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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-12-19, Page 1616 Times–Advocate Wednesday, December 19, 2007 The twelve safe gifts for the holidays CANADIAN SAFETY COUNCIL — The perfect gift is sometimes difficult to find. Canada Safety Council has a dozen suggestions of gifts for this holiday season that are thoughtful, affordable and priceless. 1. Three smoke detectors and batteries: The ultimate gift that shows you care. Change your bat- teries twice a year. 2. Carbon monoxide detector: It may save a life. Install near the sleeping quarters so that the alarm can wake you up to get out- side immediately. 3. Quality all-purpose fire extinguisher: Always a necessity in the kitchen, workshop or garage. Regular maintenance is required. 4. Winter emergency car kit with road flares: Great gift for anyone that owns a car. Be sure to add a high-energy snack, bot- tled water and a blanket. 5. First aid kit: You may want to add the cost of taking a CPR class or First Aid course to this gift. This might be a "gift that gives back" if you ever need CPR or first aid care. 6. Second floor escape ladder: A small investment for life saving potential. 7. Flashlight and batteries: One of the most useful items to have in several areas of the house. Be sure to advise babysitters where they can find one. S. Bicycle flag, light and mir- ror: For the environment -friendly cyclist in your family. 9. Window guards and balcony netting: For keeping the little tots in your life safe from serious falls. Make sure that you always super- vise children and have at least one window in each room that can be used as a fire escape. 10. Portable cordless tele- phone: (or phone message sys- tem) Great for making life easier when supervising children in the bathtub, in the pool or outdoors playing. 12. Defensive driving courses: Wonderful for drivers of all ages. To reacquaint your loved ones with the newest safety tips and advice on road safety. Holiday tag to attach to gift bas- ket could read: "You mean so very much to me, I want you safe and sound. Accept this gift and you will see you'll thank me later on!" Beware of poisonous holiday plants Mistletoe and poinsettias are the most popular festive plants but are also toxic if digested. Keep them out of reach of your children and pets. Poisoning from ingesting toxic plants is a slow process. If you do not notice the consumption, it can cause extensive damage over time. If you witness a child or pet putting part of one of these plants in their mouth, remove any trace of the plant from the mouth and if breathing is not impaired, call the Poison Control Centre. If there is choking or any difficulty breath- ing, call 911 immediately. It is best to bring the entire plant to the emergency room for identify- ing purposes. Christmas cactus is a non-poiso- nous alternative and will bloom year after year. Canada Safety Council wishes you and all of our members a safe and joyous holiday season. Trustees comment on Throne Speech By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE TORONTO — Throne Speeches aren't known for their specifics, so it can't be expected the recent Ontario gov- ernment version would lead to immediate changes in the province's education system. But according to the presidents of the province's two school board trustee lobby organizations — both of whom are now from Huron -Perth and both of whom attended the Throne Speech release in Toronto — there were definitely some meaningful messages for educators. "Parts of it were definitely written with education in mind," explained Avon Maitland District School Board trustee Colleen Schenk of Wingham, who recently moved from acting spokesperson to newly -elected president of the Ontario Public School Boards Association. For Schenk, the most significant education -related announcement was a pledge to decrease the presence of saturated fats — or "trans -fats" — in the food con- sumed inside Ontario's schools. "With the high incidence of diabetes in our youth, it certainly will help if this becomes reality," she said. Details on the pledge weren't provided, but Schenk suggested any effort to reduce trans -fats would proba- bly see the Education Ministry co-operating with other ministries to implement changes inside school cafete- rias and vending machines. Stratford resident Bernard Murray, also in atten- dance at the Throne Speech as president of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association, categorized the education thrust of the speech as "a continuation of what (the newly re-elected Liberals rolled out in their previous