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Times Advocate, 1998-06-10, Page 26Page 26 • Times -Advocate, June 10, 1998 YOUR VIEWS... Home -town proud "We can buy almost anything we • need right here in Exeter." Dear Editor. Last weekend 1 had two guests who were attending London Conference at Huron Park. One was from Wawa. the other from Wotxlstock. Saturday night we finished before dark, so 1 decided to show them "our town": We drove through downtown - not an empty store and each store had attractive front windows. I was proud of our town. We drove out Hwy. 83 to see all the industry that supports our town. We drove by MacNaughton Park_ How beautiful it looks! They were•impressed. We drove through slime of the suixiivisions of fine homes - sontc quite Targe and impressive looking. 'There are many other things to show - our schools. our churches. "lhero arc countless things 10 do to keep us busy. • We should be proud of Exeter. . . We can buy almost anything we need right here in Exeter. Lel us support our town with Our purchasing power so that we will always be proud to show off our town. • Maybe we could show our town to perspective doc- tors so they would (Some and live here and avoid the necessity of closing our emergency department. Audrey E. MacGregor Cleanup crews appreciated "Thanks, also to the citizens of Hensall,. who were out with their saws, brooms, etc." Dear Editor: We would like to let all members of the Hensall Council know how much we appreciated the big. emir - mous cleanup that was done in the Hensall streets by the P.U.('. of the - illagc following the storm of lasi Sunday. May 31. "Thank.. also to the citizens of persalt, who were out with thcii saws. brooms. etc. to clear up the fallen branches 1tom our beautiful bees. - Signed. Hilda Payne. Wanda 1.;twrence. Dorothy Corbett. Isabel Rogerson. Pearl Taylor. Irene Finlayson. Dorothy Munroe. Ida Drckert, Dorothy Parker. Clara and Jack O'Connor. Ilona Caldwell. Babe fvlcGregor. Ethel McMurtne. Orval and (Tara Cooper. Evelyn McBcath. Dorothy ('doper. David ingranm. Pearl McKnight. Audrey Christie. Donors and volunteers needed "We are increasingly hopeful that a .treatment. and ultimately a cure, are not -far away. - near Ed►tcn: Thank you for ad' icing us of your support of the Huntington Society of Canada's public awareness campaign. Your use of our public service advertise- ment (PSA) is greatly appreciated. Since the gene for Huntington disease (HD) Was identified in 1993. the pace of research has accelerated , rapidly . We are increasingly hopeful that a treatment. and ultimately a cure arc not far away. To rcaliic this dream -'and to maintain our programs of urgently- needed- services for HD individuals and families - we need support from donors and volunteers. To get that support. we need to make people care about this devas- taung disorder. - By using our PSA, you are helping to spread aware- ness and understanding of HD. and to make people circ about our fight. When a cure is announced. I hiopc you -will he proud of the important part you played in a tremendous victory. We will recognize the generous media outlets which arc using our public service materials in an upcoming issue of Horizon. our national newsletter. I will he pleased to .tdd the I:xctcr'Times-Advocate to that list. and will send you a cdpv ulHoriYon. On behalf of the many families living with Huntington disease in Ontario and across the country. thanks so much for your support. Sincerely, Isla Horvath. Director of Communications, Huntington Society of Canada Down in front Tree house. Exeter PUC lineman Randy Bllcke clears a fallen tree from the home of Ron and Francis Anderson on Andrew Street in Exeter. The tree blew down last Tuesday after- noon during high winds. Flipping out The big breakfast. Firefighters. Scott Heywood, left, and Rob Haines were on pancake duty at the Exeter and Area Fire Department's breakfast on Saturday morning. More than 600 people attended the annual event to raise money for fire department projects. LET OZz- DIT HE E Reinvesting in health care "...although the hospital is a very important part of our health care system, it is. not the only part." Dear Editor: - • I read with interest the article from.the Chairman of the Hospital Board, Verla Russell, in last week's paper. 1.helicvc it is important to put her letter intocontext. More than a year ago, the District Health Council came to an agreement with the hospitals that would take dol- lars from administration and move those dollars to patient care. in Huron County we had five administra- tors, five payrolls. five food services servicing only 250 beds. The administrators of the hospitals and I have • always disagreed about the savings that would he put hack into front line patient care. however, we all agree that it would he substantial. 'i'hc Joint Committee that was charged with implementing the plan have been working on this plan fair over a year and designed a plan with a single administrator and site managers that will be responsible for. every two locations. In my opinion. there could still he Tess administration, but after a year. we at the very least arc beginning to move forward. With the plan that the Joint Committee has put forward they have hccn quoted assaying "the part- nership is expected to save $3.4 million through changes in administration and -support programs for. -the areas hospitals. But there is a total potential cost saving of $10.4 million." Only imagine if the -administrators had gone -to the single administrator plan without the site administrators, what the savings might have been. -i thought it was ironic that in the -next article to the Chairs' comments was a letter disclosing an increase -in the new Public Work Supervisor's salary and yet the Board of the Hospital will not disclose the salary or the "golden handshake" for the administrator. i hope this will not he the same policy. for the site managers in our new hospital system: ' •in. Huron County alone since -1995 the net effect of -- health care restructuring has been an increase in funds into our community. The five hospitals have had their budgets reduced by approximately $2:5 million over two years. at the same time the taxpayers through the Ministry of Health have. made reinvestments of over $S trillion. Included in this amount is a $70 per hour that flows through to the doctors for weekend and holidays to service the emergency. This totals approximately $1,747,200 in Huron County. Other reinvestments include: ' • • $5 million for Long -Term Care Services • $51,909 for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention I'rograrn - • $197,759 for Emergency Health/Ambulance • $220.050 for Public Health • $1.010 for Community Health • $172.957 for Long -Term Care Services • $16,0(X) for Alzheimer's • • $260,500 for Huron Perth Hospital Study • $50,0(X) for Preschool Speech and Language Program . • $41.276 for Healthy Babies. Healthy Children • $441.735 for Mental Health Services • $50,000 for Community Hospice Services. Caregiver Support and VON Services 1 believe that the Chair needs to understand that although the hospital is a very important part of our health care system. it isnot the only part. in my speech i stated that although hospitals had a reduction from the government, they could capitalize -on the savings from restructuring that the Joint Committee has acknowledged. When we consider the whole health care system that includes longterm care facilities, nursing care -in your home, home care, community ser- vices -such as Meals on. Wheels, Huron Day Center, drugs for seniors, OH(P payments to doctors. the net effect on health care was an overall increase; (approxi- mately $5 million) in spending in Huron County. Yours truly, Helen Johns, M.P.P., Huron Raising funds for leukemia research "A lot of local people and Nabisco employees participated..." Dear Editor; Sometimes saying thank you doesn't seem to be enough. The United Food and Commercial Workers , Union at Nabisco in Exetcr'hcld a golf tournament at the Exeter G2IPCourse on May 30 which was open to the. public. A lot of local people and Nabisco employ- ees participated and as a result raised $1400 for leukemia research. To all who attended, I thank you, to the Exeter Golf Club staff and the Masons, the course ' was in great shape and the hospitality excellent. To those -who donated prizes, thank you very much..I must also congratulate those members who donated their time and talent to makethis event the success it was. You all did a great job. Thank you. ' 'Sincerely. John Bierling, Chairman. U.F.C.W. Local 617P Volunteer tea at E.P.S. We sincerely hope that all volun- teers are able to come and share this time with us. Dear Editor: The staff and students of Exeter Public School would like to take this opportunity to thank, all the adult volunteers who have given up their valuable time to assist al the school this year: Their help is immeasurable and valuable. Because of; their assistance we have beerr able to offer extra one- on-one tutoring for students. • To show our appreciatiop we areholding a Volunteer Appreciation•Tea on Tuesday, ,lune 23 from 2:15-2:45 in theschool staffroom. • - We sincere%y hope that all volunteers are able to come and share this time with us. Again, thank you!! • E.P.S. Staff and Students Thanks t� residents of Exeter All of the food goes out to needy people who run into hard times. • Dear Editor: Many, many thanks to the residents of the towir of Ex- eter who contributed to the Firemen's Food Drive and to the firemen who gave their time to collect the food. There was such a wide variety of food given that will be much appreciated by these who come t� the Food Bank' for assistance. From the Food Bank, we would also like to thank all those who give between times. To the churches who bring monthly .gatherings of food, thank you. To the , individuals and families who use the Food Drop regu- larly,thank you._ To the groups that collect food at events they spon- sor, thank you. Thanks. also. t� those who give finan- cially. - . All of the food goes out to needy people who tun: into hard times. We serve about 50 families in an av• - erage month. . It is all made possible by anonymous donors like you. Thanks again. - • Volunteers from the Exeter Community Food Bank Picking up generosity Fired up for the food bank. Exeter Fire Department firefighters Jim Moore, left, and Leroy Edwards were part of the fire dept. 's contingent that collected non-perishable food items for the Community Food Bank along town streets last week. Lyle Little is behind the wheel of the fire truck.