Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-05-05, Page 17Page 17 5/4/04 10:01 AM Page 1 Ts_,�rxA,�. Cros�.tisroads Exeter Times Advocate Wednesday, May 5, 2004 17 WarAmps presentation at Exeter Public School By Mary Simmons TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — A message of safety was delivered to students at Exeter Public School April 28. Approximately 2,000 students at 12 schools in the Exeter, Hensall and Zurich areas heard the presentation from Kelly Rankin, the Safety Events Co- ordinator for the Playsafe/Drivesafe Program of the War Amps, and Sr. Const. Don Shropshall, Community Services Officer of the OPP Huron Detachment. Shropshall told students he has seen many people who have been hurt and killed because they were not safety -conscious. "Today you're going to hear about the consequences," he said. "You're going to find out what happens to us if we don't think about safety." Shropshall said last summer 12 chil- dren in the county were hit while riding their bikes. "Close to 100 people died last year because they didn't think about safety." "Our common bond with the police is that we've also seen the unfortunate consequences of accidents all to often," Rankin said. "I commend the Huron Detachment for their help in getting this message across." Rankin, who was born with a stump where her right arm should have been, has been involved with the War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) program since she was five months old. Now 22, she has met many children who have lost limbs in accidents, and works at getting the message of "playing safely" across to as many children as possible. Playsafe was created when the associ- ation began to see children enrolling in CHAMP who had lost limbs in accidents that could have been prevented. Rankin encouraged teachers and older students to take younger students on a Safety Walk around their home and neighbourhood to spot potential haz- ards. Rankin showed the students 'Spot the Danger,' a video in which child amputees describe their accidents and warn other children to play safe. The video stars 14 child amputees and Astar, a robot who can put his arm back on. The various amputees share their sto- ries about how they lost their limbs in accidents involving electricity, trains and railroad tracks, roto - tillers, cement mixers, lawn mowers, meat grinders, grain augers, boat motors and vehicles. Rankin, who has an arti- ficial arm to replace the one she was born without, showed the students how she uses mus- cle control to use the hand and bend the elbow. The graduate from Seneca College said she is able to do most of the things four - limbed people can do such as drive, swim and participate in sports. "Amputees just have a harder time," she said. When asked if she could cut steak, Rankin admitted using a knife and fork is one of the things she still struggles with. "I use a one -handed knife," she said. Rankin also said she tried riding a dirt bike when she was growing up, but gave up after almost running into a wall. Rankin showed the students a War Amps key tag and explained the tag is a safeguard for people who lose their keys. When a set of keys with a tag is found, they can be dropped into any post office box and sent to the War Amps, who will make sure they are returned to their owner. The War Amps key tag service is free to residents of Ontario, but are distrib- uted with the hope people will send a donation to the association. The War Amps receives no govern- ment grants and its programs are made possible through public support of the Key Tag and Address Label Service. For more information call toll- free at 1-800-219-8988 or visit www. waramps. ca. "Close to 100 people died last year because they didn't think about safety?' SR. CONST. DON SHROPSHALL Kelly Rankin speaks to students at Exeter Public School April 28 about the War Amps CHAMP program and the importance of safety. (photolMary Simmons) Ornamental grass expert speaks to Hensall Horticultural Society By Mary Simmons TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF HENSALL — Martin Quinn spoke to approximately 30 members of the Hensall Horticultural Society at a meeting at the Hensall United Church April 28. Quinn, who is the president of Communities in Bloom Ontario, spoke to the group about the elements of a garden. He said garden art has become popular in use with rounding, sloping terrains. Water pieces and grasses add move- ment to the landscape. "They dance around in the wind," he said, referring to the ornamental grass- es he is known for. With his wife, Catherine Macleod, he has published `Grass Scapes,' a book about how, where and when to use ornamental grasses. The book describes and shows pho- tographs of more than 100 species proven to thrive in a wide range of con- ditions. Quinn said he first became interested in grasses when he went on a trip to Europe in 1984 and saw how they were being used in gardens. "It's the same climatic zone, so I knew they would grew over here," he said. He brought back 85 varieties and has since developed his own varieties, including a series of Miscanthus he has given the names Huron Blush, Huron Penetangore, Huron Sentinel, Huron Sunrise and Huron Sunset. A new vari- ety, Huron Star, will be available this spring. While showing the group slides of vari- ous gardens and horticultural displays, Quinn said stones, water and evergreens are the statement of a Canadian garden. He said container gardens are also an option, since vegetables grown in raised planters require less work to maintain. He said grasses should be trimmed at this time of the year. If they are waist -high or taller, cut them down to four inches, but if they are shorter than your waist, cut them one inch from the ground, he said. To get rid of moles, Quinn suggested mixing one tablespoon of castor oil with a gallon of water and spraying it around flowers and walls. He said the remedy has worked for his mother for two years. Quinn said corn meal and beet juice are natural weed suppressors. Quinn and Macleod run a nursery spe- cializing in ornamental grasses and perennials in Kincardine. A guided tour is scheduled every day at 2 p.m. Martin Quinn helps members of the Hensall Horticultural Society pick out vari- eties of ornamental grass at a meeting April 28. (photo/Mary Simmons)