mandate), which I think is good news." Premier Dalton McGuinty's cabinet changes didn't DRIVE 18,43. RIG TDRIVING SCHOOL M.T.O. approved beginner driver's education courses Dec. 27th & 28th Jan. 3rd & 4th from 9 AM to 3:45 PM at the Centre for Employment & Learning 349 Main St., Exeter - backdoor Registration forms in office at S.H.D.H.S or you can just show up! Call Kathy Delbridge 519-235-4485 or Garth Sheldon 519-524-4008 Next course starts Feb. 3rd at S.H.D.H.S affect the Education Ministry, with Kathleen Wynne retaining her position as Minister. So Murray expects more of what happened prior to the Oct. 10 election. "I think everyone has to agree that they did do some good things in that first term for education," he said. Specifically, he pointed to the creation of the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat, which put in place initia- tives to boost the ability of teachers to target students struggling in these areas. Murray expressed concern, though, with a Liberal pledge to address the provincial education funding for- mula by 2010. He'd like to see that happen earlier, par- ticularly because it will then take several months or even years to make changes once they decide what changes should be made. The most significant element of the Throne Speech was probably the commitment to follow through on a campaign promise to introduce full-day, every -day pro- gramming for students in Junior and Senior Kindergarten. In a separate event, the government announced it has appointed someone to lead the phas- ing -in of this programming by 2010. Avon Maitland education director Geoff Williams praised the intent of the move, saying "the more sup- port you give children at that age, the better their suc- cess rate in later years." But he cautioned the move will be costly. "Space for Kindergarten -aged kids is quite special- ized," he explained, citing the examples of smaller - sized toilets and regulatory requirements for the amount of space per child. .3-foCufay Collection Schedule The Btuewater Recycling Association and its entire staff would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas anda happy New year. During this holiday season, we postpone the regular collection of waste andrecycla.bCes in order to allow our staff to savour this joyous holiday season with their family. Since Christmas and New year's 'Day are on. a Tuesday this year, there will not be any collection on Tuesday, December 25th andTuesday, January Ist..An alternate collection will occur on Saturday, December 29' for all those normally collected on those dates. Wednesday, December 26th is a regular collection day for us except for the Town of CGoderich and Seaforth, and the "Village of Blyth which will not be collected until -Wednesday, January znd. Please ensure that your material is set out by 7ooam as the driver may be there earlier than usual The regular collection schedule will -resume on Wednesday, January 2nd We apologize for any inconvenience. if you have any questions or concerns please calf I-800-265-9799 ext 228. Interesting Christmas Facts For every real Christmas tree harvested, two to three seedlings are planted in its place. Frankincense is a sweet smelling gum resin derived from certain Boswellia trees which, at the time of Christ, grew in Arabia, India, and Ethiopia. Tradition says that it was presented to the Christ Child by Balthasar, the black king from Ethiopia or Saba. The frankincense trade was at its height dur- ing the days of the Roman Empire. At that time this resin was considered as valuable as gems or pre- cious metals. The Romans burned frankincense on their altars and at cremations. REGAIN THAT NEW LOOK IF IT ROLLS, FLOATS OR FLIES... WE CLEAN IT! GIFT CERTIFICATES Make the Perfect Gift SHOP 519-262-3098 oc�1 CELL 519-318-4411 .fiJERRY SMITH G i ceiTc'" CLASSIC DARK BLACK GRANITE Tablet 36"X6"X24" All Polished Lettering for two people, Choice of design, Grey polished top base, Delivery & Taxes included. Cemetery fees & foundation extra Just $1899 tax included On Sale Until DEC. 31, 2007 RICHARD 5. TALBOT 1935 -- 1993 MARION F CYR IJ rfhe Stone Centre • 118 MAIN ST. DASHWOOD • JIM HOFFMAN 519-237-3532 MUNICIPALITY OF MUNICIPALITY BLUEWATER OF BLUEWATER 2001 NOTICE & WARNING NO PARKING is allowed on any road allowance between the hours of 2 AM - 7AM during the period of November 1 - April 1 for snow removal purposes. Violators will be ticketed. The council has passed a motion prohibiting the placement of signs, planters, pop machines or any items that would interfere with snow removal on sidewalks or boulevards during the period of November 1st to April 1st.