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Huron Expositor, 2002-10-16, Page 5. ai tlYrfrepa November 7, 2001 Si (includes GST) Doug Elliott, CFP Raies also( Nosab. 2001 Best Q.I.C. Rates 30 Day...2830" 1 Year...2.55% 5Year...4.-' mum •mos mime I II:I::81 I: il.iIiiil CARTIER PARTNERS FINANCIAL SERVICES 26 Main St., Seaforth 527-2222 In brief Hospital hosting meetings regarding senior health care WINO Three public meetings planned by the Seaforth Community Hospital will invite the community to discuss seniors' health care needs, housing and recreation. "We'd like to hear from seniors what would make their lives easier and to hear from people who may not have even considered what they'll need as they grow older," says Selena Anderson, organizer of the proposed comprehensive seniors' health centre. The first meeting, tonight (Nov. 7) at Huronlea Home for the Aged in Brussels, will be followed by two meetings in Seaforth - on Nov. 12 at the Seaforth Community Centres and on Nov. 22 at the Seaforth Golf and Country Club. Anderson says information gathered at the three meetings will be presented to the hospital board, which will then decide which health care areas.to concentrate on. But, because the hospital is not in the business of providing housing or recreation, those areas will be explored further by a steering committee Anderson hopes will form from volunteers in the community. "The community meetings will determine people's commitment to housing -and recreation and see if we can identify some community leaders," she says. All three meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. By Susan Hundertnark Couiwilready to help fund legal as battle lines drawn in school figh "I don't want to lose these schools," sbe said. Seaforth Coun. Dick Burgess reminded councillors that the school board was meeting at the high school as Huron East council was sitting in its council chambers on Seaforth's Main Street last Tuesday night. He predicted the director's action report recommending the possible closure of SDHS and seven district public schools would be adopted that night. (And, he was right. See related story on page ). Burgess warned that if By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff Huron East council is already prepared to contribute financially to another lawsuit against the Avon Maitland District School Board if one proves necessary to keep Seaforth District High School open. A straw vote of councillors at council's committee meeting last Tuesday night showed unanimous support to Mayor Lin Steffler's question, "Are you prepared to help put some money up if it takes contributing to a lawsuit?" Mock disaster tests emergency plan By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff A mock emergency done to test Huron East's emergency plan recently was "very worthwhile," town administrator Jack McLachlan told council last Tuesday. "We came through it with flying colours as far as the firemen and hospital handled it. The OPP were very prompt but there was a bit of a problem with the ambulance, which they are ironing out," he said. He said the paramedics critiqued themselves and felt they were a bit confused when they first got to the site of the disaster, a situation See OUT, Page 2 Huron East loses three more schools, taxes will be going up since fewer people will want to live here and share the tax burden. "There will be a negative effect on our taxpayers," he said. He added that "until the last nail is driven into the coffin," Huron East council will have to make wise use of the "energies, concerns and feelings" of the community. "If we get people too excited too soon, they can't sustain' that. I've been through several years of working very hard to keep my school open and we need a sustained and thoughtful community successfully effort," he said. argued that the school board Burgess also spoke in had not been fair during its favour of preparing for a school closure process. second lawsuit. "I didn't want to lose The first lawsuit by the Vanastra or Walton. I said to Seaforth community against the people in those the Avon Maitland District communities that for a School Board kept SDHS couple of $1,000 they could and Seaforth Public School be part of the last lawsuit. open in 2000 after the board They chose instead to lobby voted to close them along Queen's Park but if they'd with four other district been part of our lawsuit, elementary schools including they'd be open today," he Vanastra Community School, said. Walton Public School, Brussels Coun. Joe Seili Falstaff Public School in suggested Huron East make a Stratford and McCurdy mailing to every household Public School in Huron Park. At that time, the Ss. McGRATH, Page 2 Service of Remembrance... Piper Murray Bone of Brussels leads a parade of legion members Sunday morning as they attended a special Remembrance service at St. James Catholic Church. By Susan Hundertmark Courageous hearts live on at Legion service Old men, standing sternly and erect in their uniforms while flags snap rapidly back and forth in the cold and snowy winds of November and a lone, mournful trumpet sounds - that is Remembrance Day for many of us who were not yet on this earth during the Second World War. Blessed with close to 60 years of peace in our relatively safe Canadian communities, we sometimes find it difficult to imagine life during wartime. And, war seems a thing of the past as we watch the ranks of veterans age and disappear. Despite the continuing efforts of local Legions to keep the memory alive, it's hard to imagine the grandfatherly faces of veterans as the young and vital 19 -year olds who fought for their country those many years ago. Sometimes as they squint their eyes against the bitter wind and memories which send tears trickling down their cheeks, I squint too, trying to help the years roll back so that I can glimpse the young man within. I had an opportunity last Sunday to see the young man emerge through one of our local veterans during the Veterans' Sunday service held at St. James Catholic Church. Susan Hundertmark Sitting at the front of the church to photograph the veterans for The Expositor's Remembrance Day coverage, I was beside Frank Sills, whose wheelchair was alongside the front row of veteran - filled pews. Understandably, Frank remained seated during most of the service as others stood and kneeled when appropriate for hymns and prayers. But, when the service neared its end and the strains of the Last Post filled the church, he began struggling to his feet. His companion tried to help lift him up but when she failed to get Frank to his feet, he continued the struggle until a man from a nearby pew came to his aid and together the man and woman helped hold Frankup as the trumpet played. Still half -crouched, but as erect as his body would allow, and with white gnarled fingers. clutching the chair in front of him, Frank stood. And, while I don't pretend to know the thoughts and emotions that moved through his brain and heart, I imagined I could see the strong, young man who easily stood at attention in the service of his country. While he displayed the tremendous courage needed to get to his feet in respect for his fallen comrades, I imagined the even greater courage required to leave loved ones behind in small-town Seaforth, travel to European battlegrounds and endure years of fighting, bloodshed and devastation before returning home again. Then, there was the courage to live for years with those bloody memories, a survivor when not all those friends and neighbours who left were able to return from the war.' While I continue to pray that we will never see a world war again and that humanity will continue to work towards the end of all wars, I'm well aware of the young men and women in the Canadian troops now engaged in the war on terrorism in the Middle East. May they all live to observe their own Remembrance Days someday as old. men and women. FOR TICKETS CONTACT Marie Hicknell 345-2948 Frank Nigh 522-0477 John Bennett 522-1103 Winston Powell 233-7108 Mord Glen 233-3175 Sharon Flanagan 348-0688 Ross Ribey 527-1390 Lyle Haney 522-1300 Jim Floyd 527-1583 Pat DeJong 482-7971 Heather DeJong 527-2725 Seaforth Ag Society527-1321