HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-07-21, Page 1INSIDE
THIS WEEK:
ANNIVERSARY - Pg. 9
Blyth Legion celebrates 70
years during Streetfest
HISTORY - Pg. 10
Blyth's Blair family
receives historic visitor
DOCUMENTARY - Pg. 19
Paul Thompson subject of
new documentary film
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Volume 32 No. 29
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Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, July 21, 2016
Threshers break ground on memorial building
Another step forward
The Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association is
moving forward with its new memorial building on the
Thresher Reunion grounds in the west end of Blyth. The
plan began last year as a way to both house additional
exhibits and pay tribute to members of the association who
have passed away over the years. The group broke ground
at the site last week with members of the executive and
building and property committees. From left: Mike Boven (the
project's contractor), Judy Sloan, Marian Hallahan, Alicha
Hallahan, Jackie Lantinga, Edgar Daer (seated atop the tractor),
Joe Hallahan, Peter Hendriks, Doug McCann, John Green, Tom
Dickson, Ray Hallahan and Keith Moffatt. Absent were Mike
Hallahan, Brad McBride, Trina McBride and Henry Hendriks. (Vicky
Bremner photo)
Second Fare on 4 meal set for 2017
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Since the first Fare on 4 brought
together 1,419 people to enjoy
dinner on Blyth's main street, one
question has been repeated: When
will it happen again? Fortunately,
the question has been answered.
Blyth Arts and Cultural Initiative
14/19 Inc., the group behind the first
Fare on 4, will be holding the event
again next August, though a specific
date has yet to be decided upon.
"We're looking at later in August
of next year," 14/19 administrator
Karen Stewart explained. "It will
once again be held on Blyth's main
street and tickets will be on sale by
Oct. 1, if not sometime in
September."
Stewart said that one-half of the
original culinary leaders of the
event, Peter Gusso of Blyth's
Part II Bistro, has signed on to
create the meal that will be
served en masse. Jason Rutledge,
head chef at the Blyth Inn,
is unconfirmed for the event.
"We're looking at the bounty of
the county again to provide the
meal," Stewart said. "We're going to
source everything locally, including
the volunteers."
There were approximately 100
volunteers for the first event in 2014
and Stewart said 14/19 is looking for
that many again this year.
The menu is yet to be determined,
however Gusso is working hard on it
according to Stewart. It will be
finalized by the time tickets go on
sale later this year.
The same limit will be placed on
tickets for next year's event as was
the first event: There will be 1,419
tickets available to match the name
of 14/19 Inc. The organization was
named to honour Memorial Hall,
which they are fundraising to
renovate, and the name marks two
important dates for the hall: The
start of the First World War in 1914
and the building being completed in
1919.
More booking options might be
available this year, Stewart said,
which could make sitting with
friends and family easier, however,
final decisions regarding the event
are still being worked on.
"We're looking at some options
for tickets, but we haven't figured
everything out yet," she said.
Stewart said one thing that isn't up
for change is the fact that the
organization is very excited to be
hosting the event again and that
excitement comes from knowing
how many people are already
anticipating it.
"We know that people are always
asking about it and sponsors have
already come forward for the event,"
she said. "We're very much looking
forward to working towards
packages for the sponsors."
The event will be held in front of
the to -be -renovated Memorial Hall,
which Stewart said would make a
great way of showing the work that
the organization has done. She also
said that the event will be part of the
Blyth 140th/Canada 150th
celebrations that are taking place
throughout the village over the
course of 2017.
"This will be our celebration to
mark those two special
anniversaries," she said. "We want to
work with the community to make it
unique."
For the most up-to-date
information on Fare on 4, visit
www.blyth1419.ca
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
The Huron Pioneer Thresher and
Hobby Association has broken
ground on the site of its Memorial
Building, which organizers hope
will be ready for this year's reunion
in September.
Edgar Daer brought together
members of the group's executive
and directors at the group's meeting
last week and officially broke
ground on the site. Daer used one of
his historical, restored tractors to do
the job.
The Citizen first reported on the
new building last year in the
Thresher Reunion special issue. It
was Daer and long-time secretary
Marian Hallahan who said that
money being left to the organization
was beginning to accumulate and
members wanted a way to
remember dedicated people from
the organization that had passed
away over the years.
In an interview with The Citizen,
Daer said the organization was
looking for a new building to house
more exhibits going forward. Which
exhibits, he can't say yet, as they'll
be a surprise at this year's reunion.
In last year's story, Hallahan said
that one of the exhibits that will call
the new building home is an antique
cider press that was donated to the
organization over 10 years ago.
Construction on the building is set
to commence soon under the
direction of local contractor Mike
Boven and Daer anticipates the
building will be complete ahead of
this year's reunion in early
September.
The decision to go ahead with the
new building, Daer said, was made
over a year ago and recent months
have been spent obtaining permits
and insuring that the Threshers are
good to go on this project.
The hope for the building, Daer
said, is to create one more covered
space for exhibits on the grounds,
but to also remember those who
have passed away, but who were so
instrumental in the success of the
Threshers over the years.
As the years go on, he said, names
will be added to the memorial wall
in the building as a place to
remember.
Burn ban in effect
Effective immediately, the Huron
County Fire Chiefs have declared an
open air fire ban in Huron County
due to lack of significant rainfall and
forecasted hot dry conditions, along
with the provincial forest and
wildland fire indicators at extreme
levels. There will be no open air
burning permitted in Huron County
until further notice.
All open air fires are prohibited
during a fire ban, including those
properties that have an Open Air Fire
Permit. This ban applies to
agricultural burns, brush pile burns,
recreational fires, burn barrels,
outdoor fireplaces/chimneys or any
other fires set in open air. Municipal
bylaws have set fines and surcharges
for those found to be in violation of
the ban.
The only exceptions to this ban are
cooking fires within approved
campgrounds. Cooking fires are
permitted on campsites from noon to
Continued on page 11