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Continued from page 33 dropping the doctor and technicians off at a pros- thetics clinic, our driver Pierre offered to give us a tour of the city. Pierre lost his sister and 11 more relatives in the quake and is now parent to his sis- ter’s two-year-old boy. For the next hour, we weaved our way up, down and along city streets crowded with thousands of people carrying on as best they can. Our guide told us we were lucky not to have been here after the quake, when the bodies and injured people were scattered all over the streets. Merchants and vendors have set up their stands along the streets, in front of the damaged concrete buildings which their businesses formerly occupied. Shielded only by brightly coloured tarps and umbrellas, the busy streets have taken on an almost carnival-like atmosphere. But that image is shattered by the collapsed or partially collapsed buildings which provide a depressing backdrop. Despite little progress having been made to- wards rebuilding the city, the Haitian people appear to have adapted to the conditions and have gotten on with their lives as well as could be expected. Commerce appears to be alive and well, as the streets bustle with activity and vendors offer almost anything imaginable (car parts, electronics, food) for sale from their dingy street side shops. The Haitian people are desperate for help, and while millions of dollars in aid have been poured Dr. Jack Cottrell, tending to a patient, at the Mission of Hope dental clinic. into the country, it appears very little has reached the people who need it the most. Thankfully, there are a number of places, like the Mission of Hope, which provide shelter and schooling for orphans as well as food and medical treatment, but unfortunately the need is far greater than the services currently available. The extent of damage, poverty and homelessness encoun- tered during this brief visit was extremely heartbreaking and the images will no doubt remain with me for the rest of my life. J. Peter Hvidsten Focus on Scugog PORT/ PERRY VILLAS Scugog’s long-time neighbourhood friend and retirement coe me PORT PERRY VILLA PAYS TRIBUTE TO ALL VETERANS Our Veterans do not seek glory or honour - that is already theirs. They only ask for remembrance - for those who never returned home with them - for the men and women they vowed never to forget. It is our also our duty never to forget them. (e Join our Remembrance Day Service November 11, 2010 BRIDGE & EUCHRE Theatre pres TOURNAMENTS Smile “A CHRISTMAS CAROL” November 30, 7pm sive Euchre November 3 & 17 at 1:30pm Meet the cast and crew following Bridge 1¢ performance. November 4 & 18 at 1:30pm Refreshments will be provided. RSVP to Debbie at 905.985.3312 Port Perry Annual CHRISTMAS BAZAAR November 20th 10 - 3 pm Vendors, Raffles, Entertainment \ and Refreshments. Drop in for a tour and ask about our complimentary trial stay. Respite & guest suites available. 36 FOCUS - NOVEMBER 2010