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Times Advocate, 1989-06-14, Page 4page 4 Times -Advocate, June 14, 1989 Times Established 1871 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 i BLUE RIBBON AWARD Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario, NOM 1S0 Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386. Phone 519.235-1331 ROSS HAUGH IIM BECKETT Editor Publisher & Advertising Manager HARRY DENRIES DON SMITH Composition Manager Business Manager SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada: $25.00 Per year; U.S.A. $65.00 Boost our seniors June is one of the most special months of the year. That's right. June is not only the start of summer, but the month when we should put out a special effort to recognize our senior citizens. A number of local service clubs and groups have planned activities to entertain our sen- iors during this special month and the man- agement and staff of Exeter Villa have orga- nized a full schedule of events including the third anniversary of the nursing and retire- ment home on John street east. Each and everyone of us has relatives or friends in nursing or retirement homes or hospitals or still residing by themselves in their own homes. It wouldn't take too much of an effort to take a little time during the month of June to drop in for a visit or take them for a spin in the country. They will enjoy it and maybe this feeling will bounce back and make you feel a little better that you helped someone else have a better day. These seniors and elderly citizens regard -- less of age are an important part of our com- munity and our country. They are fellow hu- man beings and should never be neglected. We should let them know we love them and appreciate theirefforts throughout the years." •Those persons in the 65 years and over cat- egory account for more than 10 percent of the total population of Canada. Government researchers have estimated that the proportion of the elderly in the Cana- dian population will go up by three percent by the year 2001 and to 18 percent by 2021. These projected figures are already being re- alized in a number of European countries. For too many years in our modern society, the most emphasis has been put on the well being of the younger population and aging was linked with sickness. Despite the continuing need for more health care facilities because the age span of Cana- dians is rising, we are fortunate to have one of the best healthcare services -anywhere in the world. Although the elderly are major consumers of health care, the Canadian Medical Associ- ation reports most of them are not sick. Less than two percent of those seniors aged 65 to 74 are in long-term facilities at anyone time. This percentage increases to 15 of,those 75 years or_over who areperma- nently in a health care facility. .. Getting around to finances, health care costs of those 65 -plus are running about $17 billion a year. That amounts to 40 percent of all health care spending in Canada. How about each of us doing something special for our seniors during the next couple of weeks? Remember, most of them have worked to the best of their ability to make our country a better place in which to live. By Ross Haugh Fathers vs. Mothers To become a father is not very difficult. To be a father is anoth- er matter. It takes hard work, lots of time and energy. In fact, fathering is oneof the most de- manding and 'difficult jobs I know; Almost as demanding as mothering. And infinitely more difficult than mothering. After all, women are meant to be mothers. Men are meant to be hunters or gatherers or warriors. Before you start throwing to- matoes at me or cancelling your subscription tothe paper, do me a favor, read the whole column. Actually, I'm only partly kid- ding. Of course it is rubbish to believe in the biological role of men and women. We don't live in a biological age. We are for- tunate to live°in the new age of enlightenment, information over- load, technology, women in the workforce, and house husbands. That's progress. • All I'm saying is that from my perspective, women seem to be better at fulfilling their role as mothers than I am at fulfilling my role as a father. And because they are better programmed for it, they find their job less diffi- cult. I agree that only a tiny little bit of that is due to Mother Na- ture (vive la difference!). Most of it is due to our upbringing and our society's standards. Grant- ed. But the results are the same. Women seem to just thrive on motherhood, while men have to work at fatherhood. Which is my long-winded way of coming around to the real is- sue: our respective rewards. Maybe things are different at your house. But around here, people work themselves into a frenzy six weeks before Moth- er's Day. In school, the children spend 50 percent of their waking hours making intricate things for Mother. All through early May, PETER'S POINT • by Peter its they come home whispering to each