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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 46 Issue 43
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.10% 3 Year GIC - 2.41% 5 Year GIC - 2.95% Daily Interest 1.55%
Friday, October 25, 2013
Roadkill Race for MS - Participants were in high spirits for the annual MS fundraiser in Alma on Oct. 19.
photos by Mike Robinson
Sparky and friends - Cody and Tucker Frook of Moorefield were delighted to meet Sparky the Fire Dog at this year’s Mapleton Fire Rescue Fire Prevention Breakfast at the PMD Arena in Drayton on Oct. 19. More coverage on page 2.
photo by Wilma Mol
NDP candidate plans to create advisory committee on turbines DRAYTON PerthWellington provincial NDP candidate Romayne Smith Fullerton has announced plans to establish a citizen’s advisory committee on industrial wind turbines. Speaking in Drayton on Oct. 17, at the first of a series of “town hall� meetings she plans to host across the riding, Smith Fullerton noted one subject that keeps coming up during her “Listen and Learn Tour,� particularly in the rural part of the riding, is the issue of industrial wind turbines. “It is an issue that was badly mishandled by the Liberals. They disenfranchised rural communities, caused division among neighbours, and quite frankly is one of those hot button issues where there is little consensus between urban and rural areas,� she said. “Nonetheless, we have to
ROMAYNE SMITH FULLERTON
try and resolve this issue.� Smith Fullerton said she empathizes with those who have expressed concern about the process being used to site wind turbines based on her own experience as a community and environmental activist. She said she would prefer a process that respects the principles of the Planning Act and emphasizes the role of local
government and citizens in the process. Smith Fullerton is leading opposition to a proposed gravel pit along the Thames River, which if approved, “Would threaten land along the river and forever change the lives of my neighbours and their families, many of whom have lived in my rural community for generations.� To create workable solutions for the wind turbines and consider other alternative energy sources like bio-mass fuels, the advisory committee will work with her and members of her campaign team. However, she noted a few ground rules. “First, a fundamental principle of New Democrats is to ensure that economic development and environmental sustainability go hand-in-hand. Continued on page 7
First place - Caleb Snyder of Alma was first to cross the finish line in the fun run portion of the Alma Roadkill Race for MS.
Roadkill Race raises funds for MS by Mike Robinson ALMA - Despite its name, Alma’s annual Optimist Roadkill Race on Oct. 19 is for a good cause - the fight against multiple sclerosis. Jim de Bock has been on the forefront of the event since its inception five years ago.
He noted over the past five years the event has raised $10,000 for the Wellington Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. And a bit of damp weather didn’t stop local residents from coming out to Wallace Cumming Park to participate.
This year races began with the fun run at 1:30pm and the 3km, 5km and 10km run/walk at 2pm. de Bock said he appreciated the police presence (from the Palmerston and Aboyne OPP stations), which kept the event safe in terms of traffic.
Minto Mapleton Family Health Team advocates use of Telemedicine by Wilma Mol DRAYTON - The Minto Mapleton Family Health Team (MMFHT) wants to step up awareness about the benefits of the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN). Coordinators and health care providers gave a presentation at the Mapleton Community Health Centre in Drayton on Oct. 17. OTN Waterloo Wellington Regional manager Vivian
Henderson, OTN nurse Tracy Livingston (Mapleton) and OTN nurse Pam Turton (Minto) gave an overview of how the network connects frontline health care providers and their patients to health care specialists more efficiently. Traditionally, when faced with issues beyond the health care provider’s expertise, patients are referred to a “specialist,� resulting in delays and inconvenience.
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Wait times for appointments/consultations in the past have been lengthy, with patients sometimes waiting weeks to months to get an appointment and then, ultimately having to commute great distances to make appointments. OTN streamlines this process by using innovative technology such as cameras and video conferencing. Health care providers can now consult with OTN specialists from their
own office, meaning patients have the potential to receive instant care without even leaving the clinic. Livingston and Turton explained if a patient comes in with a rash that a health care provider has difficulty identifying, a photo of the rash can be sent to an OTN specialist and a diagnosis and treatment plan can be in place before the patient even leaves the office. The MMFHT is currently
Weekly Wag
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using OTN for several specialties including: dermatology, respirology, psychiatry, osteoporosis, diabetes education classes, back care education, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis education events, asthma education classes, smoking cessation and fibromyalgia classes. The services range from individual consultations with specialists to group education classes. MMFHT has also had
patients who have received a transplant connect by telemedicine with their specialist in the city (e.g. Toronto) for followup appointments. Patients are welcome to ask their primary care provider if a visit with a specialist could be done via telemedicine, rather than travelling. In addition to patient benefits, many of the MMFHT staff and other health care providers Continued on page 8
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