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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-03-12, Page 5Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Times -Advocate 5 Opinion Forum News I OYEARS AGO March 11, 1998 - Donald Finkbeiner and Howard Finkbeiner, representing the Finkbeiner reunion presented a cheque for $2,100 to assist instal- lation of an access lift to the sanc- tuary at Zion United church in Crediton. A historic landmark in the vil- lage of Shipka disappeared this past week when the Ratz feed and chopping mill was torn down. 20YEARS AGO March 2, 1988 - Winners of the Crediton social club annual public speaking contest were Darren Young and Sheri Wells of McGillivray Central and Chris Neil of Stephen Central. The top Beavers, Cubs and Scouts in Exeter received the annual Evelyn Lebedew awards. Individual winners were Mark Weigand, Shawn McCurdy, Brendon Kraftcheck and Joel Evans. The Knights of Columbus District 68 sponsored their annual basketball free throw contest Saturday. Winners were Tara Conlin, Mount Carmel; Sheri Regier and Randy Johnson, Usborne Central; Kara Powell, Hensall; Jamie Ramer, Zurich Public; Amy Wildfong, Zurich St. Boniface; Peter Gibson, J.A.D McCurdy and Randy Reymer, Lucan St. Patrick's. The Kirkton Woodham Farmers Club reported a good year in 1987 with sales up by more than $100,000 to almost two million dollars. John Simpson is the new president succeeding Burns Bladder. 30YEARS AGO March 2, 1978 - Residents of Crediton will find several changes when they go for their mail this week. The post office has been moved to the for- mer Henry Eilber building on Main street and John Stewart has taken over as Postmaster. Stewart takes over from Bob Jackson who has accepted a similar position in Maidstone. Phyllis Lightfoot has been the acting Postmistress since Jackson left for his new post. Winners in the recent Exeter Legion sponsored public speaking contest at Exeter Public School were Jamie Rose, Isabel Perry, Karla Josephson and Sharon Skinner. 45 YEARS AGO March 4,1963 - Miss Mary Tapp, a life-long res- ident of Exeter celebrated her 90th birthday on Saturday at Mrs. L. Desjardine's Eventide Rest Home on Main Street. Huron PC's formally nominated veteran MP Elston Cardiff to run again in the April 8 federal election at a nomination meeting in Clinton Friday night. Huron's yield of winter wheat was highest in Ontario in 1961, latest year in which statistics are available, county producers were told at their annual meeting Tuesday night in Clinton. Exeter Public School's Eager Beavers square dancing club entered the square dancing contest at the Farm Show in London, Friday night. Three schools competed and the Exeter group was placed third receiving $15. 50YEARS AGO March 2, 1958 - Ken Flear of South Huron District High School placed second in WOSSA public speaking contest held in Thames Hall at UWO on Saturday. Lucan Public School on Highway 4, almost across the road from the arena was destroyed by fire early Thursday morning. One of the courses offered at the night classes during the past winter was a study of drama with lectures and demonstrations given by members of London Little Theatre. 60YEARS AGO March 3, 1948 - Mrs. Ida M. Sanders of London and formerly of Exeter was elected presi- dent of the London Women's Progressive Conservative Association. Mr. Arthur Fraser of Exeter has been appointed secretary -treasurer of the Usborne Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Mr. Irwin Ford has recently completed his new Food Market on Huron Street and this week announced the opening. 85 YEARS AGO March 1, 1923 - Thursday morning a storm caused a lot of damage in the area. The roof of the Bethany Methodist Church was blown off. ROSS HAUGH BACK IN TIME Seniors' Perspective By Jim Bearss Adult Activities Co-ordinator Never take someone for granted, hold every person close to your heart. Because you might wake up one day and realize that you've lost a diamond while you were too busy collecting stones. Karen Stanlake Legion news March For something different to do, plan to go to the Legion on Saturdays for a Meat Draw. 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. March 8 and 22 -Wings during the meat draw eat in or take out. Fri., March 14 -Soup and Sandwich 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 17 -St Patrick's Day - Irish Stew 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thurs., March 27 -General meeting at 8 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. Euchreama The Kirkton-Woodham Women's Institute is sponsoring a euchreama on March 20 at the KW Community Centre, Kirkton, Ontario. Starts at 10 a.m. and come for the food, fun and prizes. Library News The Tuesday Book Club met to chat about 'Eat Pray Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert. Opinions on this book were varied. Most felt that they could relate to the author's search for self-awareness. Also the positive focus of the author in her quest for her own spirituality was appreci- ated. This book club will meet again March 18 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss 'The Red Tent' by Anita Diamont. The Friday Book Club discussed `Roughing it in the Bush' by Susanna Moodie. This old chestnut was an eye opener for all who read it. This book described in detail the life of settlers in colonial Canada. All who read it felt the struggles of upper class women unprepared for the rigors of life in the wilderness. A favourite quote of all present was: "I have contemplated a well -hoed ridge of potatoes on that bush farm, with as much delight as in years long past I had experienced in examining a fine painting in some well-appointed drawing room." New members are welcome at both clubs. Author and Illustrator Werner Zimmerman will visit Exeter Branch Library on Wed., March 12 at 2 p.m. Admission free with a ticket from the