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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-11-21, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013. PAGE 19. Students present drama basedon WWI vet’s letters home Hullett Central students from Grades 7 and 8 attended the Remembrance Day Service in Blyth on Nov. 11. Pupils from Grades 1 thru 6 held a reflective service in the school auditorium. It was attended by a small number of the public. As everyone entered the room a video was playing that included a singer, footage of peacekeepers, a moment of remembering in a store and pictures of soldiers in uniform. The true message was that it takes only a ‘pittance of time’ for us to pause at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in respect for all the time armed forces spend to ensure peace. Pairs of pupils, representing the various classrooms walked forward to pin poppies on a cross. Three young girls, Sara Hunking, Brianna Graf and Mikayla Brak, accompanied by Barb Bosman sang the John Lennon number, “Imagine”. Private Thomas Todd MacDonald fought from the trenches in the First World War. During his time overseas he sent home letters about the conditions of the war. These letters have been kept by his family. Lori Brooks, an Educational Assistant at Hullett, is his great niece. Based on those letters a drama was presented by a number of pupils. Narrators gave an overview and others took the role of the soldier himself. Written by staff, the comments about the conditions were easily understood by the children listening. They learned war was not the great adventure those who enlisted believed it would be. Conditions in the trenches had the soldiers pining for socks, fresh food, care packages and mail from home and an end to the fighting. They were lonely and frustrated. It was pointed out that the letters were so important to the soldiers and the families at home because there were no cell phones or e-mail and news wasn’t as immediate as it is in today’s world. Private Tom MacDonald did not come home. During the moment of silence those present were asked to think about what they might do to make our world a better place. The service ended with the singing of “Let There Be Peace on Earth”. By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296 PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO NEWS FROM LONDESBORO Gooooooooalllll! Students at Hullett Central Public School love their soccer. Despite the high winds on Monday, dozens of them could be seen playing in half a dozen different soccer games at recess. Shown above are, from left, Dorian Jewell and Heidi Badley. (Denny Scott photo) Church’s White Gift Sunday service set for Dec. 1 Minister Terry Fletcher chose to focus on current events for his service at Londesborough United Church on Sunday, Nov. 17. During the children’s time at the front, Terry talked with them about Typhon Haiyan that has devastated the Philippines. He showed them a handcrafted picture that had been purchased as a souvenir from the Philippines. He explained that those islands are poor and the people there make that type of item to raise extra money. The picture was produced with items native to the islands - feathers, leaves, straw and bamboo. He asked the children and adults alike to consider, “What can you do to help the relief effort?” Terry’s other question to the congregants that morning was, “Would You Lie?” The media is full of events in the Senate and in Toronto. The question becomes who is doing the lying. If the three embattled senators are not, then the others involved must be? Who is to be believed? He suggested we take a look at the principles involved in lying. The scripture passage Mark 14:66 - 72 is the story of Peter renouncing his friendship with Jesus on the night of His arrest. Christ knew Peter would lie that night but did not rebuke him for doing so. As we know Peter might have been arrested as well if he had not lied. However Peter went on to found the early church. Then we need to ask, “Were those who hid Jews in their homes during the war wrong to lie about their presence? All of us have faced situations in life when it seemed appropriate, more respectful, etc., to tell a ‘little white lie’. The second scripture passage Terry used was from an Apocryphal book, Wisdom 1:1 - 11. This passage suggest that ‘a lying mouth destroys the soul’. And Toronto Rob Ford is truly a troubled soul. This scripture passage states that some lies are justifiable, that the purpose behind the lie can be more important than the lie itself. Who are we to be judgmental? All of us are human. We have no right to throw the first stone. God will never condemn the wrongdoer but offers grace to all who call on Him. A quote by W. Somerset Maugham included on the order of service was appropriate as well: “Man has always sacrificed truth to his vanity, comfort and advantage. He lives…by make-believe.” The senior choir anthem, “Jacob’s Vision” had a message as well for those gathered for worship. Next Sunday, Nov. 24, Londesborough United will offer the Sacrament of Communion. The senior choir will gather for practice prior to the service. The following Sunday, Dec. 1, the Sunday school will present its annual White Gift Service. Hockey monitors a