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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-05-17, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012.Trees for Benmiller project officially kicks off St. Anne’s students collect 1,000 food items Tornado recovery Treblehill Farms Woodlot was hit hard by the tornado that tore apart Goderich and the surrounding area just under a year ago. Unfortunately, the woodlot wasn’t eligible for funds to help recover from the tornado. The woodlot would not stay devastated, however, as volunteers and local politicians, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, hosted a replanting over the weekend. The replanting was part of the “Trees for Benmiller” project, a program designed to assist landowners replenish trees that had been destroyed during the storm. (Jim Brown photo) Chowing down Eight-year-old Jake Yantzi, son of Mike and Erin Yantzi of Clinton, enjoyed a great meal put on by the Londesborough United Church at the Londesborough Community Hall on May 12. (Jim Brown photo) By Madelaine Higgins The week of May 7 to 11 at St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School was Catholic Education Week, celebrating the benefits and opportunities that come with Catholic education. The week began with busker and sticker day on Monday, May 7, based on the 2012 theme “Walking in the Light of Christ”. Additionally, a special system Mass was held on Monday, and the school held “Hands Up!” day on Wednesday to emphasize the St. Anne’s school theme for 2011- 12. Tuesday, May 8 students participated in the “stuff that bus” campaign, where students and staff members collected 1,000 non- perishable food items to be donated to local food banks in support of our community. Also in recognition of Catholic Education Week, St. Anne’s held a liturgy on Thursday to for the entire student body in support of this year’s theme. On Monday of this week, the senior boys’ and girls’ soccer teams played at CHSS. the track and field team held an invitational meet at St. Anne’s where 19 schools from around the province participated. Also on Tuesday, the co-operative education students and staff hosted a breakfast, recognizing the importance of our community members in supporting Huron County youth. The St. Anne’s baseball team had their first game of the season. The junior girls’ and boys’ soccer teams also had games on Thursday of this week, and staff members participated in a spiritual retreat in Belgrave. Students for Social Justice departed for Ottawa this week in support of the annual March for Life. On Friday at St. Anne’s, a jewellery fundraiser was held to raise funds for the mission trip to Ecuador, and the May Melodies concert was held in the gym, showcasing the musical talent at St. Anne’s. Also on Friday, the baseball team attended a tournament, and the boys and girls rugby teams also had games. Next week, the concert band will be heading to Ottawa for Nationals, and guest speaker Brett Ullman will be welcomed to St. Anne’s. We’re looking forward to St. Andre Day on Friday, May 18 where our God Squad will host lots of lunch activities which will raise money for our families in need. Graduating students and their dates anxiously await this year’s prom, with the theme of “Time to Shine” to be held on Saturday, May 26. See you next week! While the loss of trees inGoderich following the August 2011 tornado is well known, tens of thousands of trees in woodlots, fencerows and farmsteads in rural areas stretching along a 21- kilometre path from Goderich to Highway 4 were also destroyed. “Trees for Benmiller” is a project created to assist landowners by replenishing those rural areas that were severely affected. “Trees for Benmiller” kicked off its first project on the mornings of May 11 and 12, when local school groups and volunteers met at the Treblehill Farm woodlot just off Cherrydale Road east of Benmiller. This major planting effort will help to replace trees that were lost and to complement the regrowth that will occur naturally in the woodlot. In addition to tree replacement, the use of many native species at Treblehill Farm and for projects over the next few years should enhance the future biodiversity and resilience of the tree cover in the area. Leading the project is the Huron Stewardship Council (HSC), a community-based organization that is seeking to promote responsible resource stewardship through cooperation and collaboration of efforts between organizations and individuals in Huron County. Earlypartners in the project are the Goderich area Edgefund and the Huron Clean Water Project which is funded by the County of Huron. “We are grateful to have special project funding from the county’s Clean Water Project in addition to a generous commitment from the Edgefund and look forward to working with many other interested organizations and individuals as “Trees for Benmiller” goes forward” says HSC councillor Donna Taylor. The Edgefund has contributed $4,500 to the project so far and has agreed to match the next $10,000 donated to the project by other partners and individuals. The Huron Stewardship Council hopes to use the Treblehill Farm woodlot pilot project as a fundraising launch, and hopes to be contacting tornado-affected landowners throughout the area this summer to discuss future planting projects. HSC councillor Ian Koetsier says “‘Trees for Benmiller’ has the potential to bring many positive benefits to the area over the next few years, including seasonal employment, increased biodiversity, and an increase in the quality and quantity of tree cover.”