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The Times Advocate, 2006-03-01, Page 66 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, March 1, 2006 Opinion Forum News Seniors' perspective Continued from page 5 ple scanning device card reader. For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through the electronic information strip! Information courtesy of: Pasadena Police Department To be of the best service to the older generation, I'd appreciate it if you could fill out the following informa- tion request! It is very important to me to arrange infor- mation that you would like to have, for goods or ser- vices. Send your information reply to South Huron Senior's Group, c/o Jim Bearss Box 759 Exeter ON NOM 1S6. Phone (519) 235-0310 x 239 or home at 235-4243 SOUTH HURON SENIOR'S GROUP Questionnaire 2006 1. Tell me whether your interest is High, Medium or Low for: Learning how to operate a computer or advancing? H M L" 2. Seniors' Group monthly meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month, except July and August. Each meeting, starts with a potluck supper, followed by a short meeting and entertainment. Would you be inter- ested in learning more about this event? " YES "NO 3. Are you interested in the South Huron Seniors' Group helping you get involved with your assistance of GOODS or SERVICES YES "NO If the answer was YES, what kinds of goods and ser- vices would you like to obtain? Medical equipment Automobile " Lawn equipment Windows, Doors Household Goods Florida Rooms " Meat (Traceable information) Other " Food 4. Please tell me what ADULT SERVICES you would benefit from, out of the following list. Please tell me which is most important and if you need more informa- tion on any of the services. " Dining for Seniors " Meals on Wheels Frozen Meals on Wheels Exercises Home Maintenance Widow/Widower support group " Employment Friendly phone call (Telephone reassurance) Friendly visit " Help with municipal and government contacts or problems " Sports and Recreation " Day time program for frailer seniors' Health —Related organizations Assistive Devices Palliative Care Other 5. Do you have any comments you would like to make about the newspaper column "The Senior Perspective?" YES NO Tell me your comments, what information, would you like see at the: 6. Fourth Annual Adult's Trade Fair & Information Expo will be held Wed., June 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rec. Centre Exeter. Is there anything in particular you that would like to see or participate in for that day? "YES "NO 7. Cost of living is slowly increasing, would you be interested in part-time employment if we could find work for you? What line of work would interest you? Name: Address: Phone Number: Fax number: E-mail: Additional Comments: Preventing Falls On Stairs: According to a recent study by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, a total of 6,224 Canadians fell on or from stairs or steps in their homes between April 1, 2001 and March 31, 2002, And were injured seriously enough to require a hos- pital visit. More than half of those who needed to be hospitalized were 65 years of age or older. When seniors fall even a short distance, the consequences for their health can be both severe and long lasting. Thankfully many of those falls can be prevented with a little careful planning, and a few simple strategies. To help you protect your health, mobility and independence, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has a number of tips on how seniors and their caregivers can reduce the risk of falls on stairs at home including: • Avoid visually distracting patterns on the tread that can make it difficult to distinguish one step from anoth- er. If the edges of the stairs can't be seen clearly, mark them by painting a permanent stripe on the edge in a contrasting colour. • Improve the lighting on steps and stairs. Use lighting that makes the edges of stairs visible without causing glare or strong shadows, and consider installing low - intensity night lighting, as well as a light switch at both top and bottom of the stairs. • For steps with short treads or a high rise, keep any coverings thin and tightly affixed to maximize the use- able tread space. Avoid soft treads with a large rounding at the edge. If you are renovating or building new stairs, allow for ample tread space and a gentle rise, and make sure all the steps are of a uniform size and weight. • For winding or curved stairs, be sure to provide a handrail on both sides, especially where the stairway includes combinations of rectangular and tapered treads. • Use a slip -resistant, rough finish on stairs that are prone to getting wet. • Make sure to fasten all coverings on stairs securely. • Don't place any objects or loose rugs on steps, land- ings or at the top or bottom of the stairway. • Position handrails at about adult elbow height, and extend them on both sides for a full length of the stair- way as well as beyond the top and bottom of the stairs. Repair loose or broken handrails. Ensure that the handrails have a tactile indicator that warns when a stairway is coming to an end, and that they're easy to see even in low light or at night. • Lastly, always be cautious, deliberate and not rushed when taking the stairs. Hold on to the handrails, wear shoes or slippers that fit properly and have a non- slip sole, remove reading glasses, switch on stair lights and most importantly — always take your time, especial- ly when using an unfamiliar stairway. For more information or a free copy of the "About Your House" fact sheet Preventing Falls On Stairs or other fact sheets on owning, maintaining or renovating your home, ask CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca Teachers leave lasting impact To the Kind Educators from McCurdy Public School: I am graduating from the University of Western Ontario this April and will be con- tinuing my studies to enter the profession of teaching. I was a student who attended McCurdy from 1988 to 1997. I am aware of the state the school is in now, and although it is unfortunate, my memories there will never be lost. The teachers, in particular, will always stand out to me. What made our school really shine were the educators who taught there. My letter is really to say thank you to the teachers there! Mrs. McCann, who made my first day of school fantastic by being so welcoming and understanding of the sad but soon to be happy faces. Mrs. Coates, who told her grade one students her fascinating trip to Saudi Arabia and made us want to travel there when we were older (I have yet to go). Ms. Benford, who was always encouraging, kind, and loved to read us Boney Legs. Mrs. Day, who taught me my third language with the green octopus. Mr. Negrijn, who helped me perfect my then not -so -great English. Mr. Lawrence, who wasn't afraid to call his students pinheads when they misbe- haved. Mrs. Topp, Mrs. Morrissey, Ms. Fremlin, and Mrs. Eagleson, who have all the patience in the world. These teachers (and more!) have had such a positive impact in my life. They pre- sented school as a fun learning environment, and it made me want to come to school everyday. A positive early view about school goes a long way!! The world needs more teachers who are as compassionate, kind, and encouraging as the teachers I had from McCurdy. Thank you for having such a lasting impact on me!! Dolly Chansamone Disappointed in council decision Mayor Rob Morley and members of council: I am not usually one to complain, for I think the amalgamated council of South Huron is doing a great job, but when I read in the Exeter Times -Advocate that a deci- sion was made to discontinue the large garbage pickup, I felt a need to respond. Why do we all have to suffer because a few are not following the sorting and pickup rules? Exeter was one of the first municipalities to implement the bag tag system. To get the residents and businesses on board, Exeter council of the day took the cost of garbage right out of its general budget, thus lowering its taxes and the bag tag rev- enue, landfill fees and rent paid for the total cost of all garbage and recycling services - regular pickup (at that time using our own packer and one staff), Blue Box service and commercial cardboard pickup carried out by Bluewater Recycling, all landfill costs including bulldozing and covering, site attendant, and debt charges on the farm purchased for future expansion. To be fair to its taxpayers who willingly endorsed the new system, Exeter council also provided both a spring and fall large garbage pickup including garden waste and leaf pickup because not everyone has the means to take this type of waste to the land- fill. Exeter residents did such a good job of recycling (and still do), the first year more than 40 per cent of our garbage was averted from going to the landfill, thus saving the cost of servicing the landfill and saving the space for our residents of the future. Now the large garbage pickup is being taken away and the future of the landfill site is in jeopardy because another decision was made to share this facility with other munici- palities from central and north Huron. Can you tell us where the tipping fees from these other municipalities is going to be spent? Exeter councils of the past established this landfill facility to service our residents long into the future. If revenue is going to be generated from other municipalities (other than South Huron) then it is only fair that this revenue be spent in Exeter if for nothing else but to provide extra garbage pickup not just once a year, but twice a year as originally promised. In an amalgamated municipality garbage services are provided across the board, nothing wrong with that! But I surmise that the bag tag revenue in the sparsely popu- lated areas does not cover the extra cost because residents in rural areas are allowed to burn and the need for garbage tags is less, but Bluewater Recycling still provides the services and the municipality pays for this. Is it possible to do an analysis of the bag tag and landfill fees revenue coming from just Exeter and if it turns out that this revenue still pays for Exeter's original deal, including extra large garbage pickups, maybe you would reconsider your decision? Mr. Betties reported the cost of pickups and the extra landfill bulldozing costs. The landfill charges would not be a saving if the pickup is "scrapped", in fact, it might cost more because as it is now, the scav- engers take probably half of it. Has Mr. Betties ever supervised how the extra garbage is being picked up? Well this fall I watched the pickup on my street. The front-end loader operator sat on the machine while three employees `hand' filled the bucked and then he drove to the dump truck parked half a block away, losing half the load on the way. If a trained equipment operator were used and the dump truck fol- lowed close by, the cost of at least two employees could be much reduced. If we were provided two pickups a year, the time to pick up would not necessarily double, the vol- ume would be more manageable and would fit in with other duties more appropriate- ly. If other residents and businesses in Exeter remember our original program with its promised components, let the South Huron council know because they were probably not aware of it when they made this decision. One last question of council - if part of the garbage program is being taken away, should we not get some concession either in the form of a tax rate reduction or the lowering of the cost of bag tags? Liz BEI , Exeter