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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2010-07-15, Page 11Continued from page 1 “So if you’re looking for an apology from me, I’m sorry. I can’t.” Blaney also defended his stance, saying that as a parent of children who attended both Grey Central and Brussels Public Schools, he felt he wasn’t playing favourites and speaking with an informed, impartial opinion. “I didn’t check my mind at the door when I became a councillor,” Blaney said. “I have an opinion. As a councillor, I thought people had the right to know what I thought.” Blaney said that he knew his decision to publish such a letter would offend some people, but that the standard response to his statements from people in the Brussels area were that he said what everyone in the area had been thinking. “I’m not going to apologize for a firmly-felt opinion,” Blaney said. “The issue of the Environmental Learning Grounds was used as a way for the trustees to make a decision they didn’t have the basis to make,” he said. “If it’s upset you, that happens, but the fact that I’m a councillor doesn’t mean that I don’t have my opinion.” Blaney said that in reference to Seili’s comments regarding Grey Central’s Environmental Learning Grounds, that it’s unfortunate that emotions and people can get tangled up in comments made about “a piece of property”. Councillor Alvin McLellan, however, said that it’s understandable that residents of Grey would feel that way after hearing Seili say what he said about the school. “To a lot of people, that means something,” McLellan said. “There are a lot of people who have volunteered and put a lot of time and money into that school.” Grey Central supporter Alicia Deitner said that throughout the entire process she simply attempted to show Grey Central in a positive light through presentations to the board staff and trustees. She said that throughout the process, her group had received letters to the contrary that attempted to show Brussels Public School in a negative light as a means to move Grey Central ahead in the minds of the trustees, but the group chose not to use them. Deitner said the process was made much more difficult for supporters of Grey Central on April 13 when the board staff recommended the school’s closure and the expansion of Brussels Public School, saying that in the eyes of Grey supporters, “it was do or die”. Deitner added that after the recommendation was made that it no longer sounded like the group had the support of Huron East Council. Seili said there was support, with his council fighting to support all rural schools, but that when Dykstra’s comments were received by the ARC, that it was a crushing blow to him and his hopes that the process would be carried out in favour of Huron East, despite Dykstra’s letter that favoured one school over another. Deitner assured Seili that her delegation to Huron County Council, which asked that Dykstra take ownership of his comments, was directly at Dykstra specifically. She wanted him to say that the letter he wrote did not, in fact, speak for all of council. She said that at no time did she consider Seili responsible for Dykstra’s comments, saying that she knew they came from him alone. It was this incident, however, that made Seili realize what exactly he was up against. “After the warden’s comments, I knew that night that I was fighting for nothing,” Seili said. “So I gave up.” THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2010. PAGE 11. The Brussels FunFest is set forJuly 23-25, and with a fastballtournament, great food and fun events, the festival will have something for everyone. Debbie Seili, a representative for the festival, said that while the event starts on Friday, the family events don’t really kick off until Saturday. “Friday all revolves around the fastball tournament and the grand opening for the pavilion at the Brussels Community Park,” he said. “Saturday, the events start running.” The official opening of the pavilion begins at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, with food being served and the fastball tournament beginning at7 p.m.Saturday kicks off with breakfastat the ball park, starting at 8 a.m. Themeal will be served by the LoonieCanucks broomball team and will cost $6 per person. At 8:30 a.m., the fastball tournament will kick off again, followed by the pre-1980 car show at the J.L. McCutcheon car lot, which starts at 9 a.m. A road hockey tournament, for children in grades kindergarten through 8, will be hosted at the Brussels Arena from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., with each team costing $25 to enter. From 11 a.m. on, food and beverages will again be available at the ball park and the beer gardens.At noon on Turnberry Street, nearthe McCutcheon car lot, a massivejam session will take over the street,called Tunes on Turnberry, wherelocal musicians are welcome to “join the jam,” according to Seili. A euchre tournament will begin at 1 p.m. at the Brussels Legion, and cost $5 per player. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., free swimming, sponsored by the Brussels Legion and Lions Club will be held at the Brussels Pool. From 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Agricultural Society will be hostinga barbecue at the Brussels, Morrisand Grey Community Centre(BMG), with tickets costing $13 foradults, and $6 for children.From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., the BMG will play host to a dance, featuring by The Wilbee Band. The Sunday action will begin at 9 a.m. with the fastball tournament, feature a multi-denominational church service at the Brussels Conservation area at 11 a.m., and the beer garden will also open at noon. The annual Brussels Lion Clubduck races will be held at theBrussels dam at 2 p.m., weatherpermitting, with tickets costing $5each or three for $10.The final games of the fastball tournament should take place between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Seili said that anyone interested in participating should contact honorary chairpersons George and Pat Langlois at 519-887-6726 for more information regarding signing up for events or the timetable for the weekend. Smoking! A group was out front of Brussels Foodland on Saturday barbecuing and raising money for cancer research with the annual Relay For Life quickly approaching. From left: Bob Richmond, Rene Richmond, Lois McArter, Hank Ten Pas and Ethan Nichol. (Vicky Bremner photo) Brussels FunFest quickly approaching Councillors stand by school comments SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION 2010 Municipal Elections Act, 1996 FOR THE HURON-PERTH CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Nomination for the office of school board trustee One (1) person to be elected to represent the electoral district of the Town of Goderich, Township of Howick, Wards of: Clinton, Colborne, Hullett, Turnberry, Wingham, Morris, Blyth, East Wawanosh, West Wawanosh, Goderich, Ashfield Nominations/Registrations may be filed during regular business hours at the office of the Clerk for the Town of Goderich, 57 West Street, Goderich, Ontario N7A 2K5 until Friday, September 10, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. Nominations/Registration papers and full particulars may be obtained at the Municipal Office. A signed consent to the nominations, a declaration of qualification by the candidate, the $100.00 filing fee (cash, money order or certified cheque) and identification of the candidate are required. Electors are hereby given notice that if a greater number of candidates are certified than are required to fill the said offices; an election will be held. Voting Day will be Monday, October 25, 2010. Please be advised that no person who proposes to be a candidate may solicit or accept contributions for election purposes, or incur expenses until that person’s nomination has been filed. Dated this 29th Day of June, 2010 Mark Becker, Clerk Ronna Lee Johnson, Clerk Nancy Michie, Clerk Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Howick Morris-Turnberry Gary Long, Clerk Brenda MacIsaac, Clerk Larry McCabe, Clerk North Huron Central Huron Goderich SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION 2010 Municipal Elections Act, 1996 FOR THE AVON MAITLAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Nomination for the office of school board trustee One (1) person to be elected to represent the electoral district of the Town of Goderich and the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Nominations/Registrations may be filed during regular business hours at the office of the Clerk for the Town of Goderich, 57 West Street, Goderich, Ontario N7A 2K5 until Friday, September 10, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. Nominations/Registration papers and full particulars may be obtained at the Municipal Office. A signed consent to the nominations, a declaration of qualification by the candidate, the $100.00 filing fee (cash, money order or certified cheque) and identification of the candidate are required. Electors are hereby given notice that if a greater number of candidates are certified than are required to fill the said offices; an election will be held. Voting Day will be Monday, October 25, 2010. Please be advised that no person who proposes to be a candidate may solicit or accept contributions for election purposes, or incur expenses until that person’s nomination has been filed. Dated this 29th Day of June, 2010 Larry McCabe, Clerk Mark Becker, Clerk Goderich Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh MEETING NOTICE MUNICIPALITY OF MORRIS-TURNBERRY The upcoming Council and Committee meetings for the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry will be held: Tuesday July 20 at 7:30 p.m. Regular Council Meeting Tuesday August 3 at 7:30 p.m. Regular Council Meeting Tuesday August 24 at 7:30 p.m. Regular Council Meeting By Denny ScottThe Citizen ON $6.00 THURSDAYS Drop into either of our offices any Thursday with your word classified (maximum 20 words) and pay only $6.00 + GST (paid in advance). That’s $1.00 off regular rates. The Citizen