Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-06-15, Page 66 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, June 15, 2005 Opinion Forum News Seniors' perspective Continued from page 5 he was born was located north of Greenway, Ontario. He acquired his education at S.S. #3 Stephen School, located two miles north of Greenway. After Edison graduated from Grade 8, he fur- thered his education at the Parkhill High School to the end of Grade 10. His parents had purchased the Greenway General Store, so when their two sons Edison and Morley became old enough, they helped in the store and driving the truck picking up grain, cat- tle and pigs. Edison decided to join the Canadian Army. He traveled to London, Ontario and enlisted in the 6th Armored Regiment, 1st Hussars, R.C.A.C. on Jan., 10, 1941. At that time, he was given the ser- vice number #A/441593. He received his training at Camp Borden and before departing for action he was married to Ruth Carruthers. After their marriage, it wasn't long before he was shipped overseas to England. They went through more advanced training while waiting for the D -Day date to be set. On June 6, 1944 and all the armies waiting in England were moving at a very fast pace. Lance Corporal Edison Pollock was one of the five men in a tank crew, which they named Cataraque because of that town's success in a Victory Bond drive. Edison was involved in the D -Day landing by attacking the enemy in the tank. Their tank drove up out of the water and onto the Normandy shore, the tank's firing mechanism jammed and while loader -operator Corporal Edison Pollock strove to release it, a party of Germans wheeled up in a small anti-tank gun and shot off two quick rounds. They spattered ineffectively against the tanks hull of the tank when the Cataraque moved against the gun crew. The objective of the four -tank squadron that Edison Pollock was attached to on the first day of the D -Day landing was the Caen Bayeux Railway, which they succeeded in demolishing. His crew penetrated deeper into Normandy on D -Day than any other landing group, including the British, the Americans and other Canadians. In the coming days of the fighting, Lieutenant Bill McCormick lost a leg and Perkins the driver and Edison Pollock were killed in action in August. Lance Corporal Edison Pollock was killed in action on Aug., 15, 1944, while fighting in the vicinity of Caen. He was remembered with Honour on the Bayeux Memorial. Beside his parents, Edison was survived by his wife Ruth Pollock (Carruthers) and his brother Morley Pollock who was 11 years younger than Edison. The elevated stove An engineer, a psychologist, and a theologian were hunting in the wilderness of northern Canada. Suddenly the temperature dropped and a furious snowstorm was upon them. They came across an isolated cabin, far removed from any town. The hunters heard that the locals in the area were quite hospitable, so they knocked on the door to ask permission to rest. No one answered their knocks, but they discovered the cabin was unlocked and they entered. It was a simple place: two rooms with a mini- mum of furniture and household equipment. Nothing was unusual about the cabin except the stove. It was a large pot-bellied and made of cast iron. What was strange about it was its location: it was suspended in mid-air by wires attached to the ceiling beams. "Fascinating," said the psychologist. "It is obvi- ous that this lonely trapper, isolated from human- ity, has elevated the stove so that he can curl up under it and vicariously experience a return to the womb." "Nonsense!" replied the engineer. "The man is practicing the laws of thermodynamics. By elevat- ing his stove, he has discovered heat more evenly throughout the cabin." "With all due respect," interrupted the theolo- gian, "I'm sure that hanging his stove from the ceiling has religious meaning. Fire lifted up has been a religious symbol for centuries." The three debated the point for several hours without resolving the issue. When the trapper finally returned, they immedi- ately asked him why he had hung his heavy pot- bellied stove from the ceiling. His answer was succinct. "Had plenty of wire, not much stovepipe." Improving a child's life Dear Editor: The only thing that stays the same is the fact that everything changes. There seems to be a shortage of time in our daily lives. Unfortunately it appears that the children are the ones being affected by the decrease in free time. Children are more likely to participate in drug use and skip school A\ compared to just a few years ago. The children that have been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters have: • Achieved 58 per cent higher grades in social studies, languages and math. • 64 per cent of students developed more positive attitudes towards school. • 64 per cent developed high levels of self-confidence. Big Brothers Big Sisters South Huron has been located in Exeter for over 25 years, providing friendships to children in need. On June 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Exeter Lions Youth Center, BBBSSH will be hosting an open house. This will provide an opportunity for community members to enjoy a BBQ, ask questions about the agency and find out how they can improve a child's life! We hope to see you there! Lives, health worth "a few extra cents" Dear Editor: I am a concerned health-care worker writing to the T -A about 33,000 people in Ontario (hurt) from needle stick injuries each year. There are at least 33 blood borne diseases including HIV, West Nile