THE GRAVENHURST SENIORS CLUB QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
ALL ABOUT US
WINTER 2016—2017
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“ALL ABOUT US” TABLE OF CONTENTS
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From Our President From The Editor Meeting Dates Seniors Workshop Mark Clairmont Book Report Sudoku Puzzle 12 Eugene’s Diner. 13 Euchre Volunteers Retire 14 Grandma Still Drives! 15 Shuffleboard Picture Puzzle 16 Christmas At The Centre. New Member 17 Culinary Corner 18 Puzzle Solutions 19 “Our Blind Side”. 21 Did You Know? 22 - 23 License Renewal after 80 24 Do You Believe In Angels? 26 “Witch!”
Editor Secretary Treasurer Cover Design Photographer Proof Reader Production Committee Members
Contributing Writers
Advertising Distribution President (ex officio) 2
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Cliff Flavell Ellen Camm Lynn Quesnelle Glenna Kergon Fred Schulz Jeff Childs Pat Wright Allan Denne Jim Goodwin Cyril Fry Roy Kerr Garnet Schenk Ruth Robertson Garnet Schenk Cyril Fry Ruth Robertson Glenna Kergon Fred Schulz Jim Goodwin Harold Campbell Fred Schulz
******URGENT****** HOSTESSES/HOSTS NEEDED Volunteer 7 hours a month Regular and replacement people required. KEEP THE CLUB RUNNING SMOOTHLY. Contact Lynne Briden - 705-687-8527
GRAVENHURST SENIORS CLUB 2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE President Past President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Secretary Treasurer
Fred Schulz Cliff Flavell Aileen Passmore Lorne Robertson Ellen Camm John Mowry
DIRECTORS Communication Culture Food Services Health & Well Being Membership Newsletter Property Recreation Ways & Means Workshop Director Director
Al Denne Fred Schulz Lynne Briden Ruth Robertson Lillian Gillan Cliff Flavell Lorne Robertson Bob Mackse Carol Macksey Roy Kerr Ron Belfry Kathleen Powell
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
AlI submissions to be included in the next issue of ALL ABOUT US should be submitted before February 15th. Submissions can be left at, or emailed to, the Gravenhurst Seniors Centre, 480 First St. N., Gravenhurst, Ontario P1P 1B9. Submissions that promote and/or enhance the activities of The Seniors Centre and Seniors are always welcome. Pictures are also welcomed. Opinions and concerns about issues facing The Centre are welcome. Try and keep submissions to a maximum of 1000 words. All letters to the editor must be signed with first and last names. Letters may be edited for size and clarity. Letters to the editor are printed at the editors discretion.
Celebrating the activities of The Gravenhurst Seniors Club Published by: The Gravenhurst Senior Citizens Club 480 First Street North, Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1B9 1-705-687-8126
Affiliated Club #325 United Senior Citizens of Ontario
Volume 24, Number 4
WINTER 2016—2017 ALL ABOUT US
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FROM OUR PRESIDENT Fred Schulz
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very pleasant holiday season and a Very Merry Christmas. Fred Schulz
HEALTH & WELL BEING Arthritis: Arthritis Exercise Class Every Friday 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (Except July & August)
From Our President – Fred Schulz With the autumn season behind us, it’s time to put our thoughts towards the upcoming Christmas Season and all the activities planned at the Gravenhurst Seniors Club. Keep an eye on the bulletin board posters for the upcoming Christmas events and activities that are planned during the month of December. What a great time of the year to enjoy the many activities that are taking place at the Centre or just come in and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the lounge. It’s always a pleasant spot for an interesting conversation or a visit with some friends or a place to make some new ones. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Board of Directors and the many volunteers for their hard work and dedication to keeping the Seniors Centre a vibrant and busy well run centre. The dedication of staff members Lynn Quesnelle, Carol Macksey and Ted Robertson is essential in the smooth running of the Centre and is greatly appreciated by all those involved with the Seniors Centre. See top of next column
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ALL ABOUT US
Blood Pressure Clinic: Wed. Dec. 14th: Jan. 11th & Feb. 8th 9:00 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. No Appointment necessary Toe Nail Clinic: Dec. 14th, 21st (None on 28th) Jan. 11th, 18th. & 25th Feb. 8th, 15th & 22nd. 9:00 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. Appointment necessary. Men’s Fitness: Mon. & Thurs. - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (Except July & August) Mixed Fitness: Mon. - 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (Except July & August) Yoga: Tues. - 10.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. Thurs. - 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
About Our Cover
WINTER - 2016– 2017 Designed by Glenna Kergon
A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR:
Cliff Flavell
December already!
