Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-05-07, Page 5Wednesday, May 7, 2008 Times—Advocate 5 Opinion Forum News I OYEARS AGO April 29, 1998 - Huron MPP Helen Johns recently present- ed a cheque for $15,000 to Huron Country Playhouse artistic director Brian McKay to develop a CD-ROM to help fund raising efforts. Amidst all the hubbub about big bank mergers, Clinton Community Credit Union is bringing its services to Dashwood on May 5. The village has been without a bank since the Bank of Montreal closed its Dashwood branch last October. 20YEARS AGO April 27, 1988 - At the recent spring banquet of District 3 of the Ontario Vegetable Growers Marketing Board, Harry Dougall of Exeter was honoured for his 13 years of service to the dis- trict. Don and Judy Squire of R.R.1, Centralia were winners for the second time of the Lucan Lions Great Escape Weekend in Toronto. A 15 months renovation program at the R.E. Pooley Exeter branch of the Royal Canadian Legion will be culminated with a ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday night. Current Legion presi- dent Dean McKnight says the two phases of the project cost about $173,000 and many fund raising projects have taken care of all of the costs involved. Almost $75,000 was realized from Thursday's rummage sale sponsored by the South Huron Hospital Auxiliary. Conveners were Edith Boyle, Leone Brock, Alice MacLean, Hazel Miller and Gerry Gregus. 45 YEARS AGO April 28, 1963 - Excavation of the lagoon for Exeter's sewer project will begin this week. South Huron District High School Board will receive an increase in grants from the Ontario government of at least $17,000 this year. Dashwood Men's Club has collected $152 for the Cancer campaign this year, more than 50 per cent over the previous year. 50YEARS AGO April 28, 1958 - William D. Schaefer of Newton graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph and will be associated with the practice of Dr. Norman Amos in Kirkton. A federal health grant of $7,000 has been approved toward the cost of construction of the new nurses' residence for South Huron Hospital. Highland Hill Dairy of Exeter has amalgamat- ed with Exeter Dairy Limited and the new plant will operate under the name of Exeter Dairy Ltd. 60YEARS AGO April 27, 1948 - Mr. Frank Fingland K.C. of Clinton was the unanimous choice as the Liberal candidate in the forthcoming provincial election. The fiftieth anniversary of the Women's Missionary Society of Caven Presbyterian Church was observed Thursday evening. Rev. M.E. Reuber, minister for the past six years at Crediton Zion Evangelical United Brethren has been transferred to the New Hamburg charge. John A. Cowan of Blyth has been named police chief for the village of Grand Bend and begins his duties May 1. Students of the Exeter School, businessmen, clerks, pedestrians and others saw themselves in the movies at the Exeter Opera House Friday evening. A number of weekly newspaper men of the area made an inspection tour of the Centralia RCAF station Thursday in a large Dakota plane. 85 YEARS AGO April 26, 1923 - Rev. J.H. Armitage of Elimville has received and accepted a unani- mous invitation to become pastor of the Methodist Church in Summerland, British Columbia Mr. Theodore Gray, who for the past few months has been organist at James Street Church resigned to take a similar position at Centennial Methodist Church in London. At the quarterly Official Board meeting of James Street Church, it was decided to engage Mr. Roy Goulding of St. Marys as organist to succeed Mr. Gray. ROSS HAUGH BACK IN TIME Seniors' Perspective By Jim Bearss Adult Activities Co-ordinator Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate. Bus Trip June 17 - Threatre in the country, at the picture - perfect Walter's Family Estate, enjoy a delicious country dinner, followed by live music perfor- mance, in a 185 year old wooden beamed barn the- atre. Classic country spectacular. It features great country music, laughter, and charm, roast beef buf- fet 12:30 p.m. Show 1:30 p.m. Coach bus, meal, and theatre, cost $95 per person. Book early as we must know about meals and seating. Contact, Harry Hardy Box 249, Lucan, On. NOM 2J0 Ph: 227-4887 or 227-0444, e-mail harry@cruiseselloffs.com Pickups at Lucan Arena, or Exeter Legion. Annual Barn Dance/Jamboree/Campout weekend Make plans to attend the 11th Annual Barn Dance Jamboree/Campout weekend at the Blyth Arena complex. If you like music and to be entertained, mark your calen- dar for May 23, 24, and 25. This event is sponsored by The Barn Dance Historical Society and Entertainment Museum, 273 Josephine Street, Wingham. Phone 530- 8000 or visit www.thebarndance.ca or contact Wayne Otterbein at 235-0559 for more information about this great weekend. Legion news Bake sale with soup and sandwiches on May 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Legion Yard Sale - June 14! Here is a chance for you to get rid of your unwanted slightly used goodies. Bring your stuff in on Fri., June 13 to the Legion. Tips Use your digital camera to take pictures of your jewellry or other valuables you keep at home, put them on the computer, then on a disc. If they are stolen or if there are any other disasters like a fire or flood, you have a record for insurance claims. Seniors talk and walkThurs., May 8 This second event in a Series for Active Seniors will take place at Rock Glen Conservation Area near Arkona from 1- 3 p.m. 8680 Rock Glen Road (2 k.m. northeast of Arkona home of Scenic Rock Glen Falls). Put on your hiking shoes and bring a bottle of water to this picturesque conserva- tion area. The hike will focus on spring birds and wildflow- ers found in this Carolinian habitat. Cost $5/person (entrance to Rock Glen CA is free for event participants). For more information on the environ- mental activities for seniors' series phone Julie at 235- 2610 or toll free: 1-888-286-2610, e-mail jhicks@abca. on. ca. Visit abca. on. ca Visit Morrison Trail Do you want to visit the Morrison Trail and your legs just won't let you walk? Jerry Mathers and Herman Steffens want to give you a ride in the Ausable Bayfield Conservation vehicles. To make arrangements to go and times available, please call the Authority at 235-2610. Happy Birthday Shirley Temple Former child star Shirley Temple an octogenarian. Shirley Temple Black quietly celebrated her 80th birthday this week after breaking her arm in a fall at her suburban San Francisco home. Rick Ross, her Los Angeles based lawyer, says the former child star is doing fine. She turned 80 last Wednesday. Black was the top box-office draw in the United States from 1935 to 1938. Her best-known films include Curly Top