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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-12-26, Page 5Wednesday, December 26, 2007 Times—Advocate 5 Opinion Forum News I OYEARS AGO December 24, 1997 - Ontario Community and Social Services Minister Janet Ecker, a native of Exeter will appear on TVO's weekly "parent affairs" program "The Parent Connection" on Thurs., Jan. 8 at 10 p.m. to dis- cuss her government's response to the growing concern about child abuse. The Lucan Irving Masonic Lodge 154 honoured Charlie Corbett for his 50 years with the Lodge by giving him a pin and hold- ing a wine and cheese party in his honour last week. 30YEARS AGO December 23, 1977 - When Exeter council mem- bers were one short of a quorum, building inspector Doug Triebner found himself in an unusual situa- tion. He was hustled up to Pat's Pet Shop to fill in as a sales clerk so councillor Pat Patterson could attend part of the meeting. 45 YEARS AGO December 15, 1962 - Main Street United Church Sunday School children dramatized the Christmas welfare work they are doing during their annual yuletide program Wednesday. A play written by one of the teachers, Mrs. Donald Wilson explains what is being provided a Korean boy by the Sunday School's campaign to adopt him through a relief agency. 50YEARS AGO December 16, 1957 - Led by past president Andy Bierling, Exeter Legion's installation team outlined the duties and accepted the pledges of the Branch's new president Graham Mason and the auxiliary offi- cers under president Marion Frayne. Children of Grand Bend United Church were thrilled last week to see Saint Nicholas at their Sunday School concert in his formal garments. It was the type of costume he wore when he was Bishop of Mura in Lycia in the third century. Stanley Sauder was licensed as minister of Thames Road Mennonite Mission during a special service at the church on Sunday. John Burke has opened a general insurance and real estate business in Exeter. 55 YEARS AGO December 22, 1952 - R.D. Jermyn will be a new- comer to Exeter council when the 1953 council is installed. He replaces Eugene Beaver who has resigned. Monetta Menard who has operated a restaurant in Grand Bend in conjunction with her Exeter busi- ness has purchased the lakefront home of Dr. Kennedy in Grand Bend. It will be remodeled and opened next summer for serving meals. Mrs. Fred Sweitzer has been re-elected president of the Kirkton Horticultural Society 60YEARS AGO December 17, 1947 - The Exeter Legion is asking all families to have a silent guest at their Christmas tables donating the value of the meal to Care. 65 YEARS AGO December 21, 1942 - Lance Bombadier Eric Carscadden of Petawawa is on furlough visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Garnet Miners of Usborne township. Word was received this week by Mrs. Vernon Heywood that her husband has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major. He has been overseas since 1941. 85 YEARS AGO December 16, 1922 - The Exeter High School Drama Club presented a three act comedy entitled "Miss Henderson's Gentleman Friend" in the Opera House on Wednesday evening to a well filled house. Taking part were Dorothy Balkwill, Helen Wethey, George C. Hind, W. Borden Cunningham, William L. Lawson, Maurice E. Ford, Edgar Thompson, T. Harry Seldon and Bertha Russell. 90YEARS AGO December 22, 1917 - The Canadian Bank of Commerce has given the staff of their banks a 10 per cent bonus to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the bank. Messrs. William Andrew, William Frayne, James Dearing, Gordon Penhale and John Hunter attended Guelph Fair last week. Miss Viola Penhale has been engaged by the Bank of Commerce as a member of the staff of the Exeter branch. ROSS HAUGH BACK IN TIME Seniors' Perspective By Jim Bearss ADULT ACTIVITIES C0 -ORDINATOR A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs, whereas a woman will pay $1 for a $2 item she doesn't need. Home Tip When wrapping a lot of presents, put the large rolls of ribbon on a broom handle, and rest it on two chair backs. This makes it super easy to select colours and lengths of ribbon, without them tangling. New Year's Eve: If you don't want to dance and party, consider playing euchre at the Exeter Masonic Hall on New Year's Eve. A happy gathering is planned and for more information and tickets contact June at 235-2194. Jim Bearss Celebrate New Year's Eve at the Royal Canadian Legion RE Pooley Branch #167 Exeter. Time for this fun evening is 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dance to the music of "Chris and the Boys." You get lunch and "taxi" for $30 per person for $50 per couple. Only 200 tickets available and for more information, contact the Legion at 235-2962 or Sharon at 235-1299 or 235-2696. New Year's Eve Old Tyme Country Dance, featuring `Rural Roots' at the K -W Community Centre. When: Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to midnight. Ticket includes a delicious buffet lunch and the proceeds go to the Kirkton- Woodham Pool. Advance tickets are available from Otterbein's Barber Shop 235-0559, Tasty -Nu bakery 236-4912, Jeff Miller 237-3424, Murray Armstrong 236- 7746 or Kirkton Market 229-8923. Alzheimer Manulife Walk for Memories: The Alzheimer Society of Huron County would like to invite you to join us on Sat., Jan. 26 for our 13th annual Manulife Walk for Memories. Last year, Walk for Memories raised more than $30,000 at their five walk locations! The Society would like to make this year's walk even more successful. Come out on this special January morning and help us make this a day to remem- ber. The date for this important walk is Jan. 26, 2008. 