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The Huron Expositor, 1988-01-20, Page 3TkE HURON EXPOSITOR, JANUARY 20,1988 3 Temperatures dip, schools close Temperatures in the Seaforth area have been dipping uncomfortably in past weeks, and the wintery conditions have made for some extra holidays for area students. Schools are as good a thermometer as any, and the schools have been telling us the weather has been a little too seasonal recently. At St. James Separate School in Seaforth on Wednesday there were several students missing because the Marks buses from Walton weren't running. Roughly 75 per cent. of the students still attended, but the poor weather in the morning made Marks bus drivers concerned about visibily. Last Tuesday inclement weather shut the school down for the day. The Seaforth Public School was open through all the conditions of the past weeks, but that school too was missing students because the Marks buses weren't running. Last Tuesday the Murphy buses weren't running either. Extremely harsh conditions or closed roads are the only thing that will close the school, and it has closed only about three times in the last seven years. Seaforth District High School had about 70 per cent of the student population in atten- dance on Wednesday, but the week before there were even fewer as road conditions caused drivers to turn around and take kids back. Schools to the north and east of Seaforth have been closing more frequently than others in the district. Walton, Brussels, St. Columban. and Dublin schools were all clos- PUC gets 1988 ' The Seaforth Public Utilities Commission held its first meeting of 1988 Wednesday, and received formal approval of this year's retail rates from Ontario Hydro. The rates were approved at a 5.5 per cent increase over last year's rates: Ontario Hydro increased their charge to the utility by 4.7 per cent as of January 1. The new rates will be programmed into the com- puters at the Stratford PUG and will be ready for the February 1 billing. The commission also reviewed the results of an oil analysis conducted on both of Seaforth's transformer stations. The results of the test were positive, and the only recommendation was to have another sam- ple taken in 12 months. The reason for the test on the relatively new transformer was to make sure there was nothing wrong with it while it is still under warranty. The cost for the test is under $100. ITEMIZE BILL During the meeting members of the PUC questioned a bill, submitted to them by the accounting firm of Touche Ross and Com- pany. The bill was significantly higher than last year, but contained no breakdown of services charged to the commission. "If another account was presented in the same way we wouldn't pay it, why should these people be treated any differently," said Commissioner Jim Sills, adding the commission didn't know what they were paying for. Mr. Sills recalled past bills from the same firm that didn't have an itemiza- tion of expenses, and the commission re- questeda breakdown then but didn't receive one. It was suggested payment be withheld un- til a breakdown was provided, but the com- mission opted to pay the account and ask for an itemized bill to be presented. The Mlmstry of Municipal Affairs has ed during the poor weather on Wednesday. .A spokesperson at the Brussels Public School said even though It Is a town school, doors are closed on bad weather days. "We have found that even though we're a town school if buses don't run about half of the students who live in town don't make it either." The school only started closing this year, because some children still have a long way to walk and 4ey have to walk on the road because of snow on the sidewalks: This is seen to be an unnecessary danger for elementary school students. Schools on the other side of Seaforth have been operating full force through the bad weather. Huron Centennial in Brucefield has been open every day and the buses have been running. Dave Kemp of Hensall says that school has been able to maintain stabili- ty as well, although Grade 7 and 8 students missed shop classes because the McCurdy school was dosed. Vanastra students walk to school, except about 12 who catch the bus. So there was little problem in that locale ex- cept concerns for some 'of the teachers who drive. The actual temperatures hi Seaforth on Wednesday.. are not known but Goderich, which is generally milder than Seaforth, had temperatures of -10 by one p.m. and 38 km • h winds made the wind chill factor br- ing the temperature down to -25. There were records set across Ontario on Thursday morning as temperatures were close to -30. It hadn't been that cold since 1982. rate approval presented the commissioners with copies, of Bill 77, which is anact to amend the Municipal Elections Act and the Assess- ment