The Times Advocate, 2008-03-05, Page 5Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Times -Advocate
5
Opinion Forum News
I OYEARS AGO
March 4, 1998 - The Exeter
Petite "B" ringette team won the
Stayner and Area Ringette
Kinsmen tournament on the
weekend. The coaches are Julie
Ritchie and Kevin Baer.
The Exeter tyke Little Hawks
won the Arthur tournament on
the weekend. Coaches are Dave
Partridge, Al Penn and Steve
Skinner.
Jenissys Engineered has purchased Big 0 for
approximately $13 million. Big 0 is Canada's
leading producer of high-density polyethylene cor-
rugated plastic pipe for agricultural and infra-
structure markets.
20YEARS AGO
February 24, 1988 - A five week campaign to
support the Bushels of Bread for Ethiopia project
was kicked off Sunday morning at the Brinsley
Anglican Church. The goal of the program led by
the Brinsley congregation is 125 tonnes of grain to
coincide with the 125th anniversary of the church.
More than 50 churches fox Ministerial
Associations in Ailsa Craig, Lucan, Parkhill and
Strathroy along with the Crediton and Centralia
United congregations are involved.
Jonathan Jenkins and Tabatha Froats repre-
sented Lucan Scout and Guide groups recently at
Jamborees in Australia and Ireland.
30YEARS AGO
February 23, 1978 - Bev Rabbetts who has
been assistant Postmaster in Exeter for the past
eight years has been named Postmaster in St.
Marys. Rabbetts who came to Exeter after 14
years as a postal clerk in Aylmer replaces Ted
Stephens who has taken over a similar position in
Strathroy.
Winners in the recent Exeter Kinsmen club
essay contest were Cathy Hogan from Precious
Blood and George Tomes from J.A.D. McCurdy.
The South Huron High school wrestling team
won the Huron -Perth championship for the eighth
time in nine years. Winners in their weight cate-
gories were Tim Martens, Vince Winters, Brian
Westelaken, Cliff Hicks, Kevin Hern, Rick Skinner
and Ron Bilcke.
45 YEARS AGO
February 22, 1958 -Charles A. Fiford who has
held the position of comptroller at General Coach
Works in Hensall for the past few years was hon-
oured at a surprise dinner party last week. He left
Saturday to accept a job in Sarasota, Florida.
50YEARS AGO
February 22, 1958 - Mr. and Mrs. John Spacek
have returned home from a three month trip to
their native country of Czechoslovakia.
Exeter Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star
has voted $250 toward furnishing a room at the
hospital's nursing residence.
60YEARS AGO
February 23, 1958 - LAC Stan Smith, a trumpet
soloist with the Lachine RCAF Silver Band has
written a song entitled, "After a Dream" for which
a bright future is promised.
Some 300 farmers were in attendance both
Thursday and Friday at the farm machinery
school held in the town hall under the auspices of
the Ontario Department of Agriculture of Clinton
and the Huron agricultural committee.
85 YEARS AGO
February 22, 1953 - The girls hockey team
from the Exeter High School went to Zurich
Saturday and played a game with the Zurich girls
resulting in a 1-1 tie. It was a strenuous game and
the lone tally for Exeter was scored by Amelia
Acheson. The lineup was: goal, Florence Harvey,
defense, Mildred Rowe, Mary Elworthy, forwards,
Amelia Acheson, Gertie Frances and Margaret
Wethey; subs, Helen Wethey and Helen Elder.
The choir concert held in James Street Church
on Monday evening was a huge success. Dramatic
reader Rev. W.H. Piercy furnished the greater part
of the program. Those taking solo parts were Miss
H. Snell, Messsrs. Walter Cutbush and C. Godbolt
and Mrs. W.G. Williams and Miss V. Essery.
The 15 horsepower steam engine of Mr. S.V. J.
Cann, opposite the Metropolitan Hotel ran away
on Tuesday and did considerable damage to his
shop. A 60 -foot shafting was broken from its
hangers and badly twisted. Some of the pulleys
were broken and thrown about.
