HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-04-14, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016. PAGE 9.
Community input needed on arena issue: Blaney
Continued from page 1
he drives his kids to hockey all the
time and it has just become part of
the experience.
Living in the part of the
municipality he does, he has never
had the luxury of an arena within
walking distance.
"People don't mind driving,"
MacLellan said. "You just do it and
it becomes part of the routine."
While a number of different
changes and scenarios had been
discussed at the council table,
Councillor David Blaney reminded
councillors that whatever happens,
the public has to be behind it.
Without support from the public, any
Smiles all around
The Auburn United Church hosted its annual roast beef
supper at the Auburn Community Hall on April 6. Important
jobs were divvied out including carving the roasts, keeping
an eye on the pies and, of the highest importance, doing
the dishes. Above Erica Mero and Shane Spencer crack
smiles as they scrub some pots. (Denny scoff photo)
changes to recreation, or other major
sectors of the community, will fail.
"We shouldn't be doing anything
without consulting the community,"
Blaney said. "You need the
community behind you."
Blaney suggested that if
community centres are driven by
patronage through local user groups,
whatever changes are being
considered must take user groups
into account, because members of
the community will make or break
any such change.
He suggested that strategic
planning may be of use in the future
of recreation in the municipality.
Whoever's brought together for the
process, Blaney said, it should
include councillors, members of the
public, user group representatives
and the building managers.
Blaney suggested Vicki Lass of the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs as another
potential participant. Lass was most
recently involved with Huron
County's effort at a county -wide
economic development strategy and
is often made available by her office
for strategic planning initiatives
throughout her district of the
province.
Through various avenues,
including levy adjustments due to
increasing hydro costs and a special
capital levy for each community
centre in Huron East, this year's
budget will include a 34.2 per cent
increase to the Seaforth and District
Community Centre levy, a 30 per
cent increase to the Brussels, Morris
and Grey Community Centre levy
and a 21.7 per cent increase to the
Vanastra Recreation Centre levy.
Councillors continued to debate a
number of factors pertaining to the
centres. Among them were hours of
operation, staffing hours and how
much time is actually being rented at
each of the centres.
Blaney also said that he hoped the
2016 figures would more accurately
reflect Brussels' actual financial
position. For too long, he said,
figures from the Brussels pool,
soccer and baseball fields and
community centre have all been
lumped into one bottom line. They
have since been broken out and
Treasurer Paula Michiels says that
level of accuracy should make a big
difference going forward.
She also suggested that staff is
currently in the early stages of
research into recreation in similar
communities. The process has
already begun, she said, but staff will
need some time to pull rates, revenue
and hours of operation/usage
information from other Huron
County recreation centres.
Those figures, she said, will help
give council a clearer picture of
trends in Huron East, Huron County
and even further into the province.
With the foundation for further
research and strategic planning laid,
staff will return with a report at a
future council meeting.
Blyth columbaria
project approved
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
With tenders coming in lower than
expected, the Blyth Union Cemetery
will receive two 50 -niche
columbaria instead of one.
A columbarium is a structure built
to hold urns of the deceased. Each
niche holds a single urn.
Director of Public Works Kelly
Church brought a report to North
Huron Council explaining that a
bequest from the late John William
Bowes was made in 2012 in the
amount of $51,434.01.
Some of the bequest,
approximately $13,000, was used to
landscape the area in the cemetery
where the columbaria are set to be
built.
Originally, the tender called for
one 50 -niche columbarium to be
installed on the site. However, at a
cost of $16,667.50 for one or
33,335.04 for two, Church
suggested that council consider
approving building two.
The cost would leave $5,090.85
from the Bowes bequest to be left
Homeless youth a significant area concern
Continued from page 6
Director of Shelter Link in Stratford,
gave an eye-opening talk on her
work. Although we may not
recognize that there are youth
throughout Huron -Perth in need of
help, Bev sees about 150 kids a year
who do. Shelter Link, located on the
third floor of the former nurses'
residence in Stratford, offers
accommodation and help to youth
between the ages of 16 and 24 who
are homeless or in danger of
becoming homeless. Residents are
about two thirds male.
Bev and a staff of 14 trained
personnel help with addictions,
protection, counselling, court /police
matters, health issues, schooling,
etc. The shelter staff advocate for the
kids in these situations. They house
15 youth at a time who can stay for
two weeks free and for up to a year
as they get their lives in order for
$400 a month. This means the
residents must have a job or some
means of support and be gone from
the building to work or school every
day. Shelter Link assists by putting
Faith shows
Continued from page 3
how they will carry on without
Jesus. Jesus tells them they will be
alright. Jesus wants them to tell the
stories that He had taught them. Our
faith in Jesus shows us that the world
is good and we do not have to be
afraid.
The hymn, "In the Bulb There is a
Flower" was sung. The offering was
received followed by the singing of
the youth in touch with Ontario
Works and food banks or community
meals. Bev feels certain that because
of this housing, youth are not seen
on the streets of Stratford and other
towns in the counties.
Hagedorn stated that when kids
arrive on their doorstep they are in
dire circumstances having
experienced the worst possible
things one could imagine. Deciding
which problem to address first can
be a challenge. These young people
have trust issues and it can take some
time for them to feel reassured. Just
being available is a most important
aspect to help.
Referencing case studies Bev
revealed some of the issues they
encounter. Bev tells the youth as she
did the ladies that "God will not fall
off His throne if we tell Him what
He already knows." Each member of
the staff brings their own area of
expertise and develops tricks to
reach out to the young people. Just
"talking good" to these youth can
restore their own sense of self.
However there will always be some
good world
the offertory response, "Grant Us
God", the offertory prayer, the
prayers for the people and the
singing of The Lord's Prayer led by
Cheryl Cronin. The last hymn,
"Lead On, 0 Cloud of Presence"
was followed by the benediction
and the singing of "Go Now in
Peace".
Cheryl invited everyone to stay for
coffee and treats and fellowship.
who can not or will not be helped.
Funded by the Ministry of Child
and Youth Services, the shelter is
always in need of more monies in
order to do more and they do
fundraisers for extras. And there are
associations and restaurants/ caterers
that donate to the shelter.
The UCW ladies felt relief that
there are places like Shelter Link and
its staff to help these vulnerable
people in our society. Half of the
event's offering was donated to their
work.
Muriel Coultes led the closing
devotion. Each lady was given a
wrapped candy. It may not have been
the candy of their choice but neither
are the circumstances each
encounters in life. So God expects
one to make the best of what He
gives.
With one hand behind their backs
the candy needed to be unwrapped.
As in life, working with one another
brings results.
The supporting scripture verse
was Matt. 20:40.
ins
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for other projects at the cemetery.
Council approved Church's
recommendation that CFC Supply
Maidstone Ontario be retained to
build and install the columbaria at
the cemetery, which is south of the
village in Central Huron.
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Blyth
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