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The Citizen, 2010-03-18, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010.Pinatas come in many shapes andsizes and colours. Filled with littlegifts, pinatas have become popular atcelebrations across North America,especially children’s birthdayparties. They originated in Mexicoand recently Bob and Janet Hulley and their daughters visited a pinata factory. The Hulleys were part of a group of 20 persons from the Seaforth Bethel Bible Church and the Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Church who spent 10 days in mid- February at Pan de Vida, an orphanage one-and-a-half hours drive north of Mexico City. Pan de Vida is Spanish for “bread of life”. Each person on the trip was responsible for their own financing of $2,000. The monies were pooled and when the expenses for the tripwere met any remaining money wasdonated to the orphanage for futureexpenses. Bob and his daughter,Peggy, made the trip last year andare confident the money is usedwisely and the work being done there effective. Currently there are 135 boys and girls aged 2 - 18 who call the orphanage home. Many of the children are true orphans and not candidates for adoption. Other are brought for care by the Mexican equivalent of our Canadian CAS having been rescued from unfortunate circumstances. As a result of the involvement of that agency, the orphanage receives some government funding. The orphanage is a Canadian mission project and relies on volunteer groups to keep them helping these children. For approximately three months of the year the orphanage welcomes mission groups. They depend on donations of clothing and books for the children as well. The playground equipment on site was donated by a German company. A permanent missionary couple on staff, who surely give the children some feeling of stability, has their expenses looked after by their home church in Nova Scotia. Within the fence surrounding the compound are an administration building that also houses the volunteers and some permanent staff; two dormitories, one for boys and one for girls; a school and areas for shops and maintenance. All this has been managed in 12 years. All food is prepared on site and potable water is brought in and stored in several reservoirs on site. However bottled water is used for drinking. Once a week some staff and boys make a trip to a farmers’ market and bring home donated produce. In order to keep the orphanage running smoothly, each child has chores every day – laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc. – before and or after classes. It is hoped that the young folk will be prepared to leave the compound at age 18 and the schooling they receive is geared toward vocational training - mechanical, shop work, hairdressing etc. The fact that young people from Canada come to work in the orphanage also increases the social and life skills of the children at the orphanage. Now getting back to the pinatas. One of the workshop areas has been turned into a pinata factory and the boys involved are doing quite well with the project as a resource for the orphanage’s needs. While at Pan de Vida, the volunteers from Huron County painted buildings, did some wiring,worked on repairs to the eco-septicsystem, completed work on a staffapartment and they paved. The siteintends to pave all open spaces withconcrete paving stones and manyhours were spent at this task. Bob stated that not every day was a work day. Everyone attended church on Sunday morning and the rest of the day was spent playing games, socializing and having fun with all the children. They even broke a pinata! Language never seemed to be a problem. Bob has dozens of pictures and in all of them the children looked happy and busy. One evening they attended afootball game outside thecompound. Six of the boys play onthe team. They have gained some lifeskills as a result and a feeling ofbeing part of another group/family.The group also took a day tour and explored some of the Mayan culture. Pan de Vida has charitable status in Canada and is connected to the organization known as the Children of Hope. The children at the orphanage stole the hearts of the Hulleys and they would be pleased to pass on information to persons interested in helping the orphanage. Contact them at bobhulley@hotmail.com. NOTICE TO DOG OWNERS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MORRIS-TURNBERRY 2010 Dog Tags and licences are now available (Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm) at the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry Municipal Office, 41342 Morris Rd. R.R. 4, Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 *** Tags can be picked up in person or ordered by telephone*** All dogs must be licensed in compliance with By-law No. 63-2004. A copy of the complete By-law is available for review at the Municipal Office. All dogs must be identified by means of a tag and licence, issued for a (1) one year period by: Friday, April 30, 2010 The fee schedule shall be as follows: 1/All Dogs (except those listed in #2) - males, females, and spayed females $20.00 per dog 2/Pit bulls, Pit bull crosses, Staffordshire terriers $100.00 per dog 3/Kennel Licence Fee $75.00 (for a kennel of dogs that are registered or eligible for registration under the Animal Pedigree Act) 4/Late Payment Charge $20.00 per dog (Shall be assessed in addition to the licence fee, if the licence and/or tag is not purchased by April 30th) Excrement: The By-law requires dog owners to forthwith remove excrement left by a dog, from property other than the premises of the owner of the dog. Any person contravening this provision is subject to a $50.00 fee. For further information contact: The Municipality of Morris-Turnberry Telephone: 519-887-6137 Fax: 519-887-6424 E-mail: morris@scsinternet.com The Happy Gang Seniors hosted an afternoon of cards to benefit the Auxiliary to the Clinton Public Hospital on Thursday, March 11 at the Londesborough Community Hall. There were 13 tables of card players. Persons scored their games on either a yellow card or a blue card. At the end of playing, Verna Gibbings had the top score for those with a yellow card. There was a tie amongst the blue card players with Susan Harman and Wilmer Glousher scoring the same number of points. An afghan donated by Josephine MacGregor was won by Marie Bromley. Mary Peel donated a box of groceries won by Pat Hunking. Kathy Driscoll took home one of Milt Dale’s very special pens in a holder. There were also a number of smaller prizes. Everyone enjoyed cake and ice cream and socializing following card playing. The basketball teams from Hullett Central Public School represented their school at the regional tournament held at Central Huron Secondary School on Wednesday, March 10. The Grade 8 pupils are currently selling chocolate covered almonds and caramel chocolate bars as a fundraiser for their year-end trip to Camp Celtic. You could help them out and treat your taste buds at the same time. On Thursday, along with all schools in the area, Hullett took part in “the great big crunch”. The health unit supplied apples to all the schools and asked them to assemble all their pupils in the gym. Everyone was to bite into their apple at the same time to “sound” a great big crunch. The idea was to promote better eating habits and fresh fruits and have fun with it. The March movie night at Londesborough United has been changed to Tuesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. “Elephant Tales” is the story of elephant brothers, Tutu and Zef, searching for their mother. This is March break and that means the Sunday School will be holding their annual crokinole party. The church basement will be full of noise and laughter on Thursday, March 18. The games begin at 7 p.m. Be sure to bring along munchies for after the playing and a board if you have one. Everyone is welcome. Camp Menesetung is looking for someone to cut the grass this summer. Tenders for the job can be submitted to Barb Knox at RR1, Blyth by March 29. Be aware that applicants must supply their own equipment and fuel. Pictures for a new photo directory for both Londesborough United and Knox United, Auburn will be taken March 24-27. To book your appointment contact Lynda Horbanuik or Cathy Carter. Hulley family helps Mexican orphanage NEWS FROM LONDESBORO By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296 PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO Happy Gang hosts card party for Hospital Aux. Get breaking farm news on the Rural Voice section of our website www.northhuron.on.ca