ROSS
HAUGH
BACK IN TIME
Seniors' Perspective
By Jim Bearss
Adult Activities Co-ordinator
As income tax time approaches, did you ever notice:
When you put the two words 'THE' and 'IRS' together, it
spells "THEIRS?"
Legion Activity
Meat Draw Saturdays 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. chicken
wings available during meat draw on 2nd and 4th
Saturday, eat in or take out.
Soup and Sandwich at the Legion! Mark your
calendar for Fri., March 14. Lunch is from 11:30
a.m. to 1 p.m.
March 17, St. Patrick's Day, come for the
Legion's famous Irish stew 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Lucan Seniors Sunshine Club's Annual
Shamrock Euchre:
To be held on Thurs., March 13 starting 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.
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 information about this trip, contact
Harvey or Esther at 235-1167.
Hensall Legion card tournaments
At the Hensall Legion. Euchre - Euchre tournament
March 8, Pepper Tournament March 29. Bring a team of
3. Registration 12:30 p.m. - play begins at 1 p.m $5 per
person. Lunch provided.
Spring and tulip time:
Tired of winter? Looking forward to spring? Join
Marion Foster on a bus tour to the Tulip Time Festival in
Holland, Michigan (May 7-10). En -route to Holland you
will take in highlights of Detroit and visit the Kellogg
Farm (once owned by Kellogg as in Kellogg cereal) near
Battle Creek. In Holland view acres of tulips in bloom,
visit the Veldheer Tulip Farm, learn about the Dutch
Heritage, see wooden shoes made, attend a Tony Orlando
concert, enjoy a colourful parade complete with many
marching bands, and much more. For more information
contact Marion at 229-8718.
Bingo: Centralia Huron Park Lions are hosting a bingo
at the South Huron Recreation Centre on Sun., March 9. A
progressive jack pot of $1000 in 55 numbers called. For
more information contact Harvey at 235-1167.
Getting bored with winter? Plan to play euchre at the
Riverview Estates, Exeter on Sat., March 15 from 1-4 p.m.
Lunch is provided and it will cost you only a tooney. Turn
at Beer Store and proceed east to the Riverview Estates.
For more information contact Mildred Chalmers at 235-
2028.
Practice your home fire escape plan!
The Ontario Fire Marshall is urging all Ontarians to
take a few minutes to protect you and your loved ones
from fire.
"Sit down with everyone in your household and discuss
how to get out of the house in the event of a fire," said
Patrick Burke, Fire Marshall for Ontario. "Consider draw-
ing a floor plan of your home, identifying all escape routes
from each room." Simple steps for home fire escape plan-
ning include:
Install working smoke alarms on every storey of the
home and outside all sleeping areas -it's the law! - Make
sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke
alarm.
Assess the needs of everyone in the home - Identify
anyone who requires assistance to get out of the home
safely, such as small children or older adults.
Identify all possible exits (doors and windows) and
make sure they work - know two ways out of all areas, if
possible.
Everyone must know what to do when the smoke alarm
sounds - Assign someone to help those who need assis-
tance and identify a safe meeting place outside and call
the fire department from a neighbour's home or cell
phone.
Get low and go - Everyone must know if they are
caught in smoke, they should get low and go under the
smoke to the nearest safe exit.
You may have only seconds to safely escape your home.
Practice your home fire escape plan and make sure
everyone can get out safely.
Warning signs of stroke
•Sudden weakness, numbness and or tingling of the
face, arm or leg.
•Temporary difficulty speaking, loss of speech or trou-
ble understanding speech.
•Sudden loss of vision, particularly in one eye or double
vision.
•Sudden, severe, unusual headaches or change in the
pattern of headaches.
•Dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls, especially with
any of the above symptoms.
Warning signs of heart attack... Pass it on!
