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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-04-05, Page 66 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, April 5, 2006 Opinion Forum News Seniors' perspective Continued from page 5 How Long? The first interview will last about two to 2 1/2 hours and the second one will last about one hour. You will be paid $20 per interview. Where? In London and rural areas that lay within 100 km of the city. Why? To help determine the service needs of older adults with low vision. Research findings will be shared with local and rural residents, the CNIB, the City of London, Health policy makers, Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Family Physicians, and Community nurses. Interested? Like more Information? Please call: Dr. Debbie Rudman at (519) 661-2111 x 88965 Automobile News: Diesels May be Poised for North American Comeback; Driven by fuel economy needs and cleaner diesel tech- nology, new life is being breathed into the possibility of diesel power trains making a comeback in North America's light duty vehicles. At the auto show in Detroit last January, at least five major automakers announced plans to market diesel - powered light-duty vehicles in North America. In addi- tion, Ford Motor Company's Reflex concept car show- cased the possibility of a diesel -hybrid power train. According to Anthony Pratt, auto analyst with J.D. Power & Associates, all manufacturers are at least look- ing at the possibility of adding diesels to their light duty lineups. Pratt predicted that diesel will power 4 1/2 per cent of new light-duty vehicle sales - cars and trucks excluding the biggest pick-ups - by 2012, as compared to only one percent last year. "Modern diesel engines are better than 25 per cent more fuel efficient than an equivalent gasoline engine," said Tom Erickson, a Ford manager for Gas/Diesel Power train integration. "High fuel prices in Europe have increased the popu- larity of diesels which has also spurred the development of new clean -diesel technologies. The new diesels are highly refined with increased torque and reduced smoke, odour and noise." Diesels for light duty vehicles on this all but vanished in a cloud of black smoke during the 1980's, but in Europe the latest generation of diesel powered vehicles are poised to capture more than 50 per cent of the non- commercial market. Ford Motor Company have actively developed clean diesel technology in Europe and markets diesel here mainly for the heavy-duty segment. "The Power -Stroke 6.0 litre diesel engine sells more than all of its competition combined and is now chosen by three -out -of -four Super Duty buyers," Ericson said. Mercedes-Benz announced at the Detroit auto show the goal of introducing five more diesel models to North America. The current mid-sized E320 diesel sedan will be replaced by a new version with a new engine. It will be joined by the GL320 and ML 320 sedan and R -class sport wagon. In addition, Honda, Nissan, BMW and Daimler/Chrysler all indicate a renewed interest in diesels. Currently, Volkswagen is the leader in light-duty diesels here, with sales climbing from 10 per cent in 2004 to nearly a third of vehicle sales last year. Along with the Volkswagen and Mercedes models, Daimler/Chrysler first light-duty diesel SUV - the Jeep Liberty CRD - was also recently introduced to this mar- ket as a diesel alternative. If diesels make a comeback, the rewards are great, according to Margo Oge, head of EPA Office of the Transportation and Air Quality in the U.S. "If we had a light-duty vehicle population that was one-third diesels, that would save up to 1.4 million bar- rels of oil per day, the amount of oil the U.S currently imports from Saudi Arabia," Oge said. Robinson/Beintema Ontario Talent Search for Entertainers Aged 50+ Talent is ageless, so entertainers in their 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80+ may want to take note of the Seniors RBC Jubilee Ontario -wide talent search. From August 14 - 18, five different Jubilee shows will kick off at 11 a.m. each morning in the lobby of the beautiful Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto. Audiences can dance to live bands, sing along with choirs, and enjoy continuous performances, wandering minstrels, buskers and a little magic too At 1 p.m. the spectacular variety show will get underway on the theatre stage. Auditions are being accepted now for singers, dancers, comedians, musicians, novelty or cabaret acts to be part of the entertainment showcase. Singers can be soloists, trios, quartets or choirs; dancers can be alone or in a chorus line, folk or clogging troupe; and musicians can play instruments on their own or as a part of a band. To arrange an audition, provide your name or name of act, address, phone number and a brief description of the act to: RBC Seniors Jubilee, c/o Canadian Organization of Senior Artists and performers, Attention: Wayne Burnett, Artistic Director, 603 _ Parliament Street, Toronto Ontario M4X 1P9. Audition information can be sent by regular mail, by email to info@cosap.ca or by fax to (416) 260-5627. The deadline for applications is April 30. Since 1989, the Jubilee - North America's largest entertainment showcase - has provided an extraordi- nary experience for thousands of older performers. This professionally produced musical variety show will fea- ture a cast of 1,300 plus talented seniors from all over Ontario. Tickets are available from the Roy Thompson Hall box office. Information from 1964 Times -Advocate Cook Book: A young Anne Street housewife, Mrs. Bev Skinner, won four out of five first prizes in the first recipe contest held by The Exeter Times Advocate. "The recipes are all favourites of my family. I just sat down one evening when my husband was away and decided to send in a few of our favourites, never dreaming of getting a prize", Mrs. Skinner said. Her sweep of the top prizes was strictly by merit. The five judges (a different one for each category) didn't know who submitted the recipes they tested - signatures were removed and numbers did the identification of the recipes judged. Nor did any judge know the other, so they couldn't collaborate. The ladies selected for judging either had won a num- ber of awards themselves in previous contests or were qualified by training. Mrs. Skinner won first prize in supper and