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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2009-07-15, Page 4Poge 4 July 15, 2009 • The Huron Expositor Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK IW0 Express your cornments about future of rural healthcare at meting In a community as supportive of local healthcare as Seaforth is, residents likely need no prompting to attend a meeting being hosted by the South West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) on . July 23 at the Seaforth community centre at 7 p.m. But, with the South West LHIN contemplating its health system design blueprint for the next three years, the meeting will be an important opportunity to express your comments and concerns about the future of rural healthcare. As we're well aware in Seaforth, a shortage of medical professionals - both doctors and nurses - is putting a huge strain on the system. That human re - mimes shortage caused Seaforth Community Hos- to shorten its emergency department hours in :February - a measure that is showing no immediate signs of being reversed. While we became the first hospital in Ontario to make that decision, we're hoping we're not becom- ing an example others will be obliged to follow. And, we're also hoping, it's a loss that will not become permanent. w - , e x Q= Huron County politicians and administrators re- turned from an invitation -only meeting of the South West LHIN in Owen Sound a mcl'nth ago worried that rural emergency departments could be threat- ened. Warden Ken Oke told county council at the time that he was alarmed to hear the opinion expressed that there's no reason to have all of the region's emergency departments open all the time and urged vigilance among local politicians on the issue. Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance CEO Andrew Williams also warned at the Alliance's annual meet- ing at the end of June that change is coming to rural healthcare, possibly including shortened hours of the emergency department in St. Marys and a look at emergency departments in Seaforth and .Clinton. "Future access to local healthcare is going to large- ly depend on our willingness to change our assump- tions about how we define a hospital," he said at the time, adding that the Alliance will also be holding some town hall meetings to discuss future plans. It's obvious that change is a'coming. And, it's im- 4portant that as rural healthcare consumers, we take -every opportunity to be involved and, if necessary, fight for the kind of care that rural Ontario de - Susan Hundertmark Don't let rainy weather keep you from enjoying the outdoors The Scottish poet Robert Burns once wrote that, "The best -laid plans of mice and men go oft awry." The 18th century bard knew that life is unpredictable and it's important to enjoy the present moment. In the weeks leading up to my recent vacation from work, I had a dis- tinct vision of how I would spend my allotted time away from the office. I planned on spending a week with my ex- tended family at the Muskoka cottage they've rented every summer for the past decade. Situated on a private lake surrounded by lush forests, this spacious, multi -bedroom chalet was going to be the perfect getaway for some much -desired R&R. But with access to a canoe, kayak, swim- ming spots and hiking trails, I planned on spending 90 per ccnt of any Lillie outside its doors. All I needed was a little sunshine. But that never came. From the time I arrived on June 29 until I packed up to leave on July 4, the sun shone down for approximately 17 minutes. (That might be low -balling it a bit due to my bitter- ness, but it was scarce nevertheless.) During a four-hour kayak voyage with my uncle, we got waterlogged. On a lengthy na- ture walk. with my dad, we got drenched. I even got soaked with rain while swimming in the lake with my brother. (Sounds unlikely, Ron&Wive Here boy.... warn bone? c' mon boy. �Cmon fella....here's your" bone....that's -a good boy ....here boy....c'mon.,.... but trust me!) For that entire week, the sky provided us with drab, downcast dreariness when we wanted lively, lustrous lumi- nosity. There I was, on the vacation I had been dreaming about for months, without a ray of sun- shine to enjoy. It was enough to ; bring a tear to your eye, if your face wasn't already sopping wet with rain. Still, I resolved to play cards with the hand I was dealt. After the third day I didn't even notice that my shirt had soaked right through or that my socks felt as if they turned into a type of squishy liquid. I did all the things I planned to do. I hiked in the mud and went fishing in the rain. In fact, the daily rainshowers didn't seem to deter any one the 16 people on this trip. When I look back on the highlights of the week, I can barely remember the rain. It tru- ly didn't matter whether the weather shone or showered. It made me think of a message I saw on the sign outside Egmondville United Church a few days before I left. It read, "Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain." And although I guess I didn't actually dance in the rain that week, I was having enough fun that I might as well have. �Atta boy....1 his way...wanna nice bone?... c' mon fella almost there.... here ya go doggie.. here's your bone... good boy! by David Lacey Hey Mom! I couldn't get rid of him.... He just followed me home! Can. I keep him? Your Community Newspaper Noce' 1860 Publisher - Dave Sykes Editorial and Business Offices -11 Main Street., Seaforth Zhlephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. 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