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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2011-04-14, Page 30PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2011. The year’s first fry Members of the Brussels Legion were at Grey Central Public School on Saturday to lend the Grade 8 class a hand in fundraising for their graduation trip. This was their first fish fry of the year. Chipping in were, from left: Bob Richardson, Norm Dobson, Rick McDonald and George Adams. Over 400 diners were served with the Grade 8 students chipping in with desserts and serving duty. (Shawn Loughlin photo) The return of the Brussels snowbirds is another sign of spring. Mel and Lois McCutcheon have been home a couple of weeks already and Bob and Rene Richmond have returned this week. Jim Alton and Dianne Machan are home again after having a couple of months in Florida. Vacationing in Florida for a couple of weeks were Ross and Mary Procter. They went to Naples and the Fort Myers area. They flew down and spent time just enjoying the great weather. Swimming, shopping and eating passed the two weeks quite quickly. Congratulations to Vincent and Lindsay Bauer on the birth of a daughter. Little Emily has had a bit of a rough start to life and is still in Stratford Hospital. Big brother Jeffray is patiently waiting for her to get home. It was great to see Jean Evans out to Grey Central on the weekend. I’m sure she enjoyed seeing so many of the Ethel-area folks all in one place. Jean, along with Bob Cunningham are still in Listowel Hospital. Gerald Watson is still in Seaforth Hospital. Leola Hood is home from hospital and is coming along nicely. Doreen Hackwell is in London Hospital undergoing knee surgery yet again. Celebrating birthdays is a popular event and some celebrate a lot. Lily Fincham celebrated with a dinner at the Fireside Café with her daughter, Valerie Gratto and friends. They were joined by Nell Bentinck, Floyd Nesbitt and Bob and Joan Tyerman. The next day she and Valerie travelled to Kincardine to celebrate with Valerie’s son and wife and their four little girls. Next, it was off to Stitsville to celebrate yet again with her granddaughter and her family. Three parties for her, way to go. Celebrating her 96th birthday was my friend, Betty McDonald. On Sunday afternoon many of her friends dropped in to wish her birthday greetings. Betty’s son Murray and wife Ruth, along with granddaughter Elizabeth and friend Mike, were also on hand for the special day. Brussels-area friends dropping in for birthday cake and ice cream, provided by Isabel Wheeler and myself, included Merle Cousins, Fannie Somers, George, Emily, Laura and Tim Cousins, Ross and Mary Procter, Jim and Darlene Oldfield, Isabel and myself. Everyone enjoyed cake and ice cream and coffee. Betty also had a surprise and special visitor on Sunday. A very dear friend of over 70 years from Brampton arrived. Betty and Lenore Hiscox have been friends for 72 years and use to enjoy many vacations together at Lenore’s Port Severin cottage. Lenore and her caregiver, were brought to Betty’s by Lenore’s son-in-law Joe. They had a wonderful visit and dinner before heading back to Brampton. Lorne and Bonnie Glanville had a surprise visitor last week. Hearing someone come in the door, they expected to see one of their grandchildren, instead there stood their son Paul. Paul and his wife Theresa and daughters Megan and Erica are now stationed outside of Charlottetown, PEI. Paul flew on an RCMP plan to Ontario and made it to Lorne and Bonnie’s to surprise them. He came for his old Monte Carlo car they have been storing for him and a few other things. He was only around for three days and has left to drive his car back to PEI. It’s always nice to have such a pleasant surprise. Celebrating birthdays last week include Ron Driscoll, Matthew Huether, George Love, Kevin Wilbee, Marie McGavin, Bonnie Hastings, Betty McDonald, Heather Blake Dunbar, Shannon Craig Sootiens, Cole Zwep, Katheryn Emmrich, Jennifer Williamson, Jack Ryan, Neil Williamson, Trevor Sutcliffe, Mitch Blake and Theresa Pryce. Happy birthday to all. An updated draft of the 2011 budget was presented to Huron East Council at its April 5 meeting and will be officially presented for adoption at the April 19 meeting. As he had stated earlier, treasurer Brad Knight said that his initial proposed tax levy increase of six per cent was too high for what the municipality needed this year and in the April 5 draft, he included a 3.77 per cent tax increase, averaged out among the five wards. The proposed budget, which remained unchanged by councillors and will be presented to the public next week, lists Brussels as having the highest increase in the municipality for the upcoming year at 8.31 per cent. This is down slightly from the 10 per cent in the previous draft of the budget (under the six per cent tax increase) but isover one per cent higher than thesecond-highest increase, which is in Tuckersmith at 7.27 per cent. The rural wards will be facing a modest increase of approximately three per cent with Grey facing a 3.11 per cent increase and McKillop facing a 3.07 per cent increase. Seaforth will actually see the Huron East portion of its taxes decrease by 0.75 per cent. Another change that was made to the April 5 draft of the budget was that the withdrawal from equipment reserves was reduced from $300,000 to $210,000, therefore reducing the municipality’s projected surplus from $154,000 to $64,000. Knight then plugged in an approximate formula to calculate an overall tax rate for Huron East’s five municipalities. His calculations were just an estimate and would have to be altered less than 12 hours later as Huron County Councildecided to pass a tax increase overone per cent lower than projected. The education rates were also just draft figures, showing Huron East with a very minimal increase. So due to the decision made by Huron County Council, Knight’s figures were set to decrease, but with his math, under the higher county levy, no Huron East ward would face an overall increase of five per cent. Brussels sat with the highest increase at 4.61 per cent, while Tuckersmith came in just behind the village at 4.42 per cent. McKillop faced a 2.41 per cent increase, while Grey faced a 1.26 per cent increase. Seaforth faced the lowest tax increase in the municipality at a modest 1.06 per cent. Again, these figures were calculated when the Huron County levy sat over one per cent higher than the 2.74 per cent increase that was eventually approved.There was discussion aboutreallocation of funds in order to fund more staff, but no official provisions were made. Mayor Bernie MacLellan said that if the municipality was considering hiring more staff, including a full- time building inspection manager, that further funds would have to be allocated to account for those incoming staff members. Knight agreed that would be something that council would have to take a further look at. Knight also said adjustments will be made before the April 19 meeting to account for recent tender for the reconstruction of First Avenue in Vanastra coming in nearly $400,000 under the projected cost. Funds were also added to the budget as a request by MacLellan for doctor recruitment in the amount of $50,000. +++ + + ++ + + +++ ++++ ++ + + + + + + ++ + + + +++ + +++ + ++++ +++ + + ++ + + +++ ++++ ++ + + + + + + ++ + + + +++ + +++ + ++++ +++ + + ++ + + +++ ++++ ++ + + + + + + ++ + + + +++ + +++ + ++++ +++ + + ++ + + +++ ++++ ++ + + + + + + ++ + + + +++ + +++ + ++++ +++ + + ++ + + +++ ++++ ++ + + + + + + ++ + + + +++ + +++ + ++++ +++ + + ++ + + +++ ++++ ++ + + + + + + ++ + + + +++ + +++ + ++++ Main Street, Wingham 519-357-4499 Now fully licensed every Thursday night at Grumpy’s (with adult entrée purchase) Main Street, Wingham 519-357-4499 Now fully licensed $999 BBQ Steak Dinner Grumpy’s Old Time Eatery Every Friday Night for the month of April Enjoy an 8 ounce New York Striploin Steak Dinner for only $999 + taxes. We support our local farmers. Lunch Buffet Every Friday 11:30 - 1:30 All-you-can-eat only $1000 tax incl. Sticker’s Family Restaurant Auburn 519-526-7759 NEWS FROM WALTON By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570 PEOPLE AROUND WALTON BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED Spring begins and snowbirds return HE eyes 3.77 per cent increaseBy Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen