HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-10-05, Page 44 - October 5, 2005 • The Huron Expositor
Editorial
What a
difference a
year makes
Close to a year ago this week, Seaforth-area
residents were rocked by the news that cuts
to beds and services were being proposed by
the Huron -Perth Healthcare Alliance to com-
bat a $7 million deficit, shared by the four
Alliance hospitals.
The options at the time looked grim -
throughout the four hospitals, beds would be
reduced and outpatient services would be dis-
continued.
A. year later, however, the urgency no
longer feels quite as pressing. While the
deficit still looms at a somewhat lower total
of $6 million, the province turned down any
proposals that involved cuts to local services
and it's still unclear how the budget will be
balanced.
Money has flowed to replace old but expen-
sive technology. - such as Stratford's CT scan-
ner and a major capital project in Stratford
is being planned.
Fundraising continues unabated butfor
state-of-the-art technology, not to reduce a
deficit.
It appears we have gained some breathing
room with the province.
In Seaforth, with the recent announcement
of a fifth doctor and the community prepar-
ing a huge fundraising effort with the CKNX
radiothon on Oct. 22'towards towards a
Computerized Radiology (CR) reader for the
local x-ray machine, there is lots to celebrate.
The Alliance board has begun to meet quar-
terly with local municipal councils, such as
Huron East, but so far the press has not been
invited to attend.
Community attention and involvement con-
tinues to be an important element in the via-
bility of our local hospital.
Opinion
Epidemic of childhood obesity
can also be blamed on a fearful
culture that discourages play
Our kids are fat.
That's what Ontario
doctors are reporting -
with the grim warning
that if the epidemic of
child obesity continues,
our children will make up
the first generation to live
a shorter lifespan than us,
their parents.
The number of over-
weight and obese children have doubled dur-
ing the last 20 years.
While it's obvious that children are eating
too much fat and sugar and that they're
spending too much time in front of a computer
and/or television screen, I think it's certainly
not helping that our kids are also the most
protected generation ever.
Laziness is not the only reason our kids are
indoors sitting still instead of outside playing
street hockey or roaming the neighbourhood in
a massive game of hide and seek.
The world has become so fearful that par-
ents don't let their kids stray as far as they
used to. We're more afraid of random violence
and pedophiles than our parents ever were.
Very few children leave the house at dawn,
only to return at mealtimes and dusk any-
more. That kind of freedom is very rare, even
in small towns like Seaforth.
My kids don't enjoy it, either. But, I remem-
ber those days of my own childhood with plea-
sure and whenever I look at my kids sitting on
Roos & [fie
By Susan
Hundertmark
'Hey Ron..
Can I ask
you a dumb
the couch glued to the
screen, I have the urge to
kick them out to find an
adventure. Then, my fear
kicks in and any adven-
ture gets lost in the
details of who, what,
where, when and how.
As well, we now believe
that all accidents are pre-
ventable and have tried to
remove so much risk from our kids' lives that
baseball bats are now viewed more as
weapons than sports equipment and a lot of
play structures and seen as safety hazards.
And, that's not even mentioning the dangers
of too much sun exposure.
I often wonder when plastic bubbles are
going to be marketed as the perfect protective
device for kids - followed by the regulations
that every child must use one.
Don't get me wrong. The world is a frighten-
ing place and getting moreso - but sometimes
it's hard to know just how much more at risk
we are than we ever were.
And, as we live in fear, play has become such
a structured and supervised activity that
many kids don't know, how to make their own
fun anymore.
Junk food mass -marketed to a captive TV
audience of kids is a powerful opponent of
child health. But, fear seems to be the climate
that provides the audience.
There is no
such thing as a
dumb question.
It is by
asking questions
that we learn.
Where would we
be if Columbus
had not asked
"Is the world round?"
Do you think
I told my teacher
the dog ate my
homework she' d
b it?_
by David Lacey
Don't ask dumb
questions.
Your Community Newspaper Since 1860
E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com
Visit our home page at
www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com
Ce)Canada
oucoft MEDIA
SUN MOO
'We acknowledge the financial support of the
Government of Canada, through the Publications
Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs.'
SU4SCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 35.85 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T.
SENIORS: - 33.85 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T.
USA 8 Foreign: 35.85 a year in advance, plus $83.20 postage, G.S.T. exempt
Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. Advertising is accepted
on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occu-
pied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature,
will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the
applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services
at a wrong price, goods or services may not be solei. Advertising is merely an offer
to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible
for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used
for reproduction purposes.
PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT 40029693
PAP REGISTRATION NO. 7605
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO
Circulation Department
P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, ON., NOK IWO
MemberAsteocatetlee
tte awn
CojMb Neirepepet an Ceerrtesety As.eel.e
Tom Williscraft Susan Hundertmark
Publisher Editor •
Bernie Pugh
Advertising / Office
Jeff Heuchert
Reporter
Dianne McGrath Adrienne Peckitt
Front office Composing
Editorial and Business Offices - 11 Main Street.,Seaforth
Telephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858
Mailing Address - P.O. Box 89,
Seaforth, Ontario, NOK two