HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-11-28, Page 5Opinion
The Huron Expositor • November 28, 2007 Page 5
Huron County residents have opportunity to help
African families dealing with AIDS epidemic
To the Editor,
As Dec 1 approaches, we in Huron County
anticipate holiday gatherings, feasts of plenty
to celebrate the season, and the opportunity to
give and receive gifts among our family and
friends.
During the month of December, we have the
privilege of "counting our blessings" and recog-
nizing that we have won the 'jackpot of life."
The beginning of December marks another
anniversary around the world. It is
International AIDS Day.
This day acknowledges the disease which has
devastated many countries in the "Third
World", and continues to infect and affect mil-
lions at an alarming rate.
In sub-Saharan Africa, every country is at
war with the AIDS epidemic.
When we think of this horrible disease, we
cannot help but throw our hands up in despair.
This scourge has left countless children without
parents, and robbed- many African countries of
their educated populations.
In places where poverty, poor sanitation and
lack of education are the hallmarks of society,
AIDS seems unstoppable.
On a recent trip to Zambia, members of
Clinton United Church observed that in many
destitute homes, "all that was missing was the
hellfire." Parents were ill, children were hungry
and grandparents were burdened with the
responsibility of caring for multiple genera-
tions.
Often, small children were seen carrying
babies on their backs, clearly taking on adult
responsibilites before the age of eight.
For the last two years, the residents of
Huron County have been helping to turn the
tide of despair and hopelessness. Children in
Ng'Ombe Compound, one of the worst slums in
the city of Lusaka, are being serit to school,
where they are fed and clothed, and given psy-
cho -social support.
The Kondwa Pre -School and the Flying
Angels School take only orphans and 'vulnera-
ble children and between the two schools, are
caring for over one thousand pupils.
In the midst of dust and desperation, it is a
joy to see .the smiles on the faces of these beau-
tiful children. So little makes them happy, and
See DUST, Page 6
Despite excellent sleighing conditions,
a green Christmas predicted in 1907
November 24,1882
There was no meeting of Seaforth
town council last Monday evening
because a^sufficent number of
members did not attend to form a
quorum. This, unfortunately, is no
unusual occurrence as this is the
third time in succession because of
not having a quorum. It has also
frequently occurred during the past
year that the Mayor has been
forced to appeal to members of
Council, personally, in order to get
them to attend a council meeting.
We understand the Grand Trunk
authorities are anxious to sell the
old station building. The town
should buy it, and set fire to it. If it
will burn, that is the only way we
will get rid of it.
Messrs. Louis McDonald and Co.,
of Walton, are having a stone foun-
dation placed under their mill and
are adding new machinery, which
will greatly increase their facilities
for producing sawn lumber.
Also in, Walton, Wm. Beirnes has
opened a butcher shop and is
bound to supply citizens with the
best nourishment for bone and
muscle.
December 6, 1907
Some time ago the people in the
vicinity of Walton petitioned for a
mail service on the Guelph and
Goderich ,branch of the C.P.R. Mr.
Archibald Bishop, M.P.R., now has
the assurance of the government
that a mail service will be supplied
on that branch as speedily as possi-
ble.
A well known horse importer of
Hensall, T.J. Berry has disposed of
a grand three-year-old Clyde stal-
lion, Lord Armstrong, to James
Campbell of Cargill, for $2,000 he
will make a first class stock horse
and at 'the present time weighs
close to 1900 pounds.
Joseph Keating, when arranging
to place a plate glass front on
Crich's confectionary store, had a
narrow escape from serious injury.
He was jacking up the sill to take
out one of the old iron pillars, when
the pillar broke in the centre. The
top, weighing several hundred
pounds, fell to the ground, grazing
the side of Mr. Keating's head.
Sleighing has been excellent this
week, but George Nesbitt of
McKillop says we are going to have
a `green" Christmas.
December 2, 1932
The government report of the
Medical Officer of Health for
Seaforth, Dr. F.J. Burrows, shows
the population of Seaforth is 1,721,
an increase of 33 for the year. The
number of registered births was 60,
21 of these residents and 39 non-
resident. There were 35 deaths
during the year.
The Seaforth Fire Brigade were
called out on Saturday afternoon to
attend a small chimney fire at the
home of Albert O'Reilly on Chalk
Street. Damage was slight.
Through a mixup in reading the
alarm indication at the fire hall,
the department travelled north on
main street to the outskirts of town
before learning they were. on the
wrong track.
John Edmunds, formerly of
Seaforth, has purchased the garage
business of S.L. Demerling of
Mitchell, Mr. Edmunds is a son of
Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Edmunds of
Seaforth.
The bylaw relating to hawkers
and pedlars was amended at a spe-
cial meeting of Seaforth council. As
now amended, pedlars will pay $25
a year if non-residents and $15 if
residents. Formerly, the fee was
$100 per. day.
December 20, 1957
When a sprinkler head in the
Ontex building released, the build-
ing fire alarm system- was set in
motion. Seaforth firemen arrived to
find water pouring from the sprin-
kler system, but no sign of fire. The
large three-storey former C.F.M.
factory and more recently the home
of Hesky Flax and Ontario Textiles
Ltd., has been accommodated by
Ball -Macaulay Ltd., since fire
destroyed their plant last spring.
Following the election last week
of John Lavender to a vacancy on
Hensall village council, news sto-
ries emphasized that Mr. Lavender,
26, was the youngest person to
serve on council. Clerk J.A.
Paterson said that while Mr.
Lavender is among the youngest to
serve, the youngest person to be
elected is W.D. Spencer of Hensall
who was elected in 1931, at age 24,
Members of Seaforth Legion
named Harry Nesbitt president for
the new year. He succeeds John
Holland, M.M other officers
include: lsst vice-R.S. Box; 2nd
vice -Hartman Huisser; secretary
Ken Powell and treasurer, Archie
Dobson.
December 1, 1982
The Huron County Pioneer
Museum is closed for safety rea-
sons and while a building reserve
fund has been established, the
future of the museum is now in the
hands of the 1983 Huron County
council.
County council made the decision
to close the museum at its Nov 25
session after two reports had been
presented to the joint property and
development committee.
The Seaforth Public Utilities
Commission's (PUC) four outside
employees have not reached a con-
tract settlement with the local com-
mission, according to union repre-
sentative Doug Smale, who feels
that an agreement may be reached
early in the new year.
Christmas carols and Santa's ho
ho -ho will fill the air this Saturday
during the annual Seaforth Santa
Claus Parade. Irwin Johnston,
parade chairman, said the 1982
parade is shaping up to be as suc-
cessful as the 1981 parade. At pre-
sent, he said over 30 entries have
registered, "which is comparable to
last year."