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Clinton News-Record, 1984-08-22, Page 4BLUE RIBBON AWARD' *$t4TAl 1,014144• ,�Ftl! 011)1E DurrSTANDARD J HOWARD AITKEN - Publisher $HELLEY McPHEE - Editor GARY HAIST - Advertising Manager MARY' ANN HOLLENDECK - Office Manager MEMBER Dirolw edvertlalne ret a eve11e114 ow request. mak for Rete Card. No. 14 effective October 1, 14$3. m.o.00dlr The agingp opulation need improved services L We're an aging population. Presently there are 900,000 senior citizens living in Ontario. By the year 2,000 this segment of the population will grow to 1 .4 million persons. These facts come from a task force study compiled by the Ontario Liberals. For the past two years the Liberals, under the chairmanship to Sheila Copps, have ex- amined the state of health care in Ontario. Their study concluded that the government must identify and consider "options for living" for'our growing number of elderly citizens. The study takes its share of jabs at the current provincial government, but it also makes valid statements and attempts to offer solutions to offset predicated problems in the future. The study points out that the aging population is Straining the seams of our health caro system and the country's pocket books. The average senior will re- quire six timesthe medical care of an 18 -year old and as the aging population grows, the sy*tem will be challenged to give quality medical care and provide the funding for it. The Liberal study suggests moving away from institional care facilities for seniors, with greater emphasis being placed on community residential settings. This is not a new concept. Many private groups and municipalities have established seniors' homes. In Clinton a group that originatedfrom the Christian Reformed Church is taking steps to provide such as facility within the next few years. The proposed Clinton seniors housing complex will be geared towards the Dutch -Canadian segment of our local population. According to the Liberal .study, this is' one direction that should be promoted. The task force recognized that our seniors vary by ethnic origin and communi- ty, and that there is a need for multilingual community services whose,rnandate includes outreach programs for ethnic seniors. While the task force stresses more seniors' community housing, there is also a need for additional long-term care facilities for the elderly. Beds in homes for the aged, nursing homesand hospitals are filled with special care patients and there .are long waiting lists. The task force reported that charitable homes for the aged reported outstanding applications totalling 3,138 across Ontario while municipal homes reported 2,800 outstanding applications. As well, many elderly patients are inappropriately placed in acute care beds in hospitals. According to the study, the costs to taxpayers as a result .of inap- propriate placement are enormous. The Liberal studybelieves that a Bill of Rights for residents in longer term care should be developed; an independent Health Care Complaints Commission should be established; that the provincial government increase funding for multilingual ,community centres; that community housing be developed; that the Ministry of Health. adopt more stringent standards for care; that Home Care pro- grams and Homemaker services be expanded. Our senior citizens deserve the best care we can afford them and there is a real need to develop services for the future. The Liberal task force concluded, "The challenge of .serving our elderly rests on the need to provide quality care on the basis of individualized needs at a cost which society can afford." by S. McPhee Cancer Society spring raffle helps finance equipment costs Dear Editor, The Canadian Cancer Society held a raffle in the spring, and with the proceeds, pur- chased items to set up a loan cupboard. These items are available to all cancer pa- tients in.the home. • Available is an air mattress and pump, sheepskins, folding coimrnode chair, bed pans and wash basins, and a backrest. If any of these items are needed, call the Unit Office, 20 Isaac St., Clinton at 482-7832 from 1 to 5 p.m. daily. Wendy Tremeer, Secretary, Huron County Unit, Canadian Cancer Society. Behind The Scenes By Keith Roulston No perfect world The hardest thing in being a modern parent is saying "no" to children. How many generations of parents have said to themselves: "My children are going to have it better than I did"? First settlers in Canada saw a . bright future for their children without the poverty, crowding and class restrictions of the old country. Subsequent generations saw a life for their chilli cn that did not mean as much back- breaking work as they went through. Parents of my generation could hope that their children wouldn't face hardships such, .as they experienced in the Great Depression or the war. For my parents the magic potion to give their children a different life than they had had was education. Educators promoted the idea : get more education, live a better life. Our parents in many ways gave us