Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-07-08, Page 4Pa©. 4 dui $,'2009 • ..'ihe.Huron. Expositor Editorial • • pinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited,. . Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK IWO • Watching a play throu the eyes o Becoming a guinea pig is helping local people live healthier lives When the Gateway Rural Health Research Insti- tute first arrived in .Seaforth a year ago, it's likely that few local residents realized they would have the opportunity to be directly involved in any of the research institute's work. But, with the recent completion of a study that paired Gateway with the Lawson Research Insti- tute, of London, Ont. looking into the affects of tech- nology and exercise as a way to reduce risk factors for diabetes and 'cardiovascular disease, 25 mem- bers of the surrounding community spent the last three months being very involved. In fact, they spent every day using Blackberrys to transmit the results from blood glucometers, blood sure cuffs, heart monitors and pedometers us-. luetooth technology and doing their best to greater amount of exercise to their lives. it le few of the participants reached the target- ted 10,000 steps a day in their quest to improve eir fitness levels and counteract some of their risk ors for diabetes and heart disease, they found ey were all feeling healthier and had found ways to make more exercise a daily habit. Through the study, one participant discovered she ;vas suffering from an undiagnosed case of diabetes while others were confident that it caused them to take more responsibility for their own health, call- ing the study "the best physical you'll ever have." It sounds like many of the 25 want to continue as a greater study begins this fall, looking at close to 100 people using the same parameters during the next year. Research director Claudio Munoz chose Huron County as the location for the rural health research because of the statistics that show we're near the top or leading in categories such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. In short, we're the perfect guinea pigs for research that will help to improve the health of many rural residents. And, because, of Gateway, we can benefit from health research studies without travelling to a large urban centre. While the idealistic goal of helping others is a good reason to get involved, those who have already stepped forward to participate are finding that they are; most of all, helping themselves towards a healthier lifestyle. F „ ‘, *Actg Susan Hundertmark Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Publisher - Dave Sykes Editorial and Business Offices -11 Main Street., Seaforth Thlephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 MailingAadress - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO Visit our home page at ex www.seaaforthhuronetposiiorcom Canada QUEBECOR MEDIA °° "WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, THROUGH THE PUBLICATIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (PAP), TOWARD OUR MAILING COSTS." my kids adds to the entertainrnent I have always enjoyed the magic of live theatre but view- ing a play through the eyes of my kids has made theatre an even more entertaining experi- ence. Last week, I took in two plays at the Stratford Festival, one with my 16 -year-old son and the other with my 12 -year-old daughter. With my son, who'd studied the Scottish play this year in school, we went to Macbeth. This year's production has become a more multi -cultural affair, studying the abuse of power with references to wars in Africa, Viet- nam, Iraq (when Lady Macbeth looks eerily like Michelle Obama during some scenes) and even, it seemed to us, the Second World War. It's sort of a Full Metal Jacket meets Shake- speare performance and the machine gun fire, grenade .explosions and paratroopers sliding down ropes from the ceiling of the theatre cer- tainly added to the excitement for a kid who spends lots of time in front of a screen playing war -themed video games like Halo. Having written a paper on whether circum- stances or pure ambition • drove Macbeth to murder his king and become a monster on his way to the throne himself, my son's ability to find sympathy with the character in the text disappeared during his viewing of the play. "Macbeth has absolutely no redeeming quali- ties," he said after watching Macduffs young son murdered on stage. The highlight for him was watching Macbeth receive his comeuppance after a machette duel C% ve cMom wants to Summer 1 send us to camp is just summer camp. a way for ' her to get us out of her hair! You're right!, It's an abdication of her parental duties! Susan Hundertmark ended with Macbeth losing to a shovel -wielding Macduff. "Owned!" he crowed to me in a stage whisper as Macbeth met a violent. end, turning tragedy into comedy for me. • While no less tragic, West Side Story was a weeping good time for my daughter and me. Both of us are lovers of musicals and awed fans of dance and Stratford's West Side Story did not disappoint in any way. From the athletically -amazing choreography of the gangs' dance fights to the beauty of il- luminated dresses gliding down into the dress shop from the ceiling, we sat rapt through ev- ery scene. We could barely be still in our seats during numbers like Dance at the Gym and America. My daughter was particularly amused as the juvenile delinquents made their cheeky but valid arguments about how living with poverty, racial violence and hatred has turned them into who they are in the song Gee, Of- ficer Krupke. And, having great aisle seats at the front al- lowed us to be part of the action as actors ran past, particularly in the final scene as Tony's buddies carried his dead body past us as we wept. If you see us snapping our fingers, singing and dancing through the streets of Seaforth as if we're members of the Jets' gang in the next little while, I'm sure you'll understand why. Of course... it also gets her out of our hair. by David Lacey Sounds like a "win-win" to me, 4 SUBSCRJPTION RATES: LOCAL - 38.05 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS; - 36.14 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. Foreign: 38.05 a year in advance, plus $195.00 postage, plus G.S.T. U.SLA.: 38.05 a year in advance, plus $99.84 postage, plus G.S.T. Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. Advertising is accept- ed on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signa- ture, 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 sold. 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 40064683 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 7605 For any non deliveries or delivery concems please call 519-527-0240. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: Circulation Department, P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, ON., NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association & the Ontario Community Newspapers Association Susan Hundertmark Editor seaforthnews@bowesnet.com Dan Schwab Reporter seafortheditoriol@bowesnet.com Maxwell Bickford Advertising Rep. seaforthads@bowesnet.com Bernie Pugh Dianne McGrath Advertising / Office Front Office seaforth.office@bowesnet.cotn seaforthclassifieilss'llowesnet.cont