Virus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C. Many of these dis- eases can be very serious even fatal. Studies prove over 90 per cent of these injuries can be pre- vented by using "safety -engineered" needles and medical devices. Over 70,000 needle stick injuries in Canada every year, 190 a day! Over 22,000 needle stick injuries suffered by Ontario workers le each year. Workers that suffer a needle stick must go through six months to a year of testing to see if they contracted a disease. The uncertainty is absolutely devastating. Spouses and children wonder if wife/husband/mommy/daddy is going to die. If the worker is found to have been ultimately infected, spouses and children are also at risk of being accidentally infected by blood/bodily fluids. Safety -engineered devices have safety features built-in and because of their supe- rior protection, do cost a few pennies more than conventional needles/devices. Saving lives and workers' health is absolutely worth a few extra cents. Why does our Ontario government think otherwise? Most safety -engineered needles are less than cost of a postage stamp. In the U.S., the implementation of mandatory use of safety -engineered devices has dramatically reduced needle stick injuries almost overnight. We have laws making the use of seat belts mandatory. The use of seat belts has proven to dramatically save lives. Why not the same mandatory protection from blood borne diseases? Both workers and the public deserve better from this government. MARILYN HERN Centralia, ON 1 Letters to the he E dltor FROM THE BOARD & STAFF AT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS SOUTH HURON Safe syringes needed Dear Editor: I am a concerned health-care worker writing to you about the 33,000 people being injured by needle sticks in Ontario each year. These people undergo testing from six to 12 months to see if they have been infected with a fatal disease such as HIV, West Nile Virus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, etc. Safety -engineered syringes could save 90 per cent of these injuries. Other provinces have passed legislation to make these devices mandatory. Maybe Ontario should follow and implement regulations to protect these workers. JULIA DICKENS, Hensall, ON Try volunteering - a great way to spend your free time EXETER — Interested in volunteering? Whether you are a student or an adult, becoming a volunteer is a great way to spend your free time this summer. Although you won't be getting paid, volunteering can enrich your life by contributing to personal development. Volunteering helps break the "need experience to get a job, need a job to get experience" cycle, as it provides young people with valuable skills and expe- rience needed for future employment. If you are hav- ing a difficult time deciding which career path to take, volunteering at different organizations can give you first-hand experience in various positions, allow- ing you to make an informed decision on which career path to follow. Volunteering can be a rewarding and gratifying experience especially when working with non-profit organizations. Many non-profit organizations rely on volunteers to keep their programs running smoothly and successfully. When deciding to take a volunteer position, there are a few things you should think about. What kind of commitment are you willing to make? Are you looking for a regular/weekly volunteer commitment or a short-term/one-time opportunity? Would you like to volunteer with other people or by yourself? Do you have specific skills or talents, such as music, art or computer skills that you would like to share with an organization? What are your personal goals? These are all questions you should consider as they will help guide you to the most enjoyable and beneficial placement for you. Volunteer placements should be treated like a regular job. Be sure to show up to work on time for your scheduled hours. Act courteous and respectful of both your employer and your clients. Discuss any days off with your supervi- sor, and be sure to call them if you are sick or unable to go to work for other emergency rea- sons. If you are interested in volunteering this sum- mer, contact your local Human Resource Centre of Canada for Students (HRCC-S). Browse through our Volunteer Binder, or sign up to be on our e-mail list, where you can receive infor- mation on local volunteer opportunities right in your in box. High school students can use these opportu- nities towards their required community volunteer hours. For more information, contact Katie at the Exeter HRCC-S at (519) 235-1711. The office is at 281 Main St. S., Exeter, and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For assistance on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, you can reach Katie at the Goderich office at (519) 524-8342, ext. 232. Additional services for students include job search techniques, help with resume and cover letter writing, interview prepa- ration, information on workplace health and safety, as well as information on other Government of Canada programs. The HRCC-S also provides free services to employers seeking full-time and part- time summer employees. Services include job postings, resume collection and access to information about employment stan- dards, health and safety in the workplace, wage rates and other Government of Canada programs and services. The Human Resource Centres of Canada for Students are part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy. KATIE EMMRICH SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OFFICER