HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-12-20, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2012.Christmas season has to be loud for Westerhout
Christmas around the Westerhout
home tends to be a pretty quiet affair
these days, which has been a bit of
an adjustment for Central Huron
Councillor Alex.
Being the youngest child in a big
family, Westerhout said he was
“spoiled rotten” around the holidays
when he was younger and with all of
his siblings and their significant
others around the house at
Christmas, it was a pretty busy
place.
The holidays were always a loud,
bustling time for Westerhout, so
when he married Gloria, someone
who always appreciated peace and
quiet around the holidays, they soon
found a common ground when they
had their two sons, Adam and Tyler.
Gloria says that things were
always a little quieter around her
home during the holidays, so even
today she seeks moments where she
can think and take in the season,
rather than the hustle and bustle of
Christmas along with constant
visitors.
The pair remembers one
Christmas, before they had children,
when the snow was so bad that
everyone was stormstayed and thetwo just celebrated Christmas on
their own at their home and Alex
was going stir crazy.
Gloria remembers Alex repeatedly
saying that it didn’t feel like
Christmas and that it was far too
quiet around the house.
Alex, the youngest of seven
children, just wasn’t hearing the
commotion he was used to around
the holidays.
On the other hand, Gloria says
those quiet moments around the
holidays are what she lives for. It’s
an opportunity to have solemn
thoughts and appreciate what you
have, she says.
Things weren’t always quiet
around Gloria’s house, however, as
her father used to signal the
beginning of Christmas with a
leather belts adorned with bells. He
used to drape the bells around
the horses’ necks and ride onto
the property letting everyone
know that Christmas was back once
again.
These days the Westerhout family
has made a tradition of going to
church on Christmas Eve every year.
The family attends the Christmas
Eve service at Londesborough
United Church every year and
returns home to spend time with
some friends and neighbours for the
night.
Christmas Eve has always been a
social evening for the family,
Westerhout says.
On Christmas morning,
Westerhout generally attends to his
farming affairs (he farms chickens),
heading out to the barn to take care
of his chores before the rest of the
family gets up.
When he comes back into the
house, generally the family is up and
waiting for him, he says. They then
proceed to open their “socks” before
they get to anything under the tree.Westerhout says that he and Gloria
have made stockings mean more
than gifts under the tree in their
family. He says they, Alex
especially, have fun while wrapping
their presents and get creative,
trying to alter the intended
recipient’s concept of what a gift
might be.
He said he has been known to
wrap miniature presents in gigantic
boxes to throw off his family’s
thought process and often large-
looking gifts under the tree will
result in underwhelming results,
while the “good” gifts are stashed
unassumingly in the bottom of a
stocking.
He says the stocking gifts tend to
steal the spotlight from the gifts
under the tree. They tend to be
quirky and different gifts, but with
more of a personal touch.
In the past, Westerhout says,
Gloria has been known to be
unimpressed with presents under the
tree from her husband, only to find
jewelry stashed away in her
stocking.
Christmas dinner is often supplied
by Westerhout himself. As a hunter,
he has been known to supply the
venison for a roast that Gloria will
eventually prepare.
Christmas also always involves a
trip to Toronto to see other family
members, accompanied often by an
unusual activity. One year the family
went to the Metro Toronto Zoo, not
usually a winter destination, and in
other years they have attended stage
shows or simply shopped in the city.
There was even one year when
they visited a relative who owns a
bakery and they helped deliver a
Christmas cake in a snowstorm.
Gloria says that is one Christmas
memory that has always stuck
out.
The Municipality of Central Huron Council and
Municipal Staff join together to wish you
peace and serenity this holiday season.
COUNCIL
MAYOR
Jim Ginn
DEPUTY MAYOR
Dave Jewitt
COUNCILLORS
Marg Anderson
Brian Barnim
Dan Colquhoun
Alison Lobb
Burk Metzger
Alex Westerhout
ADMINISTRATION
CAO: Peggy Van Mierlo-West; Clerk: Brenda MacIsaac,
Director of Finance: Terri Taylor, Brenda Armstrong, Belinda
Axford, Florence Stalenhoef, Steve Doherty, Judy Dixon, Jane
Harris, Sheryl Moran, Sharon Romphf, Deb Stephenson, Angela
Smith.
FACILITIES DEPARTMENT
Facilities Manager: Steve Campbell
Doug Dolmage, Shawn Gautreau, Bev Marriage,
Sabrina Baldwin, Paul Handy, Jean Bernard, Nathaniel Peel.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT - PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Chief Building Official: Lesley Adams, Fire Chief: Steve Cooke,
Bylaw Officer: Bruce Brockelbank,
Animal Control Officer: Bob Trick. In memory of Andy DePutter.
ROADS DEPARTMENT
Roads Manager: Tom Sinclair. Jason Cox, Ritchie Cox,
Roger Cunningham, Mike Dixon, Denim Layton,
Randy Marriage, Stan McClure, Rick Pickett, Erik Ramaker,
Mark Wallace, Ian Hulley (retired), Jim Johnston (retired).
UTILITIES
Greg Mayhew, Mark Krahn, Adam Wilson, Ian Koetsier,
Craig Snell, Mike Ladd, Steve Gibbings (retired).
THE MUNICIPALITY
OF CENTRAL HURON
PLEASE NOTE:
THE MUNICIPAL OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 AT 4:30 pm
AND REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013 at 8:30 am
www.centralhuron.com
Dear Residents,
During this Christmas season, take
the time to reflect on the past year
and be thankful for all the
opportunities that have been made
and the ones to look forward to in
the new year. Remember those who
are less fortunate and be grateful for
the friends and family that
surround you.
As the new year makes its entrance,
Central Huron Council will continue
to serve the best interests of our
entire community. In our efforts to
connect and exchange ideas and
perspectives, Council is committed
to providing open communication
lines. Contact any one of us at any
time.
Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year to you and your family.
Jim Ginn
The Royal
Canadian
Legion
Branch 420
Blyth
wishes
everyone a
very Merry
Christmas
and a Happy
New Year!
Holiday Hours
Closed
December
24th, 25th, 26th
& January 1st
Some family time
Central Huron Councillor Alex Westerhout, left, and his family, always try to spend plenty of
time together around the holidays, whether it’s opening presents or having friends over to their
home. Westerhout is seen here with his, from left, wife Gloria and sons Tyler and Adam. (Shawn
Loughlin photo)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
See photos from the
Brussels Santa Claus Parade
on our website at
www.northhuron.on.ca