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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-09-19, Page 25Wednesday, September 19, 2007 Times -Advocate 25 Family history book by Ron Armstrong gets rave reviews By Joan Beierling VARNA CORRESPONDENT VARNA - Church worship was in Goshen on Sunday with pastor Elly Van Bergen with the welcome and announce- ments and the call to worship. A representative to the Bluewater Nursing Home Board from Goshen Church is needed immediately. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at noon. Please speak to Elly if you are interested. Mark your calendars for Sept. 20 Goshen U.C.W. meeting at Goshen Church at 8 p.m. Sun., Sept. 23 there will be a baptism at the worship service in Goshen. Sun., Sept 23 Camp Menesetung will be having their fall appreciation 2007 from 1-3 p.m. This includes good conversation, great enter- tainment and yummy snacks. A "Wrap Up For the 2007 Camping Season" and a "Look Forward to their Anniversary Year 2008". Sun., Sept 30 Anniversary Sunday will be in Varna. Oct. 4 the Varna U.C.W. will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Varna Church. Looking further ahead into October, Anniversary Sunday is Oct. 21 and also our last Sunday for Elly! Goshen will be having their annual fall supper on Oct. 24. Please join us in celebrating Elly Van Bergen's upcoming wedding at a commu- nity shower in her honour, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Varna Complex. We encourage all to join. In lieu of gifts, for this combined household, a card box and guest book will be available at the door. For further info please call 233-3303 anytime between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday. The community's thoughts and prayers are with Barry Cleave and his family on the passing of Barry's mother Phylis Gethke . The Community's thoughts and prayers are also with Jim Storey and his family on the sudden death of Jim's wife Shirley. The descendants of Rainey and Rosey Armstrong held their successful reunion this past July long weekend and already plans are in the making for a celebration of the 160th year since their arrival in Stanley Township. On June 16, 2012 the family will again gather, with relatives from across Canada and the U.S. They are aiming for an attendance of 300! September is Big Brothers Big Sisters month September is National Big Brothers Big Sisters month, a time to celebrate the mentoring relationships our agency fosters, and the brighter futures for children in need. Big Brothers Big Sisters South Huron (BBBSSH) has been in your community for 30 years, delivering service to children and operating as a non-profit, charitable organization. The work we do is based on community giving, as no dollars are received from our national organization or government funding. BBBSSH was initiated by our community in June 1977, when a group of concerned local citizens formed a Steering Committee. These community members exam- ined the need for friendship support services for boys of single parent homes in South Huron and the northern portion of Middlesex and Grand Bend. The first board meeting of South Huron Big Brothers was held in September of the same year, and in April of 1979 Letters of Patent were granted. By 1982 it was apparent there was also service needed for girls and the agency began to deliver service to both genders. Over the years BBBSSH has re -defined our service pro- vision and the goals of that service. Applications are now accepted from single, dual and foster parent families for children in need of our services. The criteria for accep- tance of a child into our programs can no longer be based on `single parent' families The needs of the child are assessed, and the focus of service is based upon the needs of the child, not the family situation. The goals of program have also become more defined. Originally Bigs and Utiles were matched within a friend- ship with the hope that through that connection the child would begin to flourish in an accepting, supportive rela- tionship. While this remains true today, we now assess the needs of the child in conjunction with the parent, school, and social service agencies to develop goals and objectives for each child. Today, our mission is to strengthen our community through mentoring programs that encourage individual potential in children and youth. Our purpose is to pro- vide a safe forum where children in need can form meaningful, positive relationships with caring adults to foster their personal development. Although the focus of mentoring is friendship, the child receives immeasurable opportunities to enrich their physical, mental, and emotional development. Increased self-esteem and resiliency is facilitated through the car- ing role modeling and guidance that is a part of that friendship. Program components engage the family, child and volunteer to support a child in self develop- ment, community participation, personal safety and hope for a brighter future. Statistics support the positive changes that occur for children in our programs. Mentoring matches do make a difference: • Improved behaviour at home, at school and in the community; • Improved anger control, less dishonesty; • Increased self confidence; • Increased self-esteem; • Increased optimism, decreased anxiety, less depression; • Enhanced self-awareness; • Increased motivation physically, intellectually, socially; • Decreased initiating of alcohol and/or drug use; • Improved academic performance, less missed school; • Increased completion of elementary/secondary education; • Improved relationships with their peers; • Increase in feeling emotionally supported and less criticized; • Increase in co-operation and responsibility; • Improved resiliency; • Increase in problem solving skills; • Increased sense of belonging and the experience of a co-operative group; • Increased ability for safety and self-protection. Big Brothers Big Sisters South Huron provides service to Bayfield, Varna, Brucefield, Kippen, St. Joseph, Zurich, Hensall, Grand Bend, Dashwood, Exeter, Crediton, Woodham, Kirkton, Shipka, Huron Park, Mount Carmel, Centralia, Whalen Corners, Parkhill, Ailsa Craig, Lucan and surrounding areas. We offer the following programs and services: Big/Little Mentoring; Big/Little Cross -Gender Mentoring; In -School Mentoring; Co-op In -School Mentoring; BIGBunch Mentoring; Child Safety/Self Esteem Programs and Family Support and Referral Services. Big Brothers Big Sisters South Huron is a member agency Huron United Way and of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (BBBSC), the leading child and youth serving organization providing mentoring programs across the country. The agency remains accountable to the families and communities we serve through our board of directors' governance and through our report- ing requirements, agency reviews and operating stan- dards set by BBBSC . Learn how you can be a part of Canada's leading youth mentoring organization. Become one of the 22,000 vol- unteers who bring magic to more than 23,000 children every week. Give us a call at 235-3307, or visit our web- site for more information at www.shbbbs.on.ca. You too can `Share a little magic.' DIANNE BEACH Executive Director Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Huron With the publication of their family his- tory book: "Descendants of Rainey Armstrong, From County Antrim to Huron County and Beyond", written by Ron Armstrong, it is easy to see how each one fits into the family tree. Rave reviews have been given to this genealogical work, and Ron has given his family a lasting legacy. If any member of the "clan" has not yet ordered their copy, please do so now. They are going quickly, and they would make a wonderful Christmas present for family members. You can get a copy locally from Gwen Patterson 565-5188 or Joyce Armstrong Coleman 565-5033. Deb Rathwell and Leisa Stephenson are Walking For The Cure for Breast Cancer' on Sun., Sept. 30 in Exeter. Pledges are welcome! POLICE BRIEFS ATV driver tries to evade OPP EXETER — On Sept. 11 an ATV was being oper- ated with a passenger on Main Street in Exeter. When a Huron OPP officer attempted to stop the vehicle the operator tried to evade police by dri- ving out into an open field. Police pursued and later apprehended the suspect who was subse- quently charged under the highway traffic act for failing to stop for police. Motorists are reminded of their ongoing obligation to stop for police when directed to do so. Impaired driver caught EXETER — A McDonalds employee reported a possible impaired driver at the drive through win- dow in Exeter Sept. 8. Huron OPP officers attend- ed the scene and arrested a 35 -year-old male for impaired care and control. Breath samples taken at the Exeter OPP Detachment confirmed the dri- ver had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. A 35 -year-old Windsor man was charged with one count of impaired driving and one count of driving with over 80 mgs of alcohol. He will appear in Exeter Court Nov. 29. Usborne Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company Head Office Exeter, On NOM 1 S 1 235-0350 • Est. 1876 y�- HAY MUTUAL C O M P A N Y Zurich, Ontario Tel 519-236-'+381 www.haymutual.on.ca FARMS • HOMES • COTTAGES McKillop Mutual Insurance Company Seaforth, Ontario Toll Free 1-800-463-9204 Insurance is Their Business— Our Safety is Their Concern. My mutual insurance company provides top quality insurance protection for our family. But what we like are the loss prevention programs which cut the cost of claims. After all, policyholders like us have to pay the cost of claims. So it makes sense that Ontario's 45 mutual insurance companies keep rates competitive through safety education. The Mutual approach -making life safer through education. IIIONTARIO'S MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES Ownership has its benefits. 1 Like That! 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