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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-12-17, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2015. Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Lori Patterson & Brenda Nyveld The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Ph. 519-523-4792 Fax 519-523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. N0G 1H0 Phone 519-887-9114 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.northhuron.on.ca Looking Back Through the Years CCNA Member Member of the Ontario Press Council The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $36.00/year ($34.29 + $1.71 G.S.T.) in Canada; $160.00/year in U.S.A. and $205/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Mon. 2 p.m. - Brussels; Mon. 4 p.m. - Blyth. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON N0G 1H0 email: info@northhuron.on.ca December 19, 1979 The cover of The Brussels Post was adorned in celebration of Christmas. The newspaper called for submissions from local students and it was Marie Perrie of Grey Central Public School whose beautiful portrait of Santa Claus made the front page. The rest of the newspaper was full of Christmas stories and letters from students from Brussels, Grey Central and East Wawanosh Public Schools, just ahead of the big holiday. An early morning fire at the home of George Cowan in Morris Township resulted in the destruction of a workshop associated with the family’s business, Huron Recreations, which produced boats. Wingham Fire Chief Dave Crothers said that a good amount of industrial woodworking machinery, including bandsaws, planers, table saws and paints and resins were all destroyed in the fire. The fire, which was estimated to have caused at least $24,000 worth of damage, was suspected to have started in the building’s suspended furnace or in its chimney. A minor victory was that the Cowans did manage to take a 34- foot boat out of the shed before the fire got too intense and firefighters showed up on the scene. Brussels Public School students were in a Canadian kind of mood for the holidays, as they performed a number of scenes from Anne of Green Gables at their annual Christmas concert. In publishing letters to Santa Claus from local students, The Brussels Post found that some area students were concerned about Santa’s well-being and hoped he would be alright this Christmas. “Dear Santa, I liked the toys you gave me last year. I am seven years old. I would like an x-wing fighter and a Star Wars belt and anything you would like to bring me. A plane, an Animal Safari and a big truck would please my brother Chris. Take care of yourself, Santa. I will leave some cookies and milk for you and some carrots for your reindeer,” read a letter from Ron and Chris Stevenson of RR2, Brussels. December 18, 1990 Canada Post officials held a public meeting and announced they would be closing the Bluevale post office. At the time of closure, the post office had been open for over 130 years. To replace the office, The Citizen reported that Canada Post would be placing “super mailboxes” in the community to serve residents. However, the door was not completely closed on the community, as The Citizen reported that there was still a slim chance that Canada Post would open a new retail outlet in the hamlet. It was deemed unlikely, however, due to the low return an office would realize in the small hamlet. Burglars were busy in the Brussels area, hitting two businesses in two days. In the evening of Dec. 11, the front door of the Diesel Car Diner was pried open, but suspects had not made entry into the business. The next day, however, the same type of pry bar instrument was used to gain access to Brussels Variety through its rear door. Police reported that $2,000 worth of cash and cheques were gone from the store, in addition to $250 worth of lottery tickets. The tickets were stamped with the store’s number, however, so police hoped that might lead them to find those responsible for the break and enter crime. December 19, 2001 Brussels native Janet Cardiff and her husband George Bures Miller were honoured by Maclean’s magazine in its 16th annual honour roll. The magazine endeavoured to recognize 12 great Canadians every year and in 2001 Cardiff and Bures Miller were chosen for their achievements in the world of art. In March, 2001, Cardiff’s sound installation won the National Gallery of Canada’s inaugural $50,000 Millennium Prize – a competition in which she triumphed over international artists. Later that year, Cardiff and her husband staged another piece in Venice and received international acclaim. Two men, one from Dungannon and one from Goderich, were arrested in connection with the murder of Harold Chesney McGee, a resident of the Ashfield Ward of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh. A group of dedicated volunteers was busy in Ethel building a skating rink in anticipation of colder weather and plenty of fun for the holidays. Among those busy within the group was Andrew Versteeg, pastor of the Cornerstone Bible Fellowship. The rink was planned for the Grey Township Fire Hall property. Walton correspondent Patty Banks announced that the Dec. 19 column would be her last for The Citizen. The newspaper was soon on the hunt for a new correspondent to tell the stories of the Walton community. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Climate change – a mile at a time Last week’s climate change summit conference in Paris may seem a long way from Huron County, but our changing Christmas shopping patterns are indicative of the changes that have helped create a crisis through the emission of greenhouse gases. Thirty years ago Saturdays, particularly approaching Christmas but really any week of the year, would have seen the main streets of Huron’s towns and villages lined with cars, with shoppers greeting neighbours on the sidewalks and in the stores. Drive through most of these communities today and one might wonder if someone had cancelled Christmas. Both corporate “efficiency” and consumer preference have conspired to lead people to drive miles to get what they once bought close to home. These shopping habits are cost efficient. Fewer, larger stores offer more selection and because of the bargaining power of large chains, consumers save money compared to buying from small independent merchants. But if you measure efficiency in terms of carbon pollution that is responsible for climate change, having one truck to deliver goods to stores in each town and village is much less harmful to the environment than having thousands of cars travel to large, centralized stores. Our shopping habits in rural areas add millions of tons of greenhouses gases to the atmosphere. The officials attending the climate conference want the world’s residents to change their habits to reduce the production of greenhouse gases, but it’s hard to see how rural areas can go back to a more energy- efficient shopping model now. We’ve already destroyed our small town main streets to the point you often simply can’t get some things in your own town. As well, people are accustomed to the wealth of products available in big stores now. Still as you finish your Christmas shopping, be aware that every mile you drive in your car is adding to problems that will affect our children and grandchildren for years to come. — KR They’re not going to take it! While on one hand despicable acts of terrorism are perpetrated by small groups of people who have been radicalized, and on the other hand people support Donald Trump in his outrageous proposal to bar the entry of Muslims to the U.S., there’s an irony in the fact both sides are fueled by a similar level of alienation and frustration. Commentators trying to explain the continued popularity of Trump despite his hateful vitriol against Muslims (and Mexicans and lots of other ‘enemies’) have pointed out that supporters of the “Tea Party” element of the Republican Party feel just as angry with the Republican leadership as they do with the Democratic President Barack Obama. In their frustration, they flock to support the guy who says their country’s “elite” have screwed up and wants to put the country “back on track”. Those who have tried to understand how young men and women raised in the general prosperity of Canada, the U.S. and Europe could become prey to recruiters for radical Muslim groups like ISIS, often point out that the small number of people who have answered the call were alienated individuals who found a sense or purpose by joining a movement to correct the “moral failings” of the western world. Frustration is growing elsewhere among those who feel their voices are not heard. Recently Alberta Premier Rachel Notley received death threats after she passed legislation imposing stricter health and safety regulations on her province’s farmers. She expressed surprise that people were so upset because she’d made it clear in her election campaign that she would pass such legislation. Few of the people who are so angry with her now probably voted for her in the first place. They’re wrong to make threats (most of which are likely just hot air) but they’re expressing the frustration of not having much way to protest when you’ve already voted against a leader. Rural voters in Ontario have the same sort of frustration in their feelings that their concerns are being ignored by an urban-based government. Whether Muslim youth, U.S Tea Partiers or Alberta farmers, violence and vitriol are wrong. Still feelings of alienation won’t go away unless we find a way for people the feel they’re being heard. – KR & Letters Policy The Citizen welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and should include a daytime telephone number for the purpose of verification only. Letters that are not signed will not be printed. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity and content, using fair comment as our guideline. The Citizen reserves the right to refuse any letter on the basis of unfair bias, prejudice or inaccurate information. As well, letters can only be printed as space allows. Please keep your letters brief and concise.