HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-12-01, Page 5O1)iuion
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THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Dec. 1. 2004 5
Letters
Retired pathologist concerned
about lost services at SCH
To the Editor,
As a relative newcomer to the Seaforth area, one of the
local attributes that has impressed me most is the Seaforth
Community Hospital and its efficient staff.
The hospital, with its separate medical clinic building,
Community Care Access Centre and helipad, has a physical
plant and equipment that would be the envy of any town in
this country. The fact that this was accomplished largely
through the efforts of the hospital foundation and auxiliary
with community support, makes it even more remarkable.
For years the hospital has provided exemplary service to
the region but for how much longer? Obstetrics was lost
some years ago and now further downsizing continues under
the Alliance.
Surgery has been much reduced, pharmacy services have
been scaled back and equipment has been moved to other
sites. It is now proposed that Seaforth's bed capacity be
lowered from 34 to 15 with only six active treatment beds
remaining.
Until now, Seaforth Community Hospital has maintained
an excellent core laboratory with the range of testing needed
for such a facility. Now, additional "efficiencies" are
contemplated for the lab.
As a retired pathologist, it is my opinion that any
reduction in core lab services would adversely impact the
viability of the emergency room and remaining acute care
beds; hospital closure would be inevitable.
Perhaps it is time to make the case for Seaforth Hospital
directly to the Ministry of Health.
Alexander Heggtveit, M.D.
Seaforth, Ont.
Alcohol takes more livesthan all
illegal drugs combined, says reader
To the Editor,
Regarding Susan Hundertmark's Nov. 24th op-ed, the
importance of parental involvement in reducing drug use
cannot be overstated.
School-based extracurricular activities also have been
shown to reduce use. They keep kids busy during the hours
they're most likely to get into trouble.
In order for drug prevention efforts to reduce harm, they
must be reality - based. The most popular drug and the one
most closely associated with violent behavior is often
overlooked by parents. That drug is alcohol, and it takes far
more lives each year than all illegal drugs combined.
Alcohol may be legal, but it's still the No. 1 drug problem.
For decades, school-based drug prevention efforts have
been dominated by sensationalist programs such as Drug
Abuse Resistance Education.
Good intentions are no substitute for effective drug
education. Independent evaluations of D.A.R.E. have found
the program to be either ineffective or counterproductive.
The scare tactics used do more harm than good. Students
who realize they've been lied to about marijuana often make
the mistake of assuming that harder drugs like
methamphetamine are relatively harmless as well. This is a
recipe for disaster.
Drug prevention programs must be reality -based or they
may backfire when kids are inevitably exposed to drug use
among their peers.
Sincerely,.
Robert Sharpe, MPA
Policy Analyst
Common Sense for Drug Policy
www.csdp.org
Washington, DC
News
Jason Middleton photo
Egmondville author John Melady reads from one of his books during a recent visit to St. James School.
Editing of school assignments
helped Melady become a writer
By Jason Middleton
Expositor Staff
During a visit on
Monday afternoon to the
Grade 6 and 7 classes at
St. James School a local
author told students that
those little red corrections
on their English homework
might just be the teacher
challenging them.
John Melady, of
Egmondville, said that he
knew he wanted to be a
writer ever since one of his
teachers at St. Columban
School realized his talent
and challenged him with
his writing.
"My essays would come
back with more red marks
on them than blue marks
from the pen I was using,"
said Melady.
"As an old man, I realize
that she really did me a
favour because I think in
writing any book you write
it and rewrite it, rewrite it
and rewrite it," said
t
Melady. "That's what f
was doing this morning:"
A couple of the reasons
he got into
writing,
Melady told
the students,
was because
of curiosity
about people,
what they
did, thought
and the
stories they
had to tell.
"One thing
about writing
is you get to
meet people
that you
ordinarily
would never meet and you
would never see at all,"
said Melady. "You'd never
hear their stories. I just
find that very important
because I've interviewed
people all over the world."
As a high school student,
Melady worked at the
Seaforth News for five
cents
Since
a column inch.
then he has been
on a lot of
travels wroth
trips to
Australia,
Korea, the
United States
and across
Canada and
even an
adventure in
Germany
when he got
to fly in a
Canadian Air
Force F-18.
Melady
said that he
decided to be
in the classroom at
St. Columban "never
thinking I'd be in a jet
plane over Germany
because of something
somebody at St. Columban
School said years and
years ago."
During the presentation
Quoted
'One thing
about writing is
you get to meet
people that you
ordinarily would
never meet and
you would
never see at
John Melady
Melady
a writer
Melady pointed out a few
kids in the audience which
were his great-nephews.
