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Page 6 — Halton Hills This Week, Wednesday, December 16, 1992. EDITORIAL Seniors deserve to have a centre Seniors in Georgetown have been quietly fighting a battle for te last four pee to get a recreation facility up and running. in Halton Region that still is the only Et not have a facility for its growing over-65 population. A 1991 report to Halton Region showed that there are 3,221 persons over the age of 65 residing in Halton Hills and that num- ber is growing. Approximately 800 of the local seniors belong to the Georgetown and District Seniors Association which has kept this quiet lobbying active over the last four years. A 1988 study of Georgetown seniors showed that if such a facility was constructed 94 per cent approved the development of acentre and 84 per cent would utilize the centre. But "constructed" is the wrong word to use to describe the development of a seniors centre -- a place to meet and socialize. Let's face it, as attractive as it is, the Food Court at the mall is just not the right kind of facility for seniors. For the most part Halton Hills -- its people and its council -- care about its seniors, but not having a facility -- even a tempo- rary facility -- sends a message that contradicts that caring. As proved by the Milton model, a seniors centre does not have to be costly. Using an existing facility the Milton centre costs the town about $37,500 annually -- in a community's budget terms a drop in the bucket. While we applaud Georgetown seniors for the approach they have taken to getting a facility -- low-key and persuasive rather than confrontational -- it is time that something is done to pro- vide these people with a much needed service. The seniors have recognized that they will not be getting a brand new building in the near future but as Les Mellish has said, local seniors would be perfectly happy with a makeshift location in the interim. As Mellish said: “We’ ve got to do something in the meantime.” Any sort of proposal that will give this group of people -- most of them still active in the community and long-time residents -- a place to call their own should be given serious consideration. We find it astonishing that the man who should be supporting and fighting for the seniors -- Director of Recreation and Parks Tom Shepard -- appears to be unwilling to talk even about a tem- porary facility. He also commented that Georgetown seniors “are not prepared ,to take anything less than what’s the best for their use" and that is a main factor delaying the centre. We find that attitude offensive and believe our seniors should not have to settle for anything less than the best. It is time the town gets a facility of some sort for the seniors -- we are all going to be able to use it sometime in the future. Letters Welcomed Halton Hills This Week wel- comes your letters. Letters must be signed and include your full name and address. Names will be with- held on request. Halton Hills This Week reserves the right to edit, revise, or reject any letters on the basis of factual errors, punctuation, spelling errors or as a result of space limitations. Send your letter to: The Editor Halton Hills This Week 232 Guelph St., Unit 9 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 HIS WEEN Halton Hills This ig i and is printed in Oakville by Q.E. Web Printing. iph St., Georgetown, Ont. L7G 4B1, PUBLISHER: Ken Bellamy EDITOR: Scott PRODUCTION MANAGER: Kathleen aged HILLS THIS WEEK Is Cis INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & eral ‘AX:873-3918 REAL ESTATE MANAGER: Kathy Toth CIRCULATION MANAGER: Marie Shadbolt services may eer Snow removal machine Halton Hills Public Works crews toiled through the night Friday to remove some of the near-record snow- fall from Georgetown's downtown core Friday. While most were pleased to see the crews working some people found the all-night noise a little disturbing. Photo by Scott Augustus By Jacie B. Palmer A few weeks ago I wrote an arti- cle on the grieving process. While it dealt with the sense of loss we feel because of death, there are cir- cumstances which come into our lives that affect us in much the same way as a death does. Every time a relationship ends, whether it be with a spouse or child or friend, we grieve for that end, the sense of loss and the changes to our lives. We need time to grieve, to be comforted and to recover. We need someone to love us through that period. A woman who loses her husband through a heart attack, stroke or cancer is likely to have loads of friends to comfort and nurture her through her loss. But what about the woman who decides to leave her husband? Do her friends rally round her? Do her kids support her? Does her family provide her with the love she needs? In many cases, those things just don’t happen. When I separated from my hus- band, he moved in with my mother. She didn’t speak to me for several weeks and when she did decide to see me, one of her first statements as: “Well, what about the kids? a looked her straight in the eye and asked: “Well, what about me?” She’d never considered that I might have been miserable and suffering in silence for a long time. I could see the shock in her eyes. She’d just assumed I was happy and content. It’s a sad mistake we all make — assuming qualities, beliefs and feelings about other le. 3 2 Most of us dream of growing to love someone, living with that per- son and growing old together. Too often that dream is shattered because we’ve chosen unwisely. Those who are fortunate to be with someone who cares for them should thank their lucky stars every day for the lives they have. The rest Family Violence Support services HELP US HELP OURSELVES of us can only hope to choose better next time roun Sometimes a divorce can break the family totally apart. Some women who leave an abusive rela- tionship and can’t take their chil- dren with them: must learn to live alone and often without the support of their children. It’s a fact that children will go where the money is and that often means with an abusive parent. When the victim takes action to end the relationship she receives the blame for all the changes the family must face and must confront the era animosity of her kids. hing hurts a mother more than ite having an open, loving and caring relationship with her chil- dren. Talk about being torn apart inside! Yet, for her own survival a vic- tim must stick to her plan to change her life. There is nothing like hav- ing a child call you when he/she want somethin, I remember telling my kids that all I’m interested in is loving them and if they want more from me, I do not wish to give it. I never want- ed a web of money and gifts to foul up our relationship. But it’s hard to have priorities straight. All kids want treats but no moth- er should have to buy her family. Yet that is often what it comes down to when divorce sets in. Competition between the former partners is often fierce. I wish we could all be secure in our relation- ship with our children and have the patience to recognize that time real- ly does heal the hurt and pain. A wise, participatory parent has built in a lot of consistent love, nur- turing and time with the children and they will remember that over the long term. who choose to leave an abusive relationship to give them- selves the opportunity to have a new and better life are bombarded with not just their own pain, but the pain and anger of their children, spouse and family. At a time when they need the love and support of others, often they don’t find it. When friends should be asking them over for din- ner or tea they find themselves alone. The phone doesn’t ring as it once did. Being alone is not easy if you are used to kids and a hubby around. Quiet feels good for a while but interruptions become more and more welcome. We all need the companionship of others to help us through the rough times. Support networks! We all need them. If you have a friend who is alone by choice, try not to judge her or hurt her. Instead, try to be her friend and supporter. Feel free to contact Jacie in confidence by directing letters to her attention at Halton Hills This Week. All correspondence will remain confidential. Jacie can be reached in person through the Distress Centre at 877-1211. Leave a message and Jacie will get back to you. If you are in cri- sis, call the Distress Centre or 911.