We will soon be putting up the Christmas decorations. My thanks to everyone who contributes to our newsletter, especially Allan Denne for his expertise putting this newsletter all together, Fred Schulz for his great photo’s and all the members of the committee who work year after year to keep our newsletter great. Although Glenna Kergon has been away for several years, she still designs and sends us covers for our newsletter. Let us hope we don’t have a harsh winter and I wish you all the very best for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Cliff Flavell.
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Change of Dates for Director’s and General Meetings Gravenhurst Seniors Activity Centre The schedule of the Board of Directors and General Meetings has been moved by one week. The General Meetings will be held on the 3rd Friday of the month (4 meetings per year) and the Board of Directors Meetings (10 meetings per year) will be the preceding Monday. This new change in the dates of both the Directors and General Meeting will give John Mowry and Lynn Quesnelle the necessary time to review the financial statements and complete the financial reports. The meeting dates for the remainder of 2016 and 2017 are as follows: Directors Meetings at 9:00 a.m. General Meetings at 1:30 p.m. Monday, December 12th, 2016 Monday, January 16th, 2017 Monday, February 13th, 2017 Monday, March 13th, 2017 Monday, April 17th, 2017 Monday, May 15th, 2017 Monday, June 12th, 2017 No July Meeting No August Meeting Monday, September 11th, 2017 Monday, October 16th, 2017 Monday, November 13th, 2017 Monday, December 11th, 2017.
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Friday, December 16th, 2016 Friday, March 17th, 2017 Friday, June 16th, 2017 Friday, September 15th, 2017. Friday, December 15th, 2017.
CORRECTION! A glitch occurred in the USCO Annual Convention column submitted by Marie Smith for the Autumn Edition of All About Us. The paragraph beginning with ‘Jeremy Bertrand, from Ontario securities’ - - - was mangled. That paragraph should have read, Jeremy Bertrand, Ontario Minister of Finance, gave us many great tips for filing our income tax. Christine Allum from Ontario securities Commission told us how to make sure our investments were secure. Marie Smith commented that “Even computers can skip a few lines. Perhaps so Marie but in this case the error was mine alone and was committed in the transition from one column to another. My apologies to Marie and USCO.
Gravenhurst Seniors Workshop Meeting The Annual meeting of the Gravenhurst Seniors Workshop was held on Wednesday, October 12th at 1:30 p.m. with a large number of the workshop participants in attendance for the meeting. During the Annual meeting the election of officers took place with the following individuals elected for the next term. President – Godfrey Cook Vice President – John Wylie Secretary / Treasurer – Jim Goodwin Dir. Of Maintenance – Rob Gifford The Workshop continues to be a valuable and important part of the Gravenhurst Seniors Club activities. Photograph – Those present at the Gravenhurst Seniors Workshop meeting submitted by Fred Schulz.
Allan Denne AAU Production Editor
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MUSKOKA INSURANCE salutes the Seniors and their community efforts
Dave Jon Christy Gay Stephen Amy Brandy Andy Marcia Charlotte Nicole Christina 705-687-6606
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Mark Clairmont: Many members of the Seniors Club probably know Mark Clairmont, but perhaps not all know about MuskokaTODAY. Mark grew up and was educated in Gravenhurst, a son of Hugh and Maisie Clairmont. His dad was a reporter and later editor of The Gravenhurst Banner, the leader and trumpet player of a small dance group called the Sandsmen. Hugh’s interest in jazz and popular music, plus interviews with world famous bandleaders, who played at Dunn’s Pavilion in Bala, helped that publication’s readership. Mark studied journalism after graduating from Gravenhurst High School in the late 1970’s. He then went on to work at The Edmonton Sun, The Saskatchewan and various other newspapers across Ontario. He echoed his dad’s trumpet talents and often handled drums for Hugh’s group. Now, at the annual Remembrance Day services, Mark provides the Last Post and Reveille, which bracket the Minutes of Silence. He’s also in the Muskoka Concert Band, Bifocals Band and smaller groups. When most of us were much younger, the idea that daily news printed on paper might be a disappearing product before we died, would have been a tough one to swallow. Well here we are in an age when communications rely on digital devices and electronic screens. Mark is of an age that has been able to adjust to this technology, which is fortunate, because in 1994, he and his father decided to launch the biweekly MuskokaTODAY, a newspaper magazine focused on our area. Maisie wrote the popular Maisie’s Kitchen cooking column and kept the books. Cousin Harry Nerlich brought financial insights. Lois Cooper, Jack Hutton and Richard Corcelli were among dozens of local columnists over the years, along with syndicated columnists like Alan Fotheringham. Frank Johnson’s editorial cartoons were also a popular feature. MuskokaTODAY developed a large following. Lots of local memories, plus photographs by Mark helped. Betty Latham took charge of production. Norm Garbutt delivered the papers. Christmas Day 1997 Hugh died and Lois Cooper took over as editor. Meanwhile, the pressures on existing district newspapers were growing.
