Lögberg-Heimskringla - 02.07.1970, Blaðsíða 2

2
LÖGBERG-HEIMSKRINGLA, FIMMTUDAGINN 2. JÚLÍ 9170
*
Betel Home Foundation
Conlinued from last week.
GIMLI:
Authorization was granted
at the Annual Meeting to pro-
ceed with two separate pro-
jects in Gimli, namely:
— A two storey addition to
the present Home to provide
additional infirmary space, a
recreation room and Staff
Lounge.
— Secondly, an eleven
apartment Elderly Persons
Housing Development to be
constructed on our property
on First Avenue immediately
east of the home.
The addition to the Gimli
Betel Home was completed in
September of 1969 and opened
immediately for occupancy.
The over-crowding condition
which existed in the Personal
Care ward was temporarily
relieved by the addition of 8
care beds. At the New Year
it became apparent that furth-
er infirmary facilities were
required and tentative plans
have been formulated to add
a third story to provide 8
additional beds. We aíre for-
tunate that we enjoy elevator
facilities to the third floor
which makes the project en-
tirely feasible from the view-
point of operation. Your
Chairman will introduce the
suggested addition for your
consideration at this meeting.
The contract to construct
the 1969 addition was award-
ed to Building Mechanics
Ltd., who constructed an ex-
cellent building both in archi-
tecture and workmanship. It
is difficult to successfully in-
tegrate a new building with
an old structure, the several
handicaps however were sur-
mounted and the finished pro-
ject is both pleasing and func-
tional. It filled a great need
for an institution which lack-
ed many essential facilities.
I am pleased to report that
we were successful in airrang-
ing a cost sharing agreement
with the Province of Mani-
toba whereby the Govern-
ment assumed 33% of the
cost. The remaining balance
will be amortized through the
budget at an agreed figure of
$6,000.00 per annum. This
method of financing is prefer-
able to a mortgage arrange-
ment insofar as the term is
short and the interest costs
negligible as compared to a
term mortgage ait prevailing
interest rates. While the total
costs have not been finalized
at this writing we expect to
discharge the debt in full in
six years.
D u r i n g the construction
period it became increasingly
evident that extensive remod-
elling would be required to
upgrade the facilities of the
Home. The kitchen has now
bedn completely remodelled
and features a new walk-in
refrigerator, new gas ranges,
complete with a hooded ex-
haust system; a steam serving
table was installed, also a new
upright freezer, stainless steel
sinks, new lighting and other
essential improvements. The
renovation of this area also
involved removing an exist-
ing rear stairway which en-
larged the floor space, by
some 120 square feet. The re-
modelling project referred to
has completely transformed
the kitchen into a functional,
efficient unit.
Báthroom facilities on the
infirmary floor were inade-
quate, so a rear single room
waS remodelled to provide a
modem new bathroom suffi-
ciently large enough to aic-
commodate one or more
wheel chair cases. A washer
and dryer were installed on
this floor to provide laundry
facilities for the patients per-
sonal garments and a modem
bed pan sterilizing device was
also provided for infirmary
use. Each room in the infir-
mary is now air conditioned
which furnishes a comfort
level for both patient and
staff; this we consider a dis-
tinct improvement.
The main floor addition
features a recreation room
measuring some 2 by 26 feet
in size which now provides
ample space for the pool table
and shuffleboard game and
plenty of seating space for
game spectators.
The basement area of the
new addition was divided and
contains a modern, comfort-
able Staff Room together with
a toilet and shower. A base-
ment pantry to store case
goods and non-perishable food
supplies was constructed in a
convenient location at the foot
of the stairs providing direct
access to the rear delivery
entrance. The Matron advises
that the new storage room is
a welcome improvement;
whereas, previously these
goods were stacked at randam
wherever space was available
in the basement of the orig-
inal building. These com-
ments suggest that our orig-
inal budget was inadequate,
in fact the original estimate
was exceeded by a consider-
able sum.
We realized that extensive
renovations would prove cost-
ly and therefore contacted the
appropriate departments of
Govemment in an effort to
obtain a supplementary cost
sharing agreement. The
Director of Elderly Persons
Housing, accompanied by the
Chairman and your Admin-
istrator, visited the Home
during the final stages of con-
struction and I am happy to
rejx>rt that the 33% cost shar-
ing formula will also apply
to the renovations.
Coming within the category
of iimprovements I am pleased
to advise that our new gas
fired hot water boiler install-
ed in the summer of 1968 has
proven to be a wise invest-
ment. Our Gimli Accountant
reports that the improved
heating system resulted in a
saving of $1,100.00 for the
1968-69 heating season. The
resulting saving will there-
fore pay the cost of the re-
placement in four short years.
The Elderly Persons Hous-
ing project is now completed
and 8 of 11 apartments are
occupied. The building is
pleasing in design and the
apartments are functional and
comfortable. These are small
self-contained 3-room apart-
ments, complete with an elec-
tric stove, refrigerator and
drapes. The building contains
a splendid lounge or recrea-
tional area well fumished for
the use of the apartment resi-
dents. This area lends itself
to social activities and is
equipped with a kitchen
which will prove its worth
when coffee parties and card
games become the order of
the day.
A laundry room has been
provided which contains a
washer and dryer and is
available to the residents
without charge. A parking
area has been allocated to the
rear of the building together
with an electric power stan-
chion fumishing plug in fac-
ilities for 4 automobiles.