other and to Dad: "Where can I hide this?" and "What do you think of my present for Mom?" and "I'11 show you what I made if you promise not to tell Mom". To supplement their handi- work, Dad "helps" them to buy presents for Mom. A fancy cof- fee mug here and a pewter candle stick there, a glossy microwave Cookbook, a heritage -design pot holder, and other feminine things. Not to mention the Hall- mark cards with the elegant pro- fessional rhymes. And just be- fore the Big Day arrives, Dad rushes out to complement all these little gifts with a couple of whammies: a dozen red roses and a pair of sterling silver ear- rings. Another expected essen- tial is for me to make a dinner reservation for five - at least two weeks in advance - at an ABM (anything but McDonald's). Now comes Fathers' Day. A bit of a lark. At McNab Public School they allot about 15 min- utes of their precious time to it, or how ever long it might take to produce a paper tie. When I get up on Father's Day morning, I ask the .kids and Elizabeth whether they know what day it is. Father's Day is usually about the 17th on their list of guesses. Then they remember: "Oh, I have a present for you." And out comes this year's version of the crumpled paper tie. Or the clothes pin for overdue bills. Or the limestone "paper weight". And that's it for another year of blood, sweat and tears. For another year of fathering. No flowers. No fancy dinner. Did you know that statistically, Mother's Day is the best, Fa- ther's Day the worst Sunday of the year .in the restaurant busi- ness? I'll let you draw your own conclusions from that. ' Father's Day usually turns out to be the day when I have to drive Stephanie to camp registra- tion, Duncan to a birthday party, and Alexander to a'soccer tour- tTament. And then the lawn has to be cut, the car dunged out, and the back porch painted. I don't 'mind working like a slave for my kids. I don't mind spending absolutely all my earn- ings on them. I gladly devote all my free time to my family. And I'm not a greedy, ungrateful, jealous, comparing individual. Well, not usually. Only on Fa- ther's Day. • • Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North lambton Since 1873 Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited • SIE BtJIBT LEAK DoMINA`TED ROUSE QF CoMMONS AGAIN T0DM,,, WITH FINTAtiCE MINISTER NCWJLSON G0NTINUING TO IGNoRECALLS FoR HIS BEsIGWION. /it',, 3//s Hair we go again Here we go with another chap- ter in the story of how to keep rabbits out of a garden. - Daughter Linda took the advice of using dog hair as a remedy rather literally. She put her dog - Duchess in the middle of the gar- den and combed" the loose hair onto the ground. Duchess wasn't too happy to have this done and did a lot of moving around. The result? You guessed it, probably more plants were trampled than the rabbits could cat all summer. Probably the only solution for using dog hair is to leave the ani- mal. tied up in the garden 24 hours a day. Still on the garden scene, we are again -trying to grow jumbo - sized pumpkins. Last year, due mostly to the terribly dry and hot weather despite buckets and buckets of water, the best weight we could get was 107 pounds. We hope to have larger pump- kins this year, but so likely will our main competitors in Bob Re- ynolds of Usbomc township and the Wein's in Crcditon. .In reading one of the tabloids over the weekend, we learned about foods that pep you -up and keep you full of beans. The article indicated strawber- ries and beans are chock{ful of goodness because they are seed foods and they also boost resis- tance to heart disease and can- cer. Beans are one of "nature's wonders". They offer a mixture From the editor's disk by r(�` Ross Haugh IOU r of protein, carbohydrates and fi- bre which is beneficial to the heart. Charles Klein, the author of a book called, "Sensibly Thin" says, Beans are low in calo- ries and provide abundant ener- gy from the carbohydrates." What's more recent studies found that adding a 16- oz. can of baked beans to the daily diet lowered cholesterol 10 to 12 percent in two weeks. Klein stresses that berries are full of water-soluble pectin which can lower cholesterol lev- els. They also are a fertile source of iron and vitamins A, B complex and C and contain fruit acids that offer super health benefits. According to Statistics Canada, the number of unpaid family workers has dropped from 132,000 in 1975 to 93,000 in 1987. The majority of unpaid family workers are employed in agriculture. In 1987, 59,000 or 64 percent, of the total worked on the farm. Most unpaid family workers are married women aged 25 years and over. The number in this group has also declined. Between 1975 and 1987 , the nurriber of married women aged 25 and over working. without pay in agriculture dropped 25 percent from 53,000 to 39,000. Many of these women were shifting into paid work and self- ethployment in agriculture. Sta- tistics Canada suggests these changes are a