casserole dishes with a recipe for sausage casserole, which she said, "is a meal in itself." Cherry nut Loaf was the prizewinner in the quick breads. A chocolate fudge cake won such remarks as "very good, fine texture, rich colour and excellent flavour from one of the judges. "Pineapple Treat" won the nod for first place in the dessert class and Mrs. Skinner said, "I could make that dessert every day for my husband, he likes it so well." The other prizewinner was Mrs. Homer Russell, R. R. # 1 Exeter, with her recipe for calico salad in the salad category. Mrs. Russell won the champion cook title at the Exeter Fall Fair last fall. Other prizewinners were Mrs. Len Veri, Exeter, sec- ond prize for blueberry orange loaf; Mrs. Stewart Blackwell, R. R. # 2 Hensall, second prize for salad dressing and third for meat pie; Mrs. E.S. Steiner "Gram", Rochester, second prize for broken glass cake recipe; Mrs. Hugh Morenz, R. R. # 2 Dashwood copped second prize for her recipe for tuna noodle casserole; Mrs. Edward Finkbeiner, R. R. # 2 Crediton was given second prize for her cookie recipe and Mrs. Jeanne Crocker, Hay, third for her dream bar recipe. Mrs. Rachel Schwalm, Hensall, won third prize for her fluffy scone recipe and Mrs. Harold Simpson for her bridal salad she originated herself for special occasions. Mrs. Archie MacGregor, Hensall and Mrs. Morenz shared the third prize for desserts, both submitting the same recipe. Pete and Larry had not seen each other in many years. After a long talk to catch up on each other's lives, Pete invited Larry to visit him in his new apartment. "I have a wife and three children and I'd love to have you visit us." "Great, where do you live?" "Here's the address. And there's plenty of parking behind the apart- ment. Park and come to the front door, kick it open with your foot, go to the elevator and press the button with your left elbow, then enter! When you reach the sixth floor, go down the hall until you see my name on the door. Then press the doorbell with your right elbow and I'll let you in." "Good. But tell me... what is all this busi- ness of kicking the front door open, then pressing eleva- tor buttons with my right, then my left elbow?" "Surely, you're not coming empty handed." A 3 1/2 year-old walked into the bathroom while her mother was putting on makeup. "I'm going to look just like you mommy!" she announced. "Maybe, when you grow up," her mother told her. "No mommy, tomorrow. I just put on that 'Oil of Old Lady' you always use." "Don't underestimate the power of people" I would like to write in response to the letter submitted in last week's Times - Advocate by Rick Hundey, president of Community Living — South Huron's board of directors. First off I would like to ask that community-based agencies not refer to the people they support as "clients;" they are people first! In fact, "People First," a group of self - advocates, would be a logical step to take in exploring options for "Gilbert" and how to better connect him with people outside of the paid supports he receives. Mr. Hundey you spoke of Gilbert as someone who is, and I quote, `volatile," "comparable to that of a toddler" and "an overgrown child." I would think that a man in his 50's should be treated with the respect he deserves. Have you, Mr. Hundey, lived a day in Gilbert's shoes? Have you ever lived in an institution? Is your life solely made up of support workers? Have you ever experienced life in a group home, living with people you have not chosen to live with? I would guess you have not experienced any of these things and yet you speak of them as though you have. Perhaps Gilbert is trying to communicate to the world through his actions and maybe his words are not being heard. Has anyone had a conversation with him or spent time with him to figure out what he is communicating or is he simply to follow the guidelines under which he lives day in and day out in a world that does not offer choices? Did you ever begin to think that people do not want to live in groups of four, five or six, that sometimes people would like to live on their own or with a roommate of their choosing? The plan in which the Ministry has requested of you is another logical step in listen- ing to the life that Gilbert wants for himself, not where he "fits" in. I would like to make the suggestion that you find a third party planner to assist with his planning. Letters tO the People should not live a life of being "slotted" into empty beds in a group home or into programs you feel they need. They should be asked questions about their own lives and given the opportunity to make their own decisions and choices. Believe me when I say it can and is done every day. The reason I know this is through my 17 years of work with people who have disabilities. I may know Gilbert and have had many a conversation with him and I can assure you that living hi an institution is not his life dream. Don't underestimate the power of people and the ability they have to clearly be in control of their own lives. You said in your article, "We have to stop forcing our clients into shoes that are four sizes too small." I would suggest Mr. Hundey that the people you support find a differ- ent shoemaker or shop at a different shoe store. KIM MONDEN, Seaforth Big Brothers grateful for help Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Huron would like to thank our many community partners who supported Bowl for Kids 2006. Bowl for Kids is a key fundraiser for our programs and services, and the dollars gen- erated by this campaign are critical in maintaining service to children and families within our communities. Therefore we are deeply grateful to the financial donators, bowlers, prize donators and volunteers who year after year make a vital commitment to support the children we serve. The 2006 financial goal for Bowl for Kids is $21,000. To date we have fallen short by $5,000. For a small non-profit organization receiving no government funding, a short- age of $5,000 has a big impact on our ability to maintain our services. If you would like to make a donation to support the children we serve, please visit our website at www.shbbbs.on.ca., or contact our office at 235-3307. Together we can make a differ- ence for the children and youth of our communities. DIANNE BEACH Executive Director Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Huron