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Huron Expositor, 2004-12-08, Page 19Christmas dinner at Northside planned for those who would be alone during the holidays By Jason Middleton Expositor Staff Christmas time is supposed to be a time to celebrate with family and friends, but for some the holiday season is a reminder of how alone they are. For those who cannot be with their family or are alone, Seaforth-area residents Susan and Mike Campbell are hoping to brighten their Christmas with a complimentary traditional dinner on Dec. 25. "A lot of people can't make it to their family or choose not to make that five-hour drive to their family," said Mark Campbell. "It's just kind of nice to have something for people that are home alone or doing nothing at Christmas." The Campbells got the idea to host the dinner from a woman who held a similar event in another community last year. Although the event is free of charge, Mark said that they are looking for donations of food from Northside's congregation. "Hopefully we can get all we need from the church," he said. After seeing a recent article in the Expositor about the need facing the Huron Christmas Bureau, Mark said that he realized the situation that some local residents are in. Campbell said that it's upsetting that there is a need for a dinner like this, but he's glad it's there for the people who need it. "It would be awesome to have zero people there but we already have half a dozen people that are signed up already," Campbell said. This is the first time the congregation at Northside United Church has held a Christmas dinner for people alone during the holidays. So far, 10 volunteers have signed up to help at the dinner, which starts at noon on Christmas day. "The main thing is anyone can come. Needy or not," Campbell said. "If you have the need for fellowship, if you're home alone or if you're home with your partner or spouse, come on out." As a farmer, Campbell said, Christmas day is a lot like any other day for him because he does his chores and then plays with his three children. "This might help make it a little more meaningful," he said. Campbell said that for some, Christmas is a lonely and sad time of the year. "No, it should be special," Mike said. "There should be something different about it — it's Christmas." For more information or to reserve your spot call Susan at 527-0127 by Dec. 18. Rides are also available. Health Integration Networks coming to Ontario early as April, Healthcare Alliance informed By Donal O'Connor Stratford Beacon Herald Staff Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) are likely to be coming to southwestern Ontario and other parts of the province as early as April, the CEO of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance informed the board last night. The 14 networks planned for the province are intended to integrate health-care services and ensure efficient allocation of resources and service delivery to patients. The government has been saying the new health-care planning networks will assume some of the authority which currently resides at Queen's Park. Full responsibilities for health-care planning and integration Won't be taken on by LHINs until April 2006, alliance CEO Andrew Williams said, but board member selection has begun and the government's plan is to have the networks fully operational by that time. "It definitely is pushing integration and co-ordination of service," he said. "This will be a major development across Ontario in the next couple of months." Williams brought the board up to speed on the province's plan after attending a workshop Nov. 23 on the restructuring of health-care management. Local volunteer boards will remain in place, he said, and hospitals and Community Care Access Centres will align closely with LHINs which will assume a leadership role in planning, evaluation and co- ordination of services, as well as allocation of resources. The CEOs who will head the networks will be appointed by order in council and board members will be selected on the basis of skill set rather than geographic representation. Williams said he feels the ministry would welcome any innovative ideas. Hospital alliance board members who also attended the workshop expressed misgivings about what's proposed, but said there's little choice but to try to make it work. Bob Broadfoot said what bothered him is "it's not going to be health-care people, it will be lawyers and accountants (who run the networks)." Tim Cronsberry said there was "a lot of justification for criticism of how (the government's plan) is being rolled out." But he said the alternative to LHINs would be "regionalization or something worse" and suggested board members take a positive approach Board chair Bob Bolton was clearly not impressed with the workshop. "The meeting was absolutely utter chaos, in my opinion." He said everyone, including hospitals, was looking after their own interests and he hadn't seen anything yet that's going to solve the problem of providing more services with -111111111F- `'(The networks) will ease the movement of people across the continuum of care,'— HeattitlMipister ( fewer dollars. "I think they're hoping that out of chaos will come some brilliant system." The LHINs, said Health Minister George Smitherman in a recent speech, "will align planning and delivery of health care along geographic boundaries that match patient referral patterns. That way, resources will be better matched to patients' health- care needs than they are today." The networks, he said, "will ease the movement of people across the continuum of care so that they get the best care, in the most appropriate setting, when they need it." The minister also said the LHINs will build on the strength of community-based bodies and respect and support local governance of health delivery organizations. MDHS teacher makes court appearance Mitchell District High School (MDHS) teacher James Sampa made a brief appearance in provincial court Monday, Dec. 13 to address three charges of sexual exploitation. Toronto lawyer Gary Hopkinson asked the Crown attorney Monday for additional disclosure involving the charges against the 46 -year-old geography and math teacher. The matter will be addressed in provincial court again Jan. 10, 2005. A provincial police investigation began after complaints were made Nov. 17 by two students. Sampa was arrested and released on conditions after a bail hearing Nov. 24. 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