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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-02-13, Page 5Wednesday, February 6, 2008 Times—Advocate 5 Opinion Forum News I OYEARS AGO February 11, 1998 - The new executive director for South Huron Big Brothers and Big Sisters is Dianne Beach. She brings a wealth of social services experience to her new position. She has worked at the ROSS Children's Aid Society as well HAUGH as Community and Social BACKINTIME Services. The Exeter Rodeo committee has signed a contract with A -K Rodeo Productions to manage and operate this year's rodeo set for Aug. 8 and 9. This year's event will be part of the Dodge Truck Rodeo Series. 20YEARS AGO February 10, 1988 - Exeter Public Utilities Commission chairman Murray Greene was presented with a golf bag at the regular January meeting of the commission as a token of appreciation for 25 years of service, not only to the Exeter utility but to the district and provincial associations as well. In September a new combined teachers resource manual and drill and exercise book will be available to all grade 10 students in Canada. It was written by SHDHS math teacher Wally Webster. More than 500 area sports fans made the 15th annual Exeter Lions Sportsmen's dinner a huge success. Co-chairmen Joe Rider and Jamie Gaul expect profits to reach $7,500. The three most popular speakers were former NHL stars Dennis Hull and Eddie Shack and former wrestling super star Billy Graham. 30YEARS AGO February 9, 1978 - Tuesday's fifth annual Exeter Lions Sportsmen's dinner was a great success with more than 400 persons in atten- dance at the South Huron Rec Centre. Headline speaker was former Edmonton Eskimo star Normie Kwong. George Godbolt, treasurer of the sponsoring Exeter Lions says he expects more than $4,000 will be turned over to the London Crippled Children's Treatment Centre. This is an increase of $1,000 over last year. 45 YEARS AGO February 9, 1963 - Clerk C.V. Pickard administered an oath of office to Exeter's new PUC which will hold office for 1963-64. Commissioners are Mayor W.E. Simmons, for- mer Mayor R.E. Pooley, who was elected chairman and vice-chairman Murray Greene. Approval has been received by group Captain L.H. Randall, commanding officer of RCAF Centralia for the construction of a win- ter sports arena at the station. Construction will begin by early spring. 50YEARS AGO February 11, 1958 - A Centralia firm, C.A. McDowell and Company has been awarded the contract for construction of a dial telephone exchange building to be located opposite the RCAF Station, near Centralia. New broadloom carpeting covering the entire auditorium and new oak pews are being installed in Hensall United Church as part of their $7,500 renovation program. 60YEARS AGO February 10, 1948 - A disastrous fire Tuesday morning destroyed the wood -working factory on James street of Mr. Helge Jensen. Hon. Farquhar Oliver, leader of the Liberal party in Ontario will speak at Liberal rallies next week in Zurich, Grand Bend, Seaforth, Exeter and Hensall. Mesrs. Glenn Robinson, Bill Essery, Stan Hicks and Harold Penwarden attended the hockey game in Toronto Saturday night. 85 YEARS AGO February 9, 1923 - Mesrs. Wellington Johns and Trueman Elliott have formed a partner- ship in the cleaning and repairing business and are renovating the building that was used by Mr. Elliott. Mr. Lloyd Beavers has accepted a position as hydro superintendent at Ayr and left Friday of last week to take charge of his new position. The missionary committee of James Street Sunday School offered a prize for the best essay on missions and the prize was won by Miss Marjorie Clarke. Seniors' Perspective By Jim Bearss Adult Activities Co-ordinator There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching. Notice There will be no Seniors Trade Fair & Information Expo this year. We have had five excellent years in offering this program and entertainment to you and it is time to step aside. I want to thank all vendors and you for Jim Be making this event a success. Euchreama: Exeter Seniors are hosting a `Euchreama' at the Exeter Legion on Feb. 29 starting at 10 a.m. Come for the food, fun, prizes and a good time. Bus Tour Sat., March 1: Show 2 p.m. Sarnia Imperial Music Productions presents a musical Comedy, "Stepping out". Before the show, we will have a maple syrup meal (pancakes and other foods) at 10 a.m. Bus leaves Exeter Legion at 9 a.m. Leaves Lucan Arena at 9.30 a.m. Cost per person $80. No walking, First call your friends, and relations. Then contact Harry Hardy, 519 227-4887 or 227-0444, Box 249, Lucan, Ont. NOM 2J0 E-mail harry@cruiseselloffs.com Don't be left out, many requests for this tour. February dates at the Legion Meat Draw Saturdays 4.00 pm to 6 pm chicken wings available during meat draw on 2nd and 4th Saturday, eat in or take out. Public Speaking Wednesday February 13, you are welcome to attend. Soup and Sandwich will be held on Friday, February 15, 11.