result of develop- ments in matrimonial property law. * * * * Last week we talked about Boom Gravett's 27th. annual camp. We neglected to mention •that brochures and registration forms are available in Exeter at RSD Sports. Pun of the Week Anything easy becomes difficult if done reluctantly. - Letters to the Editor Dear Sir: Over the years South Huron hos- pital has experienced many changes in the type of patients served and the diseases treated. Many of the services that once were available have shifted to other institutions mainly in London. This is not unu- sual as even services in London have shifted and now hospitals spe- cialize instead of offering a full slate of services. One area that we offered for many years was obstetrics; babies were very important to South Huron and the community, however, social at- titudes, declining numbers of medi- cal staff actively involved in deliv- eries have contributed to a_deCline in births at South Huron. For ex- ample, over the past five years our deliveries starting with 1984 and ending with 1988 were 48, 40, 23, 27 and six. As you can see this decline creates many concerns regarding continuing with deliveries. We are concerned that we do not have suffi- cient numbers to maintain our skills to the level of current stan- dards. A decline in public demand for this service has contributed to our belief that the dollars and space could serve our community needs in a different and more effective man- ner. In December of 1oRR the remain- ing medical stall who deliver babies at South Huron advised the Board of Governor.: that for tb above rea- sons and others, they would be re- ferring their mothers to other hospi- tals where they have moved to specialize in obstetrics. The Planning Committee met and after considerable discussion recom- mended that alternate uses for the obstetric area bre developed, howev- er, two other. recommendations made by Planning were to retain emergency delivery services and to maintain an area for mothers and babies to return from other hospi- tals. Thank you for the opportunity to address these developments. Your hospital is strong, viable and will- ing to answer any questions of con- cern. Board of Governors South Huron Hospital Association Dear Sir. Your readers might enjoy the en- closed poem I wrote in an attempt to rescue a sick society. Don't touch the "Sacred Cow" She provides our milk and cream She's soured and killed and poisoned lives But she's portrait like a dream Don't threaten the "Sacred Cow" From her fields of joy and leisure Only sacrifice, worship, pay only cash For her "Blue Zone" state called , pleasure _. - rte-•~-., Parasite, vagabond "Sacred Cow" ' Milking all, even kings that reign Lustfully reaping respect and wealth Youthful dreams wasted down the drain ' Parents cry while their children die Stich tragic waste for sure Still society pays through fatal scenes Reck of "Sacred Cow" manure Responsible this, responsible that While all point fingers the cow gets fat Lives end up in the filthy guuer But please! don't dry up this sacred udder This"Sacred Cows" immune from death She thrives on grief and despair Spawning oil spills and death But too "Godly" to see or care The "Sacred Cow" is liquor and beer Why pay for her water and grass? The wotld would be so richly blessed If all would kick her _ _ . Harry A Schroeder HAVE AN OPINION? The Times -Advocate welcomes letters to the editor. They must be signed and should be accompanied by a telephone number should we need to clarify any information. The newspaper also reserves the right to edit letters. Letters can be dropped off at the Times Advocate Office or mailed to: Exeter Times Advocate Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S0 0 • • Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North lambton Since 1873 Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited • SIE BtJIBT LEAK DoMINA`TED ROUSE QF CoMMONS AGAIN T0DM,,, WITH FINTAtiCE MINISTER NCWJLSON G0NTINUING TO IGNoRECALLS FoR HIS BEsIGWION. /it',, 3//s Hair we go again Here we go with another chap- ter in the story of how to keep rabbits out of a garden. - Daughter Linda took the advice of using dog hair as a remedy rather literally. She put her dog - Duchess in the middle of the gar- den and combed" the loose hair onto the ground. Duchess wasn't too happy to have this done and did a lot of moving around. The result? You guessed it, probably more plants were trampled than the rabbits could cat all summer. Probably the only solution for using dog hair is to leave the ani- mal. tied up in the garden 24 hours a day. Still on the garden scene, we are again -trying to grow jumbo - sized pumpkins. Last year, due mostly to the terribly dry and hot weather despite buckets and buckets of water, the best weight we could get was 107 pounds. We hope to have larger pump- kins this year, but so likely will our main competitors in Bob Re- ynolds of Usbomc township and the Wein's in Crcditon. .In