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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-07-07, Page 66 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, July 7, 2004 Opinion Forum News Seniors' perspective Continued from page 5 • Milk was delivered to your front stoop also in a horse-drawn wagon and the cream came to the top of the bottle and was carefully poured off to use for special things. In winter, the milk would freeze and push the paper cap up off the bottle, and the cream would be almost like ice cream. • Girls wore black cotton stockings and black pan- taloons for gym class. • Boys wore corduroys or knickers because, although there were jeans (called denims), boys weren't allowed to wear them to school because they had copper rivets reinforcing the pocket seams and those rivets scratched the finish on the desk seats. • Doors to homes were seldom locked. • Movie theatres cost 10 cents and on Saturday you also got a free plate or some such goody. • Movies were where we got the latest breaking news with News releases. And there were serials on Saturdays that always stopped at a harrowing point so that you absolutely HAD to go back the following week. • Neighborhood kids hung around the street lamps and caught fireflies or played "Run Sheep Run", "Kick the Can," "King of the Mountain," "Hide and Seek." And if you were a boy, you only thought of a girl for your team as to how well she could run or throw a ball. • We didn't realize we were the so-called "poor" because everyone was just like you. • Hobos would stop by your house for food and then do some chore for it? They would mark your house in some way so that other hobos knew that place was an easy mark. • You knew all your neighbors living on your street. • Your mother canned all she could of vegetables and fruits to last out the winter months. • There was no air conditioning in your house, but you didn't know you were hot even though you slept in a pool of sweat. • At school, you were expected to pay attention and learn even though there too, there was no air condition- ing? And you did as expected. • Most jobs consisted of usually 10 hours a day and 6 days a week. • If you had measles, scarlet fever, mumps etc. the Health Inspector would put a large red sign on your front door saying, in huge letters: "QUARANTINED". • Doctors made house calls carrying everything that was available to heal in a little black bag? • Street lamps were gas -lighted at dusk by a lamp- lighter who returned at dawn to put the light out. HowToTellYou're Getting Older: • Everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt doesn't work. • The gleam in your eye is from the sun hitting your bifocals. • You feel like the morning after and you haven't been anywhere. • Your little black book contains names only ending in M.D. • Your children begin to look middle aged. • You finally reach the top of the ladder and find it's leaning against the wrong wall. • Your mind makes contracts your body can't keep. • A dripping faucet causes an uncontrollable bladder urge. • You look forward to a dull evening. • Your favorite part of the newspaper is "20 Years Ago Today." • You turn out the lights for economic reasons rather than romantic ones. Playground season starts EXETER — Summer is finally here! We are all excited for another successful summer at Playground. Just a reminder that Thursday we are going on a tour of New Orleans Pizza in Exeter, so get ready to sample your creations! Also, Friday is pajama day so wear your PJs and bring your favourite teddy bear. To finish the "Munchin' Down" week we will be making a chilly treat Friday afternoon. Then get ready for our "Trip Around the World" week which is filled with lots of fun including a trip to Storybook Gardens on July 15. Call to book a seat, or if you have any questions regarding the South Huron Playground program. Our number is 235-2361. Hope to see you soon! New members are always welcome. MAGGIE MILLER EXETER PLAYGROUND LEADER • You sit in the rocking chair and can't get it going. • Your knees buckle and your belt won't. • You regret all those mistakes you made resisting temptations. • You're 17 around the neck, 42 around the waist, and 96 around the golf course. • Your back goes out more than you do. • Your pacemaker makes the garage door open when you see a pretty girl. • The little old grey-haired lady you help across the street is your wife. • You sink your teeth into a steak and they stay there. • You have too much room in the house and not enough in the medicine cabinet. • You know all the answers but nobody asks the ques- tions. O(JTH Hospital Happenings WEST NILEVIRUS West Nile Virus is a mosquito -borne virus. Mosquitoes transmit the virus after becoming infected by feeding on the blood of birds, which carry the virus. The virus is not spread from person to person. Most people who are bitten by an infected mosquito do not become M. For those who do, the symptoms are usually mild. In some cases, serious illness and death may occur. If you have any of the following symptoms, seek med- ical attention, these could be early symptoms of West Nile Virus, or other illnesses. Fever Muscle Weakness Stiff Neck Confusion Severe Headache Sudden Sensitivity to Light Extreme swelling or infection at the site of the mosqui- to bite is another reason to seek medical attention. This may or may not indicate West Nile Virus infection. If you have concerns, consult your physician. TIPS ON PROTECTINGYOUANDYOUR FAMILY Reduce Standing Water and Reduce Mosquitoes The single most important way for you to protect yourself and your family is to clean up and empty con- tainers of standing water, such as old tires, flower pots, wheelbarrows, and toys. Unlike birds