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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2004-01-21, Page 5f i Opinion We all need a luxurious day off to remind us what we're working for From Page 4 ran into a school friend and inquired how her family was, and stopped into a few stores to accomplish some errands that I had been putting off for awhile. Went home to throw in another load of laundry, and put some boxes of clothes I was taking to a consignment store into the car. Shoveled snow for about 20 minutes. Did a little bit of bookwork for the church, and made half a dozen calls to businesses I can never seem to reach on my normal lunch hour, and I was off to Goderich. Me. By myself in the car. Singing out loud to MY tunes. Driving where I want to go. No hurry. No schedule. No kids squabbling in the back seat. No teenager rolling her eyes at my rocking and rolling to MY music. Dropped off the clothes, and then stopped into the shoe store to replace a much loved, very old but durable pair of mitts that I stupidly left in some arena in Southwestern Ontario. Twenty dollars for a pair of mitts -but if they last as long as the last ones- it should be about a dollar a year. Guess I can swing that. Walked around Wal-Mart for a bit, through the drive thru at Tim's, then to the new Maitland Rec Centre to watch my daughter play a game of high school hockey. Wow, that is really some place. I was very impressed, and I hope they make a go of it. There is a walking track around the upper floor of the arena, a very awesome pool, nice big gymnasium, and of course the ice surface with actual seats! It looks wonderful. The game was close, 2 to 1 for my daughter's team. (Broke my heart to have to cheer for CLINTON high school! Go Redmen—woo-hoo) I had the pleasure of another Mom's company for the game, and that was quite enjoyable. Home to Seaforth, and was able to give another girl a ride home, repaying similar rides for my daughter on other days. Picked up my two youngest from school and set off for Brantford to take my oldest out for dinner, visit a little and give him the items he forgot to take back to school with him after Christmas break. It was so nice to have the whole family together; we rarely get the chance anymore. Now I'm sure this wouldn'th'eem like much of a day to most of you, but for me, it.was heaven. A whole luxurious day of ease. I did not go to work. I chid norclean. I did not go to work. I did not do the major bookwork I have been avoiding. I did not go to work. I did not do the household repairs I should have done. I did not (have I mentioned this?) go to work. I did not even read my book club book. I was absolutely not doing much of anything constructive. (My mother used to love that word -"find something constructive to do" she always used to say, yeah, Mom, like I was going to look for something constructive to do!) To paraphrase Sass Jordan, on Friday I did what I wanted, not what I oughta. And it was glorious. We all need a day like that, to recharge, to take a little time for ourselves. To remind us that what we are working for is worthwhile. On the way home from Brantford I stopped and bought a ticket on the Super 7, $20 million draw. And I put myself to sleep that night dreaming about what it would be like to be able to spend every day like I did that day. And I'm sure there was a smile on my face. Letter Central Huron Global Village Club raising funds for Ugandan orphans To the Editor, I am writing on behalf of the Global Village Club at Central Huron Secondary School. Currently we are starting an African Aid campaign geared towards raising funds to pay for the schooling of an orphaned family in Uganda. Last summer, I received a letter from Richard Odoki from Uganda (he had gotten my address through a pen pal program). We started corresponding, and got to know each other. He wrote me about the problems they have in Uganda. The "Lord's Resistance Army" (often referred to as the rebels) want to lead/rule the country based on the 10 commandments. But since they do not have enough people to fight for them, they abduct young men and brutally force them to fight. Teenaged girl are also abducted to become their "wives." This civil war has been going for 17 years in northern Uganda. And there is not much international attraction to it. Richard's family has been deeply affected by this conflict: the rebels killed his father and wounded his mother during an attack on their village. So he and his three younger siblings have no source of income and will not be able to go to school (which is not funded by the government). The current goal of the CHSS global village club is to raise enough money so these children can get an education. During the next few weeks, members of this club will go visit Huron County businesses and ask them for donations. CHSS will then host a "Stuff -A -Locker" fundraiser where a locker will be filled with donated goods and gift certificates. Students will pay to guess the right combination, and the person who gets the right or closest combination will win everything in the locker. But this fundraiser will probably not bring enough money, so if anyone would be willing do a donations for this, it would be immensely appreciated. For more information, feel free to contact me at 519/ 527 14 06 Nadine Ringgenberg News Brussels Livestock owner stays positive despite worries about recent BSE news By Sara Campbell Expositor Staff As Huron County farmers are expressing concerns over the second case of bovine spongiform .encephalopathy (BSE), the owner of one of the largest stockyard exchanges in the area is staying confident. "As long as people don't panic everything will be fine. Things are not as serious now as it was last summer," said Len Gamble, owner/manager of Brussels Livestock. "Everybody