Act The bill had its first reading on December 16, and is now being brought to the attention of commissions for comment. Commissioners had not yet seen the bill, so it is not yet known what is proposed. APPROVE PAYMENT A debenture payment to the Town of • Seaforth was approved for payment in the amount of $3,900. The payment is for money borrowed by the utility to purchase the new transformer. The $3,900 payment was for in- terest. The other 1988 payment will be July 2, and it will pay interest and principle. The commission is going to have an infra- red testing of its system on Wednesday mor- ning (today), to find any hot spots, or areas where there are loose connections. The testing was done last year, and it found five hot spots which were then repaired over the year. The test costs between $400 and $500, but it helps avoid any interruption in service and possible problems that could end up costing the utility. The Municipal Electric Association sent forward registration for the annual meeting this year. The annual meeting of the association is held every year to set policy .and to elect association officials. All com- missioners and the manager from the Seaforth PUC have registered to vote at the meeting and all will attend. SAFETY PROGRAM The commission decided to participate in the Ontario Municipal Waterworks Associa- tion safety program. The Waterworks Health and Safety Services Program has provided the utility with inspections, safety programs, up-to-date information on the in- dustry, and in general creates a safer work- ing environment for PUC employees. USEFUL DONATION - The Seaforth Community Hospital Aux- iliary has donated a compression therapy machine to the physiotherapy department of yy the hospital. Carol Hunt, a physiotherapy department assistant, lets Carol Bowker, the direc- "Ata for of the p- siotherapy . -partment, demonstrate how the Machine operates. Francis Te tem is the president of the hospital auxiliary which made the do ation. The machine is the most up- to-date sequential compre ion system available -Corbett photo. Hospital Auxiliary donates compression system Equipment at. the Seaforth Community Hospital has been updated again thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Hospital Aux- iliary. The Auxiliary was able to purchase and donate to the hospital, the most up-to- date sequential compression system. The need for compression therapy, to con- trol swelling in an arm or a leg. due to trauma, mastectomy surgery, or certain circulatory deficiencies, is not in great de- mand in the Seaforth area. But when such a machine has been needed in the past, area residents have had to travel to Stratford or London to learn how to use the equipment. The machine is often used several times a Then they have had to rent it and later day for two hours a session. Having a por- return it. table home unit, is therefore, a great advan- tage to the Seaforth patient, once he/she is The system which the Seaforth Hospital instructed in its safe use. Auxiliary has pyrchased consists of a small, Compression therapy can be custom - lightweight and quiet pump designed for tailored to meet the individual patient's hospital and home use. Its arm and leg boots needs. As these needs change, the therapy have multiple air pressure chambers which department is close by to advise in ad - are timed to fill and deflate, producing a justments and in follow up. wave-like milking action in the venous and A bonus for Seaforth area residents is a lymphatic systems. This mimics the muscle stipulation made by the Hospital Auxiliary action of normal exercise, enhancing cir- that no charge be made for the use of the culation and reducing swelling. machine when ordered by the physician. Awards night, celebrity dinner set The First Annual Celebration 88 Awards Night and Celebrity Dinner will be held at the Seaforth and District Community Cen- tres on February 10, 1988. The evening is being sponsored by the community centres' booster club and is the first dinner of its kind in Seaforth. Many sports celebrities, will be presented as speakers and the Celebration 88 medals, sponsored by the Canadian government to commemorate the 1968 Calgary Olympics, will be given to six of the sportsminded peo- ple of Seaforth. A medal will be given to a deserving coach, male player, female player, official, sponsor,' and volunteer who have made Yoga teacher brings her art to Huron BY NEIL CORBETT For the first time yoga classes and profes- sional yoga instruction have become available to the people of Seaforth. Rita Loftsgard, who recently moved to Vanastra, is the organizer and teacher of five yoga classes in Huron County. Mrs. Loftsgard says she has found incredib.e in- terest in yoga in Huron County and has three full classes in Goderich and another in Vanastra. While the optimum number for the classes is 12 people, Mrs. Loftsgard has 13 in two of the Goderich classes. The Vanastra class is also full enough with 10 members, but the Seaforth class didn't draw much interest on Wednesday morning and only three people have showed up so far. Ms. Loftsgard says there is a broad age range for her classes, with people from the ages of 20 to 70 attend. These people are in the same class and study the same thing, but the nice thing about yoga is there is no competition. Everybody benefits according to how they participate in the exercises. Some people are reluctant to try yoga for a variety of reasons. It is a completely foreign way of exercising to what North Americans are traditionally used to, and as Ms. Loftsgard puts it "it's something people associate with wrapping their legs around their head." And yoga can be something of a spiritual discipline and some people think the philosophy behind it will interfere with their religious beliefs. Ms. Loftsgard says there is nothing in the yoga she teaches that has any religious con- notations. She teaches Hatha yoga which is strictly a physical discipline. Some of the other types of yoga, such as Raja, involve practitioners in philosophy to a greater ex- tent. The name Hatha comes from the In- dian words "ha" meaning sun, and "Ula" meaning moon, and a central concept of this type of yoga is getting the mind and body working cooperatively. Ms. Loftsgard says the physical benefits accrued by those who practice yoga regular- ly are many. Flexiblity and muscle tone will be some of the obvious benefits, but there are a lot of other benefits as well. Yoga is ood for spinal problems, tension in the up- per and lower back, and even headaches. Pain from arthritis is caused by muscles tensing to support a joint. Yoga makes joints more flexible and therefore relieves the muscle of the need to support it. Yoga has also been credited with relieving such ailments as sciatica, stress and depres- sion. It is also possible for people to reduce their pain level through breathing exercises taught in yoga classes, Ms. Loftsgard says anyone athletically in- clined can benefit from yoga, and notes there are a number of professional football players who practice yoga to gain agility and concentration. Ms. Loftsgard also emphasises the impor- tance of yoga as a program to help deal with i outstanding contributions in their com- munities. Medals will be presented by MP Murray Cardiff and Mayor Alf Ross. The main speaker at this community event will be Bob Santavy. Mr. Santavy was a member of Canada's weightlifting teams at Mexico in 1968 and at Montreal in 1976. He also won the silver medal in the 1970 Com- monwealth Games, two bronze medals in the 1975 Pan-American Games and another bronze in the 1978 Commonwealth Games. Mr. Santavy lives in Sarnia and is still very much involved in strength and fitness training. He is currently trying to develop Olympic weightlifting for females as well as males. Also speaking at the event will be: Dave McElwain, the Seaforth native who was the scoring leader for North Bay Centennials of the OHL, played for the Na- tional Junior Team, and is currently playing for the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. Wayne Manner, who played with the Boston Bruins, coached the Detroit Red Wings, and is now the coach and general manager of the London Knights. Tim Taylor, a leading scorer on the Lon- don Knights, and who has also played for the Stratford Cullitons. Jim Swett, who was the third round draft choice of the Quebec Nordiques and played with them during some pre -season exhibi- tion games. He is currently with the London Knights. Mike Pederson, a Fullerton native who won a gold medal winner in the 1987 Pan Am Games in men's fastball. Mr. Pederson plays for the Chym'rs in Waterloo's ter - City Fasthall League and has led the LPL in home runs for the past four years. He will also be on the 1968 men's national fastball team. Julie Sandiland, who is with CFPL and TV London News will be the Master of Ceremonies for the dinner. R r YOGA INSTRUCTOR - Rita Loftsgard has with five classes in Goderich, Seaforth, and ing yoga herself for 15 years and is a qual stress. Everyone has stress, she says, but until you have a program to deal with it you won't realize how it affects you, and you won't know how to counteract it. Mrs. Loftsgard says she started yoga with as much cynicism as anyone. It had been something that had appealed to her for a long time, but she was also a little apprehen- sive about starting because she thought it was weird. But she had a friend who practic- ed yoga, someone she didn't think was weird, who managed to convince her to come to a session. Since then she has studied yoga for 15 years, and has taken a one year teacher training