the bet- ter life they wanted for us. Never in history has mankind had such material comfort. We work fewer hours, have more money to spend on our leisure, have in our electrical and electronic slaves, more servants than a Roman emperor. Yet there is still that feeling that we want to give our children what we didn't have. But what's left to give them? We want to give the kids the one thing we don't have: 24- hour -a -day happiness. Today it seems to me, we're not content in making our children's lives better, we're trying to make them perfect. While the con- stant cry of younger generations for years has beenthat parents don't remember what it was like to -be a kid, I think the problem 04 might be the opposite. We perhaps remember too much the things that made us unhappy and we want to prevent our kids from being unhappy about anything. They shouldn't have to wear clothes that are the. least out of fashion. They should have all the latest games and. gadgets that the rich kids had when we were young. They should have everything that money can buy. And when kids ask for these things, com- plain that "everybody else has one", how does tie modern generation say no? Our parerM they say they couldn't afford it. Yet for a large part of our population today their parents have succeeded so well in giving them a better life that we can't really claim we can't afford it. We 'so want to keep our children from being unhappy that often we give in. Yet what we have to face is that although there may be no end to money and the gadgets we can buy them, there,is a limited amount 'of happiness. Our parents might nave thought tnat if they just had an easier life, happiness would follow but we know that no matter how much material comfort we have, people still have their mihutes, days, months of unhappiness. We all have our down days. Material goods don't mean much when a marriage breaks up or friends fight, or we fail in our jobs. And by trying to shield our children from unhappiness we are not preparing them for the real world- they must sooner • or later face. Hard as it is, modern parents must learn to say no now and to let kids know there's no perfect world. elm Cabbage convention by Shelley McPhee Sugar and Spice No helmets please Since I have been slightly under 'the weather, we, have a guest columnist this week, my daughter Krim. So the Bill Smiley column this week is written by Kim Smiley, who writes better than I do anyway. By Kim Smiley • Some people actually pay' money to have their brains teased. Compilations of quizzes and mental challengescan be found in any large book store; usually under the Games section, next to Humor. In smaller establishments, brainteaser books, which always assure buyers that correct solutions signify genius, are lumped together with Humor, a connection that escapes the MEN - SA hopefuls who buy them.. "But why pay money for what you can get free?" horse sense inquires: The following brainteaser, free of charge. was recently seen in the window of a Variety store in a small Canadian town: "Please do not wear helmets' inside store". We've heard of hav- ing to wear certain items of apparel in stores, like shoes, but' not being allowed to' wear something? This is new: and almost as inventive as a sign currently adorning a gas station in that same small town "Free hat with exhaust system inspection." In my day, not so long ago, it would have been a simple "Free glass with fill -up." But what rich opportunities for the flexing of the imagination this gas station affords lucky passers-by. What kind of hat, one wonders. One size and color only or a smorgasbord of hat choice? A hat you wouldn't be seen dead in, cynics will con- •lude, reasoning that the use of the term By Bill Smiley "hat" rather than "cap" means the bonus offer couldn't be some variation on the timelessly fashionable baseball cap. The speculative sit-ups on even this modest, but free, brainteaser could keep one mentally Fonda -fit for a week. How much. more so the intriguing "Please do not wear helmets in store.' I put my brain on the wrack. Here are the only reasons I could come up with for the no - helmet rule in the Variety store. They range from dumb to really dumb. 1. Hardness of helmet causing potential damage to perishable goods and persons. 2: Potential theft, there, being room to tuck stolen goods in space between top of head and helmet. '3. Managerial prejudice against'Inotorcy- cle dr wers,'as opposed to, say, construction workers. Notice, the sign specifies "helmets", not "hard hats". 4. Related to above, simple helmet phobia on the part of the store manager: Isn't there something frightening about the partially disguised face and overly -protected head of the helmet wearer? 5. Store manager's plan in event of holdups is to use club he keeps behind counter on thief's head. Manager lacks im- agination to devise alternate plan and therefore forbids helmets in store. 6. Potential use of helmet as weapon — helmeted customer, enraged at rising costs, charges bull -like at storekeeper. 