great idea Regular readers of this column will remember that we are car race fans. I have commented in the past how you and I benefit from the information gathered at these races with respect to safer tires, frames, etc. As I listened to a recent installment of Hockey Night in Canada, I learned how another sport may benefit all of us. Cassie Campbell was discussing the fact that the members of the Vancouver Canucks team wear heart monitors of some sort to gather information about how the game affects the athletes. What a wonderful idea. A far better place for today’s technology than the dinner table! No, Helen Lee has not returned to live in the village. Some villagers may have noticed the lights on again in her former home. Grandson Jason Lee has taken up residence there. Many of you will know Jason and can make him feel at home among us. The Happy Gang Seniors will hold their November meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Everyone is welcome. Council goes against planners, approves CH severance Huron County Council went against its planners in approving a severance just east of Blyth in Central Huron at its Nov. 13 committee of the whole meeting. The application asked for a severance of 8.6 acres from the Burns Line property, which includes a home, several agricultural buildings and additional land for the raising of horses, which is several acres larger than a traditional severance in an agricultural area. Monica Walker-Bolton of the Huron County Planning Department said she was in favour of the severance, but that the severed property should be reduced from 8.6 acres to 2.3 acres. In following both the Provincial Policy Statement and the Huron County Official Plan, Walker-Bolton said the reasoning behind her recommendation was to preserve as much prime agricultural land as possible. The application, however, had been approved in its original state by Central Huron Council, going against the recommendation of the Huron County Planning Department, which meant the application had to be approved by Huron County Council if it was to go forward. Douglas Culbert, who acted as agent during the process for the Hubbard family, the owners of the property, said the family had a prospective buyer lined up, but the additional land was crucial to the sale. Central Huron Deputy-Mayor Dave Jewitt told council he supported the severance, but with its original 8.6-acre severance, not Walker-Bolton’s reduced amount of land. “This is an opportunity for a young family to get use out of the property,” Jewitt told councillors. He added that while the raising of horses might not fit into Huron County’s precise definition of agriculture, he felt it was closely associated enough with agriculture that it made sense. Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Reeve Ben Van Diepenbeek said that he felt Walker-Bolton’s recommendation was a “good severance” feeling, as he has in the past, dismayed that council would put rules in place only to disobey them down the road. Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn, who vacated the chair’s position in order to speak on the matter, said that while the additional land is zoned as prime agricultural land, it is not exactly how it seems on paper. He says the additional land that would be severed used to be an orchard years ago, but has, in recent years, been used for pasture. Because of this, he said, the severance would mean no change for that land, but a young family would get some use out of it. “The proper use for that land is pasture,” Ginn told councillors. Bluewater’s Bill Dowson told council that he was planning to speak against the 8.6-acre severance, but Ginn’s speech changed his mind. “I didn’t agree with the larger [severance], but if the land has not been farmed in recent years, it makes sense,” Dowson told councillors. Ginn told Dowson that, indeed, the property had been “pastured land for some time”. North Huron Reeve Neil Vincent agreed, saying a small agricultural parcel would serve as an excellent “toehold” for a young family wishing to get into the world of agriculture when they are financially able. “I would want them to get that start, so I’ll be voting in favour,” he said. Van Diepenbeek, however, insisted that by approving the larger severance, council was taking “good farmland” out of production, a practice with which he disagreed. Council then voted to support Jewitt’s motion to approve the severance application as applied for, including the original 8.6-acre parcel of land. By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Continued from page 6 Network expands and grows. All are welcome at the meeting. There will be a chance to learn more about the network and its working groups as well as to bring new ideas and join in the celebration of emerging food projects from around Huron County. In addition, there will be an election for positions on the coordinating committee (chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer). Anyone who is interested in standing for one of these positions can be nominated prior to the meeting or from the floor. The evening will begin with light local refreshment and a meet and greet. New food group sets first meeting, elections BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED