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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-08-17, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: FALL FAIR - Pg. 12 Barn quilt to collect thousands of signatures BIA - Pg. 18 Blyth BIA elects new executive, board FESTIVAL - Pg. 19 'The Pigeon King' opens at the Blyth Festival Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1H0 4Citiz Volume 33 No. 32 n WELCOME TO ESTABLISHED 1877 $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, August 17, 2017 Cowbell welcomes thousands on opening week A new era Blyth Cowbell Brewing Co. welcomed nearly 1,000 people to its opening day for Blyth residents only and would go on to attract nearly 10,000 people to the village over the course of its first week, capping it off with its first wedding on Aug. 12. The opening has been hotly anticipated for months throughout Huron County and beyond. (Keith Rou/ston photo) McMahon crowned Fair Ambassador ERIN MCMAHON By Denny Scott The Citizen The second time was the charm for Bluevale's Erin McMahon in the annual Brussels Ambassador contest. McMahon was crowned ambassador at the end of the competition on Aug. 12 at the Brussels Legion, beating out three other competitors for the title. Jasmine Vader was named runner up for this year's ambassador competition while Emily Bieman was named Junior Ambassador and Casey Bernard won the Little Ambassador sash. "It feels amazing," she said. "I'm very much looking forward to a busy year. I'm very excited that the fall fair will be at the International Plowing Match this year." McMahon will be representing the Brussels Agricultural Society at the IPM and opening the fair, which is being held at the IPM site in Walton to mark the occasion of the 100th IPM. She said she looks forward to the chance for Brussels to shine on a larger stage than she's used to. "It's going to be a completely new experience where more than just citizens from Brussels will be present and aware of us," she said. "There will be people from bigger cities coming down that get to see what Brussels has to offer." She ran this year after receiving the runner-up nod last year to Patti Blake, one of the people she credits with her decision to run again. "I was considering running again, but I was working full-time, so I wasn't sure if I could devote enough time to being ambassador," she said. "I'll be going back to school this year, so that gives me some more options to represent Brussels at different events... I have to thank Nicole Noble for encouraging me to do this again and Patti Blake for also encouraging me." McMahon said her mother and grandmother were also big proponents of her being in the competition and said their unconditional support was crucial in the win. Her experience in the competition last year definitely helped her prepare for this year, she said, both in the specific experience of the interviews speeches and in being more comfortable with herself. "This year I had a lot more confidence in what I was doing," she said. "I felt it went a lot smoother. Knowing what was going to happen with the speeches and the interviews helped, but I was just able to settle and focus and that made everything easier." McMahon originally got involved thanks to a call from then - ambassador Tiffany Deitner and, with the experience she has had thus far, she's glad she answered the phone. "I talked to my mom after and she thought it was a good idea," she said. While she hasn't started her official duties, aside from photo sessions at the event and a brief thank -you speech, she said what lies before her is a great opportunity, but also a great responsibility. She said anyone looking to follow in her Continued on page 12 By Denny Scott The Citizen With the opening week of the Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company in the books, Vice -President and General Manager Grant Sparling says everyone at the company is amazed by the amount of support the new restaurant/brewery has received. "The volume of people we had through is truly humbling," he said. "Our following in social media has grown and the number of people buying the beer has gone up. We expected to be busy, but what we've run into was amazing" Over the week the site has welcomed 8,000 people with between 900 and 950 attending the special Blyth -only opening day on Saturday, Aug. 5. Spading said that having nearly the full census population of Blyth come to the event was a confirmation of the decision that was made to have that special opening day. "It really reinforced that idea," he said. "We were amazed at the response and enthusiasm from the village. It far exceeded our expectations as we were hoping for half the population of the village." The comments from the day were also positive, Sparling said, with people commenting on how good the beer was and how great the food was. The structure itself was also a hot topic. "People were saying that the structure was bigger than they anticipated and making positive comments on the architecture," he said. "They were also talking about the authenticity of the structure." Sparling said that the food prepared in the restaurant for the opening was well received and there were many positive comments about the barbecued pig prepared by local chef Brian Garnet. After the opening, the site has averaged 1,000 visitors a day according to a press release from the company. It also explained that, throughout the rest of August, there would be limited seating, which Sparling explained was a decision to let the company grow into the space. "It was a decision to help with flow," he said. "With the set-up, there is space for people to get around the space and to let staff get used to the space. We're going to build capacity as we go and, by September, the restaurant should be at full capacity." Sparling said there was plenty of feedback from the opening and the following week and Cowbell is going to use that information as it continues to acclimatize staff to the new space. "We've received a lot of positive feedback and some constructive criticism and we plan on using it Continued on page 11