7. Store manager is in league with gas sta- tion owner offering free hat with exhaust system inspection. Hats offered are, in fact KaIeidoscope cheap Taiwan -made helmets. White motor- cyclist leaves his helmet draped on handlebars to dash into store for a Coke, gas station owner's thug steals helmet and fouls up exhaust system. My own mental system exhausted, I of- fered the list to my family for inspection. Discussion settled chiefly around possibility Number Two — potential theft. They decided that the purpose of the sign in the window must be to prevent someone from entering the store with a helmet tucked nonchalantly under his arm, then furtivelyplace a can of beans or a pound • of bacon on his head, quickly donning the helmet and walking through the cash, coolly buying a pack of gum, just to cover up, you understand. Against my protests that allowable purses, bags or large pockets would serve just as well and be less painful, they stood fast. Well, I finally just asked. I Went down to the store, and, under the pretext of coolly buying a pack of gum, asked the burning question: "How come you can't wear helmets in the store?" She laughed a little, "Well, they garble, you know." It took me several moments to even begin to see. • "But they just have those mouth guard things, don't they?" I made mouth guard gestures, thinking of kids' hockey helmets of 20 years ago. "No," she explained, "they have face visors. A lot of people keep their visors down and we can't make out what they're say- ing." A near tragedy in Otte a at the Central Canada Exhibition las •eek should prompt officials to consider tricter regulations for midway ride safety. A. man and two children n: perilously upside down from a six -metre' (20 feet) children's ferris when their seat jammed. • The father and his three and nine year old children were in danger when the ride faulted. Later the father reported, "Those rides should have.seat belts. If I wasn't able to hang on to those kids, they wouldn't be alive today." Police Inspector Brian Ford said the ride has a safety bar that goes across the laps of the occupants, but the children still would have fallen out had their father not been with there. What, then is the purpose of having these safety belts if not to ensuhe the protection of the riders? If midway riders do use this equipment at their own risk, then at least they should be warned. + +. + I'm no fan of midway rides. Fop me the Octopus, the ferris wheel and the roller coaster are a waste of time and money. But I do enjoy a community fair and a ""- favorite one is coming this weekend in Bayfield. The village's annual Fall Fair gets underway Friday night and runs through until Saturday night. By Shelley. McPhee The event celebrates the talents of many local men, women and children through needlecraft skills, baking and livestock raising. Judges will study hundreds of entries ranging from art to heavy horses, quilting to poultry, vegetables to calves. The two-day celebration is well worth the visit. In Bayfield it's a perfect way to end another Successful summer. + + + One of these years I'll grow a flower good enough to enter in the Clinton Horticultural Flower Show. This annual showing will be held on Friday and for aspiring gardeners like myself, it's a real inspiration to "gangreen thumbs." + + + Here's some produce trivia for you. Did you know that Canada is the leading exported of mustard? Last year $30 million worth of mustard was grown in western Canada. Most of the spice was exported to U.S.A. to produce hot dog mustard. Now if they'd only ask me that question in ,Trivial Pursuit; I may have a chance to beat my know-it-all husband. + + + The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority has asked us to tell all hunters that there Will be positively NO MINTING permitted at Wawanosh Valley from September 1 to October 16, 1984. (Saturdays excluded). An education program will be underway at this time. For further information, contact Wendy Ross at 335-3557. + + + A summer family picnic was recently held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Cooper of 27 Bond Street,, Clinton in honor of their 40th anniversary. Lawn games Were enjoyed by the grandchildren as well as the adults. • Those attending were Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Cooper, Shari and Dougie of Ottawa, Mr. and Mrs. John Cooper, Jason and Carrie of Brussels, Mr. and Mrs. Doug Laframboise, Darren, Shannon, Rene and Angela from London, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Hopper, Damon' and Brianne and Debbie Hopper of Palmerston, also Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Toonk, Daryl, Shawn and Gina of Palmerston, James Cooper of Kapuskasing and Brian Cooper of Listowel. +++ If you think we live in a liberated world today, consider thus little news item, found in the August 2, 1934 edition of the News - Record. It reported that the communities of Saltford and Goderich Township 'were invaded by nudist groups. Taking Up their abode on the Maitland Flats, the nudists reportedly disturbed the tranquil