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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-07-28, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011.Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston Acting Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny ScottAdvertising Sales: Ken Warwick & Lori Patterson The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. N0G 1H0 Phone 887-9114 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Looking Back Through the Years CCNA Member Member of the Ontario Press Council The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $34.00/year ($32.38 + $1.62 G.S.T.) in Canada; $115.00/year in U.S.A. and $175/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON N0G 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com July 26, 1950 The new floodlights that had recently been installed at Victoria Park in Brussels were now up and running. They were used for the first time for a floodlit football game on July 19 and followed by a women’s softball game on July 20. Bleachers and fences along the side of the ball diamond has also been installed. Credit for the improvements at the park went to Hugh Pearson and the group of sports enthusiasts who worked with him. The stars were on display at the Capital Theatre in Listowel. On July 26-27 Holiday Inn starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, was being shown, followed by Twelve O’Clock High starring Gregory Peck on July 28-29 and Rope of Sand starring Burt Lancaster on July 31 and August 1. Members of the Brussels Bowling Club were holding their annual picnic, which was followed by a mixed jitney featuring the 36 members who were in attendance. The Majestic Women’s Institute held its monthly meeting outdoors. The meeting featured several different races and games before a picnic lunch which brought the meeting to a close. Just north of the Brussels at the C.N.R. station the wheel of a flat car left the tracks injuring three men who were aboard the car. Six of the 18 men riding the car were ejected, but only three of those six suffered serious injuries. The three men were admitted to Wingham General Hospital shortly after the mishap. The train was returning to Brussels after a job had been completed in Bluevale. The Brussels Legion held another successful Sports Day, which featured a soap box derby on the main street in Brussels. July 31, 1974 After first calling for tenders for a new roof for Blyth’s Memorial Hall, Blyth Village Council was now considering two new tenders for the job. The lowest of the original tenders requested by council was $47,000, which was much higher than councillors expected and much higher than councillors felt the village could afford. After councillors initially refused to award a contract due to the extreme cost, two different groups approached council with plans that would cost the village significantly less money. The original proposal stated that Memorial Hall’s roof should be replaced. However, after having a roof strengthening specialist in, it was determined that the job could be done by strengthening the existing roof, not replacing it completely. This second proposal came from a group of Amish workers who said they could follow the engineer’s recommendation and completely replace the roof, but at a much lower cost. An increased police presence and a decrease in reckless driving was to thank for the quieter nights being experienced in Blyth as of late. There had been talk, according to Blyth Village Council, of vigilante committees in the village due to the noisy activity and reckless driving going on, so council decided to investigate the potential hiring of a special constable to police the village on weekends. July 23, 1986 Residents of Colborne Township were preparing for the township’s 150th anniversary with a fun-filled weekend that would celebrate the people and culture of Colborne. A get-rich-quick pyramid scheme was rumoured to be circulating throughout the Blyth and Brussels areas. The OPP was denying claims that the scam was ongoing in the area, but rumours had persisted. Ron Vercruyssen of Blyth was having his basketball potential realized at Seaforth District High School where he had recently been given a chance to make the top 12 of the Ontario Juvenile Basketball team in December. July 22, 2004 The residents of Auburn had already begun the beautification process for its 150th anniversary. A community-wide contest was set to end over the weekend and the Auburn Horticultural Society would determine who had the most improved landscaping in Auburn. A full day of activities was planned to help celebrate the 30th annual Blyth Festival. One of the day’s main attractions was a performance by the Blyth Festival Singers, who were presenting a show entitled “Maritime Connections.” Just three candidates remained for the Blyth by-election. Doug Scrimgeour, Gerald Kerr, George Reinink and John Cronyn had all withdrawn from the ballot, leaving just Helen Grubb, Edgar Daer and Dave Pattison. The by-election was to be held at the Blyth Community Centre on August 30. Vandals were causing trouble in Blyth, having damaged Radford Fuels, Luann’s Country Flowers and Gifts and a number of planters throughout the village. Damage done just at Luann’s was estimated to be between $3,000 and $4,000. North Huron Clerk-Administrator John Stewart informed council that an arrest had been made. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Hot enough for you? As forecasts predict the heat to rise again this weekend and little rain in sight, perhaps people may give a little more credence to the scientists who say human beings are changing our climate. It’s been a peculiar year: first cold and wet, now hot and dry. Such things have happened before, of course, and there’s no way to say the weather we’re getting is directly because of climate change, but overall, changes are happening. Throughout the world’s wine-producing regions, for instance, vineyard owners are finding the varieties of grapes their region is famous for, in some cases over hundreds of years, are not doing well with changing weather conditions. There is speculation the wine regions will need to shift farther north. For most of the world’s population, living in cities, climate change is just an inconvenience to be dealt with by turning the air conditioner up. For the people who grow our food, the consequences are great. Right now on our newscasts, we’re seeing the devastating effects of famine, caused by drought, in Somalia. Hopefully in the future it can’t happen here. — KR Creating a problem to solve The squeeze is on for government services, from the city of Toronto to the U.S. Congress to, likely in the future, the Canadian and Ontario governments. Cost cutting is seen as a necessary response to government deficits, but it’s a solution to a problem that was often created by politicians themselves – in a quest to win our votes. It stands to reason that governments cannot continue to spend when they have to borrow money to do it. The books must be balanced and cuts need to be made from time to time. But often politicians create the conditions under which the books can’t be balanced by slashing taxes, then saying there’s a deficit which requires government cuts. During last year’s Toronto election, Rob Ford won the election by promising to cut taxes while not having to cut services. He’d find the shortfall in cutting waste, he said. Immediately on being elected, he cut taxes such as a land-transfer tax that helped pay the city’s bills. Then came word that the city needs to find $700 million in savings for next year’s budgets. Now everything from libraries to parks are being considered for cuts or even closures. As one headline starkly put it: “plants or police”. The U.S. is in a crisis that could hurt the rest of the world because the limit of its national debt must be raised before next Tuesday or it won’t be able to pay its bills. This limit was routinely raised during the government of George W. Bush when the government slashed taxes but increased spending. Now right-wing Republicans are insisting there can be no tax hikes to help cover the deficit that has continued to grow during the recession under Barack Obama and the Democrats. They’re refusing to increase the debt ceiling unless they get their way. As the U.S. tries to come to grips with its huge debt problems, there are calls for reductions in “entitlement programs” like medicare for the poor and elderly. This in a country where the gap between the richest people and the poorest is among the worst among 17 countries measured (Canada was 12th worst). But surely, the argument goes, if you can’t afford this aid to the poor you can’t afford it. Yet as Jeffrey Simpson pointed out recently in his Globe and Mail column, the countries that are doing the best at closing the gap between rich and poor, like Denmark, Sweden and Norway, aren’t in serious financial problems like the countries performing the worst: the U.S. and Britain. Perhaps it’s because countries that insist slashing taxes is the best way to prosperity, are helping the rich get richer while crippling government finances so they can’t afford to help the poor. With the provincial election heating up, just beware of those who promise to cut taxes but not cut services, and get it all from ridding the government of waste. After creating a financial crisis for the government, the “waste” that is cut might be a program you need. — KR & Letters Policy The Citizen welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and should include a daytime telephone number for the purpose of verification only. Letters that are not signed will not be printed. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity and content, using fair comment as our guideline. The Citizen reserves the right to refuse any letter on the basis of unfair bias, prejudice or inaccurate information. As well, letters can only be printed as space allows. Please keep your letters brief and concise.