The building is electrically
heated and each apartment is
controlled by an individual
thermostat enabling the resi-
dents to enjoy the tempera-
ture they desire. The electri-
cal heating system should
provide the maximum com-
fort level during our cold
Manitoba winters. The heat-
ing costs, water and light are
fumished without cost to the
residents and are absorbed in
the low monthly rental of
$63.00 per month for the
single occupant and $79.00 for
double occupancy. These rent-
al figures are based upon ac-
tual cost which includes
mortgage paymertts, taxes, in-
surance and normal mainten-
ance. It is a satisfying experi-
ence to visit these new bun-
galow apartments and to chat
with the residents who seem
happy and contented in their
fine new apartment home.
Following the completion of
the apartments we were
obliged to find an appropriate
name for the building. Rather
than hold the matter in abey-
ance pending the Annual
Meeting, a conference was
held in Gimli attended by the
Chairman, your Administra-
tor, our Matron Miss S. Hjart-
arson and Mr. S. M. Bachman,
Chief Accountant. The matter
was discussed briefly and the
name “L a n d m a r k Apart-
ments” was chosen. We felt
this to be an appropriate
name as Willow Point is
clearly visible across the bay.
History records the fact that
the original settlers landed on
that particular promentory in
the late Fall of 1875. Freely
translated the name implies
Landnám a fitting tribute
during this Manitoba Centen-
nial Year to the brave Ice-
landic pioneers who faced vm-
told hardship and suffering
and in the face of extreme
difficulties established a New
Iceland in this hemisphere.
We respectfully submit the
name “Landmark” for your
approval as we feel that the
name embodies a deep histori-
cal significance.
I regret that actual cost
figures will not be available
for at least two months. We
are still in the process oi
purchasing equipment. A
statement of interest charges
owirtg C.M.H.C., is forthcom-
ing, proportional taxes are as
yet unpaid, etc.
An estimate covering the
sponsors equity in the Selkirk
Personal Care Home, The Eld-
erly Persons housing units
and the basis. The equity in
each case works out to ap-
proximately 20%. We must
therefore launch a financial
campaign to raise at least
$90,000.00. This is a challeng-
ing figure which will require
the wholehearted support of
each and every member of the
Board. The Chairman will in-
clude the campaign on the
agenda as an important item
of business for this meeting.
The matter of an official
openirtg ceremony at Gimli
h a s received consideration
and a decision was made to
hold the matter in abeyance
pending this meeting. Our
past President, Dr. Thorlak-
son, is of the opinion that we
should combine this event
with the Fall Tea sponsored
by the Matron and Staff of
the Gimli Home. The Tea will
be held during the month of
September with the added
feature of an “At Home” cele-
bration affording the visitors
an opportunity of viewing our
new facilities at Betel —
Gimli.
Finally I wish to report on
the success of the 1969 Fall
Tea which proved to be an
outstanding success both soci-
ally and financilally. The pro-
ceeds derived therefrom will
be used to provide further
comforts and conveniences for
the residents of our Gimli
Home. I feel sure the Board
joins me in thanking Miss
Hjartarson and her capable
Staff for this splendid initial
effort.
I also am pleased to report
that the Treasurer advises
that there is a slight surplus
in the Gimli Budget for the
year 1969.
Concluding this report I
wish to express my heartfelt
thanks to the Chairman and
members of the Board for
their confidence and trust
which has made my task a
rewarding experience. My
sincere thanks to each and
every member of the staff for
their loyalty and devotion to
the cause of Betel.
The foregoing report is ré-
spectfully submitted.
J. V. Jonasson,
ADMINISTRATOR.
VOLCANIC ASH KILLS
SHEEP IN ICELAND
Framhald af bla. 1.
put out to pasture after the
long winter — seemed to have
lost their appetites, and their
wool became shabby.
When sheep began to die
Reykjaivik scientists w e r e
called in to analyze the ash.
They found it contained
flouride in considerable quan-
tities which had contaminated
surface water and grass.
Flouride is added in minute
quantities to drinking water
in many countries to help
satfeguard teeth from decay.
But in this instance, the
quantities ingested by the
sheep were 10 times greater
than their bodies could safe-
ly absorb.
One farmer alone lost 21
sheep before his flocks could
be retumed to a diet of un-
contaminated hay. On anoth-
er farm, at least 100 ewes
gave birth to dead lambs.
Iceland’s chief veterinarian,
Pall A. Palsson, recommended
that all sheep in the affected
regions should again be hous-
ed in their winter quarters,
fed on hay and given water
only from wells. He also urged
farmers to have their lambs
and calves boarded out with
farmers in other areas.
A committee of experts and
farmers toured the stricken
region — a broad area spann-
ing Iceland for 130 miles from
Hekla in the south across to
the north coast.
They retumed with a bleak
report that pasturage for
about one-tenth of Iceland’s
700,000 sheep had been pol-
luted. Gattle and horses were
also likely to be affected in
stricken areas.
Poisonous ash from Hekla’s
eruption is a phenomenon un-
known in living memory. But
records from 200 years ago
show that this has happened
at least once before — when
the greater part of Iceland’s
livestock perished and the
country suffered the worst
famine in its history.
Winnipeg Free Press, ,
June 28, 1970.