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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-08-16, Page 66 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, August 16, 2006 Opinion Forum News Seniors' perspective Continued from page 5 tasks that have been routine or familiar such as prepar- ing a meal. • Problems with language - forgetting simple words or substituting words, making sentences difficult to understand. • Disorientation of time and place - becoming lost on their own street, not knowing how they got there and how to get home. • Poor or decreased judgment - for example, not rec- ognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing heavy clothing on a hot day. • Problems with abstract thinking - such as balancing a cheque book or not recognizing what the numbers in the cheque book mean. • Misplacing things - putting things in inappropriate places such as an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. • Changes in mood and behavior - varied mood swings, from calm to tears to anger, for no apparent reason. • Changes in personality - becoming confused, suspi- cious or withdrawn. Changes may include apathy, fear- fulness or acting out of character. • Loss of initiative - becoming very passive, requiring cues and prompts to become involved. • Alzheimer Society Huron County - 317 Huron Road, Box 639 Clinton ON NOM 1LO. Phone 519-482-1482 or 1-800-561-5012 and Fax 519-482-8692. Email admin@alzheimerhuron.on.ca or log onto www.alzheimer.ca. HowWe Count:Why are Women Poor in our Rural Area? Women involved in the Rural Woman Take Action on Poverty project said they were poor because: 1. There are no jobs, or no opportunities for women to use the good skills they have. Most of the higher paying jobs are reserved for men, and women are forced into low paying work that leaves them in poverty. 2. Things happen to them that they have little control over such as: sudden illnesses, accidents or disabilities, abusive partners, the loss of employment, the death or illness of the wage earning partner, divorce/separation, fires or loss of property and/or savings. Such events pro- pel women from middle class to poverty income levels very quickly. Employment office closes for season GODERICH — The Goderich Service Canada Centre for Youth (SCCY) will close its doors for the season Aug. 25. Since the close of the Exeter SCCY July 19, the Goderich office pro- vided service to the Exeter region as well. SCCYs have enjoyed more than 35 summers of success helping students and busi- nesses with their employ- ment needs. This summer, the Goderich and Exeter SCCYs helped employers fill more than 458 vacancies. Summer employment offi- cers assisted 171 students individually and hundreds more in Group Information Sessions. The summer went extremely well. We helped a large number of students with their job searches, and we also gave them advice on things like resume and cover letter writing, interview techniques, and health and safety in the workplace. In addition, the SCCY assisted local employ- ers in finding enthusiastic students who were ready to work. "Summer jobs help students develop their skills and get valuable work experience, which helps prepare them for the rapidly changing world of work," said Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle. "There is an ever-increasing demand for a skilled and adaptable work- force, and the skills, talents, knowledge and creativity of our young people are keys to our future success." The SCCY would like to thank the many employers, homeowners, and youth who used the services and made this summer a success. TOM PETTIGREW SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OFFICER 3. There is little accessible to education or retraining for women in rural communities. 4. There is a lack of good, accessible and affordable childcare. 5. Inequalities or issues they experience with the men in their lives; 6. Women are often economically dependent on men in rural communities and are left in poverty when their marriages end. 7. Women are often the primary caregivers for the children after separation or divorce. Men who don't pay their child support leave women and their children in poverty. 8. Abusive men force women to leave their homes, jobs and economic security in order to be safe. 9. They care for their children, and this work is not valued in rural communities for women to stay at home with children, but there is no monetary value or sup- ports for women who make this choice. 10. Women on farms are poor because farms suck up all the money. One woman said even with two jobs in the family they are poor because the farm takes every- thing. Farmers are "asset -rich" but "income poor", and can't access supports because of their assets. 11. Government policies and programs reflect the fact that men are the gender in power in government. Funding for childcare, adequate social assistance for women with children, and women with disabilities is not adequate to keep women out of poverty. The Constant of Change: Farmers Section Another season is behind us, and once again some things in farming never change. Like the weather. A lot of you dealt with planting con- ditions that were colder and wetter than you wanted; others of you needed moisture desperately, or the mar- kets. Headlines about bird flu, soybean rust, Downey mildew on cucumbers, global crop conditions, and ethanol demand are among the current factors tugging projected crop prices one way or the other. We also saw how things in farming do change; thanks to new types of tillage equipment, planters and seeders, and crop technology, you may have planted with less field preparation than in years past, offsetting higher fuel costs. You might have used more biodiesel fuel in your equipment, helping the oilseed markets, the environ- ment and foreign trade balance. If not, you likely will in the future. You may have used a guidance system. Assisted and automated guidance systems are rapidly being adopted by all types of growers. They're reporting that being freed of the constant need to steer not only lets them be more relaxed at the end of the day, but helps them monitor their planting or seeding operations more closely, and use inputs more efficiently without skips or overlaps. No doubt, you've made other changes in your opera- tion to keep pace with an increasingly competitive farm- ing environment. If you ate today, thank a farmer. An important and very well publicized murder trial was soon to begin. In preparation for the trial, the tire- some jury selection process took place, each side hotly contesting and dismissing potential jurors. One prospective juror, Dan O'Keefe, was called for his question session. He was asked, "property holder?" Dan replied, "Yes I am, Your Honour." The he was asked, "Married or single?" Dan responded, "Married for 20 years, Your Honour." Then the judge asked, "Formed or expressed an opinion?" Dan stated with certainty, "Not in 20 years, Your Honour." Bagpipe Humor: Q. How do you get two bagpipes to play in perfect uni- son? A. Shoot one. Q. What's the difference between a bagpipe and an onion? A. No one cries when you chop up a bagpipe. Q. How is playing a bagpipe like throwing a javelin blindfolded? A. You don't have to be very good to get people's attention. Q. What's the difference between a lawn mower and a bagpipe? A. You can tune the lawn mower. Also, the owner's neighbors are upset if you borrow the lawn mower and don't return it. Q. If you were lost in the woods, who would you trust for directions: an in -tune bagpipe player, an out -of -tune bagpipe player, or Santa Claus? A. The out -of -tune bag- pipe player. The other two indicate you have been hallu- cinating. Q. How do you make a chain saw sound like a bag- pipe? A. Add vibrato. Q. What's the sound range of a bagpipe? A. Twenty yards if you have a good arm Q. Why do bagpipers walk when they play? A. To get away from the sound. Did you hear the one about the bagpiper who parked his car with the windows open, forgetting that he had left his bagpipes in the back seat? He rushed back as soon as he realized it... but it was too late - someone had already put another set of bagpipes in the car! MysteryWeek EXETER — I can't believe how quickly sum- mer is passing by — but no worries because there is still lots of fun to be had at the South Huron Playground. Don't forget our trip to Fleetway Bowling and the Pioneer Village tomorrow, Aug. 17. There are still spots available on the trip so give us a call at 519-235-2361 if you are interested. Last week we had a blast with activities from the past. The kids performed rockin' airbands and made volcanoes, playdough, and even ill MAGGIE MILLER EXETER PLAYGROUND LEADER slime! It was a great week and we thank all the children who came out to make the events a success. The last week of our program is based on a "mystery theme." There will be surprise activi- ties everyday to celebrate the last week of Playground. We will have a talent show Aug. 21 Children are reminded to bring anything they may need to show off their special talent that day. Friday will be great fun with lots of festivities to celebrate the last day of Playground this summer. We hope to see lots of kids out to join in the fun for the last week! Several young local golfers had the chance to meet professional golfers last week during the Canadian Womens Open in London as part of the Future Links program. Front from left, Kelsey Dobson, Brendan Pollock, Chris Jefferies and Amanda Hodgert. Back:Andrew Hodgert, Canadian golfer Dawn Coe -Jones, Josh Brintnell, Nicole Pfaff,Anna Bilcke, a Future Links Participant from Michigan and Duncan Rundle. (photo/submitted)