"Their grandfather is my
little brother," said
Melady. "So I'm about
1,000."
In his years of writing
books, Melady has written
books on a variety of
subjects ranging from the
Korean War, Victoria
Cross winners and pilots
and is currently working
on another book.
As a high school vice-
principal, Melady said that
he had the job of
disciplining students.
"One of the things I used
to do with kids who got in
trouble was I'd make them
sit down in rpy office —
quietly over it a corner —
)and they'd have to read at
least one chapter of one of
my books," said Melady.
"I've written 10 books so
they had a bit of a choice."
Snow Removal
*Lanoways *Parking Lots
CaII for a quota
VANDRIEL Excavating Inc.
Clinton
Simon Vandriel
482-3782
Seaforth
Derrick Vandriel
527-0609
•
Michelle Henderson, RMT
Wishing you a Healthy e
Holiday Season!
Gift Certificates available lir
Massage Therapy and
e •� Hot Stone Massage • e
...the perfect Christmas gift for everyone!
f
77 Ma n street 527-1242 •
;AAA. a •. •e •• •
NOTICE TO PATIENTS OF
DR. C. ALBRECHT
I regret to announce that my practice in Seaforth will
close as of January 28, 2005. Instructions for patients
with ongoing investigations can be obtained at the
Seaforth Medical Clinic. Requests to have records for-
warded to a new doctor can be addressed to the Clinic
as well.
Dr. Craig Albrecht
The Seaforth Business Improvement
Association's 2004
Christmas Home Tour
DRAW WINNERS
• 1. $100 gift ostl icsle tray Sedorlh Auloimolive
Kathy BOW*, Egrwindville
2. Power Can end 2 Robed � Seaforth l Seeforth Golf pub
3. Blyth Festival 4 tiduet gift voucher ace plimenb of
(Wee Private Weston
Usa DuAot , Drucelieid
4. 150 gift certilicale frau Cardno's Yens Wear
Cheryl Ccok, Worth
5.850 gift certiAaie tsars *Ward Paull & Paper
B >dr -e
THANK YOU...
b everyone who helped out in anyway b moke the
Christnos Home Tours o success. Special Calks b
the businesses outside of the community who sold
tickets ortho the Seaforth Figure Skating and
Optimist Clubs for the deliaous baking.
THE AREA'S
DEPENDABLE CHOICE
for over 10 years
from $8.95/,h
• ma AssldOwrs Nay Apply
;lie Ile
A#7#7/
i N sir
Church
Services
BEREAN COVENANT
CHURHCH
A BRANCOF
GRACE TRINITY COMMUNITY
RC
Orange Hall Soaforth
527-0029
4 pm Worship Service
Pastoral Past ee ,._w
Pastor Ron Matthews
. Pastor Royal Hornet
You are invited
to attend these
area churches
Angl. Th Chusch
AC ngregation ot the Parish of The Hoy Spirt
Jarvis St Seaforth
Fr. Michael Atkins Parish 011foe 527.1522
Sunday, December 5
Sunday Worship — 9:30 am
Mondays — Prayer G at 7pm
Growers Group — 7:30
'White Gift Sunday - please bring an
unwrapped gift for the Christmas
Bureau
Catholic Church
St. James RC Church
14 Victoria Street, Seaforth
527-0142
Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm
Sun. 11:00 am
St. Columban RC Church
Saturday Mass at 7:30 pm
Father Lance Magdziak
Bethel Bible Church
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St. Seaforth
527-0982
SundayWorship Hour 11 am
P
Sunday School 9:45 am
Jim Wyllie - Pastor
Egmondville
United Church
Sunday, December 5
Worship Service at 11 em
Sunday School - Aga 6 a up - 10 am
Steve Hildebrand Lay Pastoral
Minister In Training
Everyone Welcome
County
Christmas p Off ureau Hope Weak
a
of of
Deo. 9 -10 a.m. • 5 p.m.
HORTH$IDE - CAVAN
UNITED CHURCHES
C/vM 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Northside
Winthrop 54 Godorlch St. W.
Minister Rev. John Gould
Sunday, December 5
Whits Glft Sunday
N.S. COngrpNional Potluck
follaiN t rrvib.
Junior Youth • Thum.
Dec. 9 6:30.7: p.m.
First Presbyterian
Church
Goderich St. W., Seaforth
Dec 5 - 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Henry Huberts
Communion Service White Gift
Sunday (Gift or food for
Christmas Bureau)