorsNp at 930 a.m.
Nae WW1 Lessons and Carols at 11:00 a.m.
foamed by Pariah Pc4 tudt..
Catholic Church
St. James RC Church
14 Victoria Street, Seaforth
527-0142 •
Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm
Sun. 11:00 am
St. Cofumban RC Church
Saturday Mass at 7:30 pm
Father Lance Magdziak
Bethel Bible Church
M Associated Gospel Church
128 Main St. Seaforth
527-0982
Sunday School 9:46 am
Sunday Worship Hour 11 am
Jim WOO - Pastor
NORTHSIDE - CAVAN
UNITED CHURCHES
Cavan 9.30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. No. hslds
Winthrop 54 Gadsden St W.
Sunday December 14, 2003
Guest Spalkir - Mr. Drs Wilms
YouthTSnell
Egmondville
United Church
Sunday School 10:00 am
Worship Service 11:00 em
Sunday Dec. 14
Slave Hildebrand Lay Pastoral
Minister In trakiing
Christmas Bureau HsadgewWrs
Open Dec. 8.12
First Presbyterian
Church
9odsrtch St. W. Seaforth
Rev. Ted Nelson
Interim Minister
Sunday, Deoarber 14
Worship Seven - 11:15 W1 .
Sunday ShcoOl owing Wail*
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, oecaus*R 10, 2003-8
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