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Sports night Saturday February 23, everyone is welcome. Executive meeting Thursday February 28 6.30 pm General meeting Thursday February 28 8.00 pm Also mark your calendar for March 1 Orientation Session for all members, meet and welcome our new members. March 17 ---Irish Stew 11.30 to 1.00 Exeter Chapter 0. E. S. is hosting a Sweetheart Dinner & Entertainment at the Exeter Masonic Hall, behind OPP Building. Date for this fun event is February 15th from 6:30 - ?. Tickets are $13 each or $25 for a couple. Door prizes, draws and guaranteed fun. For more information, contact 235-0905 or 235- 1663 or 229-6947. Probus: February 20th meeting at the Exeter United Church. Eric Coates Artistic Director for the Blyth Theatre guest speaker. Euchreama at Kirkton-Woodham Community Centre on Thursday, February 21st. For more infor- mation contact Eleanor Williams 229-8200. Lucan Seniors' Sunshine Club's Annual Shamrock Euchre This event will be held on Thurs., March 13 start- ing at 10 a.m. at the Lucan Community Centre. Admission for this fun event is $6. Special draws, game prizes, win from the leprechaun's pot. Pepper Tournament: Mark your calendar for Sat., Feb. 23 at the Riverview Estates. Plan on registering your team of three at 12 to 12:30 p.m. for a small cost of $15. For more information please contact Murray at 235-3814 or Marilyn Riley at 235-0496. Casino Trip: Hiawatha Horse Park and or Point Edward, Sarnia on March 10. Bus leaves Exeter Legion at 10 a.m. returns at 6 p.m. For more infor- mation contact Harvey or Esther at 235-1167. Enjoy seeing tulips? Mark your calendar for May 7 — 10. Marion Foster is hosting a trip to 'The Tulip Time Festival' in Holland, Michigan. You will see displays of millions of tulips and celebrating Dutch heritage and culture through dance, art and theatre featuring markets, dinner shows, concerts, Klompen dancing and a spec- tacular parade. Contact Marion Foster at 229-8718 or Ellison Travel and Tours Ltd. at 235-2000 or Toll Free: 1-800-265-7022. How to StayYoung: • Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. 'That is why you pay 'them.' • Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. • Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's. • Enjoy the simple things. • Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. • The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is our- selves. Be alive while you are alive. • Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies or whatever. Your home is your refuge. • Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. • Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but not to where the guilt is. • Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. Bill Tinney The mayonnaise jar and two cups of coffee When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the two cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.' The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand... The students laughed. 'Now,' said the profes- sor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions ---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is every- thing else ---the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are impor- tant to you. 'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to din- ner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.' One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.' Pat Puchniak d The Official Canadian Temperature Conversion Chart: 50° Fahrenheit = 10 Celsius, Californians shiver uncontrollably. Canadians plant gardens. 35° Fahrenheit = 2 Celsius, Italian cars won't start. Canadians drive with the windows down. 32° Fahrenheit = 0 Celsius, American water freezes. Canadian water gets thicker. 0° Fahrenheit = -18 Celsius, New York City land- lords finally turn on the heat. Canadians have the last cookout of the season. -60° Fahrenheit = -51 Celsius, Canadian Girl Guides sell cookies door-to-door. -100° Fahrenheit = - 73 Celsius, Santa Claus aban- dons the North Pole. Canadians pull down their ear flaps. -173° Fahrenheit = -114 Celsius, Ethyl alcohol freezes. Canadians get frustrated when they can't thaw the keg. -460° Fahrenheit = -273 Celsius, Mt. St. Helens freezes. Absolute zero; all business stops. Canadians start saying "Cold eh?" -500° Fahrenheit = -295 Celsius, Hell freezes over. The Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup. Ken Agnew arss