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The Citizen, 2017-11-30, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: KINDNESS - Pg. 6 Blyth residents' memories live on through special day FUNDRAISER - Pg. 8 Blyth/Brussels hockey players host bottle drive FESTIVAL. - Pg. 27 Goderich resident hired on as marketing director 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. 47 n WELCOME TO ESTABLISHED 1877 • Are you getting all this? Isla deBoer of Blyth, centre, was in Brussels on Saturday night. Not only was she and her family there to take in the village's annual Santa Claus parade, but she took the opportunity after the parade at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre to speak to Santa and Mrs. Claus about what she might want for Christmas. The evening also featured free public skating, food and plenty of fun for those from the village and beyond. (Denny Scott photo) Central Huron may upgrade streetlighting By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Central Huron is investigating a wholesale conversion of its streetlights to LED bulbs, which could save the municipality millions in the coming years. While approximately 150 of the municipality's streetlights in Clinton have already been converted, there are still hundreds more that will need to be changed. Scott Garton of Erie Thames Powerlines spoke to council at its Nov. 20 meeting. He told councillors that the company could confirm uniformity among existing LED lights and those the company would install. He also said that Central Huron would see savings in the first year of LED conversion. The municipality paid $81,000 for electricity to run its streetlights in 2016, in addition to $11,000 in maintenance costs. Garton said that, with a full LED complement throughout Clinton, annual electricity costs would plummet to $40,000 and $3,000 in maintenance. With a total annual cost of $43,000 versus $93,000, after LED conversion, Central Huron would be paying less than half of what it had been in prior years. The municipality's return on investment, he said, would come in just over five years, which is far before the lights' warranty of 10 years expires. The municipality would also be eligible for a rebate of up to $50,000 from the provincial government thanks to the environmental benefits of the conversion. From start to finish, Garton said the project would cost Central Huron $353,000. Twenty-year savings on the project through electricity and maintenance savings, however, would total over $1.7 million. With approximately 600 lights left to do, Garton also told council that the conversion wouldn't take very long. With one crew, he said, the company could install 100 lights per week. If that were increased to two crews, the project could easily be Continued on page 10 Ladner resigns By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen After just under nine months on the job, Fire Department of North Huron Chief Ryan Ladner has resigned from his position. In an e-mail sent to all members of the department on Monday, just before 5 p.m., Ladner said he would be moving on to a new position and that his last day in North Huron would be Dec. 11. "This fire department has a solid core of people who are dedicated to the fire service and serving this community's residents," Ladner said in his e-mail. "I have accepted an offer in the fire service and I am honoured to receive that promotion." In an e-mail to The Citizen, Ladner confirmed that he had resigned, but said that due to the agency that has hired him on, his next position had to be kept under wraps for the time being. He did, however, wish the department and all of the firefighters well. "What I can say is that it was an honour and a privilege to work for the [Fire Department of North Huron]," he said. "The firefighters are very dedicated to the fire service and I wish them well." Ladner was hired on to succeed long-time chief David Spading. His time with the municipality officially began on April 1. "Under Chief Sparling's leadership, the Fire Department of North Huron has become one of the most respected fire services in Ontario and it is my goal to continue with this success," Ladner was quoted as saying in a press release announcing his hiring earlier this year. "I am honoured to accept this position and look forward to working with and supporting the volunteer firefighters that proudly serve the community." No one from North Huron senior management provided comment as of press time. Keep watching The Citizen as this situation develops further. Scrimgeour's Food Market in Blyth sells By Denny Scott The Citizen After nearly 45 years in the meat and grocery business, Don Scrimgeour and his wife Lenora are passing Scrimgeour's Food Market to new owners. The deal was officially closed on Monday evening and the new owners, brothers and business partners Pragnesh and Krunal Patel, were on site Monday and Tuesday getting the lay of the land. The couple took on the Blyth Butcher Shop on the village's main street in 1973 with Don as butcher and opened Scrimgeour's Food Market in 1984. Don will be kept on by Pragnesh and Krunal for 10 weeks to help the Patels get the lay of the land. Pragnesh and Krunal own several businesses in small communities like Blyth and say they are excited to be a part of the community. Part of their holdings is a grocery store in Embro, which Pragnesh explains made them love small Canadian communities. "We like to work in small communities," Pragnesh said. "Everyone in Embro is like a family now. We came from a small town in India and we find the smaller towns and villages a lot more friendly." The grocery store will be renamed Blyth Food Market and will continue to be an Approved Retail Partner of the Beer Store and LCBO agency store. While Don will eventually retire, Pragnesh said the door will always be open and the store will always be Don's. Watch future issues of The Citizen for more information on the grocery store changing hands.