HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-01-10, Page 5Opinion
The Huron Expositor • January 10, 2007 Page 5
Lett(' to the to
Municipal involvement in healthcare can
narrow the vision needed for progress
To the Editor,
Seaforth Community Hospital and the
Seaforth Medical Centre have established an
enviable track record that dates back more
than three decades.
These two facilities have been at the forefront
of change. Innovation has been their operative
by -word.
In 2007, other area health facilities are now
touting the establishment of "new" medical cen-
tres, or specialization of parts of their buildings,
or "new" technology links with urban specialty
medicine as state-of-the-art accomplishments.
But, Seaforth could boast of these innovative
accomplishments 30 years ago.
As I watch the evolution of healthcare unfold
in my own community, and in Huron East, I am
compelled to share a couple of observations:
1. In western Huron County, the citizens of this
region recently lost a golden opportunity to
solve many of their current healthcare access
problems, which are now increasing at an
alarming rate. The vision of a new partnership,
involving a regional, fully -equipped hospital,
had been devised. But sadly the dream went
"poof" in a vociferous cloud of smoke. What a
tragedy.
2. In Huron East, the Seaforth Community
healthcare facilities have recently been headed
down a path of outreach and partnership that
will serve the local communities well. New
alliances have been structured that will carry
forward from the 30 -year tradition of progress
and innovation that marks your healthcare
trail.
But sadly, it appears that other voices want
the healthcare system to wear blinders to nar-
row the broad vision and impede the great
progress that is slowly, but suredly, being made.
You now have your own cloud of smoke on the
horizon!
In both cases, it is the inappropriate interfer-
ence of municipal bodies, outside the healthcare
system that took, and will take, the broader
vision and future progress off the rails.
The citizens of Seaforth and Huron East must
not allow this to happen. It is not the mandate
of municipal councils to manage healthcare
facilities.
The community would be better served if they
stuck to their own knitting.
It is too late in my community.
Although not entirely parallel, it was the
absence of partnerships, and the unwillingness
to look further afield, along with a reluctance to
support a broader vision, that contributed to
the closure of Seaforth District High School as
its enrolment dwindled.
I implore that you do not permit a narrow-
minded perspective to do the same to the
Medical Centre and to Seaforth Community
Hospital.
Because that will be the ultimate outcome if
you refuse to reach out, to strengthen partner-
ships and to reach forward. Maintain the cur-
rent broad vision. Speak up before it is too late.
Paul Carroll
Goderich, On
Frozen Seaforth town clock has to be
thawed to get going again in 1882
JANUARY 6, 1882
Joseph Abell of Seaforth has
favored us with a New Year's pre-
sent in the shape of six of the
largest hen eggs we have seen.
They were all layed by a Plymouth
Rock hen owned by him.
The Seaforth town clock was
frozen up for several days. It has
been thawed out and set going
again.
There is now a good crossing on
Hensall's Main Street between Mr.
McPherson's and Mr. Evans. We
would like to see a few more built
as we much prefer walking on
crossings 1O;,going through the
mud.
George Habkirk has sold his farm
on the 4th concession of McKillop
to his oldest son, William for the
sum of $4,500. Mr. Habkirk
intends removing to his farm on
the Northern gravel road.
We notice Mr. Evans of Hensall is
taking advantage of the present
cold spell to flood his skating rink.
JANUARY 11, 1907
John Finch is now serving his
25th year as secretary of the
Seaforth lodge, Ancient Order of
Foresters, and during all that time,
he has only been absent from three
meetings. Thislis a record which is
alike creditable to Mr. Finch and
advantageous to the lodge.
Mr. Fitzpatrick of Seaforth, pro-
prietor of the Grip hotel with Mrs.
Fitzpatrick and two lady friends
had a very unpleasant experience
and a narrow escape from serious
injury on Saturday last. They were
starting out from the hotel with a
spirited team and a covered car-
riage for a drive. In turning round
the wheels slipped on the icy pave-
ment and the vehicle upset. The
horses started to run with the occu-
pants of the carriage entrapped
inside the cover.
Mrs. Andrew Beattie and son
Walter of Brucefield, spent New
Years with Mrs. William Scott and
other friends in Seaforth and
Egmondville.
JANUARY 8, 1932
Mr. and Mrs. John Elgie and fam-
ily of Tuckersmith spent New Years
with Mr. and Mrs. John McLachlin.
Annie and Alice Mustard visited
at the home of their mother Mrs.
Alex Mustard of Brucefield last
week.
A.W. Sillery and Lawrence
Webster returned to Queen's
University, Kingston on Thursday
after spending the holidays at their
homes Seaforth.
Ris Hills has returned to Toronto
after spending the holidays with
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Geo.
Hills in Egmondville.
JANUARY 11, 1957
Seaforth firemen, holding their
annual meeting Tuesday evening
again named John F. Scott as
Chief, Frank Case is foreman and
J.C. Crich, assistant foreman. The
treasurer is M.E. Clark, while
F.C.J. Sills is secretary.
Donelda Adams has resumed her
duties as teacher at J.A.D.
McCurdy School, R.C.A.P. Station,
Centralia after spending the holi-
days with her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Ernest Adams.
JANUARY 6, 1982
McKillop Township council set
1982 wage rates for its employees
at its first regular meeting of the
new year at Winthrop Monday
afternoon.
Seaforth and area seemed to take
Monday evening's bit of a blizzard
in stride. Seaforth Police
Department and Ontario
Provincial Police detachments at
Goderich and Sebringville all
report no accidents of any conse-
quence during the storm, through
many motorists ended up in a
ditch.
Seaforth's first new baby of the
New Year remains to be born.
Seaforth Community Hospital says
it had no new 1982 arrivals as of
this morning.
Former Seaforth postmaster
Stewart Whitmore has accepted a
new position as assistant postmas-
ter at Clinton, and began his new
job Monday.
Ontario Hydro has approved rate
increases that average 6.7 per cent,
previously established in consulta-
tion with and approved by
Seaforth's Public Utility
Commission, to take effect in this
town March 1.