is worried about financial troubles but no one would back out of farming. We're all hurt and there is no one to blame." Gamble said the government is taking action to reopen borders and offer financial support and market prices are going back up. "I think things will stabilize soon and come back up," said Gamble. Last summer, Gamble said prices for larger cattle were at 30 - 40 cents and as of last week, prices are at 80 - 90 cents or up to a $1 for limousine cattle and 70 - 90 cents for larger cattle. "Borders will hopefully be opening back up soon and Mexico has expressed interest in having cattle shipped there," he said. "Things are being done to help." However, Paul Nairn, OFA _ member service representative for Huron and Perth Counties, said although he has not heard calls of concern from beef farmers he is hearing from other livestock farmers. "I have had calls from those not covered by the main BSE compensation programs – those who raise dairy replacement heifers and from an elk farmer," said Nairn. He added that because of the recent BSE case, consumers and farmers may lose faith in the beef industry. "The latest announcement of the DNA confirmation of the U.S. cow as being of Canadian origin, may delay a much anticipated announcement from the U.S. to accept Canadian cattle under 30 months," said Nairn. "This may result in less confidence in the industry, and perhaps a decrease in cattle feeder prices – but this is only speculation at this point." Neil Vincent, president of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture, said the Americans are saying it wasn't their case of BSE because the infected cow was born Canadian and born before the ban of certain feed products. But, he said that leaves the question of where the cow came in contact with the feed. "I don't think it matters where the cow came from, it might have the possibility of rendering the products before tile ban," he added. Vincent said research has proven that Canadian beef is still safe which should help to build consumer confidence. Yet, he said politics are preventing any chances of the borders reopening, "There is a political delay on what will happen with the borders. I see no reason, scientifically, why the borders should not reopen," he said. "Canadians are asking for the same assurance as Americans." And locally, Vincent said he has received many calls from farmers expressing various concerns because of the BSE case in the U.S. "Those shipping cattle are concerned whether the borders would reopen while others are concerned about market prices," he said, adding cattle are selling at $250 compared to $600 before the BSE crisis. Vincent said that while looking through grocery store flyers, beef is at about $4.50 a pound but prices for butchering carcasses are an average of $2. Therefore, store prices should average under $3 a pound. "Someone is benefitting and if we don't have better programs in place, people will lose farms," he said. Vincent added that farmers are also concerned that Canada does not have the killing capacity for the cattle over 30 months old, believed most likely to get the disease. "We were relying on plants in the States before the BSE crisis," he said. "Farmers took a real hit again when the second case was found and we thought the borders would re -open. "Politicians, both federal and provincial, have to get on board together to help this situation or else we won't have a beef industry." MI HURON IXPO1ITO11, Jain. 21. 2004-5 ..r:h ii.`c.[i Services BEREAN COVENANT CHURCH A CHURCH PLANT OF GRACE TRINITY COMMUNITY CHURCH 527-0029 Fellowship at 7:00 pm Pastoral Team: Pastor Bob Penhearow Pastor Ron Matthews Pastor Royal Hamel You• are' invited to attend these area churches St. Thomas Anglican Church Jarvis St, Seaforth Fr. Michael Atkins Parish Office 482-7861 TheThIrd Sunday after the Epiphany Worship - 9:30 am January 26 Prayer Group - 7:00 pm Catholic Church St. James RC Church 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 527-0142 Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm Sun. 11:00 am St. Columban RC Church Saturday Mass at 7:30 pm Father Lance Magdziak Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 527-0982 Sunday School 9:45 am Sunday Worship Hour 11 am Jim Wyllie - Pastor Egmondville United Church Sunday School 10:00 am Worship Service 11:00 am Sunday January 25th Guest Minister Rev. Nick Vandermey Steve Hildebrand Lay Pastoral Minister In training NORTHSIDE - CAVAN UNITED CHURCHES Cavan 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Northside Winthrop 54 Goderich St. W. Sunday January 25, 2004 Guest Speaker - Melissa Snyders Fellowship & Games Night - Northside Fn. Jan. 23rd 7:00 pm Sunday Brunch at Cavan - Jan. 25th 10:30 am First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W. Seaforth Rev. Ted Nelson Interim Minister Sunday, January 25th 'Warm up with soup and sandwiches following the service!' 'Roeder • the best vtarm fa a Christian s B I.' MAPLEWOOD MANOR Retirement Home 13 Church St., Seaforth At present we have Private and Semi -Private accommodations available. Features include: • excellent dining and snacks • dietician approved menus • laundry • housekeeping • medication administered by our professional staff • transportation arranged for appointments • 24 hour friendly professional staff • beauty salon • barber services • daily activities • convalescent & respite stays available ORCA for more information contact Tracy Nash at 527-1440 Fax # 527-2977 Maplewood ,Manor "Your Invitation to Gracious Retirement Living" • It's back. It's better. It's money in the bank! Get up to $6.50/acre cash back! Once again corn growers can get cash back on their trusted brands,Ibut now soybean growers can experience the Power Acre* too. 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