The Citizen, 2012-03-15, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012.
Brussels Optimist Club
Annual Spring Dinner
& Auction
On Saturday, March 24
The Brussels Optimists will be holding their
Annual Spring Dinner
and Auction
(silent auction starting at 5:30 pm)
at the BMG Community Centre
ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT MEAL
Catered by: Thyme and Again Catering
Proceeds to
The Make-A-Wish Foundation and
community betterment
Tickets: $25 per person
We are now looking for auction items for our silent and live auction.
This is only made possible with your generous donations that we
always receive in our small but mighty community. Thank you.
For tickets to the event on March 24 or to donate auction items
contact any Optimist or call Don at 519-357-5135.
Doors will open at 5:00 p.m.
Supper at 6:30 p.m.
Come out and support a great cause
FRIDAY, MARCH 16
at the Brussels Legion
from 7:00 - 10:00 pm
St. Patrick’s
Wings, Fries and Meat Draws
Everyone Welcome
Cards, darts and crib games.
Draws every 1/2 hour.
Warmer, fresh breezeheralds spring’s start
Hair to the Rescue
Austin Johnston, left, and Wyatt Machan were out to prove something during the Brussels
Public School project fair on March 6 and 7. The duo decided to test the tensile strength of
different kinds of hair to find out which was the strongest. (Denny Scott photo)
Spring is here. It just smells like
spring. The wind has changed to a
breeze and it feels warmer and a
little bit fresh. Even the daffodils
and tulips know and are up a few
inches already. The robins have
been playing about even on the
snowy days, oh well it feels good.
March break has begun and as I
do this column we have chocolate
chip cookies on the go, a drawing
project has begun and a stick house
is being glued. The Listowel
grandgirls are here and so activity is
constant. The subjects are varied
and quite interesting as Jill is five,
Robyn is nine and Jordan is 12. It
keeps us quite alert to stay ahead of
the three of them. Swimming,
cherry cheesecake and cinnamon
buns are in the plans. Oh what fun!
Hockey is winding down, the
organized kind anyway. For some,
it’s done already, for others a few
more games to go. Road hockey is
often part of March Break, so the
sticks can’t be put away for a bit yet.
Congratulations to two area
young people who made a splash in
Winnipeg.
At the CIS University Track andField Championships held at the
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg
on March 8-10, the University of
Windsor’s Ami Schimanski of
Brussels threw a personal best and
school record of 17.22 metres in
women’s weight throw to finish
fourth. Ben Procter of Belgrave, and
also of the University of Windsor,
ran the first leg of 4x800 men’s relay
and finished fourth with a second
best school time.
So it seems my time is up for this
and now it’s on to get the cookies in
the oven.
Enjoy the first days of spring, and
yes the broom needs to hit the patio.
Bye now, Betty G.W.
NEWS
FROM BRUSSELS
By Betty
Graber
Watson
Call
887-9231
A NOTE FROM BETTY
At the Branch
Dinner attracts largest crowd yet
By Jo-Ann McDonald
Branch Comrades were pleased to
see Comrade Elaine Nichol at the
Brussels Legion Branch on Friday
evening. She is coming along nicely
with her health issues and is still
required to continue therapy. She
was with her son Murray and they
enjoyed seeing many folks of
Brussels.
The Thursday night darts had a
nice group of darters on hand. They
welcomed some back from holidays
and all had a good night. Winners
were: first, Sharon Robbins and
Gord Jacklin; second, Glenn and
Greta Zehr; high, Glenn, 113 and
Roger McHardy, 112.
The Friday night supper of turkey
was enjoyed by 60 people, the
largest crowd to attend all year. This
week will be roast pork.
The Saturday afternoon euchre
had Comrades Wanda Walker and
Marg Bennett looking after the
event. There were 11 and a half
tables of players hoping to be
winners. Results were: first, George
and Gloria Love, 77; second, Hank
Johnston and Murray Forbes, 75;
third, Tom and Eileen Sloan, 73;
low, Norm and Helen Dobson, 43;
lone hands, Viola Adams and Ruth
Sharpin, six.
The Zone Convention was held in
Lucknow on Sunday. Attending
from the Branch were Comrade
President Deb Caan and Comrade
Jo-Ann McDonald. Comrades John
Lowe and Eric Ross attended in
their Legion capacities.
The Sunday night dance had a
good crowd of dancers enjoying the
wonderful dance music of the Red
Rascal Band. There were nearly 70
with some of them dressed
in the “green” to recognize
the approaching St. Patrick’s
Day.
The new drapes have been put up
by House Chairman, Andy Adams
this week. We thank him for getting
the job done and they looked quite
nice.
The Branch Service Officer,
Comrade Mabel Glanville, reports
that the Provincial Service Officer,
Randy Groundwater is making his
spring round of visitations. If there
are any veterans or family members
of veterans who require a meeting
with Mr. Groundwater, they are
asked to contact the Branch before
April 10 at 519-887-6562 or
Comrade Mabel Glanville at 519-
887-9086.
Huron East Council decided to
begin the process of hiring a
building and property maintenance
co-ordinator at its March 6 meeting.
Council members have been
discussing the position for years, but
after having been presented the first
draft of the 2012 budget earlier in
the meeting, several councillors felt
Huron East simply couldn’t afford
to fund another position at well over
$50,000 a year.
The budget, including all of the
projects council was hoping to
complete in 2012, included a 12.9
per cent tax levy increase, while
treasurer Paula Michiels was
recommending a 3.7 per cent
increase. The first draft did not
include funds that would be paid to
the new co-ordinator, should
one be hired in the next few
months.
“I don’t think we can afford it,”
said Councillor Larry McGrath. “It
isn’t in our budget now and it’s
already well over what we have to
raise.”
McGrath estimated the salary for
the new position at $50,000 a year at
a minimum, which without getting
specific, he was told was accurate,
which would raise the Huron East
budget by two per cent alone, if no
other cuts were made.
Earlier in the meeting Mayor
Bernie MacLellan reminded
councillors that $25,000 represents
one per cent of the municipality’s
budget, putting the salary for the
new position into perspective before
it was approved.
“We just don’t have the cash to do
it,” McGrath said.
Councillor Les Falconer said the
co-ordinator position is one that the
municipality has needed for years
and that council shouldn’t back
away now.
MacLellan reminded councillors
that the reason they wanted to
include the position in the budget in
the first place was because the co-
ordinator’s duties are currently
spread out over various staff
members.
Falconer told councillors that
Lissa Berard from the Vanastra
Recreation Centre is currently
compiling a list of what is needed at
the centre in terms of the building,
similar to the list presented by Abi
Corbett from the Brussels, Morris
and Grey Community Centre last
year.
“Lissa is a fitness instructor, she
shouldn’t have to do these jobs,”
Falconer said.
MacLellan agreed, saying that
councillors, should they decide to
not fund the new co-ordinator
position, should remember not to
get upset with existing staff when
they say they’re overloaded with
work.
“If you decide not to go for it,”
MacLellan said, “don’t heap stuff
on staff when they say they don’t
have the time.”
Councillor Bill Siemon agreed,
simply saying “this person will be
needed.”
Siemon asked for a recorded vote
where all councillors voted in
favour of installing the new
position, with the exception of
Councillors Andy Flowers, Frank
Stretton and McGrath, with
Councillor Dianne Diehl and
Deputy-Mayor Joe Steffler both
absent from the meeting.
CAFÉ
More than just a great sandwich!
401 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-8011
with us!
Friday, March 16
DinnerFresh local leg of lamb,
vegetables & potatoes, roll
$1495 with live music
by James Mintz
Saturday, March 17
LunchCorned Beef & Cabbage,
roasted
vegetables $1095
Traditional
Irish Stew
& Tea Biscuit $650www.shrimpdaddyreid.com
Saturday, March 17, 8:30 pm
Poor Boy Blues ~ pay what you can
• No food, No Bar, just great blues with
Shrimp Daddy &
The Sharp Shooters
2011 Maple Blues Winner
Best New Artist
Music with
Don & Dale
New position created by council
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen