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? Welcome to the three centuries club Mr. Fred West, a decorated war veteran, has seen the passing of a century twice. Mayor Diane Ham re, (pictured) welcomed Fred West: to the Three Centuries Club on Sunday, February 20, at Strathaven Lifecare Centre, where West is a resident. West celebrated celebrated hi) 100th birthday last May. He says, staying away from the women has helped him achieve this milestone. West is the first Durahm resident to be inducted into the Three Century Club, an initiative of the Provicnial Goverment. MPP John O'Toole in co-operation with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 178, welcomed West to the club. Out of Africa ■ Part 5 Q Orooo Weekly Times. Wednesday. February 23. 2000 - 9 The Denise House the board of directors Each new day brings on another interesting lesson for Aubrey and Koren Kassiser, while they spend time in Africa, on a volunteer volunteer program. The couple ■left Orono mid December, to work in a medical centre and a school in Zimbabwe.. --Sf. » . * A Cooking Lesson for Koren Food and the process of cooking provide a window into the workings of life in a community. Recently, Laurie (another volunteer) and I were invited to the homestead of the'pharmacy technician to see how she and her family make sadza. We arrived , at Constance's homestead after work and were introduced introduced to her family: her mother (Radzi), her sister (Clara), and her children (Sheila, Coxwell, Pearson and Humphrey). The homestead is one family's land area with a collection of usually five closely spaced huts. The kitchen is usually the largest and most central hut. The remainder of the huts are bedrooms, although girls may sleep in the kitchen if there are not enough bedrooms. In Nyachuru Village, the mud huts have a thatched roof and dung-polished floor. The kitchen has a dug-out fire pit with a metal grate in the centre. Although this was a traditional Shona hut, it had some modern conveniences. conveniences. The dishes were stored in a wooden cabinet, and the earthen pots (hari) were stacked on a kitchen table. There was no refrigerator. refrigerator. Meals were traditionally cooked over open fire in Zimbabwe, but now people rely on paraffin stoves because of the shortage of firewood. Trees were cleared to make room for farming. Now it is illegal to chop them down. The firewood firewood used for the meal was taken from a tree felled by lightning - a common occurrence during the rainy season. Meal preparation consisted consisted of variations on familiar activities. While the fire was started, Sheila went to the well to fetch a pail of water. She carried it back to the kitchen, balancing balancing it on her head. I hacked the beef into bite-sized pieces with a dull knife, while the others prepared the vegetable called "Giant Rape" (spinach-like leafy green). I was in charge of making the relish (stew), a task I only realized when Constance noted the pot "complaining" for me to tend to it. I seasoned with salt the ' chunks of beef, onion, tomato and rape. The sadza preparation involved covering mcalie meal (ground maize) in a pot with cold water. Then boiling water was added to fill the pot. After placing the pot on the fire, mealie meal was slowly added while furiously stirring to prevent burning or lumps. Clara was in charge of stirring. stirring. She made it look very easy. When it had thickened, thickened, she offered us to try and stir for awhile. I am embarrassed to say that I could not stir it properly with two hands, • while Clara could stir it quickly with only one. I might as well have been trying to stir concrete that has almost totally set. Luckily, the sadza did not taste like con- ci etc. Everyone was given a bowl with a glob of sadza and stew. There are no utensils. You pick up some sadza with your right hand, flatten it a little so you can pick up some relish and eat. It was delicious - much better better than the sadza we tasted in a restaurant a few weeks ago. When Constance noticed I didn't take any nyama (meat), I found it difficult to explain my choice not to eat primarily vegetarian. Meat is a special special treat here, not as easily grown on the homestead. The grandmother was particularly particularly amused. At the end of the meal we walked back to Howard Hospital: to our own husbands, husbands, to our own supper meal, to our (for this month at least) concrete floors and painted walls. I had. gained a lot of insight from my experience, but the most comforting thing I take with me is the knowledge that children and grandmothers grandmothers are the same all over the world. Tile Denise House is a residential residential shelter and support service for abused women and their children. Our mandate mandate is to provide safe accommodation, accommodation, supportive counselling, counselling, advocacy, resources and referrals- to women whose lives have been affected affected by violence. Our services are made available to all women in the Durham Region, and further extends into the community through public education presentations. presentations. ' The Board of Directors is seeking individuals who are interested in holding office. Interested women and men are asked to respond in writing, writing, highlighting relevant qualifications to this role as well as how your expertise may benefit The Denise House. We strongly encourage encourage application from First Nations, African/ Black, Asian and South Asian communities communities as well as lesbian, gay and disabled women and men. Successful candidates will be required to undergo a Criminal Reference Check. While we thank all who are interested, only those to be interviewed will be contacted. contacted. Please submit information information on or before March 6, 2000. Board of Directors, The Denise House, Oshawa Centre Postal Outlet, P. O. Box 30560, Oshawa, Ontario LU 8L8. WEIGHT RESTRICTION REGULATIONS Weight restriction regulations will be in force on roads under the' jurisdiction of the Regional Municipality of Durham, from approximately March 1, 2000 to April 30, 2000. Weather conditions will determine the actual start and end to the enforcement season. Vehicle loads are restricted to FIVE TONNES per axle in accordance with Durham Region By-law 251-89. Signs will be erected on all Regional Roads where these weight restrictions apply. V.Â. SILGAIUS, P.Eng. Commissioner of Works Regional, Municipality of Durham Comer of Taunton Rd. E. & Bethesda Rd., Bowmanville, Ontario •, 263-2293 Pro Shop S Snack Bar Open Saturdays/Sundays Warn - 4pm « t wum tÂe wmifc&Mclo^ouw ★ Gloves ®6®®. ★ Junior Sets MHI®® ★ Putters ®22®® up ★ Umbrellas Keeping Pro Shop & Snack Bar Open Every Weekend in March from 10 am to 4 pm Eagerly Availing our Sellers Fini Gaia®!