The Times Advocate, 2005-12-28, Page 66
Exeter Times—Advocate
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Opinion Forum News
Seniors' perspective
Continued from page 5
izens of Ontario can only be fulfilled in partnership
with federal, provincial and municipal governments.
The ultimate responsibility for the health and well
being of Ontarians rests with them.
With a federal election looming, please ask the candi-
dates of each federal party. "What is your party's stand
on food and poverty?"
Factors affecting food bank usage: recent
trends:
The siren song of inadequate social assistance is not
new. Social assistance rates have declined in value
about 35 per cent in Ontario over the last 11 years
when taking inflation into account. Between 1992 and
2004, benefits have declined sharply. For a couple with
2 children, assistance has decreased by $11,123 over
that period.
Employment:
Beyond income, there are emerging employment
trends that will affect the number of Ontarians served
by food banks. Due to a number of factors, including a
stronger Canadian dollar, manufacturing and associat-
ed sectors are in significant decline.
Household Expenses: Energy prices are skyrocketing.
Between fall 2004 and fall 2005, the price of furnace
oil has increased between 28 and 34 per cent for
major Ontario centers. The cost of gasoline has
increased at a rate of ten times greater than average
inflation. This trend forces many Ontarians to make
difficult choices, and ask difficult questions. Heat or
eat?
After hydro, water, and rent, and taxes many
Ontarians struggle to find enough money for food.
Households with an income below $20,000 only have
$66 per week to buy their groceries. In total, there are
approximately 259,035 families who earn less than $
20,000 per year in Ontario.
Between 1980 and 2000, the proportion of new
Canadians (living in Canada less than 5 years) who find
themselves below the low-income cut off has increased
from 24.6 per cent to 35.8 per cent.
Ontario must engage in a renewed conversation on
the fight against hunger in our communities with a
commitment to arrive at solutions that will truly help
those in need. Thousands of Ontarians are hungry for
a change.
Don't say that poverty will never happen to me. We
are all one pay cheque away from asking for help.
Information from Ontario Hunger Report 2005 and
Ontario Association of Food Banks
When the power went off at the elementary school,
the cook couldn't serve a hot meal in the cafeteria. She
had to feed the children something, so at the last
minute she whipped up great stacks of peanut butter
and jelly sandwiches.
As one little boy said, "It's about time. At last a home
cooked meal!"
"A government big enough to give you everything
you want is strong enough to take everything you have
Thomas Jefferson."
The Lone Ranger and Tonto went camping in the
desert. After they got their tent all set up, both men fell
sound asleep. Some hours later, Tonto wakes the Lone
Ranger and says,"Kemo Sabe, look towards the sky,
what you see?" The Lone Ranger replies, "I see mil-
lions of stars." "What that tell you?" asked Tonto.
The lone Ranger ponders for a minute then says,
"Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions
of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.
Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time
wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past
three in the morning. Theologically, it's evident the
Lord is all-powerful and we are small and in signifi-
cant. Meteorologically, it seems we have a beautiful
day tomorrow. What's it tell you Tonto?"
Tonto is silent for a moment, and then says, "Kemo
Sabe, you dumber than a buffalo. Someone stole tent.
A little girl was wearing one of those medical alert
bracelets. Someone asked her what the bracelet was
for. She replied, "I'm allergic to nuts and eggs." The
person asked, "Are you allergic to cats?"
The girl said, "I don't know, I don't eat cats."
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the
1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!
First, we survived being born to mothers who
smoked and/or drank while they carried us.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing and did-
n't get tested for diabetes.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors
or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no
helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts
or air bags.
Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was
always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from
a water bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one
bottle, and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, bread and butter and drank soda
pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight
because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!
We would leave home in the morning and play all
day, as long as we were back when the streetlights
came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we
were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of
scraps and then ride down the hill; only to find out we
forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few
times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X -boxes, no
video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video
tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no
personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat
rooms...WE HAD FRIENDS, and we went outside and
found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth
and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and
ate worms and although we were told it would happen,
we did not put out very many eyes, nor did the worms
live in us forever.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and
knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in
and talked to them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the
team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with dis-
appointment. Imagine that!! The idea of a parent bail-
ing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They
actually sided with the law! This generation has pro-
duced some of the best risk -takers, problem solvers
and inventors ever! The past 50 years have been an
explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility,
and we learned -HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!
And YOU are one of them! You might want to share
this with others who have had the luck to grow up as
kids, before the lawyers and the government regulate
our lives for our own good. "Don't take life too serious-
ly; No one gets out alive."
Tribute to Nelson Monteith:
Nelson was a good friend of mine. Our relationship
goes back to our early education at St Mary's High
School. Like myself, why should we be at school when
we knew more than the teachers and had more impor-
tant things to do with our lives than to be in school? I
never played as much pool on Friday afternoons as
Nelson.
During my farming days in the 60's and 70's, I spent
a lot of winters and spare time at N.T. Monteith Ltd.
Exeter, Ontario, your friendly I -H Farm Equipment
and Truck dealer. There was a lot of fun and work
accomplished at this business. My fellow workers were
Nelson, Stu McLellan, Dave Moore, Ed Skinner and
Jack Delbridge.
The one event that I remember well was after a lot of
coaxing Skinner glued some loose change down on the
counter. Jack always bought a coffee or a snack at
break -time. When he paid for his treats, Ed then
deposited his change on top of the glued down coins.
Jack tried to obtain all his money. When he found what
had happened he said, "Skinner, you xx##**itch.
A couple of years ago, much to Nelsons and Jo -Ann's
surprise a deer crashed through a window, jumped on
and over the table and leaped across the room and on
the chesterfield and out the other window. Thankfully,
Nelson and Jo -Anne were seated far away from this
demonstration on behalf of the deer. Herb Blue, said to
Nelson, "he wants first dibs for Nelson's kitchen come
hunting season.
I miss you "Nels," I'm honored to have known you.
Jim
Necessary Expense?
In the report on council in the Dec. 21 Times Advocate it was stated
that the Moodie well which has been in service since the 1920s has
never had a post chlorination bad test. If that is the case, why is it nec-
essary to buy a $150,000 UV treatment system? And, for at most, only
two years of use?
A third question that needs to be answered is, if $150,000 will make
one well safe - and by extension $750,000 for
the entire system, why are we spending
$12 million for a whole new sup-
ply?
Must be something in some-
one's water.
„,•••007/1 Lett
ers
to the
Editor
ROBERT DRUMMOND
Join in the
celebrations
The village of Zurich will be celebrating 150 years in 2006. The organizing
committee has been meeting for some time now and events are being planned
for the whole year in celebration of our Sesquicentennial.
The kickoff event is a New Year's Day Levee Jan. 1 to be held at the Zurich
Complex from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. We are extending an invitation to all current
and former residents, family and friends to attend this special celebration for
the community of Zurich.
We will be launching the history book that has been written to commemorate
the event as well as historical displays and a time for socializing with old and
new friends.
Also, please check the community website for further updates and informa-
tion about events at zurich-ontario-canada.com
M.C. DEICHERT
Zurich 150 Committee
Zurich, Ontario
Stephen Central students Morgan Denomme and Alexi McCarthy were among the
dents enjoying a turkey dinner put on for the school by the parent council dec. 21.
(photolPat Bolen)
stu-