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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-02-11, Page 5News Local knitters bring hope to Alzheimer patients with Cuddle Bears program By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Over the past seven years, Helen Storey, of Seaforth has knit about 40 hears for the Huron County Alzheimer Society Cuddle Bear program. "I saw a piece in the newspaper wanting knitters when the program started and my sister-in-law and I thought it was something we could do," says Storey, who along with her sister-in-law Betty Dale, is an avid knitter. Storey says she knits year round for family and other organizations such as the Huron County Christmas Bureau and the Coats for Kids program. "I knit a bag of hats and scarves every year for kids and I knit bears whenever I have the time. I like to have something to do," she says. The two Seaforth area women are among 30 other Huron County knitters who created the 22 Cuddle Bears recently donated at Seaforth Community Hospital, the Seaforth Manor and Maplewood Manor in Seaforth. Susan Hundertmark photo Seaforth Manor resident Doris Smith hugs her new bear as she talks to Amanda Speelman, activation coordinator at the Manor, who distributed eight of the hand-knit bears last Friday. The program, begun by two Goderich women, gives hand- knit bears to Alzheimer patients who hug the bears to decrease the feelings of loneliness that come with the disease when their dementia prevents them from remembering the important people in their lives such as friends and family. "Delivering Cuddle Bears is a wonderful opportunity for me," says Alexandra Beasse, public education coordinator of the Alzheimer Society of Huron County in a recent press release. "It's wonderful to see faces light up with delight when they realize the hear is just for them," she says. County looks for alternative to tax increase Senior staff members were back at the drawing board last week after Huron County council rejected the first 2004 budget draft, which proposed tax increases of more than 50 per cent. "We're meeting this afternoon to follow through on council's request to find alternative options to the increases," said county treasurer David Carey, following council's Feb. 5 meeting. Council received the first draft of the 2004 budget at their Jan. 26 committee of the whole meeting. The draft showed a budget increase of $10 million to a total of $33 million and a 54.6 per cent increase in taxes. "Those are the costs of maintaining the high level of service that the county has come to expect," Carey said, adding Huron is beginning to see the true costs of provincial downloading in 1997 come to fruition. Carey explained the county chose to limit its tax increases in the past by using reserve • funds to cover the lack of provincial funding. However, as these reserves diminish, county residents will see a more drastic increase in their taxes. "As treasurer I don't want to dip into reserves any further. It's an issue of pay me now or pay me later," Carey said. "Other counties chose to go a different way. Last year Huron's budget was about $20 million and Elgin County's — which is significantly smaller in size — was $35 (million). They didn't use reserves, but made smaller increases over time." While the highways department saw the largest budget increase at $6 million, council also expressed concern with the homes for the aged, corporate expenses and the health board proposals. An additional $750,000 was allotted in the corporate expenses budget for water source protection ($500,000) and waste management reserves ($250,000). Homes for the aged saw a Chicken producers take safety measures against bird flu By Sara Campbell Expositor Staff A local chicken producer says Canada should not let its guard down after the avian influenza has now been confirmed in ten nations and has caused 19 human infections within a month. "We have to look back at what happened with what the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak did. We should never let our guard done," said Nick Whyte, director with the Huron County Federation of Agriculture (HCFA). Last week, the World Health Organization declared that avian influenza could be more potentially dangerous than SARS, which swept through several countries last year. The H5N1 strain of avian influenza, also known as the bird flu, has been confirmed in humans in parts of Asia. Some of those cases have been fatal. The disease typically affects birds, but has also been transmitted to humans. Vietnam officials confirm 19 cases of human infection — 14 of them have died, two remain in hospital and two have recovered. On Feb. 5, in the United States, Delaware officials ordered the destruction of about 12,000 farm chickens after confirming a flock there was infected by the bird flu. Whyte, also a district 2 director with the Ontario Chicken Producers, said the chickens in Delaware have a strain of the disease milder than the one devastating Asia's poultry stock. But, prior to the U.S. outbreak, Rick Kootstra, director for the HCFA and Ontario Chicken Producers, said at the HCFA meeting on Feb. 2 that the Chicken Producers are preparing for an outbreak but do not want to create concern. "We have safety measures in place but we don't want to create any panic with a media frenzy. We are drawing on the nest of the world to help fight an outbreak," said Kootstra. "We've been told that it is hardly possible that we'll get it (the virus) here in Ontario but we are ready." Ontario Egg Producers arc also taking measures, added Walter Stalenhoef, director of the HCFA and Egg Producers. "We have a mock disaster plan in place so we are prepared to fight this disease if it comes to Ontario," said Stalenhoef. "We have to be prepared if we want to protect ourselves." The Ontario government issued an updated alert last Friday for health-care professionals, advising them to test people with influenza -like illnesses for the flu as soon as possible. Health Canada is also telling travelers to China, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea and Japan not to consume undercookbd poultry, raw eggs or lightly cooked egg products. Travellers should also avoid contact with live poultry, as well as markets where live animals such as chickens, ducks and pigs are sold. jump of $800,000 as a result of salary increases and a union settlement for their 1994 layoffs. That figure includes the agreed upon two per cent raise each year for non-union employees. "Salaries are the big issue," Carey said. "Employees can take up to 19 sick days and every time they call in sick we have to pay them and a replacement." He said the county is negotiating with the. department's two unions "as we speak." New food safety and communicable disease — West Nile Virus and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome — support programs mandated by Ministry of Health and Long- term Care added $250.000 to health hoard budget. "It's totally unacceptable," Dcb Shewfelt (Godcrich) said of the budget increase in a recent interview with the London Free Press. "We have to come up with a better plan." Carey said Bruce County is also looking at a fairly large increase in their 2004 budget. Council plans to discuss the revised budget at the committee of the whole meeting. By Jennifer Hubbard SEAFORTH INSURANCE jh BROKER LTD. 527-1610 ir • Home • Commercial *Auto • Farm • Out of Province Travel Insurance 41 Main St. S. Seaforth Ken Cbrdno..leanne Wdlian sdn, Christ(' O'Neil and Barb Walt 41, Church 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 St. Thomas Anglican Church A Congregation of the Parish of The Holy Spirit Jarvis St. Seaforth Fr. Michael Atkins Parish Office 482.7861 The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany Worship - 9:30 am Sermon Series: Blessings and Woesl Prayer Group - Monday at 7:00 pm Handels' Messiah - Monday at 7:30 pm Groat Chap*, • St Naar Wed Feb Mb at 00 pm Parish Canal • Sat 210 at St. Thomas' 11 00 am 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 NORTHSIDE - CAVAN UNITED CHURCHES Cavan 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Northside Winthrop 54 Godedch St. W. Sunday February 18, 2004 Northside Service - 9:30 am Cavan Service • 11:00 am Annual Meeting Guest Speaker: Bruce Whitmore You are invited to attend these area churches 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 Egmondville United Church Sunday School 10:00 am Worship Service 11:00 am Sunday February 15 Steve Hildebrand Lay Pastoral Minister In training First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W. Seaforth Rev. Ted Nelson Interim Minister Sunday, February 15 11:15 a.m. THS HURON !DEPOSITOR, FEBRUARY 11, 2004-8 "Zoe -owed a e4e 'sett .j14arerlts eaw " ALBE T STREET DERTURE CI1NIC Denture Specialist Dean R. McTaggart D.D. Complete and Partial Dentures Denture Repairs Relines - Additions 482-1195 50 ALBERT STREET CLINTON tijptime. service TRACTOR SERVICE SPECIAL Complete Tractor Inspection Including: • Electrical System Check • Exhaust Condition Check • All Belts Checked • All Operator Controls Checked • Hydraulic Flow Test • Dyno Test Now Only$ 29.00 Limited Time Offer. Winter labour discounts In effect on all equipment! ZACCObtaji FARM EQUIPMENT Call Clarence at Seaforth 527-0120 or Call Marty at Exeter 235.2121 Visit our website: www.teamvincent.com 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" a.