and other insects, mosquitoes do not fly very far and tend to stay close to their breeding sites and normal habitats. Clear leaves and organic matter from eavestroughs: one home with clogged eavestroughs can be responsible for breeding one million mosquitoes in a year. Some mosquitoes only need one cup of water to breed. Cover Up When outside during the early morning, or in the evening, or in areas where you see lots of mosquitoes, wear light-coloured clothing, long sleeves, and pants. For extra protection, tuck your pants into your socks. Consider using insect repellent containing DEET. The concentration should be no greater than 30% for adults, and 10% for children. Read and follow application instructions on the label and ask your pharmacist for assistance. Keep mosquitoes outdoors by replacing win- dow screens that have holes, or that don't fit snugly into the window frame. Report Dead Crows and Blue Jays The Health Unit is relying on the public to report dead crows and blue jays. These birds are most susceptible to West Nile Virus and help determine the presence of West Nile Virus in the County. If you see a dead crow or blue jay, please call the Health Unit. Information in the above article was used with permis- sion from the Huron County Health Unit POLICE BRIEFS Stolen ATVs recovered LUCAN-BIDDULPH — Middlesex OPP arrested and charged a male with two counts of possessing stolen property after recovering two ATV's in a barn in Lucan- Biddulph July 2. The OPP were dispatched to Coursey Line near Mount Carmel Drive at approximately 7:15 p.m. on Friday in relation to a traffic complaint. The officer was asked to patrol the area regarding a male riding an ATV on Coursey Line with no helmet. Police found the male dri- ver of the ATV at a local residence and then located two ATVs in a barn. After an investigation, one of the ATVs was confirmed as having been recently stolen. Both ATVs had been re -painted. A 22 -year-old male from Lucan-Biddulph, has been charged with two counts of possessing stolen property. The investigation confirmed the second ATV was also stolen. Both ATVs were recently stolen from Middlesex County. Cottage entered BAYFIELD — On June 28 at 1:45 p.m. OPP were con- tacted about a break-in to a cottage on Christie Street in Bayfield. The victim told police sometime between 9 p.m. June 26 and 11:30 a.m. June 27 someone entered the kitchen of their rented cottage and removed a Sony Camcorder valued at $500. If you have information on this theft please call the local OPP or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Keeping your job EXETER — Getting a job is only the beginning! Once you have the job, you will have to work hard to keep it. Your performance during the first few weeks is crucial in ensur- ing your continued employment. Here are some important tips to keep in mind: • Be on time. Telephone your employer as soon as possible if you're going to be late or absent. • Be cheerful and co-operative with co-workers, but don't spend time socializing when you are to be working. • Learn the routine and work rules, including how many hours you are expected to work and when you are to take your breaks. • Be willing to learn new skills. This is your chance to acquire and use new skills to build up your resume for next year. • Ask questions about anything you're not sure about, but try to figure things out for yourself when- ever you can. • Support your co-workers and encourage others. Team work is a key to success. • Be reliable. If you say you will do something, make sure you follow through with it. • Dress for success. Take the lead from your supervisor and co-workers. Make sure your clothing is clean, neat, and pressed. • Show initiative. Don't always wait to be told. If you see something that needs to be done, offer to do it. • Have a positive attitude. Once you're working you will be receiving a pay- cheque. On investigation of your paycheque, you will notice a portion of your earnings is deducted for Employment Insurance (EI). Under the Employment Insurance Act, your employer is obligated to make these deductions. Employment Insurance is a key social program that contributes to the security of all Canadians. It provides temporary income to people who have lost their job and helps the unemployed get back to work. To receive Employment Insurance benefits, you must: • be unemployed; • have worked a minimum of 420 to 700 hours in the last 52 weeks; • have paid into the Employment Insurance Program. If you would like to learn more, you can check out the Employment Insurance Web site at www.hrdc.gc.ca/ei. If you are over the age of 18, you will also pay into the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). As an employee, you pay half of the contributions and your employer pays the other half. Again, your portion is deducted directly from your paycheque. The CPP has been set up to provide eligible contributors with three differ- ent kinds of benefits: • Disability benefits — income for those who become disabled; • Retirement pension — income received upon retirement, available as early as age 60; • Survivor benefits — income for surviving spouse and dependent children. If you would like more information on CPP you can check out the CPP Web site at www.hrdc.gc.ca/isp. For more information on these and other employ- ment-related issues, contact Katie at the Human Resource Centre of Canada for Students (HRCC-S) at (519) 235-1711. The HRCC-S is located at 281 Main St. S., in Exeter and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. The Human Resource Centres of Canada for Students are part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy. KATIE EMMRICH SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OFFICER