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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2010-06-17, Page 1CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, June 17, 2010 Volume 26 No. 24BLYTHBIA?- Pg. 7Blyth eyes potentialBusiness Improvement Area SCHOOLS - Pg. 20 Closing arguments madeto School Board trustees SPORTS - Pg. 8Local soccer teams continuetheir winning waysPublications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 PAP Registration No. 09244 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK: From two separate lists totalling 15 recommendations, along with numerous slightly-altered versions – brought forward mainly by members of the public – of those recommendations, trustees of the Avon Maitland District School Board began Tuesday, June 8 the onerous task of narrowing down their choices for school consolidation in Huron East/North Perth (HENP) and Bluewater/South Huron. A staff report, first delivered April 13, essentially made three recommendations: close Grey Central Public School in Ethel and distribute its students between Brussels Public School (Kindergarten-to-Grade 6) and Elma Township Public School in Newry (7-8); construct a new school in North Perth (pending Education Ministry funding) and close Wallace Public School in Gowanstown and Listowel Central Public School; and close a number of Exeter-area elementary schools (either two or three, depending on a decision about new construction) and shift the area’s Grades 7-8 population into South Huron District High School (SHDHS). None of these recommendations, however, constitutes an official motion of the board. That won’t happen until June 22, when trustees are expected to vote on consolidation in the two districts. A special meeting has been tentatively scheduled for the next Tuesday, June 29, in the event that it’s impossible to complete the evening’s business. Both meetings take place at 7 p.m. in the board’s Seaforth headquarters. On June 8, the board attempted – without actually having to vote on anything – to move the process ahead. A number of trustees made known their preferences, either through a “notice of motion” or simply informing their counterparts what they’ve been thinking. Central Huron/Huron East representative Willie Laurie was first off the mark, bringing forward a notice of motion to be tabled June 22. She called for no closures in Huron East, no new school in North Perth, instead closing Wallace and distributing its students between Howick Central Public School near Gorrie, Grey Central, and Listowel Central. Laurie described Grey Central as “a real gem,” adding it can accommodate approximately the enrolment that has been identified as optimum (200-300) for future elementary schools in the board. She expressed concern that a large new K-8 school would eventually become “a white elephant,” and noted Wallace “has one of the highest capital requirements over the next 10 years” in the HENP area. Two other trustees, meanwhile, requested that staff provide full St. John’s Anglican’s Church celebrated 150 years of community and fellowship through God and Christ on Sunday, but the church, as it stands, has only been around for 61 years of it. Originally, St. John's Parish was born in 1860 in the settlement of Ainleyville - what is now known as Brussels - with church missionaries giving weekly services in the Loyal Orange Lodge on Mill Street. Layman John Wilton Kerr and his niece did so much work with the church, that four years after its inception, the parish saw the first church built on Thomas Street under its name and dedicated it to St. John the Evangelist. Later, when a larger church was built, the Thomas Street Church became a new Loyal Orange Lodge. Reverend J. W. Murphy of Wingham provided services twice a month at the new church, until Reverend Samuel A. J. Lindsay of Huron College became the first reverend incumbent of the Parish in 1872. Lindsay passed away six months after his posting, having been a positive influence on the community. In the following years, a new reverend, Reverend H. Cooper, would be appointed to lead the St. John’s flock, as a new church was built at Lot 109 on Turnberry Street - the same lot the church sits on today. On land donated by John Manning, St. John's was built again, starting in 1875, and concluding in 1876. The total cost for the construction was $6,000, of which, $1,500 remained in debt at the conclusion of the build. Nearly 20 years later, the church was consecrated, on January 19, 1894. In 1887, plans for a rectory were drawn up, to be funded by St. John's, and the recently built St. George’s Church in Walton. The rectory was ready for occupancy on September 9, 1898, and has remained much the same through till today. In 1946, the Reverend John H. Kerr became the Rector of the Parish, and, one year later, watched as the church burned down. A fire of unknown origin wiped out the church, leaving only the tower and one wall, on February 25, 1947. Almost all of the valuables were lost, including the vestry books. Some items, including the parish registries, were kept in the rectory, and were saved that day because of it. Both Brussels United and Presbyterian churches opened their doors for St. John's during this time, offering a place for Kerr to continue to have services. The United Church was chosen, possibly because it had suffered a similar disaster several years before. St. John’s congregation, under Kerr, saw the rebuilding of the church as it stands today. Members and friends of the church donated hundreds of hours, thousands of dollars and work which commenced before the year’s end. The rebuilding of the church came at quite a price however, as John Fisher, People’s Warden, had the misfortune of falling during the building, and dying in hospital as a result. The new church was opened in July of 1949 by G. M. Laxton, a Bishop of Huron. Laxton presented Concerned citizens packed the gallery of North Huron Township Council’s chambers on Monday, June 14 during a planning advisory committee meeting. Before the committee was the last of three appealable decisions regarding a potential new public school being built in Wingham. A zoning by-law amendment to allow the school board to use the the land at the end of John Street in Wingham came to the planning committee, and council said it wasn’t prepared to change anything at the meeting. Many questions were brought forward to the council regarding both the zoning changes and extended road and the economic impact of the decisions of the Accommodation Review Committee (ARC. To the latter, council declared that its duty was to determine the viability of the chosen land as a potential building site, not to determine whether or not the decision of the ARC was a sound one. Scott Tousaw, planning and development head of Huron County, clearly stated what proposition was before council. “[North Huron council] is charged with... [whether or not to] approve, defer, or deny [zoning by-law amendment change],” he said. “Matters that pertain to [the ARC process], loss of schools... aren’t what sit before us. What’s before us is an application for a land use St. John’s celebrates 150th North Huron defers school rezoning vote AMDSB trustees’ notices of motion declares intentions Put your heads together Shyanne Hubbard, left, and Cassidy Shannon, teamed up at June 8’s Play Day at Blyth Public School while some of the older kids were off at their regional track and field meet, using their heads to transport the ball from one place to another, which required a tremendous amount of skill, co-ordination and teamwork. (Vicky Bremner photo) By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Continued on page 20 By Denny Scott The Citizen Continued on page 2 By Denny Scott The Citizen Continued on page 20