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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-07-26, Page 1CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, July 26, 2012 Volume 28 No. 30 DONATION - Pg. 7 Memorial Fund donates18th defibrillator CHURCH - Pg. 13Blyth’s Gary Clark upfor national positionHOMECOMING- Pg. 2Decorating contest winners announcedPublications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK: Lees named Citizens of the Year Ainlay to marshal Saturday parade A better freeze frame than Rocky III Members of the Blyth Christian Reformed Church’s Vacation Bible School, held throughout last week, tried to do their best freeze frame pose be it running, screaming or just being plain silly during a quick photo shoot on Thursday. Children at the week-long event played games, made crafts, heard stories, learned a little and enjoyed themselves a lot. (Denny Scott photo) Stephen Charles Ainlay, great- great-grandson of William Ainlay, the founder of Brussels, then Ainleyville, will be in the village this weekend to serve as the marshal for Saturday’s Homecoming parade. Correspondence between Ainlay and the Homecoming committee began earlier this year and Ainlay, who is now the president of Union College in Schenectady, New York, said he would be honoured to come to the village. As it should be no surprise, Ainlay found his way back to Brussels by way of hockey, an institution in Brussels. Jeremy Welsh, a student at Union College, is “an outstanding hockey player” according to Ainlay. Welsh is also the son of Ralph and Doreen Welsh (Storey), who live in Bayfield. Doreen grew up in Brussels and contact was made and forwarded back to the Homecoming committee. It was during the college hockey team’s run to the playoffs, Ainlay said, in which the team made it to the “Frozen Four” in Tampa, Florida. At the time, Doreen gave Ainlay a copy of a Brussels history book, which Ainlay said he enjoyed reading. Committee Chair Bob Richmond said earlier this year he was simply given a name and a phone number to get in touch with Ainlay. The move isn’t unprecedented, however, Richmond says, as Ainlay’s father, Charles William Ainlay was in Brussels for the village’s 125th anniversary. Charles lived his entire life in Indiana, where he worked as a lawyer and had five children. Stephen’s grandfather, also named Charles, was born in Ainleyville, but moved with his family to Nebraska when he was young. He eventually moved to South Bend, Indiana where he served his life as a police officer. Stephen’s great-grandfather was John Ainlay, who was also born in Ainleyville. John Street in Brussels was named after him, although it was later changed to Ainley Street. Stephen’s great-great-grandfather, of course, was William Ainlay, the founder of Ainleyville, which would later be named Brussels. “I am deeply honored by your invitation to represent the Ainlay The people of Brussels have spoken and they chose to honour Jim and Lois Lee as this year’s Citizens of the Year. The pair received over 10 nominations from readers of The Citizen for the position and were the unanimous choice of a panel of former Citizen of the Year Award winners. Jim and Lois were nominated time and time again for what nominators called their dedication and commitment to the Village of Brussels and their tireless support of all things Brussels. “Jim and Lois have brought so much to Brussels,” read one nomination. “Jim is one of the most generous people I know, not only with his time, but with money and food.” Another nomination read “they work hard together and are great Brussels people.” Jim is a member and past president of the Brussels Lions Club and currently holds the position of Tail Twister. He is a member of the Melville Presbyterian Church Choir and the Seaforth Harmony Kings. Lois holds the position of secretary with the Huronlea Volunteer Auxiliary and the Brussels and District Horticultural Society (Jim is also a member). She is also a member of the managing board at the Melville Presbyterian Church. Jim has a strong interest in music and has made the Village of Brussels a necessary pilgrimage for fans of blues and music in general with his concert series at the pair’s restaurant Cinnamon Jim’s and Jim has also pursued music in his personal life, singing Christmas carols when the season rolls around and performing himself for special events, nursing homes and church functions. One past Citizen of the Year winner said Jim and Lois were a clear choice for this year’s award, based on the thoughts of the panel and the number of nominations they received from the public. Another said the pair do a lot in the community and added that there is rarely an event held in Brussels that Jim and Lois don’t have some part in. Upon being notified that he and Lois has been named Citizens of the Year, Jim said he was speechless and tremendously honoured to hear the news. “I just think of the others who have won this award and they’re all people we respect so much,” Jim said. “It’s such an honour.” Jim says he has appreciated the support of the community since Cinnamon Jim’s opened its doors in all of the endeavours he and Lois have taken on. Jim says Brussels, and many other small towns in Ontario, are unique because in the morning, you can go Brussels will be a busy place this weekend with the 140th Homecoming celebration that has been over a year in the making. Organizers have been encouraging people to “come home to your country village” for months and on Friday the weekend will finally begin. The Boothill Bash will kick off the weekend, featuring top notch rodeo action through to the end of the day on Sunday. The Brussels Tigers’ annual fastball tournament will also run all weekend, keeping with a tradition that is over 40 years old. Opening ceremonies will be held at the ballpark at 7 p.m. on Friday night. For a full list of events flip to the special Homecoming commemorative issue included in this week’s issue of The Citizen. A full list of events runs from page A3 to A4. A full schedule for the fastball tournament is also included in the special issue. The weekend’s main attraction will be held on Saturday at “high noon” when the Homecoming parade makes its way through the village. Organizers say participation for the parade has been overwhelming and it could last up to two hours. For a full list of events, see The Citizen’s website at www.northhuron.on.ca By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Continued on page 11Continued on page 11 Homecoming this weekend By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen