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Huron Expositor, 2004-06-02, Page 3News Seaforth skate park organizers looking for youth to get involved By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor While only a handful of people attended the first organizational meeting for a Seaforth skate park Saturday morning, local teen Kyle McNichol says he's confident the "serious skateboarders" in town want to get involved. "My friends have been wanting a park for awhile so I think they'll be interested," said McNichol as he joined the steering committee for the skate park. The 10 a.m. meeting was timed wrong for teenage participation, added Ruth Feeney, of Seaforth. "I think most of them are still in bed," she said. Organizers John and Susie Ryan stressed that Seaforth's youth have to get involved for a skate park to be a success. "We got you the land and we're going to get you the money if you can help with the plans and the building," said John. "The truth is that without the help of the youth, there won't be a park. But, if we get enough people committed, it'll be up this summer - it won't take long," he said. Using a white board and marker, the Ryans encouraged the youth attending to draw the types John Ryan talks to Matt Bouvier, his stepson Mitchell and structures they'd like to see at a Seaforth skate park. - of structures they'd like to see at a Seaforth skate park, such as half -pipes, quarter pipes, pyramids and dragon tails. While he's still not certain about the costs of the ramps, John said initial fundraising will concentrate on the $2,000 estimated to pay for a cement pad at the skate park site behind Seaforth's town hall where the old water tower used to be located. Because the town plans to locate parking lots on the east and west sides of the skate park, the Ryans are planning to install chain link fence at Susan Hundertmark photo Kyle McNichol about the type of either end of the park. "We don't want the kids blamed if there's any damage to the vehicles," said Susie. One of the fundraising ideas is to stencil names on boards that will be used to create fencing beside the town pumphouse for a $10 donation each. The fence boards will be sold at the Optimist Hall this weekend (June5) during the Community Yard Sale and Optimist Breakfast. As well, John says car washes and school dances will be planned to raise money. McNichol suggested going to schools where students are learning how to pour cement and allowing them to learn their skills on the pad that will house the Seaforth skate park. John added that he will be visiting the Seaforth community development trust about a possible donation. "Right now, all we have is permission from the town. Talk to your friends and gather more support. What we need is to show the town that we can build a park and get it nice," he said. Huron doctors learn to question women aboutabuse during annual check-up By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor After learning that a woman she knew, but never guessed, was a victim of wife abuse, Dr. Heather Percival decided to sign up for a recent workshop on woman abuse, held in Huron County. "I'd seen her on the street with her kids and in the hospital but I didn't get it. It made me realize I'm missing a lot. It's a real eye opener how common it is," she said. Percival, of Seaforth, was one of five local doctors who, along with two nurse practitioners, who attended a recent Routine Universal Comprehensive Screening (RUCS) workshop hosted by Dr. Phil Squires of Wingham. As part of the RUCS program doctors and nurses were encouraged to make universal screening for women abuse a part of their everyday practice. "They said we should ask every single person at their yearly physical whether they've ever been threatened or abused and we'd be amazed at the answers," said Percival. While Percival has only seen about three or four cases of woman abuse in her practice, she said the statistics say as many as 16 per cent of all women have been abuse and that 43 per cent of female homicides are abuse -related. While doctors are part of a group of professionals who are compelled to report suspected child abuse, she said the area is far more grey when it comes to the abuse of their mothers. "Women are not going to volunteer the information. There's a lot of fear and shame and low self-esteem, along with economic reasons. It's a real problem," she said. Percival said that if more doctors become informed about the issue, they can help provide medical evidence in court and help break the cycle 'of violence in a family. "Doctors are not well- informed locally about woman abuse. I'm going to give them a play-by-play (of the workshop) at the next medical meeting • in Seaforth," she said. "Basically through RUCS all female patients over the age of 12 would be asked about the nature, of their intimate relationships during their routine checkups," Women's Shelter executive director Michele Hansen explained. "It's important to ask those questions even if there are no indicators of abuse." Dr. Mike Dawson, of Goderich, said the information he received during the May 5 seminar would be very useful in his Goderich family practice, giving him both the tools and the confidence to identify abuse and take the proper steps to address it. "I'm aware that there is a major problem with the abuse of women, but locally much of it remains hidden. There are people in my practice and our community that arc not being identified by the medical community and I want to make sure that happens," Dawson said. RUCS follows a number of guideline principles for screening, using the acronym ABCD-ER - focusing on attitude and approachability, belief, confidentiality, documentation, education, respect and recognition. Safety was also a key aspect of the workshop, as participants learned how to reduce the risk associated with disclosing abuse. "Every woman should have the opportunity to be screened. A few simple questions at the annual checkup can go a long way," Dawson added. "Even if they don't chose to say anything. they know the subject is open and they can confide in us another time when they are more comfortable." Hansen said she received a lot of positive feedback from workshop participants and is hoping that they will not only use the information in their own practice, but also share it with their colleagues. "From the shelter's perspective it's very encouraging to see such a high. interest in the ongoing issue of abuse against women." According to the Canadian Panel on Violence Against Women and Statistics Canada, both in 1993, 27 per cent of women have In Huron -Bruce Agriculture Needs O Open Borders Programs that work in support of farmers O Strong supply management programs 40i Fair Trade It is time for change. FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMITMENT Vote Barb Fisher Conservative 519 -524 -BARB (2272) 51 9 -396 -VOTE (8683) 1 -866 -816 -BARB (2272) www.barbfisher.ca Authorized by the Official Agent for Barb Fisher experienced a physical assault in an intimate relationship and two of every three women have experienced sexual assault as children or adults or both. On average 40 women arc killed in Ontario each year by current or former intimate partners, accounting for 75 per cent of all female homicides. A follow-up workshop is being planned for September. NEW ARRIVALS Visit us for the area's largest selection of giftware! Shop Early for Best Selection! 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