HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-01-31, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013.Hall leaves unanswered questions for council
A tasty job
Darrell Wood of the Blyth Legion took his familiar position
as the Legion hosted a pancake breakfast on Sunday
morning. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Chuipka offers
listening tips
Councillors at Ashfield-Colborne-
Wawanosh township council were
told during their Jan. 22 meeting that
the Benmiller Hall, a building the
municipality purchased from the
Benmiller Foresters approximately a
year ago, is in rough shape and that
the board now responsible for it felt
it couldn’t be maintained as is.
The hall had been purchased from
the Foresters after they became
concerned that, due to an
administrative change, the building
would be sold when its ownership
reverted back to the Independent
Foresters.
As a result, the township
purchased the building and left it to
a board of volunteers to run the hall,
rent it and, through fundraising,
bring it back up to code.
During their meeting, however,
council was told by board committee
member Brad Vanstone that the
building, in its current condition and
in his opinion, wouldn’t be able to
amass the kind of funds needed for
some of the repairs the group saw
coming.
The floor of the building needs to
be replaced, according to Vanstone,
and the doors, stairs, handrails,
furnace and bathrooms need to be
repaired. He said the projects, spread
over five years, would likely cost
$5,000 to $10,000 per year. The
floors are estimated to cost $6,500
according to Vanstone.
“The bathrooms are in pretty
rough condition,” he said. “The
septic system is fine, but the
bathrooms are basically just indoor
outhouses that flush.”
The repairs necessary, according
to Vanstone, are not just limited to
the hall. The accompanying baseball
diamonds, which both by Vanstone
and council spoke highly of, are in
need of some attention, especially
the bleachers.
Reeve Ben Van Diepenbeek felt,
however, that the terms of the
council buying the hall precluded
any help beyond seed money.
“When we bought the hall we said
that volunteers, who were supposed
to be made up of the Foresters and
community members, would be
responsible for fundraising and for
getting grants,” he said. “We agreed
to help with the grants and we can
see about seed money, but, similar to
St. Helens Hall, which the township
bought, the only involvement the
township has on a daily basis is that
all the money flows through the
treasury.”
Van Diepenbeek explained that the
township approved big projects, but
the day-to-day issues were handled
by the board.
Vanstone said he was unaware of
that understanding as he was a
community member brought on
board and not a member of the
Foresters, but also said that he
doesn’t think the hall is rentable as
is. He said that any rentals they can
get will not be able to raise the
money necessary to maintain itself.
“I don’t think we can charge a rate
that will maintain itself,” he
explained. “As far as fundraising and
other money goes, I just don’t think,
as a board, we can do it.”
Vanstone went on to say that the
board was having trouble finding
volunteers.
Deputy-Reeve Neil Rintoul
pointed again to St. Helens Hall,
stating that it was an example of how
the board could run it.
“It’s where it is because St.
Helens, as a community, decided it
was proud of their hall and made up
their mind to save it,” he said. “They
got a Trillium Grant to do the work
and have fish fries to raise money for
it.”
Councillor Barry Millian, who sits
on the Benmiller Hall Board, said
that, if the volunteers weren’t there,
then maybe it was time to re-
evaluate the situation.
“This is supposed to still be,
primarily, the Foresters’ hall,” he
said. “If their interest is waning, then
maybe we should look at changing
things.”
Millian said that he remembered
when the Foresters came to council
to ask for their help and that, after
some time, they presented a model
Continued from page 12
repeat in your own words what the
speaker said so that you can be sure
your understanding is correct.
Give feedback. Sit up straight and
look directly at the speaker. Now and
then, nod to show that you
understand. At appropriate points
you may also smile, frown, laugh, or
be silent. These are all ways to let
the speaker know that you are really
listening. Remember, you listen with
your face as well as your ears!
So let me return to my original
story about the small boy who
attended church for the first time.
The Pastor did a great job of
developing a relationship with the
boy and also used effective listening
skills in doing so. Every relationship
that we value deserves our full
attention. When we allow others to
tell their story and we use effective
listening skills our relationships can
only get healthier. So take time to
listen to others.
GENEVIEVE PEARL
(KERSLAKE) ALLEN
Mrs. Genevieve Pearl (Kerslake)
Allen, formerly of Londesborough
passed away peacefully with family
by her side at Huronview Home for
the Aged, Clinton on Wednesday,
Jan. 16, 2013. She was in her 92nd
year.
Genevieve was the beloved wife
for 54 years of the late Thomas B.
Allen (1993) and the dear
companion of the late Bruce Roy
(2006). She was the loving mother
and mother-in-law of Gloria and
Wayne Jackson, RR 1, Ridgetown,
Keith and Nancy Allen,
Londesborough and Karen and Don
Scruton, Bayfield.
Genevieve was loved dearly by
her precious grandchildren Brian
Jackson, Sandra Pidduck, Don
Allen, Mark Allen, Drew Allen,
Paula Beauchamp, Colleen
Edwards, John Scruton and by 17
great-grandchildren. She was
predeceased by her grandson Ken
Jackson (1983).
Friends were received at the
Falconer Funeral Homes, Clinton on
Friday, Jan. 18. The funeral service
was held on Saturday, Jan. 19.
Interment was in Clinton Cemetery.
As expressions of sympathy
memorial donations to the
Londesborough United Church or
the Brain Tumour Foundation would
be appreciated.
Condolences for the Allen family
may be forwarded to
www.falconerfuneralhomes.com
WILMER GLOUSHER
Mr. Wilmer Glousher of Blyth,
passed away as the result of a
vehicle accident on Tuesday, Jan.
22, 2013. He was 85.
Wilmer was the beloved husband
of Marie (Heffron) Glousher, and
loving father and father-in-law of
Stewart and Sharon Glousher of
Goderich and Barbara and Kim
Hodgins of Clinton. He will be
lovingly remembered by
grandchildren Jennifer, Mark,
Jamie, Tanesha, Stacey and Sheena.
Wilmer was great-grandpa to
Bentley. He was the loving
stepfather of Bill and Donna
Heffron, Tom and Peggy Heffron,
Joe Heffron and Marg Broome, Jim
and Marg Anderson and Mary
Witherspoon. He is also missed by
several step-grand and step-great-
grandchildren.
Wilmer was the dear brother and
brother-in-law of Doris and Harold
McClinchey, Goderich; Marjorie
and Roger Battler, Waterloo; Edyth
Glousher of Blyth; Viola Sanderson,
Blyth; Fern McClure, Egmondville;
Jim Cronin, Walkerton; Tom and
Cheryl Cronin, Blyth; Marg
LeSouder, Stratford and Jo Landon,
Lucknow.
Wilmer was predeceased by his
first wife Norma (Dexter) Glousher,
parents Henry and Vera Glousher,
brothers Stan, Lloyd and John and
sister Thelma Deveau.
A private family service was held
at the Blyth and District Community
Centre on Friday, Jan. 25 followed
by a celebration of life for friends.
Donations to the Clinton Public
Hospital Foundation or the
Londesborough United Church
would be greatly appreciated.
Funeral arrangements were
entrusted to the Falconer Funeral
Homes.
Condolences for the Glousher
family may be sent to
www.falconerfuneralhomes.com
9 Rattenbury St. E., Clinton, ON N0M 1L0
Ph.: 519-482-9924 ~ 1-888-235-9260
Res.: 519-524-9260
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Obituaries
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Continued on page 17