Community centre could be used as a comfort centre in times of need

Greetings from Malagash and area!

The weather is playing tricks on us again – one day lovely – next day you would think that winter was on its way! I just hate to put the lighter clothes away and dig out the warmer stuff but we all know it’s coming.

Former resident, Nancy Baxter has been sending photos of parts of Alberta and they have already been hit hard with snow. The only advantage of it coming at this time of the year it seems to melt quicker.

One of the busiest persons in Cumberland County over the last couple of weeks has been Mike Johnson, the EMO officer for our county. As hurricane Dorian was fast approaching Mike was busy urging everyone to get ready for the blow.

There are a lot of designated comfort centres and shelters in our county. Mike held a meeting at our community hall discussing it as one of the comfort centres. Several years ago, EMO provided our hall with a generator for emergency use.

A small committee will be established to make plans to enact this in the event of any type of community emergency. There was a good turnout at the meeting and Mike answered lots of questions and we all learned quite a bit. However, we all hope we won't need to in the very near future.

One of the concerns mentioned at the meeting was the problem of people living alone and not having anyone checking in on them during and after a horrific storm like Dorian. I know a lot of people are very conscious of those living around them and are aware of their needs. It is important that we are all aware of these people. I know that a lot of the time we assume that someone else is looking after them, but it is better to know that they are being looked after then not to know!

We spent a lovely afternoon and evening in Dartmouth recently. Our nephew, Gordon Stewart and his wife Donna are in town from Melbourne, Australia en route to London, England.

Our niece, Judi Matheson, once again opened her home for a big family gathering. Judi and her husband, Dave Matheson, welcomed sisters Gail, Hamilton, Ontario and Janet, Winnipeg, Man. home for the celebrations.

Our family is growing nicely with two great-great nieces and two great great nephews entertaining all of us. There is also a very special 18-month-old foster child running around. He is the foster child of one of Judi and Dave's daughters. "Little Bear' as he is sometimes called has been with our family since he was a little over a week old and has been so loved by all of us.

Being a foster parent is quite a wonderful thing for this couple to take on – he has been loved, nurtured by this young couple. Now we understand there are several couples interested in adopting our "Little Bear." The prospective parents have to undergo a vigorous program before being accepted as adoptive parents. This includes interacting with the foster parents, visiting back and forth thus letting the child become familiar with them and making the transition from one loving family to another.

We are all so proud of our niece and her husband and children for accepting this wonderful little boy and raising him so far. When they came to our house last summer, their five-year-old daughter announced very proudly that they were a foster family. Out of the mouths of babes! Blessings on all foster families everywhere. Hoping everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving Day. We all have so much to be thankful for--one of the greatest is that we live in this beautiful province. Have a good week and be safe everyone.

Marian Durling writes for the Malagash area for the Amherst News.