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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-01-16, Page 5Wednesday, January 16, 2008 Times -Advocate 5 Opinion Forum News I OYEARS AGO January 14, 1998 - Exeter's own Deb Homuth takes over as principal at South Huron District High School. She replaces Bill Gerth who is moving on to Clinton Central Huron after two years at SHDHS. ROSS Ellison Travel raised $1,203 HAUGH for Town and Country BACK IN TIME Homemakers at their annual Christmas party through a silent auction. 20 YEARS AGO January 6, 1988 - Exeter council Monday night amended the rules and regulations of the Exeter Public Cemetery. The changes include that no interment should take place on Saturday afternoon, Sunday or any legal statutory holiday. Interments during the winter months shall take place at the direction of the cemetery superinten- dent. Three Exeter Public Utilities Commission employees are in Casselman, southeast of Ottawa to help restore electricity to that commu- nity, Steve Skinner, Scott Eveland and Randy Bilcke as well as Adam Wilson of the Clinton PUC left after work on Friday. Pat O'Rourke is the new councillor for the township of Stephen filling the council seat caused by the resignation of councillor Drew Robertson who with his family is going on a teaching exchange in Australia. The value of building permits hit a new high in two area townships in 1987. In Stephen town- ship, the total for the just completed year was close to four million dollars, almost double of a year ago. In Usborne township, the 1987 figures were $1,270,000, again almost double of the previous year. 30YEARS AGO January 12, 1978 - The intense winter storm which started late Sunday afternoon brought most activities in the area to a complete standstill by Monday afternoon. Heavy snow accompanied by very strong winds continued well into Tuesday and most snow plow crews did not get to work until late Tuesday afternoon. South Huron District High School and most area public schools were closed for both days. Usborne Central School was closed until Thursday morn- ing. The first ever Exeter Junior Hawks hockey tournament was won by the Lucan Irish. Bill Bannerman is the Irish coach and Randy Kraul is the captain. 45 YEARS AGO January 15, 1963 - Exeter Kinsmen club has pledged a $1,500 donation toward the swim- ming pool project. Provincial honours were awarded to three 4-H members at the Perth County Achievement Day held recently in Mitchell. They were Hazel Crago of Kirkton and Joyce Kerslake and Margaret Wallace of the Staffa club. 50YEARS AGO January 11, 1958 - B.W. Tuckey and W.G. Cochrane of Exeter and Ivan Kalbfleisch and George Deichert of Zurich are attending the Liberal convention in Ottawa this week. Stephen reeve John Morrissey won the tightest battle in Huron County history when he became Warden Tuesday afternoon. Effective immediately, Huron Inspectorate No. 3 with its office in Exeter under the supervision of inspector John Goman will be enlarged by addition of the township of Hibbert. 60YEARS AGO January 2, 1948 - Several residents who spent the New Year's holiday in other centers experi- enced great difficulty in returning home owing to the violent storm which swept through Western Ontario on New Year's Day. Mr. Lex McDonald, distributor of Supertest Gas Company in this area has moved his family from Glencoe to Exeter. Exeter Rural HEPC workers were called to Kingsville this week where the recent storm did so much damage. 85 YEARS AGO January 4, 1923 - A new cafe has been opened in Exeter in the building south of Lawson's Jewell y store and formerly occupied by Miss Armstrong. Seniors' Perspective By Jim Bearss ADULT ACTIVITIES C0 -ORDINATOR Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally! -author unknown - Getting bored with winter? Plan to play euchre at the Riverview Estates, Exeter on Sat., Jan. 19 from 1 - 4 p.m. Lunch is provided. Turn at Beer Store and proceed east to the Riverview Estates. For more information contact Mildred Chalmers at 235-2028. Euchreama Exeter Seniors are hosting a Euchreama on Fri., Jan. 25 starting at 10 a.m. at the Exeter Legion. Come for the prizes, lunch and fun. Partners in Learning Reminder of our open house on Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Southcott Pines Clubhouse, Grand Bend. Come out and meet the moderators for the 10 -week winter courses which commence Jan. 23. These three courses include "Mysteries of Life, Reality and Fiction", "From Distant Shores" and "Socrates Cafe". Registration forms are available at the Grand Bend Post Office, Library or the Southcott Pines Clubhouse. For further info, call Suzanne 238-6927, Ian 238-5335 or Molly 238-2237. Rebekah's Poor Boy Luncheon Jan. 25 - 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Exeter United Church. $6 includes soup, sandwich, cake and beverage. Exeter Legion Legion luncheon on Fri., Jan. 18 at the legion. You can pay at the door. 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 remember. The date for this important walk is Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. - 12 noon. You will meet at South Huron District High School in Exeter. January is Alzheimer's Awareness month. Again this years' theme is "Heads Up For Healthier Brains" The Alzheimer Society of Huron County invites Grade 4 and 5 students to participate in our 2nd annual "Healthy Brain Writing and Drawing Contest". Draw a picture or write a story (500 words or less) your story or picture should be about brain fitness and what you can do to keep your brain healthy. Please submit your entry to our office by Jan. 18. P.O. Box 639, 317 Huron Rd., Clinton, ON. Don't forget to put your name, phone number and address on the back of your entry. Presentations to the winners will be made Jan. 26 at our Manulife Walk for Memories site in your area. For more information, ideas and contest rules please visit our website at www. alzheimerhuron.on.ca www.alzheimerhuron.on.ca and click on the brain or contact Maggie at 519- 482-1482 or 1-800- 561-5012. 