library. March Break at the library Come to the library each day during March Break to make a different craft. Toddler -time continues to be offered at the library Friday mornings from 10:30 - 11 a.m. Toddlers are welcome to come with their caregivers to this free program. Toddler -time will be canceled for March Break and Good Friday. E -Filers: Look out for online tax scams This tax season, millions of Canadians will file online. In the best circumstances it's a fast, easy, secure way to sub- mit your tax forms and quickly get a rebate. In the worst circumstances, it's a fast, easy way to get defrauded and have your identity stolen. Fortunately, a little vigilance and common sense can go a long way toward keeping your identity safe. Statistics Canada projects that almost eight million peo- ple 23.1 per cent of the population will be age 65 and older by 2016. And by 2025, the proportion of elderly and disabled drivers will be near 20 per cent. Repeat offenders have much to lose Habitual drinking drivers could lose their vehicle per- manently. Those who repeatedly drink and drive risk los- ing their cars permanently under a new civil law that took effect Feb. 20, 2008. This legislation sets a new national standard for keeping Ontario's roads and families safe from people who repeatedly choose to drink and drive. The new law allows the civil courts, at the request of the attorney general to impound and forfeit a vehicle, if the court finds: That the vehicle was involved in, or is likely to be involved in, a drinking and driving offense, or driven by a person whose driver's license has been suspended for drinking and driving offense two or more times in the preceding 10 years. Victims of the activity which resulted in the forfeiture may apply for compensation from proceeds of sale. "Ontario takes impaired driving very seriously," said Attorney General Chris Bentley. "Repeat drinking drivers who aren't getting the message now run the risk of hav- ing the courts take their vehicle away forever." The new law applies to automobiles, motorcycles, motor assisted bicycles and snowmobiles. They knew it would be a financial struggle. She needed to repay student loans and they ran up significant credit card debt since the birth of their third child. But they had always managed, somehow. "We were happier than happy," says the wife. The smiles faded as the bills mounted. The house brought unexpected expenses - some new appliances, higher utilities. Their car - they were still paying off $5,000 in repairs - died for good, and they began financing another used vehicle. She got sick and missed a month's pay. Then `Christmas' Their already tight finances became a strangle- hold. They now face $40,000 in debts, mostly on credit cards, apart from their $200,000 mortgage. "It's a juggling act - what to pay when," says the woman, currently looking for a second job. Bearss "There's not an extra dime." Household debt isn't new. It is just the whopping size of it. Average debt per household jumped to $80,100 last year, compared to $52,000 in 1990, according to a report issued last month by the Vanier Institute of the Family. Toronto Star The stranger A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our St. Marys area. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on. As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors. Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger...he was our storyteller. He would keep us spell- bound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies. If I wanted to know anything about politics, his- tory or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but dad didn't seem to mind. Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet, (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.) Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honour them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home, our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made Dad squirm and my moth- er blush. My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distin- guished. He talked freely (much too freely) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, some suggestive, and generally embarrassing. I know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... and never asked to leave. More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still if you could walk into my parent's den today, you would still see him sitting in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name! We just call him, "TV." He has a wife now...we call her "Computer." Pain reduces quality of life for many seniors: More than one-quarter of Canadian seniors living in households and almost 40 per cent of those in institutions experience pain on a regular basis from a Statistics Canada study. Not surprisingly, a high proportion of those with chron- ic pain found it had an impact on their quality of life and it was associated with higher odds of being unhappy for those who had an increase in pain over a two-year peri- od. Researchers say this has implications as the `boomers' age. By 2031, an estimated 8.9 million to 9 4 million Canadians will be seniors. "As a society we could hope that our seniors have a good quality of life," a Statistics Canada senior analyst said from Ottawa. "And certainly, the existence of pain seems to be a very large barrier." Jim Debt Last winter they were celebrating. The young couple, in their 30s, had finally bought a house after years of searching. Letters to the Editor The Times -Advocate welcomes letters to the editor as a forum for open discussion of local issues, con- cerns, complaint, and kudos. By mail: P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S6 By fax: 519-235-0766 By e-mail: editor@southhuron.com Please include your name and address. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Times -Advocate reserves the right to edit letters for brevity.