This eventually led to consolidation and finally purchase by major publishers, as competition for advertising revenue intensified. In 2010, after being the first local paper online, MuskokaTODAY abandoned the printing press and is now available exclusively via computer. An annual subscription fee of $21 is suggested, but there is nothing to stop anyone from free access online, except ethics and a conscience. Mark has become his own two-armed production system, with some assistance from others on bookkeeping and news alerts. Mark’s timetable involved tightly synchronized work sessions as an editor/writer at the Hamilton Spectator, for a total of 28 years. Perhaps he is hoping for a self-steering electric car and a long cord to assist commuting. Sandwiched among his travels were his Gravenhurst cable TV talk-show, news report and interviews with MP Andy Mitchell and MPP Norm Miller. His exposure also helped when he entered local politics. He won seats on the Gravenhurst, then the District councils over seven years, and threw his hat in the ring for mayor in 2010. It was when he was not elected that the hard copy of MuskokaTODAY was abandoned and distribution became solely online, and continues so today as MuskokaTODAILY.com. Many of his contemporaries remain faithful supporters, and old-timers often find references to names they recognize from years gone by. Perhaps you’ve been unaware of MuskokaTODAILY.com, just below the horizon, and a little search on the keyboard may unlock something of interest. Cyril Fry:
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“The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah. Kristin Hannah is an award winning, best selling American author of 21 novels including Firefly Lane, Night Road and Home Front. This story opens with the reminiscing of an elderly lady in Oregon and flairs back to rural France in 1939. After the death of their mother, two girls are abandon by their father, a WWI derelict alcoholic who now lives in Paris. The elder girl is a married adult, the younger a teenage rebel who keeps running away from school. WWII commences and France is conquered and overrun by the Nazis. Lives in the whole area are thrown into a tearful turmoil as months turn into years of harassment and cruelty. The young rebel joins The French Resistance movement and, at great risk to her life, she embarks on the extremely dangerous mission of escorting Fugitive Allied Airmen over the Pyrenees Mountains and into Spain. This mission she completes multiple times and eventually is caught. Under her code name of ‘Nightingale’ she is to be put to death. Her father appears and sacrifices his life to the firing squad. In a parallel story, the elder sister suffers from depression and starvation under the sadist Nazi regime and is raped by an officer billeted in her house. Train evacuations, concentration camps, forced marches, extermination of Jews and forced slave labour are all aspects of the story.
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This is a very compelling read. The elderly lady in Oregon is one of the heroines of the French resistance and despite her frailty she attends the reunion of her comrades in Paris in 1995. The closing words of the book are, “Wounds heal, Love lasts, We remain!” The book is published by St. Martin’s Press, New York and is available at The Gravenhurst Library. Submitted by Jim Goodwin
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Sudoku Instructions
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The numbers 1-9 must appear only once in every row. The numbers 1-9 must appear only once in every column. The numbers 1-9 must appear only once in each darkened square. For solution see page 18.
Soup / Sandwich / Pie Fundraiser The second Soup / Sandwich / Pie Fundraiser was held on Friday, October 14th from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Seniors Centre with many people in attendance to enjoy the delicious luncheon. Here, Pat Wright, Lynn Quesnelle and Linda Marchand enjoy the delicious luncheon while supporting this important fundraiser. Submitted by Fred Schulz
The Gravenhurst Seniors Club was well represented at the Seniors Fair Lifestyle and Information Session held at the Muskoka Discovery Centre on Monday, October 17th, Board of Directors Ruth Robertson and Kathleen Powell were on hand at the Seniors Fair to provide complete information to those in attendance during the session. Submitted by: Fred Schulz ALL ABOUT US
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Full Audiological Evaluations Batteries, Sales & Service State of the Art Digital Hearing Aid Technology Now Offering a Home Visit Program Preeti Nichol, B.Sc., M.A., Audiologist Graham Cole, B.Sc., M.Aud, Audiologist 256 James Street Bracebridge, ON Phone (705) 646-2227 Fax (705) 646-0150 muskoka.audiology@bellnet.ca
Your Hearing is Our Concern
Happy Birthday &
Happy Anniversary to all of our Members who celebrate in the months of of December, 2016: January and February 2017.
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EUGENE’S DINER! Eugene’s Diner was introduced to the Gravenhurst Seniors Centre this fall with two dances being held on Saturday, September 24th and Saturday, October 22nd from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. D. J. and organizer Rob Gifford provided a great atmosphere and “spun” all the great tunes for the dancers and listeners at the successful event which all attendees enjoyed very much. Eugene’s Diner features a great opportunity to remember the past. Come and dance, listen to the music, enjoy good friends, good snacks and great tunes!
His thoughts were slow. His words were few and never formed to glisten. But he was a joy to all his friends, you should have heard him LISTEN! Line Dancers Workshop held at Seniors Centre The Northern Lights Line Dancers held their Workshop at the Seniors Centre on Saturday, October 1st with great reviews regarding the auditorium and such a friendly staff of volunteers who made everyone feel right at home. The highly successful event made a donation of $1,000.00, to the Gravenhurst Women’s Centre, from the participants of the workshop. Seen here are participants from Christine Wilde’s Line Dance class at the Gravenhurst Seniors Centre. Big Bucks Bid Euchre Retirees After 9 years of organizing 20 games and raising approximately $20,000.00, Lois Shubrook, Bernice Sopher and Donna Irwin are laying down their cards and retiring from the organization of Big Bucks Bid Euchre at the Gravenhurst Seniors Centre. The trio have enjoyed meeting people from Muskoka, Haliburton, Simcoe Country and beyond over the years. At the General Meeting held on Friday, September 9th, President Fred Schulz recognized Lois, Bernice and Donna for their many years of dedication to the smooth running of the Big Bucks Bid Euchre. Lynne Briden has offered to run Big Bucks (three a year) and Ruth Robertson and Aileen Passmore will look after the kitchen help for these events. Above: Left to Right are Lois Shubrook, Bernice Sopher and Donna Irwin. Submitted by Fred Schulz.
Left to Right – Elaine Robbins, Janet Turney, Lynn Quesnelle, Kathy Cuffe, Marsha Blain, Christine Wilde, & Patti Lynch.
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Grandma is eighty-eight years old and still drives her own car. She writes: Dear Granddaughter, The other day I went up to our local Christian bookstore and saw a ‘Honk if you love Jesus’ bumper sticker. I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting. So, I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper. Boy, am I glad I did; what an uplifting experience that followed. I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good he is, and I didn’t notice that the light had changed. It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn’t honked, I’d never have noticed. I found that lots of people love Jesus! While I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed, ‘For the love of God!’ ‘Go! Go! Go! Good Lord just GO!’ What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus! Everyone started honking! I just leaned out my window and started waving and smiling at all those loving people. I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love! There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a sunny beach. I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air. I asked my young teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant. He said it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something. Well, I have never met anyone from Hawaii so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign right back. My grandson burst out laughing. Why even he was enjoying this religious experience!! A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me. 14
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I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the light had changed. So, grinning, I waved at all my brothers and sisters, and drove on through the intersection. I noticed that I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared. So I slowed the car down, leaned out the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away. Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!! Will write again soon, Love, Grandma
When I was 5 years old my mother told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school they asked me what I wanted to be in life when I grew up. I wrote down “Happy!” They told me I didn’t understand the assignment. I told them they didn’t understand life! JOHN LENNON
Here’s an old photo Bernice Sopher gave me of a group of 27 Shuffleboard players from The Gravenhurst Seniors Club. The date of this picture was not revealed. The question posed is— CAN YOU PUT A NAME TO EACH OF THE 27 PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE? Put the numbers from 1 to 27 on a sheet and enter your answer to each persons name, then check your answers . I forget where I put the answers but they are in this edition someplace. Thanks to Bev Skelding and Bernice Sopher for providing both the picture and the names to go along with it for the shuffleboard puzzle above.
Seniors Centre Participates in Provincial Culture Days On Friday, September 30th, the Gravenhurst Seniors Club participated in the annual Culture Days which were held across the Province of Ontario. Artwork from the Pallet Group, the Adult Colour Books and the Woodworking Shop were on display in the living room area for everyone to view and enjoy. Here, Monika Castaldi, Maureen and Dave McCabe enjoy looking over the original folk art works of Rob Gifford from the woodworking shop. ALL ABOUT US
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Include the Gravenhurst Seniors Centre in your Holiday Activities Whatever Christmas traditions you celebrate, the holiday season is a great time of the year to visit the Gravenhurst Seniors Centre with some friends or just enjoy a coffee or tea in the relaxing coffee lounge or living room. There’s always something going at the Centre particularly during the Christmas season with a Christmas Social being organized, the Christmas Dinner, Eugene’s Diner Christmas Dance as well as some Holiday music presentations. The living room area will be decorated for the season, the puzzle table will feature some Christmas themed puzzles and Christmas music will be playing on the CD player. Christmas is a time of special memories of the season and remembering those special holidays. Why not take time to listen to or share a story or special memories of the season. A friendly smile or hello during the Christmas season can mean a great deal to someone who needs a little kindness during the festive season. Make sure to bring some joy and friendliness to those you meet at the Centre. It will make you feel good, too! By Fred Schulz
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NEW MEMBER:
Our new member, Fran Corbeil, was born and raised in Espanola. She moved to Kitchener, married and had her first child, then moved to North Bay where her next two children were born. Fran now has 6 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and another on the way. While Fran no longer plays baseball she still enjoys hunting and fishing. On a recent trip to Elliot Lake with her grandson Fran bagged a partridge. She moved from Elliot Lake to Bracebridge two years ago to be closer to her grandchildren. Fran visits our club 4 days a week playing cards and shuffleboard, where she won the Nov. 2nd monthly Round Robin. She also acts as a hostess at the club and enjoys the colouring books, her first experience colouring. Fran really enjoys our club. She says she has lots of laughs and there is lots to do. Welcome Fran! You are experiencing what we are all about. Submitted by: Cliff Flavell
CULINARY CORNER RAGGED ROBINS! 2 Egg Whites 1/4 Teaspoon vanilla 1/8 Teaspoon salt 1/2 lb. Dates: ( Stoned & Chopped) 1/2 Cup Glazed Cherries 1 Cup Walnuts 1 3/4 Cups Corn Flakes 1/2 Cup White Sugar Beat egg whites until stiff; add vanilla and salt. Combine the rest of the ingredients and add to the egg white mixture. Drop from a spoon onto a greased baking sheet. Bake in a slow oven (325 F) for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. SHOO-FLY PIE: This recipe uses the un-baked pastry for a deep, one-crust. 9” pie. Bottom Part: 3/4 Cup boiling water 1 cup Dark Molasses 1/2 teaspoon Soda. Top Part: 1 1/2 cups sifted flour 1 cup Brown sugar 3/4 cup shortening 1/4 teaspoon salt. Pour boiling water over soda in a bowl and stir in the molasses. Pour into the pie shell. Mix the ingredients for the ‘crumbs’ and sprinkle over the molasses mixture. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool and slather the top with whipped cream.
CRANBERRY PIE! This recipe uses pastry for 9” pie, single crust, unbaked. 1 Cup Whole Cranberries 1/2 Cup seeded raisins, cut fine. 1 Cup Sugar 1 Cup Water 1 Tablespoon flour (Heaped) 1 Tablespoon Vanilla 1 Tablespoon Butter Boil all the ingredients together in a heavy saucepan until very thick, then turn the burner on to the lowest setting and let the filling “stew” for about 15 minutes. Cool thoroughly before putting it into the unbaked pie shell. Bake for half an hour at 350 degrees. Let cool and refrigerate overnight, it seems to need that refrigeration to give it the special flavour.
CORINTH POTATO CANDY! 1/2 Cup Mashed Potato 1 tbsp. butter Pinch of salt Icing sugar (as required) Optional flavoring: Vanilla; Almond: Maple syrup: Semi-sweet Chocolate: Chopped nuts: Fine coconut: Colouring as you wish. Add butter and salt to potatoes while still warm. When cool , add and work in as much icing sugar as required to make a stiff dough -like mass to handle and work into shapes. Colouring may be added by adding cocoa. Form into any shape desired and roll in fine coconut. May also be dipped in semi-sweet chocolate. This recipe was submitted to the Canadian Catholic Ladies “Treasured Family Recipes” cook book from a contributor in Port McNicholl.
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Betty Carroll
Bev. Skelding 27
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Bill McIntosh
Peter ayling
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Jean Johnson
Georgina Hines 16 Lynn Beaton 7
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Donna Beaton
13 Irene Laycock 4
Marg Briggs
Helen May
Vera Ann Ruttan
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Pat Basnett
Marg Norton
Val Walker 22 Ruby Allen
Frank Morton 21 Dorothy Lochlin
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Sometimes trying to figure out how my mind works is like trying to find the third leg of my pullover sweater?
Edith Rae
IT IS A PUZZLE ISN’T IT!?
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ARE THEY IN SIDEWAYS? WELL—- -
Vera Brunton 20 Doreen Loucks
Betty McIntosh 19
Ooopppps!!
Lois Ogle
HERE ARE THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SHUFFLEBOARD PICTURE FROM PAGE 15.
Stop in For Breakfast
Take Lunch to Go Full Menu Available
Here is the solution to the SUDUKO puzzle on page 10. Hope you all got the right numbers in the right places. 18
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SUBWAY GRAVENHURST 351 TALISMAN DRIVE
Our Blind Side
Gary W. Rolston Investment Advisor 2-140 First Street South Gravenhurst, Ontario 705-687-0630 ANNUAL GIC RATES
1 YEAR 2 YEARS 3 YEARS 4 YEARS 5 YEARS
2.10% 2.12% 2.17% 2.21% 2.35%
Rates as of November 22nd 2016 Subject to change and availability All GICs provided by CDIC Member Firms RRSPs, RRIFs, Cashable GICs, TFSAs
Ti's the season to be jolly and kind to all: Santa is watching! It is also the season to be thinking of others, it is a time of joy for some, but a very difficult time for others. So, it is the best time to treat everyone with more consideration and kindness. When we are driving on the highway, there are many cars headed in the same direction. Sometimes we pull out to pass a car without looking properly, and someone is coming up beside us, they are in our Blind Spot, CRASH. We are like a family at the Senior's Centre and just like regular families we have our different opinions and needs. When we are working together and we are in a rush to get things done, sometimes we CRASH into others, by saying things that are hurtful and disrespectful. We need to listen to others and respect their ideas because they too are only trying to help to get things accomplished. So, remember we all have BLIND SPOTS and we must remember to look at the needs of others, respect their wishes and together we will not hurt other people's feelings. This is not only for the Christmas Season but throughout the whole year. Wishing You and Yours a Very Merry Christmas and Happy 2017: Ruth Robertson
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POLICY CLARIFICATION Membership: The policy states that for any activity in our Club, the person must be a member in good standing of USCO; that is, a current membership of a Senior’s Club that is affiliated with the “United Senior Citizens of Ontario”. Any group that does not wish to purchase memberships will be required to have a rental agreement, which will be reviewed each year, and approved by the Board of Directors. Any fund raisers such as Breakfasts, Luncheons, and Big Buck Bid Euchre Tournaments, and special groups: e.g. V.O.N. Smart Program exercise group, the O.S.G.A. 55+ (Ontario Senior Games) does not require membership to attend. Power Outage: As soon as there is a power outage the staff or a Director is notified. (Directors to be called in order of listing on the contact sheet). Bathrooms are blocked and no one is allowed to use them. (Bathrooms available at the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre next door, if necessary). If the power is still out after ½ hour, the same director is notified and will at that time make the decision to come to the GSAC so that the building can be closed after one hour of a power outage. Inclement Weather and Bad Road Conditions: The Director in charge of the office that day will make the decision early in the morning re the necessity to close the building, Staff and Activity Leaders to be notified. If bad weather happens after the Staff has gone home, it will be up to the Activity Leaders to make the decision to close and notify the members of that activity. Coffee: The Bottomless Cup: this had been voted on and passed in 2013, that it would be a bottomless cup of coffee or tea for the present cost of $1.00. Styrofoam Cups & Lids: to be used if you are bringing your coffee/tea downstairs. All drinks are to be kept away from the courts and billiard tables. Activities: It is up to each activity group to run their activity and to appoint someone to collect the money for the centre and be the Leader. The club is not responsible for this with the exception of those activities that the club pays an instructor. GUIDELINES FOR WHEN TO CALL AN AMBULANCE: A person with: Chest pain/discomfort/tightness Difficulty breathing Confusion Signs of a stroke (difficulty speaking, moving, weakness on one side) Severe allergic reaction Head trauma or falls resulting in neck or back pain A person that has fallen and cannot get up themselves An unconscious person A severe cut or wound Do not try to lift someone that has fallen, call the ambulance **Never hesitate to call 911 if unsure of a person’s condition, injuries, or illness. Updated & approved by the Board of Directors: June 9, 2014
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DID YOU KNOW ?
The Men's Fitness Class started as a "Pilot Project" on May 29, 2000. Kirsten Andreasen was to lead the group until a "Man" could be found to teach. One was found but he only lasted one week. Kirsten was called back and 16 years later she continues to teach to a loyal group, three of which were in that original class. Kirsten also teaches a "Mixed Fitness" class once a week. Ted and Joyce-Ann Smith celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in November. Both Roy Kerr and Jim Goodwin have 26 years of volunteer service with The Gravenhurst Seniors Club. Artic Caribou population has declined by 53% in the last few years. They have only one calf each year and the females always return to the place they were born for calving. Caribou are the only member of the deer family in which both male and female have antlers. Check for more “Did You Know� on page 25.