1st PRIZE - Nintendo DS -Lite player with Brain Age and Brain Age II & "What's happening to Grandpa" Written by Maria Shriver 2nd PRIZE - MP3 Player and "What's happening to Grandpa." 3RD PRIZE - Cranium Board game and "What's happening to Grandpa" All schools that enter as a class will be entered into a draw for a "Healthy Pizza Party." "Caregiver Connections" Are you caring for someone with memory loss? Do you feel overwhelmed, alone or angry? We can help! Caregiver Connections is a two hour education session developed to give caregivers information on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Topics include: An overview of dementia, the progression and stages of the disease, and avoiding caregiver burnout We will be presenting this session throughout Huron County in January and February. Exeter - Town Hall Mon., Jan. 21, 2 to 4 p.m. 322 Main St. Exeter, Upstairs Grand Bend - Grand Bend Health Centre on Mon., Feb. 4, 2 to 4 p.m. 69 Main Street East. For more information and to register for a session please call our office at 519-482-1482 or 1-800-561-5012. Awareness events in January "Appetite for Awareness" A three week "Brown Bag" Education Series, Jan.11, 18 and 25 at the OMAFRA building in Clinton. From 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch and education materials supplied and cost is only $10 per ses- sion. Please consider helping the Stephen Central Grade 8 Graduating Class: Canadian Fiddle Champion Scott Woods with his band `Dancing Fiddles' will be at the South Huron Recreation Centre on Sun., Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. Contact Heather Wells at 228-6136 for purchasing tickets that are only $15. The show is sponsored by the Stephen Central Grade 8 Graduating Class of 2008. Please consid- er helping the pupils with their fundraising efforts. After the conclusion of the show, you are invited to attend a ham, scalloped potato and dessert din- ner catered by Crediton Zion United Church. Adults $13 and children aged 5 -12 only $5. 'Barn Dance Show' On Sun., April 13. The Kirkton Agricultural Society is presenting the 'Barn Dance Show' at the Kirkton-Woodham Community Centre. The concert will be from 2 to 4 p.m. featuring the Barn Dance Show Band and special guests. Tickets are avail- able at Wayne Otterbein's Barbershop, Exeter or at the Kirkton Market. For more information contact Melanie at 229-8286. Show this to your friends and family: The year is 1907. One hundred years ago. What a dif- ference a century makes! Here are some statistics for the Year 1907: The average life expectancy was 47 years. Only 14 per cent of the homes had a bathtub. Only eight per cent of the homes had a telephone. There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads. The maxi- mum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph. The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower! The average wage in 1907 was 22 cents per hour. The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year. A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year. More than 95 per cent of all births took place at home. Ninety per cent of all doctors had no college education instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and the government as "substandard." Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were 14 cents a dozen. Coffee was 15 cents a pound. Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo. Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their coun- try for any reason. Five leading causes of death were: pneumonia and influenza, tuberculosis, diarrhea, heart disease and stroke. The American flag had 45 stars. The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30! Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn't been invented yet. There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day. Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write. Only six per cent of all Americans had graduated from high school. Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health." (Shocking? Duh! ) Eighteen per cent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help. There were about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S.A.! Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years. Contributed by Gwen Coward Ways to connect in meaningful ways: A little comfort can go a long way. Here are 10 simple, but meaningful ways to connect with other people in your life. Send e-mails or a letter to people you know who are going through a difficult time. Your e-mails or letter don't have to say much more than "I'm thinking of you" and "I do care." Keep a selection of postcards on hand. That way, you'll be able to dash off a few quick lines to a friend whenever the mood strikes. Purchase an armload of fresh magazines for one of the waiting rooms at your local hospital. Families waiting the news about a loved one will appreciate your kindness. Rake a neighbour's lawn before she even has a chance to step outside. Your thoughtfulness will leave her feeling toasty warm. Cheer up a friend whose sense of humour has gone AWOL. Leave a message on her answering machine offering to drop by with a bunch of comedies the moment she says the word. Make life a little less lonely for an older person you know who is living alone. Have a standing date to play Scrabble or card games. Establish a Sunday morning "Girlfriend get together coffee club" - a chance to reconnect over a steaming cup of j ava. Offer to make dinner for the most stressed out mom you know. Whatever you make for dinner will taste utter- ly gourmet. When you receive exceptional service in a restaurant or store. Ask to speak to the manager. That way you can praise a particular staff to his or her boss. Make copies of this list to pass along to your friends so that they can give and receive comfort too. Investment tips for 2008; For those of you with any Jim Be arss