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by Ken Regan The term "unsung heroes' is one we hear bandied about quite a bit. We hear it in reference to the scientist, politician } .; or technician who works quietly behind the scenes to a contribute to a common, 7 significant cause. j We even hear it in reference to a baseball, hockey or football player who labours consistently and unselfishly in the shadow of more visible "super- stars", while performing crucial service. Recognition | Undoubtedly many of those to whom the term is attached deserve the recognition, but there are those to whom the term should be applied but isn't because their contribution has not been recognized or is harder to 6 mmunity S ray true unsung heroes measure. Such is the case with the. Mental Health Centre's Community Services Team at Penetanguishene. Whether working directly as a team, within their building on the MHC grounds or behind the scenes on an individual basis, within the surrounding communities, the Community Services Team go about their business quietly and unassumingly. Team The people involved with the team don't seek noteriety or even recognition for the work they do in helping in- dividuals cope with emotional stress, or for assisting families to sort out their internal difficulties. And perhaps that is why the team and the myriad counselling and therapeutic services they provide are scarcely known by most people. And con- tributing further to this lack of recognition is the policy of con- fidentiality Contribution But there are those who know first hand the important contribution the CST makes to_people's lives. They are the couple that couldn't communicate and hence couldn't get Srvice Team at MHC along until undergoing marital therapy with CST. Teenage They are the teenager who constantly disrupted school until CST, through family therapy sessions, pointed out that the emotional stress being caused by the parents drinking was causing the adolescents behavior. Those people know and appreciate that the CST is available to provide understanding and assistance in unravelling and solving the subtle emotional disturbances that can, (and often do), affect many o us. Yes, the term "unsung heroes" is used a lot, often inappropriately. But in describing the men and women of the Community Services Team, the team is more than apt. _ Opportunathon's _ dream becomes _ reality later this month To this promised land of ours immigrants have come to seek the opportunities they lack in their own homeland. They look for freedom, the possibility of growth, the chancefor their children to live better lives than they. Within our borders those born here take for granted their op- portunities for growth and freedom sometimes expecting more than some would dream of. And vet there is still a small group of people, here in Midland, that aré now calling for basic opportunities, not for themselves, but for the like Joyce Hamelin, director of the Adult Rehabilitation Centre, and Tony' Vipond, program director of Hugel Place, the first residence for the Huronia_ Association's clients, constantly strive to obtain. These opportunities can only be gained through the develop- ment of programs emphasizing life skills, as well as academic and vocational training. With time clients grow toward economic and social independence gaining a new pride and self worth in their life. For once they are a innumerable volunteers at the actual Oppor- tunathon manning phones, organiziang pledge pickups, operating Maclean- Hunter equipment and donating their time and talent to entertain. Guest Spots The telethon will open with the Varitone Five and include guest spots from writers Charles Templeton and Ron Lawrence as well as sports announcer Brian Williams. Host regulars throughout the program Bob MacLean, of the Bob MacLean show; mentally retarded. These are the members of the Huronia Association for -- the . Mentally' Retarded ad hoe committee in charge of making the Opportunathon dream a realitv. They have voluntarily spent many of their waking moments meeting, planning, calling, i arranging and physically setting up all systems to make them in a ready state for the October 18-19 telethon to be held at the Civic Centre and aired live over the Maclean- Hunter Cable 12 system. Live Thev call it -Oppor- tunathon because, though it is monies they are hoping to gain, the cause is opportunity. What we take for granted the mentally retarded cannot. Strange looks from passers by and lack of acceptance into the world of normalcy destrovs feelings of self worth and adequacy. Too many of us fail to look beyond their dishevelled wrappings to find the truth and simplicity we so seldom find within ourselves. We fail to allow them the opportunity to be themselves, to develop 'to their fullest potential as human beings and make their own gift to the world. Opportunity to laugh, to feel joy and know the warmth of 'caring persons around them - these are the op- portunities that persons necessary part of society. It is then for these reasons that the Midland lawyer, Fred Hacker; Province of Ontario Sports Com- missioner, Jim Vipond; Opportunathon was Commodore Hotel born. This is why manager, Bob Mon- countless hours have tteith: and Oppor- been spent by persons tunathon chairperson like Gail White, Helen and Arnie DeCarli, Gail White will keep the night long vigilance at Million dollar smiles It was a red letter day for Jim Finley of Midland, right, when he presented a cheque for $1,258.58 to Clarence Rittenhause, left, president of the local chapter of the Cancer Society. The sum was raised in Jim's walk to Calabogie, Ontario. Centre is Grace Blackhurst, also of Midland who acted as chief pledge collector for Finley. Anyone having sponsored Finley should contact him at 526-4408 for an official receipt from the Cancer Society. the marathon event in the attempt to gain more opportunities for Marv Gibson, Joyce Hamelin, Tony Vipond, Paul MacDonald, Nicole Henderson, Lynn _ those who have few. Turnbull, Harry Cox, The committees have Bill Johnson, Frank all finished their Myers and Grace _ preparatory work. Now McCahe in preparation it is up to us to help for this great event. make the Oppor- "The Countless more hours tunathon dream a will be spent by the realitv. Thanksgiving weekend will be the last opportunity residents of Midland and surrounding area will have this year to rub Ogilvie willoppose town at OMB hearing An Ontario Municipal Board hearing on Oct. 20 will hear an objection from Midland resident William Ogilvie to town council's application to debenture money over 20 years to buv land for a parking lot. An earlier hearing in January was post- poned until this month. Ogilvie's objection is that taxpayers should not be asked to assume such a financial risk over 20 years. He feels parking lots should not be a priority item in the town's budget when the monev could be put to better use in other areas. the town's roads, for example. Town Planner Bryan MacKell, Monday explained the town wanted to buy two pieces of property, on the east side of King Street downtown belonging to the owners of the Fleithea Shop and Perrin's Flower Shop. Council in January was borrowing around $100,000 but because of the unavailability of one of the properties now, the figure has, MacKell said, been reduced considerably. Ogilvie bases his objection on the assump- tion that $100,000 is needed and that over 20 years, with interest, the total cost would, he estimates, be over $200,000. He suggested Monday, since the town is so sure revenues will pay for the acquisition in the long run, some other group should assume the cost. Anvbody but the taxpayers, he stresses. There is no guarantee, he said, the down- town will not undergo dramatic changes in the future, as a result, perhaps, of develop- thinking of Objection Last chance torub | shoulders with visitors shoulders with world travellers," says Vern Farrow, Curator of Huronia Museum. "We will be closing for the season at 5:30 Thanksgiving Day after having hosted visitors from 55 _ different countries during the past five months," he stated. Almost from the opening day, overseas visitors were showing up. with some of the first coming from Australia. Others have come from Argentina, Brazil. Belgium, Ber- muda, Barbados, Bahamas, Colombia, Channel Islands. : For the first time, this year has seen visitors from China, Korea, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia, Hungary and Vietnam. There were the usual Bul in the interval since January the Eleithea ment of the Highway 27 strip. European countries, Shop has changed hands, and the Perrin Ogilvie took the position that the town has eae = rt property is the only property now available to done enough for the downtown merchants. = ihiedy Gg an neh the town. The result he said, is that the The Perrin property the town wants to buy bat and, bets a amount of money the town wants to debenture is east of the municipal lane behind Perrin's eaten : eal get ed i kbaees peg at South "Teland a Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and Wales. Further afield, there were addresses from French West Indies, Hong Kong, Israel, Iceland, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Malavsia, New Zealand, Puerto Rica, Philip- pines. Pakistan, South Africa, Shri Lanka, Turkey and Venezuela. The Curator is getting the impression that residents of Prince Edward Island are not travellers, for he has never seen one of them in the museum. As usual. this year, all other provinces have been represented as well as the Northwest Territories. People Stating that he is already assured of a record attendance this year. Vern Farrow said he is confident the total altendance figure will be in excess of 16,000 people. Wednesday, October 8, 1980, Page 3