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Senior’s Driver Licence Renewal Program:
Once you turn 80, you need to renew your driver’s licence every 2 years. Here are the four main steps you will take to renew. Step 1: get a notice Starting with your 80th birthday, you will get two things in the mail: a renewal form a letter that will let you know what to do to renew This letter and form will arrive about 90 days before your licence expires. Step 2: book an appointment Once you get your form and letter in the mail, you will need to attend a renewal session. To book the appointment, you will need to:call 1-800-396-4233 (toll free) or 416235-3579 (in Toronto) give your driver’s licence number tell us about any language barriers You will get the date, time and location of your renewal session. Sessions are held at 125 locations across the province.If you can’t attend that day, you can re-schedule your appointment once. If the next appointment is only available after your driver’s licence expires, you can get a temporary permit. Step 3: attend a renewal session Total time commitment required: about 90 minutes What to bring to a renewal session: your driver's licence (or temporary driver's licence) the licence renewal form you got in the mail the eye glasses you use for driving hearing aids, if you need them a bottle of water (some locations will not have water available) snacks, if you need them (e.g., are diabetic or know you will need a snack) At a renewal session, you will: take a vision test join others in a 45-minute interactive group education session about new traffic laws, 22
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how aging affects driving, tips for older drivers and road signs complete an in-class screening exercise undergo a driving record review After the session, you may need to: pass a road test before you can renew your licence follow up with your physician and submit medical information This will depend on how well you performed on the in-class screening components and a review of your driving record. If you need to see a doctor, you will receive a letter in the mail with further instructions. A driver improvement counsellor at the group education session will discuss these requirements with you if necessary. Step 4: get a new licence card After you finish the session and take the required tests, you will need to visit a ServiceOntario centre to get a new driver’s licence card. You will need to bring: your written test results original identification that shows your legal name, date of birth and signature ServiceOntario will process your test results and renew your licence. More information: renewal sessions About the vision test a screen reader is used to test your vision please wear the eyeglasses you use for driving bring your most current glasses, if your prescription has been recently updated If you have a certificate from an eye doctor: no vision test is needed at the session. You will need to bring a signed and dated certificate. The document must be signed/dated within 6 months of the session. About the in-class screening there are two parts to the exercise you will have 5 minutes to finish each part for a total of 10 minutes the exercise is not dependent on language and can't be taken orally
Fred Schulz submitted this picture from the recent Zone 39 Meeting – November 9th at the. Burks’ Falls Young At Heart Seniors Club Left to Right – Jim Laidman, Cliff Flavell, Marie Smith, Roy Kerr, Jean Kerr, Ruth Griffin, Grant Bertrand, Pat Flavell, Fred Schulz
information will be available at Ontario.ca/seniordriver, including samples of the screening exercise you will complete you don't need to prepare, but you can take the practice screening exercise to help you understand the instructions and feel comfortable with the exercises the screening exercise consists of two assessments of a person’s cognitive capabilities relevant to driving. Each of the assessments taps into a different type of ability: clock drawing: measures a driver’s capacity to recognize and organize information (visuospatial ability) letter cancellation: measures a driver’s capacity to coordinate thinking with doing (psychomotor speed)
Drivers are always encouraged to refresh their knowledge of driving in general by reading the instructor: a trained driving counsellor leads the session topics covered: driving tips for seniors, updates to traffic laws and rules format: a quiet classroom setting, available in English or French materials: senior driver education booklet covering tips and rules – available in advance online in 18 languages hearing impaired? you can bring a qualified sign-language interpreter with you. You must arrange for the interpreter but the government will cover reasonable costs.
This Drivers Licence Renewal article is derived from the Service Ontario website and is submitted at the suggestion of Cyril Fry and Cliff Flavell. ALL ABOUT US
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DO YOU BELIEVE IN ANGELS? Thursday, December 17th was the coldest day of 1953. The temperature plunged to - 8F in the city of Toronto. On Friday, December 18th at approximately 7.45 a.m. it was - 17F in Severn Bridge, Ontario. My job was to get down to the old oneroom school house early, get a fire started in the pot-bellied wood stove and try and generate a little heat in the freezing school. I was 12 years old in grade 6. On freezing cold mornings like this, I would catch a ride on the Gravenhurst High School bus. Don Houston would let me ride the mile or so down to the old school so I could open it and start the fire. This was a special day at S.S. #1 school, indeed a very special night. It was the last day of school before Christmas and it was the night of our school Christmas concert. The old bus shuttered to a stop and I started up the short path into the school yard, all the while digging in my pockets for the key that would let me into the old wood frame school house, S.S. # 1 Morrison. A sharp bite of the freezing temperature was already nipping at my ears and nose and I knew I’d better find those keys soon or my fingers and toes would be feeling the sting of frost bite. But where were they, those keys that should have been right there in the outside pocket? They weren’t there and, in spite of the frantic rummaging through every pocket and conceivable hiding place, there were no keys on my person. My God! What to do? I knew I couldn’t get into the school, couldn’t start a fire, couldn’t get warm out here and I knew, also, that I would surely freeze if I tried to walk home. What to do? What to do? I’ll freeze to death at 12 years old right here in the school yard I guess. That’s what will happen to me! I jammed my mitts back on, stuffed my mittened hands into my pockets as far as I could and started back down the lane homeward. A sudden flutter of a breeze stirred a swirl of snow from the trees, drifting down it circled my toque, crossed my face and almost forced me into the snowbank. Kneeling there, as I withdrew a hand to wipe the snow from my face I spotted it, a tiny red splash in the snow just to my left, almost lost in the snow bank formed by the snow plow but not quite buried. 24
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What could it be?” I thought, jamming my mitten hand back deep in my pocket. My foot reached out and hit the barely visible red splotch, thinking it was probably blood from some frozen creature unfortunate enough to be out in this cold. No. It wasn’t blood. It was a little painted flat wooden stick! It was the very same red painted stick I used to carry the school key on. My frozen, mittened hand snapped from it’s pocket, flung off the mitt and snatched at the snow bank for that beautiful piece of red painted wood and, sure enough, there was the key to that old school. There was my life saver. How and where had that come from? As I wiped a forming, freezing tear from my eye with that bare, exposed hand, I thought I caught the glimpse of a hooded, blanket clad person pass just to my right. I turned slightly just then to see and thought I heard a whisper from that hooded figure before it slipped silently around a rock in the driveway and faded into a wooded area. I’m positive that apparition whispered in my ear as it passed; whisper these words softly to me, “Merry Christmas!” DO YOU BELIEVE IN ANGELS? Allan Denne
180 Brock St., Gravenhurst P1P 1X2 705-687-2207 Fax 705-687-3995
Steve Vandermolen Pharmacist/Owner Seniors Day every Tuesday Special 10% Discount
Gentle Earwax Removal Hearing Tests Hearing Aid Evaluations, Sales and Repairs Discounts on Batteries Custom Noise Protection & Swim Plugs
YOUR FULL HOME HEALTH CARE STORE . . . . .
Bathroom safety . Rentals Rollators . Back Braces Walkers . Support Braces Support Stockings Diabetic and Ostomy Supplies DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE For More Information Call KIM BEIGHTON Home Health Care Dept.
Kimberley Marshall, B.A., M.CI.Sc Audiologist Free Hearing Aid Cleaning 118 Kimberley Ave., Bracebridge Tel: 705 645 3455
More of “Did You Know?” There are eight (8) organizations in Ontario that advocate for Seniors. The United Senior Citizens of Ontario, (U.S.C.O.) is the only organization that the Ontario Government calls to attend meetings of The Seniors Liaison Group and give input. The annual U.S.C.O. brief has been sent to The Ontario Government. It summarizes 62 of the resolutions approved at the annual U.S.C.O. Convention of August 8, 9 and 10 of 2016. That “Brief” is on the bulletin board for all member to peruse. ALL ABOUT US
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“Your Store for Low Prices Instore Pharmacy” Terry & Susan Candow Owner/Operators 290 First St. North Gravenhurst, ON. P1P 1H3 PH: 705-687-0554 Fax: 705-687-0720
Tender Tuesdays
Chicken tenders/wedges
THE “NOT SO WICKED” WITCH OF EXERCISE!
This ‘unlikely’ witch, who goes by the name of Kirsten Andreasen, is, and has been, the Men’s and Mixed Fitness Instructor at The Gravenhurst Seniors Centre. In Lynn’s notes she indicated Kirsten has been that instructor for 16 years. This witch hardly looks old enough to have been doing those classes for 16 years which goes to show what good exercise and fitness can accomplish. Thanks for keeping us in shape Kirsten. Photo and suggestion submitted by Lynn Quesnelle
Stop in to see us for all your home, garden, paint and giftware needs.
Gravenhurst Home Hardware 1170 Muskoka Road Phone: (705) 687 - 3479 www.homehardware.ca Owned and operated by Ian & Tara McNaughton 26
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Mister Roberts HAIR DESIGN
Seniors’ Discounts on Tuesdays through Thursdays
705-687-5400
We wouldn’t be here without the support of our neighbours. So it feels good to return the favour. That’s why your local Gravenhurst Tim Hortons are proud to be part of this great community.
275 KINGSWOOD DRIVE GRAVENHURST
TUESDAY SPECIAL
$3
29 99 plus tax
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COMING EVENTS
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