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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-09-16, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010.Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston Acting Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny ScottAdvertising Sales: Ken Warwick & Lori Patterson The CitizenP.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; $105.00/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 September 15, 1948 Robert Nesbitt, 83, of Blyth, was in the news for sticking to his old- fashioned harvesting methods, even as new technology had been developed to ease the burden of harvesting a crop. Nesbitt had a group of young people to his home farm to demonstrate harvesting with a scythe. Once he had cut the grain, he used a rake to gather the grain, raking it into bunches before binding the sheaves by hand and then stooking the sheaves by hand as well. The Blyth Standard reported that there was a slight twinkle in Nesbitt’s eye as he demonstrated the simpler way to harvest to the group of young farmers, saying that it helped him recall similar experiences from years past. Blyth oldest resident, Mrs. Frank Metcalf, was set to celebrate her 92nd birthday on Sept. 22. Mrs. Metcalf officially became Blyth’s oldest resident when Anthony Haggitt passed away. The Auburn Baptist Church celebrated its 80th anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 12. Rev. A. Forsyth, the church’s pastor gave two messages at the service, while the choir led the congregation in song throughout the service. A partridge crashed into the plate glass window of The Blyth Standard’s main street office. The bird just missed Town Foreman John Staples before crashing into the window. The bird died in the Staples’ arms just moments after hitting the window. The Blyth Lions Boys and Girls Band were playing a concert on Sept. 15 in Lucknow for a frolic that was sponsored by the Lucknow Clansmen. Prior to the concert, the band led the parade down Lucknow’s main street. September 19, 1968 Nancy Pearson and Joyce Huether of Brussels were awarded bronze medals in swimming at the Seaforth Lions pool. The girls were the only two to achieve the level from the area at the time through swimming lessons that were sponsored by the Brussels Legion and the Brussels Lions Club. The Majestic Women’s Institute held a gift exchange with a group in Holland. Member Mrs. Harmon De Vries took a trip to Holland and met with Institute members in Holland. She presented the Dutch members with a luncheon cloth from the Brussels group and the Holland group responded by giving the Brussels group a serving dish to be used at luncheons. September 19, 1990 Hugh Hanley resigned as the Clerk-Treasurer of Brussels at a special council meeting on September 11. Donna White assumed the position after Hanley’s resignation. White had been the deputy-clerk since 1986 and was set to officially take over Hanley’s clerk-treasurer duties on Oct. 12. Hanley left Brussels to take a position as deputy-clerk in Dunnville, which is near Welland, a community over 10 times the size of Brussels with a population of 11,500 at the time. The 129th annual Brussels Fall Fair began on Sept. 19 with opening ceremonies to take place at 1 p.m. with local dignitaries in attendance. The Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, following another big success, reported to Blyth Council that they would be improving the Blyth Fairgrounds for the next Reunion. In 1990, there were 351 trailers at the Reunion and for 1991, the 30th annual Reunion, they would be expecting over 400, said Marian Hallahan. In addition to the jump in attendance, the physical size of the trailers was increasing as well, Carman Craig said. September 18, 2008 Two Accommodation Reviews were announced that would look at schools around the South Huron area as well as the North-Central Huron area. East Wawanosh, Blyth, Hullett Central, Wingham and Turnberry Central Public Schools were included in the subsequent reviews. Enrollment at Turnberry Central Public School had dropped to under 60 per cent. Because no public meetings had taken place in the affected communities, Avon Maitland District School Board trustee Randy Wagler suggested that people in the communities in question may feel that “the process is being thrust upon them”. Longtime Wingham-area repres- entative Colleen Schenk voted in favour of commencing the accommodation review processes, saying “I do want to say that we should make it clear that we’re not looking at closing all of these schools.” Huron-Bruce NDP candidate Tony McQuail had just announced his Ride Share proposal, suggesting that people could use telephones or the internet to connect with people, share rides and save money, as well as the environment, through saving gas. The Terry Fox Run in Brussels raised $7,445 in 2008 despite the rainy weather in the village. Organizer Doug McArter said the Brussels group was up from last year’s $6,800 figure, so he was happy with that. 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 They make it happen Several local institutions are either marking or approaching significant anniversaries that demonstrate the powerful role volunteer efforts play in our lifestyle. The Belgrave, Blyth and Brussels School Fair this week celebrated its 90th school fair. The Brussels Fall Fair will celebrate its 149th fair and prepare for its 150th next year. The Huron Pioneer Hobby and Thresher Association last week had a successful 49th reunion and now planning begins for its 50th. Through good times and bad, these events have become important parts of our community, and none of them could be accomplished without the enthusiastic work of volunteers. Volunteers coming together to provide services that would not otherwise be available has been a strong tradition in rural Ontario. It was a practical choice, not particularly politically motivated. The role of the individual was still paramount in a society where so many people were self-employed as farmers and small business-people. The natural politics of rural areas has generally been to vote Conservative. Yet being practical, people realized that there were things for which there was no financial incentive for an individual to provide, and as such if they didn’t roll up their sleeves and work together, their community would do without. So they volunteered to build churches, schools, hospitals and arenas. They came together to form co-operative cheese factories, to pool resources for buying co-ops for farm products and to finance the beginning of this newspaper 25 years ago. But this spirit of practical volunteerism seems to be flagging. Fewer and fewer people seem to be willing to volunteer their time. We’ve fallen back on government to do many of the things that we used to do as a community, and once government calls the shots it can decide for us we no longer can afford these services. Times change. People change. But as these three events demonstrate, there are important things in our communities that still require volunteer support – that would not happen if not for the willingness of people to jump in and do something with no financial reward expected. We need to thank these volunteers who make these and other local services happen, and we need to help them out by finding time to share the burden. — KR Be careful there, Dalton Premier Dalton McGuinty used the opening of the school term last week to issue a challenge to voters. Perhaps it’s one residents of the area who are unhappy with the current elementary school situation should take up. McGuinty was talking about criticism of his all-day kindergarten plan when he said: “I think it is going to be very clear. Ontarians will have a choice when it comes to the future of publicly-funded education. They can move forward, continue to make progress whether it is test scores, graduation rates or full-day kindergarten, or they can put a stop to that and turn the clock back.” Given the choice, most people in northern Huron County would probably prefer to turn the clock back and keep our community schools open instead of spending millions to build a new school that will require long bus rides for young students. While the decision to close schools and build a new super school in Wingham was made by local trustees of the Avon Maitland District School Board, the announcement of an $8 million grant for a new school back in 2009, days before trustees were to vote, pretty well told trustees what the government wanted them to do. The government also provides money for new construction while limiting the money available for repairing existing buildings, clearly sending a signal where it stands. With his position on schools becoming a community centre for early education and daycare, McGuinty created a sensible idea policy. Yet the emphasis on closing community schools and centralizing education goes in the opposite direction – one that makes no sense. McGuinty should be careful of the challenges he issues. We just might take him up on it to reverse a perverse decision. — 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.