The Times Advocate, 2005-12-14, Page 5Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Exeter Times -Advocate
5
Opinion Forum News
ROSS
HAUGH
BACK IN TIME
I OYEARS AGO
December 13, 1995 - The 1995
Exeter Christmas parade was very
successful with 52 floats participat-
ing. The best overall float was
entered by Hoffman's Ambulance
and South Huron Hospital. The
best Christmas theme was won by
Maguire Customs, Exeter Public
School had the best school float,
Crediton Neighbourhood Watch
was best in the organization cate-
gory and the best commercial prize went to Exeter
Toyota.
Members of Hensall District Co -Operative learned
at Friday's annual meeting that net savings for the
business year ending July 31, 1995 amounted to
$239,742.
25YEARS AGO
December 10, 1980 - Four new members joined
the Exeter Lions Club Thursday night. Gib Dow, Jim
Beckett, Gary Bean and Niall Straw were welcomed
by president Earl Wagner.
The SHDHS junior girls basketball team have won
the Huron -Perth Conference championship.
Captains are Faye Gaiser and Cindy Down.
35YEARS AGO
December 12, 1970 - One of Huron county's best
known residents was the key -note speaker in pay-
ing tribute to Hon. C.C. and Mrs. MacNaughton at
"An Evening with Charlie and Addie" at Huron
Park, Thursday. Premier John Robarts, a summer
resident at Oakwood Park in Stephen township said,
"This is an enormous tribute to Charlie and Addie
as he looked out over the crowd of 900".
Newcomers to the political scene led the polls in
four area municipalities on Monday. In Hensall,
Murray Baker led the councillors, Mrs. Shirley
Sylvester was tops in the Grand Bend vote, Cliff
Abbott led the polls for Lucan council and Paul
Steckle was the leader in Stanley township. For
reeve in Grand Bend, John Payne Sr. bested incum-
bent Orval Wassmann 177 to 167.
40 YEARS AGO
December 14, 1965 - Fifty new Canadian families
proudly opened their first church in their adopted
land at a special service Friday night. The congrega-
tion of the Christian Reformed Church turned out in
full force to mark completion of their house of wor-
ship.
50YEARS AGO
December 12, 1955 - Reeve Bill McKenzie of
Exeter and Stephen Reeve Jack Morrissey are
among five men campaigning for the office of Huron
county warden.
Arnold Cann was re-elected president of the
Usborne township Federation of Agriculture.
R.E. Pooley who has never competed in an elec-
tion before, has been challenged in his bid for a sec-
ond term by councillor A.L. Snelgrove
55 YEARS AGO
December 13, 1950 - Usborne township council
found itself in the pleasant position of having a sur-
plus budget at the end of the year of some $11,000.
60YEARS AGO
December 14, 1945 - Mr. Kenneth Hockey, BSA,
stationed at Sydney, Nova Scotia has received his
discharge and will resume his position with E.R.
Hopper.
80YEARS AGO
December 14, 1925 - At George Manson's store,
100 pairs of men's plow shoes are on sale for 80
cents a pair.
85 YEARS AGO
December 15, 1920 - Bread has been reduced to
12 cents for a 24 ounce loaf in Exeter. It has been
selling two loaves for 25 cents.
Mr. Amy Wexler lost one of the licence markers
off his car and replaced it with a cardboard marker.
While in London he was stopped for having an ille-
gal licence plate and was fined $10.
I I OYEARS AGO
December 15, 1895 - Tuckersmith council has set
their salaries for 1896. The reeve will receive $45
per annum, deputy -reeve and councillors $35 each,
the treasurer $100 and the clerk $160.
The advent of sleighing produced a rush of cord-
wood to town. A farmer on Saturday stood all day
trying to sell a load. Finally he was able to get $2 a
cord for good cordwood.
Charles Coates, son of the late Frank Coates has
decided to abandon faun life for a time at least and
take a course at the Forest City Business College.
Seniors' Perspective
By Jim Bearss
ADULT ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR
When you are arguing with a fool, make sure he
isn't doing the same thing
Bring Care Home this Christmas - Give a gift certifi-
cate to someone you love from Town and Country
Support Services. Gift certificates are available from
Meals on Wheels, Frozen Meals, Home Care, House
Cleaning, Seniors Diners Clubs and other services and
great gifts for seniors. All funds support the commu-
nity work of Town and Country Support
Services. Call Wingham 257-3222, Clinton
482-9264 or Exeter 235-0258. Founded in
1978 in Huron County, Town and Country
Support Services is a not-for-profit agency
providing in-home care and community pro-
grams for seniors, frail elderly and disabled
adults in Huron County.
Shelley McPhee Haist; Town and Country
Support Services 519.357.3222
shaist@tcss.on.ca
DidYou Know? A broken down
organ lead to popular song `Silent
Night'.
"Silent Night" was written and first performed on
Christmas Eve at St. Nikolas Church, in Oberndorf,
Salzburg, Austria in 1818. According to legend, the
church organ was broken and the town was snow-
bound. Church Vicar Joseph Mohr wrote the lyrics on
the spot.
Franz Gruber composed the original melody for two
voices and a choir with guitar accompaniment, just in
time for midnight mass. Ever since that still night 187
years ago, Silent Night has become a regular 'must
sing' every Christmas season and especially on
Christmas Eve in churches throughout the world. It is
also a very popular song at Christmas concerts.
Source: Indiana University
Kirkton Women's Institute made a quilt for the
1978 International Plowing Match in Huron County,
which illustrates the map of Huron County in gold and
other pertinent information regarding goods and ser-
vices of the County. The Institute wishes to sell this
beautiful piece of 'art' and history. Contact: Helen
Shute 229-6159 or Doris Spence 229-6276
Elder Abuse:
What you need to know about Elder Abuse. What is
Elder Abuse? Elder abuse or the abuse of older adults
is often defined as "an act or omission that harms a
senior or jeopardizes his or her health or welfare".
The World Health organization defines abuse of
older adults as a "single or repeated act, or lack of
appropriate action, occurring in any relationship
where there is an expectation of trust that causes
harm or distress to an older person".
Elder abuse can take the form of: Neglect! Physical
abuse! Sexual abuse! Psychological abuse! Financial
abuse!
Elder abuse can take place in the home, in a resi-
dential setting or in the community. Abusers can be
family members, friends, staff, or individuals in posi-
tions of trust or authority.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Elder Abuse?
Victims of elder abuse may show signs of: depres-
sion, fear, anxiety, passivity, unexplained physical
injury, lack of food, clothing, and other necessities,
change in hygiene and nutrition, failure to meet
financial obligations, or unusual banking with-
drawals!
If you or someone you know has been abused or is
experiencing abuse, you are not alone; help is avail-
able:
• Contact your local police or community service
agencies in your area. You can also get information
on elder abuse by calling the Ministry of the Attorney
General's Victim Support Line. It's toll free, 1-888-
579-2888 across Ontario.
• A list of provincial elder abuse resources is avail-
able in the "What You Need to Know About Elder
Abuse: Information Sheet" available at www.citizen-
ship.gov.on.ca/seniors/index.html or call toll free 1-
888-910-1999.
FROSTBITE! DoYou KnowWhatTo Do?
1. Cover the affected area.
2. Handle the area gently and never rub the skin as
this may cause further damage.
3. Warm area gently by immersing the affected part
in water that is warm and comfortable to the touch.
Continue to warm the part until it is warm and looks
red.
4. Bandage the affected area with a dry sterile
dressing.
5. Ensure that the affected part does not become
frozen again.
6. Get the person to a doctor as soon as possible.
Canadian Red Cross
Partners In Learning: 2006 Winter Program, when:
10 Wednesdays from January 25th — March 29th
2006, Where: Southcott Pines Clubhouse — Grand
Bend Ontario.
A UniqueWayTo ExpandYour Mind!
Partners in Learning; is an interesting way for
active -minded adults to explore stimulating ideas
with others who share your interests.
Courses are conducted in small, interactive learn-
ing groups, consisting not more than 20 members.
The learning groups meet together for two
hours a week, on ten consecutive weeks to
share ideas on the course(s) of their choice.
It is a pleasant and stimulating way to keep
your mind active, and meet others who share
your interests.
Three interesting study groups to choose
from:
Course # 1; "Canadian Mosaic"; Moderator
Bill Metcalfe; Wednesdays, 2:00 — 4:00 p.m.
Canada provides an endless variety of things to
appeal to our curiosity: the people, culture, geog-
raphy, history, science, politics etc. — these and
other topics are open to us to explore together as we
examine the big and little stories and events that
shape the fabric of this great country of ours. The
field is wide open for us to share new insights into the
great homeland we call Canada.
Course # 2; "The Donnelly's Truth is Stranger than
Fiction" Moderator James Southcott; Wednesdays,
2:00 — 4:00 p.m. The story of the murder of the Black
Donnelly's of Lucan has fascinated people from the
date of their demise. Many books, articles, stage plays
and visits to their gravesite on the Old Roman Line
have added to this interest. At first authors fictional-
ized and romanticized this story, but recently a new
breed of authors has detailed a more accurate
account of this mass murder on that fateful day in
February 1880 for which no one has been convicted.
Come and explore this interesting case (the OJ
Simpson case of its time) and you will find again that
"truth is stranger than fiction".
Course # 3; "Favorite Short Stories" Moderator
Sheelagh Riggin; Wednesdays 7:00 — 9:00 p.m. From
earliest times the story and the storyteller have had
an honored role in man's quest to understand himself
and his world. We are fortunate heirs of this tradi-
tion. In this course each participant will choose and
read a favorite short story. A discussion will follow
the reading.
Here's a chance to meet others and expand your
mind with more knowledge, contact (519) 238-8025
or whmet@hay.net
Christmas News From McCully's Hill Farm
St Mary's:
Season's greetings from all of us at McCully's Hill
Farm R. R. # 2 St Marys, just east of St Marys. As the
holidays approach, many of us start to think about
shopping for friends and family. Finding the perfect
gift for everyone, and keeping to a holiday budget, is
always a challenge. Several years ago we started
making and filling Christmas gift baskets at our farm
store. This year, we are thrilled to again have Carolyn
Bradford, (my sister), one of the area's best gift bas-
ket designers, working with us to create special bas-
kets, perfect for everyone's tastes and budgets.
We look forward to hosting a number of Family
Christmas experiences this season, with sleigh rides
through the sugar bush or a visit with the farm ani-
mals, a Nativity at the barn, and hot cider at the farm
store.
In this, our 158th year as a family farm, we are
very excited to be transforming the McCully farm and
business into a not-for-profit Rural Education Centre.
The McCully Centre for Rural Learning will ensure
that the farm will always be a place where people
from all walks of life can experience the tastes of
farm fresh, locally produced foods and learn about
agriculture and the environment. For more informa-
tion about this project visit www.mccullys.com
`Tis The Season For Thefts'
Everyone thinks of Christmas as a happy time to
gather with friends and family and all the gifts that
are waiting for them under the Christmas tree. No
one ever imagines that this is the season when our
home could be broken into and our Christmas ruined.
Every year criminals take advantage of the
Christmas season to commit crimes on unsuspecting
victims. But don't fret as police advise there are a few
simple things that you can do to make your home
more secure from a burglary. Here are some steps
that you might find helpful.
Jim Be
arss
See PERSPECTIVE page 6