•Paleness •Anxiety, fear, denial •Sweating •Shortness
of breath •Indigestion •Tightness or chest pain •Overall
weakness •Nausea If you experience any of these symp-
toms, tell someone immediately and call 911 or emer-
gency services in your community. Quick action
saves lives!
Seniors deserve better than this
It must be frustrating to front-line workers at
provincial nursing homes. More and more is
expected of them, on a daily basis. Residents are
having greater health-care concerns, and new reg-
ulations are making every job just that much more
challenging. Yet, there isn't enough funding for an
extra set of hands. Joan Norris, administrator of
Chateau Gardens in Elmira, put it simply: "It would
be so nice to have a bit more nursing staff, not a huge
number, but a bit more. That's all we want." It's a pretty
simple request. Nursing homes are homes for some of the
most vulnerable of residents. They have lived long lives,
contributing to society along the way. They have raised
families, held jobs, and fought wars. They nurtured those
around them, and volunteered in their community. Now,
they are reaching their final years. They live in nursing
homes, and require additional care. Some need help with
simple tasks, such as eating or dressing in the morning.
Some are more independent, but are still in need of some
human companionship — a gentle touch, a few soft words
of encouragement. Sadly, both types of residents will
often find themselves lacking both — not because of the
attitudes of those caring for them, but simply because
there aren't enough hands and hearts to go around. Visit
a nursing home sometime, and you'll see the problem.
Don't visit during the afternoon, during group activities or
nap time. Visit in the morning, when staff are trying to get
residents up and dressed, and then feed them breakfast.
It's a sight to behold. Staff has to walk a fine line. They
are brisk and efficient, because they have to be. They
have to dress residents, wash their faces, and comb their
hair. They have to deal with residents who don't know
what's going on, and do their best to fight any ministra-
tions. It's a lot of work. On top of the physical aspect of the
job, nursing home staff to the best of their ability, chat
with the residents, and try to make them feel comfortable.
However, there is no real time for a conversation, to pro-
vide that kind of encouragement that some residents
sorely need. It's a sad state of affairs, to be sure. Our
seniors, those who have built this nation, surely deserve
more than this.
If you are experiencing problems with care for your
loved one in a nursing home setting, take a minute and
contact your local M.P. Editorial Elmira Independent:
Gail Martin, editor
Rambling of a retired mind:
I was thinking about how a status symbol of today is
those cell phones that everyone has clipped onto their belt
or purse. I can't afford one. So, I'm wearing my garage
door opener.
(b) You know, I spent a fortune on deodorant before I
realized that people didn't like me anyway.
(c) I was thinking that women should put pictures of
missing husbands on beer cans!
(d) I was thinking about old age and decided that old
age is 'when you still have something on the ball, but you
are just too tired to bounce it.'
(e) I thought about making a fitness movie, for folks
my age, and call it "Pumping Rust."
(f) I have gotten that dreaded furniture disease. That's
when your chest is falling into your drawers!
(g) I know, when people see a cat's litter box, they
always say, "Oh, have you got a cat?"
Just once I want to say, "No, it's for company!"
(h) Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the
Post Office? What are we supposed to do... write to these
men? Why don't they just put their pictures on the
postage stamps so the mailmen could look for them while
they deliver the mail? Or better yet, arrest them while
they are taking their pictures!
(i) I was thinking about how people seem to read the
Bible a whole lot more as they get older. Then, it dawned
on me they were cramming for their finals
"Enjoy our Days & love your Life... because life is a
journey to be savored" Ken Agnew
Grannies' Pies:
Granny made such beautiful pies. One day I asked her,
"How do you get such beautiful pies with all the crimps
around the edges so even"? "It's a family secret", she
said. "So promise not to tell".
I roll out the dough, then cut a bottom layer and care-
fully put it in the pie plate. Then I slowly pour the filling,
making sure it's not too full. Next 1 cut a top layer and
put it over the filling. Finally, I take out my teeth and just
run them around the edge of the pie crust, and they make
the nicest even impressions you ever did see
Jane Dearing
Jim Be
arss