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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-09-13, Page 66 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, September 13, 2006 Opinion Forum News Seniors' perspective Continued from page 5 finish. It remains one of the more popular options because it's user friendly...easy to work with and low odour. Flat latex is suitable for walls and ceilings, especially those freshly plastered, since it allows the plaster to dry out thoroughly. • Vinyl flat latex is also water-based, but it's easier to clean than traditional flat latex paint; it dries to a wipe able -matte fmish. It's also more durable - suitable for all walls - since the paint's matte properties help to conceal many surface imperfections. • Vinyl gloss latex paint is water-based and quick drying. It dries to a high sheen. The gloss fmish makes washing easy, and makes the paint a good choice for kitchens and bathrooms. It can also be used for all walls and ceilings. • Semi gloss paint is oil-based and dries to a medium sheen. Although many brands are available, some have less of an odour, and more user friendly than oth- ers. This paint particularly is suitable for high -wear areas. Measure Twice: Accuracy when estimating the amount you need will save you money and reduce waste. Calculate the sur- face areas of walls by multiplying the height of a room from the ceiling to the floor (or baseboard) by the entire length of the perimeter of the floor. Use the same dimensions to calculate the surface area of the ceiling. Do not subtract the areas of doors, windows and extras like molding, wall or window recesses, pillars and covered beams from your calcula- tions. This way, you can be sure that you will have paint left over for any necessary touch ups later on. Also, remember that most walls will require two coats of paint. Safety First: As with any home -improvement project, safety always should be one of your first and foremost con- cerns. Here are some safety pointers to consider. • Prevent injury - be sure to store painting materials and tools away from children and pets. • Follow instructions - read all manufacturers guide- lines with regard to proper use of materials and equip- ment before you begin your project. • Climb safely - inspect all ladders and stepladders to make sure they are safe to use and show no serious signs of wear. Some People Driven to Distraction: Driver distraction contributes to almost a third of all collisions in Canada, according to the Canada Safety Council. Even a brief distraction that draws your mind off the road can cost you. Society condones a lot of distracted driving. Does your vehicle have a cup holder or a complicated sound system? Restaurant drive-throughs encourage drivers to pick up food and beverages. There are three types of driver distraction. There are situational distractions inside your vehicle and environmental distractions outside your vehicle and mental distractions in yourself. Situational distractions include eating, drinking or smoking; using cell phones or other electronic devices (like navigation systems or computer devices); reading a newspaper or magazine; and passengers or pets. Environmental distractions include pedestrians, ani- mals, other vehicles, bicycles, and weather conditions. Physiological distractions can include worries, fatigue, daydreaming, or stress. As well sleepiness slows your reaction time and decreases awareness. Up to 55 per cent of drivers reported being drowsy while driving. There are easy ways to avoid driver distraction. Don't drink and drive, and don't eat and drive. It's important to be well rested before you set out on a long trip. If your cell phone rings, let it go to message, let someone else answer it or pull over to take the call. Drive according to the road conditions and you'll stay safe. Your task is to stay focused on safe driving and reduce your risk of being involved in a collision. Don't be driven to distraction. Eighth Case Discovered in Alberta: Beef producers got some more bad news recently with the discovery of yet another BSE positive cow. It was the third discovery of BSE this summer and eighth since the first case surfaced in May 2003. The mature beef cow originated from Alberta. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is currently attempt- ing to determine the farm of origin. The agency says that no part of the cow, which was between eight and 10 years old, entered the human food chain. The cow was born before the ruminant food ban was put in place. Of the eight Canadian BSE positive cows discovered all but one have originated from Alberta. Earlier this year a Manitoba cow tested positive. The food inspection agency says it has tested 117,500 cattle since 2003. The U.S. border has been closed to the import of Canadian cattle more than 30 -months old since BSE was first discovered in 2003. The positive cases discovered this summer have put a hold on attempts that were being made to fully re -open the border. Although it is legal to import cattle and beef under 30 -months of age, an American protectionist group, R -CALF is attempting to block all Canadian beef and cattle from entering the U.S. A pastor, known for his lengthy sermons, noticed a man get up and leave during the middle of his mes- sage. The man returned just before the conclusion of the service. Afterwards the pastor asked the man where he had gone. "I went to get a haircut," was the reply. "But why didn't you do that before the service?" "Because," the gentleman said, "I didn't need one then." Kids Speak: • Never trust your dog to watch your food. • When you want something expensive, ask your grandparents. • Never talk back to a teacher whose eyes and ears are twitching. • Wear a hat when feeding seagulls. • Sleep in your clothes so you'll be dressed in the morning. • Never try to hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. • Don't flush the toilet when your dad's in the shower. • Never ask for anything that costs more than five dollars when your parents are doing taxes. • When your dad is mad and asks you "Do I look stupid?" don't answer him. • Never tell your mom her diet's not working. • When you get a bad grade at school, show it to your mom when she is on the phone. • Never try to baptize a cat. • Never dare your little brother to paint the family car. You can help make a difference September is, by tradition in many homes, a pivotal month, a month of transition, a month of change. It is a month where schools at all levels resume for thousands of students of all ages, a month where most vacations usually slow to a stop, a month where the sunsets �t are noticeably earlier, a ers month where ambitious to Editor Canadian geese and monarch butterflies begin to head south and the farm community gears up for another harvest. September is also the month set aside to cele- brate Big Brothers Big Sisters. During this month, we ask you, the readers, to help celebrate our successes and to consider helping us make a big difference for the youth of this community. Having been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters South Huron for a numbers of years, I have seen not only the need for this program grow, but the agency grow as well in trying to meet the challenges it faces. Sharing time with a young person can be one of the most rewarding experiences and the agency provides many varied opportunities for volunteers. From In -school Mentoring, to BIGBunch leaders to being a Big Sister or Brother to a child can bring lasting and meaningful relationships to all parties. Becoming involved as a volunteer or as a finan- cial supporter, you make a big difference in a child's life that gives the `little' an opportunity to `Share the Magic' of a caring and positive role model. This year, it has been my privilege to see many new volunteers come forward. However the need for more volunteers has also increased. Further information regarding these programs can be obtained by calling 519-235-3307, visiting our website at www.shbbbs.on.ca, or dropping into the office in the Exeter Lions Centre. Help us make a big difference for the children of your community. DREW ROBERTSON, President Big Brothers, Big Sisters South Huron Character education program planned for SHDHS EXETER — The first week of school has come and gone, and I am happy to report that things went very smoothly. There was a positive atmosphere in the school last week, which I hope is a sign we will have a productive and successful school year. The school is in excellent condition, thanks to the hard work of our custodial staff, and over the summer several rooms, including the cafeteria received new paint and/or floors. We also have a new PA and bell system, which has presented some challenges for the office staff as we try to figure out exactly how everything works. I would like to welcome to South Huron the Grade 9 students and several new students who have moved into our area or transferred in from other schools. I hope you like South Huron and I encourage you to get involved in the many things that go on in our school. I also hope you let us know if you are having any difficulties or simply have questions to be answered. We will happily assist you and I am confident you will find South Huron a great school. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome some new staff members. Petra Goetz is our new vice-principal and we have two new teachers as well, Rob Krainz in our Tech Department and Isaac Moore in audio engineering, career studies and distance education. Our new atten- dance secretary is Melonie Miller and Rob Sangster is a new educational assistant. Tracy McLennan and Heather Hawley have returned from leaves to re -join the Canada and World Studies and English Departments respectively, and we have three return- ing educational assistants: Lynn Farquhar, Diana Steep and Brenda O'Neill. Parents will have the opportunity to meet all our staff members Sept. 20 at an Open House from 7 to 8:30 p.m. We encourage parents, particularly parents of Grade 9 students, to join us for an informal 'meet and greet' session. This will be a good opportunity to see the classrooms and facilities and to put a face to the names of the teachers who will be working with your children this year. Staff members will be in their class- rooms and will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the programs we offer. Also next week is the first meeting of the SHDHS School Council, which meets on the third Monday of most months. We have an active School Council and new members are welcome. The first meeting will be Sept. 18, starting at 7 p.m. in the school library. One of the Avon Maitland District School Board goals is the development of positive citizenship, and this year the board is embarking on a character education pro- gram. At a series of community forums last year, 10 character attributes were identified and we will be focusing on one trait each month, the first of which is respect. As part of this program, the six South Huron area schools have invited Mr. Mike Neuts to speak to our students Oct. 3 - 4. Mike's son, Myles, died several years ago after being hung from a coat hook by some other stu- dents at his elementary school. Since the tragic death of Myles, Mike and his wife Brenda have become child advocates, speak- ing to students and parents across the coun- try. Mike will speak to students in all six schools and will give a special presentation for parents in the large gym here at South Huron Oct. 3 starting at 7 p.m. Mark this date on your calendar and join us for an informative presentation. Finally, I would like to remind parents of the impor- tance of ongoing communication between home and school. We encourage you to let us know if you have any questions or concerns and we will be happy to help you out. We can be reached either by phone or by e-mail, and we encourage you to check out our school web page regularly where you will find important information as well as links to staff members' email. You will find our site at: www.amdsb.ca/SHDHS/cur- rent/ JEFF REA PRINC MESS BURN !PAL'S AGE Letters to the Editor The Times -Advocate welcomes letters to the editor as a forum for open discussion of local issues, concerns, complaint, and kudos. By mail: P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 By fax: (519) 235-0766 By e-mail: editor@southhuron.com Please include your name , address and phone num- ber. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Times -Advocate reserves the right to edit letters for style, grammar and length. Please keep your letters to 300 words or less.