communities. • Robarts parents concerned about school cutbacks Pear Editor,, Parents of healing -impaired children at- tending the Robarts School in London are etpemnely .concerned.. The Ontario Ministry of Edw ation announced that the Robarts Scltool may lose secondary classes in September 1985. Robarts students seeking high school education would be forced to at -- tend classes in Milton or Belleville. ',,Marlene Taylor of Hensall, a spokesper- son for the parents, felt that with a proposal of such impact every Robarts School family should have received a personal letter. "Instead," she said, "the announcement was buried in among other news in a school newsletter during the last_ week of school. The timing was such that both Parliament and School Boards were recessed and most families were preparing for or were away on annual vacations." Mrs. Taylor and other parents feel it's not just a matter of losing secondary classes but to a handicapped child it means a secure, healthy educational environment offered from pre-school to high school will be broken. In most cases, the children will also lose the security of a family unit. "It is a very emotional issue," says Mrs. Taylor. "As a parent of one of the resident students, I really, do know how hard we have to work to keep our family together. We are only an hour away from the Robarts School and are able to attend the swim meets, drama nights, fancily picnics, parent seminars, parent -teacher meetings, parent - counselor meetings and so on." • "A move to Milton , would destroy that family..•life. Telephone contact with most of our children is impossible. And I think it is • so important that relatives and friends can remain part of our children's growing up. Our children would become strangers in their own homes and communities. Weekend visits simply are not enough," "Our children live with daily frustrations greater than we with hearing can imagine. They can't be expected to handle further pressure — pressure we would not put on teenagers without a handicap." "There are other factors too. For people who can afford torelocate it would. mean selling a home, giving up employment and income, moving children's brothers and sisters from existing schools, leaving friends, relatives, doctors and the communi- ty in general. There are too many losers all around.",. The Ministry of Education is to form a committee in the fall to look at all aspects of. the problem. Parents would like several representatives, on the committee. The parents hope that the Ministry will meet with' all of the families in September to ex- plain the situation, the committee selection process, guidelines for review, etc. "We have too many unanswered ques- tions," says Mrs. Taylor. "The Robarts School presently offers ex- cellent educational programs for the students and support programs for parents: It has b ilt an enviable record of perfor- mance. Oi r children benefit greatly from a i ualified and caringresidential and highly Y� g teaching staff. We don't want to lose this!" The Robarts School PARENTS are get- ting organized to oppose this move. For fur- ther information please contact, Marlene Taylor, Box 191, Hensall, Ontario NOM 1X0 (519)262-2021 or Fran McCallum, Box 484, Lambeth, Ontario NOL 1.S0 .( 519 )652-5006. Agricrew say thanks Dear Editor, ' As Agricrew co-ordinator for Huron Coun- ty this summer, I would like to extend my gratitude for helping me promote the Agricrew program in the 1984 season. I'm sure many of my bookings were a result of articles that you printed for me. This summer has proved another success for the program in Huron County, and I'm sure that with your help, it will again be able to help Huron farmers through the cropping season in future years. Once again, thank you for your help. Sincerely, Chris Robson, Agricrew Co-ordinator, -Huron County. Real Issues avoided real women say 'The so-called "women's debate" spon- sored by the feminist organization, National Action Committee' (NAC) served mainly as a platform for the New Democratic Party. The bias of the audience and the panelists was obvious, the questions clearly in- dicating the lack of vision and commitment to Canada by. NAC, since all they wanted was their demands to be met immediately by the leaders — regardless of the con- sequences to society and the enormous ex- pense to the taxpayer,. already reeling from economic hard times. With the one exception of the question dealing with homemakers' pensions, the whole debate was geared to women in the workplace — but no mention was raised about the corners of the other half of Cana- dian women who choose to raise their children, often, under great financial dif- ficulties. Don't they count? The whole debate was geared to the p,:rrow-based views of the feminist whose approach it, not representative of that which most women take in these issues, The three party leaders represent all 'Canadians: men, women and children. They were the real audience and any future debate should be addressed to them — not to the handful of political activists who run the NAC.