10 a.m. — 12 noon. You will meet at South Huron District High School in Exeter. Additional information will be in future issues of Senior Perspective. Exeter Alzheimer Caregiver Support Group meets the last Wednesday of every month, 1 - 2:30 p.m. at the Exeter Town Hall. Facilitator is Maggie Brennan. I laughed and enthusiastically responded; 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze. 'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked. She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...' 'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. 'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a cam- pus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other stu- dents. She was living it up. At the end of the semes- ter we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was intro- duced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.' As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, 'We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one pro- ductive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usu- ally don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.' She concluded her speech by coura- geously singing 'The Rose.' She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after gradua- tion Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. These words have been passed along in loving memory of Rose. "Remember, growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional." Contributed by Karen Stanlake An Informed Consumer! They have ads on television now where the last half of a commercial is devoted to the announcer talking really fast while he explains everything that could go wrong with the product. It's called a disclaimer and they do it to avoid legal action later. I think it's a good idea, but I'd like to see it on marriage vows. `I now pronounce you man and wife' (Read this next part really fast). Some common side effects include disagreements, hurtful com- ments, unacceptable tone, bankruptcy and children. The success of this marriage is the sole responsibility of the participants and there is no warranty, either expressed or implied, by any friends, neighbours, or relatives. Before entering in this agreement, it is suggested you consult with a member of the clergy or a bartender. Prolonged use could lead to old age, if you are lucky. Void where prohibited. You may kiss the bride. Red Green A Question for all you hockey fans: "What do the Maple Leafs and the Titanic have in common?" Answer: "They're both fine until they hit the ice." The third-grade students were bombarding their teacher with questions about her newly pierced ears. "Does the hole go all the way through?" "Yes" "Did it hurt?" "Just a little," "Did they stick a needle through your ears?" "No, they used a special gun." Silence fol- lowed and then one voice called out, "How far back did they stand?" In a country home that seldom had guests, the young man was eager to help his mother after his father appeared with two dinner guests from the office. When the dinner was nearly over, the boy went into the kitchen and proudly carried in the first piece of apple pie, giving it to his father, who passed it to a guest. The boy came in with the second piece of pie and again watched his father give it to a guest. This was too much for the boy, who said, "It's no use, Dad. The pieces are all the same size. OPP issue fraud alert! Be wary of increased demands from fraudsters and on- line scams, police say. During this festive season all police forces are seeing an increase of e-mails stating they are from one of the banking institutions trying to get you to update your account information. This "Phishing" or brand spoofing is the act of sending an e-mail to a user claiming to be a legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into disclosing private information. Governments and financial institutions are common targets of brand spoofing. These e-mails look quite good and are difficult to spot from the original websites. They will ask you to hit a link to update your account information or the e-mail will state there is a problem with your accounts and need an urgent response. By responding to these you put at risk your Social Insurance Numbers, banking accounts, full name, date of birth, your mother's maiden name etc. With this infor- mation these fraudsters can gain control of your finan- cial accounts, open new accounts, transfer bank bal- ances, apply for loans or credit cards, receive govern- ment benefits or purchase luxury items. You will not receive unsolicited e-mails from govern- ment agencies or banks. If you are in doubt, do not open the e-mail, call or attend your banking institutions or call your local police. Protect your identity and if you are in doubt "DON'T" Scarlet fever in Owen Sound area... The Grey Bruce Health Unit is aware of several Owen Sound area children diagnosed with scarlet fever. Scarlet fever is a form of group A streptococcal bacte- ria infection characterized by a skin rash. Secondary complications can lead to on-going health problems, but rarely death. Notices and a fact sheet have been sent home from schools in Owen Sound asking parents to observe children for signs and symptoms of the disease. Any children exhibiting any signs of scarlet fever should be seen by a physician or healthcare provider. It's never too late... The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned round to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty- seven years old. Can I give you a hug?'