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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-11-20, Page 3LyndaNltlman-Rapley rakeshaeAdvance ''Beginning to look a lot like Christmas Rose Heipel was just one of many Grand Bend Horticultural Society volunteers sprucing up the Village for the Christmas season. Don't miss the Horticultural Society Christmas Dinner and AGM Celebration... Doris Semple For the Lakeshore Advance The General Membership Meeting of the Grand Bend & Area Horticul- tural Society (GBAI IS) was held at the end of October with members and guests intrigued to learn about Thera- peutic horticulture. Guest Speaker Rose McCallum of McCallum Out- reach Services, Thamesford, works Mostly with long -term -care and men- tal health residents, and is currently on contract With a long- term care home. Rose's presentation included the fol- lowing topics: What is therapeutic horticulture? A practice using plants and horticultural activities to promote well-being; origins of therapeutic hor- ticulture (hospitals, prisons, WWiI sol- dier rehab); benefits (physical, intel- lectual, emotional, psychological, social, spiritual); training required and levels of certification. A slide -show presentation showed a ariety of activities offered to residents -,by this program: plant propagation such as geranium cuttings; forcing bulbs; drying and pressing flowers for arts and crafts projects; tidying up and weeding outdoor flower beds; repot- ting indoor plants; decorating entry- ways, doorways, etc. using items such as greenery, pumpkins, cornstalks; selling plants to generate funds for gar- den supplies. Rose demonstrated a number of Methods used to help facilitate activi- ties for some of the more elderly or less mobile residents: placing sections of foam pipe insulation on handles of garden tools; using a rubber mat to set pots on to keep them from sliding while working; magnifying glass to bet- ter see seeds, insects. Rose shared many great ideas that could be useful for those with aging family members and everyone was encouraged to look at her display during the refreshment break. The business portion of the sleeting included several announcements: a newly formed Marketing Committee to look at its literature, website and logo. Members were asked to submit their comments and suggestions; A big thank you went out to Dale & Paul Wil- son and Chuck & Rosie I ieipel for their work on refurbishing the municipal benches; The 2014 Program is almost complete and will be announced at the AGM; Nominations to the Board were being accepted and tickets for the upcoming Christmas Dinner & AGM Celebration were available for pur- chase. Betty I lenry noted that this is an all-inclusive 'Turkey Dinner for $20.00 per person and the deadline is Nov 22nd to purchase ticket(s). This event is to take place on November 25th at the Legion and it will review and celebrate the activities of this past fiscal year. Doors open at 5:30pm. Members and guests will gather to enjoy a Christmas Dinner, a small busi- ness meeting which will include a year-end review of activities, then a special demonstration to follow of a seasonal planter using anthuriunls by Westland Greenhouse. One lucky din- ner ticket holder will go hone with this creation. the (,BAI iS welcomes anyone wish- ing to join us. 'Tickets can be pur- chased by calling Cecily Boyle at 519- 238-2440. Also, Annual Membership will be available for purchase for only $10.00. There are many perks of mem- bership, but most importantly you would be supporting an organization that is snaking a difference in your home community. I lope to see you November 25th, Judy McDonald, President, Grand Bend & Area horticultural Society 11aet:s.wT ..r .p--- -•- e....M.- Wednesday, November 20, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 3 Smoking restrictlons get tougher The Ontario Liberals say they'll sweep outdoor smoking into history's as11 heap, pushing changes that would ban smok ing on restaurant patios and sports fields. "We want to reduce Ontari- ans' exposure to the harmful effects Of tobacco and lessen the burden of tobacco -related dis- eases our health care system,' health Minster Deb Matthews said Wednesday. Smoking kills 13,000 Ontari- ans a year, her ministry says, costing taxpayers $19 billion in health care and sucking $5.8 billion from the economy through lost productivity. If the minority government gets the hacking of the NI)1', which Matthews said she e'xpe'cts, most of the new law would take effect July 1 with the patio bun in place for Ian. 1, 2015. The Ontario -wide hall would replace a hodgepodge of munic- ipal balls, most of which didn't go as far. For example, while London created a nine metre no -smok- ing buffer around playgrounds, Queen's Park would more than double that to 20 m for play- grounds and sports fields. The new law would target those encouraging youth to smoke: Retailers would no longer be able to sell flavoured tobacco or set up shun at col leges and universities. '!he focus on youth is key, said ('hristopher Mackie, the medi- cal officer of health for the Lon - dots region. "It's really crucial getting smoking out of the faces of our chi1(1nm," he said. "Smoking remains the No. 1 killer of Ontarians" Lambton partners with 211 Ontario Wyoming, ON Lambton County residents seeking infor- mation during a major emer- gency will now have an addi- tional resource at their disposal. 'lhe County of l.tumbton has part- nered with 211 Ontario for that agency to answer telephone calls from residents seeking answers to urgent questions. 211 Ontario operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, pro- viding service in 175 languages. The agency has been providing information about community and social services to Lambton County residents since 2011. On a day-to-day basis, residents can call 211 to find out about a wide variety of community services such as child care, employment services, financial assistance, government programs and serv- ices for seniors. During tinges of emergency, 211 will provide spe- cific and authoritative informa- tion that will help residents cope tvIth and recover from an emergency. "Calling 211 during times of emergency will provide residents with accurate information and instructions from municipal and emergency officials," says Mark Wetering, Emergency Manage- ment Coordinator, County of Lambton. "It's hoped that the public will be less inclined to call 911 looking for information, thereby keeping 911 lines open for those calling for assistance, or reporting an emergency:. 211 is not a public notification system or a news tip line. It is activated during an emergency by a local municipality or the County. Residents will be advised through the local news media, as well as other sources, that calling 211 is an ,additional means avail- able to them to obtain official information and instructions. Examples of when 211 might he activated include: • Following a Targe -scale disaster that requires a response from either the County or local municipality (i.e. the 1 Iwy. 402 Snowstorm Emergency, 2011 Lambton tornado, Superstorm Sandy power outages); • During a large-scale evacuation following a disaster; • \Vhen emergency shelters are opened for residents because of a disaster; • Following a tornado causing major damage to communities and infrastructure; • During a drinking water advisory; • Following a widespread power outage during extremely hot or cold temperatures when emer- gency shelters or warming or cooling centres are opened to the public; • Following a disaster when vol- unteers or donations are needed. ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! DEADLINES Our Weekly Deadlines are as follows: ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL Friday @ 2:00 pm Grand Bend 8S Ailvaaco 58 Ontario St. N, Grand Bend PH: 519438-5383 ht ,advance©sunmedle.ca OFFICE IIQIIRS: Mon. & Fri. 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