HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-09-27, Page 66
Exeter Times -Advocate
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Opinion Forum News
Seniors' perspective
Continued from page 5
• Avoid brushing teeth immediately after consuming
acidic food or drinks as this is when the enamel surface
may be softened - it is best to wait at least one hour.
• Brush teeth gently, but thoroughly, with a soft tooth
brush.
• Have regular dental check-ups and talk to a dental
professional about any concerns.
Senior Busters:
Fraudulent SCAMS affect seniors across the country in
many different ways - such as telemarketing fraud,
home renovation fraud and phony bank manager.
Seniors are the most vulnerable target for con artists. It
has been said by a convicted fraud artist that "seniors
are too nice to kick you out of their home, so I just wait
them out until they finally sign the contract."
• Don't forward money for a prize you are told you
have won. If it sounds too good to be true - it is.
Anything worth winning will not cost a clime. Never pay
for promotional items like pens to claim a prize. Free
trips should not cost you anything. Never pay for a free
trip.
• Don't disclose information about your bank accounts
or credit cards. Never purchase or invest in any product
or company without first checking it out thoroughly.
Don't be afraid to hang up the phone when you are
pressured for more information or money.
• Never give money to persons posing as bankers,
police officers or other officials. Don't allow people you
do not know into your house to inspect your valuables.
Don't allow your valuables out of your house.
• Don't allow anyone to do home repairs unless you
call them. Always get two or three estimates for home
repairs. Always check a contractor's background with
the Better Business Bureau in London 519-673-3222.
Don't get caught by:
• "The Phony Bank Inspector" People will pretend to
be bank inspectors and ask for assistance in catching a
person defrauding the bank. They'll ask you to give your
money to do so. Close the door or hang up the phone
and call the police.
• "The Home Repair Swindle" People come to your
house telling you that you need home repairs. Always
get two or three quotes. If you did not call these people,
close the door and call the police.
• "The Cop Con" A person pretends to be a police offi-
cer investigating a crime. He/she wants to mark all the
valuables but does not have the marking tool. He/she
asks to take them to the station. Get the badge number,
close the door and call the police.
Note: This past week, I heard of a couple of incidents
that happened and neither time the police were called.
Example a lady didn't want her family to know about
what happened, and also non-essential activity going on
in the middle of the night which left residents scared
and damage was done. Please call the police; you will
never be chastised for making that call. Phone number
for police and please put this number close to your
phone 1-888-310-1122 and don't be afraid to use it.
Food Warnings 1. The Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume var-
ious brands of fresh spinach, packaged in the United
States, because the products may be contaminated with
E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.
2. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and
Wendy's Restaurants of Canada, Inc. are warning the
public not to consume Wendy's Home -style Garlic
Croutons because the product may be contaminated
with Salmonella. The affected product, Wendy's Home -
Big Brothers Big
Sisters month
September is national Big Brothers Big
Sisters month and I would like to ask your
readers to help us make a big difference in
a young person's life.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Huron is
a non-profit agency that promotes positive
mentoring relationships for young people
in our community. The big brothers and
sisters who volunteer for these programs
become mentors, role models and friends
to children who need someone special in
their lives.
I have been a big sister for one year now,
and am learning many new things with
each meeting. I have developed many new
skills to see things from another's perspec-
tive, and have had new experiences from
being matched to a little sister.
I am finding many new things to do in
our area of living, and am constantly
aware of fun events going on in surround-
ing communities. Having a little sister
not only brought a new enter-
taining friendship to my life,
but it has also introduced
me to many new people and
places. I truly enjoy having
a little sister, and I am looking
forward to maintaining our
friendship in the year to come!
You can make a difference by volunteer-
ing as little as two evenings a month with
BIGBunch or a few hours a week as a big
brother or sister. The flexibility of these
programs is ideal for adults who would like
to volunteer but find busy schedules diffi-
cult to work around. There are 20 children
on the waiting list that would benefit great-
ly from having a big brother or big sister in
their lives. If you would like to make a big
difference in a young person's life please
contact the office at 519-235-3307 or go
online to www.shbbbs.on.ca. You can
make a difference!
MEiANY REGIER, Big Sister
Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Huron
port — "Glow With Us." On Oct. 1 at 8 p.m.
we are being asked to turn on Christmas
lights in one window of our home. This
simple act can show our appreciation to
caregivers and recognize the valuable con-
tribution they make to their families and
our society. Please tell your friends and
help to make this annual international
event a success.
SHIRLEY HANLON, VON Perth -Huron
An inspirational
accomplishment
For many of us who have endured the
terrible loss of a close loved one, emotion-
ally, it seems that a medical diagnosis of
cancer is an almost certain death sentence.
Without question, the mere mention of the
word "cancer" conjures up a terrible fear
that strikes to our very core. Of course,
with new and innovative medical advance-
ments, cancer is anything but a death sen-
tence; however, nothing reminds us more
of our mortality than that single, dreaded
Letters
to the
Editor
term — cancer.
Last week, I met a man named
Steve Darley, from Alymer, Ont.
Steve, who is a husband, a father of
three, a firefighter and a licensed
carpenter, is also a 44 -year-old survivor
of oesophageal cancer.
On Jan. 13, 2005, Steve was diagnosed
with cancer of the oesophagus and on Feb.
15, 2005, an intrusive oesophagectomy
was preformed. Unfortunately, Steve's
surgery was not without complications and
he was forced to spend 23 days in intensive
care recovering. Despite the seriousness of
his ordeal, just three months following his
surgery, with a feeding tube in place, Steve
returned to work.
Even more remarkably, on Aug. 21,
2006, Steve began cycling more than 3,000
kilometres from Thunder Bay, along the
Great Lakes shoreline, to Ottawa. While
his primary goal was to show that cancer
does not have to be a death sentence, he
also wanted to raise money and awareness
to help cancer patients beat the odds.
Last week, as a number of my colleagues
from the National Liberal Caucus, and
myself, welcomed Steve to Parliament Hill,
I was filled with a great sense of pride.
Steve, his wife Tracey, his three children
and all of those who helped him to success-
fully execute this labour of hope, deserve
our thanks and I was pleased to have had
the opportunity to recognize his immense
accomplishment.
PAUL STECKLE
Huron -Bruce MP
Show your support
Many individuals in our community are
providing care 24/7 to a loved one. VON
has always been a strong advocate and
supporter of these caregivers. Whether
that be through nursing visits, adult day
programs, volunteer visiting, etc., care-
givers deserve and need our support.
Recently, we at VON Perth -Huron
became aware of a new and moving
opportunity for all of us to show our sup -
style Garlic Croutons, is sold in 14 g packages bearing
the UPC 0 70200 100282 and the lot code USE BY FEB
05 07. This product has been sold at Wendy's restau-
rants in Ontario and Quebec.
A Few ways to tell you are getting older:
1. You and your teeth don't sleep together.
2. You try to straighten out the wrinkles in your socks
and discover you aren't wearing any.
3. At the breakfast table you hear snap, crackle and
pop and you're not eating cereal.
4. Your back goes out, but you stay at home.
5. You wake up looking like your driver's license pic-
ture.
6. It takes two tries to get up from the couch.
7. Your idea of a night out is sitting on the patio.
8. Happy hour is a nap.
9. You're on vacation, and your energy runs out before
your money does.
10. All you want for your birthday is not to be remind-
ed of your age.
11. It takes longer to rest than it did to get tired.
Frankly, I don't need any reminders that I'm getting
older.
12. I hold on to the saying: I may have to get older, but
I refuse to grow up.
My wife left me. I don't understand. After the last child
was born, she told me we had to cut back on expenses; I
had to give up drinking beer.
I was not a big drinker, maybe a 12 -pack on week-
ends. Anyway, I gave it up, but the other day, when she
came home from shopping and I looked at the receipt
and saw $45 in makeup, I said, "Wait a minute. I've
given up drinking beer and you haven't given up any-
thing!" She said, "I buy that make-up so I can look pret-
ty for you." I told her, "Heck, that's what the beer was
for!" I don't think she'll be back..."
Principal's message
EXETER — On Oct. 2, Goderich District Collegiate Institute
will host the fall 2006 University Information Program for stu-
dents planning to attend university.
The event runs from 7 to 9 p.m. with two 40 -minute presen-
tations and a half-hour opportunity to roam from representa-
tive to representative. This will be a good opportunity for stu-
dents in Grades 11 and 12 and their parents to get information
about university programs. If there is sufficient demand, we
can arrange for a bus at a cost of $5 per person: students who
wish to take the bus should contact Mrs. Janke in Student
Services as soon as possible.
Students and parents are reminded that this Friday is a PA
Day and there will be no classes. On Thursday our students
and staff will take part in the second annual nation-wide
Terry Fox School Run/Walk. Students and staff will raise funds for this event,
but our main goal is participation in honour of Terry Fox and we hope all stu-
dents take part.
Also Thursday, the Students' Council is holding its first dance of the year, the
Grade 9 Welcome Dance. Although it is billed as a Grade 9 dance, it is open to
all students in all grades and I thought I would take this opportunity to remind
parents and students of our expectations for dances. With the exception of the
Formal, all our dances are on Thursday nights, starting at 7:30 p.m. and end-
ing at 11 p.m. The doors do not open until 7:30 p.m., so students are advised
not to show up much in advance of that time if the weather is bad.
Dances are open to all students in the school, with the exception of those who
have not paid their student fee, those who are suspended, those who have
been truant on the day of the dance, and those who have detentions owing.
Each student is entitled to sign in one guest who must be a student in good
standing at another high school or a recent graduate known to the school
administration. Guests must be signed in on a sheet in the main office by no
later than noon on the Wednesday preceding the dance.
Elementary school students are not eligible to be signed in as guests.
Once students have entered the dance, they may not come and go. Students
who leave will not be re -admitted and the doors are closed at 9 p.m. Students
who know in advance they cannot make the dance by 9 p.m. must inform the
school administration and their names will be placed on a "late list," which will
allow them admission after 9 p.m. With the exception of the "no hat" rule, the
normal rules and expectations for behaviour apply to school dances.
Disciplinary action, including suspension from school, may take place for stu-
dents who misbehave at school dances.
Paid duty police officers are in attendance at all our school dances, and stu-
dents who arrive with knapsacks, gym bags, large purses, etc., will have the
contents checked upon admission to the dance. Students are not permitted to
go to their lockers (unless accompanied by a staff member) and they must stay
in the vicinity of the dance at all times. Students found in other parts of the
building will be asked to leave.
Students found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be removed
from the dance. Their parents will be called to pick them up and they will be
suspended from school. We will have breathalysers at the door and we reserve
the right to ask any and all students to pass a breathalyser test. Students who
misbehave at dances should also be aware they may lose the privilege of
attending further dances this year, including the Formal.
Some students consider these expectations to be strict, but the intent of them
is to provide for a safe and enjoyable atmosphere at our dances. The Provincial
Code of Conduct requires students meet such expectations at all school events,
on site or not, during the school day or after hours. The vast majority of stu-
dents have no difficulty meeting these expectations and generally we have few
problems at our dances and students seem to have a good time.
JEFF
REABURN
PRINCIPAL'S
MESSAGE