HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-07-18, Page 6Page 6 The Huron Expositor • July 18, 2007
News
Children of Chernobyl celebrate 10 years in Huron County
Aaron Jacklin
Next Friday (July 27) will be Olga
Filinskaya's 13th birthday and she'll
celebrate it here in Seaforth instead of
with her family in Gomel, Belarus.
Filinskaya is one of 10 children from
the radiation saturated region who
have come to Huron County for six
weeks to give their immune systems a
break.
This is the tenth year of the program.
The Chernobyl disaster may have hap-
pened more than 20 years ago, but its
effects are still felt in the region.
'They're finding the occurrence of thy-
roid cancer has increased a considerable
amount, especially in kids, even just in
the last 10 years," said Lynn Dawe,
Children of Chernobyl chairperson.
"None of these kids were even born
when the accident happened," she said.
That's why Children of Chernobyl
• Huron County have brought kids from
the affected area to the county to stay
with host families for the last 10 years.
"Most of the kids that we've had com-
munication with over the winter,
they're either not sick or it's less severe
after they've been to Canada in the
summer," she said, noting that many of
them would have missed several weeks
of school through the winter otherwise.
"With that six weeks here," she said,
"it does give them enough of a boost
that they can sometimes make it
through the winter without a major ill-
ness."
Laurie Dolmage of Seaforth and her
husband Larry are hosting Filinskaya
this year.
"It's fun to hear of her culture," says
Laurie.
She and Larry have two daughters,
Sarah, 12, and Lindsay, 15. She says
Filinskaya fits right in.
"They get along really well," shellays.
"I like learning about the culture,"
said Lindsay, saying that she likes
Russian pancakes.
`They're really sweet."
Filinskaya said this is her third trip to
Canada and second time staying with
the Dolmages.
She celebrated her birthday with the
Dolmages and a
few of the other
kids visiting
Canada. Laurie
baked a cake.
"It was a tradi-
tional cake her
grandmother
makes," she says.
"They sent the
recipe and we had
it translated."
She explained
the cake was simi-
lar to peach upside
down cake, except
with apples instead
of peaches.
"It was good,"
she says. "Oh, it
,` '.ams
You are invited to attend these area churches
St. Thomas
Anglican Church
ACapplizdtePath dThe Hoy Spit
Jarvis St. Seaforth 519-527-1522
Rector: The Rev'd Sue Malpus. M. Div
Sunday, July 22
Worship at 9:30 am
Children's Summer Program et 9:30 am
Sat. July 21 at 10:3o am
Parish Meati - Everyone Is
encoura to amend.
Wed. July "pet n9" St. Thomas'
Focus Me
St. James Roman
Catholic Church
Welcomes you
14 Victoria Street, Seaforth
519-527-0142
Sunday Mass 11:00 am
St. Patrlcks, Dublin
Sat. Mass 5 pm - Sun. Mass 9 am
Fr. Chris Gillespie
Bethel Bible Church
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St. Seaforth
519-527-0982
Sunday Worship 10:00 am
Pastor Mark Kennedy
EVERYONE WELCOME
Egmondville -
United Church
Pastor Steve Hildebrand
Sunda Jul 22
ye y
10:30 am
Congregational Picnic
Van Egmond House
Potluck, bring dishes
NORTHSIDE UNITED
CHURCH
54 Goderich St. W.
' Rev. John Gould
CLOSED
FOR VACATION
July 8 -August 5
First Presbyterian
Church
Goderich St. W., Seaforth
Rev. Henry Huberts
Sunday July 22
11:15 Service am
Sunday School & Nursery Provided
Everyone welcome
was good."
Aaron Jacklin photo
Ten children came from Belarus to Huron County this year. In the back row, Kristina
Kostsuchenko, Maryna Artsiometo, interpreter Olga Kurbatova and Olga Filinskaya.
In front are Sasha Teresh, Veronika Kulikovskaya, Elmira Nurgaleeva, Artiom
Govorunov and Vika Singaevskaya. Julia Kaminskaya and Sveta Kovalchuk were not
present.
Laurie said that the kids sang a tradi-
tional song as they danced around
Filinskaya and tugged on her ears.
Filinskaya explained that if you're
turning 12, you get 12 ear -tugs "to grow
you up."
"Isn't it for good luck?" asked Laurie.
"For luck too," said the 12 -year-old.
Filinskaya, the other children, along
with many past and present host fami-
lies and members of the community
came together in Hensall Saturday for
the annual Children of Chernobyl bar-
becue.
This year they celebrated a "decade of
caring" with 270 lbs of pork, 40 lbs. of
potato salad, 30 lbs of cole slaw and 25
lbs of Mediteranian salad, and three
large cakes.
Dianne Waun of Exeter has been
involved with Children of Chernobyl
Huron County since the beginning.
"I hosted kids fqr the first five years
If you are unemployed or on El
FR
Group
Professional Resume Development
Interview Preparation
Job Seekers & Coaching Club
Call The Centre for Employment &
Learning for.more information
519-524-2515 Goderich
519-482-1700 Clinton
519-235-0471 Exeter
519-527-0305 Seaforth
519-357-4995 Wingham
EMPLOYMENT
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ErMOtoyment O taro programa.a,e funded
part by thn Government nr Canada
and interpreters for the second five
years," she said.
She said there were some rough times
through it all.,
"I'm glad I hung in there," she said. "I
think I've made a real difference in
their lives."
Olga Kurbatova came with the chil-
dren as their interpreter. It was her
first year as an interpreter in Canada,
though she took a group of children to
England three years ago.
She says the Canadian families take
really good care of the children, noting
that almost all of them will visit a den-
tist and that they're kept busy with all
sorts of gatherings and outings.
"They entertain us in every possible
way," she said.
Kurbatova said they'll be going to see
Oklahoma!, to Canada's Wonderland,
Medieval Times and African Lion
Safari.
Crystal Gage, a country music singer
from Windsor, performed at the barbe-
cue.
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