reading one of the tabloids over the weekend, we learned about foods that pep you -up and keep you full of beans. The article indicated strawber- ries and beans are chock{ful of goodness because they are seed foods and they also boost resis- tance to heart disease and can- cer. Beans are one of "nature's wonders". They offer a mixture From the editor's disk by r(�` Ross Haugh IOU r of protein, carbohydrates and fi- bre which is beneficial to the heart. Charles Klein, the author of a book called, "Sensibly Thin" says, Beans are low in calo- ries and provide abundant ener- gy from the carbohydrates." What's more recent studies found that adding a 16- oz. can of baked beans to the daily diet lowered cholesterol 10 to 12 percent in two weeks. Klein stresses that berries are full of water-soluble pectin which can lower cholesterol lev- els. They also are a fertile source of iron and vitamins A, B complex and C and contain fruit acids that offer super health benefits. According to Statistics Canada, the number of unpaid family workers has dropped from 132,000 in 1975 to 93,000 in 1987. The majority of unpaid family workers are employed in agriculture. In 1987, 59,000 or 64 percent, of the total worked on the farm. Most unpaid family workers are married women aged 25 years and over. The number in this group has also declined. Between 1975 and 1987 , the nurriber of married women aged 25 and over working. without pay in agriculture dropped 25 percent from 53,000 to 39,000. Many of these women were shifting into paid work and self- ethployment in agriculture. Sta- tistics Canada suggests these changes are a result of develop- ments in matrimonial property law. * * * * Last week we talked about Boom Gravett's 27th. annual camp. We neglected to mention •that brochures and registration forms are available in Exeter at RSD Sports. Pun of the Week Anything easy becomes difficult if done reluctantly. - Letters to the Editor Dear Sir: Over the years South Huron hos- pital has experienced many changes in the type of patients served and the diseases treated. Many of the services that once were available have shifted to other institutions mainly in London. This is not unu- sual as even services in London have shifted and now hospitals spe- cialize instead of offering a full slate of services. One area that we offered for many years was obstetrics; babies were very important to South Huron and the community, however, social at- titudes, declining numbers of medi- cal staff actively involved in deliv- eries have contributed to a_deCline in births at South Huron. For ex- ample, over the past five years our deliveries starting with 1984 and ending with 1988 were 48, 40, 23, 27 and six. As you can see this decline creates many concerns regarding continuing with deliveries. We are concerned that we do not have suffi- cient numbers to maintain our skills to the level of current stan- dards. A decline in public demand for this service has contributed to our belief that the dollars and space could serve our community needs in a different and more effective man- ner. In December of 1oRR the remain- ing medical stall who deliver babies at South Huron advised the Board of Governor.: that for tb above rea- sons and others, they would be re- ferring their mothers to other hospi- tals where they have moved to specialize in obstetrics. The Planning Committee met and after considerable discussion recom- mended that alternate uses for the obstetric area bre developed, howev- er, two other. recommendations made by Planning were to retain emergency delivery services and to maintain an area for mothers and babies to return from other hospi- tals. Thank you for the opportunity to address these developments. Your hospital is strong, viable and will- ing to answer any questions of con- cern. Board of Governors South Huron Hospital Association Dear Sir. Your readers might enjoy the en- closed poem I wrote in an attempt to rescue a sick society. Don't touch the "Sacred Cow" She provides our milk and cream She's soured and killed and poisoned lives But she's portrait like a dream Don't threaten the "Sacred Cow" From her fields of joy and leisure Only sacrifice, worship, pay only cash For her "Blue Zone" state called , pleasure _. - rte-•~-., Parasite, vagabond "Sacred Cow" ' Milking all, even kings that reign Lustfully reaping respect and wealth Youthful dreams wasted down the drain ' Parents cry while their children die Stich tragic waste for sure Still society pays through fatal scenes Reck of "Sacred Cow" manure Responsible this, responsible that While all point fingers the cow gets fat Lives end up in the filthy guuer But please! don't dry up this sacred udder This"Sacred Cows" immune from death She thrives on grief and despair Spawning oil spills and death But too "Godly" to see or care The "Sacred Cow" is liquor and beer Why pay for her water and grass? The wotld would be so richly blessed If all would kick her _ _ . Harry A Schroeder