and Little Miss Marker. After retiring from the big screen she held a number of diplomatic posts, including U.S. ambassador to Czechoslovakia. She now lives in the San Francisco suburb of Woodside. Car maintenance Is car maintenance still possible? Increasingly, it seems that trying to maintain your car is not only becoming futile, it is also much more difficult to do. Why? Because the technology design of today's vehicles is so advanced that car owners can't even change their own spark plugs any- more, as plugs are good for 169,000 kilometres or more. So, is there anything left to do? Well, at least you can monitor the pressure in your tires, one of the most impor- tant elements in car maintenance. In fact, maintaining the correct tire pressure not only helps you save fuel, it could even save your life. Newer cars are equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), which alerts the dri- ver when a tire loses pressure. Still, for slightly older cars without this latest technology, it is up to the owner to take care of tire pressure. Then, there are all those fluids, starting with the engine oil. Unless your car is equipped with oil change reminders, you have to keep a careful eye on oil change schedules (and the level of the engine oil). The brake's master cylin- ders need to be checked regularly; so does the engine cool- ing radiator. As far as the fluids are concerned, the wind- shield washer fluid may be your only real concern. However, this is more important in the winter. It is always a good idea to read your owner's manual and learn how to keep your car in good shape. It is the best ref- erence you can find. Introducing daddy Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favourite dress tied with a bow. Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she couldn't wait to go. But her mommy tried to tell her, that she should probably stay at home. Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone but she was not afraid; she knew just what to say. What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't here today but still her mother worried, for her to face the day alone. And that was why once again she tried to keep her daughter home. But the little girl went to school to tell them all. About a dad she never sees and a dad who never calls. There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet and children squirming impatient- ly, anxious in their seats. One by one the teacher called a student from the class to introduce their daddy. At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare and each of them was searching, a man who wasn't there. `Where's her daddy at?' she heard a boy call out. 'She probably doesn't have one,' another student dared to shout. And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say, `looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day.' The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her mom and looked back at her teacher who told her to go on. And with hands behind her back, slowly began to speak. And out of the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique. 'My daddy couldn't be here because he lives far away, but I know he wishes he could be since this is such a special day and although you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know all about my daddy, and how much he loves me so. He loved to tell me stories he taught me how to ride my bike and he also surprised me with pink roses and taught me how to fly a kite. We used to share fudge sundaes and ice cream in a cone. Although you cannot see him, I'm not standing here alone because my daddy is always with me and even though we are apart, I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart. With that her little hand reached up and lay across her chest. From somewhere here in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears proudly watching her daughter who was wise beyond her years. She stood up for the love of a man not in her life doing what was best for her and was doing what was right for her. Then she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd she finished with a voice so soft, but its message was clear and loud. `I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star and if he could he would be here, but heaven is just too far. You see he is a Canadian soldier and died just this past year when a roadside bomb hit his convoy. Sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away.' A room full of dad- dies and children all started to close their eyes and who knows what they saw before them and who knows what they felt inside. Built for comfort A lot of men are a little vague on exactly when middle age will begin. It has nothing to do with your chronological age and it doesn't matter your hair has gone grey, gone white or gone AWOL. You have officially arrived at midlife when the most important aspect of any given activity is comfort. Excitement, adventure, even finances will take a back seat. What you're looking for is comfort. You're not interested in physical fitness you want heating and air con- ditioning. You want padding — on your furniture, on your pay -cheque, and on your butt. Even your love life is affect- ed. Forget passion, what you want now is a "comfortable" relationship. Where nobody yells at anybody and nothing changes and nine times out of ten you fall asleep before your wife does. Your wild oats have changed to Wild Oat - Bran. And as middle life progresses, you'll probably even become "comfortable" with yourself. Some call it giving up. I call it success. When you can stand in front of a mirror and say proudly 'This is as good as I get.' Hey that has to be a "comforting" thought. Red Green Never lie to a woman A man called home to his wife and said, "Honey I have been asked to go fishing up in Canada with my boss and several of his friends. We'll be gone for a week. This is a good opportunity for me to get that promotion I've been wanting, so could you please pack enough clothes for a week and set out my rod and fishing box, we're leaving from the office and I will swing by the house to pick my things up" "Oh! Please pack my new blue silk pajamas." The wife thinks this sounds a bit fishy but being the good wife she is did exactly what her husband asked. The following week- end he came home a little tired but otherwise looking good. The wife welcomed him home and asked if he caught many fish? He said, "Yes! We caught lots of salmon, some bluegill, and a few swordfish. But why didn't you pack my new blue silk pajamas like I asked you to do?" You'll love the answer... The wife replied, "I did. They're in your fishing box." Never lie to a woman! Karen Stanlake Jim B earss