course. The course was three nights per week and one extra night per Month. She brought yoga instruction to Huron County Vanastra. Ms. Loffsgard has been practic- ified instructor. qualified as an instructor with the Ontario Yoga Association, and taught her first class in 1977. New yoga students are obviously not re- quired to do strenuous exercises as soon as they join, and yoga is very much a pro- gressive activity. Each of the poses gets more challenging as students progress through the ranks of beginner, intermediate and advanced, and students exert themselves more as they gain ability. Ms. Loftsgard says le come to her classes regularly, come Wi , -:rr ,'r.r mind, and follow the principles ..' tea Y'Y most will find benefits quite r ,; Yoga classes in Seale `r r : : held rr- , . es - day mornings from 8:30 to - :.i at the Seaforth and District Community Centres. Scott Driscoll, who is playing his third season of Junior B hockey for the St. Mary's Lincolns, is another Seaforth native who will speak at the dinner. Mr. Driscoll recently played in the Western Junior B Allstar game where he scored a goal. There may be more sports celebrities at the event: Sherry Bassin may be added to the roster. She has been a general manager in Oshawa and also for the team Canada Juniors in 1982 and 1985 -both years when they took the gold. Another possible guest is Pat Stapleton who had a long career with the Chicago Black Hawks, was an NHL All-Star, and played in the 1972 Canada Cup. Ron Mason is the coach of the Michigan State University hockey team - the 1986 na- tional champs- and is originally a Seaforth native. Pat Murray of Dublin Ls in his first year playing hockey with Michigan State Univer- sity. He also played with the Stratford Cuilitons and held the assist record in that league. And Dave Murray may also be in atten- dance. Mr. Murray has been playing soccer with Wilfred Laurier University, the On- tario University Athletic Association champs and ranked second nationally. After the speakers make their presenta- tions a mini auction will be held featuring various collectable items from the sports celebrities. There will be a cocktail hour from 6-7 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at Archie's Sunoco, Vincent Farm Equipment, Seaforth and District Community Centres, Bob and Betty's Variety, the Seaforth Town Hull and the Seaforth Recreation Office. Cost is $30 for adults and $20 for students 18 and under. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Seaforth Community Hospital for their building fund. MUNITY CALENDAR If you're organizing a non-profit event of interest to other Sealorlh area residents, phone the recreation (Alice at 527-0882 or the Expositor at 527-0240, or marl the information to Communi- ty Calendar. The Huron Exoosator. Box 69. Seaforth. Omani). NOK 1WO well in advance of the scheduled dale Space for the Communr:y Calendar rs donated by The Huron Expositor Wed. Jan 20 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Yoga at Arena 1-3 p.m. Moms and Tots at Arena 1:30-4 p.m. Senior Shuffleboard 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tween Ringette practice 5:30-6:30 p.m. Atom 1 practice 6:30-7:30 p.m. Centenaire practice 7:30-9 p.m. Minor Broomball 9-11 p.m. Ladies' Broomball 8-9 p.m. Fitness is Fun Thurs. Jan. 21 9-10 a.m. Fitness is Fun 4:30-5:30 p.m. Novice practice 5:30-6:30 p.m: Bantam practice 6:30-7:30 p.m. Minor Broomball 7:30-9:30 p.m. Men's Basketball at SDfIS 7:30-12:30 p.m. Men's Broomball Fri. Jan. 22 4-5 p.m. Senior Houseleague 5-6 p.m. Junior Houseleague 6-7 p.m. Midget practice 8:30 p.m. Centenaires vs. Wellesley Sat. Jan. 23 8:30 a.m. Oilers vs. Bruins 9:30 a.m. Canadians vs. North Stars 10:30 a.m. Whalers vs. Jets 11:30 a.m. Flyers vs. Leafs 12:30-1:30 p.m. Mites 1:30-2:30 Story Hour at the Library 1:30-2:30 p.m. Bunnies and Novice Ringette practice 2:30-4 p.m. ruonc sxanng 4-5 p.m. Mitchell vs. Novice 5-6:30 Bantams vs. Harriston 6:30-8 p.m. Peewees Sun. Jan. 24 12-1 p.m. Clinton vs. Novice 3:30-5 p.m. Huron Park vs. Atom II 5-6 p.m. Petite Ringette practice 6-7 p.m. Tweens vs. Exeter Ringette 7-8 p.m. Juniors vs. Exeter Ringette 8-9:30 p.m. Bruins vs. Flyers 9:30-11 p.m. Penguins vs. Hawks Mon. Jan. 25 4:30-8:30 p.m. Figure Skating 7:30-9:30 p.m. Wood Refinishing Tues. Jan. 26 5:30-6:30 p.m. PeeWee practice 6:30 - 8 p.m. Zurich vs. Atom If 8:30 p.m. Exeter vs. Centenaires Wed. Jan. 27 1-3 p.m. Moms and Tots Skating 1:30-4 p.m. Senior Shuffleboard 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tureen Ringette 5:30-6:30 p.m. Atom 1 practice 6:30-7:30 p.m. Centenaire practice 7:30-9 p.m. Minor Broomball 9-11 p.m. Ladies' Broomball 8-10 p.m. Mixed Volleyball at SDHS 8-9 p.m. Fitness is Fun 8 p.m. Oddlellows and Rebekahs Euchre. Oddletlows Hall, Seaforth. Lunch Served. I